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get in sit down and hold on_Layout 1 15/02/13 10:56 AM Page 1So far 2013 has seen some big andexciting new projects underway inAustralia and if things continue, couldthe skies be brightening for thoseworking in the multihull industry?BY BEN SCHIONNINGget in, sit downand hold onLet’s face it, compared to a fewyears ago our marine industryin general has seen some hardtimes. Boat builders and thosein boat manufacture may havehad it the hardest, with a strongAustralian dollar pushing importation ofrecreational and light commercialvessels upward and nearly crushingAussie exports completely. In turn,other related sectors such asequipment, components andaccessories have suffered. According tothe BIA, many businesses havebattened the hatches, so to speak, withthe intention of riding out the storm. Abetter strategy we’re told, was to cutcosts, diversify into different markets,4 0 M U L T I H U L L W O R L Dand to research, develop and refineexisting products and services.In the Schionning Designs’ officewe’ve had unseasonal interest, themajority of this being custom designwork from both domestic andinternational clients.The future fordesign may well be shifting from theoff-the-shelf stock design style to amore fluid and evolutionary designprocess in which the customer canbecome more involved in theexcitement of a brand new, uniqueproduct. Following the success of oursmaller G-Force designs, two newbigger sisters are underway, bothbeginning construction immediately.Julian Griffiths of Noosa Marine andDave Biggar of Cure Composites willundertake these goliath tasks, and theyare well qualified for the job.Julian Griffiths is an experiencedboatbuilder, sailor and ocean racer, andthe managing director of Noosa Marine.With premises located in Noosa,Queensland, Julian and his team haveproduced one of the serious G-Forcecontenders Mojo 3 for owner PeterWilcox. Peter and his dedicated crewhave taken out an array of titles on theAsian racing circuit including wins in theKing’s Cup and Langkawi Race Week.Julian has an impressive array ofmultihull builds to his name, too many

get in sit down and hold on_Layout 1 15/02/13 10:56 AM Page 2to list here, andwill soon bestarting on themodified G-Force1800 customdesign. A naturalprogression fromthe popularG-Force 1700and 1700 Cruise,she has an arrayof accomodationand living areas, and will of course keepwith the G-Force performance attitude,we can’t wait to see the result.David Biggar is not only the managingdirector of Cure Composites but askilled sailor and multihull professionalthat has been producing qualitycomposite multihulls since 2006. Basedin Coolum Beach on the beautifulSunshine Coast, Cure Composites haslikewise undertaken a customisedG-Force 1800 for an Australian client.The cabin shape of this G-Force willtake you by surprise, the main designrequirements being performance, easeof handling, comfort and the bestvisibility possible from the helm station.David and his team have a flawlessreputation in the luxuryyacht industry however thecompany also specialise inother industries includingthe mining sector andoffroad recreationalvehicles. This is a greatexample of diversificationwithin what was primarily amarine enterprise, to ensure not onlysurvival but success.The Schionning design office will bebringing many more projects to lifeincluding a customised powercat similarto the Prowler VTR950 and a new G-Force Cruise 1400. Australian multihullshave and will continue to gain areputation as some of the world’s best,and we should be proud of what hasbeen achieved both as a nation and asan industry.www.schionningdesigns.com.auinfo@schionningdesigns.com.auM U L T I H U L L W O R L D 4 1