Comments for Catamaran Concepts

Comment on Oxymoronic Motor Sailing, Props, Governors, Etc. by Frank Lempera

Frank Lempera — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:39:39 +0000

HooooRay ! !
A Treat (trick?) from TC in the Mail. . . .can’t wait ’till I Have time to read it all (and laugh loads). . . . saw that Stig fellow somewhere. . . evidently a pro at something. . . . Straight Man ?

Thanks , Frank

Comment on Travelling Steerage – the evolution of steering systems by Wayne S. Bell

Wayne S. Bell — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:49 +0000

An outstanding blog article. This explained several questions I had and it a manner that was understandable from a relatively new yachtsman. Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful piece!

Comment on Daggerboards or Fixed Keels? by Chris Bevan

Chris Bevan — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:06:00 +0000

I think this bloke may have been reading your blog.

http://www.chriswhitedesigns.com/atlantic_cats/a47/index.shtml

No dagger boards on his latest design, the Atlantic 47. The rational for this design choice is like the first paragraph of your article. Hmmm…

Also 64′ mast height above the waterline. Might make a more comfortable trip to the Florida boat shows and maybe a little less likely to flip over in a squall compared to her high performance bigger sisters.

The raised floor in the hulls for the galley and workshop is a nice idea. The engines can be in the center now instead of all that weight in the stern turning a cat into a rocking horse. No dimensions given for all the steps.

I’m still unconvinced about the bucket of a cockpit out the front. Very wet beating to windward without a dodger and no shade on a summer’s day.

I think you need to do an article on steering systems as he hasn’t finalised the details there yet. Do you ever say ‘I told you so?’

Comment on Vessel Stability by Chris Bevan

Chris Bevan — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:26:31 +0000

I would rather my rigging stay intact AND my boat not flip over. A rig with sufficient margin of safety with respect to the calculated loads is essential. Loosing the rig in heavy seas isn’t going to make your voyage safer or more comfortable.

Avoiding capsize in a well-engineered vessel is largely a matter of seamanship (and no bad luck):
- have an appropriate amount of sail for the prevailing and anticipated conditions
- keep a diligent eye on the weather and sea state as part of your watch
- in big seas take a look from each crest at what else is coming your way
- try to sail a course that minimizes the dangers of large breaking waves
- when it gets seriously rough deploy a Jordan series drogue

I would not be inclined to cross oceans in vacation boats, party boats or anything that wins all the trophies racing round the buoys.

Comment on Stability : what is the weakest link? by Chris Bevan

Chris Bevan — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:40:14 +0000

Explosive bolts is a great idea, but maybe not on the chain plates. How about on a shackle. As explosive bolts are electrically detonated it would be appropriate to connect a strain gauge each side, an inclinometer and an accelerometer. Then with a little SMOP (Simply a Matter Of Programming) software can automatically monitor the situation and determine if we’re at the point of capsize and let go the rigging.

Sounds like a plan to me. Alternatively you could have a smaller rig, sensible sail plan and sail to the conditions. Hmmm, difficult choice.

Comment on Vessel Stability by Dean Willits

Dean Willits — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 03:56:18 +0000

Stability. Flipping over is the only thing about Catamarans that bother me. Would not a weaker rigging make more sense? I would rather my rigging blow away than flip the boat over.

Comment on Ted Clements by Michael Grace

Michael Grace — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:40:15 +0000

Dear Ted,
First let me commend you on your association with the Antares website. This site is truly the best cat site I’ve seen.
I am just starting my quest for a cat to both live on, work from and cruise aboard. I have no experience on multihulls and with the exception that I once lived on my monohull (42 feet) and did go on a round the world trip once, I am not well educated about sail boats – especially multi hulls. I have a close friend doing pretty much the exact thing as I am only he is much more a sailor than I am. He has me, at this point anyway, very interested in an Atlantic 48 or 57. I am going to Annapolis next month to look at one. After reading all your articles and everything on your website I am beginning to expect I may be more of a nester than my friend. He for example sees absolutely no need for an ice maker or air conditioning or a washer/dryer, etc. He is also very interested in a Gunboat 48.
My interest is in a boat I can also fish from and carry a high performance tender. I also want a boat that moves quickly under power and has added fuel tanks. I also require a small lab as I plan on collecting, etc. on my voyages. An aft berth converted to a lab seems reasonable to me although I am not familiar with the build process. I am handy, though, as I have built 3 houses and restored 2 Austin-Healey 3000′s. I expect my boat’s lab to have a work area to deal with any mechanical issues as I hope to do any repairs myself.
One of the big areas I have yet to understand is how to get a higher speed number under power from a big cat. I hope Antares is at the boat show. I am beginning to realize that if I want to sail single handed I need something smaller than say a 57 foot Atlantic. I tend to jump into things. My first overnight trip on my Harley Davidson, for example, was 117 days and took me to Key West, Alaska, Mexico and Newfoundland. The 4 corners the right way.
Sorry, to the point; I just ordered Chris White’s book and was hoping you’d recommend a few others you consider worth the read. I want a cat that is more an expedition vessel than a long distance martini platform. I need speed to fish and I need to address piracy as having travelled through the 2 most pirated areas on the planet I am tired of the “be passive and beg them to be nice” approach. I am not certain what this means. Perhaps arming the vessel or avoiding trouble areas, but it does stick in my mind as I am confident the problem will get much worse before it gets better.
I am curious to know what amount of noise comes from 2 volvo 40′s under what looks like just a thin deck board. I do like how you designed the 44i. I have looked at the websites of over 60 cat manufacturers now, and am, with one exception, very disappointed in the lack of information and justification for what seems unreasonable claims.
Thank you for plodding through my babble and know that I appreciate any time you can afford me.
mgg

Comment on Design vs. design: An Award Acceptance Speech by Frank Lempera

Frank Lempera — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 04:06:36 +0000

T.C.

That is some fine shark bait on Bubbles’ (mind?) !!!

An excellent read , and a hoot too boot ( would a boot also

describe a canadian vessel . . )

Verbose folk are usually full of _ _it. You, on the other hand ,

should write a book : just as a boat is a hole in the water that

gets filled with money, there is a hole in cat info & logic .

Thanks for a job well done, Frank

Comment on The Forward Cockpit by Frank Lempera

Frank Lempera — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 02:37:36 +0000

Ahoy T.C.

. . . The forward cocpit could be improved for sure , but the

salon helm is shades of (oops..) Fead, or Broward wheelhouse :

Force 12 ( anyone read” Blue Thunder”) give me that helm , batten

the buttons , man the women , and oh yeah: sails should self-

douse ( Harken to the call ) and the sea anchor should be like

the parachute on a dragster: rip cord away . . .

Your humble FAN , Frank

Comment on Flipping Out by catballou

catballou — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:19:51 +0000

You are right, 15 years is hardly recent! We’ve corrected the reference.