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- Sailboat Guide
Lock Crowther
Famed muli-hull designer of Australia. Among his most notable designs were the Bucaneer & Kraken series trimarans, Spindrift 45 & Catana 40 cats, as well as a great number of other cruising, racing, charter/commercial and power cats and tris. Lock Crowther built his first boat, a trimaran called BUNYIP, in 1959 while still a teenager. The following year he raced in the Easter regatta at Paynesville, Victoria, Australia, beating 300 boats to the finish. The success of his boat inspired several of his friends to build similar boats and thus Lock Crowther’s design career started, though he did not expect to make a living out of it, and studied electrical engineering. In the early 1960s, when there were only a handful of people designing multihulls, Lock Crowther was involved in this international scene and also a member of the Amateur Yacht Research Society. BUNYIP was followed by the Kraken 25 design, which somewhat widened Crowther’s recognition. His reputation was established internationally in 1966, when his first offshore racing trimaran BRANDERSNACH won the Sydney to Hobart multihull race. Even more notice was taken in 1969, when a Kraken 40 won the New York to Bermuda race with him aboard. During Lock Crowther’s career, more than 2500 of his designs were built. He started out with racing boats, where most of his new ideas were developed, though he was successful drawing cruising and commercial craft as well. Among his outstanding designs was the trimaran SPIRIT OF AMERICA, which was an early user of GRP-foam sandwich construction and had innovative composite beams with uni-directional fibres and turned-down ends. Lock Crowther also developed the use of ‘bulbous bows’ as a measure to reduce pitching, and hence increase speed when sailing upwind in a swell.
15 Sailboats designed by Lock Crowther
Buccaneer 40 (crowther).
Buccaneer 36 (Crowther)
Buccaneer 28 (Crowther)
Buccaneer 24 (Crowther)
Buccaneer 33 (Crowther)
Crowther 42.
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| Australian naval architect Lock Crowther was one of the most successful and experienced multihull designers in the world. His designs, which have a reputation for high performance, strength, safety and ease of handling are based on his extensive coastal and offshore sailing experience in the rugged Australian waters. From her swift hull shape, daggger-boards for making headway to windward, reserve buoyancy forward and aft, to the easily handled rig the witness is a tribute to Crowther's design talent and the application of modern technology. CONSTRUCTION: The purpose of this site will be to serve as a meeting place for Catamaran owners past and present to share information and experiences with their boats. owners, both current and past, are encouraged to email the webmaster regarding submission of related information for inclusion in this web site. Please contact the Webmaster at: |
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"Nordlicht II was developed with Incat Crowther in accordance with our exacting requirements. Incat Crowther developed the design, held a tender process to allow AG EMS to select the most suitable shipyard, and built the ship in a 3D digital model. This facilitated Penguin Shipyard to deliver a tailor made vessel. Incat Crowther are the ideal shipbuilding partner." Claus Hirsch, Fleet Manager AG-EMS
"The design of the 123m Dual-Fuel Ro-Pax Ferry Eleanor Roosevelt was operationally driven to meet our needs. The quality of construction is outstanding.” Adolfo Utor, CEO Balearia
"It was important to us that we built “our” vessel, rather than a fixed design. Incat Crowther allowed us the flexibility to incorporate changes and viewing these on 3D digital models really helped in that process. We could see how it was all going to work together during the physical construction." Martin Rice, CEO Farra Marine Limited
“Incat Crowther’s detailed production design information allowed us to build both locally in the US and overseas via an international tender process. Our partnership delivers the best-value shipbuilding outcome." Joe McCall, Technical Manager SEACOR Marine (NYSE: SMHI)
"Incat Crowther’s innovative approach allowed us to develop the world first-of-type ShadowCat Hodor . Together we ran an international construction tender that allowed us to purchase with like-for-like bids, based on the same specification and layout.” Robert Smith, Owners Representative M/Y Hodor
[u]Contact us[/u] to discuss what we can do for your business
46m Catamaran Passenger Ferry:imperial:153' Catamaran Passenger Ferry
Design Number: IC19148 Vessel Name: Nordlicht II
A 46m Passenger Ferry that solidifies Incat Crowther's position as the ideal shipbuilding partner.
27m Catamaran Wind Farm Service Vessel:imperial:89 Catamaran Wind Farm Service Vessel
Design Number: IC18192 Vessel Name: Farra Orla
The WINDFLEX-27 offers excellent speed, deadweight and seakeeping, making them capable of many roles in the Offshore Wind industry.
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Design Number: IC15007 Vessel Name: Liam McCall, Liam J McCall, Libby L McCall
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32m Catamaran Passenger Ferry:imperial:105' Catamaran Passenger Ferry
Design Number: IC17244 Vessel Name: Coolgaree Cat
A 32m passenger ferry that targets through-life value by offering a robust platform optimized for the route, yet offering the efficiency of a smaller vessel.
66m ShadowCat:imperial:220' ShadowCat
Design Number: IC16211 Vessel Name: Hodor
The first Incat Crowther 66 ShadowCat - a support vessel offering unparalleled capability.
How we do it
Incat Crowther’s holistic approach to vessel procurement centres around an operation-specific design developed in partnership with the operator - Your Vision, Our Innovation. We perform an iterative process to communicate the project to stakeholders and allow the freedom to develop the project within set parameters. A functional design is then performed to define the vessel for certification.
Incat Crowther delivers the best value shipbuilding solution using Digital Shipbuilding technology. Technical risk is minimised and comprehensive information is generated. This allows options for manufacturing considering a prioritisation of factors. The process includes a Quality Management System to oversee manufacturing, and beyond commissioning, a 3D digital twin for lifetime maintenance.
Throughout the life cycle of a ship, Incat Crowther offers a full range of services to ensure efficient operations and regulatory compliance. As engineers and innovators, Incat Crowther is constantly in pursuit of developing new ideas and crossing new frontiers, without overstepping the mark to the bleeding edge. Incat Crowther is an ideal partner for the development of inspiring new solutions for difficult missions.
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| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Length Overall | 16.46m |
| Beam | 7.32m |
| Draft | 1.25tn |
| Cruise Speed | 6kts |
| Max Speed | 10kts |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Make | Twin Volvo |
| Model | MD22 |
| Horsepower | 50HP HP |
Key Features
- Length: 16.46m/54ft
- Beam: 7.32m
- Draft: 1.25m
- Keel: Daggerboards
- Hull: Aluminium
- Location: Sydney
- Masthead sloop- 3 spreaders
- Mast: Aluminum 18m approx
- Lazy Jack Boom Bag
- Make: Volvo MD22L
- Horsepower: 50HP
- Drive: Sail Drive
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Fuel Tank: 800L + 160L
Exterior Hull & Deck
- Winches: 8 Harken (2 Electric)
- Anchor Winch: Electric
- Gas Bottles 2 x 9.5kg
- Deck Wash: bow and stern
- Deck Shower- hot and cold
- Plotter: Raymarine + Simrad
- Solar Panels: 6 x 120W
- Wind Generator
- Shore Power
Interior Features
- Stove: 3 burner gas + grill + oven
- Sink: Double bowl S/S + single bowl in cockpit
- Water Tanks: 650L
- Fridge: Upright Fridge/Freezer in galley, chest fridge/freezer in cockpit
- Ice Maker in cockpit
- Berths: 3 Queen Berths, 1 single + saloon converts to a double
- Toilet: Two electric
- Holding tank
- Air Conditioning in saloon
- Washing Machine
Additional Information
- Tender: Caribe 3.4m
- Outboard: 9.9HP Tohatsu
- Solid cockpit hardtop
- Roland digital piano in saloon
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Length Overall | 15.24m |
| Beam | 7.2m |
| Draft | 2ft 10inches |
| Cruise Speed | 8kts |
| Max Speed | 9kts |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Make | Nissan/Diecon |
| Model | 2xNissan 33hp |
| Horsepower | 33HP HP |
- Length: 15.24m (50ft)
- Draft: 2'10"
- Hull: Composite
- Location: Horizon Shores, QLD
- Mast: Aluminum 60ft
- Hydraulic in mast furler
- New jib furler
- Mainsail: Dacron, in mast furled
- Genoa: Dacron, furling
- Brand: Nisson/Diecon
- Horsepower: 33HP
- Drive: Shaft Drive
- Fuel Tank: 500L
- Winches: 6 Arco
- BBQ: Stainless Steel
- Gas Bottles: Yes
- Sounder: new
- Plotter: new
- Autopilot: new
- Solar Panels: 4
- Stove: 2 burner + oven
- Sink: Stainless Steel Twin
- Water Tanks: 500L
- Fridge: 12V Eutectic custom made
- Freezer: 12V Eutectic custom made
- Berths: 2 Queen Berths + 1 Double
Lock Crowthers most successful off shore design, this proven ocean cruising cat has 3 double cabins; beautiful Tasmanian oak interior fit out; large saloon for entertaining with custom timber table; well appointed galley includes oven and stove large custom fridge & freezer. Twin 33 hp shaft drive diesels gives 8 knots when cruising. Hydraulic furling mainsail, furling genoa plus spinnaker; Dagger boards for good windward performance a must when doing long ocean passages. Ideal HUGE family cruiser set up comfortable, easy to handle ocean sailing.
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Crowther Spindrift 40
Tula’s Endless Summer on their Crowther Spindrift 40
A big thank you to Billy, Sierra and Jetty from Tula’s Endless Summer for giving us the low down on their Crowther Spindrift 40 : Adrenaline. They have now sold this catamaran and are moving onto a Seawind. Well, that’s after they bought a 1978 DeFever 43′ Trawler for $100 and fixed her up.
I have had a good sail on a Crowther 40 in Hong Kong (adapted from a Windspeed), and I can confirm that yes, Lock Crowther designs are fast if you keep the weight off! This one certainly sounds like it moves. You get a really good feel for how slick these designs are from the aerial shot below. This boat looks like it slices through the water.
I’m just glad I managed to get these guys to do a review on the Crowther before they sold it.
Owner’s Review: Adrenaline
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your boat, “Adrenaline”. Does she get the adrenaline pumping 😉 ? “Adrenaline” definitely gets the Adreanline pumping! She is a 40′ Crowther spindrift catamaran which was built as a one-off from plans by a skilled builder in Gabon, Africa. She is a sleek, fast, cat designed by the world renowned Australian designer Lock Crowther who was ahead of his time for performance multihulls.
Why did you choose the Spindrift 40? Previously you owned a Trawler, right? I presume you wanted speed, upwind performance if you picked a Crowther? We were on a trawler before Adrenaline and on a small double-ender mono before that even. We decided we wanted to get back on a sailboat and a Cat was the way to go. We really wanted a boat that had some character, a pedigree, and didnt look or sail like a floating apartment. When we saw Adrenaline for sail we did some researched and she checked all the boxes (including out budget). However, she needed a LOT of work.
When was she launched? Do you know the back story? As far as we know is she was launched in 1988 after being built in Gabon, Africa and was soon after sailed across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. From the she sailed up and down the western Atlantic between Canada and the Caribbean before the most recent previous owner bought her. He sailed her back down from Canada to Florida then spend the last 8 years sailing and living on her between Florida and the Bahamas.
What’s the best thing about her? Her looks, speed, and ability to get sailing quickly in light winds.
What would you change if anything on the basic design? Maybe you wouldn´t change anything? All of these kind of boats had shorter head room which is not a big deal for us because I am only 5’8″ and my girlfriend is a few inches shorter than that. The other unique thing is you have to go out the main cabin into the cockpit to enter either hull which honestly is not a huge deal for us being young and agile. Honestly, I would not change anything on this boat but it definitely gives us some thought as to what we might like in the future.
Does she carry weight well, or do you have to be careful to not overload her with gear? Adrenaline’s hulls are extremely narrow saw if we want to reach her performance potential we have to keep here really light. With that being said she still sailed really really well when we had her loaded for cruising although we were careful with weight still.
Any problems with slamming in waves? How is the bridgedeck clearance? The bridgedeck clearance is really good for this size boat and we do get some slams in short steep seas but it is pretty rare and almost never get slams in other conditions.
What are her best features in your opinion? eg helm position, performance, look, Her best features are her narrow hulls, twin helms, looks, ability to sail fast and get up to speed quickly in lighter wind, simplicity, and large trampolines.
Are you planning on making any more mods? I know you have recently done some upgrades during lock down, what did you prioritise? We did a TON of repairs, maintenance, and upgrades during the past 3 years of our ownership of Adrenaline including: Feathering max props, covered dyneema rigging, new sails, rainman watermaker, titanium chainplates, new running rigger, deck repairs, full engine rebuild, lithium batteries, dyneema lifelines and composite stantions and bases. There are probably more things I cant even think of right now. There are always going to be more things especially cosmetic but I think we addressed 95% of her major issues and thins we wanted to upgrade.
How are the electrics, plumbing etc The plumbing is all good after I replace 90% of it along with new water tanks and holding tanks. The 12v electrical system is all good after I traced and pulled/replaced some old wires and addressed some poor electrical connections. We pulled out everything from the a/c side of the electrical system because a lot of it was done poorly using household components and poor connections so we just run our minimal a/c electronics right off a power strip off the inverter in the main cabin. She has the basic electronics package include depth finder, old autopilot, simple plotter, and vhf. We mainly use an ipad as our plotter though. I really wanted to upgrade her electronics and include AIS and wind instruments but time and budget has not allowed for that yet.
Is she easy to maintain? Servicing engines, standing rigging etc Yes, engines are old but easy to access and actually just pulled her starboard engine out with our boom into our cockpit and completely rebuilt the whole thing. She has a conventional masthead rig which I replaced with heat stretched dyneema and only need to re-tension once a year at most which takes a little time but is pretty easy especially without diamonds. We pull her once a year to do bottom and running gear maintenance. We replaced as much metal as possible with composites to try to eliminate the maintenance and potential issues there.
Is she easy to sail short-handed? To shorten sail? Is the running rigging complex? Do all the lines lead back to the helm? It is possible to sail her single-handed but ideally you need two people to sail her because we added running backstays as her primary backstays because her new main is a square top and we have to pull the leeward backstay forward and re-set the other one every time we tack. All halyard and reefing lines are at the mast base which keeps things simple but someone does have to go forward for all that work although it is not bad at all. The 135% Genoa is on a roller furler which makes it easy to reduce sail and reefing the main takes about a minute or two.
What’s she like in heavy weather / a blow / big seas She handles weather really well and as soon as we are running with it in heavy wind she wants to start surfing which is fine if conditions are not too bad because she handles beautifully. We are really impressed with her handling and sailing ability in heavier conditions especially for an older boat. We never got into anything too extreme however.
How is the helm position. Good in weather? Visibility when docking? Looks pretty protected up there. When we first bought the boat we built a hard bimini out of glass and divinycell foam which keeps the helms nice and shaded. We plan to ad some isinglass to the front of this hard bimini to protect us from any hard rain which still gets us wet at the helm. visibility is spectacular from both helms and besides the rain it is really well protected. If we ever get any spray back there which is kind of rare we just duck quickly behind the cabin.
How does she sail in light winds? She sails really well in light winds especially when the sea state is calm. Some of our favorite conditions to sail in are close reaching in 8 knots of wind just zipping along at 6 knots. 12-14 knots of wind is her prime when close-hauled to reaching and we are already getting close to sailing at 10 knots there.
How does she sail close hauled? How high does she point to true? Her motion and speed close hauled is really good and her daggerboards definitely help. Her best angle true to the wind is 50-55 degrees and I think the biggest factor is the sheeting angle of the genoa. I think with a smaller jib and better sheeting angle she could consistently point 50 true at good speeds.
Typically, what’s your average speed on passage? What´s the top speed you have logged surfing? We just hit 18 knots surfing on our last trip and it was magical. We generally average 7 knots or a bit more during the day and on longer passages more like 6-7 knots because we stay real conservative at night. This is all when loaded up for cruising.
What’s she like under power? Speed, manouevrability? We cruise at about 6 knots with both engines and 4 knots with just one. They are original yanmars so we do not push them too hard. Her top speed under power is about 8 knots. maneuverability is fantastic with the props being about 20′ apart. I can spin her in her own footprint and maneuver her anywhere she will fit. I should also add that she has straight shafts not sail drives.
Is she easy to dock, what’s the visibility like? She is super easy to dock with great visibility at the helm and twin inboards.
What is she like at anchor? Because of her 20′ beam she is stable and comfortable at anchor. We have plenty of shade and huge trampolines so there are plenty of places to hang out and with all her large opening hatches we get really nice ventilation throughout the whole boat. We have 100′ of 5/16 G43 chain on our main anchor as well as a spare and our main anchor is a 45# mantus which has been fantastic so we are super comfortable on the hook even in a good blow.
What´s she like when it´s raining hard? We really want to add more vinyl and canvas off the hard bimini to completely protect the cockpit when it rains and keep you dry as you move from the main cabin to the hulls. She does not have any leaks so everywhere inside is comfortable and we have 12v fans all over the boat to keep it cool and air flowing when we have to shut the hatches.
Is she comfortable enough down below? Cabins/saloon/galley/heads. Space is definitely tighter inside than most modern cats but it works surprisingly well for us. We have 5’10” headroom in the galley which is good for me and plenty of headroom when we sit down at the large saloon table. The hulls are skinny but there is plenty of room to walk through them comfortably and with plenty of headroom. The heads are actually probably pretty comparable in size to most modern cats. Headroom above the bunks are kind of low but overall everything is cozy and still pretty comfortable for her being so unique with her interior layout and skinny hulls. I would say it would take some getting used to for someone over 6′ though…
How is the finish of the interior? Does she creak under sail? She does creak a little bit under sail and her interior is definitely not bristol finish but it is still nice especially for a 30 year old boat. We painted a lot of it white instead of the dark veneer which really lightens up the whole boat. We are rebuilding the galley countertop now because it got pretty beat up over the years.
What is your favourite spot on the boat? The trampolines most of the time or at the helm when we are sailing along in perfect conditions.
Is she good for hosting guests? The layout is not as good as some other cats for hosting guests because there is not a large cockpit table but there still is plenty of space and plenty of seating. Even inside there is a large table and plenty of seating so as long as not too many people are trying to stand and walk around inside at once it works really well and we love having people over. We even set up a projector on a screen off our solar arch or off our mast for movie night on the beanbag chairs.
If you were to swap her for another boat, what would that be? Or maybe you wouldn’t swap her? She is a fantastic boat and it would be hard to trade for something that had less performance and sail-ability but we are really seeing the value of things like self-tacking jibs and lines led back to the helm. We also like the idea of a more modern and spacious interior but definitely nothing luxurious. We really like the Seawinds for all these reasons. Maybe someday but dont tell Adrenaline.
How is the Crowther community? Absolutely amazing. Everyone who owns and is familiar with Crowthers are fantastic and have been extremely helpful as we have been repairing and upgrading Adrenaline.
Anything else you would add to help people thinking of buying a Crowther and a Spindrift 40 in particular? I think that the Crowther Spindrifts are the absolute perfect boat for someone looking for a performance catamaran on a budget. They are generally older so you will wan to take a good look at her decks, beams, and systems while deciding on a purchase.
How does Jetty get on? Is it easy with a four legged Instagram star on board? Jetty loves the boat! She has been good about going to the bathroom on the tramps on longer passages (we walk her up there 3-4 times a day) and she loves the new beaches we see all the time!!
Follow Tula’s Endless Summer
You can follow Bill, Sierra and Jetty on their Instagram feed at @TulasEndlessSummer and they have a popular Youtube channel with some great sailing and boating tips.
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Crowther design 226A (42 foot cruising cat)
Discussion in ' Multihulls ' started by DennisRB , Jan 25, 2014 .
DennisRB Senior Member
Does anyone know much about this design? Not much is coming up in internet searches.
Attached Files:
Out of water.jpg, with bimini2.jpg.
waikikin Senior Member
Dennis Looks like a No95 with some later styling & removal of bulbs, some where I have a catalogue from around 2000..... the hard part would be finding it. Extreme? multis that was based at Woolamia did at least one similar maybe about 1993. Jeff.
Its hard to find anything that is for sure. This is all I can find on Lock Crowther designs. http://www.offshorecats.com/lockcrowther.html
outside the box Previous Member
DennisRB said: ↑ Does anyone know much about this design? Not much is coming up in internet searches. Click to expand...
Richard Woods Woods Designs
outside the box said: ↑ I am reluctant to take it offshore as it hobbyhorses extremely badly when in a seaway * Click to expand...
Twiggyman Junior Member
Crowther Design portfolio - 226 Here is a scan of design 226 from Crowther's Design Portfolio circa 1990 ~ Design 226 is pictured beside Design 106, which is a Catana 40'. It appears that Design 226 was a development, or similar, to the Catana. My favorite catamaran design.
Crowther design 226.jpg
Re hobbyhorsing: The builder owner said it was a great seaboat. Note, he is not the one selling it. Twiggy. Thanks this is a 226A, not sure what the A means but it is 43 foot, but that could have just been added length. Also it reputably weighs 6.5-7.0 ton rather than the 5.2 mentioned in your study plan. But who knows with what gear on board that was measured. This boat seems to have much more space on it than a early Crowther catana, and has as much space as a C431 I gues since its your favorite, it must be a decent boat! Feel free to ramble on about everything you know about it.
outside the box said: ↑ Is it the pre-cursor to the below mentioned design as part reposted from the bullfrog verbatium discussion on anarchy? Doesn't Bloomfield design hold rights to some or all the Crowther designs? Perhaps they could help you out in findinG more information just For what it is worth the repost is below. * I built a Brett Crowther designed SP40 Cat and launched it in 2001, its a great cat with lots of volume and good speed for a 40ft cruising cat but even though the design was sold as a "blue water" cruiser I am reluctant to take it offshore as it hobbyhorses extremely badly when in a seaway and even though it has 35000NM under her belly I don't want to sail her to New Cal or Fiji but id sail Bullfrog to these places and live with the smaller livieaboard space which I don't need anyway. * Click to expand...
Bit of an update. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npEdopvh7OI Sorry Richard, no hobby horsing in any conditions I have been in so far. But it does have a tendency to go bow down with weight.
Ozjon New Member
I wasn't aware of this website until today (A cat sailing friend gave me a "heads-up" and told me about Crowther #226 comments) - so I've just joined! I built a #226 about 10 years ago in Airex-epoxy sandwich. I still own it, but I'm now too old to sail it much more. I've sailed about 8000 miles in it - Bass Strait, up and down the East coast Aus, up to the Philippines and back and cruising the Philippines. A great comfortable boat which sails well and handles sea conditions well. An excellent sea-going boat! It has NEVER hobby-horsed! The bow design is brilliant! Crowther got that right! The bow cuts through waves very well without losing much way, thanks to the fine bow at the waterline, but the wide flare (only in the top 25%) prevents the bow from burying in big waves. That is particularly important if you are surfing down big waves! I've never had green water over the bow (even in 40kt winds, gusting to 55kts with 4m seas). My #226 has 4 full-sized double berths, a head in each hull, and a big galley in the main cabin. The designer's estimate of 5.5 tons cruising weight was a bit optimistic! - more like 6 or more tons (but I double skinned the hulls below the waterline for added ruggedness). On my MEL- Philippines trip, I carried a lot of cargo (boat building material, glass, epoxy, paint, fittings, heaps of tools, etc., plus about 3/4ton of fuel and water) and weighed about 6.5-7 tons. On that trip, we readily made 150 miles per day and occasionally 200 miles - just taking things easy, (with heavy-weight cruising sails, cruising, not racing, and with amateur, back-packer crew). If you want to know more about a Crowther #226 - just ask. Cheers, Ozjon
Corley epoxy coated
Hi Ozjon and welcome good to see another Melbournite on here
Here are a couple of photos of my boat (beached for a water-line cleaning) at Mindanao, Philippines. The wooden gang-plank was a temporary item, only carried while cruising the Philippines. Enjoy!
P1000654.JPG
P1000649.jpg.
Awesome boat. Thanks for sharing. I have been living aboard ours and love the boat. It seems quick enough. Cruising speeds are good. We can easily average over 8k as long as there is ok wind. I haven't done that many long trips but have averaged over 10k for a few hours and hit the teens often. Max I have done is 17.2, but the builder said he had it up to 24K. Today saw an average of just under 8k and max of 11k sailing for 2 hours back from Tangalooma the Scarborough under just the jib in 20-25k. The main is at the sailmaker. Last time we averaged about 9-10k on that same trip. The 226A version has the engines in the back rather that in the middle of the hulls and the bridgedeck is longer with double beds forward of the cabin which makes it heavier than the 226. This engine location means saildrives which I am not a fan of. There is a longer thread with more details here. http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=155740&hl=
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Has anyone got any info on what Stuart Bloomfield is doing now?.
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Trimaran project is intended to showcase multihull news with a focus on racing, build projects, launchings, interesting ideas past and present and also updates on my own trimaran projects. Lots of content and updates to come so keep checking back.
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Pittwater Online News
September 14 - 20, 2014: Issue 180
Lock Crowther Multihull Regatta
Lock Crowther Multihull Regatta
by David Bishop and Alan Brand
Over the upcoming October long weekend, the Multihull Division of the Royal Motor Yacht Club at Newport will be hosting the annual Lock Crowther Multihull Regatta.
This regatta is dedicated to the memory of Lachlan (Lock) Crowther - one of Australia's foremost, and a world renowned, multihull designer.
Hosted by the RMYC since 1996, this year’s regatta includes an ocean race for suitably equipped boats on Friday 3 October as well as four inshore races on Saturday and Sunday 4 & 5 October.
The Regatta typically attracts many of Australia’s fastest multihulls, as well as cruisers, for three days of fabulous fun both on and off the water. Sponsors’ prizes are awarded at a sumptuous Regatta dinner for places in Racing, Cruising and OMR divisions. Arguably Australia's most friendly, fun Regatta! And this year we’ve issued an invitation to “off the beach” multihulls such as Hobie cats to compete as well.
For the ninth year running, APC logistics, an Australian based international freight forwarding company, has signed on as principal and title regatta sponsor with Multihull Central/Seawind Catamarans providing major support for the cruising and social activities. Click HERE for a full list of regatta supporters.
__________________________________
Lock Crowther was an all-round multihull designer who enjoyed great respect among his peers. His design career spanned more than 30 years and during that time more than 2500 Crowther Multihulls were launched. His first trimaran was designed and built in 1958. It was an 18 foot day sailor which Lock campaigned on Victoria’s Gippsland Lakes.
The late 1960s saw the first of Lock’s Ocean racing and performance cruising trimarans known as Kraken, Zephyr, Tempest and Impala series ranging from 25 to 55 feet. His designs were very advanced in comparison with other designers of the time. During the early 1970s Lock further developed his ocean going trimarans and introduced the popular Buccaneer series ranging from the 24 foot bay racer to the open ocean 40 footer. Many Buccaneers are still racing today.
The first of his catamaran designs were introduced in the early 1970s, with the Spindrift 37 and 45 footers. During the 1980s and early 1990s Lock’s catamaran designs continued to develop and many of Australia’s well known catamarans such as Bagatelle, D-Flawless, XL2, John West, Windswept, Shotover, Top Gun and Room with a View were being campaigned on the Australian racing circuit.
RMYC member Jim Geddes’ “Te Arawa”, a Crowther Spindrift 45.
His Catana design was produced as a production boat in France in 1987. Among his innovations was the introduction of drag reducing bulbous bows to catamarans.
During the 1970s and the 80s his trimaran development continued with the then radical Twiggy series. During the mid to late 80s the famous 40 footer Bullfrog was campaigned in over 30 ocean races throughout the pacific between the west coast of the USA and the east coast of Australia.
Lock was also a great sailor campaigning many of his own designs. He was the winner of the 1969 New York to Bermuda race on his Kraken 40 design Ringo sailing the first 500 miles in 36 hours. In 1972 he won the Brisbane to Gladstone on the Kraken 40 design Captain Bligh which sailed through Cyclone Emily.
Lock Crowther died in 1993 at the age of 53 doing what he liked most - sailing his boat Deguello.
Lock’s last boat “Deguello”
The first “Memorial” regatta in 1996 attracted 22 participants with 12 of the fleet being Crowther designs. The racing division was fittingly won by a Lock Crowther 40 foot catamaran Mighty Manfred owned by David Bishop and the Cruising division by a Crowther Seafire 33 owned by Horst Anna.
.jpg?timestamp=1410495744706 "lock crowther catamaran designs")
Winner of the first Lock Crowther Regatta in 1996, David Bishop’s “Mighty Manfred” a Crowther 40.
Over the years the regatta has attracted over 500 multihulls of all shapes and sizes from all over Australia – including Sean Langman’s ORMA 60 trimaran now named BOQ Team Australia .
Sean Langman’s ORMA 60 trimaran “BOQ Team Australia”
Come down to the RMYC over the weekend for a closeup of some of these amazing sailing craft. Next week we’ll run a “bio” style article on Lock Crowther the man, including some interesting anecdotes to provide a more personal perspective of this amazing Australian multihull designer.
Finally, a 5 minute highlights video of action in the 2011 Lock Crowther Regatta and full details and Entries on our Website
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Yacht charter in Alvor · Lock Crowther — Spindrift (2016)
( 21 reviews )
Description of Maritta's catamaran
Catamaran lock crowther spindrift 13m.
Step aboard the Spindrift, a custom Lock Crowter design meticulously crafted for your pleasure. This custom built catamaran blends the thrill of race sailing or cruising with the comfort you crave, promising an unforgettable journey along the stunning Portuguese Algarvian coast. Starting at just €445, immerse yourself in the magic of a sunset tour, half day or full day tour, complete with skilled skippers guiding your adventure. And when the mood strikes, dive into the refreshing waters of the Algarve, with a paddle board at your disposal for exploring hidden caves. After your day on the boat, explore Alvor, the picturesque fishing town which we will depart from and come back to. With space for up to 18 guests, our Spindrift invites you to gather your friends and family for an experience like no other. Whether you seek the adrenaline rush of a race or the serenity of a leisurely cruise, our fully equipped vessel promises both agility and comfort. Departure Information: We will depart from Alvor, a picturesque fishing town. We can sail between Alvor and Lagos or Alvor and Ferragudo. Going direction Ferragudo, it is possible to anchor at the stunning caves of Praia João de Arens, where you can take a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) and explore the caves up close. If you prefer to go to the caves of Lagos, just let our captain know. We also offer the option to stop at the Alvor Lagoon for a swim and see the kiters. For full-day bookings, we strive to accommodate our guests' preferences, weather permitting, to ensure a perfect day on the water. Embark on your next adventure with us and let the sea set the stage for memories that will last a lifetime. Book now and elevate your Algarve experience with Spindrift! Below, please find our offerings: May - June: Half Day (3.5 hours): - 09:30 - 13:00 or 14:00 - 17:30 - Boat: €475,- - Skipper Fee: €150,- - Total: €625,- Full Day (6 hours): - 10:00 - 16:00 or 11:00 - 17:00 - Boat: €700,- - Skipper Fee: €200,- - Total: €900,- Sunset Cruise (2.5 hours): - 18:00 - 20:30 - Boat: €295,- - Skipper Fee: €150,- - Total: €445,- July - August: Half Day (3.5 hours): - Boat: €550,- - Skipper Fee: €150,- - Total: €700,- Full Day (6 hours): - Boat: €900,- - Skipper Fee: €200,- - Total: €1100,- Sunset Cruise (2.5 hours): - Boat: €325,- - Skipper Fee: €150,- - Total: €475,- September: Half Day (3.5 hours): - Boat: €475,- - Skipper Fee: €150,- - Total: €625,- Full Day (6 hours): - Boat: €700,- - Skipper Fee: €200,- - Total: €900,- Sunset Cruise (2.5 hours): - Boat: €295,- - Skipper Fee: €150,- - Total: €445,- Additional Charges: - Fuel costs €50,- for a half day and €80,- for a full day.
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( 21 comments )
Overall rating
21 comments.
We had an amazing time with Theodorus and David. The crew are fantastic and it is a great boat. They know the right places to take you. The restaurant at the end based on their recommendation was one of our favourites in the Algarve.
The team were incredibly accommodating. The food provided was perfect! They allowed us to manage the day we wanted, jumping in the sea, using the paddleboards and just generally really fun group. Highly recommend.
Theodorus and his crew were amazing! They brought us to a great spot to hangout and swim with calm waters and beautiful views. 100% recommend. Bring some Champagne and enjoy!
One of the best days of our holiday. The skipper and crew are lovely and all 3 families had a day we’ll never forget. Thanks guys.
Nice crew, nice trip, nice day 😊
We had an amazing time! David was a very friendly skipper and helped us feel welcome and safe out on the water. We had time to relax, enjoy the beautiful coastline scenery, and explore little caves and beaches on paddle boards. Can’t recommend enough!
Theodorus was absolutely brilliant and communicated really well on the day regarding the change of weather. He even suggested delaying our booking into the afternoon in order for us to get better weather and a better experience on the boat - which we definitely did! We were able to get plenty of soft drinks, wine, and sangria on board! It was a lovely experience and I would thoroughly recommend it.
Theodorus Is a super host and me and my family had a wonderful day on his boat. This day was worth every cent. Thank you
Great trip and great people every thing was 10/10
Our experience on the spindrift was amazing! We had such a wonderful time! Theodorus was great taking us to see amazing places. He shared with us his amazing life experience as a captain and made this an unforgettable trip! The boat was great very comfortable and safe! Would definitely repeat this trip!
Great experience
Offered by Maritta
( 48 reviews )
Location of the catamaran: Marina Alvor, Alvor
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Catamaran Hull Design
- Post author By Rick
- Post date June 29, 2010
- 2 Comments on Catamaran Hull Design
Part 1: Notes from Richard Woods
Since the America’s Cup experimented with going multihull, there’s been a lot of interest in catamaran performance and the catamaran hull designs that define performance. Many guys are investigating whether to buy a catamaran or design and build their dream boat. Let it be said here that building a large catamaran is not for the faint of heart. People begin building 100s of boats a year, yet few are ever completed, as life always seems to have a way of interfering with a good boat build.
Never the less, since the rest of this website is about selecting and buying a boat , it only seems fair to have at least one webpage that covers catamaran design. This page contains notes on boat hull design goals and an accompanying page from Terho Halme has mathematical formulas used in actual catamaran hull design. It has become a popular research stop and an important reference to the catamaran design community.
The content of this page was reproduced from the maestro of Catamaran designs, renown British naval architect, Richard Woods, who not only designs catamarans, he sails them across oceans…. repeatedly. He has a lot to say on the subject of catamaran hull design.
“…When it’ all said and done, the performance of a sailing catamaran is dependent on three primary specs: length, sail area and weight. If the boat is longer it generally means it’ a faster boat. If she has more sail area, it means she’ a faster boat and if she’ light it means she’ a faster boat. Of course, there are limits: Too much sail area capsizes the boat in brisk winds. If the boat is designed too light, she will not take any kind of punishment. Too slim a hull design and the boat becomes a large Hobie Cat capable of only carrying your lunch. Of course, too long and large and you’d have to be Bill Gates to afford one. Then there are lot of additional and very important factors like underwater hull shape, aspect ratios of boards and sails, wet deck clearance, rotating or fixed rigging and so on….” Richard Woods
All Catamarans are not equal, but all sailboats have two things in common: They travel on water and they’re wind powered, so the Catamaran design equations in the 2nd part should apply to every catamaran from a heavy cruising Cat to a true ocean racer.
Richard Wood’s comments on catamaran design:
We all know that multihulls can be made faster by making them longer or lighter or by adding more sail. Those factors are the most important and why they are used as the basis of most rating rules. However using just those figures is a bit like determining a cars performance just by its hp and curbside weight. It would also imply that a Tornado would sail as fast forwards as backwards (OK, I know I just wrote that a Catalac went faster backwards than forwards)
So what next?? Weight and length can be combined into the Slenderness Ratio (SLR). But since most multihulls have similar Depth/WL beam ratios you can pretty much say the SLR equates to the LWL/BWL ratio. Typically this will be 8-10:1 for a slow cruising catamaran (or the main hull of most trimarans), 12-14:1 for a performance cruiser and 20:1 for an extreme racer.
So by and large faster boats have finer hulls. But the wetted surface area (WSA) increases proportionately as fineness increases (for a given displacement the half orange shape gives the least WSA) so fine hulls tend to be slower in low wind speeds.
The most important catamaran design hull shape factor, is the Prismatic Coefficient (Cp). This is a measure of the fullness of the ends of the hull. Instinctively you might think that fine ends would be faster as they would “cut through the water better”. But in fact you want a high Cp for high speeds. However everything is interrelated. If you have fine hulls you can use a lower Cp. Most monohulls have a Cp of 0.55- 0.57. And that is about right for displacement speeds.
However the key to Catamaran design is you need a higher Cp if you want to sail fast. So a multihull should be at least 0.61 and a heavy displacement multihull a bit higher still. It is difficult to get much over 0.67 without a very distorted hull shape or one with excessive WSA. So all multihulls should have a Cp between 0.61 and 0.65. None of this is very special or new. It has been well known by naval architects for at least 50 years.
There are various ways of achieving a high Cp. You could fit bulb bows (as Lock Crowther did). Note this bow is a bit different from those seen on ships (which work at very specific hull speeds – which are very low for their LOA). But one problem with them is that these tend to slam in a seaway.
Another way is to have a very wide planing aft section. But that can increase WSA and leads to other problems I’ll mention in a minute. Finally you can flatten out the hull rocker (the keel shape seen from the side) and add a bustle aft. That is the approach I use, in part because that adds displacement aft, just where it is most needed.
I agree that a high Cp increases drag at low speeds. But at speeds over hull speed drag decreases dramatically on a high Cp boat relative to one with a low Cp. With the correct Cp drag can be reduced by over 10%. In other words you will go 10% faster (and that is a lot!) in the same wind and with the same sails as a boat with a unfavorable Cp. In light winds it is easy to overcome the extra drag because you have lots of stability and so can fly extra light weather sails.
The time you really need a high Cp boat is when beating to windward in a big sea. Then you don’t have the stability and really want to get to your destination fast. At least I do, I don’t mind slowly drifting along in a calm. But I hate “windward bashing”
But when you sail to windward the boat pitches. The sea isn’t like a test tank or a computer program. And here I agree with Evan. Immersed transoms will slow you down (that is why I use a narrower transom than most designers).
I also agree with Evan (and why not, he knows more about Volvo 60 design than nearly anyone else on the planet) in that I don’t think you should compare a catamaran hull to a monohull, even a racing one. Why chose a Volvo 60/Vendee boat with an immersed transom? Why not chose a 60ft Americas Cup boat with a narrow out of the water transom??
To be honest I haven’t use Michelet so cannot really comment. But I have tested model catamarans in a big test tank and I know how inaccurate tank test results can be. I cannot believe that a computer program will be better.
It would be easy to prove one way or the other though. A catamaran hull is much like a frigate hull (similar SLR, L/B ratios and Froude numbers) and there is plenty of data available for those. There is also a lot of data for the round bilge narrow non planing motorboats popular in the 1930’-50’s which again are similar to a single multihull hull.
One of the key findings I discovered with my tank test work was just how great the drag was due to wave interference between the hulls. Even a catamaran with a modern wide hull spacing had a drag increase of up to 20 % when compared to hulls at infinite spacing. One reason why just flying a hull is fast (the Cp increases when you do as well, which also helps). So you cannot just double the drag of a single hull and expect to get accurate results. And any speed prediction formula must include a windage factor if it is to give meaningful results.About 25 years ago we sailed two identical 24ft Striders next to each other. They were the same speed. Then we moved the crew of one boat to the bow. That boat IMMEDIATELY went ½ knot faster. That is why I now arrange the deck layout of my racing boats so that the crew can stay in front of the mast at all times, even when tacking or using the spinnaker.
I once raced against a bridge deck cabin catamaran whose skipper kept the 5 crew on the forward netting beam the whole race. He won.
Richard Woods of Woods Designs www.sailingcatamarans.com
- Tags Buying Advice , Catamaran Designers
Owner of a Catalac 8M and Catamaransite webmaster.
2 replies on “Catamaran Hull Design”
I totally agree with what you say. But Uli only talk sailing catamarans.
If only solar power. You need the very best. As limited watts. Hp.
The closer to 1-20 the better.
Closing the hulls to fit in cheaper marina berth. ?
You say not too close. But is that for sailing only.
Any comment is greatly appreciated
Kind regards Jeppe
Superb article
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| With a new paint job and rebuild in 2016, she returned to the workshop in 2019 where she was extended with new reverse bows for increased stability and hence safety; the extensions also increase the length which in turn will increase ultimate overall speed. Currently used as a weekend racer but with the ability to cruise or race. Fitted with two double berths and two singles (a further two single berths could also be added aft), 'XL2' would be ideal as a safe, fast cruiser in the camping on water style. No work required, and she could be shipped or sailed to anywhere in the world. For further details, access to the image library or arrange a viewing contact: |
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Famed muli-hull designer of Australia. Among his most notable designs were the Bucaneer & Kraken series trimarans, Spindrift 45 & Catana 40 cats, as well as a great number of other cruising, racing, charter/commercial and power cats and tris. Lock Crowther built his first boat, a trimaran called BUNYIP, in 1959 while still a teenager. The following year he raced in the Easter regatta at ...
Lock and his family [2] built his first boat, a trimaran called Bunyip, in 1959 while he was still a teenager.In 1960 he raced in the Easter regatta at Paynesville, Victoria, Australia, and won against a field of 300 boats.This initial success inspired others to build similar boats. Crowther then studied electrical engineering in Melbourne [2] and in the early 1960s became involved in ...
1940 — 1993. Famed muli-hull designer of Australia. Among his most notable designs were the Bucaneer & Kraken series trimarans, Spindrift 45 & Catana 40 cats, as well as a great number of other cruising, racing, charter/commercial and power cats and tris. Lock Crowther built his first boat, a trimaran called BUNYIP, in 1959 while still a ...
The 44 design was later lengthened and became the 48. An example is S/V Pacific Hoodlum #10 (1994), a Catana 44S. Catana 48 (1992) Image credit: Por Dos. The 48 is probably the most sought-after of Lock Crowther's early Catana designs. She has a much lower bridge deck than more modern Catanas but had a high power-to-weight ratio - she's a ...
THE WITNESS CATAMARAN: Australian naval architect Lock Crowther was one of the most successful and experienced multihull designers in the world. His designs, which have a reputation for high performance, strength, safety and ease of handling are based on his extensive coastal and offshore sailing experience in the rugged Australian waters.
Top Gun - Catamaran Racing. 2,542 likes. Top Gun is one of Lock Crowther's finest racing catamaran designs. A record holding 50 footer that only weighs in at a bit over 4.5 tons.
Lock Crowther. Famed muli-hull designer of Australia. Among his most notable designs were the Buccaneer & Kraken series trimarans, Spindrift 45 & Catana 40 cats, as well as a great number of other cruising, racing, charter/commercial and power cats and tris. Lock Crowther built his first boat, a trimaran called BUNYIP, in 1959 while still a ...
Boat: 65 Sailing/Fishing catamaran. Posts: 1,156 Looking for Photos. Does any one have a photo of Lock Crowther's 40' racing cat called "John West" How about a photo of his 46' cruising design, "Vehia" or "Odara" ... LOCK CROWTHER DESIGN NOTES AS PROMISED. Quote: Originally Posted by mrybas.
Incat Crowther developed the design, held a tender process to allow AG EMS to select the most suitable shipyard, and built the ship in a 3D digital model. ... The world's first very large catamaran Ro-Pax ferry powered by dual-fuel reciprocating engines. 32m Catamaran Passenger Ferry:imperial:105' Catamaran Passenger Ferry.
Lock Crowther s most successful off shore design, this proven ocean cruising cat has 3 double cabins; beautiful Tasmanian oak interior fit ... Price : $ 325,000. Length : 50'. Year : 1996. Delivered onboard Seawind multihulls, ideal for those thinking of buying or chartering a multihull either in Australia or abroad.
I have had a good sail on a Crowther 40 in Hong Kong (adapted from a Windspeed), and I can confirm that yes, Lock Crowther designs are fast if you keep the weight off! This one certainly sounds like it moves. ... She is a 40′ Crowther spindrift catamaran which was built as a one-off from plans by a skilled builder in Gabon, Africa. She is a ...
Twiggyman Junior Member. Crowther Design portfolio - 226. Here is a scan of design 226 from Crowther's Design Portfolio circa 1990 ~. Design 226 is pictured beside Design 106, which is a Catana 40'. It appears that Design 226 was a development, or similar, to the Catana. My favorite catamaran design.
Catamaran Twin Dbrd. Rigging Type: Cutter: LOA: 45.00 ft / 13.72 m: LWL: 39.50 ft / 12.04 m: ... Lock Crowther: Download Boat Record: Calculations Help. SA/Disp.: A sail area/displacement ratio below 16 would be considered under powered; 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
How much do Crowther boats cost? Crowther boats for sale on YachtWorld are offered at a swath of prices from $89,900 on the more modest side, with costs up to $386,828 for the more sophisticated, luxurious yachts. What Crowther model is the best? Some of the most widely-known Crowther models presently listed include: 52, 57 Alu-Kat and Catamaran.
About this group. This group has been formed to bring together the owners of Lock Crowther Designed Multihulls. The group can act as a medium to invite any Lock Crowther Multihull Owner to join and interact with group members. Members may want to use this group to broadcast and organise rallies, cruises, raft ups, races or off water social ...
The Husky 6.2 club racer trimaran design by Michel Fedisch; Lock Crowther designed and constructed 1962 Kraken 25 "C" Class trimaran restoration/rebuild project updated 1/9/2015; ... Kurt Hughes Sailing Designs updates on 27' trailerable catamaran along with 31' and 35' trimaran models.
Lock Crowther died in 1993 at the age of 53 doing what he liked most - sailing his boat Deguello. Lock's last boat "Deguello". The first "Memorial" regatta in 1996 attracted 22 participants with 12 of the fleet being Crowther designs. The racing division was fittingly won by a Lock Crowther 40 foot catamaran Mighty Manfred owned by ...
If you have any information on that particular Lock Crowther 220 Design, any old drawings, photos, articles, insight into their performance - any info really etc. Id be very appreciative. ... Crowther 220 Catamaran. A picture might jog someone's memory. 17-11-2021, 03:12 #3: tamicatana. Registered User. Join Date: Jan 2012. Location: Yuma ...
Catamaran Lock Crowther Spindrift 13m. Step aboard the Spindrift, a custom Lock Crowter design meticulously crafted for your pleasure. This custom built catamaran blends the thrill of race sailing or cruising with the comfort you crave, promising an unforgettable journey along the stunning Portuguese Algarvian coast. Starting at just €445 ...
The most important catamaran design hull shape factor, is the Prismatic Coefficient (Cp). This is a measure of the fullness of the ends of the hull. ... You could fit bulb bows (as Lock Crowther did). Note this bow is a bit different from those seen on ships (which work at very specific hull speeds - which are very low for their LOA). But one ...
'XL2' is a modified and much updated Crowther Shockwave 40ft Catamaran, famous for her offshore race winning achievements in Australian waters. Built by the legendary Australian boat designer and builder Lock Crowther, his first boat was a trimaran built in 1959 while he was still a teenager. Over 2500 boats were built using his various designs.
N°16 des Australischen Lock Crowther 57 Ocean-Cruiser-Designs. Entwurfskategorie: A-Hochsee. ... 1992 Crowther 57 Alu-Kat. €350,000 (US$389,002) Nordsee, Lower Saxony. 2020 Broadblue 346. €295,000 (US$327,873) Ostsee, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. 2011 Fountaine Pajot Tahiti 80 Day-Charter Cat.
Location: Whangarei, NZ. Boat: Lock Crowther Spindrift 40 - Cheshire. Posts: 24. Crowther cats. We love our 1973 Crowther spindrift, now called Cheshire. She started life at 37 feet and was stretched to 40. She has daggerboards, was converted from kickup to fixed rudders when stretched, we would like to go back to kick up at some point.