maiden voyage prep

maiden voyage prep
West Haven Boat Ramp

Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Asymmetric Ama

I decided to build the Ama to have an asymmetric cross section profile. Essentially its higher on the kayak facing side and lower on the open sea facing side.  This gives the wind and waves a little less to swat at and so possibly better upwind capability.  The ten foot ama is steep now with the extra volume I added to the MKII design  and rivals the actual depth or height of the kayak itself.  Diving this underwater as some folks have done with other multihull variations would now seem substantially harder. Too, its quite a bit heavier now.   The asymmetric ama DOES look a little weird. With its deck slanting off to the starboard of this starboard riding  hull, it looks good at one angle and peculiar at another.  Adding to this is the  beam that is enhanced on one side only and seen from the bow or stern, a curved profile is apparent.  Ive never seen this before anywhere else.  I know once the deck is on it'll look terrific but the curved ama profile is unsettling. Not something Im used to seeing on any hull.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Outrigger Revisions Underway

Well its good to be underway finally in modifying the outrigger system. Currently  the ama is being retrofitted with panels along its sides that would deepen its hull and increase its buoyancy as well as add weight for greater stability.  When its done the added panels for greater volume will be seamless.  This is so needed as the stock size amas meant for a trimaran configuration just aren't up to the task in anything but moderate lake conditions and winds in the single outrigger mode in which Ive redesigned the structure.  Following this will be the akas which will increase the beam from 5.5 feet to a full 8 feet. Somewhere along the way a reclining backrest for the cockpit is a definite must.   I'm still undecided about ever cutting a forward hatch.  I want the bow to err in the light side.

It is satisfying to be getting this underway.