Farrier F-41

Home-built from plans

Brand:: Farrier

Designed by:: Farrier Marine

Description:

The F-41 is a performance cruising catamaran for home and professional custom builders and the first 'two huller' from the renowned sport-tri designer Ian Farrier. As with his definitive trimaran models, the F-41 is designed to be a safe, roomy cruiser, with outstanding speed and handling. Race-winning capability is central to Farrier's success, without sacrificing interior space, seaworthiness or structural integrity. The high performance of the F-41 is achieved through the lightweight hull construction techniques and highly efficient rig, areas where Ian Farrier was able to draw on his vast past experience of designing and developing innovative multihulls.

The F-41 is essentially a cruiser and will appeal especially to those with experience of Farrier designs who now want to move up to a larger craft with more accommodation and facilities for liveaboard and long passage-making. A catamaran is often said to be the most efficient form for a craft of this definition when the length gets over 40 ft, and Farrier's move into catamaran design acknowleges this point.

The hulls have a waterline length-to-beam ratio of 11:1, optimising low wave resistance and internal accommodation space. The bridgedeck clearance is high, increasing towards the stern to reduce pounding and drag on large waves. The interior of the F-41 is bright and airy with excellent views all round. All cabins have good ventilation.

Farrier's plans are thoroughly researched, highy detailed, and fully supported by the designer, making them among the best for home building.

Recommended materials are PVC foam and glass using the latest vertical foam strip planking method, with wood minimised as much as possible for low maintenance. Either epoxy or polyester resins can be used, and exotic fabrics such as carbon fibre or Kevlar are optional. Wood/epoxy strip planking is another option, and this can have some advantages in cost, and/or aesthetic appeal.

Hulls are built separately using a unique and relatively new building system, and incorporate parts of the bridgedeck and center cabin. Once complete, the hulls are simply set upright at the correct spacing, and then joined together with the pre-finished bridgedeck and centre cabin. Space requirements are thus minimal (the F-41 hull halves can be built and joined in a space less than 4.9 m/16 ft wide) until the final stages of assembly. If needed, the complete boat can even be shipped as three easier to handle parts for assembly at the water.

The F-44R is a racing version of the F-41 with longer waterline, taller rig and lower cabin profile.

Type:: Performance cruiser

Multihull type:: Catamaran

Construction:

PVC foam cored fibreglass, with the foam vertically strip planked
Heavier alternative of strip planking in wood (cedar)
Epoxy or polyester resin for the fibreglass
Optional use of carbon fibre and Kevlar

Sails and rigging:

Rotating mast
Square-topped main; pinhead main optional; furling self-tacking jib optional
Roller furling screacher (700 sq ft, 64.9 sq m); asymmetrical spinnaker (1595 sq ft, 148.2 sq m)
Optional storm jib (136 sq ft 12.7 sq m); optional genoa (361 sq ft, 33.5 sq m)

Deck layout and gear:

Good view forward from cockpit, which has optional full Bimini or hardtop cover
Twin helm stations; single station optional

Deck layout images:

Keels, boards and rudders:

Daggerboards in each hull - or optional kick-up centreboard; optional single daggerboard
Optional mini-keel to protect bottom and prop from damage from grounding
Underslung rudders; optional kick-up rudder

Accommodation:: The interior design of the F-41 is highly customisable, including galley up and down alternatives.
Typical layout:
Port hull: double cabin aft; head with shower midships; double cabin forward extending accross the bridgedeck
Starboard Hull: double cabin aft; head with shower forward; galley forward;
Bridgedeck cabin: navigation station; dining table with settee seating; cabin headroom is 6ft (1.83m) standard - higher is optional