Andrew Trujillo Design

ELEGANT
SUSTAINABILITY

This is a 4.5 metre (14.7’) electric launch, inspired by the classic wooden speedboats of the early and mid-twentieth century. 

However, this is not a speedboat, but rather a boat specifically designed to glide almost silently in rivers, canals, lakes, and other inland waterways. Slowly.

The hull has been designed for efficiency and grace. This is a boat that combines state of the art electric propulsion and batteries with timeless looks. It is also a boat designed to tread lightly on the environment. 

The boat is to be made of marine plywood that has been bonded and sealed using bio-epoxies. The main aim is to produce a boat that uses materials that are natural in origin and as sustainable as is possible. 

The aim is to make a design that will endure, that will be both robust and hardy, so that the ownership of the vessel is practical. However, we hope that the boat will connect emotionally too.

The boat aims to be elegant and well appointed, luxurious without being over the top, a launch that you are proud to be in and be seen in.
Her design is inspired by the past but is also contemporary. She will be available in stained finishes that can be glossy or matt, with her hull being available painted too, if desired. 

The seating on the exterior will use marine grade leather, or natural fabrics (possibly waxed cotton, that not only is water repellent, durable and natural, but also patinates with time) but others like hemp may be possible; it is important for us to include longevity to the boat, as it is perhaps one of the crucial ways towards sustainable design and living, but we are also mindful that things should grow old gracefully.

 The decking uses cork, sourced from Portugal. Cork makes a lot of sense in this application, it is non slip, does not heat as much as teak which can be uncomfortable for bare feet, is impermeable, is a great insulator and looks good.

Why timber?

Andrew has spent four years researching sustainable materials and manufacturing processes. He looked at, and is still considering flax fibre, hemp, jute, bamboo and fique fibres for construction. However, one of the conclusions from the whole evaluation of these materials and others was that timber, specifically engineered timbers such as plywood, offer a very effective combination of structural and aesthetic properties with good sustainability credentials when sourced from properly accredited sources. Timber is also light, and beautiful in many people’s eyes.

Is timber more expensive to maintain?

This is a valid question. It is true that wood requires maintenance, and it important to aknowledge this. However, there is a mistaken view that composite fibre boats and those made of metal do not require maintenance, as this simply is not true, they do and can present problems if not looked after properly. Wood does require care, but modern resins and varnishes protect wood in ways that were not possible in the past. Our aim is to ensure that the boats we make last, and look great even after decades of use. 

Two designs made over the Christmas holidays. Both designs intended for use on Canals and Inland waterways. Both electric and both made of marine plywood. The first of the two designs is this 6.5 metre (21′) electric launch with a small “cuddy” cabin. I will do another post later with the smaller one of the two, a 4.5m electric launch.

The aim of these designs is to be as sustainable as possible, with a hint of glamour and great craftsmanship. They may look speedy, but in actual fact they are designed to glide at a leisurely pace on the canals and rivers; a chance to slow down and enjoy the view!

These launches have 8 hours of range, with the larger launch providing an occasional overnight cuddy. This larger vessel would have the option of a petrol generator to extend the range.

Both launches are contemporary takes on classic wooden launches, with modern quiet technology that is reliable. Their construction in marine plywood with epoxy is a good and low CO2 alternative to other composites.

Both launches aim to capture the romance of classic speedboats, but with a modern twist, silent and efficient, light and durable. But also, slow. UK canals are limited to 4mph. Many rivers are restricted to 6mph. These boats would be limited to 6.5mph. It is pointless designing a boat to be capable of going at very high speeds when they will be operating at much lower ones, as this is about efficiency and responsibility, as lots of wash damages the banks of the canals and nesting sites of birds and other animals. Many canals and rivers in other parts of Europe are also speed limited, for the same reasons.

Exterior fabrics and the covering of the dashboard will possibly be done using waterproof grade waxed cotton, or marine grade leather, whilst other natural fabrics are also being considered.
The boat could be specified with either a matt finish for the wood or the more traditional highly glossy finish. The hull can also be specified painted or with the hull in the stained wood finish as seen on some of these preview images.

It would be great to see one of these (or many!) built.

The 6.5m vessel could be specified with a galley. It would comfortably carry 6-10 passengers. All versions will feature a drawer fridge, perfect to chill drinks and keep the picnic fresh.

All materials used will be as natural and truly as sustainable as possible. The deck flooring will be cork, the interior will also use expanded cork for insulation. The ceiling and side panels of the cabin will use Piñatex, a faux leather made of pineapple bagasse. The images depict the natural fibre bed spread (made of linen) as well as the cotton sheets and even the mattress is custom made with natural, vegan components depending on requirements and budget.

In the summer of 2022 I took on a project that was very different to anything I had done before. Many of my previous projects have been yachts, superyachts and powerboats, so this was definitely a different animal. I worked with McConnel, a UK based agricultural equipment company, which is part of a larger international group, on the design (some of it “styling” if you wish, some of it more conventional design) of what could be described as their flagship product, the Agribuggy. This machine is a self-propelled crop sprayer, and it is a big beast!

It was for me, a design project to give the machine a modern face, but the machine overall has been transformed thoroughly in terms of engineering, from the mechanicals changing from being purely mechanical to hydro-mechanical. The machine retains the 4 wheel drive, 4 wheel steer capabilities and is full of all kinds of electronic kit which allows it to spray very precisely and in targeted quantities. My involvement was to give it a set of appropriate “clothes”. As it is such a large beast, whilst I wanted it to look rugged and strong, I also did not want it to look intimidating. So many machines on the market seem aggressive, but although there is a time and place for that, I wanted the Agribuggy to borrow a leaf from the original Routemaster bus, be big and robust but still look friendly and approachable. I did not do all of this on my own, I had the members of the McConnel design and engineering team help me, and we had long conversations also on other functional aspects of the device, how to make it easier to service, how to keep mud and dust away from so many parts, etc. We also looked into the rear, and I designed a partial cover too. We wanted the vehicle to be visible. These machines when they go on public roads are relatively slow 30 mph (50km/h) and it seemed important that following vehicles were alerted to the presence from a long distance so that they slow down in plenty of time.

The design and engineering team at McConnel have done a great job of interpreting my designs and putting them into production; there is a lot of work that happens between the concept sketches, initial computer models/renders and a final machine. I want to congratulate them for their hard work and dedication, but as always it is great to see something in real life. Now, we have to see how well it sells; fingers crossed!

One of the frustrating elements for me in terms of mobility, is that with the advent of electric cars, most manufacturers have concentrated mostly on larger machines. Heavier and more expensive than is necessary in my opinion. Whilst in reality what we should be concentrating on is lighter vehicles that do not need huge and expensive battery packs to provide the perceived or needed range. This little machine would be pretty aerodynamic, made using developable surfaces and light materials. It would be simple to make, suitable for developing and developed countries, electric powered with pedal power too, so that you can top up the batteries with pedal power. It is a Quadricycle, so it would be designed to meet the requirements set by the European Union.
Designed to have full independent suspension and perhaps offering versions with leaning suspension too. The vehicle is a tandem, so you can take a friend along too, and they don’t have to pedal! The variants shown here are some that I created a while back using AI. In reality though the overall design would be probably simpler than some seen here below.

A while ago I designed this Pedal-Electric Quadricycle, a light vehicle somewhere between a bicycle and a small car. It is a single seater with carrying capacity for some shopping and partial wind/rain cover. The cover mostly is there for aerodynamic purposes as in reality the rain protection in a heavy rain would not really work. Built of light materials, possibly using plywood, aluminium and moulded flax fibre with bio epoxy.

I have made a number of variations including a six wheeler, which has greater carrying capacity.

The idea is that the vehicle leans into corners using the system I designed a few years ago, with a few improvements.

Many of the yachts and boats that I have designed over the years are BIG. Or pretty large, depending on what you view to be large. Without exception, none would fit in my garage or on the roof rack of my car. So this one is one design that, if time and opportunity allow, is one that might fit in my garage and perhaps be transported to a local lake or reservoir to sail. Obviously it will need to be built first! It is a task that perhaps could take place in summer, with some assistance of one or both of my boys, who knows?
In the meantime this is the design. Yes, it is an outrigger canoe with a Gaff sail and my idea of suspension on the Iakos (outrigger arms). It would be built as a skin on frame canoe, as well as a skin on frame Ama (the outrigger float). The suspension would be experimental, by means of a couple of double wishbones and I would use bungee cords, although not sure they have the necessary dampening qualities…

Motor Yacht Continuum is one of my favourite concept projects, perhaps because it seems a combination of being just realistic enough and also that little bit different. It is also fast, which has an appeal, plus it has been designed inside and out. The collection of images that follow are a number of variations on the interior design for some of the main areas. The idea is to show the same spaces with small variations in detailing, finish etc to help create a variety of ambiences. The original images I made some while back are somewhat dark, and although they have a touch of the chiaroscuro, perhaps too much is hidden, so I do prefer the later versions in this respect, however I do like the material choices. The images labelled original, all have a consistent floor which would be Mahogany, but not as it is normally seen on antique furniture, but rather in the whole variety of hues of this wood. The other images in turn offer versions where the main wood used is Anigre (Figured and not), or Walnut, Birch, Cedar etc.

Fast Catamaran

Equinox is a fast motor Catamaran. Jaguar cars used to use an advertising strap-line of Space, Grace and Pace, and in a sense this would suit the equinox 45m very well. Although 45m long, in terms of accommodation, it would be closer to a 60m motor yacht, so plenty of “Space”. At 50 knots, with an Adam Younger stepped hull, probably powered through waterjets, we have taken care of the “Pace” side of things. The “Grace” one is trickier, as it is subjective, but I designed her to look fast even when she was moored, I have kept her profile quite clean and she is purposeful.
She was designed a few years ago now, but I think that a yacht like this one would turn heads wherever she went.

Fire and Rescue Boat

Following the last post of a fire and rescue truck, I decided to attempt a fire and rescue boat. In this case I decided to use a fast stepped hull designed by Adam Younger as a basis for this 12M motor boat design. I felt that it would be an interesting hull to use as it has been designed to achieve speeds well in excess of 60 knots. Depending on the engines selected and the equipment carried, this vessel would perhaps be a little slower, but still capable of speeds in excess of 50 knots, which seems to be twice as fast as other Fire and Rescue boats that I have seen around. This again plays with the notion of a rapid response machine, one that can reach the scene of an accident or place where a rescue needs to take place, swiftly. Sometimes speed is of the essence! The boat would have some paramedic facilities as well as a basic galley, some accommodation and a head (WC). Although I have designed it as a work boat, with a few small modifications it could perhaps also serve as a tough recreational vessel, so the moulds would be amortised over a larger run? The name Firefly seemed appropriate as it would “Fly” to the scene of a Fire, it is also a little nod to the use of an AI of the same name used for the creation of a couple of the visuals…

Variation in Design Proposals using AI

The advent of AI has meant that revisiting older designs and creating a wide range of design proposals is much easier, and fun. These are all concepts, and the AI has misunderstood a number of design features, or has completely reinterpreted others. Some of them are a little strange, some of them needed some editing, some I have left as it did them, the text becoming somewhat weird in some cases! Interestingly, for me at least, most of the red trucks were considerably darker hues of red than I had imagined. Many had a distinct US fire truck feel to them. I do however quite like several of the graphic details that the AI has put forward, and I might revisit my original design and tweak it at some time in the future.
The image above is the original design I did. In this case I did use AI for the background though. The images that follow are all variations on the same vehicle from different angles.