Leopard Catamarans implements ‘single shot infusion’ for hull construction

Large leopard catamaran under construction in boat shed

South Africa’s Leopard Catamarans, the catamaran brand from boatbuilder Robertson and Caine (R&C), is implementing a ‘single shot resin infusion’ technique to its hull construction process.

According to R&C, the technique builds on the traditional three-step hull construction standard, using one shot of resin infusion to infuse the entire hull at once, bonding all core components in a straightforward, single process.

The technique is said to provide a more durable, stronger, and lighter hull and elimates the need for secondary bonding. Creating an even, clean distribution of resin, it also removes the need for structural repairs along the hull’s join lines, further enhancing overall integrity. 

Leopard catamaran on the ocean
Leopard 40 PC

The announcement comes as R&C and Leopard Catamarans continue to invest in improving the building process.

In addition to introducing the ‘single shot infusion’ technique to address potential hull delamination issues in newer models like the L46, R&C has also adopted advanced acoustic leak detection. This technology verifies the vacuum system’s integrity before each infusion, further improving success rates.

Other key hull process changes that R&C has recently made include carrying out a second phenolic hull sounding inspection on all vessels under construction, carried out 30 days after the initial post-demoulding check, to identify any delayed anomalies and the testing of a thicker 600CSM print blocker across all models to improve hull aesthetics and reduce the visibility of future rework.

South Africa is the second-largest manufacturer of catamarans globally and the largest manufacturer of power catamarans with Robertson and Caine noted as South Africa’s largest boatbuilding company.

Since early 2025, R&C has updated all mouldshop quality documentation, reinforcing key hold points and adding new focus areas to strengthen the hull process control. Improvements include a redesigned infusion resin feed pipe layout to reduce dry spots and voids, providing a more consistent and robust construction.

“With the increasing impact of global warming and the focus on sustainability, the research & development team at R&C is currently developing and testing a new resin recipe with their supplier to slow down the infusion process and improve consistency during the Southern Hemisphere summer, with implementation planned for the end of 2025,” says a spokesperson from Leopard Catamarans.

“R&C is also working on a project to implement hull temperature control versus entire factory temperature control to limit the environmental impact, as resin and temperature are influential factors in successful infusion. We support these improvements and believe they will enhance our already robust yacht’s durability, quality, and overall craftsmanship.”

The post Leopard Catamarans implements ‘single shot infusion’ for hull construction appeared first on Marine Industry News.


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