Gaff rig Catamaran

[Manie B]

Manie's Cat

Oh well gents and all you other friendly folk
i have got enough done to at least get the general picture across, the why's and posibly the why not's.

This is an on going saga that has been going on for two years as my fellow drivilers will acknowledge, and i thank all of you for your assistance, your help has been invaluable. I will keep on posting updates.

I am hoping that some of the designers on this forum - for which i have the highest regard - will give me good pointers as to make this vessel as safe as it could be for the purpose intended.

This boat is not for everybody, it is a slow heavy boxy cat, with a gaff rig. It is not intended for "weekend racing" ever.
I have 30 years of senior engineering design behind me, mostly mining equipment and structures. My forte is mineral benefication plants from A to Z, the last one was for Xstrata Rustenburg. I have designed loads of hydraulic equipment. I am NOT a yacht designer. That is why i am asking for assistance, where ever you can, or if you feel up to it, if at all.

I do feel that some folks may look at an inexpensive design favourably, who knows. I think Wharrams are cool, but i am to old for open decks. Maybe somebody would like to take this concept and turn it into something more market related - you are welcome.

Anyway do enjoy.
And please keep in mind that i HAVE TO BUILD this boat, Africa is burning and i will be out of here by December 2011 tic toc.

[Manie B]

Here is the journey in pictures
there are many things here the you could reminise over
some will make you smile
some will make you go wow
some will make you go ouch
they are for those that come here often

EVERY PICTURE has one HELLUVA STORY behind it

thanks to all of you
you have enriched my life to no end

[Fanie]

Hey Manie, I can't see the pictures / drawings on the doc file. Post as a PDF instead.

[Manie B]

wierd **** this
i saved the pics = copy / paste onto word doc
then i saved the dwg as jpeg onto the word doc
seemed ok but will redo over weekend to PDF
thanks Fanie

[deepsix]

I think it looks good Manie. It looks simple and without any unproven design ideas.

Where is the steering position? Will you be able to see jetties and walk on moorings which are low in the water?

Where will you build it? I heard some rumors on what it cost Jim to move his boat from Coplan's to the Vaal. If those numbers are correct, you might need to make it demountable.

[Manie B]

ok lets try this
PDF

[Manie B]

and 2 more

[Manie B]

Deepsix thanks,
herewith a pic from the internet of a similar steering position that is stunning.

Ken (Crazy Seal - motor cat) and Milton Coplan are busy finishing Miltons cat now for Ken to go to the Seychelles asap. I believe the diesel saildrive motors are in and they are busy with the interior and rigging, so things are happenning very fast. This is the same hull as Jim's. The boat is going to be very high tech. I am going there next week and will post pics.

My heights are very similar to Jim's as my brigedeck clearance is 500mm, my hulls are 1.6m wide at the top widest (0.8m floor width) and my cabin and bridgedeck roof height is a full 2.0m at its highest. So this will give me similar visibility to Jim and steering position pretty standard in the cockpit area. So for low jetties similar visiblity, which i think applies to almost all cats.

Building space and transport is a nightmare, i live in a security complex = very small yard. The plan is to collect and manufacture all parts and when everything is ready to go - hire suitable premises in Centurion (maybe an old house with a big yard) get 2 or 3 helpers / cabinet makers and do the actual build FAST maybe 6 months? I do believe i can manage 3000 hours in 6 months with 4 men.

The demountable idea crosses my mind daily - not as demountable BUT as building the boat in 3 or 4 sections that one could transport to Durban or Richards Bay in 8 foot wide standard sections for final assembly at the harbour. The transport is an expensive story, and i feel strongly that guys like JIM got seriously ripped off by everybody. Jim is a gentleman. The levels of bribery and corruption are so bad now and that is what makes it expensive for the transporters to do the trips to the coast, they battle to get permits and police escorts i am told.

Please believe me i am no hero, i know what things cost, and there are many many ways to save money without becoming silly or stupid cheap

That is why i am keeping my boat to 30 feet.
We all know by now that the cost of a boat increases by the cube per foot lenght. At forty foot boat costs three times the price of a thirty footer.

We had a "barbeque" at Penant Nine Yacht club and it was nice to see Jim but we had to get back to Bayshore Marina so we didnt talk much, i believe he is still working hard on the boat - LOTS TO DO.

Aneeeeewaaaay enjoy

[masalai]

Go well, go safely Manie, and God bless.....

[Manie B]

got this working much better now

[deepsix]

That crazy red boat is mine. Im sorry we never moved for you guys the other weekend, we were hogging the jetty a bit. We spent the whole morning waiting to get to the end of the jetty to drop the keel so we could work on it. Thanks for coming to PNYC we love to see visitors. Hopefully next time I wont be so busy and I can buy you a beer.

I think there is a car boot sale planned for next month some time, maybe you can get some bits and pieces for your boat at a bargin price.

I would like to see the pictures of the Ocean Spirit 34 than Ken and Milton are building.

Sorry it took so long to reply, I'm having issues with my connection lots of DNS errors.

End Hijack - What do the rest of you guys think of Manies concept?

[Fanie]

What do the rest of you guys think of Manies concept?

Too scared to make any contributing comments on the moment. I'll lay my egg when he comes up with his hulls drawed in software.

I actually saw some boats for sale that would be about what Manie (thumbsuck) had in mind, and the price tag was in his range as well. The thought occured that one could simply add a cabin to it if the hull design could accomodate the extra weight.