THE NEW DEHLER 38SQ
PHOTOGRAPHY
TThe customised 7.7m RIB that will become British adventurer Bear Grylls’ new companion for his TV exploits.
15 years – 1,500 boats and going strong. Sealegs CEO David Mckee Wright (left) and Chief Technology & Operations, Maurice Bryham.
Digital integration presents all boat information on a MFD. he amphibious RIB was produced for British adventurer Bear Grylls – it’s his third Sealegs – and will, like its predecessors, serve as a constant companion for his outrageous TV exploits. “We like to think we build adventurous boats for adventurous people,” says Sealegs CEO David Mckee Wright, “and they don’t come much more adventurous than Bear.
“Adventure sums up the entire Sealegs ethos – our boats take people to places other boats can’t. And while aligning our 1,500th vessel with Bear Grylls is a great way to celebrate the milestone, it’s also an endorsement of the constant evolution and innovation that’s shaped – and continues to shape – our development.”
The most recent phase of the evolution, he says, has been an increase in the design and special projects team, and the investment in resources within the company has been aligned with this. Sealegs has an extensive team of engineers designing, testing and refining – not just for improved aesthetics, but for the precise, efficient manufacturing of its components by its partner organisations.
“Moving to a more customer-focussed structure has given us more time and energy to focus on our core expertise – design and new product development. A key outcome is the adoption of a ‘modular’ design concept – where the same components can be used for different models. While this has streamlined manufacturing and assembly, it’s also given buyers much more flexibility in customising boats to their preferences.”
Similarly, adopting CNC profile cutters for the aluminium sections of hulls has resulted in much faster assembly – with the greater accuracy and repeatability culminating in an even better product.
“We also (in 2017) embarked on a number of strategies that underpin our ability to innovate more freely and explore new markets. Among these was the acquisition of Lancer Inflatables,
a move which drove the design for more functional and aesthetically-attractive tubes.”
In the same year the company formed an international consortium – providing an avenue to new markets, particularly in the industrial and military sectors. The consortium – Future Mobility Solutions (FMS) – acquired French RIB manufacturer S.A.S. Sillinger and US boatbuilder Willard Marine Inc. Both are established heritage brands in the European and US military markets.
“FMS is positioned to significantly increase revenues and profitability through a greater international infrastructure,” says Mckee Wright. “We’re building a wider range of products, with more international distribution channels.” Some 70% of Sealegs’ production already heads offshore – mainly to Europe and North America.
A good illustration of the technology’s integration is the steering wheel. The helm now steers both the outboard and the front drive wheel – and steering wheels are now equipped with ‘wings’ linked to a range of functions. Effectively, all vessel functions can be presented on and controlled from the MFD. Crucially, this allows Sealegs to set up each boat precisely the way the client wants it. Buying a Sealegs has become much more ‘personalised’.
Another benefit of the digital technology, adds Mckee Wright, is the ‘design flexibility’ it offers – a greater emphasis on performance and ergonomic factors. Consider the drive engine (a 25hp twin-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke Honda). Previously mounted near the aft end of the vessel, it’s now forward, under the helm console.
The result is a far more spacious cockpit and better weight distribution (trim) across the boat. And with better access to the drive engine it also makes for easier servicing.