They must be curved or you can't lift them. And you must lift the windward foil at each tack or accept its additional (and less than useless) drag. It can work in a wide tri designed so that the windward hull will fly high, lifting the foil out of the water, but you can't avoid the extra work in a cat.

Interesting material, but put it up against R-glass, S-glass, aramid and carbon. Cost comparison?

When I was thinking about the areas people often wish to change (improve?) on cats, one particular boat stood out as being a great starting point for a development project.
It is:
- Light weight despite aluminium mast.
- One or two man.
- Easily righted
- Capable of 20kts +
- Tough, hulls will survive a hammer blow.
- Looks ripe for foil and rig development.

Anyone guess the boat?

Cheshirecatman

I think we need to define, "Light Weight" here first. Is that less than 300lbs, or less than 400, or what?

F16 = heavy!!!

So now we are talking under 200lbs? How about we talk windsurfers or kite boards then? They are both lighter and faster than any beach cat. Or are we going to discuss iceboats next?

Why digress? I'm still talking beachcat.

Cheshirecatman

I'm struggling to thing of a 2 up boat that is less than the F16 at 107kg.

didn't say if it was cheaper to produce or lighter weight than carbon fiber.... did they?

Racing was probably not a major consideration in its original design but clearly listed as a one or two man boat. Published weights have varied over several design changes.

Cheshirecatman

Low-tech materials.

Cheshirecatman

So, could I make a part (or a boat) out of this the same way I could with fiberglass or CF?

Sounds neat, although I'd need a pretty big kiln and a pile of basalt if I were to do it all myself...

It looks like it, although I cannot see any benefit. Don't however confuse basalt item with other train of thought.

Cheshirecatman

catapult

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!

Now just think what is possible by updating the non-structural hull concept using maybe a carbon fibre spaceframe, developing the foils, maybe low pressure thermoplastic hulls to modify the hull shape.
It's just a little bit of thinking 'out of the box' many people seem stuck in.

http://www.msogphotosite.com/MSOG/pdfpage/catapult.pdf

Cheshirecatman

You can sail it 2 up?????????

Mosquito?

Hammer test?

Sport might not be raced as such but - yes! I first sailed a 'cannon' with big rig, bow foil and jib kit some 23 years ago.

Cheshirecatman

No problem

I had often thought that a neat way to do this is to make a thin wall thermoplastic hull and then pressurise it. Think about a plastic coke bottle, take the lid off and see how un-stiff it is. Then pop the lid back on and shake it up, it becomes extremely stiff.

Better still you could fill it with beer, then you would have a really desirable boat !

I wish I had the time and money to prototype one.

Gareth