Port of MDI
- Cal's Evals
- ECO 7.5m Coastal Cruising Catamaran
The ECO 7.5 is one of a family of novel multihulls designed by Berndt Kohler. The following figures show this boat in comparison with the average values of 17 other catamarans with waterline length between 22.5 and 25 feet, listed on the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website.
- Radical Bay 8000
The Radical Bay 8000 is a 26 foot long racing catamaran with as much cruising accommodation as could be expected in a small catamaran sailboat. It has twin free-standing masts for a biplane rig plus high aspect ratio dagger boards. The following figures show this boat in comparison with the average values of 20 other catamarans with waterline length between 25.5 and 26.75 feet on the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website.
- Telstar 8M
The Telstar 8M is an early member of a family of small, folding trimarans by Tony Smith. They are fiberglass reinforced plastic sandwich construction, with wings that fold the outriggers down under the main hull for trailering. Its evaluation against the averages of eight other trimarans with overall lengths ranging from 26 to 28 feet is as follows:
- FUSION 40
This 40 foot cruising catamaran compares very favorably with other catamarans in this size range. The numbers for comparison come from the averages of 80 other catamarans with waterline lengths in the 38-40 foot range. These boats are featured in the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website. The numbers, followed in brackets by average values are:
- KD 920 Offshore Catamaran
The KD 920 is a stretched version of the Kohler KD 860, one of a family of novel multihulls designed by Bernd Kohler. It is a wide boat with trapezoidal (flat bottom) hull shape and incorporates anti-vortex panels in place of keels, daggerboards or centerboards. The stretch is a two foot (610mm) plug at the maximum beam point (4893mm from the bow), providing hull space for an enclosed shower, and additional salon space. It increases displacement by 0.38 ton, over 80% of which is additional payload. The intent is to build it using Kelsall KSS foam-cored glass/epoxy panels rather than glassed plywood of the basic design.
The following figures show this boat in comparison with the average values of 58 other catamarans with waterline length between 29 and 31 feet, listed on the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website.
- Pelican 11.5m K-designs
The Pelican by Bernd Koehler of Koehler Designs is a near-38 foot catamaran cruising sailboat designed to be made from a wood/epoxy composite structure. It is characterized by trapezoid shaped hulls with hard chines and a flat bottoms, and cheeks that extend beyond the hulls to provide space for counters, galley, etc. As with many of his designs, Koehler includes anti-vortex (AV) panels rather than keels or dagger boards to prevent leeway. You can read about these on his website at http://www.ikarus342000.com.
- St Francis 44 MKII
This 44 foot cruising catamaran is a bit of a puzzle to analyze because she has a significant bow overhang, unlike most of her sister ships. Thus, it is hard to know whether to compare her with other catamarans in the 44 foot overall length range or 39 foot waterline range. When faced with that, it is always interesting to do both. So in the data to follow, the first value is for the SF44, the second [in brackets] is the average of 34 boats with overall length between 44 and 45 feet and the third is the average of 50 boats with 39-40 foot waterline length.
- GEMINI 105Mc
The Gemini 105MC is the latest in a family of Gemini catamaran sail boats in the lower-30 foot length range. It is characterized by relatively narrow beam, full length bridgedeck and significant popularity. The following information from the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website database shows how this 31.75 foot waterline length boat compares with 49 other cruising catamarans with waterline lengths from 31 to 32.5 feet. Averages and ranges for the comparison boats are in brackets.
- DEAN 441
This catamaran is a conservative cruising sailboat. The specification, performance and stability figures for comparison come from the averages of 31 cruising catamarans in the 42-44 foot waterline length. These boats are featured in the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website. The analysis elements, followed in brackets by the average values, are:
- SPIRITED 380 MKII
This attractive, high-performance cruising catamaran isavailable through Stallion Marine for the do-it-yourself amateur builders, it was designer/builder Craig Schionning. The components are molded and precision cut, then shipped as kits for assembly at the builders site. Details on the design, assembly method and performance can be found on the Stallion Marine website. The Multihull Dynamics, Inc. (MDI) evaluation of the boat in comparison with the averages [shown in brackets] of 50 cruising catamarans with waterline lengths of 36-38 feet follows:
- LIGHTWAVE 45
The comparative numbers for Lightwave 45 come from the 48 catamarans with waterline lengths between 41 and 43 feet featured in the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. Database. The numbers, in bracketsare the averages for this substantial group:
- HUGHES 71' TRI
Kurt Hughes has designed an impressive large cruising trimaran that is over 70 feet in length and nearly 60 feet in beam. Multihulls of this size come in either of two types; cruising boats with good predicted performance and stability or racing boats with extraordinary performance and less stability. This boat is one of the former.
- OCEAN CAT 49
The advertisement for the Ocean Cat 49 in Multihulls Magazine says "Fastest cruising catamaran on the market" Such a claim begs testing against the analysis capability of the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website. The numbers below are for comparison of the Ocean Cat 49 with the average values for 60 other catamarans listed on the site with length overall of 48 to 50.9 feet. Several racing cats in this size range were not included. The Ocean Cat 49 numbers, followed in brackets by the average values, are:
- PAHI 63
It takes a lot of courage to evaluate one of James Wharram's catamarans, because they are SO different. A reader needs to study James's design concepts in his "Design Book" or some other writing to decide whether he agrees with them or not. To say the least, they are radically different from what is the norm in modern catamaran design. And James makes no apologies.
Nonetheless, the Pahi 63 can be evaluated in the same fashion as other boats in the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. data base, but with an exception…the extreme bow and stern overhang of the boat begs the question of whether to compare it with 63 foot overall length boats or 51 foot waterline length boats. This boat is 24% longer LOA than its Lwl, compared to an average of 4-6% for other boats near its size. That is extreme.
Not being willing to miss an important comparison, I will compare using both Loa and Lwl. The table below shows how the Pahi 63 compares in each parameter with 62-64 foot overall length boats (in brackets before the slash) and 50-53 foot waterline length boats (in brackets after the slash).
- ELAN 35 Swing-Wing Tri
The Elan 35 is an attractive trimaran from a family of boats designed and built by Multiwinds International. It is evaluated in comparison with the averages [in brackets] of nine other trimarans with waterline lengths ranging from 34 to 35.83 feet is as follows:
- MOORINGS 3800 - LEOPARD 38
This catamaran, also called the Leopard 38, is made by Robertson and Caine in South Africa. It is a charter cat design, relatively heavy for a boat its size, but possessing a large sail area. Average values [in brackets] for thirty 33-34 foot Lwl cruising cats are used for evaluating this boat. The Moorings 3800 numbers are:
- SEA-TRIBE 870 Catamaran
- IROQUOIS 30 MKII
The Iroquois 30 MkII is a 1960s design that presaged the modern cruising catamaran with its rounded hulls. It is an attractive boat, as were all of the designs by Rod McAlpine-Downey. It is one of few catamaran designs that feature retractable pivoting centerboards rather than the more familiar dagger boards or fixed low-aspect ratio keels.The MKII's design age is apparent in the sail plan with its straight roach and partial battens rather than the modern curved roach and full battens. She suffers in performance from the sail area that results. The following figures show this boat in comparison with the average values of 32 other catamarans with waterline length between 26 and 27.5 feet on the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website.
- CONTOUR 30 MK II
The Contour 30 is an attractive trimaran from a family of boats designed by Cole Beadon and manufactured by Contour Yachts of Canada. It's evaluation, compared with the averages of fourteen other trimarans with overall lengths ranging from 30 to 31 feet is as follows:
- TOBAGO 35
The Tobago 35 is an attractive catamaran from a family of catamarans built by Fountaine Pajot Catamarans of France. It's evaluation against the averages of thirty-seven other catamarans with overall lengths ranging from 34 to 35 feet is as follows:
- Tennet - Turissimo
This boat is a Malcolm Tennant Turissimo, stretched three feet by adding sugar scoops to the sterns, widened by two feet and powered by a wing mast addition to the sail plan. The result is a boat that is lighter, more powerful and therefore faster than other boats with 33-34 foot waterline lengths as shown by the figures below.
- WALLER TC 670
The TC 670 is the smallest of a family of multihulls designed by Mike Waller. It is a multi-chine catamaran, build from plywood and epoxy-fiberglass. The following figures show this boat in comparison with the average values of four other catamarans with length overall between 20 and 23 feet listed on the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website.
- MANTA 42 MK II
This 42 foot cruising catamaran is a bit sedate in comparison with other cruising catamarans of similar size. This is probably the most popular size range for cruising/charter catamarans and the Manta 42 appears to be designed for comfortable sailing and living. The numbers for comparison below come from the averages for 53 other catamarans ranging from 41 to 43 feet in length. They are all featured in the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website. The numbers, followed in brackets by average, are:
- DRAGONFLY 1000 Offshore Cruiser
The Dragonfly 1000 is an attractive trimaran from a family of boats designed by Borge Quorning and manufactured by Quorning Boats of Denmark. It's evaluation against the averages of seven other trimarans with overall lengths ranging from 32 to 34 feet is as follows:
- KD 860
The KD 860 is one of a family of novel multihulls designed by Berndt Kohler. It is a wide boat with trapezoidal (flat bottom) hull shape and incorporates "anti-vortex panels" in place of keels, daggerboards or centerboards. It is built from plywood and epoxy-fiberglass. The following figures show this boat in comparison with the average values of 22 other catamarans with length overall between 27 and 29 feet listed on the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website.
- CORSAIR MARINE F-24 MK II
This trimaran is an early design by Ian Farrier. It was manufactured by Corsair Marine, features the familiar unique Farrier Folding System for retracting the outriggers against the hull for storage or towing. The numbers, followed in brackets by the average values for five trimarans of near the same size, are:
- GEMINI 3400
The Gemini 3400 is one of a family of Gemini catamaran cruising boats in the lower-30 foot length range. It is characterized by relatively narrow beam, full length bridgedeck and significant popularity. The following figures show this boat in comparison with the trend lines for other catamarans with waterline length between 30 and 31 feet.
- African Cats FastCat 435 Vector-K
This catamaran is a relatively high performance cruising catamaran. It has the second highest performance figures in the 42-43 foot length catamarans featured in the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website. The numbers below are for comparison with the the trend lines for 647 other catamarans listed on the site. The Fastcat 435 numbers, followed in brackets by the trend values at 43 foot Loa, are:
- ADRIA-CAT 40
This 39 foot cruising catamaran compares very favorably with other catamarans in this size range. The numbers for comparison come from the trend lines for 443 other catamarans featured in the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website. The numbers, followed in brackets by trend line values at 39 feet Lwl, are:
- REHAB
This Roger Hill 14M (42.4 foot) cruising catamaran is a conservative boat, befitting its purpose as a live-aboard cruising boat for one disabled person and one able-bodied skipper and crew. The numbers for comparison come from the trend lines for 443 other catamarans featured in the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website. The numbers for Rehab are followed by those for the trend lines at 42.5 foot Lwl in brackets. - OCEANIC 30
This early catamaran was featured in an Amateur Yacht Research Society article over four decades ago. The article is duplicated below, followed by Cal's comments regarding the boat's position in the family of catamarans featured on this web site. From CATAMARANS 1964, AYRS Publication No. 50, pp. 62-67 - OCEANIC CUTTER KETCH 34
Well, it will get you on the water and shouldn't capsize! Stability speed is nearly 23 knots (didn't compensate for the ketch configuration). Base speed is 7.62 knots, slowest cruising cat above 27 feet. It is probably slower than that because of the flat sided deep V hull and the strange centerboard/skeg configuration. Lots of drag. - DRAGONFLY 920 EXTREME
The Dragonfly 920 Extreme was evaluated for the website in the same manner as other boats. This is essential for comparisons to be fair. It involved adding weight for the full complement of five crewmembers and an adjustment of the standard genoa to a 100% fore-triangle size by reducing it by 10%.
- BAHIA 46
This catamaran is a conservative cruising sailboat. The numbers for comparison come from the trend lines for 443 other catamarans featured in the Multihull Dynamics, Inc. website. The numbers, followed in brackets by the trend values at 45 foot Lwl, are:
