- Technology and Innovation
From Plywood Prototypes to Full Composite: The Quorning Family Legacy
The Skærbæk Foundation
In 1967, Børge Quorning established a small production facility in Denmark with a singular focus on bringing trimarans to the European market. Beginning with the Trident 28, the yard spent its early years experimenting with multihull stability and speed. By 1972, the first official Dragonfly emerged as a 16-foot plywood prototype built for his sons. This initial structure laid the groundwork for a production run that would eventually dictate the pace of the global trimaran sector.
Developing the Foldable Architecture
Fixed-beam trimarans present severe berthing challenges in crowded marinas. Quorning Boats directly addressed this spatial friction in 1989 by introducing the Dragonfly 800 Swing Wing. The system allowed operators to reduce the vessel’s beam by over 50 percent in under a minute without specialized tools. This mechanical integration transformed the multihull market, providing high-speed capabilities while maintaining standard monohull slip dimensions.
Shifting to Offshore Dominance
The company proved the durability of their hulls in severe conditions. In 1985, Jens and Eric Quorning entered the grueling 2,000-nautical-mile Round Britain & Ireland Race. Securing top placements in their respective heavily modified vessels, they validated the offshore endurance of the Dragonfly platform. This racing pedigree translated directly into their cruising line, ensuring subsequent models carried proven structural rigidity to handle rough coastal waters.
The Transition to Composite Production
Advancing the fleet required moving past traditional materials. By 2005, the yard integrated 3D modeling and 5-axis milling to develop the complex components of the Dragonfly 35. This shift allowed for tighter tolerances and more aggressive hull shapes. The recent launch of the Dragonfly 36 Performance Cruiser marks another structural milestone, introducing a fully composite Swing Wing system to the lineup. Winning Multihull of the Year at the 2025 International Multihull Show in France, this platform confirms strong market demand, securing 36 production slots by the end of its debut year.
Generational Leadership
Sustaining operations across six decades relies on seamless corporate transitions. Following Børge Quorning’s passing in 2022 shortly after the yard delivered its 1000th trimaran, the company formalized its leadership pipeline. In late 2024, Peter Quorning stepped into the Vice President role, working alongside his father Jens to merge the brand’s heritage with modern manufacturing practices. As Quorning Boats prepares for the 2027 Dragonfly Days to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the yard successfully maintains a production capacity of 40 custom trimarans annually.
