Okay, there has been a lot of conjecture on some of the other forums about cats "planing" or not- Especially "round bilge" ones.

Now, I respect Bill R. BUT they have a TON of these "boats" here in Arkansas called "pontoon boats"- Most are "catamarans" (ie have two hulls) and most of their "hulls" are two, PERFECTLY round aluminum "tubes". And THEY "plane" no doubt about it (pull waterskiers and hit ~30+ mph)! And it doesn't take a 1000 HP motor for them to do so!! For their size they are quite "light" though- all aluminum and some plywood decking. Also, they have other, round bottom aluminum fishing boats w/ NO chines or sharp edges that plane as well here in the land of lakes and rednecks. Also, Bill pointed out you use "flat" rocks when you go to "skip" them on water- Well here in the land of hunting dogs and ATV's we "skip" round bullets off the water just for s*7ts and grins! SO, as far as I'm concerned it IS "possible" to plane on a perfectly round bottom hull shape- I don't know how efficient it is or practical, but I KNOW it's possible (Maybe this is like the bumble bees that supposedly- according to the engineers- are incapable of flight - But the joke is, Nobody told them!)-

Now, this got me thinking- How to "prove" whether or not a particular boat (catamaran) could plane? (And not using all that fancy "math" stuff Wouter and Bill use- I'm NOT up to that! (Here in Arky the definition of "using a calculator" means you take your shoes off! :-)

Well, what I decided is- Just use a powerboat (I happen to have one of those), a ski rope, and whatever boat you want to try to "prove" will or will NOT plane- DON'T put the sails up (You'll generate so much apparent wind and/or tear your sails up) and tow it behind the powerboat, recording the speed as you slowly accelerate- Have 2 persons on the boat being "tested"- one holding the tow rope- By my reasoning, just like waterskiing, you will KNOW you are "on plane" when the tension in the tow rope suddenly decreases-



Okay- What do the rest of you all think of my crazy "experiment"? OH yeah- If it "works" then a person could actually "test" several boats/types of boats and see which plane "easier" (ie at a lower towing speed). And since I even have about 6 different cats I could test several if I just had time and 2 other idiots to help me!



Kirt

(Wrapped in my Arky "fire suit"- Aluminum foil head to toe!)