News

What NOT to 3D Print on Your Boat (And What to Print Instead)

A frank guide to the boat parts you should never 3D print — and the smart printed alternatives that solve the same problem safely.

When Plastic Beats Metal: Boat Hardware That's Better 3D-Printed

Corrosion, galvanic couples and seized threads are where metal hardware fails on boats — here's where a 3D-printed polymer part is actually the better engineering choice.

3D-Printed Upgrades for Your Dinghy and Tender

Your tender takes more abuse than the mothership — here are the small 3D-printed parts that keep it rowing, towing and running: oar collars, fuel line clips, drain plugs, chafe guards and more.

3D-Printed Jigs, Templates and Drill Guides for Boat DIY Jobs

Why the most valuable 3D print on your boat might be a tool, not a part: drill guides, hole templates, sanding blocks and jigs that make every DIY job cleaner and more repeatable.

Your First 3D-Printed Boat Part: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

New to 3D printing? This step-by-step guide walks you from downloading your first STL to installing a finished part on your boat — no experience required.

Bigger Than Your Printer: How to Split and Join Large 3D-Printed Boat Parts

When a boat part is larger than your print bed, splitting it into sections and joining them properly beats buying a bigger printer — here is how to plan the cuts, key the joints and bond them so th...

Discontinued Boat Parts? 3D Print the Replacements You Can't Buy

When a boat part goes out of production, 3D printing is often the only realistic way to replace it. Here is how to identify, measure and reprint obsolete hardware.

TPU on Board: Flexible 3D Prints for Chafe Guards, Gaskets and Bumpers

Rigid filaments get all the attention, but TPU quietly solves a different set of boat problems: chafe, vibration, sealing and grip. Here is how to choose a hardness, dial in the printer and put fle...

Dial In Your 3D Printer: Tolerance Calibration for Perfect-Fit Marine Parts

A 30-minute calibration routine — flow, XY compensation and shrinkage — so threads, hose barbs and snap-fits printed for your boat fit right the first time.

The Onboard Spares Kit: What to 3D Print Before You Cast Off

A practical guide to building a small kit of 3D-printed spare parts — caps, plugs, fittings, clips and a cap key — to carry aboard before your next passage.