Folding beam again

[erikhaha]

Here is topic that has already been covered before.
Now I finally have the time to finish building my small tri. 20 ft LOA, 14ft beam. Strip planked, glassed. 1/4" stitched ply outriggers, each approx 60lb.

I would appreciate any input from experienced builders/designers. Please see attached pdf.

The hinge has been designed for a 350lb point load acting at the end of the beam. Although I did not do a finite element analysis, I do believe my calculations are a conservative estimate.

The main beam is a 3" square al tube, and the floding beam is a laminated wood beam made of IPE and Doug Fir #1. The bending stress of IPE is 3600psi, and it is a very very hard wood. Unfortunately its density if 78 pcf.

Thanks for any input

[dstgean]

Check out the W17 mentioned here. He uses a waterstay and it also works for the B24.

Dan

[erikhaha]

Not sure about waterstays on the W17. I checked it out and I didn't see any. Also, I realy do not want to use waterstays.

[dstgean]

Watch the video--I must have been confused by the tramps hanging down. Hinging and not using waterstays will require a BEEFY hinge.

Dan

[cardsinplay]

Originally Posted by dstgean

Hinging and not using waterstays will require a BEEFY hinge.

And a decently strong front beam.

I'm sure that Mike has calculated all that and that there's a safety margin appropriate for the intended use. Mike is one sharp guy and he is always looking for interesting ways to bring multihull sailing to the every day guy.

In an area where there was a desert of options for day and adventure sailing trimaran enthusiasts just ten years ago, there are now a collection of insteresting boats. Some of them are very functional, as well as aesthetically appealing and others are decidedly less so, but the choices are now out there.

If I wasn't for the fact that I've been drawing my own boats of this type for more than nine years now, I'd be very seriously considering one of Mike's offerings.

[outside the box]

JFWIW I hope this might help it is a very simple system by I think by Chris White designs

[basil]

You might like to check this simple folding system out

http://www.nauticaltrek.com/11550-quick