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Hydro Lance Harth Technology

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Betsemes, Sep 13, 2011.

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  1. Betsemes

    Betsemes New Member

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    About a couple of days ago, while dreaming about my future yacht, I was googling about yachts and came across this. Do any of you know anything about this? Has ever a yacht been built with this technology? Or, does someone know whether or not this is for real? Thank you very much in advance.

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  2. chuckb

    chuckb Senior Member

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  3. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    I think basically they're unbuildable. I know there are some real naval architects and yacht designers on here so maybe one, or more, of them will chime in. In the meantime here's a discussion that seems to support my initial impression:

    Have you seen this? [Archive] - Boat Design Forums
  4. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Interesting link there.

    I see a bit of SWATH bashing in a number of the posts.

    I have recently had dinner with the Skipper of Silver Cloud the SWATH Yacht from Abekings.

    They have done 6000 hrs underway in the 3 yrs since leaving the yard and have never had to alter their travel plans owing to inclement weather.

    A Client I represent is interested in building one and I have been lucky enough to be on one running out to the pilot station ELBE which is itself a 60m SWATH in fairly heavy weather.

    It is a pity there are so few of these vessels out there in the non commercial/military sector.

    They really are an amazing thing to ride in and do seem to get an unfair bashing in some circles.
  5. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    That's pretty cool. I know SWATH definitely works. I've poured over everything I could find on Silver Cloud since she showed up here in Abeking's side bar ad. SWATH is not the Hydro-Lance though. The consensus seems to be building those long narrow sponsons strong enough to take the stresses rough weather would submit them to would be problematic. Besides, how many owners are going to want to pay for 150' of dockage for what looks like the interior volume of a 20 or 30 meter yacht? He's been peddling Hydro-Lance technology with no takers since the 1980s so it would seem there is something his crude and fanciful website is not mentioning.
  6. carelm

    carelm Senior Member

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    I would think they might be feasible in commercial applications where dockage fees aren't as much of an issue as for a strictly privately owned yacht. The design has a rather large footprint both in length and width so finding a private slip would be an issue. I'm also not sure how maneuverable they would be in close quarters.
  7. Betsemes

    Betsemes New Member

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    After trying to follow through that conversation, what I gather is that trying to build a yacht by buying a license for an unproven technology is too risky to even take into account. The technology is a radical departure from the conventional architecture; it would be almost like building a boat just to see whether it’ll work. Not worth the risk.