Intelligent ergonomics and responsible resin for hard working RIB

McLachlan Marine, one of the largest independent workboat operators in the North East of Scotland has taken delivery of the new O-CLASS, which was built by Glasgow-based The Ultimate Boat Company.

The O-CLASS is a high-performance offshore craft that has been specifically designed and engineered as a ‘heavy-lift’ commercial vessel. Its intelligent ergonomics and superior shock mitigation technology provides a safer working environment for professional crew at sea for extended periods.

Extra-wide gunwales, incorporating a durable anti-slip coating, make stepping up to a ladder or dockside easier and safer. The spacious ‘best in class’ deck areas are enclosed by high vertical sides which provide enhanced security and confidence for the crew when operating in big seas.

REVOLUTIONARY HULL

All UBC powerboats benefit from a revolutionary and patented hull technology that introduces compression or hydraulic lift resulting in vastly superior load carrying, manoeuvrability, performance, and stability – all of which are essential for serious offshore craft such as these.

The hull has been designed by internationally renowned naval architect, John Moxham, who has had an illustrious career in the marine industry, from designing military high-speed craft through to creating the UK’s fastest RNLI lifeboat (E-Class Mark I). He was also at the forefront of using GRP for boats, designing the first mass-produced outboard-powered cabin cruiser, the ‘Microplus’ and is well-known for his work on high-performance designs for brands such as Avon, Ribeye, Scorpion, and now The Ultimate Boat Company. This latest venture is, he says, “the pinnacle of my career”.

For UBC’s pioneering portfolio of powerboats, John has completely redesigned the hull to fundamentally redefine the way a planing hull interacts with the water, positioning the company at the forefront of hull design and powerboat building.

Hydraulic lift is generated by the ‘Moxham Retaining Rails’ that modify and then manipulate waterflow beneath the craft. The hull improves waterflow across the propellers, increasing grip to achieve superior manoeuvrability and tighter turning with little loss of speed.

It also introduces a major practical advantage by enabling the helm to easily maintain a constant visual on the horizon through its linear transition onto the plane, derived by mitigating stern squat and associated bow lift.

McLachlan Marine’s new boat, which is to be based on the West Coast of Scotland, will be used for safety boat duties, dive support and fast response operations.

SUSTAINABLE COMPOSITE

The Ultimate Boat Company gave the O-CLASS its official world launch at the recent Southampton Boat Show, which generated a high level of media and industry interest in the boat, the high-performance hull design, and the new fully recyclable and sustainable composite material that UBC is pioneering as an option for its high-performance boat hulls in conjunction with its parent company, ExoTechnologies.

The material, named ExoMarineTM, the marine variant of DANUTM, has been created as an alternative to glass reinforced plastic (GRP), to combat the growing problem of end-of-life GRP hulls going to landfill.

This natural core material comprises a combination of styrene-free resin and sustainable fibres, is stronger and lighter than fibreglass and less brittle than carbon fibre. Crucially, its cost is comparable with traditional materials, and no additional manufacturing or labour costs are required.