low-aspect foils and tacking

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by rayaldridge, Jul 12, 2006.

  1. rayaldridge
    Joined: Jun 2006
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    Location: USA

    rayaldridge Senior Member

    Am I correct is assuming that tacking a boat with low-aspect ratio foils (all else being equal) will be more certain than tacking a boat with high-aspect foils, due to the greater stall angles of the low-aspect foils?

    I ask because I'm working on a small catamaran design in which high speed is not the primary goal. I assume the dominance of high-aspect foils in racing catamarans is due to their better lift-drag ratios, but in my case, I want a well-behaved boat. Is this a possible design trade-off?

    One more clarification: I'm not talking about LAR keels as in some production multis. I'm talking about aspect ratios under two in conventional transom-hung rudders, and perhaps a more conventional high-aspect ratio daggerboard.

    Ray
     
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