[PUP] comparisons: speed & GPH

[Peter Pisciotta]

(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.
While I am skeptical of marketing claims like these, they are compelling enough - even at 50% of their claim - to warrant investigation if I was in the market for a new boat. When I looked at Ken William's list of how he weighted factors for boat design (Safety - 20%, Speed 5%, Efficiency 10%, etc), I was reminded of a subset of sailboat designers like the Dashews - "fast is safe." The ability to outrun weather, the ability to make daylight passages, the ability to reliably make port along stretches like the Pacific Coast where there are 80-100 mile stretches between safe harbors. There's a reason why all sail speed records are now held by multi-hulls. And let's not forget that our very own Georgs' NYC-SF record from many years ago was only recently bested (both in catamarans).

I'm not supporting the idea of a power cat - I don't know enough about them and I'm sure there are tradeoffs. But it can't be dismissed either. We, as power boaters, may be 20 years behind sailors in the adoption of catamarans, and we could learn a lot from them on the relative marketing claims compared to performance (if I recall correctly, the initial speed claims were over-stated). Best I can figure, size matters a lot - I wouldn't be surprised if a 37-foot power cat just isn't practical for long, open ocean conditions (the bridge deck gets slammed). 

If the perfect passagemaker is the goal, why not start with a clean sheet of paper? The Dashews did and came up with an incredible example (long, narrow, twin screws, and probably pretty expensive, but it doesn't have to be) that deserves respect and consideration. A multi-hull might also be an answer, even at reduced performance relative to marketing claims. In both cases - Multihull and long/fast, the boat's accomodation economics (living space versus slip rent) are skewed toward passagemaking versus sitting in a slip.

Peter
Willard 36
San Francisco