Packet Cat 35 Review

[djmarchand]

I have lived aboard and sailed Island Packet's Packet Cat 35 for a few months now and so I would like to share some observations.

How does it sail- well as good as a mediocre monohull of the same length but not as good as the best. My perspective comes from owning: Jeanneau 362 (the PC sails very similar), a Saga 43, an Island Packet 37 (the PC is better downwind and worse upwind) and a J/32.

Don't try to sail any closer than about 55 degrees to the true wind. As expected the boat really shines at 70-150 degrees and 15 plus kts of wind, but so does any other sailboat. I have seen 7-8 kts boat speed in 20 kts true wind speed on a broad reach. The Jenneau wouln't do that and the IP 37 also wouldn't. But either would beat it upwind.

Does it pound, well no, but it thumps. IP's Delta Pod softens the wave slamming under the bridge deck, but doesn't eliminate it.

The overall comfort level in a seaway is better than a monohull, but it depends on your point of view. It doesn't heel (much) and its motion is kind of soft, but it does thump. I am slightly prone to seasickness and conditions that would make me queesy on my IP 37 don't on the PC.

Engine performance is great with two widely spaced engines, Backing and manuevering is a breeze. Given that you have 54 horsepower at hand, motoring speed is dissapointing, barely 7 kts at WOT and slack conditions. This is atrributable to the very large wetted surface with the Delta Pod.

The interior is great for a couple. It does have two almost identical queen size berths. But the interior main salon is not suitable for four. But the huge cockpit makes up for that problem, if the weather is nice outside. Otherwise, I would't want to live below with two couples.

Storage is nice. Engine room access is fantastic.

What really makes the boat work for me as a single handed cruiser is that it is stable, wide and easy to handle. Going up forward to deal with something in a seaway is no big deal.

So it is a good boat for what it is. More than a motorsailor but not a thorobred sailing machine either.

Email me offlist at djmarchand at cox dot net for more info.

David