Trying to design my own cat.

Where are you going to go camping around LA? Alcatraz? - - Those seas get a bit rough - remember the thread "doing a lap"? He only got around the corner.... - Buy a second hand Hobie 18 or whatever - seems there are some cheap yards to store it?

 

Hi Fanie, Manie and Mas

So the verdict is....dangerous.

Well...it depends on how and where it is sailed. You could argue that a Hobie is dangerous if you sail it around Cape Horn.

Admittedly, the crew will need to help me sail the boat. They will need to be aware of where to put their weight if they decide to stray from there main seating position. It's a fun-boat. It's not a true cruising boat. You can't let it sail itself like you can with a larger boat.

I like to use the term "Cruiser" because it highlights the ability to cook and go to the toilet. But I would not call it a cruiser if I was trying to sell hundreds of them.

I will not sail it far from help. In the UNLIKELY event of capsize, if I can't flag down a power boat for assistance to right the catamaran, I will call the local sea patrol, which will never be far away. I know what it's like to sail overloaded boats in strong winds, and it's not hard to keep the boat upright....and I'm talking about small mono dinghies, with no weighted keel. The human weight is good when it's in the right place.

I know you guys will probably not agree, but I have thought about it long and hard. The benefits far outweigh the negatives.

Remember, it's just a Hobie with some more load capacity and space. It's for the summer, on those nice easy sailing days.

And don't forget that it is often going to be sailed with just two or three people.

I'm still trying to work out if it is actually rightable.

Cheers guys

 

So narrow, there is almost no advantage in a cat - instead you should be able to pick up a trailer-sailor mono for more fun and "group therapy" something about the size of the Western Australian Court 650 or 750 which I raced in WA - good fun, good room and easy to keep at home (don't forget to lower the mast...... http://traileryacht.com/Court_650.htm

I am still a cat supporter but recognise there are horses for courses... remember toe (one of the more important) rules "WEIGHT is BAD" for cats... the most annoying will be difficulty to tack and to be overtaken by all the monohull barges.... how embarrassing...

 

Hi Masalai

No advantage? Try seating people like that on a trailor-sailor mono that weighs the same. The lazy lounge atmosphere, where everyone can face each other and chat and eat and drink, is what I am after. Monos are not as good for that. Try getting the same flat smooth ride. Cats have an effortless feeling when they sail. And try hauling the mono equivalent up a beach.

When everyone jumps out into shallow water, and throws some gear onto the beach, the boat will only weigh 900 pounds. It's much easier to hang onto in small waves, compared to my previous design (which I still like).

I accept your comments about safety, and I am thinking hard about how to make the cat rightable.

 

"Rightable" has not been in my considerations? or points to ponder... could you see the image on the site posted? race with 4 to 6 up and an "esky" full of beer - as in those days we needed to follow the empty cans to find our way back home... he he he... main racing sails were roachy main, 110% genoa and a huge star cut spinnaker (we called it the "mercedes" sail) and carried it all up to 15/18 knots of wind.... the centreboard used to HUM magnificently....

 

Dear members:

I am an electric and electronic engineering student. And I am actually learning Michlet to predict the thrust needed for a solar boat that I am doing the electrical installation.

Can somebody help me please in understanding and calculating the ship loading type.

Thank you lots.

Regards

 

Javaid,
Rick Willoughby is an electrical engineer, and he is actually designing a solar/wind powered boat. He uses Michlet. He has a very solid understanding in the field that you are dealing with.

If he is available to offer you some help, then he is probably the best person you can speak to in this forum.

He may not have time right now, so I don't want to promote him too much, but he has been extremely helpful to me.

 

re-capsize

If I get caught out in an unforseen freak storm, or if I suddenly faint and lose control of the boat....and the boat ends up upside-down....then I will detach the rig and re-assemble it, inverted. So the mast and sail are right way up, while the hulls are upside down. My crew then help me to re-capsize the boat. Ofcourse, the rig is then re-assembled again.

It sounds difficult, especially in a big sea...but we are talking about an emergency here. Struggling with the ordeal would be well worth the effort. The rig is small enough for this solution to be feasible.

I'm confident in my sailing ability. Capsize is not likely as far as I am concerned. Most of us drive cars, knowing that we can't afford to lose concentration. Please don't tell me that cars are safe!

 

Sounds to me like the three of you just needs to push down on the one side to re-capsize it If you really really want to go small just get the life jackets... at least you wouldn't have to worry about the boat when something happens

Richard, go to the troubles and make a bigger boat. You can trust me on this, a small boat on waters that can get roughish is going to be a problem and would spoil more than one occasion if not every occasion. You can hippy out any size craft, but at least do it in style. Everything in the US is supposedly buuug and here you come with this miniature type thingy.

Rather design the thing to be assembled in a few minutes, than go out and you have to come out since the wind picked up some, which will be every time.

Originally you started with around a 9m x 5m cat if I'm not mistaken - that's more like it - and you could have the 'piece bro' even bigger sprayed on the side of the hull. It could still be trailable and assembly can be done very easily and in only a few minutes.

Comparing cars with a boat is a poor comparason. Even the smallest car can make way safely if slow and carefull on the road. With a boat it is the road that is going to become unstable, you may not have a choice about it.

In case of a capsize,, there is much risk and much to lose, from serious personal injury to valuables getting lost - apart from the umpleasantness and the cost for someone else to haul you out.

No man, go big or stay home.

 

I respect what you're saying, Fanie, but I've had over a year to think about this now. I won't bore you by writing a couple of pages to show you why a small boat has so many advantages.

The design I am proposing is not as unstable as you might think it is. I was convinced to go bigger.....but now, after thinking about all the logistics and the lifestyle I want....I am sure I just have to keep it small.

I won't be attempting any big ocean passages.

I need to be able to slip into my dry, beach permitted, unfouled, fast-rigged, low maintenance boat.....in the same way that I slip in or out of a pair of shoes....anytime when the weather is good, night or day, when my girlfriend feels like it.....or on a whim when the whole crowd feels like it (6 people), even if it is just for an hour.

Will I be wreckless? No. Check the weather, the currents, the wave conditions....etc. etc. No alcohol onboard. No idiots. And no attempts to sail in conditions that are too dangerous. My perspective is realistic. I won't be calling any rescue services.
Oh...and no 'peace' signs painted on the hull.

How's your boat coming along? Are you going with the broken hulls idea?? (bolt together from inside). You should use L brackets and rubber seals. Easy to do.

 

he he he... I can see how the focus are shifted to my boat instead

A 9m cat are hardly for attempting big ocean passages, in fact, I'm considering that size just for fresh water passage, never mind the sea

I think everyone takes safety and conditions seriously - I have seen when the guys go out. Intentions are always good, it is the elements and conditions one does not have control over that however sometimes throw the dice. Then when the guys come back out and something is missing you start with a boat and sometimes so-and-so is missing also. Not so nice then. I never want to get in a situation where I have to tell someone's wife and kids...

I am sitting with the same temptation. I can build a smaller rig much easier and cheaper and in a couple of months building time. I can be on the water fishing the living crap out of those fishes before the end of this year. But then, what was the initial motivation ? If I go smaller I'm sure I can just buy the bloody small boat and sit with it - but will I be satisfied with it ?

I have the smaller boat already, it's not a sailor tho. It's not what I want for the sea and I hate to settle for... I would rather then just stay away. One can always find some crappy excuse.

If I'm going to do this, it is going to be something worth the time effort and money goes into it. When one gets older and your friends get older too I think one wants more comfort apart from that it is nice if your wife goes with. When you're young and tough and nothing can get you down and there's no end to one's abilities I guess you could cross the ocean on a surfboard, but things does change - overnight. One does hardly provide for that.

I'm still gathering stuff for the boat. It's all the add-ons that's a scary list. The list of lack of knowledge is even longer...

 

I'm not that young, Fanie. Maybe it's just my young attitude that shines through
I've had plenty of small dinghy sailing experience, in 25 to 30 knot winds, in NZ's Hawkes Bay, which is not completely sheltered. I know how hard it is to 'accidently' capsize a boat. Hardly ever did, and that's racing too. Cruising would mean less sail area and sailing an easier course.
I must admit, I have been on dry land for too long now....and I would like to get some more experience with small cats, and bigger ones too. That would be nice. There never seems to be a good time for me at the moment. Too much other stuff going on. No hire cats ANYWHERE in NZ except for Auckland and above.
I could just buy a little Hobie for now, and freeze my **** off here in Wellington. Designing is fun but sailing is better. Right now I am wearing a ski jacket and I am in a sleeping bag. You see, I am getting old too.

 

I see, you're getting old in a sleeping bag...

That seems like a good idea - sailing the different sized ones. Seems like the right time to make some friends quickly I'm sure it would put things into perspective and in no time.

Why don't you just get some of the okes there to take you out ? Don't tell me the .NZ guys are as full of crap as the SA ones...

I asked a few guys to take me out on their cats - I've never been on a sailing cat - and these snobbish sh2theads doesn't want to ! I mean say no to a nice guy like me, eh ! One guy here wanted R6000 for three hours what is he off his rocker or something

 

I havent done much sailing for years. Most of my sailing was when I was 9 to 16 years old. All those guys have now left the country or I didn't like them much anyway. 'Competitive' personalities. I guess I am a snob too.

Back then I think Napier Sailing club (Hawkes Bay) was the biggest sailing club in the southern hemisphere. It was like a GIANT pub with lots of boats around....and another GIANT pub across the road incase the sailing club got too full. A major happening place. It was very interesting to watch all the super-serious guys having great fun in the pub after a hard day of sailing....and then the next Saturday morning they were The Terminator all over again

Anyway....I really need to get back on the water. Time to start fresh. The ocean is calling...and all that crap.

 

Know the feeling all to well. Like Frosty said, you get land sick

I've never been into sailing, for some reason I missed all the fun. Always just power boats. Still some time to do something about it.

Are you really going to build (have it built) or are you going to buy one in the end ?