Ok I’m still mumbling about the top level house on my 65′ plywood/epoxy passenger ferry being more like would be found on an 85′ cat, but I’m impressed. It sits well on the water and looks to move well. I can start breathing normally again. It should be the first of 10 vessels.  Rob is a visionary.
See http://www.earthwiseventures.com/The_Ferry_Project.html

I now have the kind of information that the USCG needs to accept unstayed masts. FEA studies like this are great.  Of course every boat needs its own study, unless the righting moment is similar.

I took a deposit on my boat. Will miss the zen of single-handing at 25 knots. Or passing F boats. When the prime directive becomes “don’t break anything”, the racing becomes less fun. New chapter, if it goes ahead.

I was stumbling around looking for photos for the new composite construction manual. Found this picture from 1980. My first boat. 31′ then. Tim Ryan steering and Dennis Hough on sheet. Hat Island race. Courtesy John Marples.

I always have the notion that I am the only person who ever reads this blog. Matthew tells me however that it is gaining about 20% every month. And it just got a nice write-up in the French Multihulls World magazine! Thanks everybody. I have a list of interesting upcoming topics that I will do.

This new 20/21 foot shuttle cat has begun production at Zuhai, China (near Macao). It is especially intended as a chase boat for rowing teams or as a mini shuttle. Unit #1 has a bit taller cabin than designed.

I just got pictures of new KHSD 32′ charter cat in production at Goa, India. They are next doing a KHSD power trimaran for production.

We finally got some Adventure Cat and Adventure Cat 2 photos. They operate out of San Francisco.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=410373004574&id=209825294574&aid=206232

One of the rules of plastics is that they all degrade in sunlight. The nets on my 40′ x 36′  trimaran seem to be the exception to that rule. My Net Systems knotless black polyethelene nets have been flawless for some 15 years. They do need to be tightened every season.
I give them the leap-off-of-the-hull onto them every so often to impress the crew. I recall the failure point some years ago during the Shaw Island Classic when Mark Evans leaped into the net. The cast padeye holding the net exploded.  Many thumbs up on this product.
http://www.net-sys.com/catamaran-netting.php