The W22 is being designed as 'a better solution' for a boat that is relatively inexpensive and easy to construct, yet with fine performance and versatility. It also aims to be the 'driest fast boat' of its size and adaptable to individual owner's needs.
Main Hull
The main hull will be as slim as practical both at and below the waterline and that will depend on keeping the overall weight down as much as possible without resorting to extensive use of carbon that is expensive or light foams that really require vacuum bagging for an effective sandwich.
It will have a significant flare above the waterline to keep waves and spray down as well as provide more space higher up. The hull will have near semi-circular sections to give the lowest wetted surface and buttock lines will be swept up less than most other designs, combined with a moderately fine entry.
Amas
I think the ama's role as a sailing hull has sometimes been overlooked, with the result that it's designed more for just added stability rather than a hull that shares the total sailing load with the main hull. For that reason, the W22 will have an ama that will immerse its bow early and give good waterline length. This will also help the diagonal stability. Its center of buoyancy will be well forward, with a gradually tapered stern that will not lift the stern too much on heeling. This in turn, will help to keep the bow up. Initial plans are to get about 130-150% buoyancy into each ama and each will be fitted with a rudder to maintain steerage under all heel conditions.
Construction Materials
The hull will be a composite of several different materials, using the best one where it best fits, to give the most economical solution in both cost and building hours, for general toughness combined with reasonably low weight. This approach will also give the builder a chance to learn a little about each material as his/her skill progresses, without feeling overwhelmed by some new technology that might otherwise seem beyond them.
The underwater shape will not be compromised by this approach and there will be two options. The main hull will be build in two stages. First a semi-circular sectioned solepiece with a significant flare to deflect spray and waves just above the loaded waterline as well as provide more space. The flat topsides will be simply finished with marine plywood and that will readily allow the deck and cuddy to be easily integrated in wood. The exterior will be sheathed with painted glass and epoxy, for long term protection The idea is that the relatively complex solepiece will be made available as a pre-molded fibreglass moulding, with the CB (or daggerboard) case and anchoring points for the waterstays, already built in.
Alternatively, this lower solepiece can be homebuilt using cedar strips with substantial glass covering (Kevlar keel strip etc). At least 3 bulkheads will be built in plus a vertical keelpiece, so with the added horizontal stiffness provided by the flare this solepiece will firmly control the shape of the final hull.
Filaments in Use
Although the exterior sheathing will be a 4-6oz glass cloth, there will also be places to use some roving, carbon fiber and kevlar. The idea is to let these materials do what they do best, but in small critical areas, rather than impose high costs for extensive usage. For example, lengths of carbon fiber will be specified around the ama sockets for the cross beams where there is high stress, as well as being used to spread loads from the ama side shell where the outer shrouds are attached. In a similar philosophy, the keel with have an exterior kevlar strip, as this material is great against abrasion.
Cross Beam
Ideally, I am looking for a mast section of about 5.5 × 3.5 that will provide enough side surface to walk on without its total length being too heavy or costly. This would be for the preferred demountable version. The adjustable beam model would use premoulded pultruded fiberglass box sections, sliding in fiberglass boxes, somewhat similar to those on the L7 but a little more streamlined. (The L7 by the way, is a fine design in my opinion and for someone wanting raw speed and not concerned about getting wet, it's a good optional choice. Both designs will be considerably less expensive that the new F22 by Farrier, but that's partly because of the expensive folding system. Incidentally, the L7 also uses a 'pan' for the hull underwater, although this concept is not new. I personally drew up my first cat with this system in 1958 and Don Karmin had boats (Cobra Cats) in production with a similar 'shoe', in the early 60's).
The demountable version will have waterstays to support the crossbeams, while the slideout system, will require fore and aft cables for triangulation. The waterstays can be flat stainless steel strapping or SWR with J-hooks.
Arrangement
In the interest of being versatile for most needs, the main hull will have a large 7' long cockpit with comfortable seating. Forward of that will be a low cuddy for short-period shelter and yet also have 7ft of uninterrupted floor space for throwing down a sleeping bag for the occasional overnight. My experience has been that boats of this size and performance are used mostly as day sailors and too often, comfortable cockpit space is sacrificed in order to get more cabin space that is used far less often. In this case, it will be the reverse. An excellent cockpit with comfortable sloping backs in both athwartship and longitudinal direction and a long, wide horizontal coaming to also sit on, but cut low enough to make moving out to the amas an easy task. An awning will be planned to cover the cockpit for over night use—even in the rain—and the cuddy area will close with soft screens against the pesky mosquitoes. The foredeck would be kept fairly flat and spread wider than the main hull topsides to provide a good working area to handle sails and the anchor. The latter would not require to be very heavy, so a small Bruce would be stowed in a dedicated pocket, forward of a collision bulkhead.
Trampolines
Contrary to many other boats, the trampolines will be positioned fairly low and run out flush to the deck of the ama. I have found this to be the most comfortable and more important, allows one to enjoy sitting on the ama to sail, without having one's feet too high up. I am even looking into some light molded seats with folding backs to be fitted at a couple of places, so that comfort is assured in all locations. My mantra of 'dry, comfortable and sweet handling' has come from spending 16 years with Magic Hempel the original Dragonfly, something that this boat was able to accomplish that many other fast boats have not. Click here to read more about Magic Hempel.
Mast
The mast will be of moderate height .. enough but not extreme. Ideally of carbon-fiber but not too tall to make that essential. In fact the whole sail-mast rig could easily come from one of the many day catamarans that exist and once the most suitable ones have been determined, they will be listed.
The mast could also be home built as a wingmast, using the Gougeon 2-piece system with cedar strips and glass. Whichever mast is used, it will be rotating though with a single spreader and with 3 basic wires to keep it up.
In addition, there will be two temporary lines to the main hull to stabilize the mast while raising and lowering, something that I hope will be possible while either being on the trailer or not, so that low bridges can be passed under while on a trip. If a boom is found necessary at all (to help downwind performance) then one option will be to make it of wood with carbon and glass reinforcements.
The mast will be of moderate height7mdash;enough but not extreme. Ideally of carbon-fiber but not too tall to make that essential. In fact the whole sail-mast rig could easily come from one of the many day catamarans that exist and once the most suitable ones have been determined, they will be listed.
The mast could also be home built as a wingmast, using the Gougeon 2-piece system with cedar strips and glass. Whichever mast is used, it will be rotating though with a single spreader and with 3 basic wires to keep it up. In addition, there will be two temporary lines to the main hull to stabilize the mast while raising and lowering, something that I hope will be possible while either being on the trailer or not .. so that low bridges can be passed under while on a trip. If a boom is found necessary at all (to help downwind performance) then one option will be to make it of wood with carbon and glass reinforcements.
UPDATE: Oct 2009
It has now been decided that the basic W22 mast will be a Wing Mast and the plans to build this are to be uniquely included with the building plans.
Mike Waters has been studying and evaluating various wingmast designs over the last 2 years and plans to offer one of his own with both his W17 and W22. The Gougeon design has been put aside as being too large a section for this application as improved smaller sections have now been shown to be viable. The new masts will be based on recently proven units and engineered through a thorough study of assumed loads versus material strength and resistance.
Sails
Sails will either be from an existing catamaran model or custom made to dimensions on the plan. In such a case, they will likely be of dacron. Before anyone jumps and screams, let me say that not only is dacron less expensive than more exotic alternatives, but will almost definitely be easier to handle and last longer. Even performance in light airs will likely be better and with full length battens, its performance in heavier airs will not drop enough to offset the other noted advantages in my opinion. Those who wish to race only and want the ultimate top end, will just have to forego the target overall cost and I hope they will be happy. Newer hi-tech materials have less stretch and less surface friction. But they are not so adjustable for light airs and have a shorter life span. Sailmakers like that of course, so buy smart.
Centerboard - Daggerboard
The final choice is not yet made but I'm presently leaning to a pivoting centerboard so long as I can solve the slot issue with a practical seal that will at least last a season or more. Dagger boards ARE more efficient but that's mostly due to their snug slot and low resistance at the hull interface.
Their longer length can help in some conditions, though I personally find this less of a factor with slim, low windage multihulls than monohulls or high windage multihulls, that really need more directional grip against drift.
Either way, the board will be stiff and fairly light with a modern aerofoil section. There will be only one and that, in the centerhull. Two dagger boards (one in each ama) would only be justified to me on a super-light all-graphite boat that regularly flies the main hull. For the W-22 they would be a pain as they would need constant adjustment with many trips out on to a wet ama that could otherwise be avoided.
Rudders
Although not totally decided, I am leaning towards two rudders—one on each ama. Part of the reason is that such rudders may already be available from a suitable day catamaran and that would save a lot of work and expense. While a central rudder on the main hull is easy to adjust and does not require a long tiller bar as would two rudders, there is the risk that the main hull will lift enough to allow air to the blade and therefore cavitate.
(That would happen on occasion on Magic Hempel—though she still sailed straight). Fitting a rudder fence against air traveling down, does help, but having a rudder on the pressed ama could be more secure (see photo).
Having two rudders even part up, would still give adequate steerage in shallow water, while leaving or arriving from a beach or shore.
The other advantage of two rudders, is that the main hull access over the stern for the motor or swim platform, is vastly improved and I like that.
Bowsprit
I like the idea of a rolled drifter/screacher as well as an assymetrical spinnaker for improving performance off the wind, so a sprit would also be a must. Although an alloy tube can do the job, it would probably need bracing lines back to the amas and these get in the way of anchoring.
So I'm leaning towards a telescoping carbon tube that would only need a vertical stay down to an eye at the waterline. I am actually considering even a flat, rectangular tube that would offer great side stiffness and a surface to place a foot on when one needs to be there for fending off or servicing a sail.
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