X-Treme 32, weight reduction with the pre-preg carbon fiber

With its headquarters in the Netherlands but with clients all over the world, G-Force Yachts manufactures top-quality high-performance monohulls. With the X-Treme 32, G-Force Yachts has aimed to manufacture a top-quality offshore racer while keeping handicap systems in mind. The handicaps change frequently and can reduce a racer’s lifespan. The boat is extremely fast and demonstrates speeds never before experienced in a fixed keel monohull.

In order to go faster, the X-Treme 32 required a substantial weight reduction. The helm is made of pre-preg carbon fiber with an epoxy foam core while the mast and boom are made of carbon fiber. Using Diab’s lightweight core material Divincycell HM there were benefits to be had, including high specific shear strength. With high compressive properties there is higher resistance to denting and delamination from local impacts vs other foam cores and the higher skin wrinkling strength can hold thinner laminates.

Benefitting from the engineering expertise from Composites Consulting Group (CCG) and the molding skills of the Spanish-based company Xuquer, the X-Treme 32 has been designed to sail fast, reducing the wetted surface to a minimum in the event of the boat listing slightly and to increase its stability if it does. The project has involved a naval architect from the USA, engineers from CCG in Australia and boat builders from the Netherlands.