GL: Boat Stability

[Georgs Kolesnikovs]

John Harris wrote:
>I have not including multihull boats in the list. As a generalization they are
>very stable, giving little rolling motion - until they reach the limit of
>their stability at which point they have a large negative righting moment.

Although what John writes is certainly true, it's mainly in the realm 
of theory. In the real world, over the last several years, despite a 
concerted effort to find examples of capsized power catamarans, I 
have only found one: a 27-foot fishing powercat that went upside down 
when a load shifted in nasty beam seas on the U.S. east coast.

I wouldn't be surprised if a higher percentage of monohull powerboats 
sink than multihull powerboats capsize.

Check out the photos and videos posted here for how well 
well-designed, solidly built and adequately powered powercats 
function in gale conditions:

http://powercatamaran.typepad.com/homeport/wildcat/index.html

--Georgs
-- 
Georgs Kolesnikovs
Your host at Trawlers & Trawlering, formerly Trawler World, since 1997
Site see: <http://www.trawlersandtrawlering.com>