10m catamaran by Kevin Flower - any info?

[RickEdmonds]

Hi guys

I tried a search but nothing came up. I'm looking at buying a part-built (one hull) cat and finishing it off. The design is said to be "modified" by Kevin Flower (ex Flower and Adams sails I assume). The built hull looks very like a Crowther Harrier to me. The "modified" aspect may be that it's been drawn for multi-chine construction in ply. The builder of the one hull died a few years ago and along the way a lot of specifications and drawings appear to have been lost. The original drawings contemplate a "tube" cat with 3 alloy beams, or a "sport deck" version with a fabricated main beam. The original builder had drawings done for a bridgedeck version, based on the same fabricated main beam.

My major concern is whether the design will support the extra weight of the bridgedeck as I don't want to spend time and money only to end up with a transom-dragger.

Does anyone know anything about this design? It apparently dates back 20 years or so and Bob Oram built one called "Silver" in Darwin, but I was told he experimented with foils and CLR and the boat had balance problems. Interestingly enough, I suspect this is where Bob's current design ideas about submerged chines came from originally.

My concept is to emulate the open deckhouse/cockpit of the Seawind 1000 - that works brilliantly in the tropics.

Thanks for any info or comments,

Cheers

Rick

[catsketcher]

Hello

I met the people on Silver when they came back from a Kimberley cruise in the 90s. As I recall the boat was fine but the owner was a little upset about the noise the flat bow would make in chop.

My advice is not to get a compromised project for the sake of one hull. One unfinished hull is not very far along the build process and you would probably be better served getting a modern sellable cat design like an Oram, Schionning, Woods or somesuch. The rest of the materials will cost the same on a recent design

cheers

Phil Thompson

[RickEdmonds]

Hi Phil

Thanks for the info on Silver. What you say makes a lot of sense, but along with the hull comes a *lot* of gear as well, which makes the purchase very attractive. The built hull is done to a good standard and all the frames for the second hull are made and ready to be erected. Most importantly, I took the wife to see it yesterday and she gave the approval - a lot more room than she was expecting, I think.

I know resale won't be as high as a recognised design, but that's far enough away not to be determinative now.

Cheers

Rick

[Landlubber]

Rick, I worked with Kev at Woolwich Marina in the 80's when he was designing and advising this boat, he still lives in Sydney I believe, so contact him directly, I can give you his phone number from my old books if you send me a private message.

[RickEdmonds]

Hi Landlubber

That would be great, thanks. I tried to PM you but found I need to have 5 posts and then wait a day before PM is enabled. This is post No 5, so I'll be able to PM you tomorrow!

Cheers