Another Cat Question??????

[Deiter]

Hi All. Thinking about getting a cat in the next year or so, and i am wondering about the different styles of hulls available.

I have absolutely LOVED the ride in the cats i have been on, and the missus has a bad back and complains about the current ride in any chop (5.5m plate 1/2 cab), so the 'magic carpet' seems the way to go, probably between 5 to 5.5m.

Two specific things i am wondering, is -
A) how do the alloy cats in this size range go? Still a good ride? Any issues with welds cracking?

B) what differences are there between symetrical sponsons and asymetrical? Some of the asymetricals i have seen look like a deep V mono with a peice cut from the centreline of the hull. Do they work alright or shite?

Cheers, Damo

[Cloud_9]

the problem you have is the part where you keep looking at Ally boats .
go glass for better ride.
mate had a allison fisherman 18.6 ride as good if not better than any cat.
ally boaTS just bash. because there's not ability to have a true flaired bow.
ride a glass boat first before you get a cat.
cloud 9

[fly_1]

Sorry mate, but no allison can compare with a glass cat. I have fished a few times from a couple of allison boats, and I currently own a kevlacat, and the allison, or any other mono doesnt come close to the ride!!!!! Once you have owned a cat, you will never go back to a mono !!!!

[perko]

I agree with fly1. Dont let the mono boys influence you with there dribble. I have owned a 5.2 kevlacat which was awsome, a 5.5 Sailfish which was better again and currently have a 6m Sailfish which is the pick of the 3 but so it should be as it is the biggest by a fair bit. Alloy cats still have 2 sharp hulls and a tunnell that gets lots of giving you the magic carpet ride. Alloy is light, easy to tow and needs less HP. It is harder to clean than glass and paint is a pain. There is not a lot of choices in the size you want. Any kevlacat, sailfish, dominator, coastal cat should do a good job for you. I am not a noosa cat fan in that sizes. Been in 2 different models and not as good as the others. Once you've gone cat you will never go back.

[Noelm]

had an Alloy cat for over 10 years, and glass cats for longer, the old which is better argument will continue forever, but having been there and done it for a long time I would lean towards glass for a couple of fairly simple reasons, one is they are MUCH easier to keep clean, no little welded corners and stuff (not a big deal I know but true) Alloy no matter how well made will crack after years of flexing (don't care who tells me it is not so I do not believe them (been there also) glass always looks better as it is nice and smooth and so on, and the ride seems to be better on a glass boat (always debatable but I think so) whatever you decide on, make sure you have ample power cats LOVE power trust me on that one! I have a 6 metre glass cat at the moment that I will be selling later in the year, but I will get anothewr one for sure (no argument on that side)

[Deiter]

Thanx guys, The arguement for alloy is just because i fish solo alot atm, and it is sooooo much easier to deal with at the ramps i frequently use. Don't get me wrong - i would go glass in a heartbeat if i could, but pulling a glass boat up on to a concrete ramp or gravel would make me cringe. Also the weight factor, though not AS important, less power, less fuel, easier to tow, all stacks in alloys favour.

Also, I don't think the mono vs cat ride is relevant, it's a no-brainer imo.

Now we got that out of the road (sort of), anyone have any experience with asymetrical hulls vs symetrical????

Damo

p.s. Perko, a 5.5 sailfish is on my list of things to do! What did you have pushing yours?

[Noelm]

I had a bit to do with cats that you describe as "a mono with a bit cut out the centre" (Seacat and Whalers) and I do not see any real winner or loser on this design issue, just different ways to do something, the newer type Dominators are supposed to lean inwards like a mono where as Symetrical hulls tend to lean outwards, not a big deal in a fishing boat in my opinion, unless you are a water skier, who wants to do a U turn at 30knots at sea??? so no big deal to me, but still a fact so decide yourself how important it is, I also doubt if you will get asymetrical hulls on an Alloy cat, but maybe somewhere! so no real issue with either for fishing as far as I can see, sure, different but not something to turn you off either type.

[Noelm]

OH I forgot I knew a guy with a 5.5 sailfish and he had 70HP (Johnsons) on it and it was OK, but he wished he got 90's said they where right on the limit of power for it, he ended up selling it and the guy that got it put 90's on it 3 months later, said it was twice the boat and almost no difference in fuel, it is a case of the right power will always be much better than "just enough" sure it looks cheaper on paper when you are buying it, but in the long run, the correct HP is far better than the lower minimum rating.

[Kerry]

....how do the alloy cats in this size range go?

Would not be my choice

....Still a good ride?

to a point. suffers from the traditional alloy tin can slap/slop when stationary

....Any issues with welds cracking?

yes has been known to be depending. Takes a lot of additional welding to get the shape in small cats.

....what differences are there between symetrical sponsons and asymetrical? Some of the asymetricals i have seen look like a deep V mono with a peice cut from the centreline of the hull. Do they work alright or shite?

Asymetricals? Some are downright awfull, not my style of hull what so ever.

[Noelm]

geees "cloud 9" you are easy to please if you like an Allison, but hey to each his own and not too sure what a "flared bow" has to do with ride, some influence on water displacement direction, but should be no where near the water to influence ride in any way (my thoughts here)

[Deiter]

cheers for the input Noelm. I have seen a few with asymetrical hulls, and always wondered how they compared.

Kerry, whatever i get will be a compromise (nothing new here), and i have only the room to store a smaller cat, asked about alloy ones for reasons previously posted, and i can't afford a nice 5.2 kevlacat, coz everbody else wants one.

THe older markham whalers don't have high enough sides imo, so are crossed off the list as well. Websters, well, i have heard good and bad things re single outboards on cats, but would tend to steer away. The 18' sharkcats i have heard surprisingly little about, but seem to need double the power an equivalent sized mono would.
F & B magazine had a great looking 5 odd metre bare alloy cat a few issues ago that looked the goods and is the sort of thing i want - high sided, plenty of cockpit protection, easy on power (twin yamy f60's from memory), and a little bunk area up front. I don't remember what make it was, but it sticks in my mind as something i would like to own.


Damo

[Noelm]

yep, those older Whalers where a tad on the low side, not all that flash in performance either, the old 18foot Sharkcats were a good old thing as well as being fairly cheap, but they do need some power to get the best out of them, there was a real ripper for sale down Culburra way a while ago that was a mate of mine's practicaly unmarked, but had old in line 6 mercs that were buggered, sold it for 10grand on a good trailer, just keep looking and see what comes up, looks like you are sold on rather small motors (maybe) so you may be limited in what is available, a reasonably good old Aluminium boat (if you can find one) is the Alloycat (brand name) made by twin hull marine in peakhurst in Sydney, they made a 16 and an 18 footer, but they would be getting on now and pretty rare, the 16 footer was fitted with 55HP Johnnos' in it's day, went OK.

[Kerry]

Damo,

Then have you considered a Hydrofield? Small twins go good, not a bad ride, bit wet but better than a mono but even on a bad day most 5 metre anythings are going to get a bit rough, just some rougher than others.

Regards, Kerry.

[Deiter]

first off, Noelm, i am not set on smaller motors, its just preferable i guess. Why get a hull that eats h.p. if i can get one that doesn't. I am only thinking out loud here, as i really don't know.

Kerry, i would definately consider a tri of some description. I know some ppl prefer them over cats!! what can you tell me about them? which are good and which to avoid? handling characteristics? power requirements for size? I have been told they don't need lots of h.p. to perform, but that was one person.

As far as size goes, really don't want anything under 17' or over 19" so i guess that narrows the field.

i feel we are getting somewhere here, cheers.

Damo

[Stuie]

Deiter,
I currently have a 5.5m sailfish platinum with twin 70 Johnson 4 strokes on it. These motors are about the maximum weight for the transom. It would be nice to have twin 90's on the back but to achieve this you would need to go to ETECS or similar direct injected 2 strokes. Having said that the latest release 90hp Honda 4 strokes would be an ideal match. Travelling offshore in good conditions (10 knot winds and 1m seas) I run them at 4500 rpm for 20 mile/hour. At this speed I use a little over 1 litre per kilometre all up. Mine is a 2002 model and has no signs of cracking. If you want to know anything else give me a yell. Also be aware that a 5.5m Sailfish is actually 6.4m overall. Thats over 20 feet.

Stuart.