Hmmm... that got me thinking - what if you went back to a long, narrow and deep (mono) hull with all its advantages but a very bad roll problem and used minimal but similarly shaped displacement-type floats only for stability. If active stabilizing was wanted it would be relatively minimal too, the floats probably made to be foldable etc... No doubt it's been done already somewhere! Note: forwarded message attached. --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. X-Apparently-To: n6bk@yahoo.com via 206.190.48.127; Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:34:22 -0700 X-Originating-IP: [205.207.28.81] Authentication-Results: mta410.mail.mud.yahoo.com from=lists.samurai.com; domainkeys=neutral (no sig) Received: from 205.207.28.81 (EHLO lists.samurai.com) (205.207.28.81) by mta410.mail.mud.yahoo.com with SMTP; Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:34:21 -0700 Received: from lists.samurai.com (lists.samurai.com [205.207.28.81]) by lists.samurai.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 33D7F51D92; Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:34:21 -0400 (EDT) X-Original-To: power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com Delivered-To: power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com Received: from localhost (lists.samurai.com [205.207.28.81]) by lists.samurai.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 277E451A5B for <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com>; Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:34:19 -0400 (EDT) X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new at lists.samurai.com Received: from lists.samurai.com ([205.207.28.81]) by localhost (lists.samurai.com [205.207.28.81]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with LMTP id ls4v9erQSByt for <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com>; Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:34:17 -0400 (EDT) Received: from msgmmp-3.gci.net (msgmmp-3.gci.net [209.165.130.13]) by lists.samurai.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5AAD251655 for <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com>; Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:34:17 -0400 (EDT) Received: from BobTablet ([206.174.71.207]) by msgmmp-1.gci.net (Sun Java System Messaging Server 6.2-3.03 (built Jun 27 2005)) with ESMTPA id <0JGS00D304OYRGC0@msgmmp-1.gci.net> for power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com; Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:34:14 -0800 (AKDT) Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:33:54 -0800 From: Robert Deering <deering@ak.net> In-reply-to: <bfb.14694293.335997f6@aol.com> To: 'Power Catamaran List' <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com> MIME-version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 11 Thread-index: AceDAndqi1m/n3WqQ2qOAywfRivQpgAAW1sw Subject: [PCW] Power trimarans X-BeenThere: power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.9rc1 Precedence: list Reply-To: Power Catamaran List <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com> List-Id: Power Catamaran List <power-catamaran.lists.samurai.com> List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/power-catamaran>, <mailto:power-catamaran-request@lists.samurai.com?subject=unsubscribe> List-Archive: <http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/power-catamaran> List-Post: <mailto:power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com> List-Help: <mailto:power-catamaran-request@lists.samurai.com?subject=help> List-Subscribe: <http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/power-catamaran>, <mailto:power-catamaran-request@lists.samurai.com?subject=subscribe> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: power-catamaran-bounces@lists.samurai.com Errors-To: power-catamaran-bounces@lists.samurai.com "Can anyone (especially someone with design experience) explain to me why there are so few, if any, power trimarans, particularly with three hulls of equal length and beam? It seems it would reduce draft, increase accomodation and equipment space, and allow greater fuel load with little additional drag. Anyone?" Paul, I've wondered the same thing. My guess is that wetted surface area is part of the problem. Sailing tris normally run with one of the amas out of the water due to heeling forces so it doesn't contribute to wetted surface, but a power tri would be dragging all three hulls through the water. But there are some advantages to consider too, such as the configuration to power with a single primary engine, the ability to retract the amas for better docking options, and the elimination of much under-deck slamming. Bob Deering Juneau Alaska _______________________________________________ Power-Catamaran Mailing List