A similar kayak trimaran

Just stumbled across this on youtube's related videos (which I think are a major component of our economic problems, killing productivity, but that's another story). The video is from last May, so sorry if I missed a previous discussion of this boat, but it's kind of cool. I like my AI better in pretty much every way, but this is an interesting take on the design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTYSleXDAgI

I'd like to build a racing version. Like an AI, but made from carbon fiber and made to carry the rig from a Catalina 14.2 Expo. Retractable curved foils on the amas like the Groupama 3 and Banque Populaire maxi tri's. And, of course, a Mirage Drive.

Was thinking about this last Sunday, while sailing along slowly in the dying breeze before eventually pedaling back to the ramp. I sailed my AI with the full sail in a 40 knot gust and plunged into a wave, and nothing bad happened. Clearly the boat is underpowered, which is good to keep it family and beginner friendly. But I want a FAST one that can still go in light winds and will break if I try something stupid like letting out the full sail in a gale.

Do the vertical 'fins' on the ama's significantly help the trimaran to
point better into the wind? Hobie increased the area of the new AI daggerboard. I wonder how much better the AI would point if the AI amas had fins also. The one downside is that it would make sliding
the AI onto my trailer more difficult...I tend to leave the amas on.

I'm thinking it might not be too hard to make some kind of strap on fin for the ama's.

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the fins on the ama's look basically the same as the skegs that most larger catamarans without centreboards use to help to windward. I think it's generally either /or so I'm not sure what adding the fins to the existing dagger board set up would do. A smaller skeg might work as well as the fins when added to the dagger board which wouldn't affect loading/ unloading. It would however be a major factory retool and a significant model variant.

Triak has just announced its newly designed 2010 model as well: http://www.triaksports.com/

I notice that both the warren light craft and the Triak are quite significantly lighter, both appear to offer dry (bulkheaded) kayak-like storage, and more aggressive and interesting looking sail rigs. They are also more expensive of course and don't have the pedal option, but it appears that both break down into pretty sensible standalone sea kayaks. It looks as well like the bows of both these boats are angled up compared to the AI, which as we all know, seems like it may have had a submarine somewhere down its family tree. I'd love to see Hobie come up with accessories/mods to make the AI into a more aggressive sailing experience. How about a new rig that supports better down wind, more sail area, and perhaps a spinnaker and a jib?

I think the best way to sort these boats out would be a series of races. This might also be the best way to see the designs rapidly improve.

I think that's the intent on that boat, but it's a high-drag way to do it compared to the AI daggerboard.

The retractable curved foils on high performance boats like GroupAma 3 and Banque Populaire are not so much about going to windward as about lifting the leeward ama. Those boats also have a daggerboard like AI's do to sail upwind, and the foils help to lift the ama, allowing them to carry more sail without submerging a large ama.

Are the new AI Longer daggerboards able to fit an '08 AI?

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Fair Skies, Max.

the Triak is 50% off ordered online - $2500

It's a different concept but I'm wondering how my wife might cope with both boats ...

sorry - reading properly that's the deposit - the actual price is $4999 plus shipping and duty etc etc

The Adventure ama design probably could not handle the extra loads that ama daggers (vertical fins) would exert. There is a tremendous side load on daggers. The adventure definitely needs more help in pointing, but the resent release of the slightly larger center dagger probably also was restricked by design loads. I too am anxious to here how much difference the new center board makes. Hopefully the boat design has not restricted the size of the new dagger to be unconsequencial.

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Sail it or Sell it.

Has anyone fabricated a longer daggerboard for their AI? It would be interesting to try although I don't think the AI points that badly for a multihull.
I wouldn't trade a removable daggerboard for the permanently mounted fins. I sail in an area where there is a lot of shallow water. I have found that if I pull my daggerboard, flip up my rudder, and stear using the paddle as a rudder, I can sail through water a little under a foot deep and I weigh about 220lbs. You couldn't do that with permanent fins.

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Jerry D.
St. Johns, Florida
2010 TI
2008 AI

I actually agree that the boat points pretty well for a multi hull. It's also fairly easy to tack (unless there's an audience).

I routinely now sail without the mirage drive in and have been toying with the idea of trying to fabricate a dagger board based on the existing one but using it through the mirage drive well. Fabricating the dagger board may not be too hard but making the piece to fit the drive and tolerate the forces on the dagger board is a little harder.

Moreton Bay where I usually sail is notoriously shallow and I like the idea of being able to pull up the dagger board and draw virtually nothing and not have to worry about fins etc. I also like the extra space.

Previous discussions on the centre board suggested that it needs to be further back than its current position. Putting it in the drive well might make things worse?

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Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!

Brisailer,
It's not too difficult to adapt the drivewell plug to hold the daggerboard. I did it a while back, building up a D/B slot using pieces from an old cutting board -see page 2 here:
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=3176
At the moment I am trialling the new black daggerboard and intend to test it in the drivewell.
Philip1el suggested I do this ages ago but one of the locating pins had broken on the plug and I am only now getting around to fixing it. The pin was broken when I overtightened it using the old cam locks.
I am replacing the hollow plastic pins with either the plastic packing rod or an old miragedrive axle cut down. I am also filling the space in the plug with lead shot mixed with a cement binding agent (thanks Roadrunner! ). This will support the pins and also act as ballast for when I sail in Adventure mode with the small sail.

Rokraider,
I'll let you know.

More to come!

I look forward to hearing how it goes.

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Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!