Any Catboaters With Something to Say?

[CatBoatDoug]

I'm an editor of the Catboat Association bulletin, which is published 3x per year.
We have changed the rules a bit and are accepting articles from non-members.
Content can be anything catboat-related: repair & maintenance, etc.
Our home is at http://www.catboats. if you are interested in more info.
Just let me know.

 

[prv]

Good luck - but this feels a little like posting on a US sports forum asking for opinions on the cricket

Pete

 

[CatBoatDoug]

Pete,
First, thanks for your input.
As it turns out, we have +1,000 members many of which are international.
There are likely many more catboat owners out there somewhere....
Doug

 

[RichardS]

Pete,
First, thanks for your input.
As it turns out, we have +1,000 members many of which are international.
There are likely many more catboat owners out there somewhere....
Doug

The link is wrong and the www.catboats.com domain is up for sale .... so I'm none the wiser.

Richard

 

[prv]

I'm none the wiser.

Another red herring for you, Richard - this thread isn't about catamarans either

Catboats are a traditional style of boat they have in the US, I think mostly on the east coast. Wide flat hull, shallow draught, big chunky mast (usually unstayed, I think) right in the bow and one great big gaff sail hung from it. Big barn door of a rudder hung on the transom, a little like the ones on our Thames barges. Usually on the smaller side, dayboat or weekender style cabin, as the single big sail just gets unmanageable on a larger boat. I'm sure Doug will correct the inaccuracies in my foreigner's understanding

They look like fun boats to sail, but I've never seen one on this side of the Atlantic.

Pete

 

[SiteSurfer]

I think: http://www.catboats.org/ might be the one.

 

[CatBoatDoug]

I think: http://www.catboats.org/ might be the one.

Thx, silly of me to omit the URL

 

[CatBoatDoug]

Another red herring for you, Richard - this thread isn't about catamarans either

Catboats are a traditional style of boat they have in the US, I think mostly on the east coast. Wide flat hull, shallow draught, big chunky mast (usually unstayed, I think) right in the bow and one great big gaff sail hung from it. Big barn door of a rudder hung on the transom, a little like the ones on our Thames barges. Usually on the smaller side, dayboat or weekender style cabin, as the single big sail just gets unmanageable on a larger boat. I'm sure Doug will correct the inaccuracies in my foreigner's understanding

They look like fun boats to sail, but I've never seen one on this side of the Atlantic.

Pete

Pete,
nice description, thx.
Take a look at my old-timer http://dougmcq000.wix.com/valiant
(they typically have barn door rudders, but not always)
Doug

 

[RichardS]

Another red herring for you, Richard - this thread isn't about catamarans either

Pete

You've got to be kidding me! Catboats are not catamarans, Nauticats are not catamarans, "Sailing With Cats" is not about catamarans ...... YBW is seriously catist I reckon.

But on a lighter note, I was reading the article in YM about a charter holiday in the BVIs. Looking at the photos of the bays I could hardly see a single monohull. When I was last there about 12 years ago it was about 75% monohulls but it now looks like monos are almost an extinct species.

It's only a matter of time Guys .......

Richard

 

[prv]

But on a lighter note, I was reading the article in YM about a charter holiday in the BVIs. Looking at the photos of the bays I could hardly see a single monohull. When I was last there about 12 years ago it was about 75% monohulls but it now looks like monos are almost an extinct species.

I think for "floating villa" charter holidays, catamarans make sense in almost every way apart from squeezing into busy little Greek and Turkish harbours. But in the BVIs you're almost always at anchor, or possibly on a mooring. So charter cats in the Carribean, charter monos in the Med.

No catboats though

Pete

 

[Sandro]

Quote
They look like fun boats to sail, but I've never seen one on this side of the Atlantic.
Quote
Hi
there are a few.
I often crew on a friend's one around the small islands in northern Thyrrenian sea ( Elba etc.).
Another I noticed in Lake Maggiore.
Not a racing boat but exceptionally roomy, given the lenght, and stiff to heel.
Prv description is spot on.

Sandro

 

[Laurie]

Another red herring for you, Richard - this thread isn't about catamarans either

Catboats are a traditional style of boat they have in the US, I think mostly on the east coast. Wide flat hull, shallow draught, big chunky mast (usually unstayed, I think) right in the bow and one great big gaff sail hung from it. Big barn door of a rudder hung on the transom, a little like the ones on our Thames barges. Usually on the smaller side, dayboat or weekender style cabin, as the single big sail just gets unmanageable on a larger boat. I'm sure Doug will correct the inaccuracies in my foreigner's understanding

They look like fun boats to sail, but I've never seen one on this side of the Atlantic.

Pete

A Nonsuch????? Or a Freedom????

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Or a Tanton cat ketch

 

[prv]

I guess Doug's the expert, but the Tanton and Freedom ketches are not what I'd consider a catboat.

I wasn't aware of the Nonsuch. I guess it does qualify, but even if I had seen one I probably wouldn't have thought of it because it doesn't quite resemble the archetypal catboat in my mind's eye:

Pete

 

[CatBoatDoug]

I guess Doug's the expert, but the Tanton and Freedom ketches are not what I'd consider a catboat.

I wasn't aware of the Nonsuch. I guess it does qualify, but even if I had seen one I probably wouldn't have thought of it because it doesn't quite resemble the archetypal catboat in my mind's eye:

Pete

Pete,
right on, again!
There is no strict definition of a catboat - it's actually a {very) long-running discussion at the CBA.
But, the Nonsuch does fit the general definition.
As with many boat designs, there have been many innovations - usually with the sail plan -
Marconi, jibs & even a mizzen. But my personal favorite is leeboards in lieu of a centerboard.

 

[Laurie]

Well, it's the rig that's the cat?.....ooh could also include the Hunter Liberty or Minstrel - can't remember which had the cat rig?

 

[Ukeluthier]

I suspect there are a few catboaters already on this site... albeit on the western side of the pond.

Here's mine, a Menger 19:

Great fun and lots of room and load capacity for the length.

 

[CatBoatDoug]

Well, it's the rig that's the cat?.....ooh could also include the Hunter Liberty or Minstrel - can't remember which had the cat rig?

Pete, on this thread, has about the best description you'll find anywhere.

 

[JimC]

I suspect there are a few catboaters already on this site... albeit on the western side of the pond.

Here's mine, a Menger 19:View attachment 56840

Great fun and lots of room and load capacity for the length.

Lovely looking boat.

 

[DownWest]

There is a German built one here in Rochefort. 21ft and loads of room as it is 10ft wide. The yard had built several smaller ones, this was the first big one. Strip planked wood and nicely finished, inboard diesel.
There is also a French outfit building GRP ones. Can't recall the name, but had a chat with the designer/builder at the LR boatshow. He had cruised Scotland and other places. I will dig it out and post it.
Just to add: I am building a little cat yawl (one hull ) masts freestanding and leg of mutton rig.
They do need to be reefed early, as the hull shape gives big weather helm when heeled, hence the 'barn door' rudders.
The halyard is used as a forestay on some trad ones.
The Publisher of Watercraft is building a Bolger Chebacco cat yawl, but not much progress recently. It doesn't help that he is building outside under a tarp.