DESIGN OVERVIEW
Name: "THIS IS IT"
General description of the CATAMARAN
Overall length: 97 ft (29.6m)
Center line width: 32 ft ( 9.75m)
Width overall: 42 ft (12.8m)
Empty weight (est.): 40.000 lbs (18150 Kg)
Total displacement (est.): 60.000 lbs (27200 Kg)
Draft with rudders and boards down: <87" (2.2 m)
Draft with rudders and boards up: < 26" (66cm) (under power only)
Mast will be a rotating airfoil shaped hollow structure - constructed out of carbon fiber, similar to aircraft wings, height 90 ft
Cutter rig, sail areas ~ 3,000 ft^2 (279m^2)
Auxiliary power will be provided by electrically driving two retractable or ducted props. The battery capacity is designed to provide ~150 kwh (~200 hp) for period of 1/2 hour at full power. Solar panels will provide electric power for everyday use, as well as charging it for propulsion purposes.
The accommodations will be comfortable but not "fancy", there will be three cabins for guest, with a head and shower, the same as the cabin for the crew. The captains quarters will be on the bridge.
The "large" cabin will provide the "day" quarters for everyday activities, desks, tables etc. it will also have the galley, a shower and a head.
Construction:
The main components are constructed using a fiberglass – core – fiberglass sandwich. This is true for the hulls, the cabin, and the transom - aft connecting structure for the hulls. A combination of solid laminations and sandwich construction is used for the main bulkheads and decking between the hulls. All main structural components are laminated using Epoxy resins and E-glass. Secondary structures, like the cabin, some bulkheads, etc. are laminated using ISO Polyester resin.
The displacement of the structure exceeds the projected gross weight of the catamaran - THEREFORE, EVEN TOTALLY FLOODED IT WILL FLOAT!
The main bulkhead – actually a double bulkhead with the mast in between – will support the mast loads and is the forward connecting structure between the hulls.
The transom, the "radiused box" between the hulls – is the rear connecting structure for the hulls and will also carry the traveler for the main sail downhaul.
Most loads will be taken into the INSIDE SKIN OF THE HULLS. The sandwich material and the outside skin are providing panel stiffness and impact resistance against logs etc.
The existing hull has been built using 4 layers of 17oz 45deg biaxial cloth with an additional 4 layers of woven roving below the water line. This lamination schedule is the same on the inside and outside skins. The sandwich material is 5lb/ft^3, 0.75" thick scored PVC foam. The resulting total wall thickness below the water line is near 1.0" A little less above the waterline. At the top "corners" uni-directional glass and a structural beam for the full length of the hull has been installed. The hulls are essentially a triangular beam with the extra laminations below the waterline, forming the "third corner" of the beam.
There are fiberglass I-beams at 4ft intervals to help support the sandwiched deck.
A longitudinal full length air conditioning duct, is also a structural support for the cabin beams and a longitudinal stiffener for the outboard portions of the hulls.
Watertight full bulkheads are planned for about every fifteen feet of hull, also defining cabin spaces.
Additional panel stiffening – especially for the inside hull sections - will be provided by various interior structures such as stairs, beds and shelving. the maximum unsupported panel size will be less than ten feet in length.
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