Has any one sailed or seen a cat with two roller furlings

[sctpc]

Call me new but I have never seen them like this or even understand how you could use them (do you sail backwards)
I have seen them mid bow but never on the hull what do you think.

[fastcat435]

Originally Posted by sctpc

Call me new but I have never seen them like this or even understand how you could use them (do you sail backwards)
I have seen them mid bow but never on the hull what do you think.

The SMG 50 has got 2 roller furlings and an A framed mast

[Factor]

The Hitch -hiker series of cats (designed by John Hitch) had this system, the up side is no forestay pull in the middle of the front beam, so easier to engineer. http://www.boatpoint.com.au/Tig/UI/P...06&p=401149175 That url link isnt to support this advertised boat - just to give an idea of what I am talking about.
http://tcimages.net/DisplayImage.asp...nt&PD=19086332

[smj]

We saw an Ausralian built and owned Simpson design in the Bahamas in 1995. They were in the middle of a circumnavigation and liked the setup.

[Whimsical]

For the more knowlegable types what are the pros and cons of this?

Mike

[Aussiesuede]

Originally Posted by Factor

The Hitch -hiker series of cats (designed by John Hitch) had this system, the up side is no forestay pull in the middle of the front beam, so easier to engineer. http://www.boatpoint.com.au/Tig/UI/P...06&p=401149175 That url link isnt to support this advertised boat - just to give an idea of what I am talking about.
http://tcimages.net/DisplayImage.asp...nt&PD=19086332

Here is the John Hitch Design that he and his wife are currently sailing.






No Boom. No Main. Just two Furled Genoas and a Furled self Tacking Slab sail.

[Latitude9.5]

Does that make it a cutter rigged cat???

[masalai]

Hi sctpc, I got your note and see you have some images of "XIT" from Aussiesuede who probably gave to me on BD.net.... The story I got is that John is looking to sell "XIT" and retire to the iron sails, (I gather to be built in Queensland? or northern NSW?)

My understanding is that it meets the needs of the lazy (like me) who desire to cruise and if the wind goes too much on the nose - fire up the iron sails...Quite efficient, points OK especially on skinny hulled "no rocker" similar to "xit". Maybe others have more info than I....

[sctpc]

Maybe others have more info than I....[/quote]
I don't know about that info on John Hitch and his Hitch-hiker series of cats is just not there, I just hope someone sees this who can give a clue on how the cats handle and how sea worthy they are.
I would also like to find out what sizes and the approximate amount out there.
Well now I know of four off them.

[masalai]

I think they started out as something of a modified Wharram and twin Genoas as per your picture, Later on he developed some incredible rigging systems such as "XIT's" predecessor "Wired".... "XIT" (pronounced as in EXIT)seemed to point very well and be easily driven and all of Johns boats were extensively cruised by John.... Do a search in boatdesign.net using "John Hitch", "XIT" or "Wired" - it uses the same search engine here in Cruising (I think) .....google.....

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by masalai

I think they started out as something of a modified Wharram and twin Genoas as per your picture, Later on he developed some incredible rigging systems such as "XIT's" predecessor "Wired".... "XIT" (pronounced as in EXIT)seemed to point very well and be easily driven and all of Johns boats were extensively cruised by John.... Do a search in boatdesign.net using "John Hitch", "XIT" or "Wired" - it uses the same search engine here in Cruising (I think) .....google.....

I've actually sailed on "Wired" (AFAIK it's now called "Zenataos"). It had roller furling headsails on each hull, and a hanked on blade jib in the middle, as well as a fully battened main.

The setup seemed to work pretty well, going hard to windward you would furl the windward headsail, and use the leeward one and the blade, and if it was blowing a bit harder furl the leeward. The boat pointed amazingly high.

The whole boat was pretty unusual, with the mast supported by a spider-like structure of alloy beams above the deck, and a series of cables below. The hulls were "hinged" to the bridgedeck, allowing some flex, which was controlled by heavy SS cables. (Hence the original name "Wired")

[sctpc]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

I've actually sailed on "Wired" (AFAIK it's now called "Zenataos"). It had roller furling headsails on each hull, and a hanked on blade jib in the middle, as well as a fully battened main.

The setup seemed to work pretty well, going hard to windward you would furl the windward headsail, and use the leeward one and the blade, and if it was blowing a bit harder furl the leeward. The boat pointed amazingly high.

The whole boat was pretty unusual, with the mast supported by a spider-like structure of alloy beams above the deck, and a series of cables below. The hulls were "hinged" to the bridgedeck, allowing some flex, which was controlled by heavy SS cables. (Hence the original name "Wired")

How hard was it to sail? in respect to a regular cats sailing setup can you workout how to sail this way or is it throw out all the rules and start from scratch.
I just can`t get my head around that setup and I don`t know anyone who can enplane it as I have searched it in every way and still are having trouble getting info on it so please post all you can.

[44'cruisingcat]

Sailing was pretty much normal. If you were going to be tacking a lot you wouldn't use either of the "side" headsails, you'd just use the middle jib, and it would be exactly as usual.

If you were going to be on one tack for a while you could use the middle jib and one of the side headsails, or do without the middle jib.

Reaching you could use any combination of the 3 headsails and the main, depending on how light conditions were. We had all 5 sails up in about 10 knots of wind and were doing around 7-8 knots.

The two side headsails gave additional options when running too. The boat went pretty well downhill or broad reaching without using the mainsail.

Overall the boat seemed to be less dependant on the mainsail than a lot are.

[billyehh]

My voyage 38 has a retractable bowsprit for a screecher on a furler. It is possible to leave it deployed, but it is only for light winds.

[masalai]

Originally Posted by Aussiesuede

Here is the John Hitch Design that he and his wife are currently sailing.






No Boom. No Main. Just two Furled Genoas and a Furled self Tacking Slab sail.

That is John's boat XIT and is presently for sale - A beautiful single handed boat for daysailing around the coast fast and comfortable and no deckwork... Multihull Sailing Vessels For Sale Au$250,000

One does NOT sail direct downwind but TACK downwind with both sails on the same board - NEVER - Wing-on-wing, as you can see it points up very nicely