I had the occasion to visit this nearby 52′ catamaran project on a kind of forensic expedition. I always thought it odd that it looked so 70’s even though it was designed in the 90s. I have always been amazed that it used a space truss to support the unstayed mast even though it has a substantial bridgedeck and cabintop right there. See Prior Art at http://www.multihulldesigns.com/pdf/aero56story2.pdf. And I was shown some astonishingly bad laminate design. More on that next week when I get these deadlines met.
Geko Writeup
I had not noticed that my old tri Geko had a writeup just before last New Years. On Face. He plumbs different depths than I do, but appreciated.
JJ Iruka Saitoh-Car’eeTrimaran Gecko
December 28, 2014 ·
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1551778328397283&id=328374460702512
Another Sliding Arm Trimaran
I think it was some 20 years ago that I first did my sliding cross tube trimaran design. Several other people offered suggestions, some of which were included in the design, including the UHMW centerline dropboard.
Many commentators told me that it would never work. Several have been built since then but nobody has ever filmed one sliding. If I had any sense I would have built one instead of the Geko.
I did know that some other trimaran designs had started doing sliding tube designs, but I had not seen one. Finally some video of a design at
http://www.astusboats.com/ The tube connections to the amas are sketchy and I see no centerline compression resolution method, but.
and here I go again. 20 years ago or so.
Sunchaser Molds Update
Terrence tracked them down. ” He moved both the tooling to his shop at Mclelland air force base near Sacramento. Planning on moving to a yard in Columbia to begin production next year. ” Of course Ollie will forward royalties to both me as designer and Richard who built the molds……What?
He did declare that he invented infusion and a new epoxy that did not need any testing to prove. Pic below of Teralani 3 that used the Sunchaser house molds.
New DragonFly or Stuff Done Right
I often see what I think is bad design being foisted onto the inexperienced. And I call them out. Sometimes I see designs that look good to me. The new Dragonfly looks pretty good to me. Finally amas that are big enough. A snakey look. Flowing beams. And of course the required aft swept bows. I assume they also have improved on the single stainless pin swings in favor of a composite bushing?
If I may, all the same features that I put in my 31′ swing arm tri 10 years ago, less the swept bows.
More Sarabi and the Mast
I finally heard back from Karen on the Sarabi. “The conclusion is that the top bearing was attached to the mast with a material that failed, causing the bearing to move, which caused the mast to fail just above the bearing. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Everything above the cabin top went overboard. Cosmetic damage to the boat, but nothing serious. She’s very strong!”
It still seems kind of impossible, even with a failed bearing. I have begged for pictures of the damage.
Finally Got Alii Nui 65 On The Website
I can’t believe it took me so long to get this unit up there. Competitor called it “the queen of the fleet” there in Maui. Foam/glass. http://www.multihulldesigns.com/designs_other/65chcat3.htm
I see the aspect ratio got mucked up for the large size pic. Fixed.
Maybe Stuff Done Wrong?
Customer send me this connecting beam idea and wondered if it would be good on his KHSD tri.
They are from a Scarab 32 trimaran. That unit looks like a cloned F-boat, including the too-small amas. And apparently they fold, but I could not see how that worked there at the site. What I did notice is these beams look like they take the F-boat beam and strut and combine them in one piece, infilling everything in between.
If I may, that solid wall of beam would have to slam like a mother in waves. Both of them. Especially with the small amas. It looks like stuff done wrong again. Maybe someone can tell me why it isn’t so.
New Holo Video
I think this is a new video of 64′ daycharter cat Holo Holo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGWwW8Uvbd0
Is This the Last DIY Boatyard?
The Landings at Colony Wharf could be the last DIY boatyard that I know of. http://landingscolonywharf.com/
Mark at Colony proudly declares that. It’s in Bellingham, WA. My 36′ Boat in a Box was disassembled there. Several other multis have been and are there now.