What Cat is this ?

[djeeke]

I just saw an add listing this cat for sale....
The add however does not tell what kind of boat this is, it is listed as a 34 ft...
Supposedly built in 1976...
Anybody has an idea what I am looking at ?

[djeeke]

And oh yes... My first guess was an Iroquois...
But a lot of things don't match up (keels instead of boards, windows, transom, rudders not transom hung, ...)

[Tropic Cat]

The hull and cabin shape looks like an "Aristicat" but the windows and cockpit do not. Also, no Cat had transom steps in the '70s, so these had to be added later. Nothing comes to mind this morning except I would say it's a British design.

[Tropic Cat]

My other two guesses were a Comanche or Bobcat based strictly on hull and cabin design.

One thing I noticed is that this boat appears to have a crossbar in the bow where all British boats of that vintage had solid foredecks as did every Cat I can think of built in the '70's. With the exception of the James Wharram designs. It would appear that I've used up my guesses!!

I had a spelling error in the post above. "Aristicat" should be "Aristocat". Apparently the time to edit a post is considerably shorter than it used to be.

[djeeke]

Thanks Rick !

Originally Posted by Tropic Cat

One thing I noticed is that this boat appears to have a crossbar in the bow where all British boats of that vintage had solid foredecks as did every Cat I can think of built in the '70's with the exception of the James Wharram designs.

That's why I thought of the Iroquois...
Comanche, don't think so...

[clockwork orange]

Its deffinatly a Rod Mcalpine Downie design from the 60s or 70s by the hull shape at the bows,im not sure of all the models but i would guess an Iriquois with owner modifications such as the transom extensions. The cabinside windows have been filled in and modern Lewmar type ports added, im fairly sure the Iriquois had a fwd crossbeam and a net and adding keels is not uncommon on older multis,a lot of folks put Cross keels on piver tris of that era.
Steve.

[djeeke]

Mistery probably solved ...

A member of the Iroquois group told me this is definitely an Iroquois although it has been extensively modified...

I wonder if this extension to 34ft on the already narrow beam of the Iroquois was a smart move ...

[sandy daugherty]

I have a suspicion that those are not fixed keels, but centerboards, retracted. That would appeal to the sailor in me, but the Sloth in me wonders what space there is left in that area, and how hard they are to maintain. The rudders are NOT pretty, but....

[Woods Designs]

It is definitely an Iroquois, but one that has been very heavily modified. LAR keels, fixed rudders (rather strange looking) and lengthened aft.
If it is really 34ft long then it is narrower (at 13ft) than many monohulls. No extra room inside compared to a standard model.

Multihulls are usually lengthened when they get too heavy and people want to see the transoms out of the water. Problem is that many extensions are so heavy in themselves (and of course are right aft) that the boat just sinks right back down again.

I'd avoid it.

Incidentally not sure if you knew, but the Aristocat in a later life became the original Gemini

just keep looking, somewhere is the boat for you

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

Woods Designs Sailing Catamarans

[djeeke]

Hi Sandy !

I still think it's a fixed keel of some sort...

This is what the Iroquois centerboards look like :

note: unable to go to the full down position as the boat was not floating high enough

[djeeke]

Thanks Richard, your feedback is much appreciated (as usual !)

Originally Posted by Woods Designs

It is definitely an Iroquois, but one that has been very heavily modified. LAR keels, fixed rudders (rather strange looking) and lengthened aft.

* LAR keels -no real comment has its advantages and disadvantages...
* Rudders, they look like some kind of unbalanced rudders, not really the way to go I suppose...
* Lengthened aft, they added transom steps, if they started from an Iroquois MKII (31ft 6inches) they will be close to the 34 ft (actually they list it as 10.5m) Indeed adding a lot of weight aft as they even moved the engine backward...
* You're absolutely true, 34ft against the standard Iroquis 13 ft beam makes an extremely narrow cat...

Originally Posted by Woods Designs

Incidentally not sure if you knew, but the Aristocat in a later life became the original Gemini

I just came found out myself since Rick Mentioned the Aristocat and I did a little lookup on this boat...
Also I saw there is one for sale click here : Aristocat catamaran for sale

I must say I wonder how someone manages going forward on this boat, very narrow passage there if you ask me !!!

Originally Posted by Woods Designs

just keep looking, somewhere is the boat for you

We believe the very same !!!