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Topic: Fishing Catamarans (Read 9740 times)
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bayfish
Administrator
Full Member
Posts: 134
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I have longed for a fishing cat for about three years now and had a hard time understanding why anyone would pay $80k for a 26ft center console, regardless of what they called it, but I now understand. HOWEVER, all catamarans are not created equal. I have boarded Glacier Bay, World Cat, Grady White, and Pro-Kats and there is a serious difference in fit and finish between them. Lift the fish box covers, peek inside the anchor locker, pay attention to dry weight and watch the floor when you walk on it. If it bows now, wait till you're underway in rough seas. The World Cat is rock-solid. When you board any of these boats, the first thing you will notice is that they don't pitch the minute you step on them. This is even more noticeable while drifting in a short chop. Monohulls roll perpetually whereas cats stabilize quickly.
THE RIDE
Let me confirm first hand all of the reports you have all heard about how fishing cats are much more stable at rest than a mono-hull and how they take rough seas far better! I went for a ride on Thursday in a 26 World Cat center console with twin 200 Yamahas and was ASTOUNDED at the boat's ability to handle seas, wakes and even breaking seas. The wind was blowing out of the SE at about 30, with breaking, white-capped 4-6's in the Jones Inlet and we proceeded to blast through it at 32knots head on, beam to and in following seas. It was utterly ridiculous how far ahead of mono hull handling this boat was. We then proceeded to sit at the mouth of the inlet beam-to with the motors off and believe me when I tell you we could have fished comfortably if it weren't for the fear of breaking walls of water! I would compare it to 2-3's in a monohull and I'm not exaggerating. There were about 20 mono hulls at the other end of the inlet, but none ventured out to where we were sitting- NONE. Then it was off to find battlewagon wakes and cut straight through them. This was a wierd sensation to say the least. You all know the sensation when you boat slams on the second wave of a large wake... well it didn't happen at all on the cat; she just cut right through. I found there was no need to brace yourself. I compare the shock of driving one of these for the first time to the birth of your first child- all the stories in the world can't prepare you for the experience and they don't make a damn bit of difference after the fact.... All I can say is if you're open minded enough to look past the appearance of a cat and care about your experience at sea, give it a try.
THE DRAWBACKS
Now for the drawbacks. First there is a huge difference in the way a cat handles in turns vs. a monohull. If you have ever driven a go-cart or corvette, they handle similarly-none of them roll in turns. Truthfully, they should do away with the leaning post and put in a set of racing bucket seats as you could easily go flying when those hulls dig in(Imagine driving a corvette into a sharp off ramp at 60 with a bench seat and no seat belts...) Under normal circumstances, this probably doesn't happen, but on our test day, we ran down the face of 5-6 footers and just cut the wheel to test the stability of the boat and was amazed at it's grip. It almost like a quick roller coaster turn. Truth is, you shouldn't try turning beam-to in a following 5-6 foot sea, but just in case, you have been warned! Second, when suffering through 5-mph areas, small chop slaps the underside of the tunnel between the hulls and provides a sensation similar to bottoming out in a car. The solution is a little more throttle. Both of these issues are minor drawbacks when compared with the catamaran's handling and seaworthiness as a fishing platform! Minor indeed!
POWER
With twin 200hp Yamahas, the boat cruised at 36mph turning 4000 rpms and topped out at 50.1 at 5200 rpm's. There was only half a tank of fuel, but boy does this boat perform! If you are considering one, don't wait any longer, just do it! Four strokes are wonderful, but don't opt for 120hp less on a boat that should be rigged with 400+ horsepower- you will be disappointed.
If I had to venture a guess, it would be that I will never own another monohulled fishing boat. Beyond that, I estimate that fishing cats will become more popular in the northeast over the next few years as people begin to grasp the benefits of well designed twin hull boats. Catamarans are certainly not new, but when introduced to die hard monohull owners, most thumb their nose at something they have never tried. Hey, my grandmother said her toaster worked just fine until we bought her a microwave; not she can't figure out how she lived without it... sort of like me today... 
Enjoy!
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« Last Edit: July 28, 2002, 02:09:59 AM by bayfish »
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thefishtank
Newbie
Posts: 1
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where do you boat i keep my cat in Freeport and I love shooting through the inlet regardless of (more or less) conditions. the one sensation I dont like is the snapping of the cat(cat snap) when wakes are spaced just right, like on one sponson and another is between hulls. That action threw me across one side of boat to the other, almost in the water and it hurt, while drifting eels in jones inlet. I am 6'1" 265 lbs. have you had this pleasure yet ?( its happened about 5 times since last year with 134 hours on water) Cats are great i still dig getting the stares as I go roaring by to where ever it is I am heading. give me a yell on 68 the name of the boat is fishtank a 27' Baha King cat My name is Dan I am off of work the whole summer all i do is fish. Good luck on yours, its a great boat the Glacier Bay!! later Dan
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bayfish
Administrator
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Posts: 134
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Great to hear of another cat owner local. The boat is in Freeport at Guy Lombardo. I am loving this thing!
With regard to the snapping action when drifting tightly spaced waves, I have experienced it a couple of time- not fun. With every few positives, there seems to be a drawback and this is one of them. However, I wouldn't trade the ability to power through seas without issue for a smoother drift in short chop- that's for sure. On an average trip, we are running over 30 miles like it's nothing and we are able to get off of the boat when we're done! We have also been fishing 4 guys on one side while drifting with no problems or excessive lean. Try that on a monohull!
The boat is a World Cat 266SF and is simply awesome!
Tight Lines and welcome to the board.
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« Last Edit: September 13, 2002, 11:25:00 PM by bayfish »
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striker 3
Newbie
Posts: 1
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i have a 25ft wellcraft airslot that kinda has the same advantages of a cat the fishing of 4-5 guys on 1 side without it leaning although powering through rough chop is not as clean as a cat but is allot easier to do than in a normal vee hull boat i hope one day to purchase a cat because i have not heard a bad thing about them but for now its the airslot  and maybe in the future a cat....... tight lines fellas
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bayfish
Administrator
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Posts: 134
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Striker 3,You're moving in the right direction! I wasn't aware that Wellcraft made a hybrid type boat. Do you have a picture of the boat? If so, post it in a reply. If only people would catch on to the advantages of a cat... We fished with four 200 pound plus guys in 4-6 foot seas with all of us on one side of the boat and I'm not exaggerating. Below is a picture of the boat.
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Sand Box Bob
Newbie
Posts: 20
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I am glad to hear your reports about the CATS, I just got back into fishing & boating after a three year break. I just purchased an 18 foot grady, very nice boat but I have been looking at the CATS online and want something bigger. At 26 feet and 80K I would probably want a walk around with a small cabin, does anybody know if any manufactures make one with a cabin?
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bayfish
Administrator
Full Member
Posts: 134
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There are several manufacturers offering a walkaround type boat:
WorldCat: http://www.worldclasscatamarans.com. Best used boat for the money in my opinion.
Pro-Sports: http://www.prosportsboats.com/ More affordable, but not as well made. You'll see the difference right away when you board one.
Glacier Bay: http://www.glacierbaycats.com/ Very pricey, but awesome boats.
Sport Craft: http://sport-craft.com/sportcat/cathome.htm they offer value for the dollar.
LeisureCat: http://www.leisurecat.com.au/ (great boat, but pricey)
Renaissance Cats: http://www.renaissancecats.com/ (custom boats with excellent structural soundness and great attention to detail when it comes to fit and finish. I wanted the 306, but couldn't afford it. They broke the nyc to bermuda record by six hours in that boat.
Try searching yachtworld.com for any of the brand names to see prices. Also, another great resource is http://www.boattrader.com. Their layout is not as easy to use, but the info is all there.
Good luck and feel free to shoot any questions my way. I'm not an expert, but have a pretty good understanding of their high and low points.
Here's a thought- which boat do you think will hold up longer- one that pounds every time the seas get a little snotty or the one that rides smoothly in three foot chop and glides like a knife through other boats' wakes?? Not to mention how long you're going to hold up!
Nothing beats a CAT!
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« Last Edit: November 16, 2002, 11:01:48 PM by bayfish »
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Sand Box Bob
Newbie
Posts: 20
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Hey Bayfish, Thanks for the web sites I will check them out. The reason I am looking for a Cat is to feel confident in rough water. I used to fish alot on a 20 foot Grady walk around, nice high freeboard for a 20 foot boat, while the 18 foot sportsman I now have is a solid boat it doesn't inspire the confidence that the walk around did. For me I think its because the front of the boat is unobstructed and 3 foot chops from my perspective (at the helm) look a bit daunting. Perhaps its because of my inexperience at the helm (while I fished for many years I rarely piloted the boat) and maybe the sportsman would be fine, it just doesn't seem that way when I am going through the slop on the north shore. I figured the Cat would inspire more confidence and I would certainly like a smooth ride getting to the fishing spots. October November are some of the best times to fish and I haven't gone out that much because I don't feel confident in the boat. I believe I will definately purchase a Cat next year, mostly it is a question of getting one I can trailer or finding a slip and buying a larger boat. Thanks for you help, will keep you posted on my progress and when I purchase. 
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bayfish
Administrator
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Posts: 134
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You're welcome. You are correct about the additional confidence, the boat certainly brings that, but above all if you feel uncomfortable and have limited time behind the wheel, go back because you are likely correct. There will always be another day to fight the good fight. Your back will thank you. ;DThere are some very affordable 20ft cats made by Nautico I believe. Check them out as well as I met an owner early in the season who sang the praises and it really had quite a bit of fishing room despite it's small size. What I really liked about it was that it was all business, no shiny surfaces inside the boat- hose her down and go home!Good luck with the new purchase.
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Sand Box Bob
Newbie
Posts: 20
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Hey Bayfish, well it took a year but we finally bought a cat this week. I am on the North Shore and need to trailer my boat, no slips or dry stack near my home so a 26' was a bit too big. We bought a 2003 Glacier Bay 2260 with a few options. Won't be able to use it much now but am lookin forward to the start of the next season. I have a 2001 Grady WHite Sportsman for sale with 150 Yamaha 150hpdi with 92 documented hours if you know anyone interested. Thanks for all your help in the past.
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bayfish
Administrator
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Posts: 134
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Bob,
How do you like the new cat? I'm dying to hear your opinion and am certain you're enjoying it.
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Sand Box Bob
Newbie
Posts: 20
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Hey Bayfish, Love the new cat, still can't get over how smooth it rides and how it handles a chop. Not as fast as I would like 35 - 39 mph depending on the load. It fishes great and the twins make docking a breeze. Found a slip for her and am getting it bottom painted this week. The head in the port sponson is great for the ladies and a great place for storage. Driving a cat is surely a bit different, I have about forty hours on her now and can see that it is going to take the rest of the season and maybe more to get the most out of her. In the meantime it is very enjoyable learning to drive this gal. How the World Cat doing. That 26er is a great boat.
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bayfish
Administrator
Full Member
Posts: 134
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The Cat is for Sale! $40k gets you the boat, trailer, electronics and an EPIRB! Cannot beat that with Twin Yamahas. I didn't use the boat at all this season as my fishing partner (my brother Jay) moved to the country in PA and business was hectic. It is still shrink wrapped and winterized. As the saying goes, my loss....
Anyhow, I put 68 hours on it in three years and had a ball. If interested, email and I will respond immediately.
Thanks.,
Anthony
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okuma
Newbie
Posts: 2
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did you sell your cat yet please let me know
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