Another Fast Cat Question

Warren

This is how it was explained to me. In mid-size waves, because the hull "packs" air under the hull in the tunnel, and because you're running level with more wetted surface, it can float on a cushion of air and just skim the tops of the waves, with the front of the sponsons breaking the wave. This makes for a smooth, dry ride. This also works as long as the waves are no more than 15 - 18 feet apart, height of the wave has no bearing at all. With a conventional hull, you don't have that "floating" effect and you're taking the brunt of the wave on the bottom of the hull. This makes for a rougher ride with lots of splash. Depending on how well the hull design throws the water to the side, you might or might not be dry when this happens.

If the distance between waves becomes more than that, then you risk "stuffing" the wave, and yes, that will bring you to a SUDDEN stop! But, if the waves are far enough apart, then you can just ride over them without problem. But then again, stuffing a wave with any boat hull style will stop you in your tracks, don't ask me how I know that!

The "cat" hull with the wide beam carried all the way to the front of the boat means that you will have a VERY stable boat and Fast Cat builds their boats to racing standards, which means that the average angler can drive it just as hard as they want to and never worry about breaking it.

All I know is that I was extremely impressed with the thought that went into the design of the hull, how much testing has gone into it, and how exacting they are when building it. Trust me when I say, "This ain't your daddy's fishin' boat!"

They agreed in middle weight chop though that nothing beat the ride of a tunnel. I know my Baker Custom was great.

Since I made the committment to buy the Fast Cat, I've talked to some other dealers and self-professed boat experts. I've heard all kinds of "horror" stories about catamaran hulls and how a conventional hull is superior to the cat style. But when I ask them how come catamarans are dominating offshore powerboat racing, which is probably the ultimate rough water experience, they have no answer.

I guess all I can say to that is "wait and see".....

If you want the definitive answer, contact Errol Lanier at laniermarine@bellsouth.net and ask him. He used to run (among others) Miss Budweiser and the Benihana boat. Errol was the first to bring a catamaran boat to offshore racing and he could answer your question a lot better than I.

I checked out the FastCat at the Classic Outdoor show last weekend, it is indeed a very interesting design.

I personally saw three things about it that I questioned as being potential problems.

The first is storage. It appears that there's very little space outside of the two catamaran hulls, each of which off a huge, cavernous storgage area. These caverns are very deep ones, but certainly not wide nor do they offer any kind of organized layering of equiptment. I can easily see things burying up in layers in there, which could result in numerous problems.

The second thing that struck me was the size of the forward casting deck, which I saw as being very small. As a guide you probably have 2 or more individuals up there (including yourself) often. If the deck extended back to the consol that would be adequate, but it stopped well short of it.

The third potential problem is the one Bob mentioned. Those catamaran hulls are skinny, and in big water & under full load I can't see them keeping the upper platform (which is flat underneath) from hitting water hard on the way down especially at speed. Basically there's nothing I see that would "split" the water in big seas like modern v-hull variations do.

They way you describe the "smacking down" of the flat surface stopping the top from submerging makes sense on a straight-down drop, but not at all at significant speed. I realize that you generally fish small waters & aren't likely to encounter waves larger than 2-3 feet, and if that's the case this may not be a concern to you. I know also that this rig is derived from racing boats, and that boat races aren't done in high seas, at least not with 22 foot boats.

Keep in mind that I've never ridden in or seen a FC in action, and that these observances are merely my concerns after seeing one up close.

I know you're a wise man Steve, but I'd take a traditional bassboat design over one of these personally. JMHO of course.

Warren