Whilst bamboo was used on the Kon-Tiki, the raft that crossed the Pacific Ocean in 1947, and is still commonly used in boat building in the Far East, it is today rarely used on boats in the West.
However, when award winning boat builders Multimarine were looking for the right materials to complete the interior of the VSV Mary Slim, bamboo provided the perfect answer.
The one-off 22.5m powerboat was commissioned by a British couple who wanted to create something very special compared to conventional power boat designs. The ground-breaking shape of her hull allows the VSV Mary Slim to travel at high speed even in bad weather. Their dream came true when the Mary Slim set a record in travelling 1,422 nautical miles at an average speed of 26.5 knots from Portland Marina around Rockall and back without refuelling en route - something the owners have now challenged anyone to try and beat.
Mary Slim was designed by Nic Bailey who designed the London Eye and is an architect of both homes and boats. The boat’s interior is minimalist in style with clean lines but to optimise performance no ornamental or unnecessary materials that add weight were allowed. Everything has been painstakingly hand crafted, painted and finished to the highest quality. Moso Bamboo Surfaces’ elegant Bamboo Elite Natural side pressed flooring has been used to great effect throughout. Apart from its aesthetic qualities, the material is both lightweight and durable - all key attributes for this project. ‘After six years it still looks as good as when we fitted it’ says Darren Newton, MD of Multimarine.
Rob Wooldridge, Commercial Accounts Manager at Moso Bamboo Surfaces says: "The applications for bamboo are endless. It is such a versatile material. We most commonly see it being used as flooring, decking or panelling but good designers recognise its potential. We have seen it used in some stunning furniture and to great effect on the VSV Mary Slim."
The VSV Mary Slim has won several awards including the IPC Judges’ Award for the Best of British innovation, design and build. Multimarine is now exploring other applications for bamboo on their new Dazcat 1450 which they are currently building.