The 4.2m Ripple custom project we recently built for a client in Brisbane has had its first real test while cruising North on the mothership, a 50ft powercat. This was a customized version of this design to suit wheelchair access and use. The owner has reported that he is pleased with the boat and its performance and had the following to say:

'All good, probably could have got away with a 20hp engine though, with the 30hp it gets up and sits on the plane at half throttle with ease!'

Some may remember that we weighed this boat before it left and it came in at 155kg's! This is an excellent example of how important using light weight materials is. Less horse-power required, using less fuel and in this case less weight stored on the roof of the mothership. 

For more information on this design click here 

The very first Spirited 380 kit was sold to its clients in Belmont NSW near Lake Macquarie in late 2005. The owners put in a valiant effort getting the boat to almost a structural shell. Following a move to WA the original owners decided to sell the project because nothing was getting done to the boat. The proud new owner is now pulling out all stops in an effort to get his new boat finished by the end of the year. Even though the boat has been out in the weather for the last few years the Duflex balsa structure is in good shape and is testament to this high quality product. 

We will keep everyone updated as to the progress of this project.

The interior photos have now been released and ROAM looks great. Some final touches are yet to be done but all in good time...

'ROAM' airs fresh and modern styling! 

The Hoult family and friends will certainly enjoy ROAM in both leisurely and social occasions. It's a very inviting space.   

For those of you who are on facebook, ROAM now has her on community page. Drop in at sailsurfroam say hello and you can keep up with her many great photos and news as she embarks on her many adventures. You can also see a touching speech from Michael with his family on launch day.

We will also keep everyone posted here at key times. 

The first of this design will be built in Russia. This boat is designed specifically for aluminium construction and consists of folded sections aft with the other hull panels joined to these sections. This design is based on the Ripple hull shape but has been re-worked to suit this material. In most ways this design is very similar to the last Ripple project we built which also had a side steering console and full wet-deck. As with the Ripple design the recommended engine size is 30hp with similar performance expected. 

We will keep everyone up to date as this project progresses.

The 4.2m Ripple recently built and delivered to the client in Brisbane has been recieved. The engine and fit-out has been done and the new owner had a brief opportunity to take the boat for a quick run before the all important lift with his new crane onto the roof of his power cat. He was very impressed with the liveliness and speed of the boat even though he didn't want to over-rev the new engine. The boat will be well-tested this weekend when the owner plans to spend the this time out in Moreton Bay. 

We have requested some photos of the boat underway so will post these as soon as we have them.

This carbon fiber boom will be fitted to a custom 18m racing carbon spreaderless rotating wing mast which is nearing completion. Both mast and boom are dressed in clear-finished carbon for maximum appeal. The boom was resin-infused using ATL Composites' Kinetix epoxy infusion system for superior strength. A split female mould was made for the external shape of the boom and then a secondary mould was required to produce the internal box-section spar. The boom is designed to catch and house the mainsail when dropped. The sails will be supplied by Doyle Sails from the Sunshine Coast Qld and will be state of the art racing sails.

The owner is hoping to have the rig stepped next month.

This project is now complete and awaiting pick up. The boat will be delivered directly to the engine dealer who will be fitting a Tohatsu 30hp in Qld.

This boat was customised for wheelchair access and use with a lift-out door in the hull on the Port side. Another inclusion is folding lifting fittings that have been recessed into the floor allowing for the boat to be craned onto the roof of the mothership. Supplied with the boat are custom-made cradles for the boat to sit in, these will come in handy when loaded onto the truck for the trip North.

This boat was built from the Duflex foam kit for maximum weight-saving but also providing excellent structural properties. The completed weight of this boat is 155kg.

For more information on our Ripple Tenders, click here

Sleeker, faster and oozing that classic wow factor!

Congratulations to Michael Hoult on this great achievement. The First Spirited 480 'Roam' has been launched in Tasmania on Wednesday the 15th of April. Chosen for its blue-water performance and sailing efficiency this design is sure to impress. The standard of work is extremely high for an amatuer built boat. 

'Roam' has been fully customised by our office to the owner's specifications and executed beautifully by Michael to produce this stunning result. The interior sees a galley down in the Port hull leaving ample space in the saloon for a seperate dining and lounge area. Another important area Michael requested was a surf locker in the Port bow. This is a large space with racks to store his surfboards and includes a workshop area in the aft end. 

The plan is to now address the final finishing touches to the boat before the rig is delivered. Michael is going to be using the boat in the meantime for short trips around the area. 

This was the first kit to be supplied 6 years ago and its nice to see that its also the first launched!

Chris Downing launched his Spirited 380 named 'Tasha' last week on Friday the 20th of March. The project took just over 6 years part time with a stunning result. The finish is as good as a professional standard with a very high attention to detail and choice of fittings. Internally the finish is mostly satin polyurethane paint surfaces with some soft linings.

The interior design was customized with a separate walk-in basin area forward of the main head & shower. This has made space in the saloon for instrumentation and a neat hide-away locker for the TV. Another change was in the Starboard aft cabin which was made into a walk-in workshop area with provision for his bicycle with also the option of a fold-down bunk. 

Chris has put a lot of thought into making good use of space with large slide-out drawers in the galley and also below the saloon seats. Another choice was to fit two drop-down windows in the aft saloon bulkhead which opens up this flow-through area substantially together with the main door. 

We were lucky enough to be present for the launching which went very smoothly with an almost perfect venue for this event. The trucking and crane company should be commended for their faultless service. 

Congratulations to Chris and all who helped him on a fabulous achievement! Chris is awaiting the delivery of his carbon fiber rig and sails so we hope to see 'Tasha' sailing in the coming weeks.

We will keep everyone informed.