Convert Mono Hull to Tri?

[alan white]

Only a mono can be (practically) designed to both self-right and float when holed. What's that French boat that does exactly that? It costs some room below, but you can sail it with a big hole in it. Now, there may be a multi that has been designed to self-right, but I haven't seen it.
People want space and they have not pressured the market to produce more positive-flotation monos. You get flotation free with a multi, but far less space per dollar, though some larger cats are absolutely gigantic, once the beams can allow standing height.

[Chris Ostlind]

Alan, Ray....

I think it's a zero sum game to argue this aspect of sailing. Both positions have their place. Both have their proponents. After this much time in the development of both types, there seems to be very solid arguments in either direction.

This is, truly, the proverbial can of worms... The argument is endless and I like to design multihulls.

What say we move back to the center on this and further address the issues as presented by the original post topic... that being, the Conversion of a Monohull to a functional Trimaran?

What I'm waiting for is a response from Kalagan after so much material has been laid at his feet.

[alan white]

I don't take a stand that one type is better than another. But it's obvious that the original poster needs to know some things about the two types he's thinking of joining into a new type altogether.
Personally, I am happier owning a mono, but I think it's a subjective matter and both camps are really speaking from the heart and not the head. They all know that the safest thing of all is to stay at home on dry land. I've heard that argument too, which is highly subjectice. Things like, "Steady porch" or "Perfectly dry and safe neighborhood bar" come to mind.
Multis are almost unbelievably slow. Some riding lawnmowers can average better speeds in greater safety. I'm talking about with the mowing deck dropped of course, and the bigger Briggs with the tall gear.
So no arguments here.

[oscarvan]

Old life saving boats were self righting through the use of self filling and draining ballast tanks. The Farrier tri's have been known to right by filling one float and rolling it back after going turtle. Yes the mast has to come off, and these things are all done on smaller (mid 20's) boats. Still, I think a self righting/or assisted righting tri is not out of the question.

[Freenacin]

Originally Posted by alan white

Multis are almost unbelievably slow.

Here's a video of a CRUISING catamaran. Please feel free to post links to videos of CRUISING mono's doing similar speeds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&h...&v=WFqm48C2BPk