| When I decided to build my own catamaran I | | | | plans to go with them. I went to my local |
| started off by looking for suitable designs and the | | | | chandlers, to a boat mart and I talked to a few |
| plans to go with them. I went to my local | | | | people at my local sailing club. Nada. Nothing. I |
| chandlers, to a boat mart and I talked to a few | | | | couldn’t find anything that came any way |
| people at my local sailing club. Nada. Nothing. I | | | | close to what I was looking for. |
| couldn’t find anything that came any way | | | | Then a friend of mine told me about some do it |
| close to what I was looking for. Then a friend of | | | | yourself boat design software she’d heard |
| mine told me about some do it yourself boat | | | | about. I tracked it down and I couldn’t believe |
| design software she’d heard about. I tracked | | | | my eyes. They were offering what seemed to |
| it down and I couldn’t believe my eyes. They | | | | be the solution to my problem for under 50 |
| were offering what seemed to be the solution to | | | | dollars. Some of the plans I’d seen for sale |
| my problem for under 50 dollars. Some of the | | | | cost over $700. |
| plans I’d seen for sale cost over $700. But | | | | But then the realization hit me. I didn’t know |
| then the realization hit me. I didn’t know | | | | anything about designing boat hulls and I’d |
| anything about designing boat hulls and I’d | | | | never designed anything using a computer. What |
| never designed anything using a computer. What | | | | was I thinking of? |
| was I thinking of? <b>Curiosity</b> But | | | | Curiosity |
| curiosity began to get the better of me and I | | | | But curiosity began to get the better of me and I |
| thought, Hell, it’s only fifty bucks. So I bought | | | | thought, Hell, it’s only fifty bucks. So I |
| myself a copy and quite frankly, it’s the best | | | | bought myself a copy and quite frankly, it’s |
| piece of software I’ve ever bought. It took | | | | the best piece of software I’ve ever bought. |
| me an hour or two to become familiar with the | | | | It took me an hour or two to become familiar |
| interface but it’s all pretty intuitive and within | | | | with the interface but it’s all pretty intuitive |
| the first day I had come up with something that I | | | | and within the first day I had come up with |
| was pretty pleased with. <b>A Mini | | | | something that I was pretty pleased with. |
| Production Line</a> It wasn’t actually a | | | | A Mini Production Line |
| catamaran at all, but a small dinghy that the kids | | | | It wasn’t actually a catamaran at all, but a |
| could use on our local boating lake. I didn’t | | | | small dinghy that the kids could use on our local |
| want to take on anything too ambitious at first | | | | boating lake. I didn’t want to take on anything |
| and I didn’t actually build it myself, my | | | | too ambitious at first and I didn’t actually build |
| brother-in-law did, building two next to each other | | | | it myself, my brother-in-law did, building two next |
| in his garage - one for his kids and one for mine. | | | | to each other in his garage - one for his kids and |
| Seeing those two partially completed hulls standing | | | | one for mine. Seeing those two partially |
| next to each other in his garage really got me | | | | completed hulls standing next to each other in his |
| enthused about catamarans and so I set about | | | | garage really got me enthused about catamarans |
| my design with renewed vigor. | | | | and so I set about my design with renewed vigor. |
| <b>Catamarans Are Different</b> As | | | | Catamarans Are Different |
| you know, a catamaran hull is somewhat different | | | | As you know, a catamaran hull is somewhat |
| from a single hulled vessel and it took me a little | | | | different from a single hulled vessel and it took |
| while to get to grips with the hydrostatic | | | | me a little while to get to grips with the |
| calculation for hulls with a much deeper shape. But | | | | hydrostatic calculation for hulls with a much |
| I’m very glad I did. The hulls are now under | | | | deeper shape. But I’m very glad I did. The |
| construction in my garage. It’s taken rather | | | | hulls are now under construction in my garage. |
| longer than I’d hoped because my wife had a | | | | It’s taken rather longer than I’d hoped |
| baby in the middle of the build - very inconvenient | | | | because my wife had a baby in the middle of the |
| of her - and that’s slowed things down | | | | build - very inconvenient of her - and that’s |
| considerably. But no matter, half the fun of this | | | | slowed things down considerably. But no matter, |
| project is the design and the build - but I still | | | | half the fun of this project is the design and the |
| can’t wait to get her out on the water next | | | | build - but I still can’t wait to get her out on |
| spring. <b>It’s a Bug!</b> I’ve | | | | the water next spring. |
| really got the bug for boat design (particularly | | | | It’s a Bug! |
| catamaran design) now and I’ve actually sold | | | | I’ve really got the bug for boat design |
| a couple of designs to fellow sailing club members. | | | | (particularly catamaran design) now and I’ve |
| Whether they’ll go on to actually build them is | | | | actually sold a couple of designs to fellow sailing |
| anybody’s guess but I made seventy dollars | | | | club members. Whether they’ll go on to |
| on the deal so I suppose you could say I got my | | | | actually build them is anybody’s guess but I |
| own plans for free! | | | | made seventy dollars on the deal so I suppose |
| When I decided to build my own catamaran I | | | | you could say I got my own plans for free! |
| started off by looking for suitable designs and the | | | | |