New TomCat 25

[thataway]

CStandard--some of the reviews with the words spray and slam may have been written by me. I considered three boats (after a lot of sea trials and reading--mostly in the fishing forums, where the cats are harshly reviewed.) I thought that going into the waves the Glacier bay 2690 had a better ride (but that was not free of spray and some noise). I found that the engines and trim made quite a bit of difference in the two Tom Cats which I sea trailed. The World Cat also has a good reputation--but the accomidations are no where those of the Tom Cat--Also the Glacier bay has a much smaller pilot house, does not seem to have quite as good fuel economy.

If I was going to be primarilly fishing I probably would have gone with the Glacier Bay 2690--however this is only based on performance into the waves:--down wind/waves, the Tom Cat 255 wins hands down. Not only wins--but remember that one of the Glacier bay 2690's capsized in what were described as moderate conditions and there was loss of life! That chinced the deal for me!

For a cruising boat--which can run in up to 3 foot surface chop--and 6 foot seas, the Tom Cat is fine--if you want to go to 4 foot chop--and that is huge--winds in the storm category--you might be better off with another boat. However in beam seas and down wind/seas the Tom Cat 255 is much better behaved. It slow speeds/trolling--the boat handled well.

I could have purchased any of these boats. I choose the Tom Cat. Reason is accomidation and layout, 8' 6" beam for trailering, quality of construction and handling in most conditions. As for it being "Crapola"--I think you need to really rethink that statement until after you have done some serious research.

If you notice my post on the boat I trialed at Wefinger's I was running at 24/25 mph along side a Regulator, 26 degree deep V--acknowleged to be one of the, if not the best riding monohulls in 3 foot seas, with no problems, except some spray in the cockpit--and occasional spray on the windshield. The wind was in excess of 18 knots and a fetch of about 10 miles.

If you check the Power Cat forum, you will find that some designers feel that 8' 6" beam is too little for a 26 foot boat....but that is a trade off. Every boat has some trade offs. Come one down to Pensacola after the first of July and I'll give you a ride.

Regards,

[thataway]

One other item CStandard--The Tom Cat is a planing hull--the Glacier Bays and World cats are semidisplacment/displacment cats. You have to understand the theory of hull design/especially cat hull design and dynamics--but there is a difference between the semi displacement and planing cats, so that a semi displacement will do well at 15 knots, and a planing will not do as well at 15 knots. Bob Searles has a lot more experience in the S. Calif waters in his cat--and my comments were based on an hour ride. However I think if the Tom Cat 255 is properly trimmed and propped, that the speed range of 12 to 18 knots is going to be very useful, just as it is in the C Dory 22's. There is definately a difference in the handling characteristics at 20 to 22 mph--and the boat is on a plane. I suspect as people experiment with Peritrims and Doelfins that the trim issues will be resolved (the same evolution occured with the Glacier Bays, if you go back and review their history). The greatest fuel effeciency will be in the 22 knot range. I am putting Navman digital fuel flow meters, and will be able to answer this issue better when my boat is rigged and I have experience with this. Also remember that TomCat 255 are over #40 now--and there have been some significant changes from the frist boats in the brackets, monting height and props.

Regards,

[Byrdman]

Hey Bob... Great notes on fiddling around with things and learning your boat. One of the things I had done wrong....well, that I could have done "more effeciently" with the TC244 was to have ran her with her nose a bit lower.... I had ran her "too high"....and that may be strong...but one day had inadvertantly left the trim down a bit further than normal....and made about a 25 mile run... which was enough to show up upon re-fueling... The Navman for sure will show that too I feel with the TC255s. The cats like to run flat... and yes...they are great boats when you do some research...and you like flat one level floors...and open space instead of little slots to fit our bodies thru.

Hope to see ya soon in Eastpoint area. I heard today they finished up the paint on C-Byrd....and will start the motor retro and other stuff Friday and Monday. I should be back down mid week next week.

Byrdman

[CSTANARD]

Hey Thataway, thanks for the information. I am planning to schedule a trip to the factory for a ride later this year.

I may just take you up on your offer!!!

[thataway]

I will have a chance to see Pat's "new" boat tomarrow. Marc tells me it came out very nicely! We pick up "Thataway" the new 255 tomarrow PM.

Regards,

[Discovery]

Thataway,

Great news Bob, you are going to love the TC255. Get some pix posted, so we all can see the new Thataway.

Brent and Dixie

[rogerbum]

Just out of interest, will the dinghy for "Thataway" be named "Thisaway"?

[thataway]

Actually we have never named our dinghies--other than "Tender to XXXX".
However we have played with the Which a way, this a way etc. The "Thataway" came to us while we were cruising on a friends boat in New Zealand and had just purchased a Cal 46--which had been named "Amadeus"--not suitable for us. We were talking with friends on other boats on the radio (Lowell North on "Got to go" and Dick Deaver on "out o'here"--where to go?)= "Thataway". It was doubly significant, since my wife and I can never agree where we went and what we saw--so it is just easier to say "Thataway"--the logo includes a hand on each side of the "Thataway"--with fingers pointing in opposite directions!

Yes--we will keep a 6' 7" inflatable dinghy for the cabin top, but I suspect it will not be used often, since we will have a ladder on the bow as well as the "diving ladder" on the swim step. In our area of Florida, there is little tide and it is is not unusual to run the bow of the boat on the beach.

We will get an album up in the next few days--and document our rigging--We stopped and purchased some teak for the "electronics shelf" face while we were in Calif.

Regards,

[Bob Cat]

Extremely happy to report:

I figured out how to fool the Xantrex Inverter/Charger into accepting the input from the Honda eu2000i. We now have hot water, microwave, coffee in the morning and battery charging going on, just not all at the same time.

Dive Cat is now at 100%.

Bob Cat

[drjohn71a]

Bob Cat - I was wondering how that Interphase forward sonar unit is working for you? Any interesting experiences? John

[Bob Cat]

We used the Interphase unit extensively on our first big trip to Catalina and San Clemente Islands. My buddy on that trip was a dive boat charter captain and crewman for about 20 years. He was really pumped about the forward horizontal mode for finding submerged pillars and rocks not accurately plotted by charts, or even his own coordinates. The anchoring technique on the pillars is to cross over the highest point, drop the anchor on the other side, then back down, draping the chain across the top or nearby.

I liked the vertical forward mode in close to clearly establish the high point.

Great tool for our purposes. The more you use it the better you get. We also used it to find wreck debris with about 3' of profile in 100' of water. The key to that was moving slowly in a good search pattern.

Overall very high praise for what the unit can do. I, however, have earned about a C for mastering the functions and intrepretation of information.

Bob Cat

[drjohn71a]

Thanks, BobCat, for the info. I had one of the old primative "Probe" Interphase units on my old houseboat which we used alot to avoid grounding in shallows and also to troll ledges. John