Crowther Spindrift

When I was going to build I first researched Trimaran -v- Catamaran , I emailed Richard Wood but decided on a Tri because I was building around 32' . I also decided on the older cruising designs of Horstman , Searunner and Cross . I also looked at others like Richard Wood when a catamaran was in the running , designers and designs that are proven and suited for home builders . Crowther designed most of his boats with speed in mind , so less volume in the hulls , Horstman and some others designed their hulls with more volume with cruising in mind , he redesigned most of his designs with a long waterline as an option , so a shorter length design by him gives you close to the same waterline of a bigger boat and close to the same volume . The displacement of the Crowther 37 is 7000 , the 34' Horstman cat is 6800 , so the volume and waterline are comparable . the Crowther 40 I think is around 8000 displacement , the Horstman 36 is comparable with better layout in my opinion due to more volume in the hulls and it is already designed for foam as an option .

 

RBerrey
Many thanks again I’m looking at Horstman designs tonight after the England vs Switzerland Match on right now in the Euros . I’m with my engineering son who’s learnt a bit of CAD last term at college which may be useful. We are doing more clearing of build site in the morning.

Thanks again
Andrew

 

Andrew we expect a log of your build on here, no matter how long it takes. It is a great project with your young blokes.

 

Hi C dog

I’ve compared the Ed Horstman 41 design to the Dix Harvey DH430 a plywood Cat , although Ed’s plans are cheaper I prefer the Dix design & it’s much faster & surprisingly a bit lighter. Build time is 7500 hours I can’t afford the kit but I can get some bulkhead patterns. Have a look yourself I would be interested to know what boat you would choose to build.

Kind regards
Andrew

 

Andrew , Dudly Dix would be a good choice , but the DudlyDix 430 is not lighter than the 41' Horstman , unless there is another Dix Harvy plan that I am not seeing , the 430 is almost 23,000 lbs displacement with a 3'3" draft , waterline is 40'4" . The Horstman 41 is 12,000 lbs displacement about 1/2 that of the Dix , with a 2'6" draft and the waterline will be close to the same as the 430 . Lighter boat , about the same waterline , I would put my money on the Horstman if the two were in a race .

 

I would go for the Dix design because it will be an easier cruising boat with keels and battened main, plus the layout is better suited to your purposes, however the ply construction is inconvenient. Can this boat be redrawn for epoxy/foam constuction with probable gains in build time, cost, boat performance and possibly easier repairs?

Also I have to state that my background is mostly commercial marine, and I have had far more to do with engine powered catamarans than sail powered ones. I raced Hobie 16s for a while and helped a friend build and tune a small (~22') Woods cat before he took off long distance cruising on it, last heard of on the west coast of India from Fremantle, Western Australia. If that boat was representative of Woods craft I am sold, it would ghost along in the slightest zephyr, accelerate like a Vincent in a gust, and super easy to tack, jibe and manouver, this was unladen for the cruising coming up, and would have lost some of that performance as gear was added. It pointed well too with tiny keels, I sat in the cockpit, pinching marks, scoffing ales, and generally experimenting with the helm while he mucked about with rag and string. The small accomodation in the hulls was very tight and I wouldn't try it with a rugby forward frame and claustrophobia, but beanpole contortionist Jeff had no issues and went on to live on that boat as he headed for Europe in it. Big marketing punt for a small Woods daysailer.

I find your plans with your sons interesting because I produced and raised as a single dad two daughters, awesome young ladies around their mid twenties now, who had no desire for salt showers or disembowling fish, and whilst I had a fantastic time following their interests (and finding aspects of myself previously hidden}; there was still the fantasy of family boating related activities lurking in the dim recesses of my aging brain as I did it. I am also hoping that they will at least come for day trips, but time will tell. One is majoring in paleo-anthropology soon then heading your way for post-graduate studies, though I have forgotten the UK university she mentioned. It is interesting hearing my (former) babies with mouthfuls of words I don't understand.

Now that aforementioned ladies are independent of me I can no longer ignore the call of the ocean, which has become a muted scream in my head, and I am on the lookout for a suitable boat to escape on. Building is out as I am in early sixties now and construction could take ten years with hiccups like health issues, so I will find a suitable sailing multi to inherit and love, and that will be my conveyance whilst I travel the Australian east coast and other parts of the western Pacific Ocean, annoying old friends and family members. I will carry champagne in case I run into you blokes somewhere exotic in your shiny near new catamaran.

 

Thanks both of you for your comments & advice I better have another look at Ed Horstman designs. Dix Harvey only has the plywood or foam option on the biggest Cat their DH550 which is a prototype for the carbon Gunboats with similar floor plans Dudley told me he would have to do lots of recalculations if I wanted a foam core DH430 , plans probably double in price I reckon he wasnt keen to do that. I do like the protected internal helm on DH 430 -550 do you think Horstman would consider changing the helm on his plans. If I built in foam it will be easier to work with as it’s a lot lighter than plywood & I can make the curves easier. Less machine cutting & I may be able to do big sections of vacuum infusion on a table. Is a foam boat usually a quicker build time than plywood?

kind regards gents
Andrew

 

Andrew. Its time to build a small boat (dingy or below 6 meters) in foam class resin infusion to learn and practice how to build in these materials. Yes foam glass can be faster but it does take some understanding of resins, fabrics, pumps, pipe positioning, resin traps etc. A mistake on a small trial boat will be cheaper and can be reworked in a day. A mistake in a larger build can take a month to correct. Please understand the materials and build techniques first then make final choices. You could save thousands in plan/build costs and a large amount of time. I hope you can get what you want but don't underestimate the task. You will be amazed at the amount of time required to get the work site and tools sorted out and maintained over a build. Each hour you spend on the actual boat will probably require another hour of messing around getting materials ready, setting up a form, placing tubing, waiting for the right temperature etc.

 

Hi OldMulti

Thank you for your advice I built a house when I was 32yrs over 4 years part time so I have a similar understanding of the effort needed for a boat build . I’m thinking of an up to 8 yrs build I’m hoping to retire in 10years . I have experience of glassing roofs & rubbing out the air bubbles but I have been watching some YouTube films on glassing hulls to gain some tips . Yes it’s a good idea to build my tender first to improve skills. Regarding foam is H60 the minimum quality acceptable & depending on budget higher quality H80 or Dyvinvicell . I may still go down the Dix ply route as I like that plan unless I can modify a Horstman design his plans are for ply or foam.

kind regards
Andrew

 

Hi Folks

Medium ocean cruising Catamaran plans

Update
I had a look at Kurt Hughes designs he has a 40 f and a 45 cruising cat both interesting designs with a second internal helm & fast narrow hulls. Ed Horstman also has a 38 & a 41 cat then a big jump in size to a 51. Ed has put some heads actually inside each berth which I find a bit strange not sure I like his floor plans & heavier boats by 3-4000 lbs than Kurt Hughes foam designs.

I have been looking again at the Spindrift 37 plans I already have which are for the Mk 3 version in (12mm foam sandwich ) the floorplan is similar to Catana 40 . I’ve also got the hull offsets for the Crowther 226a same as the Catana. I reckon I could achieve a Catana 40s design with not much effort. Would it be possible to increase the 37 length 12% & beam 10% & use modern 20mm /24mm? foam core with a modern layered triax lamination & use a stronger s glass & basalt lamination for all 10 bulkheads & hull joints.

The Catana 40s was a rapid strong blue water Cat all I need is 2 double cabins & 2 spare mini double berths for occasional family visitors & stowage when sailing around the Greek Islands hopefully eventually an Atlantic passage . Most of time just a couple on board.

Any thoughts

kind regards

Andrew

 

Andrew , you cant just look at length , you need to decide how much displacement you need in the boat , and to a large extent you will pay for the build by the pound of displacement . You can get a 41' or 45' fast cat and load them up with what you want or need to cruise , and they may become slow dogs . Horstmans designs are mostly cruisers , they are designed for payload and room and have more of both when compared with other designs of the same length , apples to apples . Hughes designs are good , but in the end you need to decide based on need , want,s and what you can afford to build . Scaling the Spindrift 37 by up to 10% length only would not be much of a gamble , scaling more or other directions and re- engineering the scantling is a gamble . Don't focus so much on length and speed , with that size range boat you will get there fast enough and soon enough , focus on the " All I need is 2 double cabins and 2 spare mini berths " and the payload and comfort you will need .

 

Hello RBerrey

Thank you for your reply & great advice . My sons like the Horstman 51 but it’s a bit bigger boat we wouldn’t need so many staterooms but the stowage would be nice for a long time crusing catamaran. My favourite designs are Kurt Hughes 45 medium Catamaran & his 40 f in stock designs & Dix DH430 , I would be interested in your opinion of these designs. Is Horstman 51 a better boat to Hughes 45.

Andrew

 

Your best bet is the DH430. An excellent modern boat that will still be modern by the time you've finished it.
The helm position and forward working cockpit are outstanding features for a cruiser.
The pre-cut ply kit from Exocetus will take half as long as foam. A foam DH430 would require a total redesign and re-engineering of the structure.

 

Again , look at the displacement of the DH430 . Inflation has been about 20% over the past few years in the U.S , not sure about the U.K , what happens over the next 6 to 8 years , displacement cost money . Pedigree Cat still builds the Horstman 51 , email them for a price and their opinion of the boat or Horstman boats in general , they build boats for a living , I did when looking at the 31 .

 

Hi Rberry

That’s great advice I will do that. My fallback is scaling up the 12mm foam sandwich Spindrift 37 mk3 sport plans I already have to the next size up the 226 with 20mm H80 & 1150 outer lam & 756 triax inner . A TS 5 inspired ultra modern less wind age bit better volume Saloon & roof may work much better than original I’ve got a set of bulkhead offsets & some lines for a Crowther 226 asymmetrical hulls that I’m just getting my head around. May consider to scale up all the dims by the 10% 1.15 scale factor . My sons like the H 51 but it’s a huge boat I’m thinking a 42 ft is max I wish to do but Kurt Hughes 45 is tempting. Im still clearing my build site old dumped overgrown quarry so plenty of time yet.

many thanks
Andrew