Power sailor trimarans

[RobertB]

I am sure I will regret this but here goes:
The motor mounts as akas are way too weak. One good wave and gust of wind and they are toast and will make for a horrible drag on one side. Either build a serious structure each side (can even model after the brackets) or use the tube method. The tubes are likely to really be in the way topsides. I would recommend a toe rail like on larger boats (a metal angle mounted along the edge of the deck) and hard mount points above the water line reinforced on the inside of the hull. This mount should be made so as to add the least amount of drag when the boat is heeled and they are under water (when ama/aka setup not installed). Make 4 aka structures that are essentially each a tripod: two on top as compression members and stability fore/aft between the ama and the toe rail, and a single compression member low between the hull mount and the ama.
Plastic kayak is a non-starter as an ama. Not rigid enough to mount the akas. I built a wood kayak years ago and there were plans available to add amas as part of a sail rig. The wood structure is very stiff and easy to reinforce in order to provide a good mount for the akas (the pipes). Check out Chesapeake Light Craft for ideas. John is the owner who designed the sail rigs using aka/ama setups - can always ask him for ideas. Plus, wood sea kayaks are so much better performing than the plastic ones.

[Highlander]

found this scrowl down half way for mac conversion talk
http://www.eskimo.com/~mighetto/p04.htm

https://www.google.ca/search?q=macgrego ... B320%3B207

J

[Ixneigh]

Nice drawing. Btw that guy had some epic flame wars in some big sailing forum I saw once. He single handedly took on all the haters but I'm not sure who won

To me the biggest challenge would be to keep the beams and AMA hulls easily managed for trailering.

Ix

[mastreb]

It will be way easier to put the akas above deck and simply have straight tubes that are removable than having a folding mechanism. This is how the MacGregor 36 worked and it's how most home-built tris and cats are made. The deck of the MacGregor is much harder than the freeboard hull, which is quit thin and wouldn't withstand the forces without substantial bracing. I think a single length of bent pipe mounted to the top deck using pillow blocks is the way to go. Takes a wrench to release it, just like everything else on a Mac.