John Alani suggested I start a new thread about the boat, at the moment it is tagged on the end of
http://www.catsailor.com/forums/sho...sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=3&vc=1


To answer the questions:-



Yes you can put the sails to the outside, makes it look like an insect, Not sure how you judge the tack though, am I on starboard or Port? The sails are cut quite high, the back of the boom is around 1m high so they don't get in the way to badly, plus the tramp is huge 2.2x3.8m and because it is so stable it is not sensitive to where you choose to sit. Also the sails are almost entirely see through so visibility is excelent.

You can trapese off the boom like a normal windsurfer.

No, and the windsurfing rigs are really nice, high tech and cheap, Our rig has camber inducers and an allan key to adjust the batten tension. The masts weigh 2.5kg!


The boat weighs 105kg all up, the traials are going well, It is so different to sail that we are learning all the time. Its very stable, with a low centre of effort and bouyancy in the corners, gusts seem to have no effect other than to make it go faster. As a gust comes the top of the sail twists and exhausts off.

Capsize testing was interesting, because the rig is so short it turtles pretty quick. It easy to right because it is so light. Do people think the turtling is a problem, we can add floats to the top of the mast to stop this, it is then very easy to right bacause the rig is so short and light.

I have got some sailing photos but they are even worse quality than the others


I will try to get some better shots soon. And I will update the website this weekend.

Gareth
www.fourhulls.com

Dermots question from the other thread, Why don't we use camber inducers on cat sails?

I guess for a couple of reasons,

1. They are more more complicated and costly, windsurfing sails are sold in such vast numbers that costs are significantly lower.

2. They work best on sleeve sails and circular masts.

3. In light winds you have to pop them round so they might not be as practicle on tall rigs.

I am no expert so there may be another reason! I would like to hear it as I am still trying to decide wether to go camless with my next bigger rig.

Gareth
www.fourhulls.com

At the risk of sounding stupid...what's a "camber inducer"?

Its a plastic, yoke shaped device that connects a batten and the mast, and provides aerodynamic shape to the sail of a sailboard.



Gareth

Cats don't use camber inducers because they have rotating wingmasts !


Wouter

I had to ask - now I know - BUT, can we not use anything more efficient, and quicker to adjust, than string Only asking !

I'm curious Gareth, if you sit between the rigs - on the tramp - to sail the boat without hiking/trapping, isn't it a bit like sitting in a windtunnel with the accelerated flow round the sails?

There don't appear to be any boards, so what is the hull shape that ensures the boat doesn't make excessive leeway?

What is the strongest breeze you've been out in so far? Do you think your design is as fast/faster than a similar sized 'standard' catamaran design?

Looks like an A1 job though, Gareth.

Thanks John,

No you don't notice a "wind tunnel effect" sitting between the sails.

There are no boards, or skeg, the hulls themselves are pure aerofoil shapes and they seem to work very well, no excessive leeway.
I will take a picture of them this weekend. We store the boat upside down on Brighton beach as the local scumbags like to use the trampoline as a trampoline and other nocturnal activities

We haven't been out in big winds yet so its too early to say how well it performs, its been up to 10knots in 10 knots of wind with 170kg crew and 14sq metres of sail. Next step is 20 sq metres of sail.

Gareth

I think a wingmast is quite a heavy way of getting the optimum sail shape compared to camber inducers. However I don't think you would want a sleeved sail on a cat. As taking the whole rig off after a sail would be a pain.

Gareth

I think Macca has already done this on his super Taipan. I agree with you Dermot - those windsurf batten tension adjusters give a really clean finish to the back of a sail. Given that on sails with low strech material (vs. Dacron) you do not need much batten tension (other than the top couple of battens) then I would think that velcro pockets would work on OK. That string is a pain in the butt when you have cold hands.

Chris.