This little unit is designed to take 16 passengers off of the beach and out a few hundred yards to the sailing cat waiting beyond the reef. The USCG is making us work for it like it was an exposed waters expedition cat. Try it out at https://www.holoholokauaiboattours.com/
This Melvin and Morelli tri was hauled out recently in Seattle. It is intended for the R2AK race this summer.
I understand that it is all carbon fiber, which can make it light. And the amas look full length, which is good.
Now, I am assuming that the first 3/4 of the race after Victoria will basically be like sailing in the San Juans in the summer. Light, shifty air. Short tacking, and again, and again. Through kelp beds. Crew on the leeward side to drape some shape into the jib and pull the wider main hull out of the water.
If I may, those amas look to me like they were designed for tradewind conditions, not 4 knots true. They look like they were designed by someone who had never sailed in the San Juans in the summer. The fat waterplane down low is draggy in light wind. And why don’t the amas join at the inboard side, instead of the middle. That would save weight and make the beam and the join stiffer.
I would offer them some improved amas that would increase light weather speed compared to these. They could slide right on, and even improve the BOA. I won’t hold my breath. With the MM plans costing 10 times what mine do, they surely have Stockholm syndrome and will ignore the physics.
I want to remind people that my friend and collaborator, Andre, has DVDs and training available on infusion and molding of parts. It looks like we might do the power tri finally. http://www.grpguru.com/
One of my taller customers, Joel, is having this stretched KHSD 37 built at the Betts Boatyard in Anacortes. It will have an unstayed Aeroesque rig also.
The 3D model is thanks to the Betts shop. They modeled the house to more resemble the new KHSD 45 that is not yet released. I’m sure there will be many more progress pictures. Foam/glass.
After dropping its mast, I see that they got that fixed and Fujin sails very well. For a design fee of over $100,000 it better sail well. And, I’m sorry but it still looks like a pickers shack sitting there on the bridgedeck.
Gorilla glass is the amazingly strong and durable glass that makes iphones and droids possible. Ford is starting to use it on cars. 30% lighter than regular glass and more durable. Maybe some shapes will fit on catamarans in the near future.
This ill fated Gunboat got its windows blasted out some 18 months ago and was abandoned. And recently rediscovered.
Note to MSC. They float forever. I once did these calculations for Ganulin showing that the foam in the hulls and bridgedeck would take care of all the damage stability. He was unimpressed. I still had to do the damage stability calculations.
This is the only on the water photo I have so far. Expecting more soon.
From this view it kind of looks like Chaak. Well, both are of 1980s vintage designs.
I was going to include several of Owen’s finds but I see that the antivirus chose now to update and it locks up the system when it does that. It could go on for an hour. Back Monday.
http://inhabitat.com/solar-energy-rolls-out-like-a-carpet-with-groundbreaking-roll-array-photovoltaics/renovagen-diagram/
Meeting more deadlines this week. So not much put here again.
For the upcoming, I have pictures of the repair of Holo Holo, the new stretched 37 cat being built up at Jim Betts shop, with aeroesque rig. I will post a new 50′ trimaran runabout and a new 62′ cruiser. Meanwhile I will forward some of Owen’s finds here in case anyone is not yet following him.