Comfy ride @ 25 knots?

Saqa, this is a web forum - in the internet. With all respect do understand that the discussions live their own lives and that the FREE advise you are getting is not always relevant, accurate or jus doesn't apply to your scenario.
You are repeatedly complaining as if this was a helpdesk.

Take the best bits, ignore what you screen as irrelevant, try to steer the topic back etc. That is how web discussions work. But repeated complaining makes you seem entitled and ungrateful.

Just my 2 cents. And good luck with finding a good design.

 

Saqa,

mebee this might suit,


http://www.bodenboatplans.com/product_info.php?products_id=4

We had a look at building one about 12 years ago, looked pretty straight forward although at the time welding sequence inside the Z wasn't clear.
Not sure if the Z is a styling gimmick though?
http://www.bodenboatplans.com/product_info.php?products_id=89 or this?

Jeff.

 

Noted Sorry guys

 

Jeff, the alloy seacat does look good. Looks just like the Cat 22 offered in ply from Batteu. Warrants a closer look. Do you know of any built, online blogs and stuff?

 

Saqa,

Probably best to contact the designer, Pretty sure Troy Munnery designed the Z cat, the Sea cat might predate that, amongst those style of boats they seem to be pretty generic in their form especially in beam to suit trailering width I suppose so long as the structural detailing is good, on that cats always are more complex & I'd think that you might get a more useful & longer mono for the same or less effort & single outboard, maybe one with an S style chine & finer entry, CNC marine has something like that I think.
Maybe try the fishing forums in Aus for some info on how the kits go & real build times I'm sure & the as finished performance.
I might hold some prejuduce on the smaller cats, my memories are from dive charter boats maybe shifting 6-8 divers with their heavyish gear running at steep trim angles drinking heavily, these days I see Maritime & Water Cops doing what looks like 40 through bay chop with what looks like comfort.
I'm no judge on fishing boats usually come home empty handed but just fatten the tiddlers up for later!

Jeff.

 

Thanks Jeff

 

Big job to be welding up a new aluminium cat, unless you are an experienced alloy welder, forget it.

 

Not an issue, I have aimed to get really good at it by three years time and also looking to employ a friend who has a lot of welding experience with large boats. Labor is pretty good value around here and even worth contracting out to someone

 

Looks like there are Sea sleds as well as cats like this one below
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/powerboats/review-self-made-catamaran-50706.html
running around with a single outboard with excellent speed. How would a design like this cope in the chop? Why does it go so well with a single motor?

If that type of design can be soft in the chop like the Sharkys and Seacats then an open cockpit, centre console and a tad higher gunnels looks really attractive option for me. Would really appreciate hearing more on this design as well as the sea sleds

 

There are virtually none of those box-tunnel 'split' vee hulls on the water this side of the Pacific, their reputation is not that good offshore. Why ? maybe they don't always run as straight as you'd like, in all conditions. But there may be exceptions, though they have yet to get a share of the market.

 

At a glance the major difference is the lack of rake on the inside, is this what makes a single motor work? Also on the Hickmans, Plenty of rake but no bridging area like a regular cat, is that what makes the single motor work?

 

Tunnels like that don't displace water/air mix into the tunnel to any great degree, which gives a better flow into the propellor, though for offshore work it still needs to be running fairly low, or you will ventilate the prop too easily in waves. The sea sled does push aerated water into the prop, which is a problem they have always suffered from. Cats with symmetrical hulls can be rigged to run on a central engine, but the prop needs to be deep and in clean water, and by the time that is achieved, you have a draggy appendage.

 

Ok, thanks for explaining that.

I wonder if I have gone astray with looking at designs. Considering my target grounds are close enough to see the wave breaking over the reef and within range of a 15' skiff with an 8hp and my main requirement is a soft daily runner with space and stability to fish two up standing and casting, should I look at speeds in the range of 10-15 knots? Non planing cat maybe?

 

How far do you have to travel, and do you then troll ?

 

Richard Woods and his Power Cat designs may be of interest

"Those lovely slender hulls look very efficient. My ultimate goal is to travel in that elusive 12-16 knot range regardless of chop. Skoota looks to be just what the doctor ordered. "
http://www.sailingcatamarans.com/index.php/designs/6-powercats/262-skoota-20