8 Best Catamarans That Are 30 Feet or Less
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Large-sized catamarans are appealing due to their ample spacing and comfort. Therefore, a cruising family or couple looking to buy a boat is more likely to go for one of these. But are there small cruising catamarans that provide the performance, comfort, and amenities found in larger boats?
The best catamarans under 30 feet (9.14 m) include the TomCat 6.2, Cadillac 27and 30, Gemini 30, Endeavour 30, and Maine Cat. These time-tested cruising cats are easy to handle, premium built, and are great for daytime sailing, overnight trips, and some even suitable for long-range sea passages.
In this article, you’ll find a list of the best cruising catamarans below 30 feet (9.14 m). Keep reading to discover which catamarans make this list, what they have to offer, their pros and cons, and how much they cost.
If you are unsure whether or not 30ft is too small for your needs, then I suggest you check out another article I wrote named Best Size Catamaran , it will discuss why length matters and how it affects safety.
Unlike most catamarans designed for racing purposes, the TomCat 6.2 is a medium-sized cat that’s well-suited to daytime cruising. It boasts high-quality construction, vacuum-bagged hulls, and a plywood-reinforced deck.
This 20 footer (6.09 m) comes with an 11-foot (3.35 m) beam and not only offers you safety and comfort but performance and versatility as well.
This boat has a centrally placed outboard engine and two rudders that allow it to turn quickly and maneuver confidently into and out of marina slips. The 9.9 hp outboard propels it to speeds of around 8 knots (9.21 mph or 14.8 kph), though the boat has the potential to move faster if desired.
This simpler type of cat (just one engine as an example) also allows for cheaper and easier maintenance. Maintenance costs are something most people underestimate when getting a cat, if you want to get some real numbers from actual sailors then I suggest you read this article (How much does it cost to maintain a cat).
The boat sails with minimal heeling, comfortably accommodate 6-8 people, and you can sail it single-handed or take a crew.
High and narrow hulls bearing arched bottoms allow for a low wetted surface. The hull design provides low resistance and a great deal of reserved buoyancy and also enables you to drive through closely spaced waves.
On most 20-footers (6.1 m), driving through waves generates a smooth but wet ride, but with the TomCat’s enclosed deck (link to parts names explained here ), you are safe and protected behind a windshield and the high bulwark.
The TomCat makes an excellent cruiser because it performs impressively well both under sail and power. It combines the performance of a modern sailing cat with the comfort, style, and convenience of a powerboat. It’s also trailerable since you can detach the hulls from the deck , winch up the deck on a trailer, and slide the hulls underneath.
But the best part is that it’s easy on the pocket, with the price ranging between $36,750 and $44,580 .
Catalac 30 (9M)
The Catalac brand consists of strongly built vessels that sport thick hulls, glass windows, narrow beams, and vertical transoms . Catalac 30 was the first vessel in this popular British cruising line designed by Tom Lack in the late 60s. The boat’s appeal was attributed to its safety, ample spacing, well-built interior, and load-carrying abilities.
These characteristics are extremely important on a safe catamaran, overloading your cat makes it sit lower in the water, increases drag, reduces handling and speed, there is stuff you should know about this (so that you can make an educated buy). I have created an article where I try to explain the basics of a safe cat ( link here )
Sporting 5 berths, a massive galley, plus a cockpit with a sheltered steering position, the 30-foot (9.1 m) Catalac makes an excellent floating home for a cruising family. It sails exceptionally well, doesn’t heel ( heeling explained here ), and delivers a reasonable motor-sailer level of performance.
Furthermore, the hulls provide adequate headroom, allowing those on board to move around comfortably, and there’s enough space on the deck for sunbathing.
The Catalac’s structure features solid fiberglass, chined hulls, and a staggered sheerline that allows easy aft access. With a modest rig that’s easy to handle, the Catalac can deliver top speeds of up to 12-14 knots (13.81-16.11 mph / 22.22-25.9 kph) under sail.
Given that the boat’s design focuses more on comfort than speed, this is a spectacular performance.
Catalac 9M requires a skilled hand when turning into the wind as it is prone to blowing sideways. This is because the boat lacks ballast (which helps in keeping momentum during a tack) but also centerboards ( explained here ).
Skills are always the most essential things to bring aboard and you can acquire them in many ways, my two favorite ways are through NauticEd courses (two free courses here ) or by reading books (my top 15 books here )
Back to the boat! This model came in two versions; the standard layout contained a 30-40hp outboard, while the second option had duo engines. The latter is easier to maneuver into a marina.
These cats retain their value pretty well. However, they might not be easy to come by since most owners find it challenging to get their hands on a larger boat with similar qualities and performance.
A Catalac 30 (9M) goes for between $33,000 and $55,000.
Catalac 27 (8M)
The Catalac 27 8M is a pocket cruiser that boasts a strong reputation for high quality, durability, and strength. Besides, the boat’s design makes it somewhat suitable for bluewater sailing ( understand why the small size is an offshore problem).
Built like a battleship, the boat contains solid fiberglass hulls. Additionally, it comes with double engines, a large cockpit fitted with cushions all around, and features standing headroom in each hull.
Like the Catalac 9M, this boat comes with two different layouts; a twin inboard diesel engine or an outboard engine. The twin-engine models can motor up to 1000 km (621 miles, read more on cat fuel consumption here ) without needing to refuel, while the 70 amps of charge plus water tanks (70 gallons / 265 liters) make these vessels remarkable coastal cruisers.
Catalacs equipped with outboard engines sail faster since you can raise the engine during sailing and are also lighter. This helps to minimize drag . Catalac 8M sports a short but thick mast that helps make the boat stable.
Though small in size, this catamaran packs a lot of features in its small frame. It has a full-sized berth, a large galley that’s almost 8 feet (2.4 m) long, a quarter berth, head, and navigation station.
What’s more, the cockpit is as large as that of a 38 to 40-foot (11.5 to 12.1 m) cat.
Catalac 27 costs about $31,836.
The Endeavour 30
The Endeavour 30 catamaran is a boat characterized by stability, ample deck space, and a spacious interior. It boasts fast cruising speeds under both sail and power.
The boat has mini keels and rudders plus symmetrical hulls separated by a hydra-cell. The latter is a center section with a characteristic V-shape.
The boat’s vacuum-bagged construction helps enhance strength and stiffness while reducing weight. Furthermore, the interior has a fiberglass mold, providing extra strength and rigidity. With sufficient breeze, this vessel can deliver reasonable off-the-wind and doable upwind speeds.
As such, you can expect to attain speeds of about ~10 knots (11.51 mph or 18.5 kph) on power reaches. Below is a video showing a panoramic tour of the Endeavour 30:
This vessel has the internal capacity of a 40-foot (12.1 m) monohull. And you can tell this from the unique layout merging the cabin and cockpit with wide doors to the numerous features packed into this 30-foot (9.14 m) vessel.
It has a spacious salon, an enormous galley, two queen berth staterooms with plenty of storage space, a head with separate showers, and a sizable U-shaped dinette.
You can get this boat for under $50,000 .
The Geminis by Tony Smith were the United States’s first production cruising cats. Today, these vessels remain the most appealing American-built cruising catamarans. Built between 1981 and 1990, the Gemini 30 does not have a contemporary design, but it works remarkably well for cruisers desiring generous living space in a small affordable sailboat.
At only 14 feet (4.2 m) across, Gemini cats are somewhat narrow. But this mean s they can easily fit into most of the regular marina berths.
Besides, the boats still contain enough interior space for a queen-size double berth and two smaller doubles housed in separate guest rooms.
There’s also a modest but serviceable saloon with duo settees and a collapsible table that can transform into an additional double berth.
For the Gemini 30, this translates to a cruising cat with standing headroom that can comfortably accommodate 3 couples in private cabins or a family with small children. A good-sized galley, a spacious head with a shower, nav desk, and a large comfy cockpit make up the Gemini 30’s cruising palace.
Catamaran layout is highly personal and if you want to learn more about different characteristics then I suggest you read my article Designing the perfect catamaran layout ( Link )
While not that fast, the Gemini 30 will easily outsail the Endeavor 30 discussed above. Its daggerboards (which are explained in detail here ) can point well, and if you keep it light, it can do 7-8 knots (12.9-14.8 km/hr) under sail.
Besides, raising the daggerboards reduces the wetted surface area, and increases the speed downwind.
The Gemini 30 tends to pound and hobbyhorse a little when sailing in choppy waters – particularly when overloaded (more on load carrying capabilities in this article ), but the deep pivoting daggerboards provide stability and lift underwater.
Furthermore, the Gemini’s retractable rudders enable it to venture into shallow waters.
This is a very popular cruising cat that’ll give you a lot of bang for your bucks.
You can find a Gemini for less than $65,000.
Maine Cat 30
The Maine Cat 30 combines premium quality construction materials with the most advanced building techniques to create a lightweight vessel capable of handling most offshore conditions. What’s more, this boat can remain trouble-free for years on end with little effort.
If you are in the market for a simple liveaboard cruiser that you can use for a short weekend getaway or a cruising voyage, this is it.
The boat has a sizable primary stateroom berth with ample overhead space and a dresser fitted with a hanging storage cabinet. The enormous head includes a toilet, sink, 20-gallon (75.71 L) holding tank, vanity, and a pressurized shower.
Covering the open bridgedeck is a permanent hardtop. This spacious bridgedeck can hold quite a crowd and comes with a convertible dinette that turns into an extra berth. If need be, you can even enclose the entire space using acrylic windows or screens. Gabo
The 360-degree visibility from the cockpit allows the captain plus the crew a panoramic view, and all sail controls go back to the cockpit, which is very useful if wanting to sail single-handedly.
I believe that most boats should be set up in this way since sooner or later you might be in a situation where there is only one person to handle the controls, such as in an emergency. But more on that in another article ( Link ).
The Maine Cat 30 is a classic boat that delivers on high-performance multihull sailing. Designed to offer much better performance than catamarans bearing tall and heavy bridge decks, this cat weighs less and suffers less windage thanks to the acrylic windows.
The boat’s interior layout allows for easy cleaning as surfaces sport a smooth gel coat and satin-finished cherry trim. The solid but lightweight furniture bears the same Core-Cell foam core employed on the hull, deck, and hardtop. Plus, there’s ample storage for all your sailing equipment, cleaning supplies, and provisions.
A Maine Cat 30 can cost up to $110,000.
Heavenly Twins 27
The overall design of this well-equipped catamaran makes it a superb pocket cruiser.
Heavenly Twins 27 manages to fit not one but two coachroofs on hulls that are only 27 feet (8.20 m) long. Canoe sterns and a central cockpit separating the duo coachroofs form the boat’s other prominent features.
Famous for their excellent build quality, medium-depth draft, and narrow beams, Heavenly Twins 27 appeals to a wide range of boating enthusiasts.
These include solo sailors, weekend sailors, cruising families, circumnavigators, beginner sailors, and experienced liveaboards such as this famous Youtube channel “Kittiwake”.
The vessels house double cabins in the hulls while the forward starboard contains the heads and, to port, the galley. You can easily access the bar from the well-protected cockpit while the Comfordesk accommodation converts into a double dock.
A stoop through allows access from below-deck to the aft compartment without going through the cockpit. There’s ample storage space throughout the boat, plus you can section off the large stateroom into smaller double compartments if desired.
The price range for this boat is $ 20,098 to $24,193. (I believe that kittiwake is for sale too)
The last cruising catamaran on my list is the Aquilon 26 . This French-built cruising vessel is light in weight and trailerable, which means you can disassemble it in a few hours or transport it as-is.
Designing a boat that is possible to disassemble usually means that it is structurally less strong, which by no means is a problem during coastal sailing but the Aquilon 26 is mostly attractive to sailors who prefer inland lake sailing. It’s also suitable for beginner sailors.
Although there are no real “beginner cats” there are specs to consider if you are a beginner with catamarans, most of them I have listed in another article ( here ). Gabo
This 26-footer (7.92 m) has the potential for good speed though its layout is anything but conventional- which forms part of its appeal.
The cockpit works as the saloon, and a full bimini protects the crew from lousy weather. The starboard hull contains a dinette and galley, and the port has a double berth stateroom. The windows are quite unusual, but they provide lots of light, remarkably enhancing interior visibility.
Aquilon 26 can deliver an average cruising speed of 10knots (11.51 mph or 18.5 kph).
On a beam reach, you can expect around 25 knots (28.77 mph or 46.3 kph) with an adequate breeze ( I have never sailed at 25knots but researching this boat supposedly it is possible).
You can get this boat for under $50,000.
What Makes Small Cruising Cats Attractive?
Small cruising cats are ideal for sailing along the coast. But that’s not all. Under capable hands, properly fitted smaller cats can also deliver spectacular offshore passages similar to their larger counterpart (Heres a list of full-sized bluewater cats).
They can operate over long cruise ranges, cross oceans , and circumnavigate the globe . Smaller cats are also suitable for day sailing, overnight trips, and coastal or inland voyages.
For most sailors, comfort on board is crucial, so they’ll look for a vessel that guarantees a comfortable cruising experience. The good thing is that smaller vessels provide almost the same qualities and amenities that bigger vessels offer. Plus, you can do quite a bit with the available space, especially if it’s well laid out.
You’ll find that most 30-footer (9.14 m) or more miniature cruising cats comprise a galley, head, bunks, navigation and entertainment electronics, and refrigeration.
Sailors usually talk about these benefits of smaller cats:
- They’re less expensive. Large boats are costly to buy. They also cost more to hire, maintain, and dock. You can buy a small-sized boat at a much lower price, and parts tend to cost less too. Besides, you get to use smaller sails, winches, and lighter lines than those applicable on a larger boat. And since marine services such as moorings and haul-outs get billed via boat length, a smaller cat makes sailing more affordable.
- They boast superior builds. Most cruising boats under 30 feet (9.14 m) feature designs that are 30+ years old. In those days, weather forecasts were hard to come by and not as accurate, so boat builders used hulls with thicker fiberglass than the type found in today’s builds. Furthermore, everything in the boat, including rigs, rudders, hulls, keels and decks, was designed to withstand strong winds and high waves.
- They have simpler systems. This means less time spent fixing and maintaining your boat. For instance, most small cruising cats often lack water-makers, hot water systems, or electric anchor windlasses.
- They’re easier to handle. Smaller cats are simpler to sail than larger cats. It’s also easier to sail one single-handed or with a small crew.
What is the largest cat on person can sail?
The Disadvantages of Smaller Cruising Cats
Below are some of the most discussed downsides of small cats:
- They have limited living space, storage, and amenities.
- Though they don’t heel much, they are less comfortable than larger boats since they get tossed around much more easily in big ocean swells.
- It’s not easy to accommodate crew for extended periods; hence there are fewer hands to share work.
- They are slower and take longer to get to their destination.
Though fewer are on the cruising trails than their larger counterparts, small catamarans make ideal cruisers because they are simple, seaworthy, and pocket-friendly.
When choosing the best cat for your needs, focus on quality rather than size. A well-planned 30-footer (9.14 m) is reliable and provides ample space for your accommodation, dining, and relaxation, plus a storage room for provisions and any spare parts you might need.
And if you want even more info than I have presented to you in this article I would recommend a book from Serj, he makes it easy to understand why size matters and how to find a cat suited for your needs (amazon link )
Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!
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- Sailboat Guide
Tomcat 6.2 is a 20 ′ 2 ″ / 6.2 m catamaran sailboat designed by Ted Strain and built by TomCat Boats starting in 2004.
Rig and Sails
Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.
The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.
Classic hull speed formula:
Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL
Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL
Sail Area / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.
SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3
- SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
- D : Displacement in pounds.
Ballast / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.
Ballast / Displacement * 100
Displacement / Length Ratio
A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.
D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
Comfort Ratio
This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.
Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
- LOA: Length overall in feet
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
Capsize Screening Formula
This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.
CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)
Trailerable beam: 8.0’. Water ballast optional.
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- Sailboat Reviews
TomCat 9.7. – Practical Sailor New Boat Review: Quality Construction, Unique Engineering and Stability Characterize the Father-and-Son Built TomCat 9.7.
This 32-foot coastal cruising cat, with above-average performance and spacious accommodations, delivers a responsive and rewarding ride..
Being one of the smallest cruising catamarans on the market brands the TomCat 9.7 http://www.tomcatboats.com/ “entry level,” but we find that term misleading and unfair. There’s much more to the joy of a sailing catamaran than speedo numbers. The 9.7 might not out-drag most of its rivals, but it can, we think, deliver more of what sailors are after when they turn off the auxiliary. And, in many respects, it makes shoal-water sailing safer and more relaxing. If you’re looking at a Maine Cat 30 or a Gemini 105Mc from Performance Cruising, the TomCat also deserves a look.
****
After a career in engineering physics, Ted Strain retired in 1995. Before long, he and his son, Tom, were building catamarans. They started with a trailerable 20-footer (the TomCat 6.2). Designed around a single, foil-shaped centerboard and hulls with rocker enough to make the boat exceptionally maneuverable, she was a bit different.
In 2002, work began on developing the 9.7, a 32-foot cruiser. Ted Strain, kayaker, canoeist, and long-time owner of a McAlpine-Downie Iroquois, once again did the design. Tom, “with experience sailing everything from dinghies to 50-footers and university training in chemistry and physics,” is the builder/outfitter. Boats are built to order in the company’s 10,000-square-foot facility near Newmarket, Ontario. Owners have a great deal of input “from the type of resin through to layout, décor, and outfitting,” says Ted. They have delivered 12 of the new 9.7s since 2004.
It’s hard to design a cruising catamaran much smaller than 32 feet. People don’t get smaller as boats do.
“I began work on the 9.7 with ergonomics in mind,” says Ted. “It was important to have headroom throughout, but just as critical, I wanted people, be they 5-foot-2 or 6-foot-3, to be able to see out from everywhere.”
Anywhere you stand in either hull, you have a clear view through the side windows. Seated spots in the saloon offer water views, and there are 360-degree and cross-hull views from everywhere. With dual-companionway access, the 9.7’s interior is not only bright and open, but offers the vistas Ted was seeking.
He wanted maximum beam for stability. The TomCat’s beam is 16 feet; any more and trucking expenses start to skyrocket.
“I began with a shorter boat,” says Ted, “but I worried about pitching. By adding length, I was able to increase displacement and buoyancy in the bows and smooth out the ride.”
Owners report that their 9.7s have surfed down big waves and often deliver better than 10 knots through the water. Apparently, Ted struck the right proportions.
The 9.7 has a fineness ratio of 12:1 (length to waterline beam), which makes her quite slippery as cruising cats go. Even the hulls of performance-oriented cruisers like the Maine-Cat and Gunboat are beamier for their length. Strain placed a high priority on light-air sailing. The 9.7’s midsections are semi-circular (for maximum displacement with minimum drag). “I kept the entry relatively full,” Ted says, “to counteract pitching, but the majority of volume forward is above the waterline.” The hulls show slight-to-moderate rocker with centerlines that sweep up slightly as they trend aft to produce U-shaped aftersections. These reduce wetted area and enhance dynamic lift. “They also let us reduce the draft of the rudders,” the designer adds.
High-speed performance is governed by both waterline length and prismatic coefficient (used to quantify the fullness of the underbody). The 9.7 is lengthy (31.5 feet on the water) and comes in at about 0.58, or “smack in the middle” of the ideal prismatic range for hulls like hers.
A pivoting centerboard is the key to the boat’s behavior under sail. Pairs of foils (such as mini-keels, daggerboards, or twin centerboards) create a variable center of lateral resistance. The 9.7 has a thin (7-percent section) NACA-foil-shaped board housed beneath its bridgedeck. By pivoting the boat around this single, central point, its designer allows the boat to behave much more like a monohull. The optimal relationship between the centers of effort (of pressure in the sails and resistance beneath the water) provides her with a crisp, responsive feel on virtually all points of sail.
Perhaps best of all, the board will kick up rather than fracture, tear a hole in the hull, or fix in the mud. Multihulls have long been sold on the basis of their shallow-water capabilities; a kick-up centerboard has proven an effective means of safely exploring thin water. Also, when the board is raised, it still presents a fin that is eight feet long and draws 16 inches beneath the hulls. Says builder Tom Strain, “you can’t go to weather like you could with a full board, but you can sail effectively on all points in 30 inches of water. Her rudders draw 3 feet (down), but you can kick them up to less than 2 feet and retain steering.”
Generally, for cruising cats, the more clearance beneath the bridgedeck, the better. The 9.7’s 2 feet seem just on the edge of adequate. In addition, the centerboard box takes some space between the hulls, and we noted that even in a mild chop, the forward trampoline took a few splashes. None of the owners we spoke with, however, found pounding to be an issue or bemoaned the boat’s motion when powering into head seas. Tom, who has more time in the boat than anyone, says that when conditions are bad, he’s been able to cure the problem with a slight change of course. “The key thing is that all the water that ‘goes under the bridge’ has a place to go because clearance is consistent all the way aft to the transoms; the underdeck isn’t filled with a cockpit well like it is on some other cats,” says Tom.
“I didn’t want to have a compression post in the middle of the saloon table, so that meant that the base of the mast had to be well forward,” says Ted. To keep the center of effort low in the rig, he raked the mast aft two feet. The full-roach main is cut to raise the boom 8.5 degrees above horizontal to provide clearance above the cockpit.
“By having a boat on the wide side with a rig on the small side, we maximize stability,” said Ted. “For a cruising cat, we think that is essential.” Although the TomCat rates better than its closest competitors in terms of performance measures (see “In Context,” page 18), these numbers are still pretty far from the “top of the fleet” when it comes to cruising cats. However, given the ability to add bonus sail area (by means of cruising spinnakers, code zeroes, screechers, etc.), the priority of stability over horsepower seems an intelligent way to promote comfort and sea-keeping.
There is much more to a multihull above the water than below, so windage is an issue. Strain minimized tophamper and integrated the coachroof with the cabin house in an aerodynamic whole. The large yet attractive windows resonate well with her flat sheer, tilted stem, and curved transom.
There is no wasted space in the cockpit. From the end of the bridgedeck forward to the wheel is less than eight feet. The helm station is unique; there are wide companionways to either side of the central module, and the space above and beyond it is open into the saloon. Sociability, airflow, freedom of movement, and an “open feel” all seem well served. A unique two-part closure can be used to button up the interior, but an opening hatch just forward of the helm helps this provide “wind in your face” sailing most of the time. Controls for raising and lowering the centerboard and rudders, plus a manual bilge pump, are at the helmsman’s fingertips.
Clamped to the bow beam, the jib roller tacks the headsail as low as possible. Using an element of the bow pulpit as a “seagull striker” (or spreader) lets the builders support the headstay without using a bridle. Winches are outboard of the house and placed right for handling the aft-led controls. While an autopilot makes singlehanding simple for modern sailors, the sheet winches are a bit far from the helm for short-handed maneuvering under sail.
Sidedecks are perilously skinny. The handrail atop the house is positioned well, but getting from one end of the boat to the other still seems much too challenging. Shrouds led to the quarter do away with the need for a backstay, but they can chafe on the mainsail when the sail is eased. The standard boat comes with a fixed genoa lead. A genoa sheet track should be standard. Based on our test with eight aboard, the stern sections resisted squatting, and the design seems to function well under real-life cruising conditions, when the lazarettes are bound to be laden with gear.
Accommodations
The standard layout succeeds in several ways: It provides three generous, private double berths, all of the necessities are there in spades, and it achieves the open feel that was the Strains’ objective from the outset. Almost half the current owners have taken advantage of the builders’ flexibility, however, to make modifications of their own.
Like most builders, the Strains offer a choice of woods, fabrics, materials, and appliances. Unlike the majority, however, they go considerably further. “We can use carbon to make the boat lighter, but that adds to the cost,” Tom explains. “The boat weighs 4,800 pounds, but we have built boats as much as 800 pounds lighter or an equal amount heavier depending upon what the owner wanted.” One owner, for instance, did away with one of the cabins and made the port hull an owner’s stateroom, leaving space for a generator behind the stateroom. Some say they’re committed to “a 12-volt boat” and the simplicity and minimal weight of bare-bones cruising. Others put a priority on “the comforts of home,” despite the weight they entail. Hull No. 8, for example, was delivered to a Miami owner with custom touches including a faux-teak cabin sole, an upgraded Isotherm refrigerator, Sunbrella fabric, a custom-mounted TV, air conditioning, a 5-kw generator, Imtra lighting, Caframo fans, and a Freedom Atlantis Raritan head. “The builders went out and got everything we wanted. The hardest suppliers to deal with, believe it or not, were our sailmakers,” the customer reported.
Livability and practicality are well-served throughout. Ventilation, either via hull ports or overhead hatches (or both) is admirable. Stowage in the living areas is well-organized via cubbies, bins, and lockers that reflect not only ingenuity but thought and experience. Clear-acrylic closers for galley lockers provide an “eyeball inventory” as well as good security. Eye-level cabinet tops maintain the open feel. The head is far from cavernous, but space is organized and allotted well. Fit and finish are surprisingly good for a cat in this price range.
Given the Strains’ small workforce and close supervision, production quality is gratifyingly good. The boat has no interior liner and the brushed-white gelcoat combines with veneers and solid trim to tone down the “ice-box effect.” It is also easy to clean and self-evident when it comes to looking for deck leaks.
Performance
Powering out the channel from Miamarina into Biscayne Bay, Fla., offered us an opportunity to see what single-engine performance was like—one of the 9.9-horsepower Yamaha outboards wouldn’t start. The boat held well over 6 knots in flat water without straining. Noise and vibration were minimal because the engines are mounted on vertical tracks in their own semi-contained wells. Dedicated davits hoist them out of the water for sailing. It’s a slick and simple formula for auxiliary power, though not without its negatives. Outboards don’t produce hot water. (Many owners have installed propane heaters.) Gasoline is more flammable than diesel, and outboards have shorter lifespans than diesels. Pros include light weight, low price, and easy removal.
We’ve yet to get used to some aspects of catamaran sailing. Being isolated behind a house and/or beneath a hard top can seem claustrophobic. However, the TomCat is better than most at providing intimacy with the elements; hatches in front of and above the helm let air in and the sailor see out. In a building southerly, we set sail, and with minimum effort, settled onto the breeze at roughly half the 8-knot true-wind speed. Acceleration was somewhere between “dinghy-like” and sluggish. The TomCat is light and fine, but her rig is shorter and smaller than average. She developed just enough weather helm to feel alive. Steering response was positive and precise. She was clearly at least as weatherly as the handful of neighboring
test-boats, both monohull and multihull, that surrounded us after the 2007 Miami Boat Show. Sailing through a tack can prove challenging to a multihull in less than 10 knots of breeze, but the TomCat passed that test with ease.
At somewhere around 8,000 pounds (in cruising trim) Tom claims, “she can be expected to average over 10 knots on a reach in 15 knots of breeze.” One owner experienced double-digit surfing, while another (who has a generator and forward and aft air conditioners) says that he’s never bettered 8 knots. Our test sail, design analysis, and owner survey all suggest that the 9.7 is well-designed, slightly de-tuned, and very capable. It’s at its best short-tacking and in shallow water.
The TomCat 9.7 lacks the sail area to make the most of drifting conditions, and propulsion is not a strong suit. (Cruisers motor more than they like to admit.) While its relatively low-aspect ratio sailplan keeps heeling forces low, more modern configurations (with higher aspect ratios, greater roach, fatter heads, etc.) deliver more power per square foot. The 9.7 is a “performance cat” but not one that we would label “high performance.”
Conclusions
Being one of the smallest cruising cats on the market brands the TomCat 9.7 “entry level,” but we find that term misleading and unfair. Thanks to her central centerboard, she’s responsive and rewarding under sail. There’s much more to the joy of sailing than speedo numbers. The 9.7 might not out-drag most of its rivals, but it can, we think, deliver more of what sailors are after when they turn off the auxiliary. And, in many respects, it makes shoal-water sailing safer and more relaxing than do most its rivals.
In our assessment, the TomCat 9.7 makes good use of interior volume. Quality construction adds to its value. Clever engineering (like the rudder and centerboard assemblies) increases its capabilities. Being able to work in important ways with designer and builder to make the boat match your needs is an additional plus. Starting at $154,000, the TomCat is indeed a worthy competitor among the growing number of small, coastal cruising cats in this price range.
CONTACT: TOMCAT YACHTS www.tomcatboats.com
- Critic’s Corner: Tomcat 9.7
- Interior Notes: Tomcat 9.7
- Tomcat 9.7 Construction Details
- Tomcat 9.7 In Context
RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR
Sorry to put this here but people need to be informed. The Tomcats boat company is No longer capable of refurbishing even a tiny Boat. Took my $2000 deposit paid May 2018 and destroyed my Boat after finally starting in September 2019, changed price demanded more money. Refuses to Complete the Job unless I remove My Complaint to the Better Business Bureau made in April 2020 and negative facebook review he has hidden from his page. Will not answer my Calls or Emails. Has started a shell company Called Encore Marine advertised on Kijiji (Canada) to get more victims without using the TomCat Boats company name. Beware!!!! He has a collection of other sport boats in his yard. There is a lot more to the Story. …. 2 YEARS!!! , 3 seasons ruined. I am out countless thousands of dollars I have invested in my boat .
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TomCat 6.2 is available custom equipped for your needs and preferences, from an open knockabout sailing, swimming, fishing platform to a full sport cruising configuration. Give us a call or e-mail us to discuss your requirements. TC 6.2 TomCat 6.2 puts the fun back into sailing - fast and exciting when the wind is up, relaxing and enjoyable in ...
Re: Tomcat 6.2 catamaran. I sail out of Punta Gorda. Charlotte harbor is fantastic sailing. My boat is slowly being modified. I have taken the Yamaha and all of the steering off of the boat and I am going to a Tohatsu 6 hp motor. I still use the rudder motor setup and love it. Mine works perfectly.
I have a very nice Tomcat 6.2 for sale, only fresh water,newer Yamaha 9.9, original sails in very good condition,nice bimini ,extra cables,excellent trailer, roller furler jib, improved center board,stored indoors for the winter, original seats in very good condition,lots of extras. $13,900 775 827 2786 Reno.
LENGTH: Traditionally, LOA (length over all) equaled hull length. Today, many builders use LOA to include rail overhangs, bowsprits, etc. and LOD (length on deck) for hull length. That said, LOA may still mean LOD if the builder is being honest and using accepted industry standards developed by groups like the ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council).
The best catamarans under 30 feet (9.14 m) include the TomCat 6.2, Cadillac 27and 30, Gemini 30, Endeavour 30, and Maine Cat. These time-tested cruising cats are easy to handle, premium built, and are great for daytime sailing, overnight trips, and some even suitable for long-range sea passages. In this article, you'll find a list of the best ...
Join Date: Oct 2013. Location: Galveston Bay. Boat: Bavaria 38 Cruiser. Posts: 7. Re: Tomcat 6.2 catamaran. All we just moved away from the water and I am selling my Tomcat 6.2 and trailer. We are in Clearlake and you can see some youtube videos of her on line. It is a 1998 #6. first 7.5k gets her. my number is 972 742 7904.
Sailing the TomCat 6.2 in Clearlake TX.
ncy.TC 6.2 is modular - you can buy a basic boat to keep the cost down, or a complete sail and run-about pac. age. All options can be added to the boat at a later date at our p. ant."TC 6.2 can be powered in comfort, serves as a fine swim platfrom, sails admirably well, is trailerable and will even take you campin.
Tomcat 6.2 is a 20′ 2″ / 6.2 m catamaran sailboat designed by Ted Strain and built by TomCat Boats starting in 2004. Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts. ... Tomcat 6.2 is a 20 ...
TC 6.2. The cockpit layout options of the TomCat 6.2 are as varied as the individuals who own them. If it's comfort that you're looking for, the standard fore and aft facing fold-down sleeper seats are a fantastic choice and can be used under sail or power. The optional camper-top, mahogany table, snap-in I/O carpet and port-a-potty allow ...
Sailboat Reviews; Sailboats 31-35ft; used_sailboats; TomCat 9.7. - Practical Sailor New Boat Review: Quality Construction, Unique Engineering and Stability Characterize the Father-and-Son Built TomCat 9.7. This 32-foot coastal cruising cat, with above-average performance and spacious accommodations, delivers a responsive and rewarding ride.
2007 Tomcat 6.2 (20) sailing catamaran Hull # 38 with Yamaha 4 stroke 9.9hp electric start outboard. AM/FM Sterio, depth and speed instrument, Nav lights. Specs: LOA 203, LWL 20, Beam 112 (8 on trailer), Draft 8 (board up), 36 (board down), MHH 296, Weight dry 850#, with engine 1150#, Sail area 210 sq/ft Main and Jib, custom Hyland trailer.
Discover the technical specifications of Tomcat 6.2 Tomcat Boats, Strain Assoc, the boat review and all the classified ads for a pre-owned Tomcat 6.2 with Multihulls World.(...) 0. langue. ... Tomcat Boats, Strain Assoc overall length 6.20m / 20'4'' ... Catamaran ORC 42 n°20 Location : Saint Raphael, France Year : 2021
Go to. TomCat 6.2 Catamaran, 1998, Clear Lake, Texas. This is a very unique sailing catamaran. This boat was produced in Canada by TomCat Boats. It is a great day sailer with lots of room in the cockpit and out on the trampoline up front making it good for family sailing. The 11' 2" beam eliminates all healing for flat sailing.
The Tomcat 6.2 is a small catamaran. The Tomcat 6.2 is built by the Canadian yard Tomcat Boats. Here we would have liked to show you nice photos of the Tomcat 6.2. ... If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us. Criticism helps us to improve. References
Manufacturer & Designer of High Quality Catamarans. Home; Models. TC 970 S; TC 6.2; Custom Projects; Reviews; About. Search for:
Hello out there, I have a Tom cat 6.2 which I bought three years ago. I live on the Big Island of Hawaii.It is my first sailboat so not much to compare it to, but it is quite a bit of fun. Question I have is: has anyone put the screecher sail up on this boat?I have the sail and would like to add it.
LEAVE US A REVIEW < Back to Inventory. 2013 TOMCAT CATAMARAN TOMCAT 6.2 Photo Viewer 4 Images. Price. $49,500 ... 2013 TOMCAT CATAMARAN TOMCAT 6.2 . If you have questions about this vehicle, please enter them below. First name: Last name: Email: Phone: Message: Submit ...
Helm responsiveness is excellent.". "Most of all - the company - TomCat Boats - operates with the highest integrity. You stand behind the boat and deliver on all promises. You must have a high overall customer satisfaction rating.". ~Dave & Pam Roberts. TomCat 9.7 Hull #6 "Dash". "Over the past 15 years my wife Monique and I have ...
While searching cats we've seen a number of posts discussing the Tomcat 9.7 / 970s "not sure what the difference is" and the PDQ 32. One seems to be widely regard as a coastal boat only.. something like the Gemini which we've already looked at locally and felt its interior was a bit claustrophobic. While the PDQ 32 seems to be mentioned on this ...
TomCat 6.2 Catamaran Sailboat w/ new 25hp yamaha - $9,900 (Seaview) ... This is a full size catamaran that does not have an enclosed cockpit. Custom all-galvanized trailer is something to behold from an engineering pov We upgraded the motor and the steering and the price includes and brand new 2023 Yamaha 25 hp outboard.
TC 6.2. Manufacturer & Designer of High Quality Catamarans. Home; Models. TC 970 S; TC 6.2; Custom Projects; Reviews; About
Seating and berths can accommodate up to 6 in three separate cabins, with an extra salon berth available when required.The large galley has over 10 ft. of countertop space, with a 4 cu. ft. fridge, stove and oven, SS sink, and lots of storage space and cupboards. TC 970 S TomCat 970S is a performance oriented, entry level cruising catamaran.