Catalac 9M confusion

[C08]

They have 2x35 gallon water tanks. If they are full you are looking at 700lb!

 

[cherod]

Rosie Swale went round the world, Cape Horn etc with her two small kids on one ,

 

[cherod]

@stu9000 . I forgot to address the monohull suggestion. Yes, I love monohulls, but I have some different reasons for aiming specifically at a cat. I am looking at mono's and I have actually looked at exactly the names you are talking about here, and have my eyes on a center cockpit Moody 36 with a bow thruster to assist my lack of skills, but I'm hesitant to pull the trigger and will at least give myself a little more time to see if I can dig up a cat.

i am 99% multi hull ( own one ) but i would def go for a 36 ft cc moody against the Lac.

 

[KompetentKrew]

It is probably better to have a couple of recent outboards than a pair of old knackered inboards which would be a money pit to renovate. The saildrive outboards have a higher gear ratio than the standard engines and swing a larger prop.

The Tohatsu 9.8 is trooper though. I recently spoke to the dealer in Alderney about getting a new one, as mine in 20 years old, and he told me not to bother. When I told him that I'd had the carb cleaned and it was now running fine (with hindsight I should have done this job myself) he said, "yes, that's all that ever goes wrong with them". Easy to get spares because this model is still in production, but very desirable because it's the lightest 10HP ever made, and they're no longer sold in the EU. So if OP wants something else he can probably make a good deal.

 

[cherod]

@cherod . Considered them might be a big word, but I have read up on them and they do sound like an alternative. The thing is, I want to sail now, and I haven't seen any up for sale.

And I agree, the 9M is not a pretty boat in my eyes but I want to sail so I really don't care much about looks, and especially not in my current price range where I just want as much sailboat as I can squeeze out of it. That being said, should I end up on a 9M, I might make a few "adjustments" and try to put a little "lipstick" on her down the road

2 minutes pulled one on google ,, in Kent £ 30 , there are a few around,, take time and find a nice one , tangaro 36 ,, they are not all nice !!!

 

[MSJourney]

They have 2x35 gallon water tanks. If they are full you are looking at 700lb!

Yes, I am definitely thinking water-maker so I don't have to haul around two full water tanks. And hoping to cut some weight too by going electric, but that's in the future. First I need a boat

 

[MSJourney]

The Tohatsu 9.8 is trooper though. I recently spoke to the dealer in Alderney about getting a new one, as mine in 20 years old, and he told me not to bother. When I told him that I'd had the carb cleaned and it was now running fine (with hindsight I should have done this job myself) he said, "yes, that's all that ever goes wrong with them". Easy to get spares because this model is still in production, but very desirable because it's the lightest 10HP ever made, and they're no longer sold in the EU. So if OP wants something else he can probably make a good deal.

Thanks a lot. Good to know that I these engines are known to be solid. In my childhood it was mostly Mercury everyone went on about, so that's like the extend of my knowledge on outboard brands.

 

[MSJourney]

2 minutes pulled one on google ,, in Kent £ 30 , there are a few around,, take time and find a nice one , tangaro 36 ,, they are not all nice !!!

Yea, that actually brings up a little bit of a different thing that plays into my decision here. I am not looking at boats in England because I live in Lisbon, and I don't feel like the canal and the Bay would be good places for me to start getting my sealegs. In a Cat I could, of course, avoid the Bay by going through the channels down to the Med.

I don't know, maybe it's just me being a little on the careful side here because I guess there's still 2 months of good sailing on that route. It's not like I'm afraid, I have been caught in a violent storm that emptied the waters and made the news a few years ago in a 25ft mono from 62, ripped sails, thrown overboard but caught the railing with one hand last second, lost my instruments, and my engine was damaged, sooo to be honest, even though it was a great experience, it's not really anything I want to go seek out again anytime soon

 

[KompetentKrew]

Thanks a lot. Good to know that I these engines are known to be solid. In my childhood it was mostly Mercury everyone went on about, so that's like the extend of my knowledge on outboard brands.

These are very desirable engines, in the short-shaft version, for SIBs and small RIBs. I have one on a 2.7m Honwave inflatable.

Wouldn't a 4-stroke be more suitable for a yacht? I have no idea, TBH.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I sailed a 9m Catalac in the ‘80s & ‘90s and kept it in the Med for 5 years. Shallow draft let’s you creep into shallow anchorages. Off the wind they sail ‘okay’, nothing spectacular, just okay. On the wind I often ran the leeward engine which helped her point a bit higher and reduced leeway. Fuel and water capacity is excellent at the expense of weight; cats sail better light.
To my knowledge no unmodified 9m Catalac has ever capsized. They are designed to slip sideways if the waves get too high. I can vouch for that. One did flip after keels had been added to each hull, and one at least was pooped by a breaking sea, so keep the cabin door shut! I came close to pitchpoling south of Sicily surfing down the face of masthead high waves. We deployed a bight of rope from one quarter to the other to slow things down before getting under the lee of Lampedusa.
Great boats for Mediterranean live aboard.

 

[Boathook]

Here's an article from 2007 I believe, I came across the other day.

Catalac Catamaran - Catalac 9M PBO article

This guy is pushing crazy performance out of a 1981 model. I know that is the newer version, but reading about it they didn't change that much in the overall design. But as I believe he also states in the article, he has a lot of focus on keeping her light. That and other threads I have read makes me hope that maybe that is the key to sailing this boat.

There is no difference in the hull between the mk1 and mk1 versions apart from the skeg. The early ones had lifting rudders and most seem to of been converted to fixed rudders with skegs. The deck and cabin top had minor tweaks such as steps moulded in to get from the foredeck onto the cabin top by the mast and the back deck was fully covered rather than using sheets of ply, etc.
Keeping the boat light is what matters and it is something that I bad at as there is a lot of stowage space that requires filling!

 

[C08]

There is no difference in the hull between the mk1 and mk1 versions apart from the skeg. The early ones had lifting rudders and most seem to of been converted to fixed rudders with skegs. The deck and cabin top had minor tweaks such as steps moulded in to get from the foredeck onto the cabin top by the mast and the back deck was fully covered rather than using sheets of ply, etc.
Keeping the boat light is what matters and it is something that I bad at as there is a lot of stowage space that requires filling!

I think the later version is much preferred as the skegs give much better directional stability. My boat without skegs wanders all over and thhose are on my list of jobs to do.

 

[Mudisox]

For what it is worth.
My father had one for 20+ years after my mother and he met up with my family who had chartered an 8m out of Poole. Yes it is a bit of a floating caravan, but it had inboard diesels which he swore by. He went everywhere in it, including the med and the French canals- it suited him to his death, when I had to bring it back from Strasbourg and sold it through Mary Lack in Christchurch.
I borrowed it often but 15 years ago I bought a Comanche Cat which is in many ways far superior, and have virtually lived aboard, cruised all over the place with Brittany and French canals explored, all over, often on my own.
There is no comparison to the catalacs. Sails well, rock solid in almost every sea I have encountered, and considerably more comfortable than the big Swan 55, I also I occasionally sail on. It doesn't look that bad either, and I have had many admiring comments.
Twin inboards make a surprising difference, both for reliability, and manoeuvrability.
PM if you wish more.

 

[PeteCooper]

I have the manufacturer's brochure for a Catalac 9 metre I can scan for you if you like.

 

[MSJourney]

These are very desirable engines, in the short-shaft version, for SIBs and small RIBs. I have one on a 2.7m Honwave inflatable.

Wouldn't a 4-stroke be more suitable for a yacht? I have no idea, TBH.

Thanks, good to get some extra confirmation that I don't have to worry too much about the engines. One less thing to worry about, and to be honest, there are enough other things to worry about on the boat I am currently looking at

Yes, I would agree that 4-stroke is much more suitable, but the current owner might have chosen them for the lighter weight, or maybe just because they are just cheaper. As I said, I hope to go fully electric so my hope for these engines is just that have some value on the second-hand market. I will have to look into that

 

[MSJourney]

I sailed a 9m Catalac in the ‘80s & ‘90s and kept it in the Med for 5 years. Shallow draft let’s you creep into shallow anchorages. Off the wind they sail ‘okay’, nothing spectacular, just okay. On the wind I often ran the leeward engine which helped her point a bit higher and reduced leeway. Fuel and water capacity is excellent at the expense of weight; cats sail better light.
To my knowledge no unmodified 9m Catalac has ever capsized. They are designed to slip sideways if the waves get too high. I can vouch for that. One did flip after keels had been added to each hull, and one at least was pooped by a breaking sea, so keep the cabin door shut! I came close to pitchpoling south of Sicily surfing down the face of masthead high waves. We deployed a bight of rope from one quarter to the other to slow things down before getting under the lee of Lampedusa.
Great boats for Mediterranean live aboard.

All great information, thanks a lot for putting in your 2-cent here. Need all the information I can get at this point.

 

[MSJourney]

I think the later version is much preferred as the skegs give much better directional stability. My boat without skegs wanders all over and thhose are on my list of jobs to do.

Thanks, this is really good to know and lead me to ask the seller about this. His answer was:

"The pevious owner modify the rudderblades to long full metal ones. Bit heavyer than the original setup but much more stronger than the plywood ones. They are long as the deepest point of the bottom and the surface is big enough to reduce the side drifting"

How does this sound to you guys?

 

[MSJourney]

For what it is worth.
My father had one for 20+ years after my mother and he met up with my family who had chartered an 8m out of Poole. Yes it is a bit of a floating caravan, but it had inboard diesels which he swore by.........

This absolutely valuable information for me! Any experience from people who are not trying to sell me a boat is good information at this point

 

[C08]

Thanks, good to get some extra confirmation that I don't have to worry too much about the engines. One less thing to worry about, and to be honest, there are enough other things to worry about on the boat I am currently looking at

Yes, I would agree that 4-stroke is much more suitable, but the current owner might have chosen them for the lighter weight, or maybe just because they are just cheaper. As I said, I hope to go fully electric so my hope for these engines is just that have some value on the second-hand market. I will have to look into that

I had a 15hp 4 stroke Yamaha when I bought my boat in 2003. It was only 3 years old and totally quiet but seemed underpowered for the boat. I bought a new 30hp Tohatsu 2 stroke that was quite punchy BUT was a bit noisy and thirsty and I fancied power tilt so I sold that engine and bought a 20hp 4 stroke Tohatsu that with a hi thrust 4 blade prop is pretty good. Quiet, good fuel consumption and with power tilt I tend to sail more as no bother to just drop or lift the leg. I think the 9M needs a 25/30 hp sized engine.
Having 2x9.8hp Tohatsu outboard engines offers some redundancy which is good but I would want tp look closely how the transom had been widened (or if on brackets which would be awkward to raise engines) to accomodate 2 engines and whether they were so close together that they interferred with each other at prop level?

 

[MSJourney]

I have the manufacturer's brochure for a Catalac 9 metre I can scan for you if you like.

Thanks a lot. I might hold you to that one if I can't find it online. For instance, I'm having some real trouble finding the prices for new sails for the 9M, and the boat I'm looking at needs all new sails for me to feel good about it. Does anyone have any information or just ideas on how much new sails will run me?