For anyone's amusement: a new "cat"

R

Ron Bennie

New member
Anyone out there want to talk about boats? I really respect the knowledge and opinions from all the members here. While I know the subjects should stick to C-Dorys, I'm interested in any opinions about this new design, http://www.aviadesign.com/MC29/. Let it rip...anyone out there. I just found this today and thought it might give someone else some enjoyment, looking over this design. It looks nothing like the incredible TomCat 255, yet the goal of the two designs seem quite similar. For the record: C-Dorys are the best boats out there.

Ron B.
 
This is absolutely NOT an ad. I've posted here off and on and I enjoy the site a great deal. If this is an unsuitable topic I respect the choice to ignore it or remove it. I'm just hoping for some lively discussion, and besides the TomCat looks even better in comparison...

Ron B.
 
interesting boat but the modern, sleek styling doesn't do it for me.......they don't say how much they want for the demo, I see it does come with a kettle, that's a good option
 
That looks like a Phil Bolger boat! Anyone remember the late, lamented Small Boat Journal? I lost a complete collection 10 years ago, and I have never fully recovered.

Warren
 
I have a friend whose opinon I highly respect who sea trialed the MC 29 and I believe the 30. His opinion after driving my TC 255 was that the Tom Cat rode much better, had a better layout and was a functionally much better boat. Am I biased--you bet!
 
That's interesting Bob. When you compare the video of the TomCat on boatTest.com to their video here, the TC seems far more stable. I noticed that the more displacement style hull of the MC29 also causes it to pitch and roll a lot while underway and at the dock. The MC29 really lifts out of the water as it gains speed...these catamarans are fun to watch. I've read every post concerning Thataway...it's been great for me to glean such fantastic information from such a master as yourself. Thank you!

For anyone wondering, PassageMaker has an ad for this boat on page 223 in the Jan/Feb issue. It's listed at $99,900. Looks like they haven't developed a trailer to use with the boat and are hauling it around on a flatbed. They're also claiming it weighs 4400 lbs! I wonder how many have been produced...
 
Ron, thanks for posting this. The overall look and the cockpit design are not my cup of tea, but I'm amazed that a 29 foot cat hull can be built (apparently) with so little weight. Not to mention the low horse power requirement. Does anyone know what the top speed is with the 160 hp maximum? I also think it's interesting how they made the bow have a V-hull look. That might appeal to some who think that cats are odd looking.

If they redesigned this with a more fishing friendly cockpit and less of a space ship yacht look, this boat might compete with the TomCat for fishing/cruising purposes (my opinion). Also, it looks like the cabin windows cannot be opened. That would never fly with us warmer climate folks.

Brock
 
While your out there in left field go to www.mecat.com and look at a real nice boat. You can't trailer it either and it's cost is 5 times that of our Tom Cat's but what the heck were in left field!
Mike on Huda Thunkit
 
Hi Mike,
I was just going to post a link to the Maine Cat site and see you already did. Prototype under construction. They are predicting 5 mpg on diesel for a 40 foot (overall) boat. Runs on electric motors with generators.
So you gonna fab one up as your next project?

Mark
 
I can't tell if you foks are just being nice or what...but I think that is a real pig... If I wanted a cat I would buy a cat... but it looks like one person wanted a cat and one a mono hull and they could not agree...
This is a C-Dory site....if I wanted to look at plastic shoeboxes I would look at a bayliner site... I don't like those either!!

Joel
SEA3PO
 
I also think its ugly and I believe many others have expressed the same with the "not my style" comments. However the size/weight/claimed fuel mileage are interesting. I'd be willing to bet that if the boat ever gets into production, the fuel mileage in practice won't be as good as is claimed, or the boat will get heavier to solve some design issues that turn up in real use or something else will change. The numbers on that site seem to good to be true in practice.

Joel - The great thing about web links, is that you don't have to click on them if you don't want to..... :idea :wink:
 
Ditto- The Maine Cat (latest one) is beautiful, but the original and second one mentioned are uglier than sin! The first one has incredibly high windage, too. Lots of folks think they can design a boat, but only a fery few can create a masterpiece. Joe.
 
The MC 30 has been around for several years--and the MC 29 is more recent. My understanding is that they are built in the Eastern Europe; Rumania, I believe and imported. The MC 30 is a more "conventional" appearing cat--but the foredeck drops down to form a ramp to go aboard.
As I recollect neither boat is less than 8' 6" wide.

I believe that the boats are vacuum bagged in construction. This may help to account for some of the decreased weight--if it is true. I think that the top speeds are what we are seeing--the Tom Cat is a much faster,and I suspect effecient boat.

These boats are both in production and available. I considered them--but did not go to the point of a sea trial.

Bob Austin
 
Thanks Mark thats all I need, another project, heck them downriggers will take until spring, can you imagine an entire boat.
However you did get the old creative juices flowing and what came squirting out just might fly.
Aside from the projected $500K price my only other objection to the Maine Cat is lack of trailerability so lets make it fit our trailers and our pocketbook!
Diesel gensets running DC drive motors give them quiet efficient power, we could start with a bare Tom Cat and axe those Armstrong brackets. This would let us gain some length if wanted and still be reasonable to haul on a trailer. Next we build in a horizontal 160HP Lycoming running a hydraulic pump and route hoses to the twin orbit motors that would be used for our final drives. We could run twin 37 inch props to further boost efficiency and control them with twin flow controllers. NO Wheel! Just 2 little joy sticks, kind of like a Bobcat skid steer loader. Think how impressive it would be to dock! Think how impressive it would be to lean on these the wrong way while going forward WOT! Heck with this much steerability we wouldn't even need rudders! My performance guestimation would go like this. 40 knots top speed and the ability to troll at 2 knots all with out changing engine RPM. That's the hydraulic advantage! I assume this engine would consume 2 gal per Hr and last forever. With this much torque bad weather would never pose a problem due to the tremendous grab of those big props. You would just chew up that chop and spit er out the rear!
IF any of you doubt these figures you can go ask Alice, I think she will know. I just had one of the men on the chess board come tell me I have to go. Gee, left field ain't so bad!
Mike on Huda Thunkit :smiled
 
For some reason I think the MC29 is aa Graham Shannon design. The guy has drawn some decent boats, though this one dosen't interest me. Now while the Maine Cat is an attractive design and has a good wheelhouse layout, I agree that it has some optimistic expectations. In it's favor the builder isn't new to cats.
 
I have to agree with Joel - that MC, in my opinion, looks like it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. The Maine Cat, on the other hand, looks to be a beautiful boat. Had we not bought this C-Dory, the Maine Cat 30 sailboat is likely what we would be sailing right now. They build a great product, and it will be interesting to see how their new powercat is accepted. If trailerability wasn't an important consideration...

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I have to say that the Maine Cat 38 is one of the most striking and well laid out power cats I have seen yet. One of my peeves of most of the cats up to 40 (and some larger) is the "crawl over the partner" bunks.
This boat has a true "walk around--or maybe crawl around" bunk--much better! Plus a great layout in the upper saloon and pilot house area.

But--I'll bet that this boat will come in at the $400,000 price range--maybe more. As I understand it, the PDQ 41 are in the $500,000 to $600,000 range when equipt.

With the very fine lines and a true displacement hull, it will be interesting to see both what the actual fuel economy, top speed and performance (especially down and cross seas in heavy weather) will be. A most interesting boat...But as noted--not trailerable!
 
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