Kurt Hughes updated Trikala 19 trimaran

Bows and Beams

Judging by the discussion, I thought some readers might be interested in an article I posted on reverse bows a while back. http://www.smalltridesign.com/Trimaran-Articles/design/reverse-bow.html#AXE

I agree with Richard (as I often do) that it’s a fad, particularly on a small boat, and certainly does nothing to reduce pitch poling. The Hilfiger boat shown in the video has AXE bows and although the boat reached a very precarious position, these fine bows still allowed them to maintain a little forward motion, and that’s part of the secret if one hopes to recover from this extreme and dangerous position.

There was also a comment about Lock Crowther ‘getting things right’ for the Buccaneer to ‘never’ pitchpole. As I owned two of them in the past, I think I understand why, although I am certain there are sea conditions that could pitchpole anything if pushed hard enough. It’s not so difficult to design a boat that will resist pitchpole. For starters, it needs buoyancy up forward, a fairly high forward freeboard, a moderate sailplan that is fairly far back, and amas that are of relatively low volume and set at relatively low overall beam. This permits the boat to heel more than the latest raft of trimarans and this relieves the sail pressure that causes much of the issue. The B24 is a fast boat in light to moderate conditions but I found them to be a nervous handful in heavier winds. So, as we sail ‘according to the secure (or insecure) way the boat feels’, the skip will tend to reduce sail on a B24 due to very ‘edgy’ way it feels in big seas and again, that helps to prevent an accident. Quite a few tris with low buoyancy amas react this way and it’s a good safety valve for many sailors. But today, we are being pushed for more performance, and if you want to go faster (as most of us do), then we need lots of sail and LOTS of beam to be able to use that power and convert it into immediate forward motion.
This is all great fun and even my own boats lean towards that performance edge … though hopefully, not too far. But sailors have to realize that the ‘auto safety valve’ is now set at a higher level and that the risk of pitchpoling is certainly increased as transverse stability is stepped up. This means reducing sail early, paying more attention to individual waves and wind gusts as well as to important details like, making SURE that all sails can be quickly released under load! But once you’ve sailed a wide, powerful tri, it will be hard to accept the older B24 style designs again that sail at a higher heel angle. Could well be safer for cruising though, as when a boat heels more, we instinctively ease off and reduce sail.

To close off my thoughts, I also agree with Richard over the common tendency of sliding beams to jam. I looked into these for my new W22 and decided against them .. particularly as they often create beam limits (too little when open and then, too much when closed), as well as blocking off much of the access in the enclosed part of the main hull. (I also have an aversion for anything not symmetrical about the main centerline, but this is a very personal thing as this particular asymmetry has little affect on performance).

regards to all
mike

 

Well we are finally going the get a chance to see one built, and if you are in SW Florida in a few months, even get a chance to sail one.....

www.3Hulls.com

And before the end of the year own your own.

 

Here's a few teasers

 

Stuff,

Are a participating member of the group bringing the new Trikala to market?

 

YES I am.
Charlotte Harbor Sails is owned by my wife and myself.

We have opted to NOT call it the Trikala because we were informed that some of the Spanish built boats were less than stellar, and garnered a bad rep. This is an entirely new boat with only a few similarities to the original Trikala including the designer/architect.

For now and unless a better name comes to mind, we are calling it the CHS X19

 

I have to comend you on your offering price for that boat. I hope you can stick with those numbers! I dont always agree with or buy into the "multi hulls are just more expensive" gimmick. Sure there are extra hulls to build (usually a cat if you combine everything is still 80-90% of equivalent mono hull size/volume) but some people charge exorbitant amounts (30k+) for the same size boats.

Going to be a good looking boat!

 

We are working very hard to make this happen. We might find down the road that we might have to adjust the prices. It all depends on what has to go out in wages (biggee) and materials. We just took another 2% increase in resin prices.

 

Thank you for the interesting article on reverse bows. Just one point, I think the reverse bows on the warships may be hiding rams. Maybe a good idea for your average marina-based skipper?

 

For marina based warships, I would rather replace the prod with a cannon

 

The plans arrived yesterday from Kurt, we are pouring over them and will start cutting the plywood for the strongback this weekend.

 

Sent the Mast and Boom Specs off for to 3 vendors for quotes today.

 

Just had an interview with Small Trimarans Magazine http://smalltrimarans.com/blog/?p=10308

 

WHOOHOO
Finally starting the build, simple beginnings, but this is the first cut for the AMA plug form. This is the shape for the AMA bow, more pictures to come soon.





Final Fairing will smooth out the not so smooth jigsaw work.

 

Stuff for Toys.
It's hard to judge from your pics there, but how thick is the plywood you are using.?