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Author Topic:   Catamaran Hull

contender posted 11-11-2011 09:30 PM ET (US)
If Boston Whaler built a catamaran hull (20-26 ft range) would you purchase one? Twin engines could be mounted one behind each hull with a dive platform in the middle....
power2boat posted 11-11-2011 10:35 PM ET (US)
Catarmarans have their place.Lots of Pros and lots of Cons.
Too many to list,and it is very debateable.
Have owned a 14',22'and a 30' power cats in my time.
I'm satisfied with my 22' Boston Whaler now.

sosmerc posted 11-11-2011 10:36 PM ET (US)
Whaler may have their hands full just building what they have......but a catamaran hull would be pretty cool. They are extremely stable and I like the idea of twins for better low speed maneuvering. If they did do such a setup I'd recommend to them that they keep all of the rigging above the decks.
They could do hidden compartments above deck on either side to provide battery and seperate saddle fuel tanks for each engine. There was a boat out of Australia called Shark Cat that was pretty neat and was rigged like this. Very stable and great in big water. The boats behavior in sharp turns took some getting used to :)
Jefecinco posted 11-12-2011 10:07 AM ET (US)
Power cat trailerability (word?) can be an issue, especially in the larger sizes. Towing is not so much a potential problem as is launching and retrieving.
I've seen large racing cats trailered on special trailers which transport the cats at a fairly acute leaning angle in order to comply with highway width restrictions. The trailers are adjustable either mechanically, electrically or hydraulically. The cats are loaded and unloaded to/from a level trailer bed. Loading and unloading is accomplished with a crane using a spreader bar with fall cables engaged with lifting eyes fore and aft under deck panels on the boat.
I believe I'm on my last boat but if not I would certainly consider a Boston Whaler Power Cat in, perhaps, 17 to 20 feet LOA. I'd need some help learning to launch and retrieve a power cat.
I like SOSMERC's ideas about rigging a power cat.
Butch
Basshole posted 11-12-2011 01:29 PM ET (US)
That would be my dream boat! I have always liked the Glacier Bay cats a lot. In rough water ride considerably better than anything I have even been aboard. I was blown away by the way that boat handles chop and especially how soft it lands off the backside of a wave. I just can't seem to get away from Whaler's unsinkability, looks and mystique. If Whaler came out with a cat, and it wasn't a flop like the Grady Tigercat, then it would be my next boat.
Problem is, there are several companies already doing it and well. Whaler would have to invest a ton of money to develop a cat, and it may not even perform as well as a World Cat or a Glacier Bay. I think that is the problem Grady had. They make great boats, but cats are a whole different ball game. Then there is the question, do you make it a full or semi displacement cat.
Binkster posted 11-12-2011 09:15 PM ET (US)
What type of catamaran should Whaler build, A displacement
cat like the world cat or a planing cat like the offshore raceboat cats. I don't like how the World Cat turns at speed. It leans to the outside like a car.
Jefecinco posted 11-13-2011 09:37 AM ET (US)
My vote would be in favor of a planing or semi-displacement power cat by Boston Whaler. I've recently seen a small 16 to 18 foot planing cat in action and it looked to have a good turn of speed. The World Cat I saw appeared to be both huge and slow. I imagine it would have a comfortable ride to match the enormous weight it must carry. The cost in materials for the World Cat must be very high as well.
Butch
Powergroove803 posted 11-13-2011 10:49 AM ET (US)
I owned a 1999 Super Cat 20 built by BW and have sailed on 3 other SC 20's not built by BW. The BW boat was far superior build, but making the 20 ft into a motor craft would be a little tricky, but there is actually a kit that can be fitted to the top of a Hoie 18 that makes it into a center console. Its called the Wild Thing sold by Rick White, seen it in action pretty stable but not for me. Its more a coach boat for sailing than anything else. The SC 20 has a 10 ft beam, so trailering is out, although it does collapse pretty easy.
Justs FYI, the whole SC boat can be purchsed for around $4K, so dont spend too much
macfam posted 11-13-2011 04:47 PM ET (US)
A Whaler Cat is an intriguing concept. I've often thought about it too.
I'm sure there would be design challenges.
I afraid that in this business climate, it's only a pipe dream.
Now would not be the time to spend money into a new endeavor. In fact, Boston Whaler has gone back to what they know well. Basic designs that can make them money. Now we have 15' 17',19,& a 21 Montauk. These are not inexpensive boats! Can you imagine the cost of a 21' Cat?
With twins, probably $90K!
Anyone in the market for a $90K 21 footer?
Jefecinco posted 11-13-2011 07:19 PM ET (US)
I would be surprised as well as disappointed if Boston Whaler does not have a power catamaran design on hand. Any forward leaning boat builder with in house design capability would almost certainly have a cat design in the files. Perhaps they do not not a build-ready design but certainly they would have an advanced conceptual design sufficient to determine the resources required to build a prototype.
With the software available today the cost of a design would be small.
Butch
Binkster posted 11-13-2011 10:29 PM ET (US)
Some seem to think that the catamaran type hull is a modern design. Not true, I can't tell you who developed this type of hull, but over 55 years ago,when I was a teenager, my Dad and I considered building this one called Jet Cat. It was a Glen L design and built from plywood. Glass boats were rare back then and considered a novelty that could sink like a rock. This was before Boston Whaler arrived. Cats never were popular for many reasons, I don't think Boston Whaler would ever consider building one. A modern tunnel hull boat would make more sense, but you won't see one from Boston Whaler either.
Here is a link to the 14ft. Jet Cat, the one we were considering. They also have plans for a 16 footer and a 21 footer.
https://www.boatdesigns.com/14-Jet-Cat-smooth-riding-power-catamaran/ products/329/
pete r posted 11-14-2011 05:20 PM ET (US)
My Dad and family built a 18 foot plywood cat/cabin cruiser back in the 60's. A Bensen & Shaw design.
It had the double hull front and tapered back to a mono vee at the stern.
It was powered by a 75hp. Evinrude. The boat was amazingly fast on the plane and with the semi vee (similar to my conquest)allowed the boat to be stable at sea.
I remember dad was able to keep us to his mates boat once when we raced back home to beat a squal in.
My dads rich mates boat was the lastest 20' Bertram powered by a 327 Chevy inboard/outboard.
I recall both boats were bouncing well clear of the water and I thought this was it.
Our boat was making terrific cracking noises every time we flew off a large wave and landed.
All I could do was hang on! Hang on to something I could get a firm grip of.
Looking back it was the ride of my life.
Our boat showed up a few extra hair line stress cracks after the event and I was instructed to say nothing to mum about the outing.
Unfortunately being a timber boat it required a bit of work, but thinking back now I reckon it was great design.
To reproduce that design with modern materials would be a real winner.

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Author	Topic: Catamaran Hull
contender	posted 11-11-2011 09:30 PM ET (US) If Boston Whaler built a catamaran hull (20-26 ft range) would you purchase one? Twin engines could be mounted one behind each hull with a dive platform in the middle....
power2boat	posted 11-11-2011 10:35 PM ET (US) Catarmarans have their place.Lots of Pros and lots of Cons. Too many to list,and it is very debateable. Have owned a 14',22'and a 30' power cats in my time. I'm satisfied with my 22' Boston Whaler now.
sosmerc	posted 11-11-2011 10:36 PM ET (US) Whaler may have their hands full just building what they have......but a catamaran hull would be pretty cool. They are extremely stable and I like the idea of twins for better low speed maneuvering. If they did do such a setup I'd recommend to them that they keep all of the rigging above the decks. They could do hidden compartments above deck on either side to provide battery and seperate saddle fuel tanks for each engine. There was a boat out of Australia called Shark Cat that was pretty neat and was rigged like this. Very stable and great in big water. The boats behavior in sharp turns took some getting used to :)
Jefecinco	posted 11-12-2011 10:07 AM ET (US) Power cat trailerability (word?) can be an issue, especially in the larger sizes. Towing is not so much a potential problem as is launching and retrieving. I've seen large racing cats trailered on special trailers which transport the cats at a fairly acute leaning angle in order to comply with highway width restrictions. The trailers are adjustable either mechanically, electrically or hydraulically. The cats are loaded and unloaded to/from a level trailer bed. Loading and unloading is accomplished with a crane using a spreader bar with fall cables engaged with lifting eyes fore and aft under deck panels on the boat. I believe I'm on my last boat but if not I would certainly consider a Boston Whaler Power Cat in, perhaps, 17 to 20 feet LOA. I'd need some help learning to launch and retrieve a power cat. I like SOSMERC's ideas about rigging a power cat. Butch
Basshole	posted 11-12-2011 01:29 PM ET (US) That would be my dream boat! I have always liked the Glacier Bay cats a lot. In rough water ride considerably better than anything I have even been aboard. I was blown away by the way that boat handles chop and especially how soft it lands off the backside of a wave. I just can't seem to get away from Whaler's unsinkability, looks and mystique. If Whaler came out with a cat, and it wasn't a flop like the Grady Tigercat, then it would be my next boat. Problem is, there are several companies already doing it and well. Whaler would have to invest a ton of money to develop a cat, and it may not even perform as well as a World Cat or a Glacier Bay. I think that is the problem Grady had. They make great boats, but cats are a whole different ball game. Then there is the question, do you make it a full or semi displacement cat.
Binkster	posted 11-12-2011 09:15 PM ET (US) What type of catamaran should Whaler build, A displacement cat like the world cat or a planing cat like the offshore raceboat cats. I don't like how the World Cat turns at speed. It leans to the outside like a car.
Jefecinco	posted 11-13-2011 09:37 AM ET (US) My vote would be in favor of a planing or semi-displacement power cat by Boston Whaler. I've recently seen a small 16 to 18 foot planing cat in action and it looked to have a good turn of speed. The World Cat I saw appeared to be both huge and slow. I imagine it would have a comfortable ride to match the enormous weight it must carry. The cost in materials for the World Cat must be very high as well. Butch
Powergroove803	posted 11-13-2011 10:49 AM ET (US) I owned a 1999 Super Cat 20 built by BW and have sailed on 3 other SC 20's not built by BW. The BW boat was far superior build, but making the 20 ft into a motor craft would be a little tricky, but there is actually a kit that can be fitted to the top of a Hoie 18 that makes it into a center console. Its called the Wild Thing sold by Rick White, seen it in action pretty stable but not for me. Its more a coach boat for sailing than anything else. The SC 20 has a 10 ft beam, so trailering is out, although it does collapse pretty easy. Justs FYI, the whole SC boat can be purchsed for around $4K, so dont spend too much
macfam	posted 11-13-2011 04:47 PM ET (US) A Whaler Cat is an intriguing concept. I've often thought about it too. I'm sure there would be design challenges. I afraid that in this business climate, it's only a pipe dream. Now would not be the time to spend money into a new endeavor. In fact, Boston Whaler has gone back to what they know well. Basic designs that can make them money. Now we have 15' 17',19,& a 21 Montauk. These are not inexpensive boats! Can you imagine the cost of a 21' Cat? With twins, probably $90K! Anyone in the market for a $90K 21 footer?
Jefecinco	posted 11-13-2011 07:19 PM ET (US) I would be surprised as well as disappointed if Boston Whaler does not have a power catamaran design on hand. Any forward leaning boat builder with in house design capability would almost certainly have a cat design in the files. Perhaps they do not not a build-ready design but certainly they would have an advanced conceptual design sufficient to determine the resources required to build a prototype. With the software available today the cost of a design would be small. Butch
Binkster	posted 11-13-2011 10:29 PM ET (US) Some seem to think that the catamaran type hull is a modern design. Not true, I can't tell you who developed this type of hull, but over 55 years ago,when I was a teenager, my Dad and I considered building this one called Jet Cat. It was a Glen L design and built from plywood. Glass boats were rare back then and considered a novelty that could sink like a rock. This was before Boston Whaler arrived. Cats never were popular for many reasons, I don't think Boston Whaler would ever consider building one. A modern tunnel hull boat would make more sense, but you won't see one from Boston Whaler either. Here is a link to the 14ft. Jet Cat, the one we were considering. They also have plans for a 16 footer and a 21 footer. https://www.boatdesigns.com/14-Jet-Cat-smooth-riding-power-catamaran/ products/329/
pete r	posted 11-14-2011 05:20 PM ET (US) My Dad and family built a 18 foot plywood cat/cabin cruiser back in the 60's. A Bensen & Shaw design. It had the double hull front and tapered back to a mono vee at the stern. It was powered by a 75hp. Evinrude. The boat was amazingly fast on the plane and with the semi vee (similar to my conquest)allowed the boat to be stable at sea. I remember dad was able to keep us to his mates boat once when we raced back home to beat a squal in. My dads rich mates boat was the lastest 20' Bertram powered by a 327 Chevy inboard/outboard. I recall both boats were bouncing well clear of the water and I thought this was it. Our boat was making terrific cracking noises every time we flew off a large wave and landed. All I could do was hang on! Hang on to something I could get a firm grip of. Looking back it was the ride of my life. Our boat showed up a few extra hair line stress cracks after the event and I was instructed to say nothing to mum about the outing. Unfortunately being a timber boat it required a bit of work, but thinking back now I reckon it was great design. To reproduce that design with modern materials would be a real winner.