On Feb 27, 4:08 pm, " wrote:
On Feb 27, 5:29 am, wrote:

" said:
IMO, Ted Brewer's motion comfort ratio is BS. ...

No, it's defensible on several grounds. It was invented by a
knowledgeable NA, it does model
that "bigger + heavier = more comfort" which is true, and it is widely
quoted.

No, the ratio does not say that "bigger" is more comfortable.

Yes it does.
Look at the math.

Increase displacement, "Comfort Ratio" goes up. Increase LOA but not
LWL, the ratio goes up. The funny thing is that if you take the same
LOA and Disp, and reduce LWL, the ratio goes up. If you keep
everything the same and decrease beam, the ratio goes up.

The assumption is that the heavier a footprint a boat has, the higher
load per waterplane area, will give a boat more comfortable motion in
a seaway. There is some real-life justification for that, but to
assume that narrow heavy boats with long overhangs are the ultimate in
seagoing comfort is absurd.

.... Just
the opposite. It penalizes length (70% waterline + 30% overall) and
beam to the 1/3. The results of this can be silly. The idea that an
Alberg 30 is vastly more "comfortable" than a Transpac 52 is absurd.


In this case, "comfort" is defined only by the boat's motion in a
seaway.


I want to be clear that I'm not disparaging Brewer. He has drawn some
beautiful boats and written at least one very good book.

Many moons ago, my family owned a Brewer design. It was a good boat.

It's just
his "CR" that's bogus. Brewer claims that heave and pitch response
will be slower on a boat with a heavily loaded water plane and low ppi
all else being equal. That's true for heave and probably reasonably
indicative for pitch. He also asserts that roll response will be
slower on heavy narrow boats. That may be true, but misses some major
factors. The problem is that he goes on to assert that boats with
slow initial pitch and roll and heave responses are "more
comfortable". This completely ignores major factors like period,
amplitude and damping.

Agreed.
But those can't be reasonably quantified with the very simple
dimensions commonly available.


.... And, of course, begs the questions of what is
comfort is and what conditions we are talking about. Down wind boats
with high "CR" will be slow and have a tendency to roll
uncontrollably. Upwind they will be slow but wet; if you don't rise
to meet a wave you must go through it. Indeed, a high "CR" pretty
much assures slowness. It is true that slower is generally more
comfortable. It is also true that you can sail a fast boat slowly but
you can't make a slow boat fast...

Agreed


Theres more, but my work is
calling.


I'd say your work here is done

DSK