Trying to design my own cat.

sailing through chop

Richard
Although the suggested 7 metre fat Atkincat hulls are beamy, you still have around a 10 to 1 beam to length ratio - and they are reasonably fine forward with that dreadnought bow so the boat should go through chop very well. The sterns are a compromise, beamier than the bows but not big U shaped transoms as in some cat designs, halfway between canoe and transom after sections. Without repeating ad infinitum, a 7 metre reasonably performing cat should carry only 4 people IMO. More people, more weight equals unsafe to me. Without being a pompous bore, you need to sail on a small cat, Paper Tiger, Hobie, Hydra or any examples of number of sub 18 foot designs, then all this stuff will become obvious to you.

 

Thanks Gary. When I am finished with all my other commitments, and have organised where I'll be living in Los Angeles, and have got my finances all sorted out, I will consider taking this idea further with you. I just want to get my feet on the ground first. You can expect an email from me in the future.
For now, I'm just going to focus on my music and getting some time out on the water.

You've been very helpful. I appreciate it very much.

Thanks

 

I haven't been reading this forum for the last 10 days as we've been away sailing in our 25ft Merlin. A great time, glorious weather apart from a couple of days "storm bound" (30 knots + actually, so no storm, just a yachtsmans gale)

You are lucky to be able to sail in such benign weather conditions that you only need 12in of freeboard and can lounge all over the boat. Such a design would never work in the UK, it's just too rough, too often

Having said that, have you looked at my trailable 22ft Wizard design? and seen the video taken by a Marina del Ray based owner? He is always complaining about the 3ft chop and light winds. Seems to me the Wizard would suit you. A successful design, dozens have been built. One photo on my website shows a Wizard sailing with 6 adults plus baby. No problems.

It is also available as an open deck design.

I also have a larger sister ship design, the 25ft Sango. There is a photo on my website of a Russian Sango sailing in the Black Sea with 20!! people on board.

As others have said, I strongly recommend you sail a bit before designing a boat.

in haste, as we just returned from the boat

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

Sounds interesting Richard, just one Q. Do you have to have a baby ?

 

I thought you were going to get your feet OFF the ground for a change

 

Hello Richard Woods

Will the open deck Wizard slam if I am beating to windward in 2 ft waves carrying 6 adults? (thats a lot less than 20 Russians).

If not, then I am interested in your open-deck version. I like the robust and simple folding beams.

 

lol Fanie You and Masalai like to read each sentence with a magnifying glass.....searching for any excuse to unleash more drivel.

 

Huh, Gee Richard that is the first time I have been accused of reading a post? hehehe, And I feel guilty about responding but I got mail to say someone was talking about me and curiosity????? Hope you enjoy the little diversions/interludes....
I do often read the serious stuff, and enjoy your discourses - I like to learn something new every day... Thanks for the privilege... "Payment sent"

 

Sorry I can't help it... otherwise I cannot see a bloody thing. I have to hold the newspaper about 2 meters away so I can read it... arms too short, have to use a magnifying glass


He he Richard. since you need the break and (I hope) you're going sailing, do make a point of sitting with your butt where you planned your freeboard. Oh come on be a sporty chap and humor us... pleazzzzeee Pictures, pictures and pictures. Imagine all the points you'll get

I burn to go with you... as Frosty would say, I'm seriously land sick already. Only going in Nov if our gov doesn't screw something seriously up again.

 

The open deck Wizard won't slam with 6 people on board. But I doubt if they will be lounging on the forward net beating into a 2ft chop!

I suggest you contact Ralph Maggio and sail his boat when you get to California

Hope this helps

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

I don't mind your diversions, Mas. I have thought about your more serious comments too. Made me think again about the virtues of monos.

Fanie, I have to be careful about what kind of photos I send. I'm about to become a famous music composer so image is everything
I actually think that Gary has given his suggestion too much freeboard, as a proportion to the BOA (assuming it's 10ft). That would be easy to fix during the design process. If you're talking about sitting too low....I don't mind a wet bum in the rough, and a dry bum on a calm day.

 

Richard Woods, do you have any drawings or photos of an open deck Wizard? Can I assume that the hulls and cabins are exactly the same as the cuddy version?

 

email me at woodsdesigns@tiscali.co.uk and I'll email you a plan view

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

Richard Woods,
I sent you an email but maybe you haven't received it. You can send a pic to this email address atn_atkin@hotmail.com, but to be honest, I'm now 90% sure I will be owning at least one non-demountable boat....I might own two, if I want to go sailing with a whole bunch of people.

 

Another idea: I could use hulls like what Gary has drawn, and on the main crossbeam, the mast can be freestanding and rotate around the beam. This means if the boat capsizes, the rig can be rotated upside-down (electrically), and so the boat can be sailed upside-down and recapsized. You would have to unclip the forward net or have no net at all. Maybe a boom for the jib, or no jib.
It's also good for quick rigging or getting rid of the sail/s in a hurry.
I'm sure it could be done if you want to spend the money. I think the single beam idea could be done too (spoke to a guy with engineering background), but I probably wouldn't bother with that.

"Oh Richard...when will it ever end?"