Collaboration is the new buzzword in business, and it’s often now a necessity for small countries such as New Zealand to be able to punch above their weights on a global stage. Enter the Stabicraft 1600 Fisher – also known as Project Carbon – and an ideal example on show at SouthMACH of just what a collaborative product design can achieve. The grandiose idea was to build something truly ground breaking, and to call on not only the skillsets of the Stabicraft design team but complimentary businesses and creative extraordinaire such as Gareth Dykes of FI Innovations and Mike Whittaker from Caliber Design. “The team took a collaborative approach to produce a set of concepts that bought a fresh perspective, design process thinking, and bespoke use of composites to the recreational boat market,” Caliber Design says. “Project Carbon was born.” Stabicraft – a classic Kiwi company well renowned for its iconic aluminium boats and manufacturing in Invercargill – decided to challenge the status quo by applying composite technologies to its new range of boats. This would make it the first New Zealand trailer boat manufacturer to use carbon fibre technology in its above-water structure. The new material means that the cabins and top sides can be prepared off the boat and fitted to the hull in a short amount of time. This simplifies the assembly process and reduces skilled welding labour (which is in short supply), allowing for increased through-put during later assembly stages on the production line. The multi-piece design of the cabin and console allows for contrasting colours, materials and textures to be utilised within the cabin within the one assembly. The composite parts are vacuum infused with epoxy resin which makes them very strong and resistant to damage, attributes in fitting with Stabicraft’s renowned traits of strength and durability. The Stabicraft 1600 Fisher has been well received by the market and received international acclaim when winning the prestigious Red Dot Design Award in 2016. The Red Dot Award is one of the most respected design competitions in the world and received 5000 entries from 51 nations. The Red Dot” is the revered international seal of outstanding design quality. To say the collaboration was a huge success would be an understatement. Caliber Design thrived and say it enjoyed working with the Stabicraft team because of the open mindedness to new thinking, a willingness to be adventurous with new design ideas, and an enthusiasm to lead the industry by being disruptive. Caliber Design will bring the Stabicraft 1600 Fisher to SouthMACH 2017 and showcase a stunning example of Kiwi design collaboration that all can be proud of. BOAT SPECIFICATIONS Length Feet (Metres) 16ft (4.85m) Leg Length 20" External Beam 2.02m (80") Internal Beam 1.46m (57") Deadrise 15° Tube Thickness 3mm (1/8") Hull Thickness 4mm (5/32") Dry Hull Weight (Approx) 494kg (1089lbs) Tow Weight (Approx) 1000kg (2205lbs) For full detail specifications see the digital edition or visit: www.tinyurl.com/hlgb3b8 STANDARD FEATURES Bow storage shelves Standard SARCA aluminium fairlead Standard Foot rest & cargo barrier Standard Battery and oil tank storage Standard Bilge pump and well Standard Cantilever seat bases with storage Standard Graphics package Standard Maxwell RC6 capstan Standard Provision for washdown pump Standard Rear fold-down seats Standard Rodholders in aft coamings Standard Stabicraft drink and tackle holders Standard Steering - Planetary Standard Windscreen Standard Wingstyle coamings Standard Skipper seats upholstered Standard www.engineeringnews.co.nz 19
EN-Mar17-Digi
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