I think you are not realising the full extent of his work of art. The hatch is built that way on purpose, it's like a screensaver or
calming
elevator music, so he can see the dolphins (or sharks) swimming along with him underwater, it's for meditation.
I still (want?) think he's going to make it.
At first I sort of admire these kind of people for proceeding in the face of so many nay-sayers. After that initial flash of thought, I then begin to realize that these people are suffering delusions of grandeur from which they cannot peer around to see reality and are, in some ways, fueled by the nay-saying which drives them further into their tunnel vision.
One one side, it's incredibly entertaining - on the other, it's a human tragedy.
I watch these kinds of projects as often as I find them and it seems that the tunnel vision begins to break down pretty quickly once a few of the major points the nay-sayers were making are realized. In the case of Kristopher Harley, after launching his 8 foot boat he intended to sail around the world, he realizing he had some leaks. He then spent one night in his 8 foot boat on a sandbar 100 yards off the dock he launched at speculatively because he didn't have the money to get back home for the night. That cold hard reality of one of a thousand nights crammed into a 10 foot boat with tiny packets of peanut butter seemed to cause a flood of reality...though he hasn't completely given up we haven't heard much from him yet.
It seems to me that more appropriate name for his tri would be
Tincanic
or
Tintanic
.
On the other hand we all know about Thor Heyerdahl who twice crossed Atlantic in the boats made of papyrus reeds. granted those were well prepared and thought expeditions based on historical facts.
Or better yet I read in some sailing magazine about some sailing across the Atlantic in the boat constructed of NYC garbage!
looks like Vann's tri is stronger than NYC garbage <img src=
alt=
/>)
what if despite of all odds he is gonna make it ?
At least he's archived one of his goals - publicity.
maybe this is already more than enough for him ?
Don't underestimate the strength of trash from NYC
He should have built it out of empty beer cans, at least he would have an excuse... <img src=
alt=
/>
calming
elevator music, so he can see the dolphins (or sharks) swimming along with him underwater, it's for meditation.
I still (want?) think he's going to make it.
I have no problem with the location of the hatch - in fact I'm happy to see that he has one so located for emergencies, and yes, watching the sea life go by would be great. I question the actual hatch that he used. And it may be a simple case of misjudging the true waterline of the boat, but that should set an alarm or two off as well (increased weight = increased loading, etc.).
I would love to see a simple and unconventional effort prove successful, and I think there may be a thing or two to what he's trying. But after seeing the pic of the join area of the main beams and close ups of some of the construction details, I have very little hope of a good outcome.
Gotta admire that sheer amount of effort that's been put in...to bad he's been working the wrong direction.
He loses my sympathy once he flatly discards any & all advice from more qualified people about problems with the concept. He could regain my support if he was willing to throughly test the thing over the next few months, make the needed improvements, then re-plan progressively longer voyages. One day acrossing SF bay in flat water does not a test plan make. For all we know, he has departed this morning for at least SoCal and perhaps the southern ocean. Yesterday's images could be the last anyone ever sees of the guy.
<img src=
alt=
/>
alt=
/>
Great idea Timbo! But how would a sailor get rid of that much beer? <img src=
alt=
/>
I agree. I don't see how this thing will possibly hold up. The central connection point for his four main beams (the area with presumably the highest load) appears to be increadibly weak. A thin plate of aluminum (maybe 5/16
) connecting the top of all the beams. Of course we can't see what the connections are inside the main hull. But the bolts look like they're on the order of 1/2
.
But the fact that the main beams are not solid all the way across the boat (from ama to ama) appears to be the main (and very big) flaw in the design. The beams should be two solid pieces rather than four. And the criss-cross doesn't look like a good design even if it were all welded. One huge point load on the main hull.
Imagine cutting the cross bars on your cat in half, angling them all in toward center, and then splicing them together with some thin sheet metal. The boat would just fold up when it hit a wave (if not before). I suspect that's what will happen to this boat.
sm
Well,
he is still on the hook in the bay. Wonder what he is waiting for?
he is still on the hook in the bay. Wonder what he is waiting for?
Undoubtedly for the leaking to stop. If he waits two more days, I predict reality will have set in and we'll see a longterm postponement of the departure due to the unfavorable weather conditions and passing of a Southern Ocean weather window.
I think he's waiting for the king of the crab people to bless his voyage.
Report on Latitude38 from yesterday's in-depth sea trials, complete with new pics:
Latitude38
good pics here, but i think you have to sign up to see them
http:/
He was trying to duplicate the Brossard Tri... <img src=
alt=
/> Check the port just above the water line.
We've got ecsape hatchs on Afterburner...they are oval cutout in the hull above waterline...but are fiberglass panels secured from the inside with a large stainless dog systems. Those portlight hatches are not to be used below waterline.
when your escape hatch becomes a liability.....
A few guys at SA have called the coasties and looks like the floating swiss army knife will be inspected by Uncle Sam. Interesting twist.
I hate that he's getting such a bashing, but if noone intervenes this will turn out very badly.
Too bad, he has invested a lot of work and money.
Come on, Pete. If he had just followed some kind of simple, proven design like a Wharram, even with all the aluminum, he would stand a hell of a lot better chance. I personally don't think he deserves any pity. And this is coming from a lifelong do-it-yourselfer/hacker...
Right On Dude!
A few more posts like and I'll give you a 5 star rating <img src=
alt=
/>
This is a must read article on SA from a photojournalist at the scene of the launching. She was allowed on board and got some excellent shots. Her impressions as a fellow sailor just send chills down me spine
'When are you envisaging putting on the nets?' 'No nets. I don't trust them.' David said as his Filipino mother-in-law shook a bottle of holy water at the inside panels of the outer hulls. 'I've had them fail in the past.'
SA Article <img src=
alt=
/> <img src=
alt=
/> <img src=
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/> <img src=
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/>
All joking aside...I hope he doesn't poke his bow under the Gate in this. Way lesser weather has killed many sailors and sunk well founded cruising yachts just a few miles from where he's anchored. The Bay and the Patch and Bar are nothing to screw around with. I've seen barreling waves 5 miles out of the gate that you could drive a city bus through. If he leaves in these conditions, my vote is he doesn't make it to mile rocks.
854 PM PST WED FEB 13 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST AND BAYS INCLUDING
MONTEREY BAY...GULF OF THE FARALLONES...AND CORDELL BANK NATIONAL
MARINE SANCTUARIES...
[color:
red
]
STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT IN RESPONSE TO A
TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT CREATED BY HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST AND AN INVERTED TROUGH OVER THE CALIFORNIA COAST. WINDS
WILL DECREASE BY MID MORNING ON THURSDAY AS BOTH THE TROUGH AND
SURFACE HIGH WEAKENS.
POINT ARENA TO PIGEON POINT 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
854 PM PST WED FEB 13 2008
[color:
red
]...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM PST THURSDAY...
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 TO 35 KT WITH [color:
red
]GUSTS TO 40 KT...
DECREASING TO 15 TO 25 KT LATE TONIGHT.
[color:
red
]COMBINED SEAS 13 TO 17 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 15 SECONDS.
.THU...N WINDS 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT.
W SWELL 10 TO 13 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
.THU NIGHT...N WINDS 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT.
W SWELL 8 TO 10 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
There are not too many factory built 50 foot tri's or cats I would want to take out in that weather! But if this guy thinks he's going to sail his tin can tri in that...well, it will be a short trip! Can the Coast Guard send him a bill for the rescue or will our tax dollars pick up the tab? I wonder what he could get for all that metal if he sold it to a scrap yard and bought a real boat... <img src=
alt=
/>
If we all just believe in him... he can do it (just like Tinkerbelle)
good luck to the guy , it aint pretty , it aint clever, but the guy,s living HIS dream, what life is all about, if you're lucky , if he comes a cropper he can only blame himself and thats not soo bad, if he pulls it off its a big reward for him and he can bounce around on his balls like space hoppers for the rest of his life ,
Takes all to make the world go round .
If my belief in his chances were worth a dollar, and he could go around the world on my belief, He won't make it 5 miles out of the bay.
His wife and his mother in law seem to be very supportive, kinda makes me wonder how much his Life Insurance Policy might be worth. Tripping along a little further down that path, kinda makes you wonder what his insurance carrier might think if they knew what he was planning and looked at his equipment.
There is a reason insurance premiums are based on
risk factors
like cholesterol levels and tobacco use.
Anyway, I believe that the Coasties might wanna have him sign a disclaimer allowing them to charge him for any rescue efforts made on his behalf, and make him post a bond to cover those costs before they even let him out of the harbor.
Fiscal realities might prove more discouraging than safety concerns.
But hey, I live in Colorado, what do I know.
Stephen
Hey, I found the dude that I was talking about in earlier posts. Jesse Martin.
He's the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the ball.
He did it in a 34 foot boat (not 7 meters as I recalled).
I watched a documentary on Discovery about his trip years ago. Pretty interesting stuff.
We should let reason aside for the moment, and believe in this guy's dream. Other ppl are OD'ing on drugs, I really hope he makes it. If he does I'm gonna have a tattoo done referring to him and show it on the forum.
http:/
http://www.jessemartin.net/
http:/
Now I'm thinking...which one is more stupid, him or me...
Actually, Hobie and Performance cat are going to be modeling their new line up of F-18's on this tin can cat. The flat bottom is far superior in 'getting on the step'.... more so than any other design thus far. The wave pierce design of the bow is far superior to the N20..... (think Bizmark, crashing thru the North Atlantic)....
He will be taking the lead role in Morelli and Melvin designs.....
the inter20 used to drive me nuts when it slammed over the chop, what will this tri be like on a choppy light wind day?