looking for a stock plywood cat design!

[Briggsm]

I've been looking at all sorts of websites trying to find a catamaran design in the 28-32 foot range. I keep hoping I can find a bridgedeck cabin cat similiar in layout to the Woods Eclipse or the Waller 880 but built in plywood. I think something simple like a dory or V-hull would be Ideal. Something built using chines instead of stitch and glue or epoxy jointery would be cool also. I know I'm a dreamer, but if anyone has suggestions let me know.

[Richard Woods]

I don't have plans (sorry for unintentional pun) for a design at the size you are after. But I am developing a new 34ft plywood chined design that will be somewhere between my Flica and Romany designs. There is a bit about it on my Latest News page, but still a long way to go before it is a marketable design

I am also drawing an updated Sagitta which will be something like a 30ft Eclipse. But that will only be available in foam sandwich

One reason you're finding it hard to find a boat in that size range is that most people want standing headroom on all bridgedeck cabinned catamarans. This isn't really possible at 30ft or less unless you have either a high boxy cabin or very low bridgedeck clearance. I don't like either of those options so Eclipse is currently my smallest design with full headroom on the bridgedeck

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

[rasorinc]

I'm building tis at 30' with full cabin, front bedroom and 6' open rear deck. I have 6'-10" headroom in the cabin. https://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=722

[Briggsm]

Thanks Richard,
I really like your designs, and you seem to be the only designer actively promoting their product(That's a GOOD THING). A Flicka/Romany Hybrid would be way cool! My problem is that I need a custom design yet I keep looking at stock plans. The hulls are where standing headroom is important. the bridgedeck is just a sitting area right?

Rasorinc,
That looks like an interesting project. Please post some pics as you progress.
I want to build a sailing catamaran, but I like anything to do with boats.

Peace
Briggs Monteith

[Richard Woods]

No, there will be full (well 6ft) headroom on the bridgedeck and 6ft 6in in the hulls

Richard Woods

[Chris Ostlind]

You might want to take a look at the work being done by Kurt Hughes.

http://www.multihulldesigns.com/index.htm

While Kurt does not have a specific set of stock plans for the type of boat you seek, there are, at least, a couple of designs in his vast portfolio that encompass that potential and could quickly be adapted to fit your design brief.

Aside from that, I know the guy and he's as easy going a person as you would want for the kind of interaction that is likely before you.

[Tad]

The http://www.easycatamarans.com.au/ seem to be popular in Australia....

[CatBuilder]

Originally Posted by Chris Ostlind

You might want to take a look at the work being done by Kurt Hughes.

http://www.multihulldesigns.com/index.htm

While Kurt does not have a specific set of stock plans for the type of boat you seek, there are, at least, a couple of designs in his vast portfolio that encompass that potential and could quickly be adapted to fit your design brief.

Aside from that, I know the guy and he's as easy going a person as you would want for the kind of interaction that is likely before you.

While we all see Richard Woods here and know he's a good guy with good designs you can and should buy, I wanted to mention something about Kurt Hughes:

I have gone through the process with Kurt and he was quite helpful in selecting the right plans from his site for our intended use. I purchased plans from him for the 45' bridgedeck cat and have no complaints at all. I can vouch for Kurt's willingness to help, easy going personality and fairness in all business dealings he does.

It can't hurt to contact Kurt l or buy one or Richard's plans, too.

In fact, those were the two designers I was down to at the end of my selection process. Kurt does prefer emails... if you contact him.

I'm sure one of the stock designs could be modified at a reasonable cost to fit your requirements.

However, just as Richard points out, it is exceedingly difficult to get standing headroom on the bridgedeck for a cat that size. Kurts plans show this as well. The smaller ones don't have deck houses.

[Briggsm]

Thanks everyone for all of your replies. I like The Hughes designs, they look really sharp. Actually veering off of the topic I started with, the Woods Mirage with a hard top like the one shown on his website might suffice for our family if it had an Isenglass/canvas enclosure...This would probably cut down on build time considerably and make for a more versatile cruising boat. Richard what are your thoughts on this?

-Briggs

[DarthCluin]

Have a look at Bernd Kohler's designs. The KD860 is a bridge deck design about 28', and it is plywood/fiberglass/epoxy.
The website is here:
http://www.ikarus342000.com/CATpage.htm
The P95 also looks interesting, and the 11.5 meter Pelican looks roomy.

[DarthCluin]

You also might want to look at the CSC30:

http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/catplans.html

Good Luck!

[Briggsm]

Holy smokes Batman, is that guy for real? Drawn on the back of a beer carton, liquid nails, AC plywood throughout, yet it looks great! I'm not sure I've got the balls to do it... impressive though!

[cavalier mk2]

Don't forget Ed Horstman, his catamarans are well thought out and have some of the best prices on plans. The are for either double diagonal ply or foam though.

[Jster]

A message from...Briggs' wife.

So, the original thought for a catamaran came from me. I don't have the sailing experience he does, but in order to pursue the dream of cruising, we have to plan for our family, which includes three growing children. I want them to have some amount of privacy which a monohull would not allow, so a catamaran is ideal...we could have four separate berths.

So here are my specifications: four berths, and I like bridge decks that have both the galley and a sitting area. I really like the Flicka except that the galley is below...As far as layout, the Kelsall KSS 33s seems about ideal. But I don't have much practical experience with any of this, just a wife's demands of her poor husband...

Briggs reminds me of the inherent extra work involved in each additional foot, while I try to remind him exactly how much we'll appreciate each additional foot when at sea with three kids. It's a balancing act, too be sure, but in your recommendations, please don't be as limited in the size as my dear husband would limit you...we may be pursuaded to a larger boat. I do have some sway around here...

[CatBuilder]

To get what you desire, you are looking at a 34 ft cat, min. Probably more like 38.

I would also add that a 34' catamaran is quite manageable for a couple. My wife and I have owned a 34' cat and it wasn't all that difficult at all to use/maintain/dock/anchor, etc...