Power Cats for cruising

[Simi 60]

And access into the cabin is where?
And how do you access the roof?
Big hole in roof letting water into that now enclosed aft stateroom?

 

[healhustler]

Access to FB is same as any enclosed sundeck through hatch. Through access to stateroom is same as original boat, through hulls and step up. Access from lower helm to side deck would need to be at first window area behind original (third from front) just behind helm and ajacent settee, still leaving much more depth for island type berth. The words “concept” and “photoshop” indicate imcomplete thinking on the level I thought the OP was interested in throwing around. The concept is already working in the Lagoon 43-44, but at over 22 ft wide, expensive slips. Take a look at the raised helm on the 34 PDQ. Weight and buoyancy matched well, I think the concept has merit.

 

[Benthic2]

I will probably never be a new boat buyer. but the idea seems like a good one. Even if you have all your ducks in a row, there is a large component of luck involved.

If you had the greatest design in the world but incorporated in 2006, you were probably doomed from the start.

You need the right design, the right economy, the right business partners, the right marketing, and a lot of luck.

I have always wondered about the start of radio. Who would invest money in radio stations, if people didn't own radios.....and who would invest in a radio manufacturing plant, if there were no radio stations.....

Someone has to just defy logic and go for it. Steve Jobs said something like people don't know what they want until we show it to them.

Crowd source funding is changing the way things go from inception to creation.

If you get serious though.....get a TV crew on board early......if the boat company doesn't make it, the reality TV show might.

Its a Brave New World.

 

[healhustler]

Here ya go, Simi. Just for you.

 

[Simi 60]

Here ya go, Simi. Just for you.

But the gunwhale is the side deck height.
The cabin side is about 3 ft high.
Great door for midgets but not much good for anyone else

If you lower the side deck to full door height, so inline with the bridge deck panel and so the existing gunwhale line is now a bulwark, you restrict headroom in the hulls to 3 ft.

 

[healhustler]

Simi: Compare with previous pictires. I raised FB and sundeck about 18”, made windows taller also. Door would need to be cut back just like the door on the original boat to facilitate step down to helm level. Appreciate your critique, BTW. Makes me think deeper.

Interesting to imagine how everything could be worked out. I’ve driven and stayed aboard a 34 in the past when looking to buy one. I’m working from memory.

 

[dhays]

The fact you already rule something out before even looking at it and think R&D will cost $100 million already says something.

I never said it was easy. You like staying in your comfort zone? That's cool. Don't try and fault me because I'm looking to take a chance.

I don’t think anyone is necessarily trying to fault you. You asked about market viability, and folks are thinking about that AND the viability of the concept. It certainly isn’t out of spite, but more out of trying to keep an acquaintance from making an expensive mistake. Heck, if you didn’t want opinions you wouldn’t have asked TF. ;-)

I’m all for the idea of folks trying out novel ideas. It is hard for me to envision the boat you are thinking of but I’d love to see one built. I’m likely never going to do the Loop (unfortunately) but I have to admit that the speed of a cat would be appealing at times.
So I’m not in that market segment you envision.

If you have the excess money, time, and energy to do it, go for it. I’d love to see the finished product.

 

[BandB]

If you have the excess money, time, and energy to do it, go for it. .

The key word you used was "excess". Don't put your financial, mental or physical health at risk with a start up business. If it's money you can afford to lose and doesn't put your health at risk, then do it, consider it a hobby unless or until the time it takes shape as a viable business.

I don't use the "hobby" word disparagingly either. Our current businesses were started as a hobby. It was something for me to do and us to do together. We were not dependent on ever getting any of the money back and hoped after buying them they'd just break even. Fortunately, they did better than anticipated.

I suggest to hope for the best case scenario and strive for it, but always have a plan for the worst case. Know at what point or what trigger you'll say "enough" and refuse to invest more money, time or energy.

If one can maintain the "hobby" thought then it's not nearly as stressful. It's then what one does for pleasure as opposed to golf or mountain climbing or anything else.

Also approach in stages. In this case, the first stage is simply to design and build one boat. If that one boat is then marketable at a profit, you have the genesis of a business. If not, you have a nice boat that you created to either use or sell.

 

[SaltyDawg86]

Here ya go, Simi. Just for you.

Though some tweaks would be needed, I like how that looks. I've been researching a few things, things not talked about here, that would be really innovative and would help market it.


Again


This isn't something that will happen in the near future, just looking at concepts.

 

[MurrayM]

Dare to Dream

 

[Nomad Willy]

The fact you already rule something out before even looking at it and think R&D will cost $100 million already says something.

I never said it was easy. You like staying in your comfort zone? That's cool. Don't try and fault me because I'm looking to take a chance.

Dawg,
Usually when yo respond to somebody you call them out by name like the above so we all know what you’re responding to.

I usually write .....

Salty Dawg wrote;
“Bla bla bla ...... “

Then respond. Then we know what we’re talk’in bout.
And since you’re thin skinned I’m not pick’in on you as there’s probably a few hundred others that need to respond clearly also.

 

[SaltyDawg86]

NOMAD WILLY


.....Did you really just call me thin skinned? ??? Oh that's funny.

Also, when you quote someone... That's usually who you're responding to. Sorry to confuse you.

 

[South of Heaven]

Salty Dawg: This guy is selling his powercat company for $300k. Check it out. Possible resurrection??

Blue Planet 32E Test Drive - Blue Planet Catamarans - Setting the Environmental Standard - Powered by Torqeedo electric outboard motors

 

[Gypsyjon]

Power Cat

You are pretty much describing a PDQ.

 

[Drake Bliss]

I am looking at 40' sailboat cats and having the mast removed when I do the loop. The 40 hp motors get 3/4 gal a mile per engine and cruise at 6 knots. I have been told by owners that you can run 1 motor at a time and great fuel saving. Anyone cruised the look in sail cat?

 

[Finally Fun Again]

We've stepped down from full time cruising for 6 years on our DeFever 50 w 16' beam and are in the process of purchasing a 39' Leopard with 19.9' beam. It has taken a year to find one, but good deals can be found coming out of charter in BVI, Bahamas and some USA. LOVE the 3 cabins, the higher speed than 8-9 knots at very economical cost of fuel and the huge flybridge. And, no marina has quoted addtl fees due to beam - same rate per foot. So, look around. The market is very limited at the moment as so many were destroyed during Hurricane Irma last year in the BVI (including the one we had under contract back then!!). I'd do the Loop in a heartbeat aboard this one but been there, done most of that..... Brokers tell me many cruisers are looking for power cats vs single hull due to added space in saloon and all the amenities. We shall see when we go to sell in a number of years....whenever....But we are thrilled with our switch! Closing in the Bahamas shortly!

 

[Duetto]

we've lived on our pdq 34 for 6-9 mo for 13 yrs. for 34' it gives more liveable space than any option i've seen. we've cruised fl east to west and bahamas abacos to exumas. we've had or daughter & husband all of the above, perfect boat for fl/bahamas....gulf stream not so much. also we did icw to ne 6 yrs. perfect for that too.

we almost bought a 41 but it lacks a u-shaped dinette. when you live on a boat think about where you're spending your time and how you'll be comfortable.

 

[BandB]

We've stepped down from full time cruising for 6 years on our DeFever 50 w 16' beam and are in the process of purchasing a 39' Leopard with 19.9' beam. It has taken a year to find one, but good deals can be found coming out of charter in BVI, Bahamas and some USA. LOVE the 3 cabins, the higher speed than 8-9 knots at very economical cost of fuel and the huge flybridge. And, no marina has quoted addtl fees due to beam - same rate per foot.

Transient rates won't be an issue. However, full time slips in some marinas will be as you won't fit in many 40' slips so forced to a larger slip you'll end up paying the rate per foot on a greater number. It just depends on the slip widths at the marinas you speak to.

 

[Simi 60]

.

we almost bought a 41 but it lacks a u-shaped dinette. when you live on a boat think about where you're spending your time and how you'll be comfortable.

You can lounge comfortably into a corner
You can't with a curve

 

[hmason]

The wife and I boarded two models of these cats at the Palm Beach, FL boat show. She fell in love with them as a liveaboard platform. In fact, I think she would have stayed on them all day if she could. I know nothing beyond the salesman’s spiel but I must admit they were most intriguing. Overblue - A New Lifestyle

 

[Insequent]

The wife and I boarded two models of these cats at the Palm Beach, FL boat show. She fell in love with them as a liveaboard platform. In fact, I think she would have stayed on them all day if she could. I know nothing beyond the salesman’s spiel but I must admit they were most intriguing. Overblue - A New Lifestyle

The exterior aesthetics, well, I might be able to learn to live with them. But the rest is downright impressive. This range is the closest to the OP's desires yet. I looked at the specs of the 58, and it fits into my (mono) 18m berth quite nicely. The fuel/speed graphs look pretty good as well.

 

[MurrayM]

The exterior aesthetics, well, I might be able to learn to live with them. But the rest is downright impressive. This range is the closest to the OP's desires yet. I looked at the specs of the 58, and it fits into my (mono) 18m berth quite nicely. The fuel/speed graphs look pretty good as well.

Me-thinks the Overblue's are more pontoon boats than catamarans.

Two things that would concern me are the hull shape between the pontoons which would compress oncoming waves into an explosive shuddering ride, and a very large opening hatch on the bow easily within reach of waves encountered in category B waters.

Then again, if someone gave me a mobile marine luxury condo I might quickly adjust

 

[sdowney717]

As you can see to the left my current boat is the 10.4 planning version of the Kingfisher 1200 mentioned above. The 1200 is a nice boat but the cabin space is almost exactly the same as mine, i.e. too small. The factory is about two miles from my house.
Also they have gone with Hyundai diesels on shafts which means they have to be mounted a long way forward to get an acceptable shaft angle. Any further and they would be under the cabin rather than having cockpit access.
My boat has stern legs which I don't like but it is all a compromise right?
I would suggest V drives as a better bet in a small boat. You get a shaft drive on a decent angle and the added bonus that the engine can be jacked up a bit for better service space.
To me as a one off, an alloy displacement cat with shafts is a great idea, but maybe this is a better choice?
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1475708585

Lokos great except I see a big dent in the middle of the fridge door. That would prevent me from buying it.

 

[DDW]

Me-thinks the Overblue's are more pontoon boats than catamarans.

Yeah, a condo built on floats. All their pictures show them on flat calm lake waters. On a sailing cat, "bridgedeck clearance" is a critical spec: going upwind in waves, the wave top can slam the bridgedeck creating discomfort and damage. Anyone who's done this knows it isn't just a little slap - it'll launch you out of your seat.

In the definition of 'boats', that one is way over at the houseboat end.

 

[BandB]

Very interesting design, remind me of a now discontinued brand of pontoon/houseboat/catamarans. I was impressed that the larger boats meet EU CAT A specs and would love to test one in rough water. Space utilization is very nice and the arrangement is great for warm weather boating. Could see as a great loop boat. Looks taller than it apparently is, which does make me wonder about headroom. Not a catamaran in the sense I think of one with the two hulls having livable space and being wider as they are more like pontoons in design. They're open about the houseboat half. Would make it great for inland rivers and ICW. Draft is on the deep side for all but the smallest model, however, but we did the loop with a 5' draft and it's only 5'3". Just a personal preference but I don't like helm up, galley down, especially for loop or cruising where preparing and eating meals while underway. Is a boat that if it's at a boat show near where I am sometime, I'll have to make an effort to get walk around.

 

[Miz Trom]

SaltyDawg:

We looked at all the catamarans available 3 years ago before we ordered a monohull.

All of the cats we perused were too beamy. The C-Dory Tomcat was too small for two adults and two dogs. If a Tomcat-style vessel could be built longer - about 32-35 feet - and with a flybridge, now that could be a cool and reasonably comfortable boat.

Back then we were looking for exactly the boat you envision and could not find one. I hope you do it!

Best Regards,
Pea

 

[Benthic2]

I can't imagine the Overblue in rough water. Punching into a 4 or 5 foot head sea would be brutal!! You'd probably come to a complete stop on each wave entry.

 

[MurrayM]

Lots of articles and links to builders of power catamarans here:

Power Catamaran World

 

[Simi 60]

Here's a good one with actual runs on the board
Australia to Kota Kinnabalu and beyond.

https://www.multihullsolutions.com....arans/2014-chamberlin-1200-powercat-catchcry/

 

[Miz Trom]

Here's a good one with actual runs on the board
Australia to Kota Kinnabalu and beyond.

https://www.multihullsolutions.com.a...rcat-catchcry/

Great photos of the Chamberlin's hull shapes on that website. Intriguing hull form, a fine entry that contours aft to flat with a keel. If you look in the bottom right of the first photo and the bottom left of the third photo you can see the edge of the flat hull at the stern. (I wish I had studied Naval Arc!)