The advantages of removable panels for the marine sector

For more than 20 years, the New Zealand-based panel company Fastmount has revolutionised the mounting process of panelling in marine and architectural applications. Pioneering quick release mounting solutions that can be reused time and time again, Fastmount’s hidden fixings have long been used in the superyacht sector and are also ideal for use aboard ocean fishing boats, sports boats and towboats, offering a functional and elegant solution to the often time and cost intensive panel mounting walls, ceilings, carpets and more. Perfect marine mounting

Fastmount’s removable panels are an ideal solution for the marine sector for a number of reasons. Offering perfect alignment with the clip system that utilises CentrePoint placement, alignment is ensured on the full product range by allowing the installer to line up and mark the panels before any drilling takes place. Fastmount also offers CAD files on all of their products, making it easier to layout the design and prefabricate the panels before they ever enter the superyacht. 

Pre-drilling the panels offsite means that the installation process is seamless when onboard, reducing the possibility of damage during the crucial fit out period onboard the yacht. In addition, the ease of installation and removal makes the panels perfect for the yachting environment; should a panel get marked or damaged, it can easily be replaced without the need for a full panel refit. Testing their products with third party company SGS, Fastmount has guaranteed that their mounting clips can be disengaged at least 500 times before losing integrity meaning that the clips can be reused even when the panels are replaced, and their safety is ensured. In addition to integrity testing, the Fastmount ranges can accommodate panels up to 32 kilograms, meaning that they can be used for heavyweight materials such as metal and stone. 

In a sector that is all about aesthetics, Fastmount has also ensured that its mounting systems are completely invisible, meaning that they do not interfere with the superyacht’s interior design. Hidden behind the wall panels themselves, the clips require no special maintenance, and because they have been specifically designed to be removed and easily refitted, the systems allow for easy access to maintain wiring, electronics and plumbing. It also means that panels can hide additional storage areas, which are particularly valuable aboard superyachts where storage is often limited. A range for every finish

Fastmount has developed seven product ranges designed to perform on air, land and sea, with clips created for use on different substrates, for different panel materials and weights and with a range of fix options. The team has also developed a specialist Clip Selector on their website, so that you can quickly create a specification for your project and find the best Fastmount range for your project needs before contacting a technical expert. 

Within the range, Fastmount has also created components that can be utilised on the exterior of your vessel for upholstery panels and their mounting systems can be used on curved walls as well as straight. This even further enables Fastmount to realise the intricate and elaborate design of the superyacht, without impacting the overall finish. Case Studies

Fastmount has worked on a myriad of superyacht projects over the past twenty years, here we take a look at a few examples;

Baltic's 33-metre WinWin, launched in 2014 and pictured above, is a high performance carbon sailing yacht and as a result she required resilient panel mounting that would withstand serious sailing pressures. More than 4,000 Fastmount clips were used throughout her interiors, for both the ceiling and wall panels and Baltic opted for a combination of different ranges depending on the use and substrate. Bengt Osman, Interior/Purchasing, Baltic Yachts, commented, “When I visited METS in 2013 and saw different options for mounting panels, I became more convinced that Fastmountwas the right type of fastener to introduce to our sailboats. The advantage was firstly the large selection of products for different uses, and secondly that the products are designed to work well even after extended periods of use.”

Working across the entire marine sector, Fastmount has also been utilised by tender and toy companies and a prime example is the American company Heyday Inboards, which designs and builds inboard wake boats. Fastmount's solutions were used for the installation of upholstery and it durability ables users to remove the upholstery for cleaning and replacement. The team worked with Fastmount’s marine distributor in the U.S., Spradling Marine to find a solution. Ben Dorton, President Heyday Inboards commented, “The Fastmount products have allowed us to re-think how we apply our upholstery and service upholstery. It fits perfectly into our mission of relentlessly simplifying the inboard market."The 29.85-metre Sunseeker 100 motor yacht is another example of where Fastmount clips have been utilised for ease of application throughout the vessel. The above image shows the yacht's swim platform, where Fastmount TC-F6H and TC-M6 clips have been used for the attachment of upholstered exterior panels. However, the system has been used throughout the vessel, including in the owner stateroom, bow terrace and helm station.An iconic member of the global sailing yacht fleet, Alloy Yachts' 56.4-metre Mondango 3, now Salvaje, is another excellent example of Fastmount's capabilities in the marine sector. Featuring curved walls throughout her interior, the superyacht presented a unique challenge to the team to find a reliable solution for attaching and detaching interior panels and components quickly while maintaining a flawless aesthetic. Fastmount clips are an effective solution due to their effectiveness in addressing the challenges of curved wall installations, contributing to a refined finish without compromising functionality.

To find out more about Fastmount systems, or to reach out to the team now;