Word meanings of "perhaps" and "always" don't work well together in this instance. Especially when it is clear that the word "never" could be the operative word... pointing a sentence toward any direction desired.
Interesting boats
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Word meanings of "perhaps" and "always" don't work well together in this instance. Especially when it is clear that the word "never" could be the operative word... pointing a sentence toward any direction desired.
Rustybarge
Guru
Thank goodness for Dutch doors!
Wow! Reminds me of Irish cottages with split doors /stable doors .
Great idea .
psneeld
Guru
Mark...does that "dutch" door latch flat against the pilothouse?
One top requirement for my boats is that I have is a door I can stick my head out and see forward at night. If the door is in the way...that is a big problem for me.
I just mentioned that at the marina last night...the 42 Grand Banks for sale at the end of the dock has the same issue, only the whole door is hinged, opens forward and is in the way.
And for those that think there's a way around it...please let me know so I can tell a boatload of people how to fix the issue....loosely meaning...have never seen or heard of a working alternative.
wyoboater
Senior Member
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- In Disguise
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- 1985 Mainship 40 DC
Misty Girl is a dream boat. I had always wanted to convert something like that, but, I don't have the skills required or the money to have someone else do it. I just love the "old school" look....and the sea capabilities!
Rustybarge
Guru
Pilot house catamarans; interesting trawler cat design in a workboat sort of way.
Would make a pretty explorer yacht.
Would make a pretty explorer yacht.
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Nomad Willy
Guru
Rusty ... pretty?
Not IMO.
Not IMO.
markpierce
Master and Commander
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- Carquinez Coot
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- penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Yes, the upper half can be latched against the pilothouse when open, and the lower half can be latched to the upper half when closed or open. One needs a wide-enough deck for the swinging door.
Rustybarge
Guru
Lol!
let me explain; I'm only interested in work boats and trawlers, so maybe not as pretty as a nice tug or lobster boat, but the attraction of a cat is that you can chugg along at 10kts instead of 8 kts, it doesn't roll and you only need small engines.
Of course they also can cruise at 15kts without pushing a wall of water in front of the bow.
I'm investigating the idea of a steel cat as a home build project . ( yes I know that's an oxymoron; steel and catamaran should never appear in the same sentence)
Pilot house catamarans; interesting trawler cat design in a workboat sort of way.
Would make a pretty explorer yacht.
Rustybarge
Guru
Nomad Willy
Guru
Rustybarge,
All the cats seem to have a bull dog ready for action look about them. And I just don't like cats. There are exceptions though. And of course they are often a PITA to tie up at a marina.
Are they the ultimate "stiff" boat? Jerk this way and that depending on the water under them? I don't think I've ever been on a cat. It's common knowledge that cats don't roll but being abeam to a short steep sea I certianly can imagine it.
I Designed and built a cathedral hull that was more than a distant cousin to a trimaran. So my head isn't totally void of multi-hulls and it wasn't exactly a swan. I liked it but I was the creator. That has an interesting ring to it.
One place I would'nt want to be in a cat is broadside near the top of a big breaking wave. No option to slide sideways toward the trough. If one can trip on a chine then I sopze it's possible to trip on a half-hull.
All the cats seem to have a bull dog ready for action look about them. And I just don't like cats. There are exceptions though. And of course they are often a PITA to tie up at a marina.
Are they the ultimate "stiff" boat? Jerk this way and that depending on the water under them? I don't think I've ever been on a cat. It's common knowledge that cats don't roll but being abeam to a short steep sea I certianly can imagine it.
I Designed and built a cathedral hull that was more than a distant cousin to a trimaran. So my head isn't totally void of multi-hulls and it wasn't exactly a swan. I liked it but I was the creator. That has an interesting ring to it.
One place I would'nt want to be in a cat is broadside near the top of a big breaking wave. No option to slide sideways toward the trough. If one can trip on a chine then I sopze it's possible to trip on a half-hull.
I think you underestimate. Certainly there are an almost infinite supply of plans for aluminum cats, but there are steel workboat catamaran designs as well. If you limit your speed to moderate or slow (basically trawler speed) then you'd find them to be efficient, heavy (in a good way), stable and with great load capability.
But you most likely would be limited to no shorter than the 40+ ft size range. Perhaps check out the boatdesign.net forum for designer feedback.
stubones99
Guru
Looks like Bruce Roberts likes either Fiberglass or Aluminum for his cat kits...
https://www.bruceroberts.com/CATAMARAN_BOATPLANS_AND_BOAT_KITS.htm
For a work or explorer style boat, I wouldn't mind steel.
https://www.bruceroberts.com/CATAMARAN_BOATPLANS_AND_BOAT_KITS.htm
For a work or explorer style boat, I wouldn't mind steel.
Rustybarge
Guru
Rustybarge
Guru
stubones99
Guru
I'm not too keen on that waterline window. I am sure it's well braced or even multi-pane but still too big near rough water. I've also seen egress windows on the inner hulls where it can be better protected. Also would prefer a hard top rather than canvas over the fly(ing) bridge.
Rustybarge
Guru
That's a nice cat. The big advantage of steel is its dead easy to weld, whereas alloy is a job for a professional.
The big disadvantage is the weigh: 2mm steel plate = 6mm alloy! I believe 3.5mm is the thinest plate that doesn't distort with the heat of welding.
stubones99
Guru
That is definitely in the BAB class. It is purpose built for work and little else.
What's the black line on the port quarter?
Rustybarge
Guru
Low windows in the topsides seem to be the height of fashion at the moment; everything from small 25' planing boats to superyachts have them....
....nice for daytrippers going out for a picnick on a calm summers day.
Rustybarge
Guru
I think its to keep the beam trawl from hitting the hull when its dumped onto the deck.
stubones99
Guru
Why would the trawl be on the forward port quarter? I would have assumed the trawl comes in astern.
On the starboard the dry stack exhaust goes out of the hull and up above the house. Looks like retrofit plumbing...
Rustybarge
Guru
It states that the alloy hard top was recently added to give shelter; diy is the norm on all these commercial trawlers , they can't afford to pay professional fabricators.
RT Firefly
Enigma
Greetings,
Mr. R. I like cats either recreational or commercial BUT the main gripe I have about them is lack of space to work around the engines. IF one could replace that dinghy storage (2nd picture, post #3104) with a single engine coupled to, say hydraulic or electric drives I just might take out a mortgage on the farm.
Mr. R. I like cats either recreational or commercial BUT the main gripe I have about them is lack of space to work around the engines. IF one could replace that dinghy storage (2nd picture, post #3104) with a single engine coupled to, say hydraulic or electric drives I just might take out a mortgage on the farm.
stubones99
Guru
Dual electric drives would be a great idea, and simply have a genset (or two) aboard for propulsion and everything else. The nice thing is that no transmission would be needed, and reverse would be simply reversing polarity on the motors.
Many cats have prop tunnels or pockets so they can sit on their bottoms without harming the props...
Rustybarge
Guru
Another plus point is the privacy of the two cabins on opposite sides of the hulls.
One engine would work well, but would need an underwater pod to stop the prop sucking air ( ventilation) , which would cause extra drag; twins might be more efficient.
A general rule of thumb is a cat on outboards has about the same mpg as a monohull on diesels; cats have about 40% less drag.
Hmmm....
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markpierce
Master and Commander
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Local Army Corps of Engineers catamaran work boat:
Seen last month at the northern end of Carquinez Bridge while the photo was taken several years ago off Richmond. Used to collect flotsam?
Seen last month at the northern end of Carquinez Bridge while the photo was taken several years ago off Richmond. Used to collect flotsam?
RT Firefly
Enigma
Greetings,
THREAD DRIFT ALERT!!!! Mr. R. "...an underwater pod to stop the prop sucking air ( ventilation)" Not if, as I suggested, an electric or hydraulic "motor" (much smaller physical dimensions and much less need for service access) was put in each pod in lieu of the diesel engines that are usually shoehorned in. The main, single engine could be amidships on the aft deck allowing 360* access for service purposes.
One would still enjoy the separate cabin areas, massive saloon and have all the advantages of a diesel cat without the contortions for performing simple maintenance at the aft most end of each hull whilst standing on your head and potentially soiling the bedsheets...
THREAD DRIFT ALERT!!!! Mr. R. "...an underwater pod to stop the prop sucking air ( ventilation)" Not if, as I suggested, an electric or hydraulic "motor" (much smaller physical dimensions and much less need for service access) was put in each pod in lieu of the diesel engines that are usually shoehorned in. The main, single engine could be amidships on the aft deck allowing 360* access for service purposes.
One would still enjoy the separate cabin areas, massive saloon and have all the advantages of a diesel cat without the contortions for performing simple maintenance at the aft most end of each hull whilst standing on your head and potentially soiling the bedsheets...
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Rustybarge
Guru
Local Army Corps of Engineers catamaran work boat:
Seen last month at the northern end of Carquinez Bridge while the photo was taken several years ago off Richmond. Used to collect flotsam?
Serious piece of kit, looks the business !
Nomad Willy
Guru
QUOTE=Rustybarge;421921]This FP 55' is quite pretty...?
Well sir if you could get rid of the black spots on the hull sides (windows?) and the cover over the FB. Indeed quite pretty then. Bottom pics no chance.
Interesting though that the hulls seen in the bottom pic are so beamy. Must be a very capable boat.
Mark even less pretty that one. As you say though "looks the business".
[/QUOTE]
Well sir if you could get rid of the black spots on the hull sides (windows?) and the cover over the FB. Indeed quite pretty then. Bottom pics no chance.
Interesting though that the hulls seen in the bottom pic are so beamy. Must be a very capable boat.
Mark even less pretty that one. As you say though "looks the business".
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Rustybarge
Guru
Aha, 3 engines. Van de valk in Holland make large 24mtr alloy monohull's with this arrangement and say it is as efficient as a similar twin.
How about a super7 550hp outboard midships instead of a diesel; light, tilts, easy to service.
