Is power catamaran capsize safer than sail catamaran?

[gp333]

Is power catamaran capsize safer than sail catamaran?

I believe yes, but wish ask more experienced here...

[CatBuilder]

They say yes, power is less likely to capsize.

Why?

First of all, you can't have a wind induced capsize from too much sail up in windy conditions. This is the most common reason for catamaran capsize.

Second, you have a lot of weight down low in the form of engines and fuel. In addition to the dimensional stability of the two widely spaced hulls, this gives you even a bit better of a righting moment from weight distribution as well. A sailing cat, in most instances, will have a center of mass that is a bit higher up than a power cat.

[gp333]

And if power catamaran capsize, he stay capsized too? Or hard sea can alone latter back him in normal position
maybe?

[PAR]

If any catamaran capsizes it's a bad day, power or sail. Neither recover very well and no they will not "self recover" without the assistance of a big crane or hurricane whipped seas.

[gonzo]

It depends on the design. The method of propulsion alone is not enough to determine an answer.

[eyschulman]

What Gonzo says gatta be true- I have seen some power cats with so much freeboard and house area you might as well have a sail you can't take down.

[gp333]

yes, I see... yes, traditional designed power cats it seems lot more safe

hm, but what you say to this non-traditional design?

http://www.planetsolar.org/wp-conten...isu_home_1.jpg

I believe this cat is not for any bad weather... what you guys say?

[gonzo]

There isn't a tradition on power catamarans yet, they are new-comers.

[gp333]

Originally Posted by gonzo

There isn't a tradition on power catamarans yet, they are new-comers.

yes, but planet solar is extremely "new-commer"

any ideas about his hard sea stability?

[sandy daugherty]

Ask anyone from Kansas; barn doors do fly. So this example is probably not the best way to survive heavy weather. I suspect only an enclosed, self propelled life boat, painted international orange is the best bet.

Add another consideration to your powercat question; beam. There are examples of production powercats with beams narrow enough to fit in a large slip. They may be two or more stories high ( but none to my knowledge have elevators or escalators YET.)

Others may not have enough power to keep the bows into the wind in a stiff blow.

The last consideration is training. I'm sure that anyone who can carry a 4 x 8 foot piece of 3/4" plywood on his head across a frozen lake in a blizzard could handle that PlanetSolar very-nearly-a-trimaran in a blow.

Naval architects use a related term, Metacenter, to talk about this problem. It's not hard to come up with.

Gonzo: I'm looking at a powercat built in 1962. Isn't 50 old enough?