SP Works with Argentinean Boat Builder on Radical New Production Race Yacht

24 November 2009, Isle of Wight – SP, the marine business of Gurit, has teamed up with M Boats, the Argentinean yacht builder, to supply materials for an innovative production race boat project, the ‘S40 - One Design’ (SD40-OD). The S40-OD is a modern racer designed by Javier Soto Acebal Naval Architects and while conventional in its construction, it is radical in its design. The boat is 40 foot / 12.3m in length with hull lines that are the result of a long research period that aimed to achieve a combination of speed and balance.

The relatively young company M Boats is rapidly building itself a name because of its team’s wealth of experience and strong relationships with world-renowned designers and structural engineers. Founded by acknowledged naval and nautical experts, the company’s mission is clear-cut – to satisfy the increasing demand for custom, semi-custom and high quality production boats between 30’ and 90’ in an efficient and competitive manner.

SP has been involved with the project for over 14 months, supplying a selection of composite materials including epoxy laminating and adhesive systems as well as SP’s marine structural foam Corecell™ and reinforcements for the hull, deck and bulkheads.

SP’s laminating system Ampreg 22, which is ideal for manufacturing large, high performance composite structures due to its long working time and low exotherm, and the low viscosity Spabond 340LV adhesive system, were chosen. Corecell™ also provides increased strength and durability in return for significant weight reduction making the boats faster, stronger and more economical.

The fifth S40-OD was launched earlier this month and is the first boat to hit the water that utilises SP’s new Corecell™ M-Foam, the only core to offer a complete cost-effective package comprising high shear strength, low weight and high elongation, low resin uptake for infusion processes and high temperature stability for prepreg processes. 

The first two yachts produced have been running the Circuito Atlántico Sur Rolex Cup and, on 5th July 2009, all four yachts constructed raced at Ilhabela Sailing Week in Brazil where they demonstrated their potential and competitiveness, and ignited a lot of interest in the class.

Lucas Dittrich, Director of M Boats, says: “The S40-OD is a thoroughbred racing machine already being sailed by some of South America’s finest sailors. The design is truly innovative and has attracted much interest in the market, indicating a successful future for the S40-OD.”

Orders for boat numbers five and six have been received and advanced discussions are in place with a number of other clients.

M Boats is one of SP’s major raceboat clients, and SP has also worked with them supplying materials for a one-off IMS 42, a conventional construction significant because it is a boat made of ST70 E-glass prepreg from SP’s SPRINT® range. The IMS 42 boat is now built, and work on a 48ft design by Javier Soto Acebal will commence soon.