Kurt Hughes Sailing Designs – design
3123 Fairview Ave E, Suite 203, Seattle, WA 98102 ∙ (206) 719-4893 ∙ khughes@multihulldesigns.com
www.multihulldesigns.com
EDUCATION
1977-1979 University of Washington Seattle, WA
B.A., Architecture.
1979-1981 University of Hawaii Honolulu, HI
Graduate work.
1992 University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA
• Continuing Education in Engineering.
• Composite Materials Workshop XVI.
WORK EXPERIENCE
1984-present Kurt Hughes Sailing Designs Seattle, WA
Owner/Architect
• Executed the design of over 1000 composite multihulls on all continents.
• Maintaining state-of-the-art 3D Modeling Tool Kit for Design.
• Premier advocate of Cylinder Molded rapid hull construction technology. Published construction manual and
DVD describing CM.
• In 1989, with the assistance of Congressman John Miller, convinced the United States Coast Guard to use the
American Bureau of Shipping Offshore Racing Yachts guide (ABS ORY) to certify charter multihulls.
• In 1990, worked with the United States Coast Guard to accept certification of multihulls for exposed waters
and severe conditions.
- Geoff Lundquist Associates Seattle
- Sibold Associates Seattle
1979-1980, 1981, 1983 Pruess/Kovell International Seattle
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Lectures:
•1990 World Multihull Conference, (Cylinder Mold Construction) – Southampton, UK.
•1992 Marine Applications of Composite Materials (A Finite Element Study of a Wing Mast Using Intermediate Bulkheads) – Melbourne, FL, USA.
•1994 Miami Boat Show, (Floats, Foils & Fibers, Which Way) – Miami, FL, USA.
•1994 Marine Applications of Composite Materials, (Three Rapid Composite Hull Building Strategies) –
Melbourne, FL, USA.
•1994 World Multihull Conference, (Multihull Structural Design) – Southampton, UK.
•1990s Several annual multihull design conferences at Southampton, UK
•1997 Miami Boat Show, (Cylinder Mold Construction) – Miami, FL, USA.
•1998 Miami Boat Show, (Fins, Foils, & Fibers, Which Way) – Miami, FL, USA.
•1999 Miami Boat Show, (Appropriate 3D) – Miami, FL, USA.
•1999 MAREX Conference (Appropriate 3D) – Auckland, New Zealand.
•1999 IBEX Conference, (Appropriate 3D) – Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
•2006 IBEX Conference, (Repair of Marine Composites) – Seattle, WA, USA.
•2006 Structural Engineers Assn. Of Seattle, (Marine Design) – Seattle, WA, USA
•2007Seattle Central Community College lecture for the Wooden Boat School. (Fusion of Composites and Wood in Marine Construction) – Seattle, WA, USA
2019 My Designs Newport Yacht Club
Significant Designs in Operation Now:
32’ trimaran, Smoholla The Shaman – 1979: First KHSD design, fastest boat in Seattle for many years.
26’ trimaran, Nickel Sea – 1981:
44’ trimaran, CHAAK – 1985: Third design, fastest boat in Seattle for many years.
36’ catamaran, Kamanu – 1985: First wood/epoxy cat Coast Guard certified.
42’ catamaran, Cruising 42 – 1986: Going around the world now.
42’ catamaran, Akialoa – 1989: The first catamaran certified by the United States Coast Guard under ABS.
40’ trimaran, Gecko – 1988: Formula 40 based in Seattle.
85’ catamaran Channel Cat– 1989: charter cat
63’ catamaran, Profligate – 1996: Latitude 38 magazine company boat.
58’ catamaran, Sunchaser – 1996: Production catamaran.
48’ catamaran, Yellow Bird – 1999: Typical 30-knot charter trimaran
46’ trimaran, Faamu Sami – 2000: Record-setting East coast trimaran.
23’ proa, Jow Tran – 2000: Power proa.
45’ catamaran, Capricorn – : Prominent West coast fast-cruising catamaran.
65’ catamaran, Holo Holo – : Power catamaran.
40’ catamaran, Mystere 40 – : Formula 40 catamaran.
55’ catamaran, Sierra Cloud – : Charter catamaran.
30’ trimaran, Tomcat – : High-speed trimaran.
65’ catamaran Adventure Cat 2– 2002: charter catatamaran
65’ catamaran Teralani 2 – 2005: charter catatamaran
85’ catamaran Marina Flyer– 2005 charter cat collaboration
58’ catamaran, Sarabi – 2001: Aero-rig world cruising catamaran.
65’ (2) 65’ passenger ferries for Uganda 2011
Built by Hughes :
32’ geodesic dome – 1974.
32’ trimaran, Smoholla the Shaman – 1979.
26’ trimaran, Nickel Sea – 1981.
40’ trimaran, Gecko – 1988.
23’ proa, Jow Tran – 2000.
Half-size fire lookout – 2004
Composite lunar lander 2018