found picture

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.

1980

this Blog gets Noticed

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.

Net Systems

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

Updated Window Detail

Not all the sets have this yet, but according to people who use this detail, it supposed to be the best way yet to attach a window to a boat house.  I have a PDF of it also that will be added when I get a chance.  Or I can email it.

window detail

Alex’s Unstayed Mast

Its kind of a mini Sarabi.
We just got the bids in on the new carbon fiber unstayed mast for Alex’s KHSD 45 catamaran being built in Blaine, WA. It is what we call an aeroesque mast. Same general idea as the aerorig, but updated.
I’m sure the safety of these masts will make them the future of USCG certified sailing cats. The Coasties just need to see the FEA study to accept them.

aeroesque mast on 45 cat