Why a semi-rigid?
"Why build a semi-rigid, I who come from the world of the rigid?"
Before starting his project, Alain Laniesse conducted a study on several issues:
- Obtaining a berth
- The number of hours of average use of a boat
"Usually between 30 and 40 hours by tourists and an average of one month a year by boat owners."
- Taxes
"Boats are taxed from a hull length of 7 meters and from 150 hp for an inboard engine and 250 hp for an outboard engine."
He then compared the advantages of a semi-rigid to a rigid hull.
"The first advantage is stability, especially with wide and fairly off-centre floats. It's more pleasant to be in a semi-rigid as long as you have the comfort of a rigid hull. You've got handrails, you've got a V-shaped hull like on a rigid hull, and you've got reinsurance for people who might think a RIB might burst."
Before carrying out a study of existing models based on the problem of indoor living space.
"Usually in a semi-rigid, it's hard to move around and get comfortable."
After an overview of the semi-rigid boats that could be the widest indoors, but also the strongest, from the different existing brands - Brig, Nuova Jolly, Zodiac... - he highlighted that this type of boat did not exceed 2.70 m.
"We started from the premise that a ten-foot width was what we wanted. It also allows us to optimise the berths. The other observation was the diameter of the floats. They're usually 55 to 60 centimetres, sometimes 62 centimetres for some, but that means they take up space inside."
Define a set of specifications
After an overview of the different materials, products and know-how in different countries - China, Poland, Italy, Ukraine... - Alain Laniesse defines the specifications he wants for his boats:
- A V-shaped hull between 20 and 22° for the safety and comfort of the stiffener
- Largest possible internal width to match the length.
"I made the decision to choose 52 cm floats to gain 10 cm indoors. I added large double curved ribs of 5 cm on the outside which provide great stability and comfort inside and avoid getting wet. This choice allows to have a great habitability within the semi-rigid, which is generally its weak point. Finally, we obtain boats that offer the comfort and living space of an open hull and the comfort in navigation and safety of a RIB. It's a kind of hybrid boat that combines the strengths of both worlds."
Studying cognitive ergonomics and on-board comfort
Alain Laniesse then tackled a cognitive ergonomics study to study the traffic on board the boat.
"It's always difficult to get around in small boats. That's why I chose to integrate marshal handrails (round ball like on a marshal's stick) to be able to swivel around. It's one of the trademarks of the boat, which gives it its originality."
One of the constraints of the design was the integration of a solid arch - entirely designed by the founder of the brand - capable of accommodating a bimini and a sun awning, but above all capable of remaining open at a speed of 40 knots.
"It offers protection even at high speed, it doesn't unravel, doesn't tear. It's a very specific arch for which I've studied everything that penetrates water and air. I conducted the same study to develop the curved windshield that allows the pilot to navigate with a cap without it flying away. The wind force and the angle of the windshield allow the wind to project and prevent it from blowing into the awning."
To reinforce the high-end aspect of the boat, the creator of the brand has also integrated stern beach extensions with handrails to climb up the swim ladder, for comfort and safety reasons.
"I've studied these platforms with hollows to avoid having forces inside and optimize the weight, power, responsiveness and resistance of the boat."
Optimize weight
The weight of boats, particularly in the "weight/performance" ratio, is an important parameter to be taken into account in the construction of a boat.
"Weight is an important element, especially weight repair. I did a whole technical analysis of weight resistivity to try to gain as much weight as possible without losing resistivity. We got very good results with 15% less weight than a conventional RIB of the same size for such a high resistivity and impeccable seakeeping."
Space on board
"If there is often a small cabin in a 7 m rigid hull, in a semi-rigid, we optimize the number of seats in the boat. It has always been paradoxical to see that for a 6-metre semi-rigid boat, we are approved for 10/12 places, whereas for a rigid boat we have 6 places. It's a question of weight, and stability on the sea. A semi-rigid is much more stable. That's why we choose it, but it's also much more efficient and offers a lot of fun. It's a day boat, it's an extraordinary boat."
Moreover, the SharkBoat by Loup de Mer semi-rigid boats also offer many storage spaces with a large number of trunks. It is also possible to integrate drawer fridges. On the two largest models - 7.50 m and 8.50 m - there is also a cabin for the former and a cabin with toilet for the latter.
How to choose your suppliers?
To build his semi-rigid, Alain Laniesse called on 5 leading suppliers, from Germany, Poland, China and Hyères. All the boats are then assembled at the French shipyard in the south of France.
Mussels
"Do we make moulds or do we rely on existing hulls?"
The manufacturer has chosen to take existing basic hulls by improving some resistivity elements.
"Instead of full reinforcements, I've chosen vacuum reinforcements to save weight. I adapted with my specifications."
The floats
The SharkBoats by Loup de Mer are all produced with Orca hypalon floats.
"Orca is the world's best supplier of this material. It provides resistivity, performance and a guarantee for all materials."
The consoles
Alain Laniesse first designed the consoles he wanted to integrate on his boats before finding pre-built ones on the market. He thus has around thirty different consoles, depending on the size of his boats.
The cladding
"Do we put teak, Eva (teak-look foam covering)? You have to find a suitable type of coating that is UV-resistant and suitable for the use of the boat. It's been a very distant choice of supplier."
The idea was to be able to guarantee the boat for 5 years - floats, hull and engine. The brand therefore set up a partnership with Mercury, which offers this guarantee.
The finishes
We're talking about everything from handrails, stainless steel work, windshield work. Alain Laniesse has called upon a group of local craftsmen, about 6, who carry out this meticulous work near Hyères.
