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Factor · 23-06-2016, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Well, I'm pretty impressed! That boat looks damn good for having been inverted. Was she under way when she flipped? If so, having t he rig survive is fantastic. Hope the water damage isn't too severe, and the the motor(s) are quickly serviced.

Jim

Motors are a easy fix, she runs Honda Outboards

Jason Flare · 23-06-2016, 19:13

Am I getting this correctly? This boat was towed inverted and the mast stayed intact?

Must be some deep water there.

**Jim Cate** · 23-06-2016, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Factor

Motors are a easy fix, she runs Honda Outboards

Possibly more vulnerable than inboard diesels, for they would surely have been immersed*. I remember that when RidgeDidge (or however it is spelled) was pitchpoled on the Wide bay bar a few years back, Terry reported that when he got back to t he boat, it was inverted but the engines were still running, being above the inverted waterline!

*Well, I guess that could be wrong... not sure how the outboards would be hung on that boat.

Jim

Snowpetrel · 23-06-2016, 19:22

Some decent gusts up to 40 knots later in the afternoon around 4.30 at battery point. Sounds like they were more over Bellerive side, so they should have seen the gust coming unless they were right under the bluff?

44'cruisingcat · 23-06-2016, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Wind

One wonders if Bruce Arms still owns her...The picture is certainly not of him - perhaps the new owner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC67iE5OYjs

Unlikely waves were a significant contributor given location. Too much wind, for too much sail, with too little weight and evidently a rather strong rig.
I see she didn't sink!

Very sad for the owner.

No, Bruce sold her recently. Friends of ours met the new owners, and based on what they had to say, this news doesn't come as any surprise.

**noelex 77** · 24-06-2016, 01:28

The cat is described as a "Comfortable performance cruising catamaran" see here:

BIG WAVE RIDER | Bruce Arms

It seems a lot more "performance" than "cruising" to me.

I gather it is a Chamberlain 14. How does it compare to other "performance cruising cats", for example Outremer? I could not find the specifications for sail area etc for Big Wave Rider. Does anyone know the details?

There is a lot of (unfair in my view) negative sentiment expressed on forums about so called "condominium" cruising cats, but the lower SA/D etc of these models limits the risk of this sort of accident.

Is the manufacturer's and ex-owners label of "Comfortable performance cruising catamaran" appropriate?

Anyway, no one was hurt and it seems like it's not going to take much to fix the damage

sparau · 24-06-2016, 02:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by noelex 77

How does it compare to other "performance cruising cats", for example Outremer? I could not find the specifications for sail area etc for Big Wave Rider. Does anyone know the details?

Its near half the displacement for a start (at least design weight).

DISPLACEMENT: 5000 kg

Rustic Charm · 24-06-2016, 02:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Factor

[IRONIC - ON] Yep, very dangerous and unsafe boat that one. Dont know how it went solo non stop around Australia in record time (Bruce Arms 2011) [IRONIC OFF]

Mr Seaslug, do you ever have anything nice to say about any boat?

Why do you say it was such a dangerous and unsafe boat?

RaymondR · 24-06-2016, 02:38

Cut a few metres of the mast, recut the sails and load it up for a cruising life and it's probably a perfectly safe sailboat (Well as safe as any of those multihull things ever get)

Snowpetrel · 24-06-2016, 02:49

Just reef it! Its real nice having the extra sail area in under 15 knots of wind. I reckon it is perfectly safe in the right hands. I guess it wouldn't like being loaded heavily though.

Seaslug Caravan · 24-06-2016, 02:56

[QUOTE=noelex 77;2151292]The cat is described as a "Comfortable performance cruising catamaran" see here:

Noelex you raise some interesting points.

Basically cruising catamaran performance is governed by displacement and sail area.

Simply the lighter boat the faster it sails. The downside is the righting moment and hence its ability to resist capsize is reduced.

This certainly isn't the first Chamberlin cat to flip.
I'm pretty sure Incinerator flipped a while back.

Some here also sing the praises of the Pescott designed performance cruising catamarans.
Pescotts have a very high capsize rate.

On that note I'll don my flame proof suit and dive in my fox hole.

**noelex 77** · 24-06-2016, 03:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparau

Its near half the displacement for a start (at least design weight).

DISPLACEMENT: 5000 kg

Yes, you're right, the Outremer 51 is considerably heavier at 9.9 T verses 5 T for the Chamberlain 14, but it is a bigger boat (15.27 m verses 14m). Outremer did a great job to get the weight down on the 5X. It is bigger again at 17.98 m but is only 13.9 T. Or there is the Outremer 55 light 16.3m and 9.5 T. The latter has a displacement to LWL of 62 not far off the Chamberlain at 58.

The most direct comparison, size wise, would be the new Outremer 45, but it is rumoured to be heavy for an Outremer. They don't list its displacement on the official Outremer website, which is not a good sign, but I believe it is 8.7 T.

One difficulty with comparing displacement, is that some manufacturers stretch the truth a little. As I understand it, Outremer will guarantee to build a new boat to the design displacement so the listed displacement is realistic.

Anyway, if we are not careful next we will be saying a heavier displacement cruising cat is a better choice

Anyone know about the relative sail area?

valhalla360 · 24-06-2016, 05:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparau

Its near half the displacement for a start (at least design weight).

DISPLACEMENT: 5000 kg

Our 10m boat weighs in at that range and is much narrower to boot.

This is a borderline race boat. Sure you could cruise it but that's at best a secondary function.

So what is the disturbing part? It's common for race boats to have failures. They are designed and pushed to the limits. In the hands of an inexperienced crew race boats can be dangerous.