Catalac 8m

[Flyer]

Hey guys,

I just purchased a Catalac 27' and its a bare boat. There is a molded sponson for a single outboard. My questions for the collective braintrust here is as follows: Please correct me in this point if I'm wrong, the availability of 25" sailmasters is slim to none. There are some used but from my research Tohatsu is the only I have found for a new one and the biggest is 12hp.

I may have access to a 2 cyl diesel that I could potentially install in the cat. Would manueverability be impossibly compromised running a single ib in one of the hulls? Would this setup, plus a 5.5 British Seagull in the ob well be goofy?

It is my plan to make this boat as motorsailorish as possible. Would a pair of rebuilt sailmasters fitted into a modified outboard sponson be a reasonable alternative?

[Sunspot Baby]

Maneuvering with an engine in only one hull will be challenging. Not so much going forward. That is a bit like towing another boat on a side tie. It is in reverse where it really breaks down. I have tried backing into my slip on one engine a couple of times. I am sure the dock watchers found it very amusing.

The Seagull seems a little underpowered for your use.

A long shaft outboard in the 15 to 25 range is probably the right way to go.

George

[Flyer]

I figured the Seagull would be mostly used as a side thruster for manuevering. Anyone hear of a tilting leg that mounts behind the sponson to put the tin donkey on center?

On a different subject, as a boat owner can I get an overwide permit and trail this beast down the highway with just a Class D license?

[Tropic Cat]

Congradulations on the Catalac purchase, you'll find that they're good boats.

Where did you locate the 8M? I haven't seen a lot of them for sale in these parts.

Mine has the twin Yanmar diesels. The ones I've seen for sale have Yamaha 9.9''s on them

Rick in Florida

[Flyer]

Thanks Rick, I bought sight unseen on Ebay. These pics are all I have so far.

[Tropic Cat]

I guess saying the boat is in disrepair would be kind. I wonder how they managed to hole the bridgedeck??? Did the boat fall off a hard stand? Do they have any idea what happened to the mast, tabernacle and rigging? Our masts are double the thickness of a mono mast for the given size and I have no idea where to inquire about the tabernacle in North America.

Any idea what the boat number is? It's in the interior stamped onto the electrical panel which is just inside the salon door on the port side.

Well, we all know how you're spending your vacation.

Talk about a project!!!

Rick in Florida

[Flyer]

Definitely a big project, driving her down will be the first of it. I have high aspirations for this boat.

I'd like to see the boats spec sheet including rig dimensions or maybe you happen to know, also the mast and boom sections would be a great help.

[Tropic Cat]

Richard

Email me direct from here and I'll begin sending you at least some of what you'll need. I have the original specs and brochures which I've scanned into PDF files. (Adobe Acrobat). There is also a Yahoo Catalac group where we all try and help each other out.

Rick in Merritt Island, FL

[fhaney]

I'm Fred, owner of a 1984 Catalac 8 catamaran. Are their any other Catalac owners on tghe forum ?

[Tropic Cat]

I don't think there are that many of us Fred

[fhaney]

Guess Not. What happened to that holed Catalac ? Was it in a hurricane ?
By the way, your catamaran links at Merlin Mortgage don't work anymore.
What happened ? They were the most informative stuff I had seen on the Catalac.
Best Regards, Fred

[Tropic Cat]

I just turned the site back on for you. Check it now

S/V Catalpa, the best small cruising catamaran I could find

[Lodesman]

Richard,

Have you considered converting to centrally-mounted inboard with a Sonic or similar leg? sillette sonic - yanmar and lombardini marine diesels and jabsco pumps

Kevin

[Tropic Cat]

No, I love the mauverability of twin diesels. It's one of the reasons I selected this Catalac.

The redundancy while cruising, power generation, manuverability, low maintainence, economy are all excellent reasons to stay with twin diesels. I do complain from time to time about the quality of diesel fuel these days, but when it's all said and done, I wouldn't trade my engines... unless it's for larger ones.

That's the reason I've been looking at 'engine porn' , I figure a little more horse power never hurt anyone.

[fhaney]

[quote=rickm505;99545]I just turned the site back on for you. Check it now

S/V Catalpa, the best small cruising catamaran I could find[/quote

Thanks, Rick ! I've alreeady sent it to a prospect. For what it's worth, I have never seen a more useful, informative page on the Catalac than your's.