Catamaran Section Construction plan
Designer
Ben Lexcen
(1936 - 1988)
Datec 1970
Object numberANMS1543[057]
NamePlan
MediumPencil on tracing paper
Dimensions410 x 770
Copyright© Ben Lexcen
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionA preliminary, pencil design sketch, of a lightweight, 60-foot fast catamaran, made by Ben Lexcen (formally Bob Miller) in about 1970.HistorySpearheaded by Rudy Choy, Alfred Kumalae, and Warren Seaman, in the Hawaiian Islands, ‘C.S.K Catamarans’ was formed in 1957, ten years after building MANUKAI the first modern catamaran yacht. The early 1960’s saw the dawn of the modern multihull era, which has continued, and grown stronger, ever since. In 1966 the American actor James Arness (Marshall Matt Dillon on the famous 1960s television show, “Gunsmoke.”) asked Rudy Choy to design and build him a fast, race winning catamaran. The result was the 60-foot ‘SEASMOKE’, launched in 1967 which proved to be a very fast yacht. James Arness entered SEASMOKE in the 1968 Multihull Transpac Race which started on July 4th. at Point Fermin off Los Angeles. The yacht proved all the owner had hoped for, winning lines honours and arriving at Diamond Head, Hawaii thirty-six hours ahead of the fleet after the 2,500-mile race.
The exact date of this design work by Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) is unknown, as no date, or clients name is shown, but other sketches indicate it was during the early 1970’s when he was still in the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ partnership. He had sailed mono hull racing yachts, several times in Hawaii and was aware of the modern C.S.K catamarans. As a yacht designer he would have been drawn to design his own version, which this work appears to verify. The Ben Lexcen (formally Bob Miller) design for the 60-foot racing catamaran could well have been inspired, or based on the 58-foot SEASMOKE.SignificanceBen Lexcen (formally Bob Miller) was generally known for designing fast monohull ocean racing yachts, International 12 metres, dinghies and racing skiffs. He designed and built a 13-foot sailing catamaran while still a teenager, but did not appear to venture into multihull design, other than this 60-foot yacht. The interest in modern sailing catamarans developed in the 1960’s and a number of prominent yacht builders produced them. This type of yacht, both for racing and for family cruising has become very popular in recent years particularly in Australia.
