What do I need to know about Tomcats?

[AKnorthman]

Looking into getting a Tomcat in a few years from now and have never ran a catamaran so I’m trying to learn what I can before hand.
We need a smoother ride for getting our older bodies from Ketchikan to Meyers chuck, A run up Clarence strait of about 45miles and it can get pretty steep and bouncy. (Southeast Alaska)
We’re not looking to set any speed records but want to be able to not be as super critical as we are now about the marine weather report.
Thanks all.

[thataway]

The Tom Cat is the best small catamaran cruising layout. The boats can. be fast. top speed of ours which had twin Suzuki 150's was just under 50 mph. In chop we would crank up to 35 mph and get a better ride with more air cushion.

The weak point is that the tunnel should be higher--that is the hulls should be deeper. The hull are well designed. The boat does not sneeze, as some other cats do. The Tom cat is one of the best riding boats down waves and cross waves. But if the waves are over a certain height, there is a point where there is slamming.

If I could find one for sale,--I would get of the Black Feather Marine ChilKat 30 Foot or one of the Tom Cat 30's. . These started life as the Tom Cat 30--6 pack charter fishing boats in AK. I Believe that the molds are still in Juneau. I did get a look at the only (?--may have been more than one?) 30 Cruiser in Juneau a few years back. The 30 footer has good tunnel clearance, and will be a better riding boat in chop over 2 1/2 to 3 feet.

Here is a link the the Facebook page.

Here is a link to the Tom Cat 30 original specs and performance.



I don't think this is the place to discuss other brands. But if you are interested, send me a PM, and I'll give you what I would consider as a "commuter" boat.

In a College alumnae Zoom meeting, I will be giving a presentation on the experience of cruising Alaska in a private boat, One of my other classmates was a naturalist on 10 trips on Linblad Expedition/National Geographic excursions and he will present the experience from the "Sea Lion" or "Sea Bird" which are 70 passenger ships 164' long.. I will be showing some photos of Myer's Chuck.. Love it! We visited Myer's chuck on each of 5 trips in SE AK--4 in a Cal 46, one in a C Dory 25.

[gulfcoast john]

Bob beat me posting while I was typing. Here are my completely unedited comments, which are not much different than his overall.

Welcome aboard!

You have time to research your options.

I often claim that the TC255 is the perfect cruising couples trailerable (24/7 anywhere in the continent without a permit) expedition quality pocket yacht.

It will keep you feeling much more safe and secure than your 22 Angler in true seas up to 2-3 feet (the 100th wave up to twice that) and early SCA warnings. Up to that point, the TC255 rides like it’s on rails and is stable like a barge at rest (no rolling). You may be knocked around in the rough stuff, but MUCH less than your 22, and the boat will take it better than you can. We feel confident going out when conditions COULD but likely won’t deteriorate to Small Craft Advisory conditions (sustained 20MPH winds) and we know we’ll get home safely in the slop.

The bridgedeck freeboard is very low (almost in the water aft at rest). On plane, the air pocket provides a cushion that gets better with speed (up to that 3 foot true seas point). Historically, the TC255 used the same sponson molds as the earlier, much lighter TC24, which had transom mounted engines rather than a bracket. Thus a very low bridgedeck, which limits rough water performance. But the builder did not have to manufacture new molds, and that savings is passed on to the customer.

From a boat designer’s perspective, it is VERY difficult to cram everything we buyers want into a beam less than the 8.5’ Federal width and 13.5’ height on the trailer so you don’t knock off your radar or anchor light going under the first bridge or power line. You PAY for that design and its compromises when you specify you that you demand a trailer boat.

We haven’t cruised up there yet, but we will trailer there someday. The costs of requiring a 24/7 no permit TC255 trailer boat include around $10,000 for a near custom aluminum I beam/SS trailer and around $80,000 for a new 2500HD diesel 4WD truck without heated seat massage. Ouch.

If you are NOT going to tow this beast to the Florida Keys, the Chesapeake, the NY and Canadian historic canals, inland rivers (and we HIGHLY encourage you to do all that and so much more), you MAY be able to meet your needs with a larger, displacement cat or used commercial vessel. If you only need to pull it out of the water in winter, a junk trailer might fit your needs just fine.

I read your intended use section very carefully. If you never intend to trailer around the country, a well cared for used Glacier Bay or World Cat 28 might serve your needs better for less overall cost (if you can find one). On the other hand, you’ll get under 2MPG, and have 4x the engine maintenance expenses compared to your CD22, and maybe not many SCA days you would have ‘otherwise’ missed out on.

Wish you the very best as you research a bunch of very fun options!

Ordinarily, I would say PM me with questions, but we will be somewhere in the Everglades later this week. You should be too!

Best,

John

[T.R. Bauer]

I have never had a tomcat, but it is very arguable they are not more seaworthy than a CD 22 or 25. There is no question they are outstanding cruisers and much faster, unless it's bad, and then they are not.....

[T.R. Bauer]

And oh yeah, the most important part of the tomcat....they are awesome!

[cmetzenberg]

I love my Tomcat. Now, the body of water you mentioned i'm not familiar with. The weakness of the Tomcat, as Bob rightly mentioned, is the small tunnel clearance. This makes them not the best for running into chop. When you run out of tunnel clearance it is an abrupt stop. Forget being gentle on older bodies, it hurts my 35 year old body.