Catamaran
A catamaran is a boat or ship with two hulls, which are rigidly connected ( through a carrier deck, for example ) with each other. The word catamaran is a loanword from Tamil, of கட்டுமரம் kaṭṭumaram (of Kattu " band bundle " and maram "tree", meaning " boat tied tree trunks "). Generally, one can distinguish (motor boat) and catamarans ( sailing ship ) to the type of drive motor catamarans. A special form of catamarans are SWATH.
Unlike Einrumpfschiffen catamarans are characterized by the fact that they are very broad and thus are very stable on the water. Since catamarans have no keel and are dimensionally stable, the boats have a relatively low weight. Therefore catamarans are often very fast boats with planing hulls (see: displacement and gliders ) are equipped. As a disadvantage, in addition to the difficult handling especially in tight quarters, the Kenterbarkeit must be noted. Unlike keel sailing yachts straighten up again after a strong bank, larger catamarans (from about 7 meters ) without assistance (crane) be re-erected.
History
The Romans are in the second Punic War ( 218-202 BCE ) have a catamaran to the conquest of Syracuse used. The vessel consisted of two 31 m long and 5.5 m wide boat hulls, which were connected by cross beams. After this ship construction apparently came after since ancient times again into oblivion.
In 1768 the Englishman Patrick Miller constructed the Trimaran Edinbourg 30.5 m long and 9.5 m wide, had operated between the hulls of ships with muscle strength paddle wheels. After another muscle-powered Schaufelradkatamaran on the Firth of Forth in 1788 he ran a five knots (kn) fast double-hulled paddle steamer on Lake Dalswinton at Dumfries. This was 7.5 m long, 2.1 m wide and was operated by a William Symington steam engine.
The American Robert Fulton built 1812-1814 three catamarans as a harbor ferry for New York. They were 24.4 m long and 9.15 m wide. The ferries Jersy and York were driven by a 20 hp steam engine, the third ship, the Nessy said to have had as much as 120 hp. Another catamaran from Fulton was the warship USS Fulton (also Demologos or inaccurate Demogulos ) - actually a floating battery with a steam engine - that was with its dimensions of 47.6 × 17.1 m long time the largest ship of its kind. By lying between the hulls paddle wheel, which was powered by a 120 -hp steam engine, it reached 5.5 knots, however, was not built for ocean-going cruises.
In the 19th century catamarans were built in the U.S., UK and Russia. The English Channel Steam Ship Company made in 1874 to build the catamaran Castalia and 1877 the Calais - Douvres for ferry traffic across the English Channel. The Castalia was 88.4 m long, the individual hulls per 5,18 m wide, the depth was 2.13 m and the water displacement 1,290 tonnes. Between the hulls were behind the other two paddle wheels with 6.1 m diameter, which were powered by two steam engines with 600 hp. The speed was 10.5 knots.
The Calais - Douvres was slightly larger, but recorded with its 4270 hp at a speed of 14.5 knots. Both ships could carry 1000 passengers. Although the ships were very seaworthy, they were first sold to the railway company London Chatham & Dover Railway and taken after about ten years each for their to slow speeds again from the market and resold.
As the inventor of the modern catamaran applies the South Seas researcher Eric de Bisschop, the grandfather of underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio. He had discovered and adopted this type of boat at the Polynesian fishermen.
Types
Power catamarans
Motor catamarans have gained particular importance as ferries. Furthermore, cargo ships and floating platforms work is often carried out in the two- hull design.
Smaller high-speed catamarans ( up to about 200 seats ) are used for a long time, especially in Norway and Australia. You can reach up to 48 knots speed (corresponding to more than 80 km / h) and thus offer fast travel options to islands and between parts of the country. Since the end of the 20th century such vessels are increasingly being used in the transport to and from Heligoland and on the lower Elbe and on Lake Constance.
In several European routes run very large catamaran ferries as car ferries. These include:
- Denmark ↔ Sweden,
- Denmark ↔ Norway
- Mainland ↔ Mallorca
- UK ↔ France
- Italy ↔ Croatia
- UK ↔ Netherlands
- UK ↔ Ireland
- UK ↔ Channel Islands
- Sicily ↔ Malta
- ↔ Tenerife La Gomera ( Fred. Olsen Express)
Built by Incat shipyard in Tasmania 91 -meter long mega catamaran Catalonia experienced a trip from 6th to June 10th, 1998 in the short term the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing by large vessels with an average speed of 38.65 knots ( 71.6 km / h). The ride went from New York to Ceuta. At the same time with the 1015 nautical miles Catalonia reached the best 24 -hour power ( Etmal ) of all time. Shortly thereafter broke the Cat Link V the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing. The largest catamarans (Class HSS 1500) sets the Stena Line routes on one in the Irish Sea, the first of this is the Stena Explorer. You are 127 m long, 40 m wide and have a displacement of almost 20,000 tons. You can carry up to 1,500 passengers and 375 cars at a speed of 40 knots.
Catamarans are also motorboat racing often used, for example, every World Cup series will be held on catamarans with a cockpit.
In South Africa and New Zealand catamaran dinghies far " ThunderCat " class are common. These boats are four meters long catamaran with solid rubber runners that are equipped with an up to 51 kW outboard. The ThunderCats is suitable for the motor boat racing ( The ThunderCat racing series is one of the fastest growing racing boat series in South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand) as well as for excursions, as dinghy or water skiing. The boat is very maneuverable and capsize with minimal depth.
For use on the Danube, the Han Asparuh was built as Schwergutfrachtkatamaran. It is separable into two parts. On the Volga and its tributaries, the cargo catamaran brothers Ignatiev is on the way.
Individual warships in catamaran design are also in use. This is mostly to supply and combat support units. The first battle for the imaginary power catamaran is the Chinese missile speedboat type 022 Houbei class. The first copy was in 2005 handed over to the Chinese navy. Today, it is estimated that up to 40 of these boats will be in use.
A new and environmentally friendly form of propulsion own solar catamarans, which are powered by solar energy. The present ( 2010) is the largest solar catamaran Tûranor PlanetSolar. The Solar Wave, a 14 -meter solar catamaran, located since April 2010 on a world tour.
Catamarans
→ Main article: Sailing Catamaran
Catamarans are usually very fast, lightweight sports equipment or cruising yachts that are driven primarily by wind over sails.
Rowing catamarans
Rowing catamarans are generally lightweight sports equipment, which are moved by rowing with straps. The team may vary depending on boat size from two to eight or more people include.