This is proto 3, the first pre-production prototype made from the production moulds.

proto 2 was essentially a 'function prototype', built to test and develop the boat. There is an enormous difference between something you 'knock up' to try out an idea, and something that can be reliably manufactured to work and last.

Having made up my mind to put the ROCAT into production, the biggest decision concerned buoyancy – the production boat needed more than proto 2, but how much more and by what means? In the event, the hull was scaled up by 15%, which provided a 15% increase in buoyancy.

All the shapes were generated in CAD, and CNC machined by Rojac Tooling Technologies in the UK Midlands. They also made the moulds.

A more detailed description of the processes involved can be found on the technology page.