Lack of data about steel multihulls

Discussion in 'Multihulls' started by Muzammal, May 18, 2021.

  1. Muzammal
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    Muzammal Junior Member

    Hi everyone
    I have been searching for steel multihulls especially trimarans in 50 foot size range (little bit more ir less) for a long time but there is no data available on internet which can be considered as an example or model.
    Does anyone have ideas or links of this kind? Please share with me
    Thanks and regards
     
  2. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    What information do you need because I have found enough just by typing "catamarans 50 feet". If you are looking for body lines plans and developed projects, you will not find, fortunately.
     
  3. Muzammal
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    Muzammal Junior Member

    In "Catamarans 50 feet", "steel" is missing
     
  4. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    Yes, I was wrong to transcribe the text. Never mind, search for "trimarans 50 ft steel".
     
  5. Ad Hoc
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    Ad Hoc Naval Architect

    There are none.
    That's why!
     
    Lloyd Too, DogCavalry and jehardiman like this.
  6. jehardiman
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    jehardiman Senior Member

  7. Ad Hoc
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    Ad Hoc Naval Architect

    It also seems like people 'select' their hull choice before they even establish an SOR and design to that SOR too... no wonder so many mistakes and misinformation out there.
    Choices are being made about a hull form - without understanding why the hull form may or may not even be suitable for their SOR.
    It is fashion.. a trend... that's all sadly. :(
     
  8. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

  9. jehardiman
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    jehardiman Senior Member

    redreuben and TANSL like this.
  10. Ad Hoc
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    Ad Hoc Naval Architect

    There you go.. there is one.. finally!!

    Built in 1995...so, how popular has this ONE been then..?
     
  11. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I notice in their list of boats plans (you download the list from the website) there is a 57 foot catamaran ketch "Esmeralda" which is for either alloy or steel.

    Yachts (buildaboatplans.com.au)
     
  12. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I expect any boat where the hull surface area is high per unit of displacement, is going to go against steel, because pitting and rusting would perforate a thin shell much earlier, even though the strength may be quite adequate with the thinner material.
     
  13. Ad Hoc
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    Ad Hoc Naval Architect

    One would only use steel to "save" money.. since with such a high ratio of structure weight for its size/shape why use steel?
    Ergo could only be what they consider to be cost savings..but that is merely initial capex cost of materials...the outfitting costs would swallow that budget easily!
    ...not to mention the usual 'suspects' of using steel as a material for boats, as you note Mr.E.

    Which si why there are next to none out there of that size in steel...
     
  14. comfisherman
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    comfisherman Senior Member

    Wheel abraided pre primed isn't cheap, anything less is lots and lots of blasting. Blasting in voids, and confined places. Add in blast media then add primers and top coats, not even factoring maintenance it gets close to aluminum pretty quickly.

    Peer of mine just did a big refit on a decent size fishing vessel. Hull and cabin were steel, new house is aluminum. I asked if it was a weight thing and he said by the time the steel was prepped and done cost was almost the same, the weight savings were just a bonus.

    Steel has its purpose, rarely is it pleasure craft.
     

  15. Alik
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    Alik Senior Member

    Catamaran platform makes sense only if the boat is relatively light. Say, LWL/DISPL^0.33 of demuhull is 6.0 or higher. Otherwise have to use monohull.
    With steel, this parameter can't be achieved on craft below 30m, thus almost no steel multihulls. We did ONE steel powercat 12m in length (preference of Client and shipyard), and we probably won't do it again ;)
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2021
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