unicorn catamaran plans

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• Sailboat Guide

Unicorn is a 18 ′ 0 ″ / 5.5 m catamaran sailboat designed by John Mazzotti starting in 1968.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

The UNICORN was one the earliest catamarans designed to the A Class ‘box’ rule.

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boat plans african queen

Sabtu, 22 desember 2018.

• Unicorn Catamaran Plans

The ‘a’ class catamaran – its place at the top table. today the unicorn still measures and is still accepted as an ‘a’ class cat. so, the free reign given within the ‘a’s development class spec allowed several other designs to arrive, each an attempt to improve on the other.. Sunday race at hoac over 40knt gusts recorded in the club house. Unicorn sailors are always welcome at stone but the race committee require specific plans in good time to support the event. 2014 national championships this is planned for 4th - 8th august at stone s c on the river blackwater in essex..

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DIY Cruising Catamaran: Complete Building Guide

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A brand-new cruising catamaran can set you back a hefty amount of money. However, a DIY cruising catamaran provides a more affordable way to own your own boat. While building a large boat can be an extremely challenging and time-consuming experience, nothing beats the pleasure of bringing your own boat to life. 

To build a DIY cruising catamaran, buy good design plans, determine your budget and find a working space. Next, choose your hull material, buy supplies and start building the mast beam. Build and sheathe the hull, install bulkheads, the interior, and finally, launch the catamaran boat.

In this article, you will find a complete guide to building your own catamaran. You will also find detailed information on why you may want to consider building your catamaran and approximately how much this project would cost. Finally, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of building a catamaran from scratch.

Why You Might Want To Build Your Own Catamaran

Most people might think that purchasing a used boat to repair and fix it up would be cheaper than a DIY cruising catamaran. But while building your own catamaran could be an enormous undertaking, it also comes with many advantages over buying something used. 

Other than the unique opportunity to create beautiful memories and experiences while cruising, sailing, and exploring beautiful coastlines, there are a number of benefits that come along with the DIY approach.  

Knowing Your Boat

Building your own catamaran provides you with intimate knowledge of your boat. You will know every corner, including where to find every bolt, wire, bulkhead, rib, hose, and support as you installed them yourself. This knowledge will enhance your confidence while at sea since you will have entrusted your life to a boat whose history you are aware of and deeply connected to.

Pride of Ownership

The satisfaction you get from crafting something with your own hands is immense. As a result, the knowledge that you built your boat from scratch will fill you with absolute pride and an immense sense of achievement. Furthermore, as an owner-builder, you get to keep and enjoy the boat for as many years as you wish.

Substantial Cost Savings

Building your catamaran will work out cheaper than buying a new or even gently used boat. Though you will likely require some additional labor since doing some things will require an extra pair of hands, if you are particularly good at DIY, you will save a significant amount of money on labor costs as a whole. 

Freedom To Create Your Own Designs

If you decide to buy a catamaran boat, it might not be easy to find one that meets your unique needs. However, instead of choosing from production boats that bear traditional and outdated designs, you can come up with an ultra-modern design or style for your catamaran. You also get to pick your layout, size, and equipment based on your taste and budget.

Great Learning Experience

Building your own boat will help you pick up numerous skills that will come in handy later when sailing your boat. As much as you might still require an expert to help you with specialized skills like carpentry or wiring, your new skills will serve you well. This will also be beneficial when it comes to your boat’s maintenance and fixing things for yourself. 

What To Look For in Catamaran Boat Designs

When deciding on the type of catamaran boat to build, you may want to choose a design that’s simple and easy to build. This is because doing so will allow you to spend a shorter time building the boat. 

You also need to have a set of requirements to guide you in choosing your design or what you might call an ideal cruising catamaran wish list. This is essential because, ultimately, you want to build a boat that offers outstanding qualities such as:

• Delivers good speed
• Affordable to own and operate
• Agile, strong, and easy to maintain
• Has a high resistance to capsizing
• Great for sailing and cruising
• Delivers a comfortable and easy motion underway
• Good handling ability and high performance under sail
• User-friendly embarking and disembarking
• Provides ample living and accommodation space 
• Presents a reasonable resale value

It’s worth noting that, in general, catamaran boats tend to offer a fair resale value mainly because of scarcity and the high price accorded to production models. So, if you build a well-constructed catamaran, you are bound to get a return that’s much higher than the cost of materials upon resale.

It’s also good to consider whether the design you settle on is from an established designer. This is significant because documentation of the building process is just as valuable when it comes to selling the boat.

How Much Would It Cost To Build Your Own Catamaran?

The cost of building your cruising catamaran will depend heavily on the size of the boat you plan to build and the skills you bring to the table. To give you an idea of probable costs, a professionally built 40 foot (12.1 m) long cruising catamaran could go for up to $300,000. 

Though building it yourself will undoubtedly be cheaper, most DIY boatbuilders tend to underestimate the expected costs. Your final costs should cover not only the cost of material and equipment but also the labor and time it would take to come up with the final product. 

If you were to build a 40-foot (12.1-meter) catamaran, your cost of materials would range between 20-30% of the total cost. Therefore, for $300,000 total, the boat’s materials would range between $60,000 and $90,000. The hull tends to range between 15-35% of the total build. Again, this depends on the finish and furniture.

But before you even start working on the DIY project, you will need to figure out where to do the work. If your home has ample space, then you can opt for a backyard building. But if you live in a small apartment, then you might want to consider renting a small garage at first and then move on to a boatyard later. This is one of the significant costs involved in building your multi-haul.  

What You Will Need

To get a clearer picture of how much the entire project would cost, let’s have a look at what else you will need to purchase.

• Good design plans
• Working space
• Ground tackle
• Matting and roving
• Equipment such as the engine, windows, rudders, deck fittings, mast, and rigging

In addition to the above, you also need to install plumbing and electricals. You may also want to consider going electric rather than using diesel. Not only will this drastically reduce your maintenance costs, but you get to use the regenerated power for all of your housing needs while sailing. 

Some catamaran boat designs help you save costs by advocating the use of less expensive corpus materials. Most of the material goes directly into making the boat, which means there is hardly any wastage on vacuum bagging . With this method, there are few molds and temporal building forms and fewer fillers to grind off as waste. All these factors reduce the time and cost it takes to build your catamaran boat.

That said, building a boat of any kind is a huge financial undertaking. As such, you still need to have the financial ability to keep building; otherwise, your project will stall or take much longer than anticipated. Instead of enjoying yourself and making memories cruising to faraway lands, you might end up spending all your time building a seemingly never-ending boat.

To reiterate, this project is more of a labor of love, given that it involves a tremendous amount of manual work. Calculating an hourly rate on the time spent building the boat and adding this cost to that of materials may make it seem a very pricey exercise. However, it is vital to understand that your time matters, and every hour you spend working for “free” should be included. 

With that in mind, you need to ensure that you are fully devoted to the boat construction project and are sure you want to do it before you begin. Stopping halfway because it seems like too much work would be incredibly costly.

How To Build a Catamaran

When it comes to building a cruising catamaran, you have 3 main options:

• You can buy an old boat and refurbish it.
• Purchase a bare hull plus deck molding for a home-boat building.
• Start from scratch and build everything, including the hull, on your own. 

As mentioned above, renovating an existing boat may end up being more costly than starting from scratch. To build a catamaran boat from scratch, follow the below step-by-step guide.

Prepare the Essentials

Before you jump into such a large project, there are several important aspects to consider:

• Buy your plans from an established catamaran designer. You can also get inexpensive, easy-to-build catamaran designs online.
• Get access to a large working space or build a shed . Depending on your climate, you may need to opt for climate control to avoid an excess of moisture in humid areas. 
• Decide on your choice of hull material. This could be fiberglass, aluminum, steel, wood, or ferroconcrete. 
• Start working on a bill of materials estimate. Include everything that you think you need to get a better idea of the initial costs.

Build the Mast Beam

Using wood and epoxy, cut and glue together the pieces of wood that will form the mast beam. Most of the work at this stage can occur in a garage since it involves building small parts. Still, the work could take up to 4 months, so be prepared to put in long hours.

Build the Boat Hull

Now, it’s time to build the boat’s hull. A catamaran comprises two hulls which are connected with a deck. Below is a short video showing how to build a hull mold:

This work requires a larger facility, so you might need to move out of the garage and into a boatyard. If you don’t have access to a larger workshop, consider building a shed where you can work as you do the construction. Make sure there’s enough room to fit the boat and also allow you to work comfortably. To cover the shed, you can use opaque white tarps. 

Sheathe the Hull

Get all the materials you require for this stage in the construction, such as lots of resin, fiberglass, and foam for use in the hull cores. You’ll also require matting and glass roving to sheath the hull . 

Sheathing helps to make the hull impervious to water and other marine borers. But first, you need to prepare the hull using a rotary sander. To make it as smooth as possible, use light, sweeping strokes. This is a very dusty task so be prepared to wear a facemask and safety goggles. 

Install the Bulkheads

Next is installing the plywood bulkheads . You might need to call in friends to help turn the hulls or use a crane. In this step, you will need to laminate the hull sides on the molded hull panels and bond them above the bulkheads. Ensure the bulkheads are snug and sealed in place.

Construct the Interior Structure

Over the next couple of months, the boat work will involve joining the hulls together with the beams that you had made back in the garage. Then, install the cuddy cabin, decks , and the cockpit . Soon the boat will start to take the shape of a catamaran.

Next, proceed to construct the major structural components such as stairs, hatches, mini-keels, and the interior. Then comes the work of fairing the boat, which is quite labor-intensive. 

Finally, it’s time to apply primer on the catamaran boat and start the paintwork. Before painting the boat, you will need to do additional sanding to finish off the two layers of primer as well as fill all the pinholes. Since it’s a large boat, the catamaran has lots of surface area; thus, the sanding could get extremely exhausting—mentally and physically—at this point.

The painting can take a while, too. The hulls are the easiest to paint, but the topsides, non-skid, as well as masking and prepping could seem never-ending. 

The final stretch involves working on the center bridge deck cabin and other final touches like installing the engines, electricals, and plumbing. This is also the time to fix the rudders, rigging, mast, windows, and deck fittings.

Launch Your Cruising Catamaran

After many months or years of hard work, your cruising catamaran is finally ready to test the waters. After lowering the boat into the water, check carefully in case there are leaks. If none, you can set up the sails and take your catamaran out for your first cruise. 

Below is a short video that takes you through the entire boat-building process:

If you don’t have deep pockets, don’t despair. It’s also possible to build an inexpensive catamaran boat, as shown in this post from the coastal passage .

The Pros of Building a Catamaran

Though it will be a costly endeavor, there are so many things to look forward to should you decide to build your own catamaran:

• It can be lots of fun.
• You get to have a new boat.
• It’s an excellent hobby for DIY enthusiasts.
• The effort is rewarding.
• It offers a great learning experience.
• You get the exact kind of boat you want.
• You can alter building plans and tailor the boat to suit your specific needs.
• It might be cheaper than buying a new boat.

The Cons of Building a Catamaran

Though there are a number of positive aspects to a DIY build, it is just as important to keep in mind that it won’t always be easy:

• Maintenance costs can be quite high.
• It’s both mentally and physically exhausting.
• It might require some technical know-how.
• It can take many months or even years to complete.
• It requires a lot of commitment to finish the DIY project.
• It might be challenging as well as expensive to get insurance.  
• You will spend almost all your free time building the boat. 

DIY Cruising Catamaran Tips and Tricks

If you are new to boat building, it would be a good idea to build a small boat first. This would give you a good indication as to whether you’d enjoy tackling a more extensive project like building a catamaran. Again, if you are the handy type, fixing your own electronics could also save you a significant amount of money. 

Here are more tips and tricks to get the most out of your DIY cruising catamaran:

• Lower your costs. Bring down your costs even further by sourcing for parts and supplies at marine surplus outlets, Craigslist, eBay, or wholesale suppliers. 
• Enhance your resale value. Most home-built boats are not easy to sell since they tend to be too customized. To enhance your resale value, it’s advisable to work with a standard design from a well-established naval architect.
• Follow the design instructions. Make sure to follow the designer’s instructions regarding the type of materials and tools to use during the build to avoid making costly mistakes.
• Maintain your original budget. Avoid any additional customizations once you have started building the boat. Using good plans and sticking to them ensures that your budget doesn’t spiral out of control.

Final Thoughts

Building a catamaran is about more than saving money. It’s fun, exciting, fulfilling, and can be a great learning experience. While it might take many months of back-breaking work, comparative shopping and sourcing for materials will help you save a lot of money. Still, at the end of it all, you’ll have a beautiful catamaran boat, all ready for your first cruising adventure.

However, if you have neither the time nor the energy to build your own catamaran from scratch, refurbishing an existing hull might prove faster and easier. It also works out much cheaper than buying a new boat.

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

One thought on “ DIY Cruising Catamaran: Complete Building Guide ”

Hello, I am a French Quebecer who is original, imaginative, creative and who finds that all boats and catamarans have a huge flaw and a very big lack of logic. I would have a brand new concept…. I am sending this message to any catamaran creator – designer to make those who have the opportunity and the intelligence to want to know about my innovative idea which will finally upset the market much richer. An idea that will totally change the concept of sailing, navigation and save so much worry!! All I would ask for is a small percentage of each sale of the new product. To be able to make me produce one when I have enough!! It is certain that like that, you just want to tell me: come on Mr. Lessard give us your idea but do not take your word to help me in return! But, if you are the kind of man to have only one word and maybe have a proof of your good faith if the realization of the project would make it… I will be very happy!! Giving it to everyone wouldn’t bother me either…. all I would like is to be able to find flax fiber (too expensive carbon) to be able to try to make my catamaran myself. Because not rich! Have a nice day and looking forward to having a message!!

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The Unicorn is a single handed 'A' class cat with trapeze and una rig and PY of 775. 5.49m (18ft) long, 2.29m (7ft 6in) wide with a sail area of 13sqm. A superb boat in light winds with high performance up to F6 due to the flexibility of the rig settings. All up sailing weight of 108kg, easy for one person to handle on the beach (hulls & tramp 60kg).

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Catamarna plans as base for building a trimaran

Discussion in ' Multihulls ' started by neptunkryssare , Mar 2, 2014 .

neptunkryssare Peter

Hi. I am planning to build a trimaran that could have close to the same performance as a class A cat. As I have not found any good plans for a trimaran of that type I think the best one could do is to use plans for an A-class catamaran and convert those plans to be a trimaran. Maybe build it as a catamaran first, the convert it to trimaran.? How much would that the comvesion job slow down the complete process.? Could one build it so one can switch between catamaran / trimaran. Eg remove the centerhull and use the same or other trampoline.? I plan to sail in wind between small brise up to 10-12 sekundmeter. My weight is about 70-90 kg, (My weight goes up and down, don't really care about it. It's like the weather to me - it changes) and I plan to sail mostly singlehanded. Sometimes with my son which weight is about 60 kg. If I build the sidehulls small I guess the buildingtime would go faster, and I could have the trimaran built in one piece. I am also open to build a boat with floats as the same or almost the same size of the mainhull The dissadvantage to that would be - longer building time. The added weight would maybe make the boat to heavy if I would like to add foils.? Foils would come later, basically because I donẗ have the money. And if I make the hulls detacchable, then it's no big deal if I build it with bigger floats from the beginning. I know there are free old tornado "plans" out, and I have downloaded them - but as a first-timer I don't have the right knoweledge to construct a boat from theese. Also - the tornado with it's 6.09 meter is a little bit to large for my building environment (living room converted to workshop). So these boats is what I think would be the closest to go from. taipan 4.9 metre catamaran mosquito 5 metre catamaran unicorn 5.49 mete catamaran There are a few more that could fit for this project. But I have not been able to reach thoose that sell the plans. And it will take a while until I can get started - because my son is building a boat and I have to put all my money to that project for a few months more. As comes to comfort - I have two ideas. Minimal comfort, a hole to stuck my feets to. Bare comfort, if not affecting the performance to much - a minimal cockpit, eg just a hole in the centerhull and a plank to sit on. Also - I would like to build the boat so ther should not be to easy to pitchpole.  

Doug Lord Flight Ready

Trimaran Welcome to the forum, Peter! Look thru this forum there are lots of small tri's and discussion of same. Look at the EC Challenge thread and I believe there is a thread called "Trimarans of the Everglades Challenge". Seems to me you've got to give a lot more thought to the things you want out of the boat: 1) do you want the boat to be as fast as an A Class? If so you'll be likely to need small amas and ultralight construction. 2) do you want the main hull to fly? This goes with #1 and will be a requirement to be faster than an A Class. 3) If you choose to go with a wide trimaran you can either have humongus sail area or have moderately high sail area but have the crew sit in the center. My definition of wide is square or over square. Look at the "Bradfields Osprey" thread: LOA 18', Beam 22' weight 400 lb.and it is a foiler. http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/multihulls/18-osprey-multifoiler-dr-sam-bradfield-25343-2.html (last page-check out the whole thread) 4) Foils: you can use small foils to fly the main hull of a wide trimaran in light air. You can use a foil attached to the bottom of a flat bottom ama to effectively increase the lifting capacity of a small ama. See the last page of the MPX thread for some ideas. posts 993-997 http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/mu...lf-righting-trimaran-test-model-36058-67.html 5) Main Hull: you can go with a skinny main hull or with a wider planing main hull(like the WETA and my Test Model and others). In small boats, the wider hull allows a bit of extra room but, unless you use hydrofoils*, the skinny hull would probably be better for high performance. The two full size tris(14' & 20') I've built both used planing hulls. Make sure you carefully estimate weight or have a design that has been proven. Too much weight can seriously dampen performance. *Hydrofoils-unless a very simple system-are not a good idea for a beginner. The require a lot of knowledge of design and construction to properly implement. ----- First of all you need to study the available trimarans and their designs and make notes about the ones you like. Try to narrow down the performance you really want and don't forget: the higher performance the more expensive it will be and the more skill that will be required to design and build it. -------- Various links-click : http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/multihulls/small-trimarans-under-20-a-43650.html http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/multihulls/trimarans-everglades-challenge-2013-a-46554.html http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/multihulls/randy-smyths-trimaran-37078.html http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/multihulls/class-hulls-amas-46573.html http://rogermann.org/blog/2013/12/08/triraid-560-splashes/ trimaran in picture below click for better view-also check out this year and last years EC threads:  

Attached Files:

Trimaran- ec 2014.jpg.

Thankyou for your reply Doug. I can say this, to quote you from the small trimans thread which I have beeen reading a few times the latest days. "I think fast "daysailing" in a foil assisted oversquare tri while sitting on the side of a comfortable cockpit and not having to run side to side with every tack or gybe while you pass the beachcats would be a blast. ". There you pretty much summarize what I want. I am just not sure that I am able to buy or product foils, so my intention is to make a tri that is as fast as possible to use without foils. And if possible, add foils later. And for the points you put out to me. 1) do you want the boat to be as fast as an A Class? If so you'll be likely to need small amas and ultralight construction I would it to be as fast as possible within the limitations of using plywood. Preferable method. Stitch and glue. 2) do you want the main hull to fly? Yes, but there again comes my doubt how I can afford to buy foils, and if I am capable of making foils. Also I am not sure, how small the hulls can be and - without foils, still be able to let the mainhull fly.? 3)... The crew should be mostly me. Singlehanded sailing. But my wish is that I could have a one or two onboard for a more limited sailing experience. Or just one as crew, and with larger sail. 4)... Foils at the bottom of the ama sounds like a solution to me, but I am afraid that I will got stuck in that process. Is it possible add that foil later.? Oh, yes. I would like the boat to be as small as possible. If possible - below five metre in length.. Now I will go and read the threads that you suggested. I guess I come back adding more.  

neptunkryssare said: ↑ Thankyou for your reply Doug. I can say this, to quote you from the small trimans thread which I have beeen reading a few times the latest days. "I think fast "daysailing" in a foil assisted oversquare tri while sitting on the side of a comfortable cockpit and not having to run side to side with every tack or gybe while you pass the beachcats would be a blast. ". There you pretty much summarize what I want. Thanks-cool! I am just not sure that I am able to buy or product foils, so my intention is to make a tri that is as fast as possible to use without foils. And if possible, add foils later. Good idea, but the design has to be reviewed carefully to make sure this is possible. And for the points you put out to me. 1) do you want the boat to be as fast as an A Class? If so you'll be likely to need small amas and ultralight construction I would it to be as fast as possible within the limitations of using plywood. Preferable method. Stitch and glue. See below-try to find a deign and designer you like that fits your ideas as closely as possible. 2) do you want the main hull to fly? Yes, but there again comes my doubt how I can afford to buy foils, and if I am capable of making foils. You'll have to look at that carefully and talk to the designer you find about it-I can help with that but only you can decide if making foils is something you want to do-or can do. Buying ready made foils can be very expensive. Faster=More Money! Also I am not sure, how small the hulls can be and - without foils, still be able to let the mainhull fly.? In my opinion, flying the main hull w/o foils is asking for trouble. The ama would have to be larger than necessary with foils and weight would go up.And foils add controllability at higher speeds that you might not have w/o them. Talk it over with the designer you find. 3)... The crew should be mostly me. Singlehanded sailing. But my wish is that I could have a one or two onboard for a more limited sailing experience. Or just one as crew, and with larger sail. 4)... Foils at the bottom of the ama sounds like a solution to me, but I am afraid that I will got stuck in that process. Is it possible add that foil later.? Yes. Oh, yes. I would like the boat to be as small as possible. If possible - below five metre in length.. I'd suggest going with a bit longer main hull like the 560, but in your research you may find a 16' hull that would be suitable. Now I will go and read the threads that you suggested. I guess I come back adding more. Click to expand...

Baltic Bandit Previous Member

Peter If this is your first project - just build it. It will not be as good as you hope and it will be much more expensive than buying a boat of equivalent finish - so the only reasons to build are You cannot find the kind of boat you want and you have a good design You cannot get a used boat shipped to you at a reasonable price (ie you live in the Falklands or the RSA coast) You LIKE building boats None of this seems to apply to you. As for smaller Amas reducing your build time. That simply is not true. Hull building is a tiny fraction of the build time of anything. Finish work is the major component and that doesn't really change with size. The limits of your build shop are understood, but if you build a hull on the diagonal of your room you might well be able to build something larger. There also are kits that you can buy that in the end will be less expensive than you trying to cobble together something. For example Doug has spent 4+ years building a model of the boat he wants to build. So if you choose to build for reasons other than you love to build, you are likely to not finish the project. In fact the boat you are describing already exists. Its called a Weta. http://www.wetamarine.com/ and there are used ones for sale. http://uk.boats.com/sailing-boats/weta-12037608/ the Swedish distributor is http://www.wetamarine.com/wheretobuy/europe/sweden So for roughly 97,000 Kroner (11,000 Euro) you could have a boat that does what you want, has a trailer, all the sails and works. Work out your budget for a build. Your mast will cost 2,000 Euro by the time it is fully rigged and fitted Your sails (Main, Jib, gennaker) will cost 3,000 Euro The materials for your hulls will cost between 1,000 euro (plywood stitch and glue technique) to 3,000 (for carbon fiber) a trailer and a beach trolley adds another 2,000 euro Trampoline and cross bars and such 1,000 Euro foils - 3,000 euro Notice that adds up to 12,000 Euro. More than it will cost to buy a Weta. Oh and whatever design you come up with it will not be Self Rightable the way a Weta is Sail as well as a Weta (since you won't have all the hours of tuning that have gone into a Weta) warranteed And note, I have no association with Weta - I just love to sail and hate seeing folks start a boat project when they would rather be sailing  

oldsailor7 Senior Member

The perfect Tri for your requirements is the 5M Piver Frolic. Plans available from the Maritime Museum for a very little price. It is simple to build, and has planing amas. I'ts BOA is 50% (2.5M), only to make it trail-able without folding. It can be built with 70% BOA, or greater if you extend the crossarms. You can still make it trail-able if you do, by hinging the crossarms to fold over the deck like a Piver Nugget or Cross 18. I built one for my teen age son. It was very fast. He sailed it in all weathers. We lived in a high rise apartment and I built it in my underground car space. It was that easy. I highly recommend it.  

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Does the Frolic self-right?  

Farrier F32A - looking for Plans

Catamaran plans, who have I forgotten ?

Where plans go to die?

Plans with CNC option?

A-Class Catamaran Plans?

Build from plans or custom designed

Why designers, who sell the plans design so uncomfortable cats?

Just bought the study plans for PAHI 31

CNC Plans not Included

Buccaneer 28 - build from plans

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Category: Our Catamaran Build Kits

Recommended equipment.

Quality suppliers & manufacturers

The schionning team have a lot of contact with equipment suppliers and manufacturers, and hear feedback on certain brands or systems from our many customers. there are many schionnings cruising the world and testing products longevity and the customer service offered by the manufacturer., on this page we will list products and companies that we know to provide above average quality and service. it is always growing, and if your company provides equipment used on our designs and you would like to be included - please contact us., engines & drive systems.

Visit:  https://oceanvolt.com

Batteries, Power Management

LITHIUM POWER (VIC)

Back in 2013 I knew that my boat batteries were reaching the end of their lives, I had been researching LiFePO4 cells for a few years and decided that I should install them. Unfortunatly I was unable to find a local supplier. So Lithium Power was established.

Technical Information

The technical information page is a collection of documents (mostly in pdf format) on the materials and systems used in schionning catamarans. including data sheets, engineering information, strength comparisons of each core material and informative articles from jeff outling the design of certain system such as engine choices and main sheet systems., detailed engineering data for your research, we understand that getting your head around the process of building your own boat, or having one built, can take a little while. to gain a greater understanding of the materials used in our designs, the below data sheets have been supplied by atl composites, and contain all of the technical data you could need regarding the composites we use. in addition are articles or documents written by jeff about certain systems used on our designs and why., all technical information and data sheets on west system/duflex/durakore provided courtesy of atl composites. for more information please see the atl composites website here., documents library.

Information Sheet – CE CERTIFICATION PROCESS

• Mainsheet Systems for Catamarans
• Motor Choices for Schionning Designs
• Weight and Weight Distribution Schionning Designs
• Schionning Designs Sailing Performance and Tips
• Hull Shapes and Performance – Power Designs
• Outboard Engines VS Diesels – Written by Ross McCombe
• An Outboard Installation That Works – Ross McCombe Follow up
• Data Sheet – DUFLEX BALSA for Catamaran Kit Builds
• Data Sheet – DUFLEX FOAM
• Data Sheet – FEATHERLIGHT Paper Honeycomb
• Data Sheet – WEST SYSTEM R105
• Data Sheet – PUMP SYSTEMS
• Data Sheet – MICROFIBRE BLEND 403
• Data Sheet – MICROLIGHT 410
• Data Sheet – MICROSPHERES 411
• Information Sheet – USING FILLERS
• Data Sheet – KINETIX RESIN Thixotropic
• Information Sheet – DURAKORE PLANKS 413
• Data Sheet – DURAKORE PLANKING 414

Kit Materials Contents

Kit materials' contents, so if you order a schionning kit, what exactly is going to arrive see an overview of the materials you will receive, and what each is used for during the build process. fibreglass cloth or tapes microspheres, microballoons or microfibers take a closer look and you can answer these questions., our schionning kits are a no nonsense, common-sense approach to building a boat. we offer great service, fast delivery and access to anything you could need for your boat straight from the supplier to your door. our construction plans and kits are sold with 100% professional boatbuilder support via phone and email, any time you're unsure or just need a second opinion, we're here..

Our kits contain all of your basic materials to build your boat to a faired shell stage, ready for painting and fit-out. We have sail-away costing estimates available for all of our standard designs, and this will give you an accurate idea of the overall cost of your project. This costing varies depending on your level of finish, as you can imagine different options vary greatly in price.

Below is a quick glance at what your Schionning Kit will include and what each item is primarily used for, we hope this is helpful and if you should require more detailed information please don’t hesitate to contact our office.

What do I actually receive?

DUFLEX PRE-LAMINATED PANELS

DuFlex pre-laminated panels are the main and most important material used in our kits, predominantly in the flat panel designs, however they are used in Strip-planked designs also, though to a lesser extent. These panels are 2400mm x 1200mm and are CNC routed to speed up build time on our Wildernes X Series, as well as some of our power designs. For internal furniture, a paper honeycomb core is used instead of the end-grain balsa wood core that is used for main structural areas. The use of this is purely to save weight in the shell and therefore produce a faster, more responsive catamaran.

KINETIX LAMINATING RESIN & HARDENER

WEST SYSTEM EPOXY RESINS

FIBREGLASS TAPES (DOUBLE BIAS)

CARBON FIBRE CLOTH

FIBREGLASS CLOTH

The kit process, building your own boat can be a daunting prospect, however to demonstrate each step in the kit assembly process, we've created this guide for you to study. as you can see our kits are the ultimate in building efficiency and have been streamlined over 30+ years to ensure that you're on the water faster and with less effort., how does it all go together.

The first step to building your dream catamaran begins with a strongback – this is a square frame used to position the temporary frames that will be used to form the hull shape. This frame will be set up and must be square and accurate, a string or laser level can be used to achieve this.

The forebeam is now installed along with the striker attachment fitting, as shown above. The bridgedeck is installed shortly after and taped onto the bulkheads with webs installed, this now completes what is a quite stiff and strong platform to work on.

Now that the bridgedeck is in place, the forward webs and dash will be fitted. At this stage, all furniture and internal work begins, with the main panels left off for ease of access when working.

Material Choices

Schionning material choices, solutions that work best for catamarans & why, our designs are based on cored composite construction techniques using west system epoxy resin and knitted fabrics. but given the range of today's composite technologies, which solution works best for catamarans and why written by jeff schionning, selecting the correct materials, resin choices.

It also fully protects the boat against water absorption and it can not develop the dreaded Osmosis.

We choose ATL Composite’s resin systems for their superior quality, reliability and value for money.

Having worked closely with the ATL Composites team and their products for many years, we know we can stand by their material solutions, and rely on great service should something unexpected happen.

This may not seem important but when working with a material for an extended period of time, the small things make all the difference.

CORES Which One to Use?

• End-Grain Balsa – 150kg per cubic metre
• Superlight Balsa – 94kg per cubic metre
• Western Red Cedar – 360-380kg per cubic metre
• Foam – 80kg per cubic metre

BALSA END GRAIN (150 kg/cubic metre)

Balsa  has very good values and we can produce a shell using a very light laminate. It will be very stiff and very resilient to fatigue.

It has exceptional qualities including very high compression strength, extremely good sheer capabilities and fantastic sheer stiffness.

Compressive strength is the resistance to collapsing when pressure is applied perpendicular to the surface as when pushing directly onto the material with the point of your finger. Balsa is far stronger than Foam (80kg/cubic metre) in compression.

Balsa is also very strong in shear. This is when the core sample is held flat between your hands, one hand slid one way and the other slid the opposite way, when the core tears through the middle the core has failed in sheer. The amount of stretch you feel before the core shears is shear stiffness. To compensate for sheer weakness the core is made thicker. So 13mm Balsa may be equal in sheer to 19mm Foam.

(80 to 200 kg/m³)

There are many boats sailing that are built from foam as it’s mechanical properties are good for boat building.

• Initially one would expect this cat shell to be lighter as it is ½ the weight of Balsa. We do have to compensate for its weaknesses and will then add to the reinforcement the reinforcement on the outside to spread that compression load over more core and need a triaxial type weave to compensate for the veneer content that runs fore and aft on the Durakore.
• Secondly, we need to increase the Core thickness to compensate for the shear value, usually neutralizing the weight advantage.
• We only use structural foam core that is closed-cell and cross-linked.

The end result using foam core amounts to a very similar total boat weight. Professional builders can achieve a good result but usually use vacuum bagging and very good molds to achieve this.

Secondary Issues

Balsa can absorb water. It needs extreme neglect to rot (very unusual). Water soaks along the end grain quickly. It travels very slowly across the grain. We use balsa under the waterline especially because of it’s high compression strength for beaching etc. any core type must be sealed. Damage to all cores results in the same sort of repair. Notice a damp spot remaining when drying out to anti-foul… simply grind back the surface glass exposing the core, dry it out and re-glass – it’s that easy.

Timber cores are cheaper than Foam in most cases.

A light, high tech cat returns a far better (often 2 – 3 times) re-sale than lower tech materials. Often saving $10,000 on materials initially, loses $200,000 on re-sale – a serious reality.

Our boats can be built using Balsa, Foam or Western Red Cedar. Combine strength, stiffness, lightness and cost, with ease of use – it just makes good sense!

• GRAINGER DESIGNS

CRUISING NEWS

Never too young to enjoy a nice sunset.

 Looloo (left) and Lucky McGee enjoying the cruising lifestyle aboard Chincogan 52 Moonraker  anchored at the mouth of the estuary at the south end of Ko Phra Thong after spending a couple of weeks at Ko Phayam.

Then and now

The seafront of Cartagena in Colombia is the backdrop for two sailing vessels of different epochs and sharply contrasting character.

Against the sea wall  Galeon Bucanero , a replica of a Spanish galleon of the seventeenth century is totally at home against the fortifications of this historically significant Spanish port city.

In the foreground Chincogan 52  Sole currently circumnavigating the globe stops over en route to Panama and the Society Islands.

Over the years I've received many wonderful photos of our boats from around the world. This one is an absolute classic. Many thanks to Mike and Sarah Mason for the shot.

SAILING CATAMARANS

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Catamarans and Trimarans

Catamaran and Trimaran Boat Plans make it a reality to build your own catamaran or trimaran. Multi-hulled sailing vessels are a special class of boat. A very different mind set is required when thinking about sailing a multi hull, let alone getting your head around building one.

There are some unique challenges building a multi-hull sail boat, the extra beam added by each hull for instance can create storage issues while under construction. Hartley boat plans make the build process straight forward for even amateur builders. However with all things considered, building a multi can be an amazing journey.

Fast Twin Catermaran

Lively 28 Cruising Trimaran

Lively 35 Cruising Trimaran

The designs where there is a YELLOW BACKGROUND are the designs for which CUTTING FILES are available.         SEE STUDY PLANS FOR NEW LARGE FLYBRIDGE VERSION.                                                                      - for additional information   HOME / INDEX PAGE   HMS Unicorn plans HMS Unicorn plans cod: DM11 Description Product Details The same plans that are included with the Corel kits. Where originally supplied the English language instruction booklets from the kits are also included. An experienced builder can use these plans to construct a scratchbuilt model of the ship as the majority of plans include the frame profiles in addition to the hull plans,general arrangement details,mast and rigging plans. Scale 1:75 Lenght 840 mm Customers who bought this product also bought: Period stern lantern brass..., spanish stern lantern san..., eagle american brigantine.... 342 IMAGES Unicorn Catamaran Association Catamarans Unicorn Catamaran Dufour 48 Catamaran 'Unicorn' Catamaran for rent in Croatia Unicorn Catamaran Unicorn Catamaran VIDEO Building a new Drivetrain for my DIY Pedalboat + other Improvements DIY Unicorn Mini Book PLAYING ON THE GIANT INFLATABLE UNICORN #FLOATY ( off the back of yacht MA HA) HOW TO MAKE A FLYING UNICORN IN BUILD A BOAT FOR TREASURE 32ft Eclipse sailing catamaran by Woods Designs Building a Sailing Catamaran COMMENTS Unicorn Catamaran Association Welcome to the Unicorn Catamaran Association. One of the most unforgettable 'A' class cats since 1967, delivering high-performance sailing in all weather conditions. Take a look ... Tech Specs Technical Specifications. The original single handed 'A' class catamaran. Very fast with a PYLA of 812, SCHRS 1.197 - compares with a Dart 18 at PY 822 (1.231) and a Hobie 16 at PYLA 826 (1.218). Length 5.49m (18ft). Beam 2.29m (7ft 6in - road trails fully assembled). History John Mazzotti came up with the unique tortured ply construction technique in 1964 that allowed the perfect high strength, light weight hull construction for catamarans. He began his experiments in 1964 on the B class Manta and when the IYRU laid down the specification for the A class in 1966, Mazzotti came up with the mythical beast - the Unicorn. Unicorn This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat's hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat's motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more. Formula. 0.77. <20: lightweight racing boat. 20-30: coastal cruiser. 30-40: moderate bluewater cruising boat. 40-50: heavy bluewater boat. UNICORN LENGTH: Traditionally, LOA (length over all) equaled hull length. Today, many builders use LOA to include rail overhangs, bowsprits, etc. and LOD (length on deck) for hull length. That said, LOA may still mean LOD if the builder is being honest and using accepted industry standards developed by groups like the ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council). Unicorn Catamaran Plans ~ boat plans african queen Unicorn Catamaran Plans Posted by yeni on Desember 22, 2018 with No comments so far The 'a' class catamaran - its place at the top table. today the unicorn still measures and is still accepted as an 'a' class cat. so, the free reign given within the 'a's development class spec allowed several other designs to arrive, each an ... Unicorn Catamaran Class Association www.unicorncatamaran.org 157 members. Join group. UK based association of Unicorn Catamaran Sailors. DIY Cruising Catamaran: Complete Building Guide If you were to build a 40-foot (12.1-meter) catamaran, your cost of materials would range between 20-30% of the total cost. Therefore, for $300,000 total, the boat's materials would range between $60,000 and $90,000. The hull tends to range between 15-35% of the total build. Unicorn class Unicorn. The Unicorn is a single handed 'A' class cat with trapeze and una rig and PY of 775. 5.49m (18ft) long, 2.29m (7ft 6in) wide with a sail area of 13sqm. A superb boat in light winds with high performance up to F6 due to the flexibility of the rig settings. All up sailing weight of 108kg, easy for one person to handle on the beach (hulls ... Catamarna plans as base for building a trimaran taipan 4.9 metre catamaran mosquito 5 metre catamaran unicorn 5.49 mete catamaran There are a few more that could fit for this project. But I have not been able to reach thoose that sell the plans. And it will take a while until I can get started - because my son is building a boat and I have to put all my money to that project for a few months ... Catamaran Stock Plans Catamaran Stock Plans. ... Plans are leased to build ONE boat, NO time limit. Tri-Star designs are proven designs, sailing the seven seas since 1964. Free consultation is provided to the original non-professional builder till he or she is sailing the seven seas. All boats may be built with flared hulls, with the exception of the TRI 25, TRI ... Our Catamaran Build Kits Our construction plans and kits are sold with 100% professional boatbuilder support via phone and email, any time you're unsure or just need a second opinion, we're here. ... The first step to building your dream catamaran begins with a strongback - this is a square frame used to position the temporary frames that will be used to form the ... Unicorn Catamaran Thanks for getting in touch! We'll try and get back to you as soon as possible. Unicorn Catamaran Plans Build your own plywood cruising catamaran with these detailed plans. Perfect for fishing and exploring the open waters. Join our wooden boat building course in Brisbane to learn the skills needed to bring your dream boat to life. Click the link to view more details. Sailing Catamarans, Trimarans and Power Cats. Plans for Kit We design modern high performance sailing catamarans, trimarans and power cats. Contact us to find the right professionals and resources for your project, or to create a custom design to empower your vision for time on the water. How to build a Catamaran Building Catamarans and Trimarans; Share Your Experience, Learn From Others. In partnership with The Coastal Passage. This site will feature building projects from as great a variety of materials and build methods as possible. If it's a multihull or any project that relates or enlightens we want to feature it here. Easy to build catamaran for amateur boat builders Easy to build catamaran ideal for inexperienced amateur boat builders. This easy to build catamaran is intended to allow anyone, no matter their background, to build a modern cruising multihull with a thrilling performance and an appealing design with a small budget. The Bora-Bora 28 has a very practical interior lay-out with accommodation ... Catamaran and Trimaran Boat Plans Genuine Hartley Boatplans and Samson Boatplans are only supplied by hartley-boats.com, New Zealand. Catamaran & Trimaran Boat Plans from Hartley Boats make it a reality to build your own multihull at home. Build with Plywood or Fibre Glass. 12-35 ft plans. Unicorn Catamaran Unicorn Parts for sale. Rare, Brand new Black Top Needle Spa mast, comes complete with all fittings £250 - SOLD. Brand new unused Anodised rear beam in very good condition £50 - SOLD. Contact Will 07768107777. Bruce Roberts, CATAMARAN boat plans, CATAMARAN boat building PLANS & FULL SIZE PATTERNS FOR ALUMINUM STEEL or FIBERGLASS CONSTRUCTION. The CATAMARAN 65 MS was designed for personal use or charter work or as a people carrier and the accommodation was laid out with that in mind. There will be two basic layouts - personal arrangement as shown here plus an arrangement more suitable for charter use. Calendar Calendar - Unicorn Catamaran HMS Unicorn plans HMS Unicorn plans. The same plans that are included with the Corel kits. Where originally supplied the English language instruction booklets from the kits are also included. An experienced builder can use these plans to construct a scratchbuilt model of the ship as the majority of plans include the frame profiles in addition to the hull plans ... Join Us If you're into sailing and are interested in the Unicorn class, why not become a member? Fill in the application form here if you're ready to sign yourself up.. Alternatively, use the form below to register your interest and a member of the association will be more than happy to help. catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht