We started from the smaller boat steering wheel, the 935mm diameter, which was built from the beginning without any major problem, demonstrating that the technology was viable. So much so that we later decide to patent it. The weight of that first wheel was 2.200 g, even if its lamination was very conservative. Our estimates were thus confirmed, since the competition ranged between 2.250 and 3.500 g.

There were a few minor problems with surface finishing. The causes were already determined and solved in the second and third prototypes. This prototypes were also lightened to 1.800 g, after testing the excellent strength of the first prototype.

The further structural testing performed on the second and third prototypes confirmed the excellence of this technology and by the end of summer 2003 we made a further 5 prototypes with a weight reduced to 1.480 g, keeping a strength well above the certification limits.

The same procedure has been followed with the bigger wheels and with the boat gangways.