Triac: Performance Composites from Vietnam for Marine, Industrial, Defence and More

Triac Composites' Co Founder, Paul Koch shows Barefoot Doctors the inner operation of the factory in Vietnam.

Barefoot Doctors Sailing visited Triac Composites' factory in Vietnam for a video tour.

Below is an edited, summarised, version of their video.

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Triac Composites is a leader in performance composites based in Vietnam, delivering carbon fiber structures and tooling for the marine, industrial, defense and other sectors.

Paul Koch, founder of Triac and Rapido Trimarans took teh Barefoot Doctors behind the scenes of how Triac builds high-performance carbon fiber components that power the Rapido line and more.

A Composites Company First, a builder of Rapidos Second

We created Triac Composites with a clear purpose: to build world-class composite products - boats, train interiors, aerospace components - you name it, we can do it. The Rapido 60 was just the beginning.

Triac Composites. General Director, Paul Koch. "Our intention from Day 1 was to build a composites company such as boats and other advanced structures." Click image to play video.

From day one, the focus was advanced manufacturing. Trimarans were our passion, but Triac was built to go much further - to deliver precision-built carbon fiber structures using our 7 axis Kuka milling robot on its 23m track, 8m x 2m autoclave, prepreg materials, and 100 skilled and passionate staff.

Today, over 11 years later, and more than 20 Rapido trimarans built, Triac continues to innovate and deliver beyond boats.

The Rapido Line: A Showcase of Carbon Fiber Expertise

Triac Composites builds the entire range of Rapido Trimarans, including the Rapido 60, Rapido 53XS, Rapido 50, Rapido 40 and Rapido 40 Racer. All are full carbon fiber builds and are produced with an aerospace-level attention to detail.

Each model features carbon fiber construction throughout, which includes the mast, boom, struts, and hulls. These aren’t just boats—they’re high-tech structures engineered for performance.

"Even the folding struts are made from carbon fiber", says Koch.

Beyond Sailing: The Rapido 500 ECO Power Cat

Triac also manufactures the Rapido 500 ECO, a lightweight, super-efficient 50-foot power catamaran. With a fuel burn of just 18L/hour at 11–12 knots, it’s a masterclass in lightweight composite efficiency.

The 6.2-ton displacement reflects Triac’s ability to transfer sailing innovation to powerboat design - delivering strength, speed, and efficiency with minimal weight.

Applications of Performance Composites at Triac in Vietnam: Carbon Fiber for Multiple Industries

Triac isn’t limited to boats. We've worked with clients in Europe, South East Asia, USA and Australasia for projects including electric foiling ferries, standard ferries, crew support vessels, and even experimental projects that blend aviation and marine technologies.

If it involves high-performance composite parts, Triac can build it.

Triac Composites is working with several companies involved with electric foiling ferries and crew transport vessels.

Precision Manufacturing with Autoclave and Robotics

Autoclave-Cured Components

"Our 8.5-meter autoclave is central to the process. It allows us to cure large, complex components under heat and pressure, resulting in stronger, lighter, void-free laminates."

From masts to foils, it's the same technology used in aerospace.

Paul points out the autoclave (8.5m x 2m) and the mold for the 25m masts.

7-Axis Robotic Production

Triac uses a 7-axis KUKA robot on a 23-meter track to produce tooling and critical parts with precision. From cutting foil openings in masts to trimming parts, it ensures speed, accuracy, and repeatability at a level manual labor simply can't match.

In-House Tooling Expertise

Unlike many builders who outsource, Triac designs and builds all its tooling in-house. "That gives us total control over quality and design changes, and ensures we’re not dependent on overseas suppliers."

Carbon Fiber Masts: Spreaderless, Tapered, and Autoclaved

Our masts (up to 25m) are built with prepreg carbon, tapered in two directions to optimize strength and weight. They're spreaderless, reducing rigging complexity, and are designed exclusively for our high-performance trimarans.

These masts are cured in sections in our autoclave and then spliced together with precision. It's a process made possible only through years of specialized experience.

Asymmetrical Sea Foils: Aerospace-Level Performance

Triac builds asymmetrical C foils that deliver powerful lift - like airplane wings for the sea.

"Carbon fiber C foils. They're asymmetric. We could not build them without a robot or an autoclave", says Paul Koch.

Each foil undergoes three autoclave cycles and three robotic passes to achieve the exact tolerances and shape needed for high-speed sailing.

Buying this level of foil technology from Europe? Easily double the price.

Rapido 40 Racer: Speed Built by Triac

"This Rapido 40 Racer will probabkly do about 30 knots", says Paul Koch.

The Rapido 40 Racer is a lightweight, carbon-built machine. With a larger rig (19.5m) which is more than 2m higher than the cruising version of the Rapido 40, and lower weight than the standard version, it’s expected to reach up to 30 knots.

Triac’s construction precision gives this boat the structure it needs to handle such loads - without adding unnecessary weight.

Powered by America's Cup Design, Built by Triac

Rapido’s performance DNA comes from Morelli & Melvin, America’s Cup veterans. Their designs are executed with precision at Triac - from their curved foils to their lightweight, efficient hull shapes.

The result? A production trimaran with America’s Cup pedigree, made possible by Triac’s composite expertise.

Smarter Materials, Lighter Boats

Triac uses prepreg carbon fiber and foam cores throughout the boats—even for things like galley drawers, countertops, and furniture.

"Our drawers that we put in all our boats are prepreg carbon fiber", Paul Koch.

Everything is engineered to be lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and structurally sound. Titanium is used in place of stainless steel in key areas to reduce weight and eliminate rust.

Safety Built In: Compartmentalized Construction

Triac builds the Rapido hulls with watertight compartments and no below-waterline penetrations which makes them virtually unsinkable. Safety is a priority.

Rapido 40: 100% Electric, Composite Innovation Meets Sustainability

Rapido 40, Hull #013, is an all electric boat. It is also the first Rapido 40 to have a centre daggerboard (instead of twin C foils).

Triac has built two fully electric Rapido 40s - Hulls Nos. #07 and #013. They are powered entirely by solar and a 12kW shaft-driven electric motor.

They are able to regenerate power while sailing which exemplifies how Triac’s lightweight composites enable the shift to zero-emissions boating.

Rapido 40: Center Daggerboard Version, Cruising Flexibility

Another variation of the Rapido 40 includes a center daggerboard instead of twin C foils. This is considered to be a more cruiser-friendly setup, without compromising on performance.

Performance with Practicality

Thanks to Triac’s focus on lightness and structure, Rapido boats offer interior comfort without the weight.

Even the saloon visibility is enhanced by smart structural layouts, offering panoramic views while underway. If you go down into teh saloon for a coffee during a watch, you maintain great visibility.

Arguably, the best feature of the Rapido Trimaran is to be ab;le to stand in the saloon and look all around you - even when you're on watch and you come down here for a coffee", says Paul Koch.

Triac Composites: Composites Without Limits

Whether it’s a 30-knot trimaran, an electric foiling ferry, or structural parts for other industries - Triac Composites delivers precision, performance, and innovation.

We're not just building boats—we’re building the future in carbon fiber.

Enquiries

• Email phil@triaccomposites.com

Thank you to Barefoot Doctors Sailing

For visiting our factory and doing the video. Visit Barefoot Doctors' You Tube home page by clicking here.

To see their original video which was actually about teh Rapido 53XS, click on the video below.