Bart Senior wrote:
I like the center cockpits of the Gunboats yachts and
the Chris White designs--with inside steering. Long
passages are wearing when you are in the sun, or
have to suit up in foul weather. Having everything where
you can reach it is nice. And it is easy enough to bear
off a bit before making a trim change if your decks are
awash.


I like the center or forward cockpit ones too, that Chris
White 48-footer was awesome.


I also like the Soloman Technologies electric propulsion.
Often big cats have to throttle back in heavier seas. It
makes sense to trade some of that speed for Amp-Hours.


It makes more sense to try and spin a prop for electricity
on a fast multi than on a mono- but remember it's not coming
for free. It costs in speed & wear/tear on the gear. If you
think "the speed isn't that much" think about how fast the
boat would be driven by that same prop spinning at those
same RPMs... that's how much you're losing. 1.5 knots? 2
maybe? Not a big problem but it adds up.


.... Power is also needed for
water makers--no need to carry the weight of all that
water when you can make it!


Yes but I'd still want tankage for at least 4 or 5 days at
minimum. The water maker might break down or some other link
in the electrical/charging system. Repairs should not be a
matter of "fix it or die."


A combination of water driven generators, photo-voltaics,
and even multiple noisy wind generators, could make an
electrically driven wheels on a Catamarran not only feasible,
but a desirable option. Electric Wheels are only feasible on
light weight boats like Catamarrans. I have no doubt these
will be common in the future.


Agreed. It's still an emerging technology with a lot of promise.

I believe it is possible to get entirely away from diesel gensets
with large banks of solar panels coupled with water and wind
generators.


It would depend on the cost of the overall plant. Diesel
gensets are relatively cheap, so is fuel (for now). The
issue here is where to get more when you're cruising. How
much of a premium do you pay for thesame power from solar
panels, to gain independence from a fuel supply? The cost of
solar is coming down, so are most 'alternative' energy systems.


That leads to my final choice in characteristics on Big Cats:
Carbon Fiber for light weight. This allows you to carry
extra equipment or provides for more speed. I'd opt for a bit
more weight and bring a clothes washer and dryer if I were
circumnavigating, and still have less weight than a fibgerglass
yacht.

You can wash your clothes in a bucket, it's the dryer that
is critical. When you're out of dry clothes & dry towels,
the fun part of the cruise is OVER!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King