[PCW] Graf (Aspen), ME Cat, ....

[tomortho]

On Jan 3, 2009, at 7:46:14 PM, "Robert Deering" <deering at ak.net> wrote:
From:   "Robert Deering" <deering at ak.net>
Subject:    Re: [PCW] Graf (Aspen), ME Cat, ....
Date:   January 3, 2009 7:46:14 PM PST
To: "PCW List" <power-catamaran at lists.samurai.com>
On 1/3/09 5:05 PM, "Mark" <mark424x at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Very interesting, I hadn't heard of that one. Here is more info:
> http://www.aspenpowercatamarans.com/


Fascinating! I've looked at sailing proas in the past and wondered how
they'd motor. I guess someone else was wondering the same thing.

A few things I'm curious about:

1. What will heavy weather handling be like? Balancing two dissimilar
hulls to track straight in the water under power is one thing, but to have
them perform predictably and symmetrically in big water with waves coming in
from different directions...

2. How susceptible will it be to weight distribution/loading issues? Cats
are already finicky to load, especially fore/aft, but will these two hulls
add even more complexity?

3. I can see why they are including bow and stern thrusters. One of the
twin-engine cat's big advantages is it's ability to spin in its own length.
But with just one engine my previous cat handled worse than a monohull at
low speed.

4. Another inherent cat advantage was propulsion redundancy. With just a
single engine that's lost, and people will have to contemplate backup
systems again. How about a light outboard with an independent fuel supply
on the proa hull? Fishermen could use it for trolling as well. This is a
Puget Sound company after all...

5. My new 40' LOA powercat (Maxweld 35) is traditionally configured with
planing hulls and twin engines. It has similar dimensions and fuel capacity
to the 39' Aspen. Its fuel economy at the Aspen's top speed of around 23
kts should be close to the Aspen's. But I can cruise at 30 kts pretty
easily without much loss of economy, and probably top out well above 40 (who
cares?). I doubt that my economy/range will come close to the Aspen's at
the lower speeds. I take delivery in March and I'll post my performance
measurements then. Here are pics which I've posted in the past:
http://tinyurl.com/6f9rl5 (the thumbnails don't show, but use the
back/forward arrows in the pics and you'll see all the pics)

6. The galley forward - even though a cat has a superior ride in the chop,
not sure how viable that arrangement will be. A galley up on a cat is
already pretty high above the water so all motions in all planes get
amplified. Will it be safe to cook when underway?

7. Pricing - a cruise ready price of about $600K (39') for an unproven
design, built in China, in this economy? I'd expect to see some serious
discounting for the first few hulls at least. My boat came all-in (with two
engines, electronics, extensive upgrades and customizations) at about $400K.
And I was able to extensively customize it with hydraulic systems,
electrical upgrades, specialized galley gear, substantial deck
modifications, davits, etc, etc. It was built in the U.S. The hull and
builder have a long and successful track record. Granted, it doesn't have
Burmese teak and a large owner stateroom with a walk-around bed, but it is
reasonably handsome and sleeps 8 in a pinch. I understand that it's a bit
on an apples to oranges comparison - my boat is geared more toward fishing
here in Alaska while Aspen is a pure cruiser - but I'd look pretty carefully
to see if there's $200K of additional value in this boat. There may be, but
it would be worth confirming.

My comments above notwithstanding, I think it's a brilliant concept, and I'd
love to take one for a spin.

Bob Deering
Juneau, Alaska 
_______________________________________________
Power-Catamaran Mailing List

I appreciate all of you thoughts.  In thinking about it myself, I was
particularly interested in your concerns about how it handles seas with the
asymmetrical hulls.  My understanding of the original proa type cats of
antiquity was that they would alternate directions that they would travel
(switch bow and stern)  to keep the larger hull to windward.  It will be
interesting to see if the design and testing of this boat have  resolved this
potential handling issue in a power cat.   I can imagine that these concerns
have been considered and it will be interesting to see how this design does.
 It is a fascinating and innovative idea.  I too would love to have a ride on
one.

Tom Green