Prowler GTR 1040 Study Plans A4 - Schionning Designs

12NOTES FROM THEDESIGNER….The success of our designs I feel, stems fromthe practical commonsense approach of a boatbuilder, coupled with many years of live aboardexperience and 50 - 60,000 sea miles in someof the worst conditions in the world. Thisexperience makes one aware of the power ofthe sea and the need for a boat to be able tosurvive these conditions, protect her crewphysically and psychologically as well as beinga fast comfortable vehicle for all the goodtimes. I am sure you will find our designsreflect our sailing and live-aboard experienceand will give you the offshore confidence tocruise safely anywhere in the world. Multihullsare ‘beautiful, safe, cruising boats’. We hopeyou find them as exciting as we do.CHOOSING A DESIGN...Choosing a design can be difficult so we hopethat this introduction helps clear the way alittle. We’ve taken particular care with thebalance of construction methods in ourdesigns, making them light and strong yet easyto build in small sections, most of which aremanageable by a group of friends when theyneed turning over and moving. The blend ofstrip planking and light flat panels kept insingle plane form, makes building easy andquick and produces a finished catamaran ofclassic good looks which will not date quickly,giving you very good investment security.One of the first steps in changing this dreaminto reality is figuring out whether you canafford the boat (or more likely, how muchmoney you ‘don’t’ have!). Two realities hereare, firstly, two similar sized boats with similardisplacement, built of similar materials will costthe same to build overall. Designers’ estimatesof materials are often inaccurate and sometimesminimized to lead one to believe theirboat will be cheaper.This is definitely not the case, similar boat,similar price! Your choice should therefore betowards the boat that suits you best and offersyou good backup and is a good investment.Secondly, we know a lot of people who could notafford their boat at the onset so don’t bediscouraged. Once you start building it issurprising how you focus your interest, spare timeand money into your new project. With our newowner-builders we suggest they start with thesmaller items which can be built in the garage,carport, (lounge?) etc. These initial items use verylittle material and money but use a lot of time, soat the early stages you can get a lot done whileyou wait for your old boat or car or house etc. tosell. These items are; flybridge, targa bar, cabinroof, rudders, dinghy etc. The experience andconfidence gained building these bits speeds upthe second stage of larger items and gets thewhole project finished much sooner.WHAT MAKES A GOOD MULTIHULL?Cat design is not just a matter of two hulls floatinga cabin above the water. Only in fairly recentyears have the basic elements of design and anunderstanding of their effect on the use andperformance of the finished boat been understood.The basic principles of good design shouldall be present in the boat you’re considering buildingor buying. These will blend together to producean excellent Multihull.