The Surgery is Over
Now that our major boat extension project (from 32 feet to 37 feet) is finished we have finally got around to a adding a documentary video on what and how we did it. It is not often you cut your boat right in half! See our “Cutting Light Wave in Half” video on YouTube.
We just got back from an 11 day winter cruise in our recently streched Light Wave. It was a little cold out there (next project ==> forced air heating!) but we did come across a super pod of several hundred pacific white sided dolphins and made a special video of the experience.
When you streched your boat, did you change balance for and aft? Was there a change in handling?
Thanks, BAW
Hello Brian,
Boat handles better than before. Less forward aft pitching in waves going to windward. Float about 3 inches higher because of extra net buoyancy.
Dear sir can you send me the plan ,of your expension
best regards
lutfu
We did not have plans for extension. Eyeballed it as we went along.
I am almost finished building a Richard Woods Eagle 24 catamaran Garrett and can also recommend his designs for home builders, not to mention his support and encouragement. I’m 78 years old and decided to opt for an unstayed wooden mast mounted in a tabernacle and a single balanced lug sail of similar overall size to his standard mainsail/jib configuration. I moved the mast beam forward somewhat to try and offset the difference. I hope the lug sail, albeit less efficient to windward, will prove simpler to manage. Unless I have missed something, it seems that despite stretching your hulls by about 25%, you did not alter the position of the mast. Is that correct? And if so did it not dramatically affect steering, tacking etc? Thanks for giving us the benefit of your experience, Steve
Hello Steve,
with stretching out boat 5 feet, the mast effectively went forward. If anything it removed some of the weather helm as you have moved the centre of presures of the sail forward. So in your case it should work out fine. Best of luck on your project. Your to be commended for your efforts at 78. I am 67 now and sure glad we built the boat when I was 40 to 42! Take care and happy sailing. Garett