De Koning Carbon Seat
Royal seats for a premium poweryacht
De Koning sets the bar high: building the finest high-end yachts.
This mindset is not only applied to the hull but is carried through to every component. A blend of luxury and sportiness down to the details, a true Gran Turismo for the water.
The helmsman seats had to be of top quality as well, providing high seating comfort and good lateral support during voyages at full speed over rough waters. Standard boat seats fell short: while their thick cushions offered comfort, they lacked sufficient lateral support. And the typically somewhat outdated designs also did not align with the concept. To draw inspiration, we turned to a completely different market with the same stringent requirements: sports cars.
Gran Turismo
After evaluating various options, we settled on a carbonfiber bucket seat from a luxury, track-focused GT. It underwent ergonomic testing and was deemed suitable to serve as the basis for a unique design, tailored for maritime use and fully integrated into the new De Koning Offshorer 43 yacht. The seat has been completely digitized with 3D scanning, serving as a digital reference for the development of a new bucket seat.
This 3D scan is not directly usable as a digital foundation for (re)production. The scan data consists of millions of data points, which the software connects like a mosaic to form a closed surface. At first glance, this yields a decent result. But for a visible product with a polished finish, like this carbonfiber seat, the surfacing quality determines the appearance and quality experience. Imperfections are immediately visible due to the interrupted reflections of light. And for mould production, a smooth surface is much easier for CNC milling than a network of millions of facets.
Make smooth
Therefore, a completely new surface model was constructed based on the 3D scan data. With the highest surfacing quality, known as curvature continuous, ensuring that reflections on the high-gloss carbonfiber are as smooth and natural as possible. Using this new 3D file, the plug and mould files for the series production were also provided. But also for the foam parts responsible for seating comfort, a 3D file was supplied, allowing the foam to be CNC-shaped. In collaboration with the upholsterer, the entire product was then beautifully finished with leather upholstery.
A wide range of techniques were thus applied for this project: from reverse engineering through 3D scanning, high-end surfacing modeling, custom maritime solutions for assembly and functionality, to optimization for production in close consultation with suppliers. Integrated product development at its best.
An elegant combination of modern design techniques and authentic craftsmanship, resulting in perfect seating comfort and lateral support so that you dare to fully unleash the power of this maritime sports car.
