Wind dam on cats

[Krazykenny]

I would think that the faster model catamarans get, the more some RESEARCH into conduicive aerodynamics is gonna be required, what WOULD be advantageous is motivated minds with a fascination for aerodynamics, getting involved and possibly employed in hobbycraft design. Its got to be the way forward.

[CraigP]

Kenny, I design and construct reverse-lift, air diverting wings to put on the front of my hydros. These wings become more reactive as the angle of bow lift increases, created more down force and diverting this air stream up and over the top of the boat, instead of letting it flow under the boat. When I introduced it, it was ridiculed as bogus science. The dam under the boat will create non-laminar or buffet effects and gets less reactive as the bow lifts. The wings I design get up to 3.5lbs of down force. If you need more, then the cross section must be re-designed.

I think each guy should do their own science and just keep it on the down low. I don’t race and as such, I get a poor response to things I’ve done. But it is very exciting to see the wing in action, literally “flying” the boat gracefully back to the water surface! But I think you’re dead on. BTW, the math isn’t too bad, just takes iterations to get it just so...

[Krazykenny]

You are to be congratulated for your efforts Craig, heed not the whining of the doubting Thomases in life. I include myself as one who Can be resistant to new ideas,but realise without experiment there is no progression, doubtless automative engineers and aroedynamics technicians in the past experienced similar resustance (not just from the wind either) tontheir using spoilers on performance cars, yet look how far they have come and how well established they are now.

[CraigP]

Formula 1 would still be in Jimmy Clarke style cars without the innovation of the aerodynamic engineer. I don’t let it bother me. I get my kicks out of the design, application and runtime evaluation which justifies the effort. The Cat hull is especially difficult, given the narrowness between the sponson tips that exists on many of the hulls. The effectiveness of the wing I applied to my cat was disappointing. I need to start with more cross section and place more discrimination between the upper and lower surfaces, in effect, make more of an old style DC-3 type wing. But the hydro wings work great! I have a couple of hydros known for getting too much air under them, and the wings corrected that problem very well...