Development of a new-type hydrofoil catamaran

Abstract

A new-type hydrofoil catamaran has been designed and its resistance and seakeeping properties examined by experiments. This new catamaran is made of two sharp hulls like swords and two rectangular hydrofoils of high aspect ratio that connect them. Almost 90 percent of the weight is supported by the hydrofoils, and the total resistance coefficient is much smaller than that of conventional high-speed craft or similar designs at the design speed of 40 knots for a 200-ton boat. The transfer functions of motions are much smaller than those of planing boats and another hydrofoil catamaran of different configuration.