(Edit) I looked around and saw a couple of other designs by John Hitch, and while they do have some rocker the transoms are deeply submerged and...
I'm a little dubious about the no rocker thing. If the boat draws almost a meter, then without any rocker, wouldn't the transoms be deeply...
I'd think it might be less likely to cause ventilation, since any disruption of the flow of air downward would be a good thing. But I'm just...
I think it's true that surface-piercing foils are inferior to end-stopped foils. Consider the Stiletto 27, which came originally with a...
This is only true if ease-of-engineering is your main design goal. In most other respects, cats make better cruising machines. That's why an...
Frank, I'm sure you'll see us in the afternoon Friday. I don't know how it goes, since this is my first EC, but we'll have to be inspected, and...
Fanie, I am-- a folder based on a fairly weird idea, which I want to hold off on discussing until I've made a model, at least. I can say that it...
No, this will be my first year to enter, though I went to the start a couple years back, when we had a daughter in school down there. I hope...
Hey Frank We live in NW Florida-- Ft. Walton Beach. I'm trying to get Slider ready for the Everglades Challenge. If you can make it down to the...
I'm too tired to think about it right now-- we're trying to get Slider ready for the Everglades Challenge in a couple of weeks, but in general...
Doug's point is well-taken. I built Slider's hulls as dories, because by adding a chine to approximate a semi-circular section, the displacement...
I don't.
This is not necessarily true. Leeboards, for example, can have their pivot point below the gunwale, and be supported at the gunwale by a...
This reminds me a bit of the idea I had for a folding cat. I like the idea of a line actuated mechanism, and it would be pretty simple to...
I agree, though honesty compels me to mention that with Slider, the boat's behavior at high speed is really not an issue. I'm a fairly cowardly...
This looks like a fantastic boat. It might not be as fast as a racing cat, but in my view is a luxurious and beautiful boat. While it has the...
I'll offer, as a data point, my experience with fairly big, well-shaped rudders. As drawn, Slider uses NACA 0012 rudders of modest aspect ratio....
Good points. I have a 6 inch deck plate on both ends, for cross-ventilation, though in March it's rarely that hot. It's true the fabric dodger...
I have to admit to some doubt about the biplane rig, mainly because racers are so concerned about sailing in clean air, and the biplane rig seems...
I'd agree that Jarcats are good boats, though you don't want to push them in heavy weather. Zubian is a nice looking 18 footer, but I wonder...