Cat Design - Cold moulded Wood

[Steven Prince]

I'm new to catamarans and I am looking for a design suitable for a world circumnavigation. I had previously been looking to build a steel monohull but have come round to prefering the idea of a cat.

I'm looking for a designer I can contact to get hold of a set of stock plans for a catamaran. I am planning to go for cold moulded wood for the constrcution method due to the ease of construction and light weight.

I'm lookin for a boat in the size range of 45ft to 60ft.

Any info would be appreciated.

One design I like the look of is Chris White's Superior 54 and Atlantic 55. If anyone has any thoughts on these design's I would like to hear them

Regards
Steven

[Steven Prince]

Also Im looking for a design with 3ft or less of draft.

Regards
Steven

[dana-tenacity]

Check out Kurt Hughes

[fhrussell]

Steven,
Contact John Marples in St. Augustine, Fl. He sells plans for the Searunner Series Catamarans, designed by Jim Brown and Marples. They utilize (and invented) the Constant Camber Method, very strong, easy to build, inexpensive, and relatively light.

[cat man do]

Is strip plank, or Duflex of no interest?

This would increase design's and designer's dramatically.

Dave

[Steven Prince]

I'm open to any suggestions on designs / building materials.

I like the look of Dudley Dix's new catamaran and am currently looking at that. It's the DH550. Would like to hear any one's opinions on it.

Regards
Steven

[cat man do]

It certainly looks the business DH 550 Plywood Cruising catamaran

Dave

[Lodesman]

You might want to look at Woods Design, Wharram and Shuttleworth - sorry don't have the websites handy, but if you google them, they should be easy to find. All have a lot of comments on design and so forth.

[fhrussell]

Another possibility....

Schionning Designs -

and......

Catpage

Kohler designs some very simply built boats.

[fhrussell]

By the way, Chris White's designs are some of the best out there, in my opinion. I am not a huge fan of the forward cockpit on some of his boats, but can understand their practicality in some situations.

Steven, where are you located? We have 2 Kurt Hughes designs going together now on Long Island, NY, 48' and 52'. Both are one-off composite construction.

[Steven Prince]

I'm located in Nuneaton, UK. If you google it I live in about the middle most point of england at the Moment.

I really like one of Chris White's old designs bust I also like Dudley Dix's new DH550.

Would like to hear people's thoughts on the wood epoxy build method and if they know any links to homebuilds or professional builds with pics and info it would be appreciated.

Regards
Steven

[northerncat]

try some of these
Easytalking :: View Forum - Sites of Interest

[northerncat]

i must admit i like kurt hughes designs other than his im not much of a fan for overseas boat designers, people like richard woods designs are just a little to old and chunky looking
sean

[Steven Prince]

I've looked at the various designers pages and although two boats did stick out there where features on these boats that I didn't like.

For this reason I am thinking about drawing up the basic design myself and then have someone look over them and ensure they meet the necessary regulations.

I'm after recommendations of any books for designing catamarans and would appreciate any other information people could provide.

Regards
Steven

[44'cruisingcat]

Would you be interested in something like this? : DRUMBEAT

Its an Oram 60, built in Duflex, weighs about the same as the DH550 (And Drumbeat is very well equipped). It's available as a pre-cut duflex kit. See Bob Oram Design for more info and contact details.