Sunreef Catamaran Design & Build Quality
Sunreef catamarans have launched more than 40 large sailing and power catamarans built both in aluminum and composites. All of them are safely sailing the seas and over the many years Sunreef catamarans have provided a luxurious and comfortable environment for their owners.
Sunreef in-house naval architect team design hull shapes so that their catamarans can be seaworthy and comfortable. It is a complex process involving a large number of important decisions about shape, structure and materials. The purpose of the design process is to optimize the performance and reliability of the hull, taking into account the structure as a whole, and also to minimize the cost-price and weight reduction. In the design stage, the greatest challenge is to find the perfect balance between aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, combining all the elements into one single unit. The aerodynamic properties are crucial in determining how well the sails can extract energy from the wind. The hydrodynamic properties define how the hull can transfer this energy into speed.
Design, materials and processes are closely linked, and this is particularly clear in the development of Sunreef yachts models. With the necessary know-how, the builder can take into account specific hull performance requirements right from the beginning. The fact that Sunreef has this expertise also lets them benefit from the experience acquired in all the different phases of developing and producing a new hull design. Similarly, optimizing the production process can have an important influence on the overall design.
Advanced Composites Construction materials
The philosophy behind the way Sunreef Yachts selects materials is basically very simple. It is based on stable, well-tested materials that provide the best possible balance between price and performance. Via smart engineering, Sunreef Yachts ”stretch” what the materials are capable of and continually expand the envelope of what can be achieved. Glass fibre is a strong, versatile material, and it is important that Sunreef develop these properties still further. This will help boost the quality of the hull Sunreef produces and also keeps costs down. Sunreef Yachts achieve this via the analysis of both the glass fibre and resin.
Aluminum Construction in Sealium® and Alustar®
For the production of aluminum hulls, superstructures and other yacht equipment, Sunreef catamarans use widely known and highly appreciated types of aluminum alloy such as Sealium® and Alustar® among others which have become the international industry standard for large cruising yachts. These types of alloy optimize the overall performance of vessels in general as they make them more robust, safer, and user-friendly.
All construction welding are done according to plans and instructions previously approved by a certification society such as Bureau Veritas (BV). All welders working on construction are aluminum welders certified by BV. Sunreef is especially focused on creating a welding friendly environment: dust free, low humidity and temperatures close to 15°C
Quality control
All prefabricated elements are checked against workshop instructions. Depending on area, type of weld and level of stress in certain area Sunreef’s naval engineers and/or independent certified specialists are performing non destructive tests on welds. All seams are inspected for failures by visual tests with a special penetrating fluid. All butt welds on the shell of the boat are checked with an ultrasound scanner and areas of highest risk of welding failure are x-rayed to be sure that everything is according to high quality standards. If its required by the customer an independent Bureau Veritas surveyor is on hand to carry out tests and certifications as needed.
