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One conclusion I have come to over years of musing is that once a small boat has a sailing rig its needs immediately become dominant and render everything else a poor second. It is really...

The French seem to be at the vanguard of this kind of thing. I highly recommend a copy of this book and a hefty session with google translate if necessary. There is also a website...

Yes, way off - seems to have been the victim of a graphic designer who wanted to line things up nicely.

Prius was no surprise. I did 169000 miles in mine with the only failure a taillight bulb.

I notice that Blue Robotics have finally launched their new, larger, thruster after some covid related delays. The 'T500' is a 24V, 1000W ROV thruster that is also targetted at use in small craft. ...

What makes you so sure she doesn't take the train?

I think this is fascinating design area. Have you looked at some of Matthew Layden's later boats such as Enigma and Elusion (and even Sand Flea)? They were built for inland/coastal waters and...

Do tractor autogyros like the sweet little Pitbull below suffer from the same 'powered push over' problems that can be an issue with pushers with high thrust lines?
...

Fascinating stuff, thank you.

The latest Gartside collaboration is just delightful. I have always loved the way the Vivier Seil sits on the water and this seems that it may have a similar quality. Tremendous.

Sorry, I haven't been through the whole thread but has this one come up?

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-n46z22rt03/product_images/uploaded_images/rigging-1.jpg
...

It is while ago so my memory may be hazy (it was all centred around the aftermath of the Braer incident) but there was a move towards emergency towlines permanently stored in containers welded to the...

The ones I was working on were for harbour and escort tugs rather than coastal towing so shock absorption was not really an issue. The low stretch was liked by skippers since it helped with precise...

Yes, I was involved in the development of some of the first Dyneema towlines and they were a revelation. The low stretch Dyneema core had a polyester overbraid which protected them from abrasion and...

Sad indeed but what a life.

I doubt it, it is the product of a rotten engineering culture.

Once the canoe is moving forward the bow paddler will have less influence on the steering than the stern paddler because they will be seated closer to the pivot point.

Melanesia seems to have precious little freeboard with any more than 1 aboard. Lovely lines though.

Now that things have taken a Mediterranean swing may be the BCA Demco catalogue is worth a look?

http://www.bcademco.it/EN/piani.html#4

http://www.bcademco.it/img/catalogo/rustica.jpg

Sorry, yes I was unduly cryptic. You already have a link to it but I found it in the 'new designs' section which is worth a check from time to time.

I do wonder what the outboard well will be...

I notice that Selway Fisher have a new design that might fit the bill:



LOA
21'
6.40m


Beam

The Who, Wembley Arena
Man, Sheperds Bush Empire
Isaac Guillory, Putney Half Moon

VW id3 and id4 are RWD (or AWD)

I lived near Venice for a number of years and spent many happy days rowing around the places he visited. I think his video captured the wonderful atmosphere of the place very well, especially...

Fortuitous angle though - the plan view is completely different.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Rumpler_Taube_monoplane.jpg

You are particularly good at mounting stuff so I suspect you will come up with a more elegant solution to what I am about to suggest...

Electric outboards won't mind if they are upside down so I...

I don't know why but I really like the whipstaff steering on Wayward.

I suspect that a lightweight electric outboard mounted on a more conventional, narrower, transom would be a much simpler and...

It always shocks me how many venerated boats are, in my opinion, poor and incomplete designs with almost no thought given to capsize behaviour and self rescue.

If you use the icon that looks like movie film you can show it directly. Pretty boat but that self righting ability looks quite marginal even with those fenders lashed to the cabin roof. Might be...

Yes, I have read in a few places that the flexible panels really suffer with heat when stuck to surfaces (apart from maybe the 'CIGS' panels which seem more resistant to it).

Looks like a fun boat. You might enjoy looking at some of the varied thinking in the Italian 'Diecipiedi' ('10 foot') class, they have been exploring similar ideas for a few years now with mono,...

I wonder if this, scaled up (well, pretty much double in size), with a cute wheelhouse/cuddy could look decent? I am having weird thoughts of cuddy/cabin structure where solar panels form the roof...

Here is an example of a K1 sprint over 200m. The winning speed was 11.1 knots (from a standing start)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U8IvUUpEWc

That's pretty good - the world record K1 sprint over 200m is 11.3 knots.

I always thought the UK was one of the more conservative places as far as workboat design was concerned but I have been surprised how quickly catamarans, both displacement and planing have become...

Yes,while congratulating yourself on your core strength improvement!

I have been looking at some articles on these boats via the miracle of Google Translate and they are claiming some pretty...

Would look even better with the stern pulled in a bit to suit a smaller, lighter motor and lower cruising speeds.

Regarding weight of the drivetrain things have moved on quite a bit in the last few years, especially as far as batteries are concerned

The requirement is that the boat is optimised for the 2-6hp...

This looks like great fun...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwuSiQIQ8H0

Only empty petrol stations or huge queues here in west London for the last week. Makes me glad we went for a plug-in hybrid a couple of years ago.

Sounds like you are after some 'Powergrips'. I tried a pair once and they seemed OK.

96033

Given the required optimisation for low speed there might be some merit in looking at small cruiser/launch designs for speed restricted waterways like the Thames and the Broads?

A suggestion from...

Me too, I just can't really consider the idea of burning fossil fuel for recreation anymore. I would be happy to commit to a set of plans.

I'm inclined to agree. Although it is interesting to speculate what characteristics of existing designs might be adapted to this brief the reality is that this is an exciting new cruising type and it...

Michael Storer has some background in solar electric boats - his 23 footer could provide some food for thought? The flat bottom might not be what quite what you are looking for but Michael does put...

I suppose 'scaled up rowing designs' might hint at something like a St Ayles Skiff as a basis? Probably lacking a bit of primary stability bit that might be compensated for by using the battery bank...

I have always rather liked this Selway Fisher Yamato boat at just under 24'. Designed for a 9hp diesel I imagine that the engine box could easily be used to house batteries and an outboard put on...

I have to agree, I don't think there is single multihull aesthetic that I am fully on board with apart from maybe some Newick wing ama trimarans and a few Woody Brown and Joe Quigg cats.

I think we have reached a pretty exciting stage for electric motor systems for small boats. There seems to be a coming together of capable motor, battery and solar tech at reasonable prices.

The...