Proasis Pacific Proa under construction workshop tour

Just a short walk around our workshop where our pacific proa "proasis" is under construction.
Visite www.proas.is for further information!

[@pakde8002]

Perhaps you should call it Pacific proa inspired to stop nitpicking in the comments. As I see it you've built a proa/catamaran hybrid taking the best of both concepts. Also people should understand this is not intended as a racing boat but a working boat, with the focus on creating a stable working platform/cargo space with good sea keeping ability, which is the original purpose of all Pacific multihulls and sailing canoes; fishing or traveling from island to island simply and safely. I commend you.

[@WMichaelDeJonge]

Like a harryproa. Very nice!

[@multihullminion9201]

You guys could’ve really benefitted from a shop vac dust collector for the grinder. Picked one up for 35 bucks. It’s not perfect but a lot better than stray glass and plastic going everywhere. Congratulations though fellas, looks good (:

[@proasisproject]

True, that's why we've done 95% of the grinding inside with a shop vac attached. Unfortunately not always possible, I haven't found a vac adapter for an angle grinder for example. What you see in the video was the only day out of 70 days of work we've been outside. Grinding was limited to some corrections to join everything so not much emission.

[@brandonballinger-gy9ds]

How can I get some plans?

[@robingraham6820]

Hi guys, This looks like a very practical proa. Any more info on the design/designer. I like the idea of sheltered accommodation in the Lee hull.

[@proasisproject]

Hi, its my own design. The accommodation is actually in the windward hull, like on a drua. Have a look on www.proas.is! Tons of information there. If you have any specific question just leave us a comment and we come back to you!

[@robingraham6820]

Oops, my mistake, I did actually mean windward hull. I am interested in building a proa and yours looks like it could be the sort of design I am looking for. I need something that can be used at any time of the year in the Orkney isles (North of Scotland) that means very seaworthy, fully protected helming position and enough speed to get there and back in daylight. I see from your website you have a connection with Harryproa. I like them, but there is nothing between small and huge and the mini cargo proa has no shelter. I will be watching to see your sea trials. Good luck.

[@proasisproject]

Hey, coming back to you after a long time! Every design has its geographical background. The proa is rooted in the Pacific, mainly in Micronesia. The climate there is warm, the wind steady and the weather predictable. Pretty much the opposite of what we have on the north sea. That's why our ancestors developed designs that look like the Viking ship. The modern version of that would be a yacht like the Laurin koster 28. This is the boat you are looking for. I would not recommend a proa of any kind for the orkneys. Don't get me wrong, Proasis is a super nice boat and we are very happy, now after sailing her for 3 years. But we never had in mind to build the best boat for the north sea. Our goal was to make the proa work, despite all odds.

[@robingraham6820]

@@proasisproject hey, thanks for getting back to me. I guess you have been busy sailing your fabulous boat🙂, I would too. I have settled on a John Welsford design that he designed for himself to sail round New Zealand. Fast (for a monohul) 30% rowing and 70% sailing, a small cuddy, very seaworthy (I hope) and easily launched with a trailer. It is the Long Steps, bigger faster version of the SCAMP. It

[@proasisproject]

@@robingraham6820 indeed! Sounds like a good choice to me. Better suited to the climate and conditions.

[@pickledtesticles2870]

The leeward pod is on the wrong side... you could live to regret that

[@multihullminion9201]

Yah! Like Ryan Finn

[@proasisproject]

@@multihullminion9201 Ryan Finn got in trouble because of his lee pod (and overloading). Not a single traditional design features a lee pod (the leeward platform of the marshallese walap serves a whole different purpose). Proasis is designed in a way that she is almost impossible to capsize :)

[@tommyvogt7237]

@@proasisproject yet to be seen or proven and no the polynesians used the ama as a counter balance to wind forces and still do

[@proasisproject]

@@tommyvogt7237 I don't know what you mean with ama but we will keep the kubaak (smaller hull) always to windward as well. The leeward hull does not have a lee pod as we see no benefit of it. Our Proa is almost impossible to capsized due to enormous righting moment (same design principle as a drua). Haven't tried yet but most likely the rig would collapse first. At least calculations say so. Most large cruising catamarans are designed that way too. And even if the kubaak lifts off the leeward hull is shaped in a way to produce more righting moment for a heel of 65° and larger.

[@tommyvogt7237]

Backwards? Ama should go windward Polynesians proved this over 1000’s of years

[@proasisproject]

Would do you mean with backwards?