> Mike,
>
> Multiple comments I've been meaning to send for a while. Many thanks to Fedor, Nick, Luc, and others for the survey and ongoing conversation.
+1. Very interesting.
>
>
> The Harry, with its sit-down head, is a lot smaller than the Vis, even when stretched. There are arguments to go with that: lower weight, less build time, less windage, and male friends being forced to use the head while sitting (I do *not* like cleaning up splashes from friends who think they have sea legs, but really don't). On the other hand, it's nice to stand while showering.
Could put the head/shower in the lee hull. Headroom, privacy and
heaps of space, although you may need an umbrella (or a bucket in the
ww hull) if you need to go in the middle of a rainy night. Could
also put a pop top over the head area in the ww hull.
>
>
> We'd also probably go with a schooner rig in order to get a questionably-high amount of sail area without going past the 60' max length for the trailering package.
Two part masts are another option. if you can live with a bulge at
the join, (external sleeve rather than internal) 40' or so above the
deck, the added cost/weight/drag is negligible.
>
>
fedor
Building on your point of 'work to be done' for proven elegant
solutions for trailer sailor (or at least 'size reduction')I was
wondering if a form of 'crowd sourcing' would work. I think if say 10
people chip in $500 to accelerate proof of 'folding ends',
sliding/rotating beams, or even the 'extendable wing mast'. I think
that money would be saved 3 fold when I would have my HP built. And
for the first person taking the risk it may be a nice incentive to
try.
>
> In my case, the problem is not so much money (although it is always nice to have), but space and time. There is also the
> question of what constitutes "proof". I can usually see if something will work the first time I take it sailing, even ifit breaks.
> However, that is a long way from having enough confidence in it to scale it up and sell it. And even then, there are people who > want it to round Cape Horn in winter before they will accept anything new.
>
> That is one reason why I like owner input, even though it makes a lousy business model as it takes a lot more time than printing > out and supporting stock plans. If the owner suggests an idea (his, mine or someone else's), I can point out the pluses and
> minuses, draw it, maybe build a prototype, then the owner decides whether to include it. I still get a hard time (from the public, > not the owner) if it doesn't work, but at least I have a clear conscience.
rob