March 2006

French company Compositech, which is experienced in manufacturing composite parts for high performance automobiles and industrial applications, is now applying its expertise to personal water craft for jet-ski hulls.

Compositech has achieved dramatic reductions in the weight of their latest jet-ski hull design by the use of ACG's LTM® and VTM® composite prepreg materials. Curing at temperatures as low as 40°C, ACG's materials are clean and simple to lay-up, allow for greater freedom of design and ultimately create lightweight structures of great strength and stability.

By their innovative use of Formula One manufacturing methods and carbon composite materials Compositech has designed and built a hull that is almost 50% less than their previous 56kg design. This dramatic weight saving has allowed an equally dramatic improvement in performance as demonstrated by their world renowned pilots Pierre Maixent and Gil Beurnier. They praise its performance characteristics while acknowledging that some time is required to adapt to its lightness and precise manoeuvrability which make it ideal for the regular freestyle competitor.

The use of carbon composite materials has allowed the Compositech design to achieve a more streamlined shape to the top of the hull, the premier modification being that the dashboard is an integral part of the carbon structure, improving the visibility and control of the jet-ski.