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EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE
The designers and builders of the Aegean Catri 27 wanted to make a superior folding, trailerable trimaran that advanced the 'state of the art.' It had to be a competitively-priced boat that would beat the competition in all other qualities, including offering luxurious accommodations. The first prototype of this boat, called the Catri 26, was built and tested in Europe in 1997 where it showed higher speeds and smoother rides than the best racing trimarans of its class: the Corsair F28R and Dragonfly 920.
In addition to the hydrofoils, there are unique properties in the structural design of the boat that further contribute to increased speeds, and also improve the boat's maneuverability. Since the efficiency of the system increases if all major weight is shifted to the rear of the boat, the stern of the main hull has been widened and the cockpits lengthened to the dimensions of the main hull. During a race or just when cruising with your family, best performance is achieved when the crew can place themselves in the stern, taking advantage of the dynamic lift from the rear foils. Placement of berths in the stern allows for effective longitudinal weight distribution during races. All the steering and sail control lines lead to the cockpit.
Because the hydrofoil system keeps the boat stable in the water, it is possible to increase the mast height without risking safety. This increased mast height offers a potential sail area that is more than 500 square feet per ton of displacement in racing conditions. Thanks to the bigger sail area per ton of weight, the Catri design can be faster even in light winds, when application of the hydrofoils is minimal.
DURABILITY BUILT IN
Fundamental to the Catri concept is a detailed and complex analysis for minimization of loads and stresses within the boat structure. This is combined with Aegean's approach to construction that focuses on quality by using high grade materials and a perfectionist's attention to detail. Aegean Catri 27 production boats are built using only epoxy resins, which are more than twice as strong as and less brittle than polyester and vinyl ester resins. For the carbon option, only carbon fiber materials are used in manufacturing the hulls, structural reinforcements, and other components, making the boat stronger but lighter. Additionally, the Aegean team is utilizing vacuum bagging technology, a manufacturing process that removes air bubbles that are typically entrapped in the laminate. This technique also reduces excess epoxy in the laminate, thus increasing the fiber content and maximizing the structural integrity of the laminate.
Most boats are built by constructing the hull and deck in separate pieces, and then attaching them together with glue, bolts, and a cosmetic aluminum molding. In our design we wanted to eliminate this point of potential weakness and future maintenance problems. When we construct our hull/deck joint, we build it up layer-by-layer from the inside of the boat: The core and internal skins of the hull and deck pieces are purposely stopped short of the joint, leaving only the exterior skins exposed. We then laminate the exterior skins of the two pieces together from inside the boat using vacuum bagging. Next, we vacuum bag in the core material, and finally we vacuum bag the interior skin in place. The result is a hull/deck joint that is monolithic - as strong as if it were molded in one piece, and totally without seams and through-bolts. We use this or similar techniques on all mating parts, and we believe this is far superior to the construction techniques used by our competitors. The Aegean team is dedicated to building quality trimarans that are built to last and can withstand rough seas or extreme racing conditions.
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