This 44′ catamaran to be built in Tampa was originally envisioned as a sailing cat. It would use the Sunny Days 42 hulls extended. Using CM construction.
Owner decided to make it a power cat instead.
A Sailing Cat Becomes a powercat
Category Archives: New Designs
Miami Bed Boat
I got a commission to design a niche charter cat for Miami. The customer has built boats before but knows nothing about cats nor naval architecture. With the outboards they insisted on, the adjustable swim platform and its mechanism, the Cg is a full four feet aft of Cb. I am having a hard time convincing the builder this is bad. i may have to walk away from this one. Foam/glass.
79′ In So Cal
This 79′ day charter power cat is being designed for a group in California. They have been delightful to work with. Good project. Foam/glass.
Meermark 17
The Meermark 17, a Kurt Hughes designed 17 footer that provides, easy, safe, fun, fast and affordable sailing to everyone. #sailing #sailingforeveryone #sailability.
New Carbon Fiber Cross Tubes
On the spur of the moment I decided to go to White Salmon to pick up the carbon fiber tubes I had made for the little yellow trimaran. Innovative Composites Engineering.
I also got a tour of the place. Amazing. Stuck in the woods outside of White Salmon. Space X is their biggest customer. They have giant presses to compact the laminate even more than bagging. I wasn’t allowed to take any pictures inside the building. And also warned not to touch anything.
They consulted on Oracle. Hence in the boneyard.
When I ordered the carbon fiber cross tubes for my yellow 12′ trimaran, I assumed a modulus of about 16 million. And I speced the thickness accordingly.
I just got the spec sheet from the manufacturer.
8.5 x 10 to the 7th.
I checked with a scientist I know. That is 85 million.
That is more than 5 times the modulus. Wow.
They aren’t going anywhere.
the New Lake Chelan Ferry Hulls
Cliff got master builder Joe Kitchel to come up and do a Berlitz class on boatbuilding for Cliff and the boys. It worked. Beautiful hulls with no delamination. It took place in an abandoned fruit warehouse nearby. It was well insulated so they could run the temperature up as needed.
Craig’s New Cat Moves Along
I’m doing a 63′ cruising cat for Craig in New Zealand. Some screen shots. The diffraction gets better if you enlarge them.
I Grabbed Some Pictures of Tunnel Vision
It’s my 42′ cruising cat operating in So Cal.
Update On the Mosquito Fleet Catamarans
I have a meeting with Peter Philips of Pacific Maritime magazine about this next onth,
Hi Peter,
I do have a Lake Chelan ferry. See pictures.
Most of my boats are in Hawaii. The Holo Holo, Kai Oli Oli and Alii Nui are warm weather boats that ferry a large number of passengers. I want to take what I know and apply it to the Puget Sound.
http://www.oceanjoycruises.com/
The difference is that I come from a sailing background. We are familiar with easily driven hulls, and weight saving is critical.
Almost all the passenger ferries that I see are by designers with a powerboat background. They just pile on more horsepower to make up for not being easily driven.
I have been designing catamarans for 35 years. With the help of congressman John Miller, I got the USCG to adopt a particular design rule to design catamarans to.
I appreciate your interest.
Kurt Hughes
Pure Watercraft Electric Motors
I just had a phonecom and visit from Ed Ives of Pure
Watercraft. They are about to release a 50 hp electric motor system with a Tesla type battery. https://www.purewatercraft.com/