Help in finding large catamaran designs / pictures

[glen]

Hi there,
I'm very new to this forum - in the not too distant future I am seriously considering fitting out a 50 - 60 foot sailing cat.
Basically I'd like to get the hulls and superstructure finished to a point where I can fit out.
I have been looking on the internet for some time for photos of nice designs - just to start getting a better idea.
Just wondering if anyone here can help with good links to photos/designers of vessels of this size?
I have looked at Australian crowther catamarans and jenneaus - just love some positive input from people with multihull experience.
Anyway - thanks in advance!
Cheers
Glen

[Sean Herron]

Hello...

If you are running Windows 2000 or better go to www.coppernic.com and download their free bit...

Then do photo and drawing searches...

SH.

[yokebutt]

Go see a psychiatrist, if that doesn't help, consult a naval architect, but that only in the direst of emergencies.

Yokebutt.

[FAST FRED]

If you do a cost worksheet you may find that outfitting and installing the interior offer little savings over a factory job.

You will be stringing each wire as you go , a factory (if not a one of) will run all the wires on a crude circuit board , then bring the entire harness in , DONE.

Similarly you will be working out the fit of each bulkhead and hunk of joinery that touches the hull , they will just trace a pattern and be done.

Simplest is a yard in a lower wage area than youre used to.

Brazil is begining a Yacht construction in aluminum (almost free electric leaves a surplus of "cheap" aluminum) and labor IS cheap.

Australia has loads of experience with the REQUIREMENTS of blue water cats , but the recent rise in the Aussy or NZ buck makes it no longer "cheap".

South Africa has huge problems , but might be a choice.

Personally I investigated Poland , but the legal system is poor , and the Cons that were so much a part of the Soviet workers paradise still exist.

Russia makes great military vessels and has lots of experience and REMARKABLY low cost labor (a Cosmonauht gets $75 a MONTH!) , but the lawless enviroment would mean you would get screwed , and maybe dead.

FAST FRED

[glen]

Thanks for the replies.
I've been in the maritime industry for nine years now - allways dreamed of building a cat - but the time out of work / very late nights / strain on the wife etc have put me off a bit. Hell my dad built a 34 footer mono which ended up taking 12 years!

So starting from scratch I wouldn't consider - and fitting out I'd only do if there is a cost advantage.

Have any of you had experience with duflex?Lots of people have been talking about it in AUS.
The thing that puts me off aluminium is the fact that you need to have double panels everywhere.
Hell, as Yokebutt says - maybe I should see a psychiatrist!
Cheers!

[taniwha]

I wonder what the "huge" problem is with South Africa, the economy is booming, the boatbuilding is doing well, maybe that is the problem Fast Fred! If you are looking for a unfinished cat. come and have a look in South Africa.

[rlackey]

I live and work in Cape Town and I wouldn't dream of moving anywhere else. Lets see, there is a thriving boatbuilding industry here with a long history, and the economy is the strongest and most stable on the continent. To be honest, if I am in any major city in South Africa I often forget I'm not in Europe. I am also wondering what the huge problems are?

I'd have a boat built here over Brazil, Australia or New Zealand any day.

Please enlighten me on the huge problems I am obviously too blind to see.

Rich

[JonathanCole]

Here's a nice catamaran design here in Hawaii.

Alala means crow in Hawaiian. Ironic for such a white flyer.

[marshmat]

Cats are great.

Yoke's got a point ;-) as he always does... I'd add the Standard Boat Budget Formula to that:Add up the costs of everything you want to do, multiply by e, square that, and add 15% tax.

So once your loan sharks are happy.... really, fitting out a cat is a great way to get exactly what you want. Australia's great for cats, France is starting to pick up speed too. There's a lot of nice designs, they're all more or less the same general shape...

So have fun dreaming, and maybe when you get the yacht finished you can take all of us out on a party cruise

[nero]

Google Shuttleworth. He has designs that are not like the others. Schionning out of Australia has reasonably priced plans.

Kurt Hughs has inexpensive plans an a "rapid build system". Not sure how or if his plywood hulls can be repaired.

I offer my plans for free but it is only 14.5 meters. (worth about that much since they are not finished and my boat is not built and tested yet) smile

Good luck

[tspeer]

I'd subscribe to the mailing list at multihull_boatbuilder@yahoogroups.com. Lots of folk who have done what you're doing.

Also http://multihullboatbuilder.com/

[fhrussell]

Those photos of Alala that JohnCole has posted is a cat designed by Choydesigns, Rudy Choy of CSK Catamarans. You could join the csk yahoo group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cskcatamarans/

CSK are pioneers of large catamaran design. I have drawers and drawers of info and actual drawings of these boats if interested.

[ABoatGuy]

Check Morrelli and Melvin on the web at:

http://www.morrellimelvin.com/