Lightest Tender/Dinghy/Dink to Carry 6 pax plus luggage?

[hoytedow]

Would the 18ft. Freighter Canoe or a similar variant be acceptable?

[hoytedow]

Freighter Canoe Performance

[sabahcat]

Something like this, but stretched?



I am toying with the idea of something along these lines as I like the high sides

http://www.websterstwinfisher.com.au...isplay=130892#





To sit on a platform aft of the back beam of the cat I am finishing

Plan on building it from sheets of Polycore-Preglassed-Panels and powering with something like a Tohatsu 18

[CatBuilder]

The freighter canoe may not work... we aren't sold on its dockside appeal or the seating for the guests.

The PT Skiff is COOL! I like that one. It looks like a launch, which is a great image. It is a bit weighty, but maybe everything in this thread that can carry 6 pax will weigh a lot? I like the price on the PT Skiff a lot. I also like that it could be made from scrap from my build.

I really like the Schionning VT-330 and the Webster. When you are making a statement that you prefer cats by owning/building one, you ought to extend that stance to the tender as well.

So to expand on that, are there any really small power cats available in the States?

What about building a Schionning or Webster out of ply/epoxy?

[jonr]

You can get a inflatable tunnel hull/catamaran that will take you all the way to the beach and back (ie, right through the surf):

http://www.aquasports.cn/?p=12&c=7

Great price and performance (I have one). They have other models if you want something more civilized.

[cavalier mk2]

How about a power cat that can also function as the power sled for the mother ship? 500 lbs is a lot of weight on a boat for a tender only but fine for something that carries your engines.

[CatBuilder]

Originally Posted by cavalier mk2

How about a power cat that can also function as the power sled for the mother ship? 500 lbs is a lot of weight on a boat for a tender only but fine for something that carries your engines.

OH MY GOD that's a very interesting idea!

Is there a way anyone can think of to dock a power cat to the mother ship in some way that is seaworthy in "perfect storm" conditions, but that will also allow us to de-mount it for use as transportation and entertainment for our guests?

If workable, this idea is brilliant!

Thanks!

[cavalier mk2]

I'm afraid to use the proa word but it is an idea I sketched out for a amidships sled while contemplating the mythic beast like everybody else. For a cat having it farther back makes sense. I had the front useing decent diameter aluminum tubing for the pivot with socket clamps on the mothership fabricated out of a lerger section. There are many ways to hinge it as long as it doesn't rack. The back end floating keeps the engines immersed , for fun I even doodled with a long tail version having a central prop between the hulls. A thick enough hull to take the wave impacts and reasonably high retraction complete the package. It is not enough to raise the back end, it also has to be restrained from vertical travel caused by wave impacts. The neat thing is you can have a wide sled with 2 engines and retain good maneuverability.

[cavalier mk2]

One possibility for your perfect storm conditions was being able to pivot the tender upright onto the capsized under deck of the mother ship for a life boat or tow over assist for capsize recovery. I think that big Atlantic could have used one....

[Submarine Tom]

Ahhhh, a tow rope...

-Tom

[cavalier mk2]

And some flooding in one end......For docking I looked at angled rails to guide up the bow pivot tube after attaching a tackle to pull it up into position before clamping or lifting lever hooks. People have had dinghy/sleds before so there should be some out there to look at.

[sabahcat]

Originally Posted by CatBuilder

OH MY GOD that's a very interesting idea!

Is there a way anyone can think of to dock a power cat to the mother ship in some way that is seaworthy in "perfect storm" conditions, but that will also allow us to de-mount it for use as transportation and entertainment for our guests?

If workable, this idea is brilliant!

Thanks!

This cat in Australia "Fastback Blackbird" had a supposed escape pod/cabin in the middle complete with fluffy hot pink shag pile carpet and a Volvo rear vision mirror.



Never saw it in action but the "talk" was that a couple of pins could be pulled and it would drop in the water and power away on the Yamaha 9.9 4 stroke.

[sabahcat]

Originally Posted by CatBuilder

What about building a Schionning or Webster out of ply/epoxy?

You could, I looked at 6mm but by the time its glassed, additional stiffeners to add rigidity etc, I reckon you'd be better off using polycore or similar

Daresay lighter as well
Preglassed panels would definitely be faster to build

Here is a Great idea that I bet we could market. Ill help you with the function and shake out bugs if you want to team up.


Build a set of three of these Sea Skiffs maybe 24 ft long each Windshields fold down like a Jeep. Each Sea Skiff Nestles and llocks into a docking bay on the hulls of the Catamaran and one in the middle between hulls.

Each Sea Skiff has a little Diesil like a Cummins 5.9 TurboIntercooled which drives a Konard I/O drive. you would then have enough power about 1,500HP to drive the big Mother Cat.

They are used to power the big Cat fly by wire and undock to do double duty as a lifeboat/Crewboat/Tender,Dive Boat, sportfisher, etc

Where in the Northeast are you?

Im in southern Maine.

Capt Walt

[hoytedow]

Do a stretch version of the above..