"Unusual" project - having trouble getting the right build - custom needed?

[rupertfb]

Try ‘Vision’ Catamarans in South Africa. Met them at Palm Beach…. low production, they actually listen to clients!
Good luck - keep the thread going with your findings as it’s an interesting topic

[CaptJimFrei]

Jarrett Bay Boatworks in Beaufort NC.

[Ifitsworthdoing]

I would second the recommendation for Darren Newton of DazCat in the U.K. - he co-designed the Broadblue 346 I am commissioning this year as a solar electric motor trawler variant. Its new big brothers the BB385 Mark 4 and BB425 are also very much worth looking at. Beyond the electrification, our boat also has a bunch of other custom changes: composting heads instead of flushing ones (preserves water and affords repurposing of black water tank space), kitchen waste composting, and a custom built dinghy tender lift. Broadblue also build the impressive Rapier racing cruisers (40 and 55ft) which are highly customisable. Take a look at their website or better yet have a chat with their MD Mark Jarvis during the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show at Ocean Village Marina Southampton on April 22nd/23rd.

[BobMc]

[QUOTE=ScienceSailor;3754678
Some of you mentioned key points :
- A naval architect - can you recommend trustworthy ones you had dealings with? [/QUOTE]

If you're looking for a multi-hull, which it appears you are, let me suggest you contact John Marples, Marine Architect, who specializes in designing multi-hulls. The only contact I've had with him was when he conducted a two-week course at WoodenBoat School in Brooklyn, Maine, a number of years ago, but I know he's designed a number of commercial cats and tris which are very successful.

His info:
John Marples, Marples Marine
Penobscot, Maine
Searunner Multihulls - Home
marplesmarine[AT]gmail[DOT]com
207–326–8096.

[R Hutcheson]

You may want to try Maverick Catamarans. It's been a few years since I've looked at them, but I think they are able to do quite a bit of customization.

[aerocanard]

We are selling a custom refitted cat that would be a perfect setup for what your wanting to do.

https://www.catamaransite.com/catama...au-lagoon-55s/

I have a facebook site with the refit pictures and descriptions of the progress of the refit. My wife and I can handle this boat with ease. This boat was built as a sport model using epoxy, foam and balsa core, carbon fiber and kevlar hulls below the water line. It was completely gutted and lighter weight composite materials to reconstruct the floors and cabinets removing 2 bedrooms and 2 heads. This boat is balanced and light with mostly all new systems. We are willing to make you a deal.

Jeff Russell SV Vitesse
Red Frog Marina,
Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Whatsapp +507 6219 6604
US Cell 863-488-9888

[gsuescum]

Originally Posted by rupertfb

Try ‘Vision’ Catamarans in South Africa. Met them at Palm Beach…. low production, they actually listen to clients!
Good luck - keep the thread going with your findings as it’s an interesting topic

I saw one of their boats. Great design. Simple systems. I can’t say whether they are good blue water botas.

[gsuescum]

It sounds like you might be looking for a Chris White boat. Check them out

[gsuescum]

Most of the things you’re looking for, as Chotu said, are pretty standard these days. Big DC battery bank, dc powered water maker, dc powered aircon (Mabru), tons of solar (with a back up ge set) are all becoming standard for live aboard cruising cats.

https://www.spectrawatermakers.com/us/us
https://mabrustore.com/products/mps-...ng-and-cooling


Here’s a Chris White cat at half your current budget
https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/200...ic-42-8551613/

[gsuescum]

Here’s another Chris White under your budget that’s very close to your specs https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/201...antic-8675783/

[kurtsch]

I'll second Dazcat in Millbrook, UK
I have my trimaran in their yard and have seen the work they do.
They customize their cats for handicap accessibility.

[blubaju]

https://schionningdesign.com/solitaire-1520

think this is more or less what you want, the designer is flexible - in the frame of the design, meaning, the bulkhead must be there to support the hull, but whats inbetween the bulkheads is very flexible.

Most are one-offs, but some models are produced in series, before in Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Germany and somewhere in Far East. He might recommend a builder or factory and you choose the price level

you want to sail solo? I'd consider this design a meter to long, but you want PAYLOAD ;-)

You said you can repair everything, that is wonderful - if nature gives you enough time. Example: hydraulic steering, I had one, never failed, but one day I found a small leak in the copper tube. This cat I use Dyneema pull-pull ropes, 2 sets, one to each rudder, if one fails, the other one is still there, was Schionnings idea, the carbon rudder posts too

[gsuescum]

I am fascinated by your cat search journey.

As someone who went from monohulls to cats and owned 4 catamarans before finding “the one”, I would like to ask you a couple questions.

Have you owned a cat before?
Have you sailed one before for a period of a week or more?
Do you have a lot of monohull sailing time?

I’ve gone down the “I want all these features” path and met three dead ends before finding our current boat. It was fun but cost a lot of $ (lost time, some headaches and heartbreak). I would hate for you to spend close to a million and find you’re not happy 6 months in.

P.S. at the moment happily sailing along at about 10kts on 20 true. :-)