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Old 01-22-2008
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JohnRPollard JohnRPollard is offline
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I mostly avoided the other thread, because I had no doubts that the Flicka was capable of the voyage, which afterall was the original question. But this one is irresistible.

I did not read the blog, just glanced at the photos. Here are my predictions, all of which I hope are wrong:

-The vaka is too fine with insufficient buoyancy, and will submarine; also, it does not seem to have a very hydrodynamic-shaped bottom

- The akas are too flimsy, and will not withstand the torsion loads places on them by the amas; they will either collapse or the weld/bolt points will fail where they attach to the amas

- The amas MIGHT have been adequate if not for the shortcomings mentioned above, but in this case will be sorely taxed by the inadequacies of the over-all design

- The first adverse weather event will leave this "vessel" in pieces.

I wish he would seek the opinion of a few naval architects and reconsider the proposed route. His family should urge him to play around with it in local coastal waters for a while, as sea trials.

I also hope there is a watertight compartment in the main hull and an escape hatch on the bottom of it.
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