Technology
Cutting edge spars... why not?
When you are used to building AC40 flying machines everything else comes relatively easily
MC1 Spars has been created as a partnership with McConaghy Boats, the world-class composites builder which has a decades-long heritage of creating extraordinary racing yachts from its operations in both Australia and China. Hi-tech spar building is not easy.
If it were there would be more providers out there and a generally healthy balance between supply, demand, quality and access to effective and affordable solutions. In the last few years this has not been the case. However, that is now due to change with the entry of MC1 Spars into the marketplace. McConaghy-built boats actively
compete and win in all theatres of the sport: offshore and inshore, custom and production, working with the world’s top yacht designers. This success has come from a keen focus on delivering innovation, quality and value for both custom and series-built production clients through a strong embrace of the latest technologies in tooling design, laminate materials and fabrication techniques. McConaghy’s continuing re-investment and expansion of facilities and personnel in recent years is a testament to this commitment of meeting the demand for yachts of exceptional quality for their discerning clients based around the globe. When absolute perfection was needed for one-design class
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conformity and functional durability in a hi-tech design, it was McConaghy that was chosen to build the AC 40s. The complex parts of this unusual design were not a stretch for them: for many years McConaghy has built composite parts of racing sailboats: steering systems including wheels and pedestals, bowsprits, on-deck components such as stanchions, pulpits and toe rails, retractable propulsion systems, keel blades, rudders and more. Over the past few decades McConaghy harnessed their expertise to use these parts on an enormous number of custom projects as well as several competitive one-designs with high standards. These include the MC38, Farr 40, Elliot 6m and Melges 20. So clever design, cost-effective production techniques, durability, plus part supply access issues are already in McConaghy’s DNA. And for a wide range of multihulls,
where the balance of strength and weight is critical, McConaghy has built the longeron, daggerboards and numerous other important structural components. With such a strong and proven
background in composites design, engineering and fabrication the team at McConaghy has decided to go all-in on this new business dedicated to spar systems which includes masts, booms, and all associated parts. In truth, spar fabrication is not
Above: the fabrication of complex composite parts and structures is McConaghy’s strong suit. Witness the fleet of AC40s they built last year. Right: their core expertise also extends to foil arms and various types of foils
new to McConaghy. The fleet of MC38s they built a decade ago had carbon spars built in-house as well. Now with MC1 they are all in. ‘One reason we started this was
to simplify an ongoing problemwe were having in communication with other spar builders,’Mark Evans, CEO ofMcConaghy told Seahorse. ‘Often we had issues with spars and parts sent to us just notmeeting our expectations, and frequently we’ve been frustrated with the added time and expense to get it right for our customers. Now being vertically integrated we havemore control on quality, cost and production timing for our customers.’ Armed with three existing
autoclaves and a new one coming soon, 40m in length, MC1 is geared up for production of spars and other
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