A Carbon Fiber First.
Tangent recently partnered with frequent collaborator Avalon Pontoon Boats, to design and develop the all-new Excalibur pontoon, with an industry first carbon-fiber exterior wall system. Tangent was asked to completely re-think the previous Excalibur and its aluminum sidewall construction, carrying over only two exterior accent pieces from the original design. With a full carbon-fiber pallet in hand, Tangent developed a distinctive and luxurious pontoon that perfectly reflects Avalon’s heritage of clean lines and classic forms.
Starting with the previous Excalibur’s layout and thermo-form exterior accent pieces, Tangent set about designing a carbon-fiber bodied solution that would introduce more volume, and luxurious 3D forms, to what was once a flat-aluminum side wall exterior. Working first to develop and refine these themes in 2D, Tangent then took to Autodesk Alias to further develop the chosen theme in a Class-A surfacing software, ensuring an automotive level fit and finish.
A Helm Full of Features.
In addition to the exterior styling, Tangent assisted in the design and development of the Excalibur’s Commander helm and many seating configurations, as well as interior accent panels, speaker meshes, and billet and foam accents. Additional development time was spent on the Excalibur’s custom windshield, featuring a custom cast end cap enclosing a completely reworked Avalon logo.
Developed alongside the Excalibur’s exterior styling, the all-new Commander helm was designed with the user in mind. Working closely over 3D data, Tangent produced 2D concepts that matched the exterior’s bold styling, while incorporating the extensive features that a modern helm requires. Tangent’s 3D development of the helm also heavily incorporated VR walk throughs and ergonomic testing to ensure that every screen and switch would be accessible by the end user.
Designing Every Detail.
Not content to just develop a new top of the line model for Avalon, Tangent also developed a new Avalon logo and branding for the entire company, bringing Avalon’s classic design language in line with the new Excalibur’s future forward styling.
Working closely with Avalon, and a bevy of parts suppliers, Tangent was able to ensure the quality of every piece of the Excalibur from 2D sketch to tool ready 3D parts, helping to make the Excalibur one of a kind.
You can learn more about the new Avalon Excalibur at Avalon’s website:
