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48MNNovember 2011must be clearly established and reasonable. Once the fac- tor is identified, all other wants, concerns, and specifica-tions must be prioritized in order of importance. Furthermore, remember that builders and designers will always be bound by the laws of physics despite the mag- nitude of their creative talents. Reconfigurable deck space is a sensible solution for the multi-mission vessel; however, deliberate consideration should be given to each configuration that may have an impact on the weight and balance of the vessel. Stability and performance are the most sensitive traits impacted by multi-mission vessel design. Depending on the diversity of the missions, naval archi- tects may struggle to find a solution that keeps the boat afloat and up to speed. Vessels always perform better when they are balanced and mitigation through the use of bal- last water is not as easy and environmentally acceptable as it used to be. Buyers must also determine if it makes sense to include an adaptation that may inhibit performance by 20% every time the vessel moves, especially when the adaptation may only be utilized 5% of each year. For example, the WAM-V hull by Marine Advanced Research was specifically designed for easy reconfiguration. The craft features a spider-like chassis that can be equipped with interchangeable pods, which are self contained and customized for each job. Support system requirements for various missions should also be measured in order to confirm that that the vessel can supply the needed power and hydraulic demands for each task. Systems can always be expanded to comply with maximum demand, but also consider thecost of maintaining the larger system when full capacity isnot required. C&C Technologies wanted its new propeller driven, multi-mission catamaran to perform efficiently at both 11 knots and 20 knots. The cost of installing two high horse- power engines could not be justified when the vessel was operating for hours on end at lower speeds. The compro- BOATBUILDING MN#11 (32-49):MN 2011 Layouts 10/27/2011 10:02 AM Page 48
