Evolution Marine Manufacturing

26/02/2026

26/02/2026

Welcome to the Team, Nevarra Engelbrecht
I’ve worked with Nevarra previously, across different programmes and different levels of pressure. What has always stood out is her ability to bring structure and calm into environments that can easily become reactive.
She understands manufacturing. Not just schedules and milestones, but how production actually flows, where the pressure builds, and how upstream decisions affect downstream quality.
Nevarra also brings extensive QC experience from high-volume marine manufacturing. She’s been close to the detail, resolving issues, closing loops, and understanding how repeatability and discipline protect both the build and the brand. To us that’s very important!
She joins Evolution Marine Manufacturing in a Project Coordination & Schedule Control role, initially, strengthening the backbone of how we execute. As we grow, visibility, alignment, and process discipline become even more critical, and she brings exactly that.
There’s something meaningful about experienced, values-aligned people choosing to build together again.
Nevarra, I'm so glad you’re here, and welcome!

29/01/2026

Welcome to the Team, Thabit

In late 2007, when I joined Robertson and Caine, I distinctly remember meeting Thabit Jassiem, at the time a Team Leader in Final Assembly in a very demanding manufacturing environment.
What stood out then, and still does today, was his calm, organised approach under pressure. His skill set, curiosity, eye for detail, and the respect he’s earned from his peers speak volumes about the craftsman and leader he is.
So, when the call came from him, it was an easy decision.
What’s been happening naturally is that an old “family” of passionate, talented people is coming back together, to build something special, the right way. The responsibility is real: we’re building people’s dreams, and we do that in a focused, calm, and methodical way, for our team and our clients.
Building an honest boat starts with your people. And it’s only with individuals like you, Thabit, that we can truly deliver on that.
We’re grateful to have you on board, and I’m personally glad you chose Evolution Marine Manufacturing as your next step.

Welcome.

28/01/2026

Composite materials: where marketing narratives and engineering reality often diverge

Scroll LinkedIn or YouTube long enough and you’ll find no shortage of confident opinions on “the right” way to build a composite boat. Too often, these narratives are shaped for reassurance and marketing clarity, rather than grounded in engineering logic, performance data, or life-cycle reality.

In practice, composite materials are not beliefs. They are tools. In industries where failure is not an option, aerospace, Formula One, high-performance marine, and modern superyachts, mixed-material systems are standard practice. Not because they are fashionable, but because they deliver the best performance per kilogram and per euro when engineered, integrated, and controlled correctly.

The same logic applies in boatbuilding.

Glass, carbon, resins, and cores all have a legitimate place. Carbon is neither a silver bullet nor a problem material. Used well, it allows weight to be removed where it matters most, stiffness and fatigue to be controlled, and structural efficiency to improve. Those choices have practical consequences that are often overlooked. Lighter boats sail more easily, sail for longer, and rely less on engines. In real terms, that means better performance, more time sailing, and lower fuel burn over the life of the vessel.

Claims frequently made around comfort or acoustics are also often misunderstood. Carbon structures, like any composite structure, can be noisier when poorly engineered. Noise, damping, fatigue, and long-term behaviour are outcomes of laminate design, core selection, detailing, isolation, and ex*****on, not of material choice alone.

At Evolution Marine Manufacturing, we do not start with material ideology. We start with the system.
Load cases and duty cycles
Stiffness, deflection, and fatigue control
Weight and centre-of-gravity targets
Acoustic behaviour and damping strategies
Interfaces, serviceability, and lifecycle risk

Only then do materials enter the conversation.

Uniform material systems can be the right answer in some cases. Hybrid systems can be the right answer in others. What matters is not simplicity for reassurance or performance for marketing, but clear intent, disciplined engineering, and repeatable ex*****on.

The composite market has matured. Owners are better informed than ever. The real differentiator today is not what materials are used, but why they are used, where they are used, and how confidently they are delivered.

That is how we approach composite boatbuilding at EMM. Calmly, factually, and without emotion.

12/01/2026

THE FIVE-DAY WEEK IS A HABIT. NOT A LAW OF PHYSICS.

In early 2024 we moved Evolution Marine Manufacturing (EMM) onto a four-day week. Not as a gimmick. Not to be “modern”.

Because I’ve spent my life in production environments and I know what the five-day grind does if you’re not careful: it wears people down… and then everyone wonders why quality, safety and morale start slipping.

We decided to try something different. People first.

And the improvements didn’t come overnight — they’ve been steady and progressive, which is what makes it real.

Over the last 12 months we’re sitting at roughly:
3.0% average absent hours
1.5% overtime
and zero major injuries
I’ve been around this industry a long time. Those numbers are not normal in a busy yard.

And there’s another reality we don’t talk about enough.
Cape Town has a drug and alcohol problem. Most cities do. But in production environments, and especially boatbuilding, it can be an absolute Achilles heel. Ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear. It just makes it someone else’s emergency later.

So, we introduced random weekly drug and alcohol testing. Not to play cops. Not to “catch” people. To see what’s really going on…. and to protect the team.

What I’m proud of most is that we’ve been able to support one or two of our guys through rehabilitation and bring them back into the team.
When one of them came back after time off, the shopfloor gave him a deafening round of applause. Proper applause. A few tears I saw in that moment and I won’t lie, I had goosebumps and a tear or two as well.

That’s culture.

Honesty. Accountability. Backing your people, and expecting the same in return.

This matters even more now, as our order book is growing.
As demand increases, our margin for error shrinks. Accuracy, a full complement of staff, and a safe working environment aren’t “nice-to-haves”, they’re going to be critical to our success.
We’re not here to defend the status quo, We’re here to build something better.

Heading into 2026, people are back at the top of my list, because 2025 proved what’s possible when you mean it.

Better today than we were yesterday.

08/12/2025

South Africa is facing one of the biggest skills gaps of our time and it also happens to be one of our biggest opportunities.
I started my own career at 19, with limited formal education but a strong technical curiosity. That journey led me across the world, from composite projects in China, to Antarctica, to GT40 race cars, and even aerospace-grade applications where precision and material science are everything.
After 30 years in advanced composites, I can confidently say this:
Young people don’t need a university degree to build a world-class technical career. They need access, mentorship, and a meaningful starting point.
And right now, the world desperately needs them.
The global shortage of composite technicians has been identified as a critical skills gap, affecting marine, aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, and defence industries. Major manufacturers simply cannot keep up with demand.
This is why Evolution Marine Manufacturing (EMM) is launching a Junior Composite Apprenticeship Program for technically minded 18–25-year-olds.
No matric required (though strong maths literacy helps), just aptitude, discipline, and curiosity.
Selected apprentices will gain hands-on experience in:
· Composite layup & resin infusion
· CNC machining & digital tooling
· Prepreg & aerospace-grade processing
· Structural assembly & advanced QA
· Real-world production of high-performance multihulls
As EMM builds a new advanced composite facility, developing the next generation of South African technicians isn’t just important, it’s essential.
This is more than training, it’s about creating careers, continuity, and a future where South Africans can take the lead in global marine manufacturing.
If you know a young person who is good with their hands, technically curious, or unsure of their next step, this could be their moment.

01/12/2025

Evolution Marine Manufacturing Enters High-Performance Sector with New Strategic Partnership

Cape Town-based Evolution Marine Manufacturing (EMM) has partnered with two leading naval architecture firms to begin development of a next-generation 40ft offshore foiling racer.

The new MW40 Offshore Foiler marks a significant step in EMM’s ambition to compete at the forefront of the global high-performance sector, building on the yard’s proven expertise in advanced composite construction.

“The combined ambition of the design and build team is to launch a multi-yacht series capable of competing internationally, both within a dedicated class and under IRC,” EMM said in a statement this week. The MW40 Offshore Foiler will be built to a One Design Class “Box Rule.”

For the project, EMM has teamed up with Sailing Architect BV, led by offshore racing specialist Willem Jan Landman, and South America–based Wilson-Marquinez Naval Architects, a firm recognised for its work in advanced composites and foiling platform design.

“With decades of experience across offshore racers, foil-assist concepts, and data-driven performance engineering, they provide the technical backbone of the MW40 project, translating cutting-edge design into a fully engineered, competition-ready offshore foiler,” the yard said.

EMM founder Oliver Dawson confirmed the project is now in its final design phase. “This latest project adds to our growing profile in the high-performance segment, with multiple advanced builds now underway,” Dawson told IBI this week.

He added that further projects are also in development as the company expands its offering. “The yard operates as a boutique, engineering-led composites specialist, supported by a strong technical team and a new facility designed for precision manufacturing,”

02/07/2025

We’re excited to welcome Justin Booyens, Junior Engineer, to the Evolution Marine Manufacturing team.
Justin brings a hands-on approach and a solid foundation in mechanical engineering to our growing engineering department. A recent graduate of Stellenbosch University, he specialized in material strength and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), developing both technical depth and strong analytical skills.
Through his academic journey and exposure to industry, Justin discovered a passion for producing high-quality work and staying actively involved in the workshop—ensuring his designs are accurately and efficiently brought to life. His growing interest in marine engineering is driven by a desire to merge practical problem-solving with innovation in a high-performance, fast-paced environment.
Eager to grow, contribute, and learn from experienced professionals, Justin is enthusiastic about applying his technical expertise and project management skills in support of Evolution Marine’s mission of engineering excellence.

02/07/2025

We are privileged to welcome Stefan Falcon to the Evolution Marine Manufacturing team.
With over 40 years of experience in composite construction and boatbuilding, Stefan is a master craftsman with a distinguished global career. His technical expertise and hands-on leadership in high-performance yacht building bring exceptional value to our operations.
Originally from Rome, Stefan built his first catamaran at 20 and was running his own boatyard by the age of 27. He holds a diploma in Yacht and Boat Design from the Southampton Institute and is a qualified shipwright, having trained at the Istituto Tecnico Nautico in Rome.
Stefan’s career spans Europe and South Africa, including key contributions to Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup yachts. For 22 years, he led the Composites Department at Southern Wind Shipyard, helping to produce some of the world’s finest performance cruising yachts.
As Evolution Marine continues to expand with a diverse and performance-focused order book, Stefan’s appointment underscores our commitment to world-class craftsmanship and innovation. His arrival strengthens our position within the South African marine industry and supports our ambition to benchmark ourselves against the best boatbuilders globally. hashtag

17/04/2025

A beautiful sight! One of two
6M26.3’s “being put to bed” with precision