Sailing safe! Twaron-reinforced hull on Elling motor yachts

The luxury Elling motor yacht, developed by Neptune Marine Shipbuilding, is the ultimate dream of many water sports fanatics. The Elling effortlessly sails the oceans around the world. And thanks to its Twaron-reinforced hull, those on board can relax in the knowledge that they are safe and sound, whatever the conditions.

Sailing safe! Twaron-reinforced hull on luxury Elling motor yachts

“This extra-strong reinforcement means that the boat is optimally protected against collisions with objects under water,” says Anton van den Bos, Director of Elling Yachts.

The luxury Elling motor yacht, developed by Neptune Marine Shipbuilding, is the ultimate dream of many water sports fanatics. The Elling effortlessly sails the oceans around the world. And thanks to its Twaron-reinforced hull, those on board can relax in the knowledge that they are safe and sound, whatever the conditions.

Unique philosophy

With more than thirty years of experience in modern and innovative shipbuilding and construction techniques, Neptune Marine Shipbuilding is dedicated to meeting the specific individual wishes of its clients. “We were one of the first boat builders in the world to use fiberglass,” says Anton van den Bos, Director of Elling Yachts. “Some 20 years ago, we started to develop a completely new production method based on a totally different philosophy. Six years of development later, we launched the first Elling motor yacht, based on over two hundred concept demands, gathered from thousands of water sports enthusiasts from around the world.”

But it didn’t come cheap. “Never before had more time and money been invested in the production of just one model,” says Anton. “The first Elling, just under 15 meters, was designed according to the prestigious CE design category A, which meant it was ocean-going and self-righting. In 2008, three Elling owners (in three Ellings) successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in only 16 days.” The Elling is now one of the most popular motor yachts in the world, and production stands at approximately 25 personalized Ellings per year.

Twaron inside

In a world where lightweight and durable composites are increasingly replacing conventional materials, para-aramid fibers play an important role.

The entire hull – not just a few areas likely to receive the occasional knock – is reinforced with Teijin Aramid’s Twaron aramid fiber, which is also known for its bullet-proof qualities. “This extra-h2 reinforcement means that the boat is optimally protected against collisions with objects under water,” says Anton. “It easily absorbs quite substantial impacts without any serious consequences.” Another beneficial characteristic of Twaron is that it provides excellent sound insulation, which means passengers can sleep tight even when it’s noisy outside, says Anton.

Going under – and coming up!

The sturdiness and self-righting properties of the Elling were recently tested to the extreme. An Elling 4 was put through a 360-degree capsize test. In front of the international trade press, a completely fitted out vessel built for a Scandinavian customer was forced to roll over. After it popped up again in good shape, the motor was started and the Elling went for a demo ride, showing its top speed of 18 knots.