Maiden Voyage

[Lakesailor]

Sun was shining, breeze was picking up so I made a leeboard quickly out of a bit of old ply and drove across the field to try the trimaran out. A couple of guys at the museum site gave me a hand and soon I had it ready to push off. On shore breeze however so it was a bit tricky. I had the sail up but no rudder or leeboard on as they do not hinge (yet). I managed to steer with an oar and moored to an empty buoy. Fitted the rudder and leeboard and off I went.


No pics of the voyage I'm afraid as the rudder is super sensitive. The mainsheet isn't cleated and the steering stirrups are pants so I had 3 lines in two hands.

The wind came in gentle gusts and I managed to get up to 4.9 mph, which for a 10ft boat with a small sail and a bendy mast is not bad.
The windward float lifts a couple of inches clear of the water and the leeward one sinks almost to it's gunwhale.

I spent about half and hour sailing up and down and nothing broke.
When I got back to shore I managed to sail up the shingle, remembering to pull the leeboard and rudder before I hit the bottom.

Jobs to do.
Swinging leeboard.
Swinging rudder
Better steering. Probably a rod from the rudder to a lever on the starboard gunwhale.

In the future. More rigid top section to the mast and bigger sail.
In the meantime, perhaps a webcam sailpast.

After the event (errm....that's Bob on the port float, a friend's mutt)

 

[Sixpence]

At least you had a good time sailing /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif, I've been stuck at the bloody computer all day /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[FullCircle]

Hurrah. Nothing Broke

Boo. Nothing Broke.


Well done Lakey, good work in progress.

How did you measure the 4.9MPH?

 

[Pinnacle]

You've gone an' done it now.......

tcm is gonna come over all inadequate 'cos he's only got two hulls on his saily boat.....

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif




Looks fab by the way /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BrendanS]

Great stuff, but you need someone with a video for second trip! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[searover]

Dont you just love it, it reminds me of ,,,last of summer wine, He, He, Good on yer...Have fun..

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]

How did you measure the 4.9MPH?

[/ QUOTE ] Me etrex handheld

Amazing how much pressure there must be on the lee float to submerge it. Slight design prob in that the steep flare on the float means that when I meet a bit of chop it gets fired into the main hull, where I am sat.

I saw someone in a speedboat (Doughty V8 jetdrive) that I know and he came across for a word. It was a good test of surviving a breaking wash.

As usual on the lake after I landed the wind built a bit and steadied at about 10-12 knots so I could have had a more meaningful sail. Next time.
I must experiment with sitting further aft as when the float digs in I reckon a gust could trip me up. However the rudder is so sensitive I could probably luff up quickly to avoid that.

Who mentioned Last of The Summer Wine? Yer bugger.

 

[cameronke]

Excellent Lakey I am well impressed!

Please advise plans for inaugural webcam sailpast truly surpassing your previous epics surely?!?

Need to discuss your amas some time, got me going here, got an idea for my old 505 that has been resting in the garden for the past 15 years. Calc that should have enough sail area (and sail handling setup) for originalish hull with wave piercing amas displacing (say) 1.5 tonnes at (E-Boat mast/4) from centre line.

Regards
Cameron

 

[Lakesailor]

Best advice I can give is to flare the floats wider so that they displace more. Mine are only 8ft. Longer and you are into joining plywood sheets.
For a couple of weeks work I am well chuffed.
Once the steering is sorted and the mast improved at the top end (anyone got a Topper top section?) I should get nearer to the magical 10 knots. Bit of experimenation with spray rails next to maximise hull lift. !!

 

[Rum_Pirate]

[ QUOTE ]
Best advice I can give is to flare the floats wider so that they displace more.

[/ QUOTE ] What about making the inboard side vertical, or nearly so, then give the outboard side the flare. When the float hits a wave the spray/water will not be deflected into the center hull. Mind you the wind might bea factor but it should apply to the leeward float UNLESS you hit a BIG wave with the windward float. Then again that is all part of the enjoyment.

 

[Lakesailor]

I'd thought of that for another reason, but in the early stage of back-of-envelope design decided that symetrical floats would be easier to make.

It didn't spoil the fun. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Neddie_Seagoon]

Fantastic.

When will the design be published in PBO for other small boat builders? Son-in-law has a 12 ft flat-bottomed skiff he built for fun and has no more use for /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Would longer outrigger poles help?? They'd increase the righting moment given by the floats.

 

[jenku]

[ QUOTE ]

Would longer outrigger poles help?? They'd increase the righting moment given by the floats.

[/ QUOTE ]

Would increase marina berthing costs too much, perhaps? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[flaming]

[ QUOTE ]

Would longer outrigger poles help?? They'd increase the righting moment given by the floats.

[/ QUOTE ]

That was exactly my first thought on seeing that picture.

 

[Lakesailor]

No, no.
The length of the poles was carefully worked out by measuring halfway along a 5 metre length of pipe and cutting.

Actually in true Holt design mode I made sure they would fit inside the main hull for transporting.

It is a thought though.