Boatbuilder of my power cat

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by JonathanCole, Nov 1, 2021.

  1. JonathanCole
    Joined: May 2005
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    Location: Hawaii

    JonathanCole imagineer

    Identification needed

    I hope to identify who built my power cat, Koru. From what I understand it was built in 2001 in Whangerei, NZ, but that information is unconfirmed. I love this 12 meter live-aboard boat and would like to find the builder.

    Koru.jpg
     
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  2. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    Location: Barbados

    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    I can see why you love your cat Jonathan - she looks very fine indeed.
    Do you have any other photos that you can post of her please?
    And what type of propulsion (water jets, outdrives, shaft drives - or even O/B motors?) does she have?
    A side elevation photo would be useful - there are quite a few folk from down under on this forum who have extensive knowledge of power cats, and I hope that one of them might be able to identify her for you.
    Is there a serial number inscribed on the transom (usually on the starboard side)?
     
  3. JonathanCole
    Joined: May 2005
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    JonathanCole imagineer

    Hi Bajansailor, thanks for the quick reply. I looked for a serial number for the boat but found none. I think it may have been a custom build. She sports twin Ford 55 HP Diesel engines which apparently have about a thousand hours on them. They are industrial Ford engines that were converted for marine use. She uses very little fuel at cruising speed of about 8 knots. She holds 90 litres of fuel in her hulls and is equipped with 90 litres of fresh water tanks and a black tank. She sits in a marina in Hobsonville and a friend is looking out for her for me.
    I am not in NZ just now because the country is closed down.But I hope to return within a few months. I have been working on upgrading her. She seems to have been built as a fishing boat for multi-day cruises. Has a galley with fridge, cooktop and kitchen sink and a shower which I have upgraded with better equipment. The toilet is electric and although it is in the shower room it never gets wet when using the shower. She sleeps six with two double berths on the bottom deck and two single couches which also be use as sleeping accommodations. I have replaced the upper deck rear wall with a solid glassed in wall with jalousie windows. I have used reclaimed Rimu wood to clad the ceiling in the lower deck. Very comfortable live-aboard boat
    Here are some more photos:
    At Berth D75.JPG

    DSCN2911.JPG

    Koru Side.jpg

    Pilot Room Above.jpg

    Rear Deck Wall.JPG

    Ceiling in Koru.jpg
     
  4. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    She does rather look like she was built as a 'one off' and possibly modified a bit from the original drawings - I am wondering if the bulbous bows were added later perhaps, to give some extra buoyancy in the forward sections (?).

    Does she really only have 90 litres of diesel onboard? Even 90 litres per engine is not very much.
    If it is only 2 x 90 litres capacity, have you got room to add additional tankage?

    I saw on a previous post of yours where you were asking about delivery crew to Whangarei that a boatbuilder called @KitC in Whangarei had offered some information - he might be able to remember who built her if you contact him?
     
  5. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Is it possible this is a conversion of a sailing cat ?
     
  6. kapnD
    Joined: Jan 2003
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    kapnD Senior Member

    I doubt that it is a long range fishing boat, due to lack of deck space, limited fuel supply, and lack of fish storage space.
    The tremendous windage and weight of tall superstructure would make it a nightmare at sea!
     
  7. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    The hull shape does look similar to a typical Prout sailing catamaran - here is a 12 metre Escale for sale.
    1996 Prout Escale 39 Catamaran for sale - YachtWorld https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1996-prout-escale-39-7984850/

    And it is similar (in a way) to this Seawind power cat - and Seawinds are built downunder.
    1999 Seawind Venturer 38 Power Catamaran for sale - YachtWorld https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1999-seawind-venturer-38-7838844/

    https://www.seawindcats.com/used-catamarans/
     
  8. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I think it was a sailboat, looking at the underbody, there doesn't seem to be an excess of clearance for the wet deck either
     
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  9. JonathanCole
    Joined: May 2005
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    Location: Hawaii

    JonathanCole imagineer

    Hi Bajan,
    Actually I mis-spoke on the tanks. There are three 90 liter diesel tanks and three 90 liter fresh water tanks. One thing I particularly like about the boat is that all the gear is in the hulls and the living space is all above the hulls, so no feeling of confinement and and excellent ventilation so no smells or mildew. I brought her from Coromandel across a stormy channel to Auckland with wind, rain and 8 foot seas. Never felt she couldn't handle it. The previous owner used the boat for family outings particularly fishing around the islands outside of Auckland. I don't consider her as a blue water boat, but great for cruising the coastal areas. Still plan to add more solar for house power while anchored. Cheers, Jonathan
     
  10. JonathanCole
    Joined: May 2005
    Posts: 446
    Likes: 10, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 58
    Location: Hawaii

    JonathanCole imagineer

    Hi Bajan,
    Actually I mis-spoke on the tanks. There are three 90 liter diesel tanks and three 90 liter fresh water tanks. One thing I particularly like about the boat is that all the gear is in the hulls and the living space is all above the hulls, so no feeling of confinement and and excellent ventilation so no smells or mildew. I brought her from Coromandel across a stormy channel to Auckland with wind, rain and 8 foot seas. Never felt she couldn't handle it. The previous owner used the boat for family outings particularly fishing around the islands outside of Auckland. I don't consider her as a blue water boat, but great for cruising the coastal areas. Still plan to add more solar for house power while anchored. Cheers, Jonathan
     

  11. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Those bulbous protruberances I suspect are an afterthought to get some more buoyancy forward to reduce slamming on the wet deck
     
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