Lightwave marks 30

Australian catamaran builder Lightwave Yachts marks 30 years of production with an investment in robotics and advanced manufacturing at its Queensland facility.

Photography by Lightwave Yachts

22 October 2026

Gold Coast-founded Lightwave Yachts is celebrating 30 years of Australian boatbuilding, marking the milestone with new robotic technology designed to improve production efficiency and support the next generation of locally built cruising catamarans.

Established in 1996 by shipwright Roger Overell, Lightwave Yachts has delivered more than 100 custom-built catamarans over three decades, building an international reputation for Australian design, craftsmanship and cruising performance.

The company relocated its boatbuilding operations to Coomera in 2003, operating from premises within the former Gold Coast Marine Centre, now known as The Boat Works.

Lightwave 45 Aoturoa at The Boat Works, demonstrating the longstanding relationship between the Australian catamaran builder and the Coomera marine precinct.

Lightwave 38 Waterline at The Boat Works, where Lightwave owners regularly return for maintenance, servicing and refits.

Lightwave 45 Aoturoa at The Boat Works, which provides specialist haul-out and refit facilities for cruising multihulls.

A Lightwave 38 catamaran on a hydraulic Sealift at The Boat Works, highlighting the precinct's dedicated multihull handling facilities.

Lightwave has since moved its manufacturing operations to Yatala, where it continues to produce Australian-built cruising catamarans.

Investing in innovation

As part of its 30th anniversary, Lightwave has installed robotic and automated manufacturing equipment at its Yatala facility to streamline production, increase productivity and complement its established boatbuilding expertise.

The investment reflects a broader shift towards advanced manufacturing across Queensland’s marine industry, combining traditional craftsmanship with new technology to improve efficiency and support future production.

Lightwave Yachts was a founding tenant at the Gold Coast Marine Centre, now The Boat Works, operating from the Coomera precinct from 2003 to 2020.

Lightwave cruising catamarans at anchor off the Gold Coast, reflecting three decades of Australian design and boatbuilding.

Longstanding marine partnership

Lightwave Yachts also shares a longstanding relationship with The Boat Works, where many owners return for annual servicing, maintenance, upgrades and refits.

The 55-acre Coomera marine precinct offers dedicated multihull haul-out facilities, including a 45-tonne hydraulic Sealift and a 100-tonne variable-width Travelift, alongside extensive hardstand areas, in-water servicing facilities and purpose-built refit sheds.

More than 1,000 marine industry professionals operate across the precinct, providing specialist services for cruising catamarans and other vessels.

The Boat Works has congratulated founders Roger and Louise Overell, the Lightwave team and its owners on three decades of Australian boatbuilding, acknowledging the company’s contribution to the Gold Coast marine industry.

With its latest investment in manufacturing technology, Lightwave is positioning itself for continued production and development over the coming decades.

lightwaveyacht.com.au
theboatworks.com.au