Mini Tank, Maximum Performance: How ATL Composites Materials Are Building a Trailerable Motor Yacht for the Whitsundays
When Noosa Marine’s “The Tank” — a 13.9-metre Roger Hill-designed monohull built with ATL Composites’ DuFLEX panel system — launched in 2023, it earned a devoted following for its tough practicality and clean lines. Now, a new commission at Noosa Marine is proving that what works at 46 feet works just as well scaled down: meet the “Mini Tank.”
The 7.95-metre (8.76m with engine) motor yacht is currently under build at Noosa Marine in Queensland. Like its larger predecessor, Mini Tank relies on ATL Composites materials throughout — from the structural composite panels to the epoxy systems bonding it all together.
A Brief Built Around DuFLEX
The owner’s requirements were demanding in their simplicity: a trailerable, trafficable motor yacht that could be stored in a shed at Airlie Beach with a 3.1-metre door height restriction, towed behind a Toyota HiLux, and still deliver a comfortable overnight experience on the Reef.
For Noosa Marine Director Julian Griffiths, the answer was the same as it was for The Tank: build it in DuFLEX.
“The beauty of the DuFLEX is the weight, because it needs to be towed behind a Toyota HiLux. Plus, it’s easy to work with, cut to exact measurements with minimal waste, saving time and labour.”
The entire hull structure is built using DuFLEX composite panels — ATL’s pre-engineered, press-laminated sandwich panel system that combines precision fibre-to-resin ratios with a consistent, dimensionally accurate core. The result is a hull that is lighter than timber or traditional hand-laminated construction, without compromising structural integrity.
The ATL Epoxy System: Bonding, Laminating, Fairing
Mini Tank’s build incorporates a deliberate combination of ATL-formulated epoxy systems, each selected for its specific application in the construction sequence.
WEST SYSTEM® epoxy products handle bonding, filleting and fairing throughout the build — trusted by boatbuilders for decades for their reliability in structural joining and surface preparation applications.
For laminating and taping, KINETIX® R246TX epoxy resin paired with H160 hardener is used throughout. KINETIX® R246TX is a low-viscosity laminating system well suited to fibre wet-out, delivering the mechanical performance required for a vessel that will be regularly trailered, launched and used in coastal Queensland conditions.
Together, the two systems reflect how ATL products are designed to work as a complete material solution — rather than isolated products — supporting every stage of the build from panel assembly through to final surface preparation.
Designer Roger Hill is a veteran of the DuFLEX system, having specified it across multihull and monohull projects for more than two decades. On Mini Tank, he points to two qualities that matter most to a naval architect: dimensional accuracy and weight consistency.
“The boats we’ve built using the DuFLEX panel system have always been the most accurate compared to the calculated weight estimate. The fibre to resin ratio is consistent so the estimated weight of the product is consistent and accurate. This is very critical, particularly with catamarans, for the calculation of the position of the centre of gravity.”
“The mechanical bond between the laminate and the core is extremely good due to the manufacturing process of using the panel press and the tonnes of pressure used to ‘clamp’ the core and laminate together while it is curing. Basically, you start the build process with something that is of the highest quality, then the process of assembling it flows smoothly and the finished product reflects that.”
For Mini Tank, Hill notes the main engineering challenge was fitting within the 3.1m shed door height restriction while maintaining full headroom under the bimini — a constraint solved in part by keeping the bimini’s top surface clear of all hardware, with only flexible solar panels fitted and 50mm of tolerance built in.
Local Supply, Technical Support, Build Confidence
One of the practical advantages Noosa Marine cite throughout the Mini Tank project is access to ATL’s locally manufactured materials and technical support. For a 6-month build timeline with a specific weight target, the consistency and availability of ATL products eliminates a variable that offshore-sourced materials cannot.
ATL Composites manufactures and distributes from its Gold Coast facility, supplying DuFLEX panels, KINETIX® epoxy systems, WEST SYSTEM® products, fibreglass cloth and ancillary materials to the Australian marine, industrial and aerospace markets. The proximity of supply — and the depth of technical knowledge behind it — supports builders in meeting tight schedules without compromising specification.
The Finished Vessel
Mini Tank will be powered by a single 350hp Yamaha outboard, with solar panels on the hardtop keeping the onboard refrigeration charged at anchor. The layout prioritises flexible use: an aft deck dining table converts to a double bed for overnight stays, an on-deck galley sits behind the helm, and sunpads on the bow complete the picture. Below decks: a V-berth double and a head with hand basin.
With the hull shell nearing completion, delivery is targeted for spring 2026 — in time for the owners to explore the Whitsundays, reef anchorages and remote shallow-water spots that define the best of cruising in this part of the world.
Specify ATL Composites for Your Next Build
Whether you’re building a trailerable day boat or a full offshore passage maker, ATL Composites’ technical team can assist with material selection, DuFLEX panel specification and epoxy system recommendations.
For more information, visit:
Read the articlie on https://www.marinebusinessnews.com.au/2026/05/another-tank-but-make-it-mini/