Iroquois Mk2 cat 9 metre 1978

i_sail

i_sail

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hi and seasons greetings to fellow forum users

just wondered if any of you had any experience with the Iroquois. i am looking at one up in Ipswitch that has been on the hard for 3 years and needs a fair amount of cosmetic work (well thats boats i guess!!)

She has a Vetus engine linked to a Silette Sonic leg drive all professionally installed around 4 years ago

Just wondered if antbody had any tips/advice/willing to share info regarding this boat

Hope you all have a great new year too
 
I will probably get crucified by all the Iroquois owners for this but here goes.

A very light boat with a good sailing performance and fun on inshore waters in reasonable conditions. However as a cruising boat leaves a lot to be desired. many were fitted with big masthead floats so that when you lift a hull and she goes over she can be righted again. Also this type of hull has minimal reserve bouyancy and if you carry too many tins of beans or fray bentos pies you will notice a severe drop of in performance (the boats that is!) Think seriously about what you want it for therefore.... It's not a blue water boat IMHO at all....
 
You have a pic of a Gemini 105MC as your Avatar. Are you thinking of changing from the Gem to the Iroquois? Surely not!

Charles Kanter has a lot to say about the boat (I think he likes it) - he's the author of "Cruising in Catamarans". My copy is at home, not here on holiday, but when I get back to it I shall post the salient points.
 
I have seen a few Iroquois turn up here after crossing the pond quite happily - and yes, their masthead floats were quite distinctive.... but they made it here OK!

I am sure that they are very good cruisers if sailed carefully, and if you can buy the one mentioned above for a reasonable price, it should be an interesting restoration project.

Remember Geoff Pack who used to be the editor of Yachting Monthly? His Dad had an Iroquois for many years, and Geoff was also a catamaran fan, later buying an Apache (like the Iroquois, but longer and more sedate, also built by Sail Craft in Essex) to go off cruising with.
 
yes i have also heard what you are saying regarding the poor suitability for offshore use. also i have seen pics of the mast float you comment on. the boat is for use as a family cruiser with me, the other half, and a 6 yr old and 8 yr old. guess we will be limited to inshore use only in light conditions. are you also a catarmaran owner? thanks for your info.
 
Yes SSD I am one of those smug barstewards with a Prout Snowgoose Elite! Concur with previous comments... Why sell a perfectly good Gemini and buy an Iroquois? Rather have the Gemini especially with kids on board!
 
Boatmike, lucky you, the Prout you have must be lovely, they are great boats. Reason for the Gemini for sale is that I own a marine engineering/maintainance business, however am currently expanding into the sea school market, have a business plan ready to rock and roll, bank needs more financial committment from me to go ahead. Gutted as you can imagine. Me, the wife and kids were really looking forward to a great summer on the Gemini, and as you say, very safe for the kids, providing a great learning environment for them to develop their sailing skills. However in these uncertain times it is prudent to grab every opportunity.

Thanks Bajansailer for what you posted about the Iroquios, yes I too have read that many have crossed the pond, and yes, the Iroquois I am looking at is a restoration project!!
 
I know of a chap with a 9m Catalac for sale, but doesnt need any work on it so will be a bit more expensive than the Iriquois - bit better for a family as well, but not as exciting to sail (i.e. doesnt need a float on the top of the mast!)

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Yup!!! a friend managed to do a 180 in St Aubins bay Jersey in 1976. A friend and crew member was tipped overboard before the full inversion, when, what was the windward hull came over it nearly killed him.
 
Sad to hear that but IMHO you should seriously listen to all these tales of turning over, especially with a young family on board. Keep looking and you will often see old quest 31s for sale that need work if its a restoration job you want. As a last resort you could even ask Talbot how much for the Catalac... Bit of a floating caravan I know but kept up with me downwind with a kite up last year....cocky sod!
 
I sailed a Mk 1 with a proper rig (three stay rotating mast) in the late 60's early 70's. It would dance rings round loads of boats. We did Scillies to Penzance (42 miles) in 3.5 hours with me as a callow 14 year old helming.

When it blew, a load of dinghy sailors would be invited to crew and we would get the weather hull out, sheets being held not cleated.

A huge amount of fun in the right hands. Too narrow by half, and probably not for a gentle cruise with kids. Very limited headroom on the bridgedeck (tight sitting), but I still dream of owning one when I see one for sale... Fond memories....

They also had a habit of stuffing the mast through the deck if the kingpost wasn't man enough ( again Mk 1's)
 
I've got an Iroquois Mk II. Very happy with it. Refurbishing it as I go along.

I researched the stability issue before buying one. Difficult to see through all the doom merchants' fear driven ideas (keeps the price down though). My understanding is that the Mk I was like a 30 foot Tornado with a lid on -very quick with a fractional rig. People sailed it like a beach cat - charging about with one hull in the air. Given that many people want an idiot proof boat as well as performance the capsizes were inevitable.

The MkII is a bit fatter, with a lower (masthead) rig. So its arguably less tippy. Same sail area I believe. Still narrow by modern standards (not far off the Gemini though??). Quick for an old boat.

Still, its not an idiot proof boat, and a different approach is required with multis as opposed to monos. As a multihull sailor you will be familiar with the technique of reefing / slowing down to stay in control and prevent capsize??

Paul
 
There was also an Iroquois flipped over in the Solent a few years ago, thought to have been caused by a wave from a ferry.

It is unusual to have a diesel in one of these, an outboard is the norm, so it may be a bit heavier than most.
 
Actually if I remember rightly, it was about 1994 when one was capsized in the needles channel and someone was trapped below in it and drowned? It's easy to decry the boats though. After all Hobies and Darts capsize all the time! The problem is when people look upon them as a safe cruising boat. It's more a "pocket rocket" with a lid on!
Yes people have crossed oceans in them. They have also gone over Niagra Falls in a barrel. Personally I wouldn't do either!
There are old sailors and bold sailors but very few old bold sailors....
 
Buy Talbot's Catalac. Loads of room, as safe as can be and a great cruising boat for the family. .......... or you could buy a rather tippy restoration project with little room with a reputation for not being a family boat.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Buy Talbot's Catalac. Loads of room, as safe as can be and a great cruising boat for the family. .......... or you could buy a rather tippy restoration project with little room with a reputation for not being a family boat.

[/ QUOTE ]

The only difference between a Catalac and a mono of the same size ie it doesn't heel, and sails worse..... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Easy mate... Go faster sideways than they do forrards... You'll be persuading people to try Bobcats next...

If you want to get a cat at least get one that takes advantage of the form... And I talk as an ex-cat sailor.
 
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