ATL BREATHES LIFE INTO BOATS

ATL Composites provided the precision pieces for the latest Roger Hill-designed powercat, Omahu (‘breath’ in Maori), a 16m composite displacement powercat taking shape at Lifestyle Yachts in Pipiroa.

“The hull shape is a development of our very efficient displacement form, but the styling is unique,” explains Hill.

Omahu is the joint vision of two Kiwi couples keen to experience long-range cruising around the South Pacific.

One of the owners built a custom 14.15m Roger Hill sailing catamaran 15 years ago, which helped to shape the current project.

The design has live-aboard space for two couples, along with storage for long trips to remote destinations. Twin Yanmar 6LY400 400hp engines should achieve a top speed of 26 knots and Omahu’s shallow draft will allow her to explore remote inlets and anchorages.

Hill based Omahu’s design on construction using DuFLEX composite panels from ATL Composites. He has worked with ATL for 18 years.

The DuFLEX Building System offers builders a high-quality panel and very precise accuracy. The client gets an assurance of structural integrity, strength and durability.

A combination of Divinycell HP80 and HP100 foam cores, type-approved by DNV-GL Maritime, were chosen for Omahu’s DuFLEX strip planks to provide elevated temperature and mechanical performance under the owners’ choice of dark blue paint.

Other survey-standard DuFLEX composite panels components include wing-deck, soles, girders, webs, bulkheads, longitudinal and interiors, all supplied in CNC-routed kit form with various core types and densities to suit the design loads in the vessel.