Boat Design and Hydrofoils

Charles · 07 April 2003, 16:13

I have just spent a fascinating day here in Cape Town with Malan Conradie at the Hysucat (Hydrofoil Boats International) factory. Mike G, you would be drooling..... just being finished is a 42ft Hysucat hard boat for a buyer in America. There is an unbelievable attention to detail, the likes I have never seen from any SA builder (makes me proud). I am talking about the sort of finish you would expect in a Fairline or Princess. We spoke about a large 12m+ Cabin rib, cat and hydrofoil of course and this is something already being designed. Take a look at this site, http://www.hydrofoildesign.com/media...cation2Web.htm for the serious techie stuff - interesting reading. I will post pictures when I am back in the UK because this dial-up is way too slow.
Cheers

Mike Garside · 07 April 2003, 16:29

Nice one, Charles. I didn't get round to sending you the sketch of my idea simply because the further I got into it the more questions I asked myself. Think I'll sit on the whole thing for a while as I'm juggling too many balls as it is.

Nonetheless I remain mentally committed to the concept and am glad to hear that your Malan is continuing to move the whole thing forward.

Had a look at the site you flagged and I am a little confused. Malan is shown as part designer of the new craft for the US customer but I get the impression that FAST is owned by Dr Hoppe. Is it FAST that actually builds the boats or is that just the design company?

Charles · 27 April 2003, 10:17

Hello Mike
Just arrived back from an amazing holiday!
Malan Conradie is a boat designer, first and foremost. He works very closely with Professor Hoppe from Stellenbosch University Engineering faculty on the hydrofoil technology and testing. FAST is just a trading company.
Here are some photos around the factory.

Charles · 27 April 2003, 10:20

Imagine this as a rib.....

Charles · 27 April 2003, 10:21

Tim/Gavin, check out these foils.......

Charles · 27 April 2003, 10:21

Beastly prop!

Charles · 27 April 2003, 10:23

Massive static aft foil tabs for dynamic stern lift.

Charles · 27 April 2003, 10:26

The cat design affords a massively beamy boat with huge amounts of space.

Charles · 27 April 2003, 10:29

At the back of the factory is the plug for a 52 footer.

Mike Garside · 27 April 2003, 17:20

Nice stuff, Charles. Something new I might get involved with is starting to tick away in the background. It could lead to an ocean-going two-boat deal if the figures work out! Could be cool!

gavin · 27 April 2003, 20:01

Amazing concept cant wait to see the pics of this boat in action well done

jwalker · 28 April 2003, 00:32

Charles, interesting pics. How do these hydrofoils cope with debris in the water? They look a bit vulnerable to the odd milk crate or log.

JW.

Charles · 28 April 2003, 09:10

The leading edge is fairly sharp, so it just slices through everything. If you really had to hit something serious, the design is such, so that the 5 specially adapted s/s bolts securing the foil on either side will shear off (which actually happened to me). It was just a matter of hoisting the rib out the water and, re-tapping the holes and then screwing in the replacement bolts.
I had great fun 'decapitating' buoys left in the water with my hysucat!

gavin · 28 April 2003, 20:42

Did you manage to show the pics of the seats to the guys in S.Africa and was there any raised eyebrows as to how far foreward our fuel locker is cheers gavin

Charles · 29 April 2003, 08:46

Yes gavin
They were extremely impressed, so much so that they are considering building one with jockey seats, to see how it goes. The weight issue more forward is not really an issue with the Hysucat, as long as its trimmed correctly.

TIM · 29 April 2003, 13:57

We shifted the weight foward with the fuel locker, as the 75 fichts are heavy motors, and this is to balance the boat better.....