[PUP] power catamarans

[Mike Maurice]

> Cats do have a problem with heavy seas.   Most cats have an anti-slam  
> nacelle under the bridge to ameliorate the slam of water that comes  
> up between the hulls in a head sea.  I have to admit never having  
> been on a cat in such seas, but I've asked those who have.   
> Apparently this slam can be quite uncomfortable and even dangerous.   

This slamming business is the factor which will bring your traveling to 
a halt. I have one experience with a 32' power cat brought up the 
Calif/Ore coast. We had to fall back to the last harbor due to slamming 
in an 8' head sea. It would have been a problem in a mono hull, but the 
slamming can't be avoided in the cat, whereas the mono hull could have 
been worked ahead if so desired, without the slamming.

The situation is actually a bit more complicated that what I have 
indicated, but the summary above is pretty accurate.

There is one issue which has been overlooked in most of the prior 
discussions. A cat can be overturned in high winds, especially if there 
is a lot of gustiness. The situation will be even worse if there is a 
lot of heavy steep sea running. The cat is really vulnerable if the boat 
gets up on a steep wave and a gust gets under the hull, where it can be 
flipped over. This is most likely what happened to the 50'? "Cat Shot" 
which was lost off the Oregon coast in December.


Regards,
Mike

_____________________________________
Capt. Mike Maurice
Beaverton Oregon(Near Portland)