Extending the mast

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bigwow

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I’m fed up with getting wet every time it rains, seems every week-end this year, so I want to fit a bimani and hood to my Flica catamaran. There is not enough room between the coach roof and boom so I am considering putting a 12-18” piece in the bottom of the mast, I appreciate I’ll need new standing rigging, but it’s 14yr old so perhaps it’s due anyway. Anyone foresee any problems doing this?
Thanks
 
Why not just raise the gooseneck a few inches and have the sail re-cut ?

A hell of a lot cheaper and I'd be surprised if you see any loss in sailing performance unless you race.

Rgds
Homa
 
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I'm looking to raise the boom by 12-18" and the main is not that big to start with.

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It wont matter anyway it hasent moved in 14 years /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
The size of the sail isnt important in the marina!!


/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Rob
 
Cheeky bugger, /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif though I must admit it has only been out 3 times this year as I didn't need to go out to get wet!
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Could you get away with just raising the clew end of the boom.
Recut main, or compensate for lost area by having new battened main with more roach.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I’m fed up with getting wet every time it rains, seems every week-end this year, so I want to fit a bimani and hood to my Flica catamaran. There is not enough room between the coach roof and boom so I am considering putting a 12-18” piece in the bottom of the mast, I appreciate I’ll need new standing rigging, but it’s 14yr old so perhaps it’s due anyway. Anyone foresee any problems doing this?
Thanks

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You need to think about the effect on stability. If you raise the whole rig by a significant factor you will increase the heeling moment. In general I would say don't mess with the design in such a fundamental way unless you really understand what you're doing. The mast height and mainsail shape are not just a random decision but the result of careful calculation by a skilled and knowledgeablle designer.

No offence intended but it seems like a fairly trivial reason to be contemplating such a radical step. Remember there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing and a bad attitude. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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The mast height and mainsail shape are not just a random decision but the result of careful calculation by a skilled and knowledgeablle designer.


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I blame the builder.
Roberto
 
increasing the length of the mast can be done, provided mast section is still being made. if not its probably cheaper to buy a new mast!

I would recommend that you contact woods and ask the designer if he is happy with the concept. I am sure you will get a response.

BTW most insurance companies would refuse to pay out if your mast goes and they discover the rigging is more than 10 years old (5 if you are racing) I know that rigging is heavier on a cat, but so are the stresses. Change it ASAP.

Is your flica a grp one or home built?
 
Bigwow is home built foam sandwich, so it's Woods designed and built! I know that some Flicas had the Banshee fractional rig which was much taller, so I can't see a problem.
 
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In general I would say don't mess with the design in such a fundamental way unless you really understand what you're doing. The mast height and mainsail shape are not just a random decision but the result of careful calculation by a skilled and knowledgeablle designer.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not necessarily so. There are very few boats where some post-production changes by a specialist in a particlar field can't achieve improvement. Remember all boats are a compromise.
 
Many years ago I built a cat 23ft by 12ft beam. I built up the mast to what I thought was reasonable. On the third mast after 2 crumpled under the load I got ot right. The thing is mast loads can be huge onn a cat. Mainly because the boat is so stable that gust loads must be absobrbed by the rigging. The forestay pull was probably the worst culprit at loading the mast in the downward direction.

So my initial thought fromm your proposal was don't do it. The added height and less column stability of the mast may well be the undoing. Having said that a few inches of packing under the mast base will not hurt. You may be able to do that along with raising the boom and recutting the mainsail. Use all of the space that may be free above the mainsail and remove the shackle on the halyard for another few inches. good luck olewill
 
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