Navigating the Best Examples of 3D Printed Boats

Additive manufacturing is now a production method used everywhere, whether on Earth, in the air, in space or even underwater. Notably, more and more players in the maritime sector are turning to 3D technologies to design parts for their boats, spare parts for submarines and even components of currents turbines. But today we want to focus on something even more extraordinary. Increasingly users are creating fully 3D printed boats. From bow to stern, discover how 3D technologies are impacting the construction of boats through these innovative applications.

UMaine and the Largest Boat to Be 3D Printed

In 2019, the University of Maine unveiled the 3Dirigo, the largest boat to ever be fully 3D printed. In 2022, they surpassed their own record when they printed two new boats for the US Marines, one of which measured twice as large as the original 25-foot, 5000 lbs patrol boat. Though exact information about both boats (including images) is lacking due to national security concerns, what we do know is that they are logistics vessels made for the Department of Defense and which are capable of transporting two shipping containers and a Marine rifle squad with three days of supplies, an astonishing milestone in composite manufacturing. The boats were also made using polymeric composites and the world’s largest polymer 3D printer, which UMaine commissioned in 2019 and which also made the 3Dirigo.

UMaine’s 3D printer was used to print the boat (photo credits: The University of Maine)

MAMBO, a Functional 3D Printed Fiberglass Boat

Unveiled in 2019 during Formnext, the MAMBO boat was designed by Moi Composites, in collaboration with Autodesk, Catmarine, Micad and Owens Corning. It is 12’4″ (6.5 meters) long, 8’2″ (2.5 meters) wide and weighs about 1763.7 lbs (800 kg). The peculiarity of the project is that it turned out to be the first functional 3D printed fiberglass boat to sail in Italian waters during the Genoa boat show. For its development, the company relied on additive manufacturing technology with continuous fiber composite materials. The process involved two robots that fabricated the boat’s components to be assembled. This system allows the creation of much lighter, yet strong and durable parts, limiting material waste and without the need for molds – a successful example of the possibilities of 3D printing in the maritime sector!