I tried to post this to the Distance Racing Forum, but could not find a way to do so. But it should be good for general discussion anyway.

Mesh trampolines are available in black and also in blue. Both are quite durable, usually outlasting their own stitching. What about a new color?

I think that catamarans that venture out into large bodies of water should have " [color:"orange"]Safety Orange[/color] " or " [color:"red"]Danger Red[/color] " trampolines for enhanced visibility both from helicopters while upright, and from other boats while capsized.

Perhaps the brilliance of the reflection might be a bit harsh on the sailors' eyes, but to be extra visible when in danger should be a pretty big advantage.

Wouldn't it be cool to see 30 or 50 catamarans in the Worrell 1000 with orange tramps?

To minimize glare, you could coat just the underside of the tramp with the safety color. Also, since the tramp might be slightly submerged if turtled, painting the keels of the hulls (and lower parts of the boards) the safety color would be a big help.

I have to say I think that is a brilliant Idea, bloody obvious, but brilliant, as all the best ideas are. Makes you wonder why no one else thought of it before.

Now all we need to do is find out how we persuade the mesh tramploine manufacturers to turn out such colours.

Gareth

That is really a great idea.

Perhaps, rather than going to the extra hassle and expense of getting custom colors and associated custom costs.... I wonder if it wouldn't be easier to simply sew on strips of the kind of reflective tape that one sees on night visible clothing.

The tape is readily available and probably not as costly.

For the sides of the hull (and maybe bottom) I'm sure there's also peel and stick versions of the same kind of reflective tape used on outdoor signs, posts, etc. Some of that stuff sticks like the dickens nad would probably be suitable for the waterline mark and may be suitable for a strip along the keel....

Just a passing thought on a cold, raining day.

Tom H.

Brilliant! Perhaps even just a lightweigh cloth sewn to the bottom of the trampoline - it would even be visible when turtled. Problem is that most of the brighter colors aren't very UV resistant.

Wouldn't a cloth, though, affect the flow-through properties of the tramp? And wouldn't it absorb water?

Is there any kind of paint that will adhere to the kind of material trampolines are made of? That would be just for the underside of the tramp, of course.

The sixty foot trimarans that they race in Europe and across the Atlantic (Route Du Rhum race most recently) have the foils and the hull bottoms painted in bright colors like this to attract attention. Good thing, too, as most of them needed it in the race referred to above.

After reading some of the reactions to my thought, and after thinking about some of the concerns, including my own concern about glare on the eyes while sailing, I realized that this idea is indeed viable. (that is IF orange or red polypropelyne tramp fabric can be manufacuted)

I was concerned with glare to the sailors' eyes. Well then it dawned upon me that I used to sail a Hobie 18 with a very White trampoline and it never bothered me. In fact, the lighter the color, the cooler the fabric remains when it is exposed to the radiant heat effect of direct sunlight.

I am using a bright blue trampoline and while it is brilliant in reflective quality, pretty in appearance, cool to the touch, and resistant to solar deterioration, ... it happens to be the same color as the sky and water!

Painting the bottom of the tramp is not a great option because I was hoping to maintain upright visibility to helicoptors as well as being brightly visible from both sides of the tramp while capsized.

I do like the idea of coloring the keels, but how much weight would that add. How much expense?

The tramp is already there, no added weight, is one of the largest exposed surfaces on the boat, and can be spoted from a helicopter when the catamaran is in any likely posture that it might strike.

[color:"orange"]GARY[/color]

That blaze orange color will also keep hunters from accidentally mistaking you for a deer and shooting your boat.

My old Hobie 16 (1986/87?) had a bright yellow tramp. No problem with glare. The boat I had before that was a '79 TheMightyHobie18 with an orange tramp. Hobie still offers colored tramps "in vinyl or mesh", not sure of their availability of colors in mesh, but don't see why it couldn't be done!!

Brilliant thinking Gary!

Could just buy a yellow or orange boat
Blue and teal boats are a bad idea.

According to my Coast Guard source, the SOLAS tape is the best thing to put on a small craft. Accept no imitations. "Put that stuff all over the place. Put it on you and put it all over your boat". Well, I've put it in places on my boat without going tape crazy. I bought another couple of feet last week. I hope the flares also help.

SOLAS is highly visible and reflective in daylight or by artificial light (searchlight). It's expensive but worth it. I hope I never have to test it.

I'm painting my hulls dark blue, however, I've got a white tramp and going with white wing tramps.

I don't go offshore often either.

Blue and white -- isn't that the color of water and whitecaps?
Once upon a time I bought a set of white foul weather gear for offshore cruising because it was sooo pretty. Then when I realized that in the water I would look like a whitecap, I was afraid to wear the stuff anywhere but on shore.

Mary: True, but I haven't even taken my boat into the ocean yet, and if I did, I'd never be alone.

(And I've got this epirb sitting here thats just itchin to go off)

Why not just tape the SOLAS tape up the mast and on top and/or bottom of the beams? Too bad they don't make a SOLAS Non-skid- then you could run strips along the top edge of the hull and tops of the hulls!

Kirt

You'd disappear on the Bay that way too...

Maybe I'll put some of that tape you guys are talking about on it.

Check out the PIC of the Marstrom 20 in genaker thread.
Now your talking visibilty.

Have Fun
Mike

Hey Gary...

Hobie used to make hulls and tramps in bright orange. My '76 H16 has them (see attached). The tramp is original, the vinyl type, and is showing it's age. I like vinyl as it reduces the spray off the hull, but it is like a big sail when capsized. I have wanted to replace it but Hobie does not offer an orange replacement in mesh or vinyl. I would wholeheartedly support a proposal that Hobie begin to offer these again.

At least I know I'll be visible whether upright, capsized, or turtled!

Mark Owens
1976 H16 sail # 19857