SUPERYACHT #12
Spring 2007
Article selected from our quarterly magazine dedicated to the largest
and most luxurious boats with information, interviews, technical
articles, images and yachting news
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Article by
Daniele Carnevali
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OPAC HYDRO-ELECTRIC SUN-COVER
When architects "dare", when they put forward new lines, new
living space solutions, they do so because the technology that
will back their aesthetic or functional choices is available. It
is the kind of technology which comes from small artisans who run
thriving businesses in Italy, the same that have been able to cut
a niche out for themselves through their accurate and specialised
work, small to medium sized companies operating closely with the
technical divisions of the yards and of course with naval architects.
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For further information please contact: OPAC S.r.l. - Via
Bruino, 26 - 10040 Rivalta di Torino (TO) tel. 011 9038581 fax 011
9031875 Web site: www.opacgroup.com E-mail: opac@opacgroup.com.
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This is exactly what has happened with OPAC which is specialised
in producing custom built protections on their own design, as well
as hard top coverings of various shapes for open hulls and yachts
of all sizes, even particularly large ones. The Turin based
company has in fact presented a very interesting project which
changes the angle in terms of how open spaces on boats are
perceived. The same spaces which, all the more increasingly, need
to be comfortable and protected albeit being in the open.
OPAC has hence invented the "extractable sun-cover". The system
happily folds away without compromising the aesthetics of the
yacht by disappearing completely into its housing cleverly placed
either on the underside of the hard-top or under the superyacht's 'fly'.
The canopy may be "fanned" out of its aluminium structure thanks
to the parallel rails on either side of it. The inner mechanism
hinges on four rollers which activate its central body. The inner
rack trolley, is comprised by an aluminium housing holding seven
rotating arms which carry the canopy structure. A hydro-electric
console controls the exit of the canopy out of its housing through
a hydraulic piston. The console and its sensors also monitor
operating speeds ensuring precision and stability in order to
avoid bumping and jarring taking place within the structure.
The rotating movement of the arms forces the canvas to extend
itself facilitating the exit of the other arms to which it is
attached. The canvas thus resembles a fan-like semi circular form.
The outer casing of the system is wedge-shaped and the front part
is made wider in order to facilitate the folding procedure of the
canvas upon re-entry. During this phase the cylinder which
controls the whole movement retreats with the rotating arms
folding as the canvas returns inside the housing.
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