GL: Power Cats

[Bill and Birute]

We have owned an Endeavour 36 power cat since April of 2004 and have put
1,500 hours on the twin Yanmar 125hp engines.  We have completed the great
loop plus a bit more.  Our boat is for sale.  We considered the PDQ 34 but
opted for the Endeavour because it only had one helm station and therefore
one less set of "things to go wrong."  Our sea cocks are all very accessible
as are our engines (just fold up the mattresses over them, pull them forward
and remove the three boards in each rear berth and you have a great deal of
engine access.  We have enjoyed the great control that the cat gives (props
are 12 feet apart) and have never had a problem finding a 15 foot wide slip
for the night plus we don't rock and roll very much at anchor.  We do not
have much windage (sometimes important in locks) since we do not have (nor
need) any flying bridge.  Our air draft of less than 14 feet allows us to
pass under most ICW bridges.  We think we have an ideal loop boat with a 38
inch draft, protected (mostly) props, the ability to sit on our own hulls
and varying heights for getting on to docks (three foot at the stern and
four foot + further forward).   We get 3.5 miles per gallon in the canals
and ICW and less if we choose to go faster (up to 16 if we have to, although
not for long at that speed because of the fuel burn and stress on the
engines).  We have tons of space (three queen size berths) and enough
storage to significantly lower the water line if we so choose.  The steps in
our cat are steeper than in a house, but no steeper than most boats,
including the PDQ.  We have lived aboard now for 14 continuous months and
still think we have a great loop boat.  The best advice we can give you is
to try out any boat you are thinking of purchasing and see for yourself.
One person's deal killer is insignificant to the next.  The approximate cost
of a new Endeavour 36 is $320,000 and there are used ones for sale on the
Endeavour web site, including ours. Hope all this helps.



B & B

Cayuga Lake, NY

Endeavour 36