[PUP] comparisons: speed & GPH

[rodgibbons at mindspring.com]

(Disclaimer: this letter written by a catamaran dealer)

Dear Dennis O'Conner,

Sorry -- I'm not sure what specific boat you were impressed by in your following notation:

>
>What is spectacular is 10 NMPG at 8.1 knots...  What is not spectacular is the
>nearly $800K price tag...  You can afford a lot of fuel for an old boat for
>the next 50 years at that price...(Volume 47, issue 10)

This is impressive -- but, whereas we cruising yachtsmen have widely varying bank accounts and budgets, we ALL cruise with approximately the same life-span available to us. So, time has a very real value. As such, moving at just 7-to-9 knots is considered by some to be a too-costly endeavor, especially if the primary reason is "saving fuel."  (If you could get 100 MPG in a particular model car...but could travel no faster than 25 MPH ... are there any of us who would not opt for a "mere" 20 MPG, but 60-70 MPH speeds?)

With that in mind, here are some cruising speeds (available with displacement-type catamarans) that take you far beyond the usual 7 or 8 knots endured by the typical displacement-monohull cruiser.... and all for less than the "$800K" price tag you referenced. (I do not represent all of these cat models.)

(a)  The BearCat 46 offers 16-knot cruising at 13 GPH (top speed 22 knots), and 750 mile range (1,000-mile range option). Complete and "turn-key" equipped, the current introductory price -- 3 cabins and 2-or-3 heads -- is $699K.  Twin-hull stability means no need for $25K stabilizer system -- widely spaced engines negate need for $10K bow-thruster. Boat is beachable for painting or repairs. Shallow, 37" draft. 

(b)  The BearCat 51 offers 15-knot cruising at 13 GPH (top speed up to 24 knots), and up to a 2,000-mile range  ("Turn-key" equipped, with 3 ensuite staterooms, the current introductory price is $795K, ex-works). 39" draft.

(c)  The Maryland 37 (from Fountaine Pajot, no longer in production) cruises at 15 knots at 9 GPH (top speed 19 knots), 5 years ago vailable new for about $425K.  Soon, this leading French manufacturer will be introducing a new 40' model power cat. (Limited details currently available, but projected cruising speed approx. 15 knots, with a top speed of about 20 knots, priced from around $550K.)

(c)  The PDQ-34 cat (soon to be in production at Pearson in Rhode Island), does 15 knots at about 4.5 GPH (top speed 20 knots). Price approx. $400K (I don't know the range, but I'm guessing about 450 miles?)

(d)  The Coastal-Cat 34 (already in production in New Zealand, and now also -- as of 3 weeks ago -- in separate production in Anacortes, WA) delivers 16-knot cruising at 3.5 GPH, and a top speed of 20 knots. Current introductory price (with 2 double cabins and 2 heads, standing headroom throughout) is $315K, with a 600-mile range. 

As you can see, ALL of these displacement-type power cats offer cruising speeds about TWICE that of comparable size, displacement-type monohull cruisers. And the cats' top speeds can be as much as 2.5 times greater than same-size, displacement-type monohulls -- an appealing benefit when seeking to outrun a storm, reach a distant shore before dark, or get an injured-or-sick crew back to port ASAP.

Rod Gibbons
Cruising Cats USA