Aikane

The Aikane 56 is a striking bluewater performance catamaran, designed by VPLP in the finest tradition of their thoroughbred multihulls. This cat offers performance design features and top-shelf equipment: dagger-boards, dual wheels at the bulkhead, carbon rig and carbon canoe boom, textile standing rigging and composite sails by INCIDENCES.

Construction is glass/vinylester and epoxy resins over divinycell foam core with carbon UD reinforcements, carbon structural bulkheads and Kevlar dagger-board trunks. A light, stiff and extremely reliable composite platform without compromise.

The Aikane 56 catamarans were built by GC (Gilles Carmagnani) Marine Consulting, one of the foremost composites experts, best known for building racing multihulls in France over three decades. This is the third hull and perhaps the most accomplished.  

This is a three cabin owner layout with two heads and separate walk-in showers. The owner hull is to port and the galley is up. The interior is faired and painted and features modern galley and bathroom fixtures, corian countertops. Equipment and amenities include solar, water-maker and washer dryer.

This cat has been sailed on the Atlantic coast of France and in the Med by its owner in the summers only. It is stored on the hard in the winter and has very little use on engines (1000 hours), sails and systems. The owner is multihull enthusiast who has owned multiple cats, maintains it in pristine condition and constantly upgrades equipment - a teak floor was installed in the cockpit this past fall.

A fast, simple and reliable yacht for long distance cruising with family and friends.   

Please view the numerous attached photos of the yacht and its systems. Contact us for more information on this meticulously crafted, elegant offshore catamaran. We sold hull #1 a few years back and have close ties to the yard that built the yacht.

Bridge-deck and hulls: Glass/vinylester resin over PVC foam (divinycell) core glued by vacuum bagging. Strengthening of the bridge-deck with 3 longitudinal beams integrated to the bridge-deck mold with carbon UDs. Carbon UD reinforcements under the mast bulkhead, under the coach roof and the forward crossbeam. 

Exterior finish: polyester gelcoat applied in the mould, epoxy barrier under the waterline after demoulding.

Decoration: three bootstripes and two lines on topsides.

Bulkheads: Glass/epoxy resin over PVC foam (divinycell) core glued by vacuum bagging. Carbon UD reinforcements integrated into the mast bulkhead and in the two bulkheads at the aft beam. Assemblage hull/deck/bridgedeck by glass/epoxy stratification.

Deck: Glass/polyester resin over PVC foam core glued by vacuum bagging.

Coachroof foam core is increased from 20 to 30 mm and carbon skin is used.

Carbon UD reinforcements used at aft salon bulkhead and at aft beam juncture with deck.

Local reinforcements of deck at daggerboard trunks and chainplates.

Single skin carbon UD and glass reinforcement under the jib track at forward deck.

In all areas of deck hardware and deck equipment, the foam core has been replaced with glass or carbon reinforcement in relation to the mechanical efforts applied by the specific hardware in these various locations.

Exterior finish: polyester gel-coat applied in the mold - integrated non-skid.

Deck-hull joint: The deck is assembled to the hull by two single skin plinths that are glued and bolted together. The transom and are joined by interior stratification without the use of bolts.

Daggerboards/daggerboard trunks and beaching keels: Sabre dagger-boards in trunks. Glass skin/epoxy over PVC foam vacuum bagged. UD cabon reinforcements at the max thickness of the profie. A longeron of red cedar replaces the  foam at these reinforced areas. Exterior finish epoxy resin/graphite applied in the mold.

Dagger-board trunks: Glass/epoxy resin over PVC foam vacuum bagged. Exterior finish epoxy resin/graphite. Shaped trunks built in molds to fit dagger-board profiles.

Beaching keel: single skin glass/vinylester reson, integrated to the hull molds and structured so as to carry the weight of the boat.

Rudders: Built in molds. Glass/epoxy skin molded under vacuum. Filling with the rudder post in place of high-density epoxy foam. Reinforcement of the leading edge. Exterior finish: epoxy primer applied in the mold, antifouling.  

Forward beams: Crossbeam and compression post built in molds. Glass/epoxy over Airex foam vaccum bagged. Finished with epoxy two part paint.

Crossbeam: IPN type baffles over the length of the beam with carbon reinforcements at the top and bottom of baffles. Carbon chainplate at each end of crossbeam attach to hulls. Two composite anchor chain davits.  Martingale with adjustment at top.  

Compression beam: shaped beam extending beyond crossbeam for genaker tack. Four internal baffles with Carbon UD reinforcements at bottom and edges. Carbon chainplate for headstay with stainless-steel sheathing. Articulated Wichard chainplate for staysail tack.

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