Your Shape. Our Engineering.
Custom Mold Design & Fabrication
In-house 3D CAD/CAM engineering team. 5-axis CNC mold fabrication. From concept sketch to production-ready custom hull — we design and build the mold, you own it.
From Concept to Production-Ready Mold
Aquafarer is a B2B manufacturer of inflatable boats, SUP boards and RIB boats, providing OEM, ODM and private-label manufacturing solutions for water sports businesses, marine operators and emerging brands. Based in Qingdao, China since 2012. 12,000 m² ISO 9001 factory. 200+ workers. 15,000+ units/year. CE, BSCI, REACH, UKCA certified. Exports to 50+ countries. Our in-house engineering team designs and fabricates custom molds for unique hull shapes, deck configurations, and accessory mounting points.
Every custom mold project starts with your performance requirements — not a catalog of existing shapes. Our R&D engineers use parametric 3D CAD, hydrodynamic simulation, and FEA structural analysis to validate your design before cutting any material. Mold fabrication uses 5-axis CNC machining for +/- 0.5 mm tolerance across full-length profiles.
Custom Mold Services
3D CAD Hull Design
Full parametric 3D modelling of hull shapes, rocker profiles, and tube configurations using SolidWorks and Rhino. Hydrodynamic simulation and FEA structural analysis before cutting any material.
CNC Mold Fabrication
5-axis CNC machining of aluminum and composite molds for SUP board top/bottom shells, RIB hull plugs, and inflatable boat transom templates. Tolerance: +/- 0.5 mm across full-length profiles.
Custom Rocker & Shape Profiles
SUP boards: all-around, touring, surf, and race rocker lines. RIB hulls: deep-V, moderate-V, and flat-bottom configurations. Inflatable boats: custom tube diameters and cone angles.
Prototype & Sample Production
Full prototype fabrication from custom molds. Prototype lead time: 7–20 working days. Hydrostatic pressure testing, weight verification, and on-water performance evaluation.
Drop-Stitch Core Engineering
Custom drop-stitch patterns for variable thickness boards. 4" (touring), 5" (all-around), 6" (racing) profiles with thousands of vertical threads per square meter for 15-20 PSI rigidity.
Accessory Integration Design
Custom mounting points for rod holders, dive tank racks, rescue equipment, and military specifications. Bungee tie-down patterns, fin box configurations, and handle placements engineered per use case.
Custom Mold Workflow
Concept & Requirements Brief
Share your performance targets, reference designs, or sketches. Our engineering team evaluates feasibility, material requirements, and regulatory compliance before quoting.
3D CAD Design & Simulation
Parametric 3D model of your custom shape. Hydrodynamic simulation for water performance. FEA structural analysis for load capacity. Design review with your team via video conference.
Mold Fabrication
5-axis CNC machining of production molds from aluminum or composite materials. Mold lead time: 45–90 days. Mold ownership belongs to you.
Prototype & Testing
First article prototype from your custom mold. Pressure testing, weight check, and on-water performance evaluation. Up to two prototype iterations included in mold package.
Production Ramp-Up
Pre-production meeting to confirm specs, materials, and QC checkpoints. First production run with enhanced inspection. MOQ: 200+ units (SUP), 50+ units (RIB).
FAQ
What is the MOQ for a custom mold project?
Custom mold MOQ: 200+ units (SUP boards), 50+ units (RIB boats), 200+ units (kayaks). This reflects the amortised cost of mold fabrication over the production run.
Who owns the custom mold?
You own the mold. Mold fabrication is a one-time cost included in your project quote. The mold is stored at our facility and used exclusively for your production orders. You may request mold transfer at any time.
How long does custom mold fabrication take?
Mold fabrication: 45–90 days. This includes 3D CAD design, simulation, CNC machining, and first article prototype. Prototype delivery: 7–20 working days from design approval.
Can I modify an existing Aquafarer model instead of designing from scratch?
Yes. Our most popular approach is "derivative customisation" — starting from one of our 50+ existing models and modifying rocker profile, dimensions, tube configuration, or accessory placement. This reduces mold cost and lead time by 40-60%.
What design files do you accept?
We accept SolidWorks (.sldprt, .sldasm), Rhino (.3dm), STEP/STP, IGES, and PDF technical drawings. If you have only a concept sketch, our design team can develop it into a production-ready 3D model.
Have a Custom Shape in Mind?
Share your concept or technical drawings. Our engineering team will evaluate feasibility and provide a mold fabrication quote within 48 hours.
Custom mold MOQ 200+ units (SUP), 50+ units (RIB). Mold lead time 45–90 days.