Two if by sea. |
Recent PostsThe Last Navigator Finds His Way HomePoetry in Motion - C Class Catamarans Anthenea New Seaclipper 20 Aye, Calypso! Proavocative Art Documenting the History of Modern Multihulls - Before It’s Gone Traditional Vaka Heading East Bernard Smith, 1910-2010 End Game Journal CategoriesAll CategoriesMonthly ArchivesJuly 2010June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 September 2008 August 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 January 2008 December 2007 May 2007 October 2006 March 2006 January 2006 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 The Crab Claw Tee
|
Portfolio ProasSamwise - There and Back Again
Posted by on 12/07 at 08:39 PM
Sam’s godfathers include Matt Layden's Paradox and Rob Denney's Harry, while a host of uncles include Phil Bolger, Peter Spronk, Dick Newick and Ralph Munroe. He (all proas are masculine) features simple plywood construction, an enclosed sailing cockpit, plenty of deck space, endless conversations at the dock, and the ability to go there and back again.  The crew helms from an enclosed sailing cabin - which is a nice feature in the Pacific NW and its nearly iceberg laden waters. Laugh at the freezing spray as you drive like an arrow to windward! Mock the waves as they surge impotently against your plexiglass shielding! Unlike tacking craft, proa crew have no need to make the treacherous trek to the other side with every tack. You are always on the good side of a proa. In the unlikely event of pleasant sailing weather, you can slide open the hatches, or sit atop the flat cabin top, or even sprawl out on the trampoline, catching the sun. The tramp will also make a fine place to pitch a tent for overnighting - if a real double berth is required. The leeward hull is the load bearer, so it stretches out to 24' of lean, wake-cutting form. The windward hull is the ballast, which makes do with 18' of LWL. Skilled sailors will fly the windward hull at every opportunity. Being flat-bottomed in sharpie style, the hope is that it will plane if given half the chance. The free-standing schooner rig makes for a criminally low center of effort, while the standing lugs create a powerful yet balanced, easily handled sail that requires no purchase on the sheets - which comes in handy during a shunt. The forward lug is rigged with the mast to windward (its most aerodynamically advantageous position) while the aft lug is set opposite, which moves the combined CE well forward (a desirable thing on a proa). Leeway is prevented by a central, pivoting leeboard mounted on the leeward hull, and steerage is provided by fore and aft "dagger" rudders. The hope is that in the unfortunate event of a grounding, the deep leeboard will hit first, pivoting gently out of harms way as it stops the boat, whilst leaving the delicate rudder intact. As usual with proa designs, the rudders are sketchy... at best. From model testing, I found a schooner rigged proa such as this will balance and self-steer on most courses by sail trim alone - Sam, by nature, is a virtuous course keeper. Be that as it may, a real cruising boat needs a real rudder. Suggestions are welcome. The proa's beam is retracted to trailer width via telescoping aluminum beams (as an option, Jim Shanahan has proposed an ingenious hinging mechanism). Note: This sketch is a cartoon only. No plans are available. Comments
Post a New CommentCommenting is not available in this weblog entry. |
ResourcesKat & ProaWakataitea Tiki 46 Apacolypso Designs Siam Sailing Roxane and Romilly Tom Speer’s Shunting Foil Sections Boat Bits Lunada Design Tacking Outrigger Seventy Point Eight Percent Arpex Inigo Wijnen Slider Cat Chine Blog Amateur Boatbuilding Out Your Back Door Outrigger Sailing Canoes Sailing Anarchy Canoes of Oceania Never Sea Land A Tiki in Thailand Canoe Sailing Magazine Wikiproa K-Proa Triloboats Cheap Pages James Francis Boats Proa Web Sites Peak Energy Balogh Sail Designs Hydrovisions Cape Falcon Kayak Multi Marine L-7 Crab Claw Catamaran Mehrrumpfboote Openboat Oar Club John Welsford Small Craft Design Global Rich List Skinboat School OCPaddler.com Jubilee USA Network Zephyr Kayak Sails Chesapeake Light Craft Nigel Irens Design Tarawa, a Proa For One Polynesian Voyaging Society McGowan Marine Design RealClimate - Climate Science Small Sailboats UK |
