AMAS or OUTRIGGERS

Dear Colleagues,

Reading the book " ALL ABOUT POWERBOATS " author Roger Marshall, page 35
there is a word " AMAS" , he writes " amas or outrigger ".
My question : what is the meaning of " amas,is it a word or one abbreviation?

Please send me some help.
Thank you
Amador

 

I believe ama is the Hawaiian word for the outrigger float.

 

A trimaran consists of a main hull (vaka) and two smaller outrigger hulls (amas), attached to the main hull with lateral struts (akas). The design and names for the trimaran components are derived from the original proas constructed by native Pacific Islanders.

Only 'amas' has really become established in everyday nautical language. It's common to refer to the parts as the mainhull, cross beams and amas.

I think only volcanology borrows as readily from the languages of the Pacific. I can still spot pahoehoe and aa type lava at twenty paces, years after last sitting in an engineering geology class.

 

Thank you for the prompt answers.
Regards
Amador