| Design by Chris Ostlind- Salt
Lake City, Utah - USA |
Over the weekend, I developed a new, personal trimaran
for small adults and kids called the Solo12. This
is a car toppable boat that is meant to sail with
no facility for human power other than hauling out
the spare canoe paddle and getting with it.
The total displacement is 300 lbs.
all-up and should tip the scales at about 130 lbs.
before getting wet. So, there's room to wiggle for
a wiry dude who wants to tool around in quiet waters
and have a blast in a semi-reclining position. Steering
is via a pair of pedals and cables to the rudder cheek
block, much like a kayak and all the sail controls
are fed forward so there's no need to hike out at
all.
The sail area is 56 sq ft. The amas are generously
sized to avoid getting out of the cockpit except to
hang-out on the beach with friends and have some lunch.
I'm looking to have no centerboard, having the underwater
fins of the amas provide the lateral resistance, but
testing will reveal that reality. I can always add
the centerboard later and put it between the driver's
legs.
The aka tubes are aircraft aluminum
and will be segmented with the same spring pins you
see on take-a-part paddles, so that the amas will
reconnect right up next to the main hull for transport
and storage. A very compact unit for putting on the
roof of your car and going off to the beach or lake
for some fun.
The build is 3mm marine ply with a full layer of glass
outside and taped joints inside. Easy to build, easy
to move around the launch site and perfect for learning
to sail with little kids as they can sit between your
legs and learn how things work. Later, the same kids
can take the boat out on their own and there will
be no fear of them tipping over unless a tornado hits
the area.
Soon, there will be a companion model
at 14' LOA for slightly larger sailors, all within
the car-topping attitude that this boat represents.
Plans , or full sized templates, are available now
for $90.
Chris Ostlind
Lunada Design
Chris@Wedgesail.com
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