I'd say there are several disadvantages.
- As you point out, masts can't help prevent a capsize. Once you're over, you're over. With the rig(s) in the lw hull, you might have the chance to pop back up if things get pushed too far.
- The shorter ww hull provides fewer options for sheeting angles. With rigs in the lw hull, you can sheet out further to the bows and/or back to the ww hull.
- As you fly a hull, the sails raise higher into the air, getting more wind high up, and adding their area to the area of the tramps/deck that's catching wind. With rigs in the lw hull, the sails lower as the boat flies a hull, and the tramps/deck blanket the rigs.
- The ww hull has to be a lot stronger to handle the structural loads, adding weight to the boat.
- The ww hull would also lose some accommodation due to the masts.
- The fore/aft
rig loads and fore/aft hull loads would be on different hulls, requiring the beams to carry a lot of torsion/wracking loads, requiring stronger beams and attachment points, adding weight to the boat. With rigs in the lw hull, the wind and water loads all line up on the same axis.
Mike
On 11/10/2010 6:01 AM, John wrote:
In a weight to windward proa, what are the benefits/disadvantages of putting the rig on the windward or leeward hulls?
With a single mast I can understand the problems of a windward rig - mast in the way and stronger construction required. However with a schooner rig aligned with the crossbeams both of these disadvantages appear to disappear. An advantage would be even greater weight to windward. Maybe a disadvantage would be when blown over the rig hits the water when the proa is beyond the point of no return but this should not affect a cruiser.