That means I’ve owned my modified Hughes 63 built by Dencho in Long Beach for one-third of my life and half my adult life.
Man, time flies.
If I had the money and desire, I’d build almost the identical boat, but in carbon.
It’s about the maximum size cat you can singlehand or doublehand.
Yet we’ve also taken thousands and thousands people racing and sailing on her.
Speaking of 25, that’s the highest number of knots we’ve hit. Once under working sails, once under spinnaker.
One time south of Cedros we had her going 21 to 22 knots for an extended time, not straining at all. Waterline and the perfect point of sail were the magic ingredients, even when overloaded with crew, gear and Ha-Ha stuff.
I recently had to review a chainplate on one of my COI cats and send a note to the USCG.
I see from the X-Ray report that the Aolani chainplates were not steel, but composite as I thought they were.
These composite plates are immune to corrosion, unlike metal ones.
I assume the builder used my layup schedule as I have sent earlier. I see no reason to doubt that.
They are easy for the builders to build in a huge safety factor.
Instead of being fastened onto a hull, these synergistically combine to both strengthen the hull and the chainplate.
Unlike the metal plates, these have some resiliency so make all the parts longer lived.
Any delta in the parts from the loads would show up immediately and early by cracks in the paint. Unlike metal plates which usually are not painted.
Attached find a picture of one of my other catamaran designs with composite chainplates. Note that he lifts his entire vessel with only the three chainplate locations.
The local Seattle formula 40 catamaran Dragonfly capsized during the Cow Bay Regatta. Not my design. It was originally from New Zealand and was originally named Simply the Best. It’s owner Pat is one of the best sailors I know. I hope to find out more soon, but I was told that it rolled over on a reach after stuffing into a kelp bed. It was a heavy air day. If it could happen to Pat, it could happen to anyone. I see the boat is on the hard in Everett, sans mast. Pic is on happier days.
Is it possible that Kamanu is 30 now? I did the working drawings in ’84 I remember. Am pretty sure it was launched by Schooner Creek Boatworks in ’85. http://kamanu.com
Cylinder molded developed plywood/epoxy. My first USCG certified passenger cat. Am sure Derek will froth if he hears about a 30 year old CM cat still going out every day.
