Stephen Weatherley, CEO and founder of Archipelago Yachts

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Based in Hampshire, on the south coast of England, Archipelago Yachts designs and builds motor catamarans from 40 to 80 feet in length, with construction on the Isle of Wight. This organization allows for strong continuity between design, engineering, and manufacturing, in an industrial environment with a long maritime tradition.

From the outset, Weatherley was keen to emphasize the fundamental choice of aluminum: “We exclusively build aluminum catamarans. The entire range is designed around this material because it allows us to work on the structure, durability, and integration of systems right from the start.”

He also champions the material for its structural qualities, longevity, and recyclability. The platforms are designed from a global perspective, with particular attention being paid to the architecture of the hulls, weight distribution, and systems’ installation.

Propulsion is one of the shipyard’s major areas of development. Archipelago now offers several configurations to suit different uses. “We offer conventional diesel, diesel-electric hybrid, and we are about to launch a fully electric model,” Weatherley told us. The yard’s powercats are designed to accommodate these different types of propulsion without major modifications. The coachroof is well-sized to accommodate solar panels, capable of covering part of the energy needs on board, particularly for domestic use.