Hi Everyone! I am a new member and I need feedback from you folks regarding the making a wide trimaran using the outer hulls of a Narca 5.2 and my open water rowing shell, a Hudson T6 (OAL 19.5, BW 2', 85lbs, royalux) as the center member.


The Hudson, in the water with rowing rigging arm removed , should just barely be able slide under all three cross members connecting the outer hulls. I well be using 6061 Aluminum tubing, having members sliding within one another to increase the overall boat width from 8' trailer-able to 14-16 feet (tubes fit in the existing Narca saddles. The Hudson's deck to tube connections will be easily detachable allowing the rowing shell to slide out from under the trimaran's deck when in the water. A light weight removable deck with splash protection well replace the existing tramp, allowing gear storage, sleeping and sailing platform. The two rudder's steering connection piece well be lengthened.

What I am creating then is a small coastal sailing vessel that can travel "fast", transport 2 people, carry gear for extended trips, be a sleeping platform, and still have an independent rowing shell capability when the boat is at anchor/beached, to visit areas the big boat can not get to.

So, my question to you folks, who sail & know Narcas and other beach cats are:
1. What is the likelihood this envisioned trimaran craft well actually be able to sail well ? 10-12 knots is fast enough for me and the boat to be able to handle small waves/swells/chop.
2. Payload capability? I envision the total weight of 2 people, gear & deck structure to maximum be 500 lbs. Is this too much for the boat?

Any & all comments would be much appreciated.
Antelli

Oops! Sorry everyone. Try these http listings to view the Hudson images:
http://s630.photobucket.com/user/steveantell/media/Hudson%20t6/T6-profile.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1
http://s630.photobucket.com/user/steveantell/media/Hudson%20t6/HudsonT6-decked.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2
http://s630.photobucket.com/user/steveantell/media/Hudson%20t6/T6-3-2.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

I don't recommend it. It will not be fast, too heavy to beach easily, & will encourage you to carry too much "stuff". Best boat would be P-18 with strong assemetrical bottoms to slide easily over a rocky beach @ 335 #'s. Create a waterproof storage area under the hatches, and sleep on a clean tramp when beached. I would not go hiking with a 90 # pack. Pete

Though I am loathe to disagree with Pete on anything, I have sailed a tri constructed similar to what you're proposing, and it was a very fine ride. This one had a Tornado center hull, and 5.5 am as, with a 5.5 rig, and it sailed flat and fast in the 10 to 12 kts we sailed in. I agree with Pete that your proposed boat would be heavier and somewhat slower than an 18 ft cat, and all that real estate might tempt you to drag along more stuff/weight, but if you can manage those issues, and like the design/construction process, I think you'll end up with a unique boat that will sail nicely in conditions under 20 kts of breeze. Keep us posted if you proceed!

Dave

antelli

So, my question to you folks, who sail & know Narcas and other beach cats are:
1. What is the likelihood this envisioned trimaran craft well actually be able to sail well ? 10-12 knots is fast enough for me and the boat to be able to handle small waves/swells/chop.
2. Payload capability? I envision the total weight of 2 people, gear & deck structure to maximum be 500 lbs. Is this too much for the boat?

Any & all comments would be much appreciated.
Antelli

Hi Antelli and welcome to TheBeachcats.com,

Always interesting to see what folks come up with, so go for it, although I have a couple of concerns.

It sounds like you are planning to increase the beam of a Nacra 5.2 to 14+ feet, with your Hudson along for the ride in the middle, but removable. I can't imagine the rowing shell provides much displacement, and if it is removable how will you hold up the mast? How will 14 foot long (two piece) beams be strong enough to support a sailing rig without being massive or using a large dolphin striker system?

As Dave mentioned, there are a lot of trimaran designs out there that use beachcat hulls for the amas and sometimes the main hull. If you goal is to be able to sail and still bring your Hudson along maybe use a real beachcat and figure a way to tow the rowing shell or a kayak.

There is actually a Woods designed trimaran built with Prindle 16 hulls in the classifieds right now.

http://www.thebeachcats.c…-with-prindle-hulls.html

Good luck and let us know what you come up with.

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1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Unless you are cruising from port to port and tying up at a dock, I don't see how you'd beach it--particularly in a blow. And launching again in a blow. I've sailed a P-16 the length of Lake Michigan (4 days) and we beached in a blow several times. Again in Georgian Bay off Lake Huron I've brought the Prindle (could also be a H-16) in on a totally shale beach with no problem other than leaving a little gel coat on the rocks---because of the apex to a triangle bottom. Could not be done in a round bottom boat. If you're planning a cruising boat, you're planning to cruise up an unknown shore, so beaching is a critical element. I created storage capacity in Prindles by replacing the screw on Beckson hatches with twist lock Viking hatches. Then using prepreg/nomex honeycomb paneling, built 3' x 18" watertight compartments below hatch. Added about 2 lbs. Bulky sleeping bags are stored in waterproof glassine bags tied to boom (along with Music). All that's needed now are the chocolate chip cookies. Fast cruisers at 300 or 335 (P-18) lbs. Pete

Google "Newick Tremolino" and thou shalt find...

Hi Everyone!
Thank you for your thoughtful replays. I never thought about deeper keels, P18, vs round hull Narca, for rough beach landings. A P18 would be the be the better choice. There is though a Narca 5.2 in great condition near me for $750, maintained by a nice 30 year experienced beach cat sailor, that I was going to buy.

All your concerns about not overdoing the load capacity are well taken. The Hudson has a load capacity of 350lbs, which includes the boat itself. So if the rowing shell was used as a center hull, I ought to be okay for weight for 2 people, some gear and a light deck.

6021 tubing can be obtained in diameters and thicknesses and comes in 20' lengths [img]http://www.speedymetals.com/c-8342-aluminum.aspx/img] so I ought to be able to match the same outside diameter of Narca's 2.2 tubing whatever they might be (does anyone know?).

I had planned on attaching a captive Narca mast base on the center midsection of one of these tubes, allowing the Hudson to slide out underneath the tube. You are right a 14-16 ' span is wide and even aluminum tubing is heavy. Reducing the width to 11-12' might be a better idea, improving the sailing abilities, while still keeping it "a little bit more stable in windy conditions"; definitely this boat would be sailed with the conservative side of of seamanship.

The Tremolino hull /boat design is a terrific design; I just wanted to have a turnkey approach to the center hull and avoid building a center hull. The suggestion of just using an unmodified beach cat, towing the Hudson/attaching it is well taken. I once had thought of using a Tornado center hull in a trimaran design but I have not found any in the northwest; I live in ne. Oregon.

Finally, I came across this U-tube video of a girl sailing 900 mile trip in a Narca; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwbOUIM9gv8 I assume the aluminum outside open baskets she used were custom fabricated; have you ever seen something like this?

I well keep thinking about it all. That is what the construction process is all about, especially if it works out to your satisfaction the first time around. Meanwhile I well be rowing the Hudson on a 4 day trip along the lower Columbia River. Appreciate again everyone's comments. Any additional thoughts are always welcome.



Safe Travels,
Steve