1500 GSM / 1.2 mm
VALMEX® Heavy Plus
The production fabric for premium Viper and WaveRunner boats, with a substantial coating suited to regular use.
Aerowave · Research & development
Engineering better
inflatable boats.
Around 10% of our profits go back into research and development — new fabrics, new designs and new concepts for our boats.
Considered materials. Purposeful hull design. Practical improvements for Australian days on the water.
01 / Why we invest
Better days afloat.
For years to come.
Research matters when it makes ownership better: a boat that lasts, handles real Australian conditions and is straightforward to care for.
We look at the whole experience — from the fabric and seams to the way a hull turns, carries its load and comes ashore. The aim is enduring usefulness: materials suited to sun and saltwater, composed handling and practical repair options that help owners keep boating.
Our current range is the foundation for that work. Each new material and concept gives us another opportunity to refine the details that matter on an ordinary weekend.
02 / Fabric research
Good boats begin with the material.
Fabric selection balances durability, flexibility and the practical needs of each hull. Our production materials are available today; experimental materials are clearly identified as being in testing.
1100 decitex / 0.9 mm
VALMEX®
The production fabric for AeroCat — lighter, so the boat folds smaller and is easy to handle solo.
A long-term material choice
1.2 mm VALMEX® Heavy Plus has a 10–12 year service life, with appropriate use, care and storage. Looking after the fabric remains part of getting the most from your boat.
Optional Orca Hypalon upgrade
Genuine Orca Hypalon is an optional hull upgrade. Gary can help you consider your climate, time on the water and storage routine when choosing your fabric.
Now in testing · not yet available on any boat
Flex 1250 — a new hull fabric we're excited about.
A new-generation, PVC-free and solvent-free technical textile at 1,250 GSM. It's built to flex like rubber, stay supple in the cold and weld like PVC — so seams are still heat-fused, never glued.
Early laboratory figures suggest Flex 1250 could set a new benchmark for tear strength — and because it's heat-welded, repairs are simpler too.
- Tear strength
- 1,932 N
- Tensile strength per 5 cm
- 9,491 N
- Bending cycles, no cracks
- 180,000
- Cold-flex tested, no cracks
- −65 °C
- UV rating, Blue Wool scale
- 7 of 8
Manufacturer's laboratory figures (EN ISO test methods). We are putting the material through our own testing now. No release date is announced.
03 / Hull design research
AeroWave Rush.
Responsive. Fast. Adaptive.
Monohull with catamaran performance.
The Rush concept combines a monohull with twin under-hull speed tubes. The speed tubes lift the hull so it runs like a catamaran — a design focused on tight turning and handling chop.
Development explores how that hull responds on the water, alongside the practicalities of its floor, setup and everyday use. Rush is not yet on sale.
Register your Rush interest →
Rush 380: the development platform
The launch configuration uses tiller steering and a single full-length, non-skid hard woven air deck, inflated up to 10 PSI. Factory prototypes let us study how the components work together before production.
Rush 420: in development
Work on the larger model is part of the same programme. We will share its specifications when confirmed, rather than apply figures from another hull.
Registering interest is the way to follow launch news. It is not a purchase or a reservation.
04 / Across the range
Progress is in the everyday details.
The catamaran lines we keep refining each serve a different kind of day on the water. Research is as much about making these familiar boats more practical as exploring a new hull concept.
Viper Open Bow
An open-bow catamaran layout. Our ongoing focus is usable space, practical handling and the details of everyday setup.
Viper Sovereign
A distinct Viper layout within the catamaran family, with the same attention to material choice and ownership practicality.
AeroCat
A catamaran line using 0.9 mm VALMEX, with refinement focused on a practical balance of material and hull design.
WaveRunner 380
The WaveRunner series uses a 380 mm transom to keep more propeller in the water and help reduce ventilation.
Over-inflation safety valves are standard on Aerowave hulls. Practical equipment such as the LockPro Plus Launch Wheel Kit also belongs in the ownership picture — speak with Gary about the appropriate setup for your boat.
05 / How we test
From a useful idea to time on the water.
Our development process connects material and design decisions with actual use. Each stage helps inform the next; a prototype or a laboratory figure is not presented as a finished production result.
- 01
Concept
Start with an owner need and a material or hull idea worth exploring.
- 02
Factory prototype
Build a physical version to examine construction, fit and practical details.
- 03
On-water testing
Take development onto the water on the Central Coast of NSW.
- 04
Owner feedback
Listen to how boats are used, transported, launched and cared for.
- 05
Production
Bring confirmed decisions into production specifications and owner information.
See the boats. Talk through the details.
Make the research relevant to your weekends.
Watch the boats on the water, compare the current range or speak with Gary about the way you plan to use yours.
A few useful answers
Research & development FAQ
How much do you invest in research and development?
Around 10% of our profits go back into research and development — new fabrics, new designs and new concepts for our boats.
Can I order a boat with Flex 1250?
Not yet. Flex 1250 is now in testing and is not available on any boat. The published laboratory figures are the manufacturer's figures, not completed Aerowave on-water test results.
Is AeroWave Rush available to buy?
Not yet. Rush is a development range. You can register your interest for launch news; there is no release date or price announced here.
What is the status of Rush 420?
Rush 420 is in development. Its specifications will be shared once confirmed; Rush 380 figures should not be applied to it.
Which fabrics are available on current boats?
Premium Viper and WaveRunner boats use 1500 GSM / 1.2 mm VALMEX® Heavy Plus. AeroCat uses 1100 decitex / 0.9 mm VALMEX®. An Orca Hypalon upgrade is optional. Speak with Gary about the right material for your use.