The yard building carbon cruising catamarans founded by Peter Johnstone, now French-based in La Grande-Motte
Gunboat designs and builds high-performance carbon cruising catamarans from 62 to 80 feet. Founded in 2002 following a personal order by American Peter Johnstone, the yard is now based in La Grande-Motte (Hérault) after its acquisition in 2016 by French group Grand Large Yachting.
From Cape Town to La Grande-Motte
The project starts in 2002 when Peter Johnstone orders a 62' catamaran from Morrelli & Melvin to sail with his family. The boat — named Tribe — is built in South Africa (Cape Town) and becomes Gunboat hull #1. The concept (carbon cruising cat, heavy equipment centered around the center of gravity) takes off, and Johnstone founds Gunboat to build more. Production moves from China to North Carolina (USA).
Late 2015, Gunboat goes bankrupt. Grand Large Yachting acquires its assets in 2016; Peter Johnstone leaves management. The yard is relocated to La Grande-Motte in a new 3,600 m² carbon multihull assembly workshop.
VPLP naval architecture, carbon construction
Under Grand Large Yachting, naval architecture shifts to VPLP Design. Hulls and structures are in carbon composite (prepreg over Nomex honeycomb core) with watertight crash boxes in each bow and buoyancy compartments in hulls, coachroof, and platform — offshore safety designed for boats capable of exceeding true wind speed in certain points of sail.
