Seaworthiness: The Forgotten Factor

by C.A. Marchaj and Czesچaw A. Marchaj

Book Overview

Newly updated and revised, this critical analysis examines how the search for racing-yacht performance has led to the development of sailing yachts with potentially dangerous seakeeping... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877422273
• ISBN13: 9780877422273
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: International Marine Publishing
• Length: 371 Pages
• Weight: 3.00 lbs.

Customer Reviews

learning from a polemic

It is quite clear, as implied in the title, that Marchaj has a serious problem with the very light displacement, low wetted area, high cg, and high aspect ratio hulls of many offshore racers of the 1970s and 1980s. Or rather he would say that the sea presents a serious problem to these boats in any less than ideal conditions. He then uses the tools of basic naval architecture to present his case in the strongest possible way. The mathematics is all at the level of basic fluid mechanics and is presented in a way to be accessible to anyone not totally intimidated by formulae. The graphic illustrations are clear, well referenced and well integrated in the text. Perhaps the most contentious part of the book is the discussion of keel aspect ratio since long dagger like keels are seen on the highest performance (in fair weather) boats. I think he could have been even more clear at discussing the role of bound vortices in allowing high angles of attack on low aspect ratio foils by showing the wing of the Concorde. In addition the book shows it's age with little reference to Computational Fluid Dyanamics (CFD) which lends itself in it's latest versions to the analysis of quasi-random inputs typical of the confused and steep seas of a building storm. Also, I think Marchaj could have emphasized a bit more the difficulty of scaling model testing to real world behavior by a review of the laws of dynamic similitude and the matching of the significant dimensionless ratios such as Reynolds number and others with the geometric scale ratios. In the late 1980s the combination of static stability analysis and model testing used in this discussion represented all that could be reasonably used to communicate to an interested audience. Now, the use of CFD tools can, if and only if carefully validated to model tests and real world behavior, much more clearly show the type of behavior differences that Marchaj describes. In the absence of such a by no means inconsiderable effort, there is really a lot to learn about boats and the sea in this volume and it is rather a treat to read. It just may not be the last word on the subject.

This book takes your basic intuition and applies physics

This book is an absolute must for anyone who loves boats more than they have good sense. If you are a cruiser or a racer or a bar stool sealawyer who has any experience at sea, reading this book will lead you step by step from prejudice and intuition into solid insights into the behavior and performance of the different hull shapes in the real world of "at sea" in difficult situations. There is no substitute for "the experience" except the experience to recognise and avoid the experience and this book is every bit as important in picking a boat for your use or applying good seamanship to a boat that is on the edge of it's design envelope. The book contains the fundimental information that should be in any serious sailor's kit. It reads easily and the insights emphasise the seaworthiness vs speed delemma in yacht design.

Excellent

It pickups where others have left off. If you want to understand what effects a boats motion and stability in a seaway, buy this book. It is not a light read, but is well worth the effort.

those who want and/or need to know, must have this one

This is just one of the many Mr. Marchaj has written on boat design theory. Yacht must look good and be safe ( read seaworthy). In some instances it must also perform. Performance has no value if it can't handle the challange of the seas. "Seaworthiness, the forgotten factor" disects yacht safety down to most intricate detail. Simply, if you haven't read this book, you don't know it all. An absolute 5 star publication, written with great authority, by one of the most respected in the field. Check out Marchaj's other work as well, he never disappoints.

An unemotional, realistic view of boats and behaviors.

Many people buy boats to satisfy the dream. They are lured by Madison Avenue pitch and the shiney waterbago down the dock. A must read for a studied consideration of an offshore boat for serious cruising.