Hi all,
The modification of the A to F16 is structualy complete, I am happy with the bow shape very full down low but narrow at the deck. The stem came up narrower than I expected with a radius from pencil thin at the top to finger thick at the bottom.
I have just finished glassing in the transoms. I have also layed 300mm. wide unidirectional carbon from the bow to past the sidestays, hoping this will stiffen up the hulls and take the side loads of the forestay bridle and spinnaker pole support ropes.

Also have taken delivery of new Irwin mainsail built to rules looks like a real weapon. Similar square top to A-class but more roach all the way down to a 60mm. longer boom than the A, slightly shorter than a Taipan boom.

Hoping Tim will be around soon to take more photos to put on the forum. If you Carbon fanciers are lucky it will be before I put the filler on, so the Carbon will be exposed although I may have to put a R rating on it. After the comments on the rules thread I don't know if some of you will cope and don't worry Darryl it won't end up Purple although the stripes sound nice.

Regards Gary.

Here are some photos I sneaked while Gary was out!

Cool bow shape.


And a good look at those exciting fibres....


Rather mundane looking transom. As long as it holds the rudder on it's done it's job.


Tim

Some designers who are paid a fortune to come up with "the best shape possible" have produced many cats over the years and still haven't even approached the potentual of those hulls. I am not sure if your "design" work has been accidental or by intent! but which ever, the finished resulting "shape" shows an enormous performance potentual, (from what I can see with the limitations of the photo's)
the only area (possibly an illusion from the angles of the photo's) that may be a slight drag inducer is the rate at which the bottom of the bow opens out to its bouancy so "bluntly". Although if the first 2 to 3 inches (in depth) of the entry is kept under water when driving it should make very little difference to its driving resistance (or lack there of).
Darryl

Hi Darryl,
Thanks for the positive comments on the hull shape. I had a picture in my mind of the shape I wanted to end up with and am happy with the end result. The hulls had the kind of shape I was looking for which is why I bought them, shortening them has just made it more pronounced not to blunt I hope. The hulls have a more rounded bottom and turn in the rocker line further forward than the Flyer hulls but hopefully will still be fast the proof will be in the sailing. At least they wont slap like the latest A hulls do, I stopped sailing Arafuras and Arrows that were always picked on for slapping years ago.
Actualy I have always been a fan of the bulb bows and canted hulls on Crowthers big cats which have been around for years , especialy after sailing a few of them.

Just for interest I must agree with you about Carbon getting cheaper in OZ, materials at least the 150gm m2 uni cloth I used whilst possibly not being the ideal cloth or the best quality, I used it because it was incredibly cheap at $20. Aus a metre 600mm wide which I cut in half job done for $60. and a lot of sanding to fair it up.
Regards Gary.

Do you feel you have gotten your anwers?

Pretty much the way I see it.

A-cat ;

-1- good international fleet.
-2- Striking upwind performance
-3- extremely lightweight
-4- only for solo sailing


F16

-1- The biggest rush you can ever get while solo sailing. Downwind under spi in the trapeze is it !
-2- More robust than an A-cat. It will take 2 adult in 20 knots of breeze without a care. So near impossibel to break singlehanded
-3- For solo sailing and double handed sailing. Taking somebody along
-4- More of a Open class regatta boat + distance races. A-cats stick more to themselfs as they get hammered by spins
-5- Cheaper than an A-cat when featuring more stuff

Name? - altered reality - Just a thought
Darryl

Hi Daryl,
A few weeks ago I had gone off the name of Altered and had decided to call it Cut Cat, describing exactly what it is and hopefuly also going like one.

But since painting the final coats last weekend in a vivid blue similar to the font colour. (Hopefully Tim will have pictures for you soon.)I have swung back to Altered sounding a bit classier. I had thought of Altered State, Altered Class, but I hadn't thought of Altered Reality thanks for the thought. [color:"blue"] [/color]

Regards Gary.

Gary,
My vote is with Daryl's suggestion , "Altered Reality".
That is a top name all things considered.
Good luck, I hope she smokes them.
Phill

Hi All

The final gloss coat is now on and wow!

Tim

Latest view of "Altered" complete with mast, pole and chute.

Tim

Looks terrible !! .....

Terribly well-built, and terribly fast.
Can`t wait to read (& see pics) of her first outing in a combat situation. Keep the pics coming, and put the damn sails up so we can see !!

Well done Gary, Thanks Tim for the photo`s.

Cheers
Steve

Again I think that the extra width makes the F16's look impressive. Okay I'm biased but still. The width makes it look like a whole lot of boat even when it is only 5 mtr long.

The recessed mainbeam looks effective, I trust it will shed water like a dream.

Would pictures of this boat by something for the F16 video that the Californian guys are making ?

Wouter

Two words:
Just beautifull!

cant wait to see some pics of her under full sails on the water.

Holy....Looks faster than hell and asthetically among the best looking boats i've seen - any chance of some video for the F16 promo video ...?

Congrats !

PK

Okay, I'm going to try to attach stills from video so far...

#2

#3

And my favorite, #4

It's good to see someone trapeze correctly with a straight back and bent knees rather that "squatting" on the side of the boat with their back upright and looking like they are relieving their bowels whilst sailing
Darryl

Well the cat is a third of the way there with a really good looking platform. The next third will be the sail plan and if that is as good as the platform we will then, as they say, "know what the horse can do - it's the jockey that is the unknown quantity"
Its all looking great so far
Darryl