Help Choosing Kit for Cat @ 43

Wow! So much information about cats! I just joined this page and I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the info. So I decided to reach out to you for your opinion.
After sailing monohulls for years and after going to the BVI and chartering a Pajot, we decided that our lakes here in Canada can use a nice 43-45 feet catamaran. I have gone sailing for trips of 5-7 days in our very large and beautiful lakes for over 15 years. We have big boat houses going around our lakes but no catamarans.
At any rate, we are looking to build one ourselves. We have access to vacuum epoxy foam panels and CNC machines to do our parts. We will have outboard electric engines, solar panels, and back up generator.
We looked at Grainger, Schionning, etc.
We will need plans for our CNC.
Any suggestions on the following:
- Catamaran recommendation (one that we can buy plans for our CNC)
- Motor recommendations
- Mast and rigging.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Ian

 

Kurt Hughes

 

Welcome to the Forum Cat.

I am guessing that one reason why you want to build your own 43' cat would be because of the logistical difficulties in transporting an existing second hand cat overland to your lake?
If this is not a primary reason (ie it would be feasible to bring a cat overland to your lake), then it would make more sense to buy a second hand boat.
Building a 40+ cat is not for the faint hearted - this is a huge project.
Can you commit yourself to at least a couple of years of full time work on a project like this?
(More realistically you might be looking at 3 or 4 years to build it - can you keep up enthusiasm / momentum for this time span?).

Take note of what Richard Woods says on his webpage, re cats over 40' -
Sailing Catamarans - First Choose a Design http://sailingcatamarans.com/index.php/designs-2/5-catamarans-over-40ft
"We do not recommend home builders to attempt a boat over 40 ft unless experienced and want a boat for charter or long term cruising. Most families will find that boats under 40 ft will comfortably meet their needs."

 

You need to pay attention to a few issues.

43-45' cats take very long for hme builders; 5-10 years

43-45' cats are very expensive to slip and can cost the same as double 50' slips

A Wood's Romany is on Superior. Look up Meadowhawk. Nice boat, 20' beam, uses double slip as well, but double 40 I believe.

 

Thank you Bajansailor and Fallguy. Great comments. I find myself trying to defend our decision all the time (it should give me a hint!). However, here it goes: My good friend and I like to sail with our families and friends.
We also like projects and building things. My friend owns one of the largest furniture companies here and we have access to all type of trades such as panel painters, electricians and carpenters. We also have friends in the fiber glass business. We wouls not do the whole work ourselves. We are looking to have one or two people full time or part time.
Part of the idea is to have build a good performance boat that we can enjoy for quite a few years. We will build at 2hs away from the lake and we checked for taking the cat through the roads and it will be ok.
We need advise from people that know about taking a project like this, which boats they recommend and what warnings and advise can they give us. I would like to post the progress here.

 

You mention that your building site will be 2 hours away from your lake, yet you will be able to take the cat to the lake via the roads - what is the maximum width that you can transport on these roads?
I am sure that even with a police escort and all the necessary permissions, it would be difficult to transport a cat more than about 16' wide.
And bear in mind that a performance cat around 40' is probably going to have a beam of at least 20', and quite possibly a fair bit more than this.
You mentioned Schionning - even their 12 metre (39') cat in this link has a beam of 6.5 metres (approx 21').
http://www.schionningdesigns.com.au/arrow-1200

 

Yes bajansailor, the beam would be around 20'. Here in Canada you get a special permit and transportation at night for large units like this one (logging houses or pre-fab houses are transported that way). We already confirm with the transportation company. One of the reasons I think there is no cats in our lakes is that same reason. Very hard to get it here from the coast. The schionning 1200 looks great!
keep thoughts coming! this is a great exercise for us!

 

I believe a Wood's Meander is sailing on Lake Ontario. It would be a bit smaller than your planned size. I think the reason people don't build a Category A vessel for Lake Winnipeg is because the design is more than Winnipeg requires.

The statement of requirements for Winnipeg is not the same as an ocean crossing cat. So you will be building a vessel that exceeds the demands. That is not to say Winnipeg doesn't get a fast, nasty chop, but the boats are designed for even worse sea states than you will likely encounter or want to..

 

I think there is a 50' harryproa builder in the Toronto area.

You might want to contact @rob denney and have a chat.

If you are sold on a ~43' cat then perhaps I have wasted your time, so my apologies.

There has been much discussion regarding a trailerable foldable harryproa that will fit within the 12' rule.

The reasons I would consider a harryproa is the quick build, low cost, and the ability to sail single handed.

Let us know what you choose

 

A female mold would take a year or two out of the build time, I happen to have such a mold for a 44ft performance cruising cat sitting on a trailer ready to haul behind a pickup truck to your construction site, sell it when your 2 hulls are built. Comes with plans, laminate schedules etc. Call me if you have any interest Steve @ 218 349 6020.

 

Who is the designer?

 

Gerr

 

how soon to launch

Duluth build?

I am in Mn

 

Fallguy, we did not build the boat, my son and his girlfriend had been searching for a year or so for a cat to buy that they could put some sweat equity into and avoid borrowing for but they wanted a better performing type than most of the usual suspects, Then we found the mold which was professionally built by Steve Krivacsy, a boatbuilder on Long Island in NY and the idea was to build but after much planning and as they were about to order materials we found a project 42ft Simpson design in Florida at a price they could afford so ended up going that route for better or worse. They have the Simpson ready to go back in the water in the spring, probably as a powercat for now while he gets the rig together. It is inside at the marina in Superior. Meadowhawk hauls out here too. As you are well aware if you are building from scratch a mold allows for big savings in time and materials over any other method, even with a kit, as you would use VE resin rather than epoxy and with a gelcoat surface on the hulls a lot of backbreaking fairing is eliminated. This mold is for just the hulls, everything else would be built from cored sheetgoods which you can infuse on a table, again, VE or even PE resin would be appropriate, of course epoxy can be used but it would be wasted.

 

Yeah. I know Jeff Ilse and have seen Meadowhawk at Silver Bay in her slip several times. He winters in Duluth for the travel lift iirc.

I am in year 4 of my build; so I understand repair vs build.

That set of moulds would be damn tempting if I were looking for a bigger boat.