Press release from Manta Catamarans: MANTA 44 POWERCAT DESIGNER COMMENTS The Manta 44 PowerCat was designed to offer a low drag displacement hull form that provides performance equal to a planning hull, with considerably better sea keeping qualities, improved fuel economy and load carrying capacity. Unlike the planning or semi-displacement powerboat that depends upon horsepower to lift the boat out of the water for speed, the speed of a displacement catamaran is largely a function of the fineness ratio of the hulls. The Manta 44 PowerCat's low drag hull form consists of long slim hulls, with high length to beam ratios and round bilges, which present minimum wetted surface area in order to minimize wave drag. The result is speed without the need for excessive horsepower and its associated massive fuel consumption. The Manta 44's hull design incorporates a full-length, above-water chine that offers more volume for accommodations in the hulls, as well as full bows above the chine for additional buoyancy in a seaway. The bow topsides have a secondary chine that is shaped to assist raising the bows when driving into a seaway. The bridge deck between the hulls incorporates a gull-wing shape that prevents wave slamming when motoring into a seaway, and further develops a mild ground effect cushion of air between the hulls that assists in providing a softer ride while maintaining high speed, with less horsepower. To ensure excellent control at all times, the Manta 44 incorporates a set of larger than average airfoil shaped composite rudders, set into shallow propeller tunnels which afford the Manta 44's unusually shallow 2' 6" draft. The aft underbody of each hull consists of an underwater canoe body from which the propeller shaft exits thus eliminating any propeller struts and their inherent potential for damage. Under the aft end of the canoe body is a stainless steel propeller guard that extends aft, which carries a lower rudder bearing, offering full protection to the four blade Nibral propellers. Above each propeller the shallow tunnel fairs into the canoe body forward and a flat underbody aft, with underwater chines. This configuration assists in adding displacement aft to reduce pitching, and to help minimize squatting when under power. The generous 21' beam offers high stability, tremendous interior volume in the salon and galley, excellent walk around deck space, and great maneuverability dockside, due to the widely spaced engines. With no flybridge, and fuel tanks below the waterline, the vertical center of gravity of the Manta 44 is much lower than on other designs, resulting in a higher ultimate stability. Additionally the vacuum bagged, foam cored, composite deck and hull construction above the water line reduces overall weight which again contributes to improved performance. The solid laminate hull bottom eliminates the worries associated with cored construction below the waterline. The design of the Manta 44 Powercat with its displacement hull form permits the best of all worlds i.e. best performance, best fuel efficiency, best interior volume, best sea keeping qualities, and the best value for the dollar - without sacrifice. Cortland Steck, NA http://www.mantacatamarans.com/powercat.html -- By the by, when I pass along press releases that I cross my desk, I post them for what they are, publicity releases from power catamaran builders, designers, dealers and others which represent the viewpoint of those same builders, designers, dealers and others. The discerning reader may need to apply a grain of salt. I post the releases for general information purposes, without any verification or endorsement, and clearly indicate the source. If you disagree with the subject matter of a release, or have other comments, please post a message to the List. --Georgs Georgs Kolesnikovs Power Catamaran World http://www.powercatamaranworld.com PS Members of the trade are encouraged to ensure I'm on their contact lists for press releases.