Arrow
The Arrow is a lightweight 4.3m (14 foot) catamaran with timber or fibreglass hulls. It is sloop rigged, ie has a jib as well as a mainsail, and to add further challenge, is sailed with a trapeze. Competitively sailed by one adult, it is also an excellent learning boat for two young teenagers.
History
Designed by Neil Fowler and Roy Martin and first launched in Darwin in 1963, the Arrow was one of the first light-weight catamarans. It was specifically designed to be simple to construct by the home handyman. Originally an all-timber hulled boat, it was modernised in 1977 by changing to aluminium beams and a trampoline deck. In the late 1980s, foam sandwich fibreglass hulls were introduced to produce a practically maintenance free boat.
The Boat
Length 4.30 m
Maximum Width 1.83 m
Mast Length 6.20 m
Minimum Weight (hulls and fixed fittings) 50 kg
Sail Area
Jib 2.60 m2
Mainsail 7.62 m2
Total 10.22 m2
Crew
One person with trapeze – Ideal weight 70 – 80 kg
