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shawnkillam · 11-12-2010, 14:30

Does anyone know of any cats, say 40 to 60 feet, that have been built of steel?
A boat that actually sails as opposed to wallows. Just curious.
If not, do you think it would be possible to build one?
I have seen steel Tri's advertised but I have no idea how they perform as I have never seen one in the flesh.
thanks SK

DaveOnCudjoe · 11-12-2010, 15:08

I never heard of a steel tri or a steel cat. Both have been built in aluminum but even in that metal prove to be too heavy. Wood or composite is the only practical way to get one light enough and strong enough. Dave

Vasco · 11-12-2010, 15:44

Check out Lammer Law and Cuan Law they're not cat but tris. I think they're they might be aluminum. Used to see them in the Caribbean. Live aboard dive boats. Both over 100 feet. I think they motor more than they sail. Built in Canada.

tenchiki · 11-12-2010, 16:16

There was a 70-ft ketch-rigged catamaran out of aluminum that was a travelling medical/dental hospital for the south pacific that used to dock occasionally at Marina Bay harbor in Richmond, CA in the early 1990s. Definitely workboat styling and finish... I can't remember the name, and haven't found the right search terms... One of the advantages of aluminum construction is that the above-water exterior could remain unfinished (as well as the interior).

maxingout · 11-12-2010, 16:55

The aluminum catamaran you are talking about is Canvasback.

Check out this link to Canvasback Missions Inc.

Canvasback Missions, Inc. | Who We Are

A good friend of mine (Henry) sailed on Canvasback after he retired. He was an eye surgeon, and he sailed with them in the Marshall Islands. He knew absolutely nothing about sailing.

His first night on board while still in jet lag, he was given the job of steering the catamaran all night long. They stood him up behind the wheel, gave him a compass course, and told him to steer the course and the crew disappeared down below. Needless to say, Henry was more than a little surprised to be steering a seventy foot catamaran in the darkness offshore.

It was a rather austere experience for Henry. He ending up losing 30 pounds on the voyage, but he had a great time visiting the islands and checking people's eyes.

Henry was one tough dude. He landed in Guadalcanal in World War II, and lost lots of friends in the ensuing battle. Fortunately, Henry was endowned with a fearless nature and seemed to have a good dose of luck in all his adventures. I worked with him in Saudi Arabia when he was 74 years old, and he was still practicing medicine full time. When the Scud missles were coming down in Riyadh, Henry and I would be sitting in chairs out in the front of our villas waiting for the air raid sirens to sound warning of incoming scuds, and then we would head for our safe rooms (which really were not that safe). Henry was fearless.

tenchiki · 11-12-2010, 17:05

Yes, that was it, "Canvasback".

pressuredrop · 11-12-2010, 17:38

a catamaran that could sink?, gasp, the fraternity would never allow it

FSmith · 11-12-2010, 18:06

Yes, a couple stopped at my marina a few years ago with their home built steel cat. It was nicely done and at that time sailed from Australia to Florida.

**roverhi** · 11-12-2010, 18:23

Does it rhyme with lead ballon or lead zeppelin???

smj · 12-12-2010, 05:23

I'm sure it's possible but why?

Lodesman · 12-12-2010, 05:41

Lammer Law and Cuan Law are steel. Boden does plans for an 11m steel cat - Boden Boat Plans
There are plenty of "performance" alloy cats out there - Silkline and Sunreef to name two.

Vasco · 12-12-2010, 06:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lodesman

Lammer Law and Cuan Law are steel. Boden does plans for an 11m steel cat - Boden Boat Plans
There are plenty of "performance" alloy cats out there - Silkline and Sunreef to name two.

Yeah, I thought they were steel when I first saw them but the builder says they're aluminum.

New Build & Designing relating to Luxury Yacht CUAN LAW
The yacht's wider design collaboration came from Duncan Muirhead. The professional naval architecture intellectual property are the work of Duncan Muirhead. Sailing Yacht CUAN LAW received her elegant interior designing from the interior design skills of Trimrine Boat Company. Canada is the country that Hike Metal Works constructed their new build sailing yacht in. After her formal launch in 1988 in Wheatley On she was thereafter handed over to the owner following final finishing. Her core hull was constructed with aluminium. The sailing yacht superstructure is fabricated predominantly with aluminium. With a beam of 13.41 metres / 44 ft CUAN LAW has beamy size. She has a fairly shallow draught of 1.65m (5.4ft). She had refit improvement and alteration work undertaken in 1994.