NZ Trimaran - Demon Tricycle

bad mouthing

Actually Samuel, Drumbeat in those days was a completely different boat to the one today, had a centreboard instead of the cruisy long keel, and was a pretty light boat and won, with Keith McClane owning and skippering, quite a few trophies. I sailed with him for two or three years and remember pnce holding 20 knots spinnaker reaching all the way down the south side of Waiheke (seemed like it only took five minutes) before we turned through the bottom passage.
Demon Tricyle, mon ami, would probably beat even your over rigged B24 - that was a very light boat originally and it had a very efficient rig, I mean, yours doesn't even rotate, even today - am I right?

 

Heres some stuff on DT from August 79 AMSA newsletter

Its a cool boat - I can't imagine someone living on it. But in reality its a super Hi-po daysailer like a tornado so you'd expect it to be fast. Boats like this pop up from time to time, like;
http://www.graingerdesigns.com.au/golive_pages/sports11.php
However most people seem to prefer a little more in the way of creature comforts. More to follow........I didn't want to make the files small incase they didn't come out well.

 

I think the most interesting aspect of the design is the forward mounted floats. I can't think of anyone else who has offered this configuration in a stock design (plans still available for Firebird and Wild Thing.

 

And finally, some of Malcoms other designs with the forward floats. I don't know if any of the Demon design were built. At least one Firebird was constructed, based on a GBE hull, and there have been a few Wild things constructed. Malcolm also released a larger version of the Wild thing not long before he passed away. http://www.tennantdesign.co.nz/index.php?page=flying-circus The pic is a Wild Thing.

 

do you know whats going on with it? I know a few people keen to get their hands on something like this to race!

 

It rotates and cants. I hope I can meet this boat in a race one day! It looks fast!

 

DT whre is it?

I've tracked the boat down it was in a shed in Auckland. But the death of the owner stopped any renovation work. All equipment has been removed and the boat crushed. Its gone -finnetto - no more. And plans are not available to reproduce one either.

Tony

 

extinct DemonT?

Well that is sad news Basildog - is Dave Tapper out there? - haven't seen or heard of him for years, but he surely must have a set of plans.

 

Demon Tricycle bis

Have a feeling that those Tennant plans are gone, gone, gone - so have been fooling around with a radical DemonT update, just main hull at the moment: stretched to 7.5 metres, the spread deck wings are for sitting on, stacking out, for platform balance because ..... the 7.5 metre single, angled forward main beam will have vestigial floats with inverted T or Y foils, (inverted T on rudder) quite large foils as they will virtually be the whole support for the boat's equilibrium, only slightly dangerous, perhaps? Wing mast and soft sail combination, square topped main etc.
Maybe a bit too extreme, you blokes?

 

How bloody cool is that??

As a slightly toned down version, what about turning it into being trailable?
The wings might be reduced to fit into 2.5 metres, or whatever the road width is allowable, with floats on swinging single arm that tucks back under the wings when on the trailer. I know engineering the pivot point would be interesting but what a horny little buggar it would be! Also I know a cuddy cabin would add weight but at least it would meet cat 5 or 6 for racing.

But as it stands, SENSATIONAL

 

Demon Tricycle bis

Bassa, thanks for complements - the boat with a square platform configuration would be too wide to fold - however there would be no reason not to make the single wing beam and minimal floats demountable - though that is a time consuming business pulling apart and putting together. When i raced on B Class cats, we used to just do that with Bettina, slow and boring, took over an hour and when you finished, you disassembled, even more boring and also slower because you are tired. But with a boat such as the proposed Demon Tricycle bis, I would envisage leaving it intact for a longer period. However, because I am spoiled by living in Auckland with its huge cruising and racing areas, I would not go to a demountable design, but glue and glass it all together - safer and stronger, less weight and less complication, and sail to destinations or keep it on a mooring.
I'll keep chipping away with two versions however, one fixed, the other demountable - and with a bit more accommodation.

 

Gary,

That Micro-Multi thing you posted was really interesting. I remember having a look at some of those designs on display at that symposium. What I wasn't aware of was the status you hold in the multihull field. I remember over the years having long conversations about multi's with Jim Young while racing on Honeywell the Y11. He believed that for a designer to be taken seriously in the early days they had to stay away from multihulls.

I've spent the last few days sitting at the computer putting my thoughts on what a new Demon Tricycle might be. Not anywhere as near as radical as your version certainly it has high volume floats (should be able to get main hull off the water) projecting forward of the main hull - 7.000 metres hull and floats (hopefully to compete with F22) - single level cockpit and cabin floor - sitting headroom only in cabin - stressed ply 4mm (amateur version) - light displacement around 700 kgs (is this light?) - to carry crew of 3 - folding (can only get around 5.000 metres beam at this stage) I guess its an updated version of the original. Even my wife was enthused when she saw what I was doing so I guess it might get built sooner than later.

The reason for the folding trail able idea is that sailing venues here in Australia can be significant distances apart. And there plenty of major regattas from central NSW to central Queensland

When I figure out how to post the files from Hullforms software system (student version) which only allows me to print them I'll put it up and let you have a look and get opinions.

Tony

 

Tony
Although it was 30 years ago when we had the MM symposium, there were some advanced thinkers involved and their designs and thought are still very relevant even today.
It is interesting to see on this web site the commentary on the B24 Crowther; that design still hits the mark and it is over 40.
Yes, Jim Young is a very special kiwi and IMO still the most innovative of all the NZ designers.
Have been whittling away at the Demon Tricycle update, will post soon - keen to see your ideas.

 

Replace floats?

I have been following this thread also, I have one of the buc-24 tris, and I am interested in any thoughts on replacing the floats with a longer/newer design. The main hull is fine and mostly out of the water when the boat is going fast- new floats seem to be an easy way to increase performance. I have a rig similar to Capricorn's with far more sail carried forward than the boat was designed for- what about something like Demon's forward extended floats? I am quite willing to experiment. Bruce

 

demon update

2 jpeg sketches of Demon Tricycle update - don't know if Malcolm Tennant would be amused or not - probably the latter?