hello, I just picked up a Gibbs shark folding cat, and can't seem to find info for it, like tips or tricks to folding and unfolding it, etc, and where would a good source of parts be? pics would be great so I can finish her as factory would have.
there's a lot of helpful and smart folks on this site and catamaransailor.com I'm surprised you don't have any replies- but it's Monday and you'll have some more by after lunch.
Type in shark catamaran under "search" on this page & you will see reference to a 1963 Gibbs someone found a few months ago. Lots of questions answered. Pete
i read about that one, it did have some info. any ideas where I could find the hin? looked in the usual places, transom, back of hulls, etc.... going to need it for registration
Mudslinging79, Welcome to TheBeachcats.com. You've got a cool boat there, be sure and post some photos.
You've also got a fairly rare boat so be patient but you'll find help. There used to be a Shark Association website but it's gone away and I haven't found a replacement.
well, photobucket isnt my friend...
I've always thought that this type folding system was a great idea for wide boats versus having to use a tilt trailer or disassembling the boat.
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http://f1810.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2_0_0_1_390584_AJG%2FimIAACBfVeSd0AKMWGZL2pw&fid=Inbox&pid= 2" alt="" />
needs some simple hardware replaced, have to find plugs for the hulls, find a connecting bolt for the lap spot in back, and im sure she'll float
OK, I pretty much figure the cats are a displacement style hull, as I was looking around in a hull preparing to replace hardware, I noticed the floatation foam along the top of the hulls is barely hanging up... how important is this foam really? can it be yanked and forgotten about?
DON'T YANK IT!
Hopefully, for your entire life, the foam does NOTHING, except add a bit of weight. It is there in case of dire emergency.
Lets say you forget the drain plug, or you hit a rock & tear the bottom out. Your hull will flood, completely. BUT, that foam will displace an amount of water equal to its volume. Archimedes principle says that buoyancy equals displaced volume of a liquid. If the foam displaces a volume (apps 10lbs/imp gal) equal to the mass of the boat, it will still float, even though the hull is completely flooded.
I can't remember if the standard was for 100% buoyancy, or double,(200%).
Disclaimer...the standards may have been less at daye of build.
good to know. I'll see if I can figure a way to secure it a little better as its just hanging around
OK, been looking all over, and I can't find what I'm looking for. a photo or illustration of how the boom is rigged with the 2 pulleys and traveler. any help?
most beachcats are rigged 5:1, 6:1, 7:1 or even 8:1. if there are 2 blocks on the boom, there needs to be a main block single, double or triple near the traveler. Check out the harken website for tips on mainsheet systems
http://www.harken.com/content.aspx?id=3901
HTH
Edited by the-renovator on Sep 14, 2015 - 01:58 AM.
Go to www.catsailor.com go to forums put shark in search
They are quite a few in upstate New York
Also try facebook