Craig O'D's Cheap Pages/The Index


   
      
          
      
      
          
      
   
   
      
         The Proa MBULI
      
      
          
      
   
   
      
         2001: 

         John Harris' 20-footer MBULI.

         Plans available as of 11/2002.

         Plans don't include the expensive and finicky wingmasts, but
         simple rotating pole masts.
      
      
         
      
   
   
      
         Feb. 11, 2001:
         
         MBULI on the beach. Water temperature 38 degrees. Air?
         Don't ask. The main hull is a simple flat-bottom shape which
         two people can carry. The sails are 120 sq. ft. each.
      
      
         
      
   
   
      
         MBULI hits the water.
         
         That's me on the trampoline and Lee, captain of the
         chase-kayak, pulling the vessel out into deeper water. Those
         are rotating wingmasts. John and I got in a short sail, had
         a knockdown. The wingmasts held the boat on its side and we
         flipped the ama back down with help from the chase
         boats.
      
      
         
      
   
   
      
         Three more shots:
      
      
         
      
   
   
      
         A brisk reach: 
      
      
         
      
   
   
      
         ...still OK: 

         That's the Maryland State House dome way back in the
         background. John adjusts fore rudder stuff.
      
      
         
      
   
   
      
         ...umm, 

         Testing the Square Rig. 

         Lee assists, chase yacht takes pictures. I am standing on
         the hull after inching up the mast from the water... John
         apparently has fallen off. 

         After the day's sail we both agreed that the ama was
         somewhat too short to give enough buoyancy under sail for
         two guys sitting way out on the tramp. This was also clear
         later, in Florida. Main hull got the thumbs-up. Rig was
         eventually considered impractical (too tall, and far too
         expensive to build) but worth the experiment...
      
      
         
      
   
   
      
          
      
      
         

         

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The Proa MBULI
2001: John Harris' 20-footer MBULI. Plans available as of 11/2002. Plans don't include the expensive and finicky wingmasts, but simple rotating pole masts.
Feb. 11, 2001: MBULI on the beach. Water temperature 38 degrees. Air? Don't ask. The main hull is a simple flat-bottom shape which two people can carry. The sails are 120 sq. ft. each.
MBULI hits the water. That's me on the trampoline and Lee, captain of the chase-kayak, pulling the vessel out into deeper water. Those are rotating wingmasts. John and I got in a short sail, had a knockdown. The wingmasts held the boat on its side and we flipped the ama back down with help from the chase boats.
Three more shots:
A brisk reach:
...still OK: That's the Maryland State House dome way back in the background. John adjusts fore rudder stuff.
...umm, Testing the Square Rig. Lee assists, chase yacht takes pictures. I am standing on the hull after inching up the mast from the water... John apparently has fallen off. After the day's sail we both agreed that the ama was somewhat too short to give enough buoyancy under sail for two guys sitting way out on the tramp. This was also clear later, in Florida. Main hull got the thumbs-up. Rig was eventually considered impractical (too tall, and far too expensive to build) but worth the experiment...
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