Perspective Aft |
Perspective Side |
Perspective Forward
GENERAL CONCEPT
The the "Braveheart 63" prototype shown here was
directly inspired by the Greatheart 60.
However one requirement for the Braveheart 63 was to introduce a swim-deck aft, and there is a slightly modified
interior layout.
Forward, the hull and bulwark
are faired into a conical bow, which I like a lot on this size
craft. The hull has been modified to suit the materials of construction, which is steel, so the hull is wider and deeper than with the Greatheart 60. With
the extra beam, the house structures are a little wider, too.
On the interior, there is to be a passage below the pilot house for access to the aft cabin from below. Other than the various changes required in order to accommodate the passage (port side), there have not been any changes to the arrangement of the interior layout or the exterior structure from that of the Greatheart 60.
DISPLACEMENT, PROPULSION, SAIL AREA...
Preliminary calcs with this model
give the following: Prelim Beam is 16' with a BODY draft (Loaded) of 4.13' without the keels. Draft (to the keel bottom) is approximately 6' and air draft is 11.6' with the present configuration in the average load condition. Displacement
figures for this preliminary model (with keels) are:
LIGHT:
Displacement 70,552
Immersed depth 5.75
Lwl 53.6
Beam wl 14.5
LOADED:
Displacement 91,605
Immersed depth 6.3
Lwl 56.0
Beam wl 14.7
In the fully loaded condition,
230 hp would propel the vessel at a top speed of 11.1 knots. In the average load condition, 1450 USG would allow a 3000 NM range at 8.5 knots. We
are so-far aiming for a target working sail area of around 2,200
Sq Ft. With this amount of canvas, performance under sail is emphasized.
As with other preliminary / prototype
designs, a weight study has not been completed for this vessel.
Although it is probable that the above displacement figures will accommodate
a Corten hull structure with an alloy superstructure, it is also likely
that hull displacement may need to be increased somewhat. An increase
in displacement would be made in order to accommodate various toys
and equipment, as well as to allow sufficient sail carrying ability for
a considerably enlarged sailing rig, i.e. the addition of ballast.
For the best sailing performance,
the keel configuration would be slightly different, and would favor
longer asymmetric bilge keels, and an abbreviated center keel. These
changes may possibly add some 15% to 20% to the above displacement figures.
The preliminary modeling that has produced the above images and
performance figures has been mainly to get a prelim "look" of
the vessel with an integral swim platform, and to preliminarily
increase displacement to accommodate the materials of construction
versus the Greatheart 60, which is designed for all aluminum construction.
BELOWDECKS PASSAGE
The passage below the PH is a
challenge with this model, not so much due to vessel size or beam,
but due to body draft versus the location of the pilot house sole. In a sail boat with center cockpit, there is ample seat and cowl (seat-back) volume in which to accommodate passageway headroom. With
a pilot house, having the PH sole extend from doorway to doorway
port and starb'd, that becomes quite a different story...
Therefore the means of accommodating
the passageway fore and aft below the pilot house is to eliminate
the port side exit door, and allow a raised seat all along the port side
within the pilot house. This seat would be sufficiently long to double as a pilot berth there to port, or alternately could be partly a seat and partly a counter top / chart table. This
is the kind of trick that would be required in order to obtain
sufficient headroom for a passage without an unnecessarily large
increase in hull depth and therefore displacement and power...
For all other aspects of the intended interior, please see the Greatheart 60 web page, where there are links to the interior for that vessel.
SHORE BOAT
I have developed a series of aluminum
Prams that are highly suitable as shore boats. The pram's side "cheeks" provide floatation and leeboards are used in order to avoid a centerboard trunk. The leeboards work nicely and don't really need much tending. Rowing is easy. The prams have a flat bottom for ease of beaching. The
rowing thwart pops out so the whole boat is open for lying down
/ sleeping, etc., so they are great for camping.
This pram for the Braveheart 63
will ideally be around 12 feet. I have developed these prams in four sizes from 8' to 14' and have detailed them for NC cutting. I fabricated one in four days. After that, the outfitting took another week (leeboards, mast, rigging, etc....). Beautiful,
simple, rugged, unsinkable, fun to sail...!
SUMMARY
As with the other vessels in the Greatheart series, the hull form of the Braveheart 63 is modeled after West Coast fishing vessel types for maximum sea keeping ability, though the Braveheart 63 is much finer than the burdensome fishing vessel types. In general, long range ocean travel has been the primary requirement, along with the roll attenuation and comfort provided by
bilge keels and paravanes. This design has been optimized to suit both requirements.
For more information, please please inquire.
