Where would you get the foam for something like this?
At a supplier ! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I can't be more specific if you don't tell us where you are. Besides foam core construction is new to me as well.
The Hobie 14 is moving out of the garage, and I am getting an itch to try something like this. I am thinking something similiar to the F-12 idea, but just for fun and for the days that I do not have time to set the 5.2 up.
That is exactly the same reason I can't let the F12 project go and slip of into oblivion.
I think it would be a great little sailing boat for those small days, afternoons and evenings. And I still see it as an excellent performance boat for kids too. The specs all work out thus far.
For me personally it would mean. Park the boat on the beach next to my big cat and leave the bottom mast section (collapsable mast) on the boat with the other mast pieces inside the sail bag. Flip the mast down, slide the other two mast pieces into the bottom section and slide the sleeved mainsail over the mast. Then walk up this 8 kg (= 18 lbs) alu mast up and secure it with a single bolt (= unstayed rig). The boom is permanently fixed to the sail and so to it is the integrated mainsheet/downhaul system. Walk to the back of the boat and tie the loose end of the mainsheet to the traveller and hook on the snap-on rudders. Then get ready for sailing.
If done this procedure plenty of times on my landyacht and it does only take 5 min. to rig and unrig. THAT I find very attractive.
I had been looking at getting a laser-1 for these small sail trips but they are difficult boats to sail through the surf we got here and so often you don't get to go out and enjoy the wind and water. As this will be a cat, I won't have these problems anymore and it will be faster as well.
I think I have the basic design worked out.
The issue is that alot of stuff needs to be prototyped as most likely be adjusted. This is a totally new design after all and we can really "steal" a good starting point from another sail boat design.
Are you up for something like that ?
BTW :
The specs thus far are :
Weight ready to sail : 60 kg (132 lbs)
Length : 3.70 mtr (12 feet 2 inches)
width : 1.85 mtr (6 feet 1 inch)
mast height : 6.000 mtr (19 feet 8 inches)
mainsail luff length : 5.500 mtr (18 feet)
mainsail area : 7.00 sq. mtr. (75.3 sq. ft.)
boom length 2.000 mtr (6 feet 6 inches)
No dagger- or centre boards, no skegs.
unstayed rig with a sleeved mainsail.
no trapeze, just hiking (for now, could later be added I think)
Almost no sailing hardware. Baout 4 to 5 simple blocks and a few eyestraps/shackles.
Performance estimate : 30 % slower then an F18, 10 % faster then a hobie wave, about the same speed as a Hobie 14. 20 % faster then a laser 1 dinghy.
projected building cost : under 4000 US, less if you build your own sail and rudder setup.
Wouter