Kevlacat 7.2m (2800) Experience

[boatboy50]

Hey Guys,

Have been considering buying one of these for a while. I know of a good one which is going for a good price.

Does anyone have any comments, good or bad on anything to do with them.

This particular boat was built around 1991, and will get a full repower/rebuild.

Regards

Darren

[fly_1]

My brother owned one upto recently. It was also repowered, fixed up etc then sent over to his resort in Fiji. It was used as a general resortboat ( ie, carried alot of freight to the island, and was also used for some diving and gamefishing.)
It was repowered with suzuki 225hp's which are way more than is normally required, but due to the weights he was carrying were required. It was built to survey, had the 2.77m width, and was a great seaboat.He sold it and has replaced it with a blackwatch express 30, which is used for gamefishing, and the freight is transported by a larger vessel (45ft).
We happen to be friends with one of the original owners of kcat, so he helped us refit the boat a few yrs ago, and get the required approvals for the bigger motors etc.
Overall, one of the best boats for its size, and certainly one of the safest.If I could talk the wife into one, we would grab it in a second...
Trent

[boatboy50]

Thanks Trent,

I also know of a pair of 225 Yammie 4 strokes which I could grab. The weight makes me hesitant. How did it float the Zukes?

This one was also formerlly in survey, and has the big beam with a hardtop.

What was/is involved in upspeccing the boats current rating of 2 x 200hp?

Regards

Darren

[fly_1]

We initially put 225 yamahas on it, but flogged them for new zukes. We still had to get new pods built, as the weight was a huge drama. Eventually got it sorted, and it went well.
After speaking to my brother, if he did it again, or it was just for normal use etc, he would put 175 suzukis on it, and leave the original pods on it.

[megafish71]

Darren, for your repower, if you buy the boat you should consider a pair of L4200hp Verados. At 231kgs this engines would be excelent on a cat.

Ron

[boatboy50]

Hey Guys,

Budget restricts me to 2nd hand engines unfortunately.

I'd ideally add a set of 150/175 Zuke's, but I think my chances of that are buckleys.

I take it you were happy with her offshore performance? It's pretty hard to get any data on this hull, even though it's been in production for 20 years now!

I havn't bought the boat or engines yet, and I know the boat's not going anywhere for a while, so I might sit on it for a while and think about it.

Regards

Darren

[peterbo3]

Hi Darren,
Your avatar boat is for sale. If you are still going to the US, you could take a test ride. It is down south, FL or Bama.

[insideout]

Darren......i feel a shift in the force.....come to the twin hull darkside.....lol.

[finding_time]

Darren......i feel a shift in the force.....come to the twin hull darkside.....lol.

Oh he's been there!! He just didn't keep the last one long enough to appreciate it's true worth!

Ian

[boatboy50]

Lol,

Thanks Guys.

Pete, I am heading over on June 12. It was only confirmed two days ago! If you have any tips throw them my way! I'd love a Scarab Sport 30 or something like the Hooter's boat, but until I find a miracle, they are all beyond my budget at the moment. I may squeeze in a Scarab from the States. Watch this space.

IO, I've been there before and know cats very well. The running expenses of this particular rig are what is making me hesitant. I bought the Seafarer to have less costs! Now that it's gone, i'm not sure what i'll do! I'm in about ten different minds. At the moment i'll be boatless for a little while. That's what I tell the wife until a good one comes along!

Ian, I loved the KC, and certainly had enough time to get the feel for it. Their excellence is well documented on this site now!

Darren

[OWorld]

Hi Darren,

I own a 2800 (7.2 Cuddy Cabin 1993) and a 3100 (8.2 Magnum 1994), the 8.2 is in Italy and was delivered by Fred Temmink from Genoa to its final destination in South of Italy. Both are great boats but the 7.2 it is simply an amazing boat for its size! With the right experience this boat can tackle almost anything. If you have the hard top version like mine, unless extensive work has been done after by the previous owner (like in my case), this was a very flimsy job and possibly the only real defect of this boat. Still very easily fixable. On a boat of that age I would also consider checking the Fuel tanks, which probably means cutting the floor open, as they were sealed. Beside that she is an amazing boat.

I repowered mine 12 months ago`, I went from 150s 1993 Carb Mercury to 150s Optimax. I do not run my boat very heavy, max 5 - 6 people on long trips (150NM round day trips from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island) but I do go out up to 8 in short trips. The 150s have always served me right. I had 19P Laser II props on it and at WOT 5100 RPM the boat did 41Knots GPS with half fuel and 5 people. I have the 80 Gallons tanks. I have now rigged her up with Offshore 4 Blades 19P and with the Optimaxs I cruise at 3600 RPM doing 25knts and using 24L per hour per side. To me this is simply outstanding. If I go to 4100 RPM I get 30Knts and 37L per side with a full load. Honestly the Optimaxes 150 are simply outstanding. Cats are very critical to balance weight. I have a friend tha does charter with a 7.2 and has gone from 150 Yammies to 200 and now to 225 4 Strokes. He had to change the pods and add weight to the front to balance the boat. Honestly, not worth it unless you have the need to carry 8 to 10 adult people all the time. I have another friend who has put the 225 Yammies 4S without doing the pods and they are very unhappy and looking at replacing the pods now.

Here are some recent pictures of my boat

Stick to optimax my friend, you will save heaps of money both i terms of getting a pair second hand as well as Fuel and Maintenance. If you need any help with the Optimax in future let me know.

Enjoy, Opti

[OWorld]

Hi Darren,

I own a 2800 (7.2 Cuddy Cabin 1993) and a 3100 (8.2 Magnum 1994), the 8.2 is in Italy and was delivered by Fred Temmink from Genoa to its final destination in South of Italy. Both are great boats but the 7.2 it is simply an amazing boat for its size! With the right experience this boat can tackle almost anything. If you have the hard top version like mine, unless extensive work has been done after by the previous owner (like in my case), this was a very flimsy job and possibly the only real defect of this boat. Still very easily fixable. On a boat of that age I would also consider checking the Fuel tanks, which probably means cutting the floor open, as they were sealed. Beside that she is an amazing boat.

I repowered mine 12 months ago`, I went from 150s 1993 Carb Mercury to 150s Optimax. I do not run my boat very heavy, max 5 - 6 people on long trips (150NM round day trips from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island) but I do go out up to 8 in short trips. The 150s have always served me right. I had 19P Laser II props on it and at WOT 5100 RPM the boat did 41Knots GPS with half fuel and 5 people. I have the 80 Gallons tanks. I have now rigged her up with Offshore 4 Blades 19P and with the Optimaxs I cruise at 3600 RPM doing 25knts and using 24L per hour per side. To me this is simply outstanding. If I go to 4100 RPM I get 30Knts and 37L per side with a full load. Honestly the Optimaxes 150 are simply outstanding. Cats are very critical to balance weight. I have a friend tha does charter with a 7.2 and has gone from 150 Yammies to 200 and now to 225 4 Strokes. He had to change the pods and add weight to the front to balance the boat. Honestly, not worth it unless you have the need to carry 8 to 10 adult people all the time. I have another friend who has put the 225 Yammies 4S without doing the pods and they are very unhappy and looking at replacing the pods now.

Here are some recent pictures of my boat

Stick to optimax my friend, you will save heaps of money both i terms of getting a pair second hand as well as Fuel and Maintenance. If you need any help with the Optimax in future let me know.

Enjoy, Opti