For the first time, Choydesign LLC. and Armstrong Marine, Inc., have collaborated on this unique sailing catamaran design, the Choy 38.

Designed by Choydesign of Honolulu, Hawai`i and built by Armstrong Marine, Inc., of Port Angeles, Washington, the Choy 38 is intended to offer the serious cruising sailor an honest-to-goodness Built-In-The-United States-alternative to offshore brands.

Our new 38 borrows on the proven safety, performance and comfort of past Choy designs and benefits from the quality, efficiency and reliability of successful Armstrong Marine aluminum welded aluminum hulls.

The design effort focused on providing great performance, sea keeping ability, safety, and comfort. A simple cockpit layout allows for single handing and the accommodations are generous and practical, working well at sea or dockside. Our rig options and sail plan reflect the same design philosophy and we also focused attention upon often overlooked but critical areas such as:

• Maximum beam - 22 ft./7.0m
• Adequate wing-clearance - 32 inches/81.3cm
• Watertight integrity
• Insulation of all dissimilar metals particularly stainless steel and aluminum

We plan to begin construction on hull Number One before the summer of 2009.
 

General Arrangement & Accommodations

Although a 38-footer is a relatively large boat, we wanted to strike a balance between accommodations and weight as it relates to cruising performance. This plan, which is based upon decades of experience with C/S/K’s very first cruising catamarans, is simple, functional and comfortable. In the main saloon, single day berths on either side complement a queen-sized convertible berth when the dinette table retracts. Below in each hull, a single and a generous double are available. Optionally, single berths may be installed forward, port and starboard, although generally this space is best devoted to sail stowage and other items. The cockpit, as presently visualized is ergonomically laid out and will facilitate control at either of two wheel stations, or in the case of tiller steering with retractable rudders, helm chairs aft. In each case sail controls are close by and easily accessible and access to either of the two 9.9 h.p. four-stroke outboard motors is easily accomplished beneath either cockpit bench seat.

Sail Plan

The Choy 38 utilizes a simple 3-point fractional rig with the emphasis for power upon the fully-battened mainsail, equipped with lazy-jacks (not shown). The furling working jib is fully self-tacking and can be augmented with overlapping genoas or even a storm jib, when necessary. Back in the cockpit, mainsheet and traveler lines are completely out of the way which minimizes clutter. The Choy 38 has completely flush decks including the forward deck hatches. Underway a large sliding companionway hatch and optional cabindeck hatches provide for ample ventilation at all times and in all conditions. The decision to use asymmetric hulls was a key early choice which allows for a good hull shape without the need for extensive plate bending, the ability to move the fully retracting centerboards mostly outboard, and excellent sailing qualities.

One of the key design features of the Choy 38 is it’s clean deck layout. This makes boating easier, safer and more comfortable for everyone. It also allows for easy leading of sheets, guys and other control lines to enable the handling of numerous sail combinations. Although it is not shown a forward fishnet-style trampoline will be standard and the op­tion is available to fit a net on the stern also which increases safety and makes the aft quarter more functional - provided it isn’t used for deck stowage.

Construction

Aluminum construction offers a number of important benefits to our new design. Like wood construction, aluminum is lightweight amd cost-effective in production, without the need for molds or special tooling. Like fiberglass/composite construction aluminum is impervious to termite damage and dry rot but unlike glass it holds up well to impacts and the occasional scrapes that happen to even careful sailors and doesn't continuously outgas styrene odors.

Armstrong Marine has done an outstanding job of organzing and streamlining their operation. By using advanced automated plate cutting machinery, assembly-line fabrication and skilled craftsmen, this family-owned shop, located in Port Angeles, Washington, has successfully produced hundreds of catamaran and monohull boats for highly satisfied owner/operators in pleasure, fishing, commercial and government applications, just to name a few.