Dart 16
Encyclopedia
The Dart 16 is a one-design
4.80 m long sailing catamaran
. It is designed to be sailed by two people.
The boat lacks the dangerous main boom
,
as well as daggerboard
s, spreader
s, and complicated trimming mechanisms.
The lower part of the hulls have skegs typical for a beach catamaran. The most noticeable difference
to the popular Dart 18
and Sprint 15
catamarans is that the hulls are made out of
Tecrothene, a thermo plastic. This material is very impact- and scratch-resistant, but somewhat
heavier and harder to repair than fiberglass
.
The kick-up rudders are similar to the Hobie 16
.
The rigging
consists of a rotating aero-dynamically shaped aluminum mast
held by a forestay and two shroud wires.
There is a trapeze
for the crew.
The mainsail does not have a boom, has 6 full battens, and is controlled by a main sheet with a 6:1
mechanical advantage. The main sheet system has ball-bearing blocks, a ratchet, and a cleat.
The jib sail has a furling system, so it does not have battens, and is controlled by a jib sheet with a 2:1 mechanical advantage.
A gennaker
sail is available.
One-design
One-Design is a racing method where all vehicles or boats have identical or very similar designs or models. It is also known as Spec series. It is heavily used in sailboat racing. All competitors in a race are then judged based on a single start time...
4.80 m long sailing catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
. It is designed to be sailed by two people.
Design
The Dart 16 is a modern beach catamaran that is fast, affordable, and seaworthy.The boat lacks the dangerous main boom
Boom (sailing)
In sailing, a boom is a spar , along the foot of a fore and aft rigged sail, that greatly improves control of the angle and shape of the sail. The primary action of the boom is to keep the foot of the sail flatter when the sail angle is away from the centerline of the boat. The boom also serves...
,
as well as daggerboard
Daggerboard
A daggerboard is a retractable centreboard used by various sailing craft. While other types of centreboard may pivot to retract, a daggerboard slides in a casing. The shape of the daggerboard converts the forward motion into a windward lift, countering the leeward push of the...
s, spreader
Spreader (sailboat)
A spreader is a spar on a sailboat used to deflect the shrouds to allow them to better support the mast. Often, there are multiples, called spreaders. The spreader or spreaders serve much the same purpose as the crosstrees and tops in a traditional sailing vessel.Spreader design and tuning can be...
s, and complicated trimming mechanisms.
The lower part of the hulls have skegs typical for a beach catamaran. The most noticeable difference
to the popular Dart 18
Dart 18
The Dart 18 is a one-design long glassfibre sailing catamaran. It is designed to be sailed by two people and can achieve speeds of up to 20 knots.-History:...
and Sprint 15
Sprint 15
The Sprint 15 is a one-design glassfibre sailing catamaran, principally sailed in the UK. It is designed to be sailed by one or two people and has a furling jib and trapeze...
catamarans is that the hulls are made out of
Tecrothene, a thermo plastic. This material is very impact- and scratch-resistant, but somewhat
heavier and harder to repair than fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
.
The kick-up rudders are similar to the Hobie 16
Hobie 16
See Also: Hobie 16 subsection of Hobie cat entryThe ISAF International Class Hobie 16 is a popular catamaran manufactured by the Hobie Cat Company for racing and day sailing...
.
The rigging
Rigging
Rigging is the apparatus through which the force of the wind is used to propel sailboats and sailing ships forward. This includes masts, yards, sails, and cordage.-Terms and classifications:...
consists of a rotating aero-dynamically shaped aluminum mast
held by a forestay and two shroud wires.
There is a trapeze
Trapeze (sailing)
In sailing, the trapeze refers to a wire that comes from a point high on the mast, usually where the shrouds are fixed, to a hook on the crew member's harness at approximately waist level...
for the crew.
The mainsail does not have a boom, has 6 full battens, and is controlled by a main sheet with a 6:1
mechanical advantage. The main sheet system has ball-bearing blocks, a ratchet, and a cleat.
The jib sail has a furling system, so it does not have battens, and is controlled by a jib sheet with a 2:1 mechanical advantage.
A gennaker
Gennaker
A gennaker is a sail that was developed around 1990. Used when sailing downwind, it is a cross between a genoa and a spinnaker. It is asymmetric like a genoa, but the gennaker is not attached to the forestay like a jib or genoa. The gennaker is rigged like a spinnaker but the tack is fastened to...
sail is available.
External links
- www.Dartpart.com Worldwide supplier of Dart catamaran spares
- UKIDA Dart 16 Association
- Dart 16 at Performance Sailcraft Europe Ltd
- http://www.dartpart.com.com Dartpart.com. worldwide supplier of Dart 16 parts