New TomCat 25

Yesterday the family and I took the Otter up to Cutter Marine for to drop off for annual service. We'd also made an appointment with Gary to go for a ride on the new TomCat 255. This is the boat they had at the Balitmore boat show. It was sold then to someone (congratulations, whoever you are!) who agreed to let them hold onto it for a bit and show it to prospective customers. The TC is outfitted with twin Honda 150s, chartplotter, windlass & delta anchor, and radar arch (no radar).

Cold and sunny, we broke through a thin sheet of ice for the first 100 yards or on the way out the creek. The interior is extremely light and airy, with a full length clear door, cabin windows, and high ceiling. There's no step down into the forward berth and no "passageway" into it as with a 22 or 25 cruiser -- the berth is wide open with the curtain drawn back, and from inside it you can look back right through the door to the view in your wake.

Sea conditions were a small chop and light wind (the gods only provide small craft advisory conditions when I go out on the 22, not when I actually hope for them so I can see how the Cat performs). The interior cabin noise at speed is lower than the cruiser because of the lack of any slap coming from the hull. At 27 knots we could converse in normal voices. At top speed (6,500 rpms) we were going about 37 knots, I believe.

At rest or underway, the boat is as stable as a dock. Heavyweights like me and Gary moving from gunwale to gunwale had little discernible effect on the trim.

In sharp turns at speed, the cat tracked beautifully and on level. No outward lean that I've heard about with some cats.

Thumbs up review from all of the Callahans. 5-year-old Claire said, "Daddy, we should buy this boat!" Her parents said maybe some day!
 
Tom: Great report on the boat from Cutter. Hope that thin ice did not scratch up the front of the sponsons...? We have to be carefule of that at the Cedar Creek Yatch Club in Mt. Juliet TN due to the shallow (8') waters and basically zero water movement back in the pocket where the boats are. The late Owen Bradly took his 45+' boat out with ice one day that was more than likely a bit thicker than he realized. The fiberglass folks like it.

BOB: Congrats on getting your boat home. Truly look forward to emails and post. New owners are picking up the TC24 Thurs/Friday up from FL of this week, so it is a no go for me to come out now..... But, know that I am with you in spirit Brother!!! Keep updates coming... and I have asked Jeff for a line drawing of the TC255 as to allow me to start to work the interior make up and drawings as we talked about.

Byrdman
 
Out today with some folks from Santa Barbara. Launched pretty well, but we had to lay the anchor up on deck so it would clear the trailer roller. Idled around for awhile, then outside we went. 3800-4200, then 4600, then back to 4000. Economy is about 2.18 miles per gallon at 4000, doing 24+ knots, 4 men on board and about 2/3 fuel. We eventually took her up to 6000 and got about 34 kts. She'll go to 6500, but not yet.

The Xantrex unit has some kind of internal fault that has to be reset. Tomorrow. And I have to get the watermaker going. Tomorrow. Fun stuff today. I'll give her her first bath tomorrow, too.

Bob Cat
 
Bob: Thanks for keeping everyone posted on Dive Cat. It's about 10 F and light snow here in Fairbanks (still a long time until we have any soft water). We're learning and living vicariously through your posts -- until we get our TC.
 
This trailer thing is a problem.

The boat doesn't go forward far enough to hit the roller once the stern settles on the bunks, so you have to winch it up. The current wire kinks and breaks the way it goes over a roller bar. Without that wire connected to the tow eye, the bow of the boat is very lite on the bunks. It actually bounces, even with tools, scuba tanks, full water, generator and misc. stuff, and anchor with 35' chain.

I believe it has a lot to do with the weight and leverage caused by the engines extended out from the brackets and my compressor and extra battery weight. The axles probably need to be moved back, too. Right now there's about 1500 lbs at, or hanging out from the end of the bunks. If the boat is not hard up against the bow stop roller even more hangs out over the end.

I got a strong strap and reinforced the hookup on the bow to hold the bow down on the trailer. There has been so much stress on the toe eye that there are now stress cracks in the gel coat.

She's on the trailer. I'll leave at 0400 to avoid traffic getting to the compressor guys. Next comes resolution of the trailer issue. Tim Egan from EZLoader has been in touch. Based on what I've experienced, the whole trailer winch/stop system needs to be revisited. And tongue weight needs to be verified before they leave the factory.

Otherwise, I got 4 more hours on the engines, mastered docking (very very easy), and got 2.4 miles per gal, about 25 kts at about 4100 with a small following sea. The after steering is great. Used the head for the first time. Picked out some nice vinyl roll down shades for the head, too. From 3 Day Blinds. I don't think the neighbors will be disappointed.

More later.
Bob Cat
 
Of course, you could always make it a 3 person launch and recovery. One driving the boat on and off, one guiding at the bow stop, and one in the truck with feet on the brakes so the "Park" cog won't explode!

Bob Cat
 
Bob,

Good to see you made it home and are getting some hours on the engines. The trailer on the TC255 is definately a concern for us also. Our experiences have been as you have reported.

1. The anchor fouls on the bow stop when the boat is launched.

2. The anchor roller, even with the anchor removed, hit the trailer bow stop, when the boat was loaded.

3. The design of the bow stop winch stand has a 90 degree bend in the winch cable. It is cutting into the roller, and either the roller or the winch cable will fail in the next few boat loadings.

4. The boat doesn't hold tight to the bow stop as you pull out of the water. It settles back a few inches, and has to be winched forward again to make bow stop contact. If it's not snugged up the boat bob's up and down as you trailer. The dead drag of the boat on the trailer bunks causes the cable to saw into the roller. With that much pressure the roller does not roll. It's only a sleeve over a bolt, not a roller with bearings to take the pressure.

5. The trailer has electric/hydraulic brakes. The electric actuator is mounted on the trailer tongue. This location is too low, and you cannot back in far enough to easily float the boat off, or retrieve without dunking the actuator. The actuator needs to be moved higher on the trailer. If you could back in deeper maybe some of the other problems could be avoided.

Brent
 
The compressor specialists had a look this morning and liked what they saw as far as compressor installation goes. They also like the boat - a lot. Their concern was cooling because it is only about 6" from the inner surface of the transom. He was going to fill a couple of tanks and take some laser temperature readings at various points. We reviewed the options and it appears he can do everything that needs to be done by next Tuesday. Lobster season continues to tick away! What is the fine for poaching?

Ordered some flexible stainless exhaust and cover material to vent the compressor engine exhaust over the side. Ordered a couple of roll down vinyl privacy shades for the head from 3 Day Blinds. They are quick to operate and won't detach. Have attachment at the bottom to hold in place. If you need more privacy than that, I can't help you. Besides, I think silhouettes are cool!

Brent, we're going to get this trailer engineering resolved. At the very least, I'm having them replace the wire with a 7000 lb auto tow strap and appropriate winch. I also think it needs the split design you came up with before to clear the anchor assy. Short memories?

Another joint oversight is the location of the tie-down padeyes on the stern. With the brackets, what do you tie down to. The trailer eyes are too far forward and only good for a tie all the way across to the other side.

1. The boat needs to be all the way forward with no part of the hull past the bunks. Always.

2. The bow cannot bounce, whether it's tied down or not.

3. The electric/hydraulic actuator must be moved to higher ground.

4. The winch wire or strap cannot be fed over a 1" dia tube at a 90 degree angle. The wire flattens under the stress of pulling the full weight of the boat forward, then breaks from friction trying to hold it in place. I'm not an engineer, but . . . . . . .

5. Three axles with smaller tires would put the boat at least 2" lower and give a little insurance when one tire goes out. I'd be willing to replace tires more often if it meant easier launch and recovery. I'm not an engineer, but . . . . . . .

6. The brakes work well. If you stop fast enough, it helps keep the boat on the trailer.

Bob Cat
 
I'll let EZ Loader deal with the rest of your problems, but the electric brake problem is easy. The electric power unit can be mounted anywhere, as long as it's level. Doesn't even have to point fore and aft. Mount it on the pole that holds the winch, on one of the ladder support braces. Remember, it's just a hydraulic pump, run by an electric motor.

Cut the brake line where it comes out of the side beam, get a hand double flare tool, get a coupler, union and 50" of brake line from an auto parts store, extend the metal brake line to the new control unit position. The control unit has a rubber hose coming out of it (mine does.) Splice in some new wires, and you're done.

I had to move the control unit when I changed the tongue (for a shorter one,) and it worked out great. Looks like new, actually better than new, I like my routing better.

Boris
 
Thanks, Boris!

I may have misled with the "actuator" part. There is also a power supply, by Canadien law, mounted lower than the actuator. If the trailer breaks free, the power supply will energize the actuator to stop the trailer. I think it would make an interesting video! That's the part that makes first contact with the water, and must be moved "up the pole".

I think if the trailer was 2-4" lower with three axles and the electro/hydraulic system was 6-8" higher, we wouldn't be having this discussion. I'm not an engineer, but . . . . . . .

Bob Cat
 
Well, that power supply is nothing but a 5 amp-hr battery and a charge circuit. All it needs is to be moved and rewired. However you're really putting the boat in deep. I have a 12 ft tongue, complete with hitch, that you can have. It makes a bigger turning circle, but you can go in deeper. I put on a shorter one and if you want the longer one it's yours.

Boris

PS: It weighs about 200 lbs, but it only takes a weekend to change.
 
Boris,

The trailer is going in deep, but because the boat sits so high, it still needs to be winched into position. I had to start winching when the boat was 6' away from the stop. My ramp is "normal" and the wind was from the stern. I could drive it up if someone was in the cab on the pedal brake and another person was at the bow stop to direct me. I have an F450 with plenty of tongue length. The overall trailer length from props to receiver is close to 37'.

I want to avoid pushing the transmission with 9K then jerking back with 9K while in Park, or dragging the truck backwards into the water. I've seen it happen at our ramp!

Thanks,
Bob Cat
 
C-Brats,

My thoughts on the trailer problems are, if you're paying this much for a boat it must be right from the factory to begin with, or the factory and EZ Loader must step up and admit the mistakes and make them right. The owners should not have to be trying to rig things to make it work after the purchase.

Brent
 
Bob,

Go down to your local Towing company and ask them where you can find a power lock out for the brakes. Basically they are used to hold the brakes ON while winching cars out of a ditch. But for what you want it would be a great way to save your tranny while powering the boat on the trailer. You simply back the trailer up, flip a switch with the brakes applied, hop out and load the boat. Then flip the switch again, apply the brakes one more time to release and off you go.
 
My first post! What a great site for a guy that wants to buy a Tomcat!

I notice that even the factory often posts. Just one question that I do not see in this thread:

What is the max. load on the hardtop? I really want a flybridge (probably collapsable) with controls and would just love to have one custom from the factory. After market would be the other option.

Any chances? Maybe an option later?

This is without doubt my next boat!!
 
What is the max. load on the hardtop?
Click to expand...
Two Byrd brothers. And their beer.

Sorry - couldn't resist. I'll let someone who actually knows something comment further.

Welcome to our little hole in the web. Glad you found us.
 
Hi, Gary

Thanks for the info. I found the unit at www.mico.com. It's the 02-691-305 model for my 99 F450. $1,700!!! But it does the job. I found a tow truck maker who used to install them, but doesn't anymore. He said there is a liability because they can lose hydraulic pressure and begin to slip. Others swear by them.

For the short term, maybe I'll find some big, giant blocks and take it out of Park.

Bob Cat
 
Hi, CSTANARD

I've never seen one with a flybridge, but that doesn't mean it can't work.

The surface is quite strong. I've been up on mine several times. Since it is already shaped in an arc, it has inherent strength. If some reinforcement was necessary, it would be easy.

Another design concept would be a raised pilot house, enclosed, like some of the early C-Dory's. That would put some extra weight forward but, in my opinion, that would be a good thing. Put a couple of Evinrude ETEC 175's or 200's on there, with some larger fuel tanks and you'd get all the speed you could use.

Welcome to the C-Brats!

Bob Cat
 
Hi, again

The compressor guru just called with the very good news that the unit is okay where it is. They filled a couple of 200 cu. ft. storage tanks to 3500 psi and the hottest spot was "only" 265 degrees, more than 60 degrees below the red line.

So, they'll do the rest of the stuff and get it out on Tuesday. I can't wait to catch my first 100K lobster. I need to catch 3000 2# bugs to make this pay off as a lobster boat! I better get busy.

Bob Cat
 
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