ASA Cruising Catamaran

Jack Dale

ISPA Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor Evaluator

Sail Canada Advanced Cruising Instructor

IYT Yachtmaster Coastal Instructor

ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising Instructor

ASA Cruising Catamaran Instructor

Bridge Deck

Cabins in each hull and bridge deck

Bridge Deck Types

Open Deck Partial Deck Closed Deck

Less water collects Some water collects More water collects

Less lift Some lift More lift

Walking difficult Walking easier Walking easiest

Less weight More weight Most weight

Three Point Rig

Chainplate significantly aft of mast – no backstay

Three Point Rig Shrouds may not have

spreaders Spreaders on

diamonds Allows for high roach

mainsail Shroud may restrict

boom movement

Anchor bridle

Bridle from both bows

Attached to rode

Strain on bridleSet anchor with

bridle

Monohull, Catamaran, Trimaran

Cross Beams

Normally covered by bridgedeck

Main beam supports mast / rigging

Thin arrows show forces

Main BeamAft Beam

Forward BeamHull

Hull

Galley Down

Mess out of sight

More open saloon space

Galley Up

Cook more sociable

Intrudes on saloon space

Seagull Striker

Dolphin Striker

Dolphin Striker

Catamaran Stability

Power Button (Centre of Effort)

C of E mainsail 600 ft2

C of E jib 400 ft2

Combined C of E “Power button”

C of E Jib

C of E Main

Combined C of E

Power Button (Centre of Effort)

C of E mainsail 600 ft2

C of E jib 400 ft2

Combined C of E “Power button”

C of E Jib

C of E Main

Combined C of E

Stability Curves

Advantages of Multihulls

Less heelLess slippingBetter sleep – more restLevel dining tableLevel chart table

Faster than monohull in most conditions

More spacious

Advantages of Multihulls

Shallow draftShallow watersEasily careened

ManeuverabilityUnsinkable

Twin floatsUnballasted

Disadvantages of Multihulls

More stowage – more weightSusceptible to weight

Affects performanceBalance

Fore and aftHull to hull

Poor pointing ability ?Moorage – wider berthsQuick motion

Mono vs Cat - Interior

Ship's Systems

ElectricalGenerator?

GalleyStove

Gimballed?PropaneElectric

Fridge Freezer

Ship's Systems

Fresh waterBlack waterGalley

Stove – gimballed?Fridge Freezer

Twin engines

Ship's Systems

System Multihull Monohull

Engine(s) 1 – trimaran2 – catamaran

1

Fridge Front opening Top opening

Electrical AlternatorsGeneratorSolarWind

AlternatorsSolarWind

Heads I per cabin Often shared

Shoal Keel

Can be beached.Less pointing abilityWider turning radius

Capsizing a Catamaran Requires

High winds Too much sail Breaking

waves Unsinkable Big liferaft Easy to spot

Preventing a Capsize Monitor the weather Reef

When you think about it Follow manufacturer's guidelines

Keep weight balanced Hand steer

Feel the boat

Gusty / Squally Sailing STACS - it stacks the deck in your favour Sail area - Reef Trim – Traveller to windward, ease

mainsheet Autopilot – Turn off, hand steer Course – Appropriate and safe course Sheets – Ease the mainsheet in gusts

http://www.chriswhitedesigns.com/news/anna_capsize/lessons_learned.shtml

Windage Hulls plus bridgedeck Windage = leeway

Turning Radius Boards down

Tighter turning radius Twin engines

Tighter turning radius One in forward One in reverse

Centerboard / Daggerboard

Centerboard

Pivots on large pin.Lots of stress

Open trunk creates turbulenceLarge intrusion on interior spaceTheoretically retracts when colliding

with an object

Daggerboard

Slide up and down the trunkBetter supportBetter pointingLess leeway

Harnesses, Tethers

PFD with Harness

Crotch Strap Tethers

Jacklines

Jacklines Along hulls Allows for

movement

Jacklines

Tether Pad Eyes Cockpit Mast base Bow Restricts

movement Backing

plate

Sail combinations Main and jib

All points of sail Main and cruising

spinnaker Beam reach Broad reach Close reach

Tight luff

Heavy Weather Sailing Multihulls Faster

Less sea time, less chance of weather Multihulls Flatter

More comfortable in weather Better rested crew

Multihulls Wider Safer work space

Heavy Weather Preparatrion Prepare early and thoroughly Plan for contingencies

Heavy Weather Preparatrion On deck Turn engine on and charge batteries Reduce sail and/or heave to Check that the portholes and

hatches are tight, secure door Check everything on deck is secure:

tie downs, halyards, dinghy, etc. Put chafing gear on windward sheets

Heavy Weather Preparation On deck Lash the mainsail to the boom, and lash

boom to boom gallows Turn dorades to leeward, or remove and

put on covers Secure cockpit lockers Prepare to deploy the sea anchor Bring in cockpit cushions

Heavy Weather Preparation

Below Eat a hot meal Keep a watch, and maintain the log and

plot current Close all seacocks except for cockpit drains Get current weather forecast and decide on

strategy Keep radar watch if everyone is below

Heavy Weather Preparation

Below Get out and have handy: Vomit bags 2 large buckets Large plastic see-through bags and wire ties Spare set of clothes for each person Towels, pillows, and blankets Chafing gear Extra bungies and line

Heavy Weather Preparation

Below Stowage checklist Remove all potentially loose items and bag them in

double see-through big plastic bags. Store under table, in the shower, in sail locker, or in cabins

Close the door to cabins and lock closed from the cabin

Stuff towels or cushions in food lockers and galley equipment spaces

Heavy Weather Preparation

Below Stowage checklist Put the extra bungies on all the shelves, radio

equipment, etc. Put positive locking (or duct tape) on all

lockers, lids, floorboards, nav station desk, etc. Put cockpit cushions on saloon floor for third

berth if needed

Heavy Weather Tactics Depower sails Lying ahull Sea anchor Running off and standing on

Heavy Weather Tactics Depower sails

Flatten mainsail Harden outhaul Tension cunningham Bend mast – if possible

Harden headsail halyard Reef main Furl headsail Storm Jib

Heavy Weather Tactics Lying ahull

Douse all sails Batten the hatches Tiller to leeward, rudder to windward Seas probably beam-on Could result in a slam

Sea Anchor

A - Retrieval Float B - Trip Line Support Float C - Trip Line F - Anchor Rode

A bridle line can be run from the anchor rode to the stern to adjust angle to wind/wave.

Heavy Weather Tactics Running off

Reduce sails or bare poles Keep wind / waves on stern Breaking seas

May poop Keep speed

Too much speed may lead to pitchpole Drogue

Catamaran Anchor

Usually stowed in nacelle Operated with a windlass Anchor on bow roller

Rafting Catamarans

Biggest boatIn middleOn anchor

Stagger riggingLots of fenders

Toerail heightBreast lines

Bow and sternLots of spring lines

Multihull Galley More stable than monohull More room than monohull Precautions

Foul weather pants Galley harness

Catamaran Engines Outboard

Gasoline May be in a

well

Inboard Diesel Direct or

Saildrive

Engine Placement Stern

Weight aft Less noise Smells isolated Saildrive Less space Prop may be

forward of keel

Engine Placement Amidships

Balanced weight Direct drive Heat in hulls Odours in hulls Noise Prop ahead of rudder More space

Engine Checks Daily

Engine o il level Coolant level Belt tension Leaks under engine Fuel level Bilge

O il Fuel Propane

W eekly T ransmission fluid T ransmission linkage Stuffi ng box Sea strainer Battery connections

Common Repairs

Engine Failure One engine

Rudder may have to be adjusted to maintain straight line

Two engines Sail Anchor

Steering Failure Rig emergency tiller Steer with sails

Ease jib / harden main to head up Ease main / harden jib to bear away

Jury rig rudder Board lashed to spinnaker pole Pole lashed to stern pulpit

Dinghy

Davits Less drag More weight

on stern Must be

Secured Fore and aft Side to side

Dinghy Ensure towing points on dinghy

are substantial Use floating line (polypropylene) Keep vessel and dinghy in sync

with waves Two wave lengths Remove transom plug Secure oars Store engine on vessel stern rail

Fixed Dock Large Tides Raise

Centerboards Daggerboards

Fender board No breast lines Long spring lines

Weighted