Takacat Catamaran Dinghy

[smj]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

The right Cat dingy design can carry a large payload.

Your right. Either a longer LWL or fatter hulls.

[Tropic Gal]

The Takacat Lite 10 footer sounds great. I am looking at the Lehr propane 5hp outboard to go on it. Anyone have any experience with this combination. When doing some online investigation came across Vaporboats, https://sites.google.com/site/vaporboats/home. Their limited website shows the Takacat calling it Vaporboat with the Lehr on it. Anyone have any info of this?

[tamicatana]

I don't know about the propane 5, but I have a very old Elgin 2hp, and while we don't go real fast, it will push the boat about just fine, and that with as many as five people...

I looked at that site. I guess this René guy is importing Takas and hanging the OB on 'em with a rebrand. Didn't see his price, but I can't expect you couldn't do that for cheaper going direct

[Cotemar]

Why not just get one of these Saturn 9.6' Inflatable Mini Cat MC290 for $599

Saturn Inflatable Catamarans - Mini Cats.

[Cheechako]

Looks like a deal for the price. It's gonna pound bad though.

[deckofficer]

Cotemar,

I've always been intrigued by your dinghy. Was it your design that you built? Your Mahe is a smaller cruiser but sure looks like your davits have no problems with the dinghy. I know you have told us but I forget, what does it weigh? What speed with what hp? Range on what tankage?

[deckofficer]

On #7, any idea on nm per gallon? My last dinghy I used for some longer hauls, typical 10' inflatable with a Tohatsu 9 hp. I could count on 60 miles per 6 gallon tank at about 3/4 throttle. I'm thinking with your weight and wetted surface, your range would be much better.

[nimblemotors]

Nicely Done! What is it made of?

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

That is why mine has lots of bridge deck clearance.
Mine stays dry going full blast into a 20 knot chop.
This is the first dinghy that I actually love to row in.
Turn on a dime at any speed.
It’s like having a Sports car.

That looks like the perfect dinghy! Do you have any photos from above showing inside the foot wells?

[solarbri]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

That is why mine has lots of bridge deck clearance. Mine stays dry going full blast into a 20 knot chop. This is the first dinghy that I actually love to row in. Turn on a dime at any speed. It’s like having a Sports car.

How about plans for sale?

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

On #7, any idea on nm per gallon? My last dinghy I used for some longer hauls, typical 10' inflatable with a Tohatsu 9 hp. I could count on 60 miles per 6 gallon tank at about 3/4 throttle. I'm thinking with your weight and wetted surface, your range would be much better.

I am still putting all the data together on nm per gallon.
She does plane with a 3 hp, so she will be a sipper.

Last week I rowed her for over a mile with no effort at all. She will go 20 or 30 feet with each row. My inflatable would just stop after each row.

[deckofficer]

Those are some narrow hulls with a knife like entry. I'll bet it is easy to row and I would guess a Torqeedo 4.0 with the optional V30 prop, it would fly at 15 kt easy.

[tamicatana]

Cotemar

but you can't disassemble for storage, right? It has to live on the davits, or be brought up on deck?

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by tamicatana

Cotemar

but you can't disassemble for storage, right? It has to live on the davits, or be brought up on deck?

It does not disassemble. Stays on the davits or tie it to the hard top or tramp.

[tamicatana]

To return to the original subject…

Thought I'd share an update:

--The boat is just awesome. I have bad knees and find it easy to get in and out of. Love the 'drive it up on the beach and walk off' aspect. It is easily driven by the 1959 Elgin ancient <2hp OB. Boat is still all that was advertised, AFAIC

--The only bad thing is that the air-floor developed a couple of leaks. The strip perimeter came somewhat unglued where it overlaps, and I'd say it was a manufacturing flaw. I contacted Greg of Takacat, who then asked who in my area dealt in liferafts. I gave Greg the two local shops, and he contacted them and made arrangements with one of them to repair my floor. I got the air-floor to the local shop, they fixed it, no problems. Greg took care of the whole thing in short order and painlessly.

So some six months into the Taka, I'm still diggin' the boat and would recommend it, and Takacat has backed the product.