Why the Proa?

There are several reasons. Probably, the first one – because Proa didn’t do well in watertribe events.  I know my strong points – I can make things happen, eventually, however I’m not the fastest one around.

I figure out that I can make it working, to plow the road for the next generation.

The second reason – I believe proa can be a sound platform for watertribe events.  After all it is a canoe – easy to paddle thing, shallow draft etc.

The third reason – it can be made light. All the rhetoric is there – lesser loads on akas (crossbeams), the main hull (vaka) is taking all loads, there are very little torque loads on entire structure. Also I have sailed and raced beach catamarans (I owned A-class and Nacra F17 catamarans) and I believe that two hulls configuration is safer than three or one hull in big seas.

Proa, besides inefficient hull(for its length), suffer from a steering problem. It is very hard to design efficient foils instead of old fashioned paddles used by Polynesians. At least I’m trying to solve this problem. Let’s see how the things play out. I think I nailed it. But I didn’t test the boat yet J

So those are reasons.

Good news! I can get her out of my apartment! So, No need to convert her into book shelf.
I took main hull to my friend's backyard to do some heavy duty sanding. I'm trying to keep my neighbors happy and use hand tools at home.

Perspective

Stitching the main hull - vaka

All is going well, considering circumstances - limited space, lack of proper tools.

First 10 days

First 10 days were busy. I.m building the boat in my apartment, it is empty anyway

In the beginning there was The Word.

CrazyProa.

Concept of fast modern proa has been sitting in my head for a few years already. I could see the boat. She would be light, easy to paddle, fun to sail and fast. She would have slender main hull, vaka. Sit on top. No cockpit. She will have narrow trampoline, just enough room to sleep on. All control lines are led to trampoline along beams, akas.  She will have modern high aspect unirig, sitting in the middle, with wing mast. She will have unusual rudders, located at the ends of main hull, dagger type, remotely operated via control lines.  There will be rudder locking mechanism. It would lock the front rudder in center position. The front rudder, partially lowered will work as a daggerboard.

And, how they say nowadays, OMG,  she will have articulating akas.  Ama, outrigger, short, planning type, would slide back and forth, bringing my body to where ballast needed. To center, while going upwind or to back while sailing downwind.  Also with outrigger (ama)  folded, she will be narrow paddling platform to navigate rivers.

As I said, I could see the boat.

However, I’m not a designer and the boat probably would die in my head as many great ideas I have had over the years.

Did you notice that if you want something bad enough, things just come together, like pieces of puzzle?

I told my vision of the boat in Russian boat forum, and several boat designers jumped it after naming her  “CrazyProa”. So, the boat got a name and she got a leading designer Serge Kytcel, known already as author of several good looking multihulls.

After month long discussion on the forum, you can use google translator,

http://forum.katera.ru/index.php?/topic/43795-crazy-proa-psikhicheskie-zabolevaniia-zarazny/

ideas were flying, calculation were made, I had a set of CAD files.

At the same time I recovered a broken mast from Nacra F17, with 25 ft length intact and I got a new sail from Escape Playcat for a song.  As I said, things have been fitting together, like a puzzle.

Owner of B&B yachts design, my friend and Watertribe veteran,  Roo, aka Graham Byrnes was kind enough to spend two days working with my files and he cut the plywood on his CNC machine. I cannot thank you enough, Graham. You told me that it is a worthy case. Now I feel obligated to prove it.

There was very valuable input from SOS, thank you Alan. Also they continue to provide support with my build.

Anyway, 10 days ago I pulled a van with plywood pieces from NC to PA, where I reside now.