Manufacturing precision - behind the scenes of a 64.9m sailing yacht
At Pendennis, precision engineering has always been at the heart of what we do, but never has it been more streamlined than with the creation of our Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC). By bringing all of our machining capabilities under one roof, we’ve transformed the way we design and manufacture specialist components for the world’s finest superyachts.
Inside the DMC, our machining team works with remarkable versatility. Their projects range from crafting an 8-metre boom for a sailing yacht to machining components as fine as 2mm in diameter. With advanced equipment - including a CNC high-pressure waterjet cutter, lathes, and mills - the team can design, engineer, and fabricate virtually any part required, all in-house. This not only gives us complete control over quality and precision, but also enables faster problem-solving for yachts undergoing refit or facing unexpected engineering challenges.
Recently, the DMC played a pivotal role in enhancing the performance of a 64.9m sailing yacht. After the crew reported issues under sail, several components were modelled in CAD to investigate the cause. Through detailed prototyping and analysis, it became clear that the yacht’s toggles required redesigning. The machining team engineered new components, and once fitted, the improvement to the yacht’s handling and overall performance was immediate and significant. It was a proud moment that showcased the impact of in-house expertise and state-of-the-art manufacturing.
Machine engineering has become an increasingly valued part of our work at Pendennis, and the DMC is central to this growth. The facility is staffed by three highly skilled machinists and supported by two - soon to be three - apprentices who are progressing through our award-winning apprenticeship scheme. Their development ensures that the craft of precision engineering will continue to thrive at Pendennis for years to come.
If you’re interested in learning more about our machining capabilities, we’d love to hear from you.
For waterjet cutting enquiries: waterjet@pendennis.com
For machining enquiries: machineshop@pendennis.com
