Collaboration between two people or companies can multiply the benefits for all involved. Not only by generating exciting new ideas, but also for sharing resources, learning and innovation for both parties — and their customers.

Currently two commercial and leisure collaborations are being enjoyed by Isle of Wight companies, which have enthusiastically embraced the practice for very different reasons.

In the case of Ventnor’s Cheetah Marine, which is now part of RS Marine Group (including RS Sailing — said to be the world’s largest sailing dinghy brand), the initial drive for the collaboration was modifying some of Cheetah’s existing commercial products for EV-ready markets — commercial workboats — and then increasing its range of leisure catamarans. The relationship has brought together skill sets, electric power (in the form of RS Electric) and Cheetah’s hull designs (with their combination of composite materials).

Thus, the Cheetah Adventure 720 (launched at SIBS 2022) for the family leisure market builds on all the qualities of a commercial Cheetah boat, but uses the one-design production-boat ethos which RS’ marine group is well-known for.

adventure family catamaran in build by RS and Cheetah Marine

“Until now we’ve just changed things and got on with it,” says Cheetah’s MD, Sean Strevens. The company he set up has been going strong for 30 or so years producing 100 per cent bespoke commercial and leisure catamarans (used by fishermen, patrols, police, hydrographic survey, charter and more).

“But as we grow with RS we will have more processes in place to make it easier. RS is more production oriented. While you can give choices to the consumer, those are limited.

“In the future we will have leisure catamarans which are production-made, but still allowing for customer to have different options,” he says.

The companies believe the new leisure adventure line (with side access and roof rack storage), will offer a rugged option to environmentally conscious families who want to open-up access to coastlines in a stable, spacious primarily dayboat.

But one of the challenges facing the ongoing collaboration will be integrating the workforces in order to build more production-line boats, especially as Cheetah has recently purchased a factory site in Portugal. The company’s been active there since 2018 when it rented a facility.

The UK shot itself in both feet says Strevens about Brexit, but he is working around it. “The Portugal factory is working well,” he says.

“Having a factory in Europe is great as we can export in Europe, and to the USA. We invested into a bigger factory when we were certain a European base would work for us. Setting that up now from scratch would be a pain.”

Aside from both companies wishing to consolidate and grow their European markets, Strevens believes the secret to companies collaborating is all in the people.

“You need the right people to make it work,” he says. “The people who will push boundaries to get our designs selling in bigger numbers around the world.”

Also, high on the list of success is making sure that both parties are gaining equally.

As well as the streamlined production process for the new leisure catamaran, Cheetah is looking to RS to help grow the business globally. But Strevens notes that RS “has stepped into a brand which is really well established. People are very comfortable buying a brand that’s been successful and has inherent value. And Cheetah boats go up in value in the second-hand market. They’re quite often fetching more than what we sold them for.”

With RS and Cheetah enjoying such a close relationship, which has now been formalised under the RS Marine Group banner, Strevens says the two companies “are excited about the future and the journey ahead.”

Archipelago Expedition Yachts and Chartwell Marine

Also on the Isle of Wight, also a catamaran, but with a much different price point in mind, is Archipelago Expedition Yachts. This newly initiated company was set up by Stephen Weatherley in 2021 because he couldn’t find a boat in the leisure market that suited what he needed at the time. Weatherley, who was running an aviation engineering business and holds a Phd in astrophysics, had three key criteria from his lifelong passion for sailing; efficiency, stability and room for four children onboard.

He approached a few architects to explore his idea and settled on Chartwell Marine, which makes offshore wind and aluminium cats because he liked the company’s approach. It offered “very much the collaboration and crossover” he was looking for.

After the success of the initial meetings, Weatherly decided to “chuck-in” his career and follow what he laughingly describes his “nightmare”. The outcome is an Archipelago 47 which he describes as a “robust and solid hybrid”. It was debuted at SIBS 2022, and Weatherley says that the interest was relentless, even with a sticker price of £1.3m. What was particularly striking and effective in drawing in visitors was its vibrant metallic effect colour and modern lines, courtesy of Chartwell.

Weatherley says the biggest benefits of utilising a commercial builder for a leisure boat is the onus on safety, and getting the boat home in any conditions.

“Something designed and built by people who put boats in the North Sea is comforting.”

Weatherley continues: “When people like Chartwell design a boat they design it to take cable trays in the right place. You get a lot more of that thought process from a commercial boat builder. There is lots of room around the engine to work on it – the engine is not buried. And there’s full standing head height in cabins – that’s a direct result of a commercial collaboration.”

The Archipelago, pictured, will be headed to Norway in spring 2023 as a charter, to explore the fjords and see the northern lights.

Chartwell Marine was recently awarded a £320,000 Innovate UK Smart Grant to test the feasibility of a methanol-fuelled vessel design. Chartwell and consortium partners — Boat Electric and Electronics and Engineered Marine Systems — will develop and test the feasibility of the vessel, which could have applications in the offshore wind, commercial workboat and leisure sectors.

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