[PCW] A different power cat

[Candy Chapman and Gary Bell]

BOB POINTED OUT:
There are a fair number of wave-piercing cats out in the real world.  As the
old saying goes, all boats are a series of compromises.

Ultimate survivability in huge seas is not the most practical design
parameter in most cases...otherwise we'd all be tooling around in the
aquatic version of a tank.

GARY REPLIED:
Very interesting.  Interesting reference to Goldcoast Yachts as well.  Thanks,
I learned quite a bit.

You are absolutely right about the extensive trade-offs and compromises
required to produce a useful boat today.

There seems to be lots of movement in the coastal cruiser type of boats
venturing farther into the deep blue, becoming more and more like the
traditional robust ocean passagemakers.  I see two barriers to this, one is
fuel capacity limiting safe range; and the other storm, and specifically large
wave handling capability.  The wave piercing hull catamaran development today
seems to be actively pressing those wave handling limits.  Consider that they
appear to be designed and marketed to applications like the interisland
ferries your reference focused on, military attack craft and things like the
Earthrace boat, all of which applications imply abilities to survive extreme
wave environments.  What I see is that design attention is chiefly given to
very comfortably handling modest waves, and I am not seeing or hearing about
their behavior in waves that are large enough to interact with the bridgedeck
or cabin structures.  Specific examples include the great flat transom and
large flat sloped barge bow panel forward on the

Check out these boats: http://www.goldcoastyachts.com/wavep.htm

Bob Deering
Juneau, Alaska