A revolutionary game tower has been released by Element Composites.
The perennial quest of building game boats to be light, fast and efficient has challenged designers for decades. Advances in hull design and props made of titanium reduced weight and drag, but still owners demand faster boats.
Levi Duncan and the team at his new venture, Element Composites have devised a solution: a world-first, custom made 100 % carbon fibre game fish towers. Not just stronger and lighter than aluminium or stainless steel, but foiled with an elliptical frame for aerodynamic advantage.
Levi Duncan and Josh Duke-Yonge, Directors at Ocean Degree Total Yacht Services, lead a team of 30 design and refit specialists. Managed by their highly experienced Production Manager, Mick Chaplain, they apply their considerable skills to some of the most complex superyacht projects in the country.
A partner at The Boat Works in the Gold Coast Marine Precinct for the past 10 years, and operating Ocean Degree for 15 years, Levi has assembled some of the most talented composite craftspeople drawn from automotive and marine industries for his new enterprise, known as Element Composites – Carbon Game Towers International.
A product of two years of R&D in the use of these materials, including rigorous modelling and testing, they have constructed an 8-m carbon fibre tower for “Back in Black”, the 12m Black Watch game boat as part of a full refit project, which also included an impressive sound system for celebrating the catch!
An 8-metre tower, if built from aluminium, could weigh as much as a tonne. Carbon composite fibre is known and used for its combination of strength and lightness. It is five times stronger than steel and one third its weight. A 100% carbon tower is approximately 70% lighter than a tower built from traditional materials. A massive saving, as well as being strong and stable, and it looks sexy as hell!
“Our clients tell us they want their towers to be durable and practical, as well as eye-catching,” says Levi. “The carbon fibre tower is totally unique and a real head-turner.”
Using new generation epoxy resins which won’t corrode, fade or discolour, and a complex vacuum infusion process, the team at Element Composites fabricated all component parts of the tower, including hardtops for console, buggy floor and top are all fabricated from a composite integration carbon fibre.
“Back in Black’s” 100 percent carbon fibre tower is the tallest ever for a Black Watch game boat and is destined to be the first of many, once and his team pitch their Aussie ingenuity to US game boat builders at the 2022 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) in October.
