Newbie with Cat design question

Hi Folks,
I've been sailing an Aquacat for about 7 years and decided to redesign it to go faster. I'm getting rid of the two upright posts and re-mounting the base of the mast to the center of the forward tram bar. Then I plan to use rigging like conventional boats. I'l reverse the sail tie point because the geometry reverses with the mast now vertical. My question is, how high up the mast should I attach the stays and how far back on the tramp to get good vertical stability? Has anyone ever done this before?
Thanx for the help!

 

Just a few notes - I bet you will need to re-inforce the beam you are mounting the mast too - with a "dolphin striker", some sort of triangulation to prevent bending it.

Just going on pictures, you might be better off getting a cheap secondhand mast and sails from another class of cat. It doesnt look like the existing rig will suit the "standard" setup.

I am no expert on small cat design, but I think you are entering a world of pain in radically altering this cat. Have you thought of selling it, and buying a faster class?

 

Do yourself a favor and understand the geometry and dynamics of the process before you start cutting a moving things.

You'll want the new rig (whatever you decide this will be) to have it's CE fall in the same location. Providing sufficient rigging load transmission to the hulls will be another consideration. These loads can be substantial and difficult to sort out by the novice.

I suspect her speed limitations are much less sail plan derived then wetted area and other drag related issues.

 

The Aqua Cat is a very old design which was meant to be an entry level, off the beach cat. Trying to improve its speed performance is like "Putting new wine in old bottles" to use the biblical term.

As has been said. You are better off to sell it, (E-Bay), and buy a good used fast cat such as a Hobie 16 or similar.

 

eeeeek ! +1 don't do it. Flog it, buy a Windrush 14 or even a Hobie 14 Turbo or summin like that. They don't look up to carrying a standard rig from the photos.

 

Are you sailing 1 up or 2 up? There are many performance cats out there that you can buy much cheaper than modifying an older Aqua Cat. I think that you should think about what you are wanting for a boat before taking this project up.

 

Tic Tac, there's a million dollars worth of advice above to help avoid that ''World of Pain''.

If dollars is the problem, hunt your nickle shopper, craigslist, Feebay, or cruise the fencelines at your local marinas.

Craigslist has a Prindle 18 with trailer, needs tlc for $300, I just missed a free 20 footer and I'm going to pick up a free Nacra 18 Square minus sail tomorrow.

Beach cats are waaay out of favor these days, TV is where it's at, but that means great deals are lurking out there for us.