Minimal Proa

I have been working on my minimal proa while my shoulder heals which delayed the launch of TP03

Description, specification

Minimal Proa with balanced lug rig and moving leeboard to align CE with CLR. Single central AKA, nod to Skip Johnson's AC/DC and Bionic Broomstick.

This is a concept for a possible next build after testing my current proa TP03 and will help clarify tests and developments to be done with TP03. The other concept I am interested in is a slightly bigger design with more freeboard and a small central open concept. This will allow two crew and storage of camping gear. All other aspects and hence development tests for this concept as per here.

Main hull

•  LOA 12ft hull, (3.7m) beam and draft 240mm, depth of hull 360mm, freeboard 120mm

•  L/B 15.25

•  Target weight whole craft 50kg, tough target, but research and a few calculation have given me confidence

•  Main hull displacement 150 kg total hull buoyancy 250kg, little reserve but think about  Hobie 16, trimaran floats, swath, Tepuke etc

•  Deck section at bows, addition of foam and glass to create wave piercing bow. This should counter low freeboard and crew fixed in the middle

Outrigger AMA

•  Outrigger buoyancy 50kg allows for crew at 50% beam

•  LOA 2.6m (8.5ft) beam 160mm

•  L/B 16.25

Overall beam tbc approx 1.5 to 1.8m

Construction,

•  ply, simple box

•  plywood and polyurethane foam bulkheads.

•  All hull panels 3mm Okoume

AKA

•  3mm egg box constructed 'box' based on International Canoe sliding seat.

•  Hydrodynamic box shape lifts AKA 250mm above deck, as a result underside of AKA  370mm above static waterline. This reinforced box also contains a deep 'bury' for the mast and links righting forces with heeling forces without loading the hull. Leeboard loads are relatively close. The only other load being the buoyancy which is obviously spread throughout the hull. This all helps to produce a light structure.

AKA to AMA connection

•  Two flexible beams allow movement of AMA relative to main hull

Rig

•  balanced lug,

•  unstayed mast,

•  area 8m sq

Steering and lateral resistance,

•  leeboard mounted on track moves fore and aft to steer by achieving CE / CLR balance

Why's  and downsides

•  Proa (Pacific)

•  Max performance for given materials, performance means many different things, in this case it is reasonable speed in a minimal package

•  Downside, control issues, additional complexity?

•  Minimal

•  Low freeboard, very light weight,

•  Less materials

•  Cost

•  Weight

•  Less room to build

•  Easy to transport, fastest way to get upwind is behind / on / in a car

•  Easy to handle on land

•  Downside low freeboard drag,

•  Downside low buoyancy limits use; single handed daysail

•  Lug rig

•  Good performance for simple set up and small spars

•  Lower hull stress

•  Less set up time

•  Low CE

•  Heeling

•  Pitching

•  Downside ultimate performance

•  Free standing mast

•  Lower stress

•  Stress all in one place

•  Less set up time

•  One central AKA, also the seat

•  Simple

•  Stress in one place as above

•  Away from bow so possibly less drag from wave action

•  Less set up time

•  One item two uses

•  Downside can't trim fore and aft

•  Downside limits to one user

•  Steering with moving leeboard

•  One foil only

•  Low drag

•  Downside unproven, test with 2b

•  Sharpie (box construction)

•  Very simple build

•  Flat plate, ply, construction

•  Max buoyancy for box size

•  Helps leeboard system

•  Bow sections promote lift

•  Latest AC, A Class appear to have flatter sections

•  Downside higher weight and wetted area for buoyancy