walt wrote:
I dont know about a catamaran but Ive capsized a 15 foot monohull with and without a float at the top of the mast and also did some experimenting with my old 2010 AI with it flipped on its side in shallow water and the AI (tri) is definitely way more likely and faster to go turtle than the mono hull. The AI is of course also way less likely to capsize in the first place.
When I had the AI over on its side, I had experimented with the amount of flotation required to keep the top of the mast near the water surface and the AI required considerably more flotation than the equivalent sized mono hull (a C15 in this case which is considerably heavier overall compared to the AI).
Thanks to our favorite picture hosting company, I cant show the pictures any longer or how much flotation it took but I think it was on the order 1 to 2 gallons of displacement. Cant exactly remember the detail but Im fairly sure it was 2 gallons or less. 2 gallons is close to 7.5 liter and even though the TI is heavier, I would "bet" that 40 liters would keep the TI mast from sinking (and the boat from going turtle). Who knows with a heavily modified TI but it would seem that you have some margin to work with.
I abandoned the mast float after seeing how "fricken large" it would need to be but maybe the self inflating one might work..
FYI, I have a modified keep out setup on my TI and it has kept me from turtle when a pin sheered. I sail from the rear seat and think that also is nearly pitch pole proof. So.. I think I completely solved my problem with just the keep out lines.
Thanks a million for the solid information Walt!
Sounds very encouraging!
I figured 20 liters (~5 gallons) would be enough for a stock unloaded TI but with my heavy "iron barge" I ordered the 40 liter version to be on the safe side (it only weighs 300 grams more). I cant imagine that it would take more then that to keep the masttip afloat in the surface but who knows?? I cant be certain until I try this out.
It will be interesting to se see if the automatic valve on the float deploys fast enough to keep the TI from quick going "full turtle" and if it does will the float raise the masttip up to the surface again from the full inverted "turtle mode"? If is is fully inverted I think it will need a little help to get started, so by pressing down on one ama giving the inverted TI a little tilt maybe the 40 liters (40kgs) of lift will be enough to lift the masttip up to the surface again?
Very exciting stuff! Will it work?
There seems to be a lot of firm opinions on the forum about the matter but all seem to be assumtions, hearsay and all the negativity sort of bugs me!
Progress is made by trial and error... not negative thinking!
Off course I really want this to work, but I also want us all to get a little wiser and learn a thing or two.
If it would fail at least we all learned something, if it works.... partytime! The beers are on me... or maybe on Tim?
I better try my wetsuit on... I have been gaining weight lately. A cold september-swim i a Swedish lake will do me good... and give you all a good laugh!
They shipped the float from Germany yesterday so I should have it here in a week or so.
Dont You just love Ebay?!
All the best!
/Gustav