Because, Wouter, if you build the boat as light as possible, with everything as strong as it needs to be for the use that it is likely to get, any weight saved can be added as correctors in the middle of the boat. This way it is kept out of the ends and where it will have least adverse influence on performance.

If you decide to put in extra beefy main beam trays, or reinforced the bows, the CG of the boat would move forward of the ideal position and weight in the ends is an undesirable. Build light and trim the boat as you wish.

When we built our T back in 1982, it came out around 8Kgs under. As the maximum allowable correctors were something like 5Kgs, we put extra-heavy re-inforced centreplates in her and at measurement we had to carry 4.5Kg of lead under the main beam (right under the mast). That was a lovely T in a seaway, compared to other Ts, as she pitched very little.

First of all, its not 100% finished. If I'm under I can "spend" some of the weight on a second coat of paint, or add some carbon to the beams or reinforce any number of things. I got lots of places to add reinforcement before I strap on the lead.

Second, I havent gotten around to a final weigh in. My scale only goes to 40kg, so I cant weight all at once, so I'm still not 100% sure of my total weight. My spreadsheet is a rough idea of the weight, I'm sure the actuals will be greater and that the misc nuts and bolts will add up. Rounding errors could add up. The goal is to be under not over and correct up. So from a design and build perpective, I'm right on target.

I'll be happy if it doesnt sink or fail dramatically on the first time out.

Bill

Shes a beauty! good luck.

Post images of her maiden voyage

I understand now. Those things really do add up.

Wouter

John,

The beam trays are in the middle of the boat as well ? And because of the symmetry the centre of gravity of these reinforcements will be just halve way between the hulls too, just like that piece of lead. Moreso, all the places where reinforces are most effective are also to be found around the mean beam and daggerboard. Ergo very close to the lead under the mean beam anyway. No mods are made at the extreme ends of the platform, simply because they are not at all effective there.

Wouter

It's beautiful.

Were you in Key Largo Feb 05? Something Ben Hall said has proved to be very true "The crossbeams are the wrong place to save weight. If you have a few hundread grams, the front crossbeam can always use it.

Thanks Carl

I wasnt in Key Largo in O5

My plan is to add to the front xbeam to get within a kg of final weight and use lead for now. I'm thinking I will keep a kg in reserve in case some crazy curved daggers become the norm.

Bill

Hi Bill

gratulations!
The boat is looking awsome!
I can't wait to here, how she performs on the water.
It's good you are underweight and you still have the possiblities to reinforce and change things.

Cool Project

Andi

Last Sunday was the launch. I neglected to take pics, but here's my first impressions from the launch.

Rigging
From the time you start getting the boat off the trailer to the time you have the mast up and are ready to put on your wetsuit is no more than 15mins. Raising the mast is simple and uneventful, almost a one handed job. Compared to past boats the rigging and mast raising is a dream. This is huge. I love the simplicity. I feel like I've forgotten something. Ok time to change into the wetsuit.

Once I'm changed and ready to go I roll the boat down the ramp. Now it gets a little interesting. Its harder to raise the sail standing waist deep in water when you have to hold the boat and push up the sail without a halyard. Next time I'll get the sail up on the beach or the ramp, rather than in the water.

Sailing
The wind is 10-12kts with slightly higher justs. Small chop, less than 2 ft in the harbor. The boat is amazing upwind. It points very high and once I get my weight forward the bows slice thru the water. It feels fast upwind, very fast. Everything is working well, the rudders feel light, the daggers feel good, nothing if fighting me and everything feels aligned and quiet. During a puff the boat accelerates and its very sensitive. This feeling of acceleration is amplified and unlike any other boat I've sailed. Its very cool.

The midboom sheeting cleats and uncleats just right and I'm shocked that its in the right place. I spend some time going upwind on the wire. I easily pass a F31 and outpoint him by a ton.

Ok, now time for a tack. I'm used to the endboom sheeting and the midboom sheeting confuses me for a minute. My tack sucks and I get tangled in the midboom sheeting. I'll have to figure out how to get under the boom without getting the sheet caught on my pfd....

A couple more tacks and its time to do downwind. Travelor out, main in, heat it up. Wow, the wild thing - hull flying downwind, this feels just like a spin....here's a puff, bear away, keep the hull up, head up, bear away. Now its working, hull up, very quiet.. Thats cool. I'm not missing the spin, the feeling is the same. The boat acts just like it would with a spin. The angles to get the hull up seem higher initialy, but once a puff hits, you head almost dead downwind. I've instantly forgotten my plans for a spin on this boat.

Ok, time for a gybe. The boat suddenly feels too light. I'm hesitant. Will the travelor rip out when the sail comes over. Ok, here it comes. Very sloppy. Not happy with the gybe. At least the travelor didnt tear off. Ok, back to the wild thing.

Returning to shore.
I get the rudders up and uncleat the rudders,I hop off and work on getting main unshackled. The boat doesnt want to stay head to wind. Next time, I'll unshackle the main before I get off. I ask Mr Jetski to hold a line which I've tied around the forestay. I jog up and grab the wheels.

Overall, I'm very happy with the boat. It feels great upwind and downwind is awesome. Rigging is simple and unrigging is even easier. Moving the boat around on land is easy. No heavy lifting. Launching and returning to shore require some advance planning , but I'm looking forward to figuring all that out. I'm also looking forward to working on my tacks and gybes.

Bill

I'm gonna buy a plastic tent peg, attach a small lanyard and keep it in the tramp pouch. Just stomp the ped in with my foot to "anchor" the boat while fetching the wheels, in case jet-ski man is awol. Or, you can buy one from West Marine for @$30.

Building your own boat must give you a wonderful sense of accomplishment. Congratulations!

That's brilliant Bill!

It really is such a huge buzz sailing your own homebuilt for the first time. Congratulations! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that we'd all love to see some action-on-the-water pics if and when you get the chance.

Have a great summer with your new toy. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Nice to hear you finished your boat and it all works like it was supposed to on the first trip out. Did you get to fly a hull? I totally agree with Jalani: THIS POST MEANS NOTHING WITHOUT PICTURES <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, I gave the camera crew the day off. I'll rig and take pictures.

Thank you for the "First Time" story.

Later,
Dan

Yeah ! Show us the lady with her clothes on !!
(in complete contrast to my normal approach ...)

Looks awesome. The bows look way more radical than the other examples of this design idea, or it could just be the angle you took the pics from.

Steve

pic 1

pic 2 rigged

pic 3 - a shot for Mary, cause I know she digs my daggerboards

Boyer carbon rudders. Notice the stick that holds them up, it has a rubber middle and when its in the "down" hole it will release it the rudders hit bottom. Neat system. Leave it to the Aussies to think up something so simple.

gooseneck, rotator, downhaul, and mid boom sheeting block.