Swing-Wing Akas on Seaclipper Trimarans
John Marples showed me the “swing-wing aka” system drawn up for his existing Seaclipper 16 trimaran model a couple weeks ago. This will be a great added benefit for builders-sailors. And he noted that even existing owners of this craft won’t have to modify their boats in order to incorporate this folding system (if they want to convert their boats).
What’s cool is that he has also drawn up these efficient, inexpensive wooden swing-wings for several other trimaran models in the Seaclipper series. Here is a short video clip that demos how the new crossbeams work, as opposed to the typical swing-up hinge that was originally available to fold the amas on the beams of the Seaclipper 16 …
John provided the following additional information on the swing-wing akas …
Joe,
“The SC 16 Swing-Wing option is easy to retrofit to any existing SC 1 with the standard akas. The pivots are located differently and other components are added without modification to existing design hulls. The benefit will be worth the effort for most owners that trailer the boat.
The Seaclipper series now has Swing-Wings for the 16, 20, 24 and, soon, the 28. I think this really speaks to the mobile boat culture in our country, as well as others. It makes a great alternative to the responsibility of maintaining a boat in an expensive slip for those who wish to venture out occasionally. It adds another level of utility to the focus on small trimarans.”
Cheers,
John Marples
Click here to visit John’s website for these small trimarans at Searunner.com
May 12th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
The Seaclipper 20 folding method seems to be the simplest, most rugged, and cheapest I have seen. Though I liked the telescoping tubes on the Layden/Isaac Tridarka Raider, the tubes could bind a little (and were expensive weldments), which this system solves. Elegant problem solving!