[PCW] New powercat

[John Schieffelin]

While browsing through a recent copy of Yacht Trader magazine I came across
an advertisement for the GCat36 power cat. I have not seen this boat before.

 

It is an outboard-powered catamaran with very thin hulls and a somewhat
ungainly, boxy cabin. You can see the boat and a video on the company's web
site, 

 

www.gcat36.com.

 

I gather the GCat 36  is made in Florida, and the founder made sailing cats
for many years before starting this power cat company. The hulls are so thin
that I wonder if the well-padded among us could squeeze between the sink and
the wall in the head area. The cabins in the hull seemed awfully
claustrophobic at first glance, but perhaps they are bigger than they look
on the web site.

 

What is the impression among the readers of this blog?

 

I also noted in the same issue an advertisement for Prout Catamarans. I
remember an interesting 64-foot Prout power catamaran I saw at a boat show
many years ago, but I hadn't realized the company was either still in
business or had been resurrected. The web site is
www.proutinternational.com.

 

Does anyone know these boats? 

 

The first complete Maine Cat 47 powerboat should be near completion. I look
forward to magazine reviews with interest. The boat seems to be one of the
best thought-out designs in several years, and I hope the company will make
a go of it. I was sad when PDQ folded, since their boats were so well
designed and well built.

 

J. Schieffelin

Jamestown, RI