I've been meaning to complete the Blade 12 design for some time. I started the
design back in December of 2003 but never quite managed to finish it off.
The resurgence of interest in a very young kids boat, together with the shabby way
in which the multihull fraternity have been treated regarding the Olympics got me
fired up to get back to the design and follow it through until I have one on the water.

My idea was to design a craft for the very young to get kids into cats from the
beginning rather than lose them to the monohull club. I figured such a craft has to be
very simple and easy to control, inexpensive, lightweight, and can be rigged in less time
than it would take to rig a Laser.

The Blade 12 has a modern hull shape and should it be home built will employ a building
method different to that used in building the Blade F16. That is too time consuming
for this type of boat.
This new method should allow the boat to be built in less time than it would take to build
a similar chined craft.

The absolute minimum of fittings and the ease in which all components can be either obtained
or built up should make this craft not only cheap, convenient but also very accessible to the
average family.
The most complex part of the boat is the system to support the mast.
To make, it requires 3 weld joints, drill, hacksaw and a hammer. When the boat is de-beamed
all you do is undo the bolt in the centre of the rear beam and the mast support and beam fold up.
Undo 2 more bolts and it comes apart.

The scale model tests that I have done along with some calculations indicate it will work.
Having said that the only way to be sure is to build it and demonstrate.

I hope to commence the prototyping at the beginning of January.

Anyhow, rather than write an epic that no one will read I'll post some rendering of the craft
in several configurations. Like they say. a picture is worth a thousand words.