IMage

Thanks for the drawing! I guess it is probably feasible in a very light 23 ft folding tri, but not in bigger ones - especially offshore.

Some new photos have come on-line. Still nothing on practical righting tests, but some of the structure for moving the crossbeams is visible.

http://www.exploder.info/images/stories/yacht/budowa/wyjazd01.jpg

http://www.exploder.info/images/stories/yacht/budowa/wyjazd02.jpg

http://www.exploder.info/images/stories/yacht/budowa/wyjazd03.jpg

That boat really makes me giddy.

Ooohhh man, that would look good behind my truck. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

So availability? Price? Could it replace F boats as alternative?

so, how do you keep the rig on the boat when righting? look at jake's drawing and tell me where the shrouds are.

We don't know yet...still waiting for a photo or video?

And I thought a Tornado tilt trailer was scary on the highway! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

This boat is far different from the F-Boat design mentality. They are not comparable.

As far as problems:

Will this boat fit under bridges on the trailer? It looks tall.

How will the mast be supported when the boat is being righted?

And how do I launch this thing? It is too wide for a hoist and too wide for a ramp launch.

Every time I look a tris they look cooler and cooler to me.

Perhaps it launches with one amah down, one up, which should fit on a ramp. The second amah would then be lowered on the water. The mast could be supported by sister shrouds from the edge of the center hull deck until both amahs are locked down and the side shrouds tensioned.

Chris.

Could we maybe see a VWM eXploder 23 in the future?

I made a rough estimate of the height on the trailer using a couple of pictures from the exploder website, assuming 23' length on the plan view and get something like 11' high on the trailer.



Upsized plan view. Assuming a 23' center hull length gives a length from the pivot point to the edge of the amah of just over 7'



Rear 3/4 view. Using the measurement from the first picture and guestimating the bed height of the trailer and the height of the center hull I get to just under 11'. A quick search revealed a clearance standard of 14' on US Interstates in urban areas and 4.5m (14' 9") on German roads. So it should be OK (similar to a F31OD on the trailer?) - just look out for low trees!

Chris.

Mary, you're RV is taller than 11'.

About launching. I suppose there is a rather large difference between the US and Europe in that we have more mast-up storage and largish ramps or beaches available at our clubs. Many clubs also offer berths, or for boats like this, end berths.

Here is a message from the builders:



Exploder 23 is experimental water craft. Many unexpected technical problems appeared during execution of the project, which resulted in much longer realization time. Finally the boat will be launched on the Bay of Gda&#324;sk waters on7-8th April and middle April will be dedicated to the test on the water. Provided that the test results are satisfactory, at the end of April we plan departure to Carnac in France, where the boat will be presented on EuroCut regatta, and than further tests on the open ocean. Final target of our preparations is to sail from Cadix to San Salvador and compare our result with the results of the biggest multihulls that will try to beat that record this season. If the boat passes that exam safely we plan to sail from Bermuda Islands to Plymouth in July. Both trials across the Atlantic will be taken in two-man crew – Wojciech Kaliski and Adam Skomski.

There is a full set of moulds for serial production of Exploder 23. In principle we could already offer it for sale, however taking into consideration the experimental character of the construction we have decided to take the test first and confirm that all new concepts and technical solutions are a success. Except of that during the production of a prototype we realized that some elements should be re-designed to lower the costs of the serial production. For instance we will be able to make out rigger hulls and cross beams in the autoclave very soon.

Taking all above into consideration the price of the yacht hasn’t been calculated yet. Before we started the project we estimated the price to be € 70-80 thousand. However it is sure now


that the boat will be more expensive. We expect rather the price of € 90-100 thousand and the final price we will confirm having finished the tests on the water – in May or June. Nevertheless we hope to offer you for this amount the most exciting small racing yacht that enables easy transportation, preparation for sailing and launching. The first photos, film and data regarding the tests will be available on our web page at the end of April.

Best regards
Krzysztof Kozerski
www.exploder.info

[sentence enhancer]!! That's bloody expensive for a 23' boat! $120 to $130k US

Each 2 feet of that boat is almost the price for a new Hobie Tiger!

It's a huge amount of money, half a decent home around where I live. Good thing that you can homebuild such a boat if you want to, with a pretty good shot at a decent result (sans the folding/righting system). However, a lot of people buy 30foot monohulls which sails like pigs at the same cost. At least you will have fun, exitement and speed with the "exploder". But the price is just one side of it. What I find more interesting is the total faith in their righting system, which it dont sound like they have even tested yet. Interesting times coming up I think!

Yeah, but it is not attached to a little ball on the back of another vehicle.