Following on-going collaboration around the design of a new 3m dinghy specifically designed to be built in closed-mould FRP processes, Alex Whatley of Falmouth Marine School’s Marine Innovation Service delivered the pattern for the dinghy to Composite Integration HQ in time for Christmas.
The boat was designed by second year engineering diploma students at the Marine School in response to a design brief set by Alex and developed with production consultation from Stephen Leonard-Williams from Composite Integration.
Pattern work and the first mould were completed at the Marine School, with matching tooling to be made by the team at Composite Integration in 2013. The dinghy project will allow on-going refinement of resin infusion processes, testing of materials, demonstration to new clients and the collaborative delivery of training programmes by the college and the company.
The Marine Innovation Service provides technical support to the marine industry. The service is based covers a variety of marine technology areas, focussed on composite materials with specific expertise in resin infusion and closed mould processes. Until December 2013, the cost of MIS is supported by a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) investment through the Convergence programme for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, which allows the service to be provided fully-funded at the point of delivery to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cornwall, subject to eligibility.
