Catamarans are an incredibly versatile style of boat that lend themselves to fishing and leisurely days on the water with family and friends. Let’s take a closer look at twin-hull trailer boats of various shapes, sizes and materials.
What is a catamaran?
All boats have hulls and most have single hulls, which is the traditional boat design. Over time, the single hull has changed and there are an endless number of variations that affect the ride and performance of each boat. Examples include flare hull boats, variable deadrise hulls, tunnel hulls, flat bottom punts and much more.
Then there are multihull boats. These are more commonly catamarans (twin hull), but are sometimes tri-hull. For the purpose of this article, we’re focusing only on trailerable twin hull power boats. My family’s boat when I was a kid was a small catamaran, an Australian built Markham Whaler. It was a great boat that really punched above its weight when it came to performance and comfort. Let’s delve into some of the advantages of power catamarans.
Pros and cons
Power cats offer so many advantages and most of these hold true across the various sizes. Catamarans are available in all sizes, from tiny tenders to giant ferries and everything in between. It goes to show the versatility and usefulness of this hull design. The first thing you notice when jumping onboard a cat is its generous space. That’s because cats are rectangular in shape, whereas single hulls taper towards the front due to their hull design. Cats, however, given their twin-hull design, offer the same amount of space at the bow as at the transom. This is what makes them such a good option for fishing and cruising. The generous space also makes them great value for their length. It’s incredible just how large a comparable size catamaran feels when you jump onboard.
Cats also offer impressive performance and a soft ride in bumpy conditions. To understand how this works, let’s go back to the single hull. The performance of a single hull is largely dependent on the degree of its deadrise. The deadrise is the angle of the hull. A sharper deadrise cuts through water like a knife cutting through butter. On the flipside, a shallow deadrise is flatter and doesn’t glide through the water as efficiently. With single hulls, there’s a compromise. The flatter hulls, while not as smooth across choppy water are far more stable at rest. Meanwhile, the sharper deadrise hulls are typically very ‘tippy’ at rest but offer superior performance at speed.
This is where the catamaran solves some of these problems and removes the compromise between hull shapes. Once you add another hull it becomes more stable. You will find the sharp deadrise on most cats slice through the water and eliminates any ‘banging’, yet, the combination of the twin hull maintains its stability.
It’s one of the reasons many high-speed ferries feature multihull designs. Likewise, many of the high performing sailing boats are multihulls. I’ve spent time on larger catamarans that have been fitted out for fishing and accommodate multiple passengers for extended stays. There are many big catamarans operating on the Great Barrier Reef and Cape York. They make great platforms for accommodation because they’re stable at rest, soft riding and very spacious. They can typically accommodate more people than a similar size single hull. Another great advantage, especially in the northern parts of Australia, is the cat will remain upright if stranded on sand during low tide. It’s not unusual in these parts to spend low tide on the sand and having full function of an upright boat is a big advantage.
As you can see, there are so many advantages to power catamarans. But are there any disadvantages? One small problem in trailer boat cats is they tend to catch the wind due to their higher, flat sides. It can make manoeuvring more difficult. It’s not a major problem, just something to be aware of and adapt to when you drive on and off the trailer or handle the boat at a fishing spot.
Another small difference you will note is the way it drives. It’s not a disadvantage, but you will need to change the way you drive at speed. The boats tend to remain more upright or even feel like they’re leaning away when you corner. Don’t expect to zip around doing tight turns like you would on a sharper entry single hull.
Smaller cats can also be more wet in windy conditions when water sprays directly over the front rather than deflecting off to the side. In many cases, the boats feature a windscreen or cabin and it’s no problem. Finally, depending on the power cat’s make and model, many have twin engines and that can push the price up. That said, each engine is usually less powerful than a comparable single engine. It’s a pro and con; you will have the added cost of servicing, yet the reliability of two engines. Let’s look at some popular power catamaran brands on the market.
I’ve reviewed quite a few Sailfish boats over the past 20 years and I’m always impressed with their versatility and long list of features. Sailfish has been making aluminium catamarans since 1993 in Australia and offer a range of models with various cabin layouts, clever fishing features and quality performance and construction. Sailfish take advantage of a cat’s ‘boxy’ shape to create a truly spacious and versatile trailer boat. You can fish off the back, lounge around under some shade, cook a meal, and spend a night on the reef in a comfy bed. All this in a boat that offers so much for its length.
The latest release from Sailish is the S8. The S8 features Sailfish’s Hydroflow GEN 3. This extends the waterline hull length by 150mm compared to its GEN 2 hull. As a result, you have increased stability in the stern and faster hole shot performance. Sailfish has also redesigned the chine section allowing increased hull lift and delivering improved fuel economy and performance. The wider running planks on the sponsons also allow it to run at lower RPM and increase planing time.
Noosa Cat is an Aussie-built cat manufacturer from Queensland. The brand has been around since the 1970s and has a solid reputation for building quality fibreglass power catamarans. Noosa Cat build commercial vessels for various state bodies such as NSW Maritime, Coastguard and Maritime Safety Queensland. That’s always a good endorsement for a quality-built boat that is designed to perform well and outlast its competition. Some of the models are trailerable (check your state’s rules and regs). The smallest model in the range is the 2400.
The 2400 Series, according to Noosa Cat, raises the benchmark of the 6 to 7m range in performance, handling and ride comfort. Noosa Cat has built it to handle well in following seas, while its excellent buoyancy provides a higher level of tunnel clearance.
It features the multiple hull subdivision, self draining cockpit and all fibreglass underfloor structure along with 316 grade stainless steel fuel tanks. With a length of 6.7m and a beam of 2.5m, the 2400 is a solid performer offshore and can be fitted with a maximum of twin 200hp outboards. If you’re looking for something larger and more spacious, the Noosa Cat 3000 offers many of the same features in a longer profile. It would make a fantastic boat for when conditions turn ugly offshore.
Scimitar is another Queensland catamaran brand. Scimitar is known for its larger cruising models, the type of boats you could spend weeks on exploring the Barrier Reef or lounging around the harbours and rivers around Australia. However, for the purpose of this article, Scimitar also makes four well-designed Minitar power cat ‘tenders’ which in my opinion could also make great standalone trailerable fishing boats. These include the 300 Minitar, 375 Minitar, 425 Minitar and the 450 Minitar Dory.
The 300, 375 and 425 Minitar models range in size from 3m to 4.25m and are all made from vacuum-infused fibreglass. They are built tough and would make good fishing boats for one or two people for rivers and estuaries. The 450 Dory would be better suited to open water and would allow an extra passenger to fish comfortably. The 450 Dory is a customisable build with an aluminium hull and composite deck. It has a maximum horsepower of 70 and can be designed to fit your preferences.
Established in 2017 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Blue Cat is a catamaran manufacturer whose solid line-up of impressive cats is making waves in the Australian market. Blue Cat says it specialises in crafting offshore marine vessels that leverage advanced design software and sustainable materials.
The Blue Cat line-up includes a 17, 21, 30 and 43 Pilot House. While the mid-size 21 model is coming soon, the Blue Cat 17 is a solid trailerable fishing boat. At 5.19m long with a 2.1m beam, the Blue Cat 17 offers ample space for several occupants. Its twin-hull design offers great stability and performance in rough water. This combination makes for a versatile boat, allowing anglers access to rivers, estuaries and offshore waters in safety and comfort.
Try a cat
Hopefully this article has piqued your interest in power catamarans. As a trailerable boat, they tick so many boxes. Not only do they make fantastic fishing boats, their design and shape allows for comfortable sleeping quarters, kitchens and features that owners of many single hull boats can only dream about.