Wingmaran 15X
designed for RAID events like the Texas 200 and the Everglades Challenge
The Wingmaran 15X is designed to compete with other small solo rowing/sailing/cruising boats that are entered into costal RAID-style adventure races. The main distinctive feature, besides the hydroplaning skimmers, is the front cabin which is 6’-6” long, 41” wide and about 38” tall. At the end of a long day of adventuring one can pull up to a beach or drop anchor and go right to sleep without setting up a tent or contorting into a tiny space. And if you want to cook on a stove and it is raining, you can set up a boom tent and cook in the cockpit. While on the water with no wind, you can pull out oars and use the rowing station. The outriggers are far enough forward of the rowing station to be out of the way. When the wind picks up, you can hoist the diamond lug™ sail and reach planing speeds. The top speed is estimated to be 16-18 knots depending on sail area.
Features:
hydroplaning wings that fold
an offset mast frees up space in the cabin
hiking wings increase righting moment
self draining cockpit floor (no bailing)
A roomy cabin for 1 or, tight cabin for 2
rowing station compatible
Specs:
Length 15’6”
Hull Width 46.5”
Max width 11’
Min Draft 4”
Max Draft 36”
Sail Area 97 SF with 2 reef points
Boat weight fully rigged: 260 LB estimated
Capacity 475 LB 1-2 adults plus multi-day gear
Speed
“What is the speed potential of a wingmaran?” We have been taught that the speed limit of a sailboat is determined by the square root of its length x 1.34. But that only applies to displacement hulls. The wingmaran is essentially an ideal planing hull because its primary planing surface, the leeward skimmer, is positioned in-line with and in-front of the center-of-effort of the sail. Also, the skimmer being transversely positioned has a higher aspect ratio and therefore a greater lift/drag ratio than a typical skiff that is planing. This arrangement prevents the boat from heeling more than 12 degrees which allows more of the thrust of the sail to be turned into forward hull speed.
My father’s 18’ prototype went 21 knots.
My 14’ prototype will go 15 knots.
Do you see the pattern here?
A wingmaran will go about 10% faster than its length in feet.
The wingmaran 15X should go 16-17 knots
