Hull Extensions for Catamaran

[smj]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

It will also improve your LWL/BWL ratio, and thus reduce the effect of the theoretical hull speed limitation.

For me the biggest concern would be the fact your boat has 16 year old gelcoat. Matching the colour could be difficult. Getting it to STAY matching for a long time could be near impossible.

On our last Seawind we put a graphic where the new stern extension met the old hull. Couldn't tell the difference in color.

[Southern Star]

Actually 44CC I have been pretty successful at mixing up batches og gelcoat to match for small repairs, although admittedly over an area of that size it could prove problematic. And SMJ, that's an excellent suggestion - although it must require a great deal of care when laminating in and fairing the joint for the extensions so as to keep a relatively straight line.

Brad

[Southern Star]

PS I should thank all of those members with experience in adding hull extensions/building cats who, rather than attacking the idea (or how I have equipped my boat) have provided invaluable advice both in this thread and, for those who didn't wish to be attacked, in PM's.

Cheers!

Brad

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Southern Star

Actually 44CC I have been pretty successful at mixing up batches og gelcoat to match for small repairs, although admittedly over an area of that size it could prove problematic. And SMJ, that's an excellent suggestion - although it must require a great deal of care when laminating in and fairing the joint for the extensions so as to keep a relatively straight line.

Brad

Pay attention to 44CC's last sentence - it is dead easy to match gel coat, but it will be a near certainty that the colors will age differently. Most people don't know that their boats are changing colors right before their eyes because all of the gelcoat started out the same. But you can walk on any boat with a couple year old gel coat repair and notice it immediately.

I think the idea of using a graphic around the joins is brilliant. Doesn't even have to be a straight line join or be completely covered with the graphic. If the graphic has sufficient breaks and non-linear areas, the color difference will not be noticed through or around it.

Mark

[Southern Star]

No doubt sound advice and yes, I am aware that as gelcoat ages it changes color.

Brad

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by colemj

I think the idea of using a graphic around the joins is brilliant. Doesn't even have to be a straight line join or be completely covered with the graphic. If the graphic has sufficient breaks and non-linear areas, the color difference will not be noticed through or around it.

Mark

+ 1. The eye is easily distracted.

One approach I use is, where I can't hide something to think about whether to make a feature of it.....i.e. in this case either mould in a raised rim or fix on some bling trim (s/s?) over the join.......or even paint the extentions a different colour entirely! (matching any other stripes / graphics?).

[44'cruisingcat]

Dunno if you can get it in the US, but Australian Multihull World has an article about a guy who extended the transoms on a Seawind 850.

Doesn't go into a lot of detail, but he did a very nice job of it.