Over the weekend I caught up with Paul Steinert, my co-presenter of a paper we did for the 1994 (that damn long ago?) MACM composites conference.  The paper was a finite element study of a wingmast, designed with no shear web in it.  I had a hunch that if you took the material that was the typical shear web and put it on the walls of the wing mast, you could increase strength and stiffness while decreasing weight.  To acomplish shear transfer, there would be bulkheads placed at certain locations in the mast.  I built and tested models, with good results, but I wanted an FEA study to confirm and Paul did it.  The nested curved plate equations exploded in later versions of Word so I did not push it ahead.  And some of the screen shots are gone forever.  It was done for plywood, but results are just as valid for composite.  I will repair the file and publish soon.

I just got word of the first of the updated Stability Letters for the new passenger weight for COI cats. It took the Coast Guard 3 months turnaround time. And the CG is indeed using it as a dragnet to scoop up anyone who missed any step years ago. Some people are now learning what a deadweight survey is. Don’t wait until December.

Also, Aolani came to my attention as I’m doing the USCG update. It’s one of the 58 Sunchasers.   Its certified for 49 passengers. See http://www.aolani.cc/ and they have a trick little 360 degree camera at http://www.aolani.cc/360_inside.html

Who knew? A KHSD 48 carrying passengers  in Branson, MO.  See http://www.stateparkmarina.com/spirit.php

Here is a simple little wind load calculator that I seem to use all the time for things. http://www.sailingusa.info/cal_wind_load.htm

Got a nice write-up in Northwest Yachting magazine. May issue.  By Peter Marsh.  The anchor article is about Schooner Creek Boatyard. They have built several KHSD charter cats. I had forgotten that Peter was such a unique historian to write this from his perspective.   No slacker stringer could have synthesized so much history.  Firsthand.  And yes I do know that first picture is of Profligate.  No big.

It had a link, but the link only goes to the most recent issue.  And back issues lock you into a huge PDF.  I bailed at 30 mg.

The old kauaifishing website no longer worked when I last looked.
Now it is http://napaliseabreezetours.com/
He offers some great fishing and sightseeing from his KHSD 34 powercat. Great mileage and a smooth ride. Yeah displacement hulls!  Told me he once saw Holo Holo slicing through the waves one day when the motion was slamming the malahini silly on the other boats.  Said he wanted a boat like that but smaller.  It doesn’t draw much either.

Multihulls mag sent me this. Annapolis.
http://www.performancecruising.com/cruisers_university/university_rsvp.html

BASIC COMPOSITE & MOLD MAKING TRAINING CLASSES

Saturday, May 7th 2011
9am – 3pm

Fiberlay – Seattle
24 South Idaho Street, Seattle WA 98134

$50 per person
(lunch included)

Call for David Chamberlain for details 206-782-0660 or
Email: david@fiberlay.com

SCHEDULE
9am – 10am
Mold Making with Polyurethanes, Silicones & other
10am – 10:15am
Break
10:15am – 1pm
General Composite Materials, Equipment & Infusion Process
1pm
Lunch
1 – 3pm
Questions, Retail Open to Class