Greetings, For some time, I have yearned for a Grady-White F-26 TigerCat. The reasons for my choice are: 1) My wife and I currently own a twenty-foot Grady-White, the 209 Escape. The center console is too small to contain even a porta-potty and "she-who-must-be-obeyed" is not thrilled with the boat's action in a moderate seaway. 2) My hope that a bigger, heavier catamaran (with an enclosed head) would appeal to my wife. My research has uncovered a fair amount of criticism of the TigerCat, primarily from a boating forum which shall remain anonymous (the initials are HT). Do any PCW readers have any personal knowledge of the G-W F-26 TigerCat? Barring that, third-person anecdotes will help me in my decision process. Thanks in advance. Guy Mandigo Ruskin, Florida

Hi, I used to have a GW Gulfstream. I have also heard bad things about the Tigercat - short, downright dangerous. rgds, gram. On 27 Oct 2009, at 13:06, Guy Mandigo wrote: > Greetings, > > For some time, I have yearned for a Grady-White F-26 TigerCat. The > reasons for my choice are: 1) My wife and I currently own a twenty- > foot > Grady-White, the 209 Escape. The center console is too small to > contain > even a porta-potty and "she-who-must-be-obeyed" is not thrilled > with the > boat's action in a moderate seaway. 2) My hope that a bigger, heavier > catamaran (with an enclosed head) would appeal to my wife. > > My research has uncovered a fair amount of criticism of the TigerCat, > primarily from a boating forum which shall remain anonymous (the > initials > are HT). > > Do any PCW readers have any personal knowledge of the G-W F-26 > TigerCat? > Barring that, third-person anecdotes will help me in my decision > process. > > Thanks in advance. > > Guy Mandigo > > Ruskin, Florida > _______________________________________________ > Power-Catamaran Mailing List

Hello, I'm kind of new to cats, but have decades of time on the water in both sail and power. Been following this thread about smaller cats and I guess its time to put in my two cents. Recently I tested two Aerocats, (not Arrow Cat from China) on Lake Erie. I visited Erie, PA for the weekend and had the chance to ride a 21' center console and a 27' high speed trawler. In shallow water with a 12-15k breeze, running into 2-3 foot chop the boats were extremely competent, with ride qualities that 32'-35' mono hulls would be proud of. However, at the end of the second day as we were pulling the 27 trawler out of the water, the weather changed quickly to a nor'easter with winds increasing to 25k, gusting to about 35. The tops of the short steep waves were being blown off. I commented that it was a good thing that we got off the water when we did. But Ken Handman and his partner Terry Olson said that these were the conditions that they had been hoping for all year and they were going to go back out to test the trawler, did I want to come along? This is the type of weather that makes you want to stay on shore, but I was so thoroughly impressed with the boat and figured that some day I might get caught out in similar conditions, in my home area of Lake Michigan, that I decided to go back out. I could probably write three more pages about that experience, but will limit it to this comment: After 32 years on the water in Bertrams, Grady Whites and other excellent boats, I have never experienced a vessel with this level of poise and competence. She handled 8-10 foot near-vertical (15-20 foot water depth) breaking seas without taking any water over the bow while running straight into the weather. And when it was time to turn for home I admit to some apprehension as to how we would fair as the boat turned around. But to my astonishment, Ken waited for a crest and simply spun the boat around and proceed to run down wind as if we were out for a day cruise with the family. This is the type of weather that almost any other boat would have to ride out with a sea anchor. Terry said that they have never found a limit to what the boats can handle and now I believe them. As I said previously, I ordered a center console for spring delivery. Maybe some of you might want to look at the web site www.aerocatboats.com. Cheers, Porter ________________________________ From: gram rupert <gramario@tin.it> To: Guy Mandigo <gmandigo@earthlink.net>; Power Catamaran List <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com> Sent: Tue, October 27, 2009 10:23:23 AM Subject: Re: [PCW] Grady-White F-26 TigerCat Hi, I used to have a GWGulfstream. I have also heard bad things about the Tigercat - short, downright dangerous. rgds, gram. On 27 Oct 2009, at 13:06, Guy Mandigo wrote: > Greetings, > > For some time, I have yearned for a Grady-White F-26 TigerCat. The > reasons for my choice are: 1) My wife and I currently own a twenty-foot > Grady-White, the 209 Escape. The center console is too small to contain > even a porta-potty and "she-who-must-be-obeyed" is not thrilled with the > boat's action in a moderate seaway. 2) My hope that a bigger, heavier > catamaran (with an enclosed head) would appeal to my wife. > > My research has uncovered a fair amount of criticism of the TigerCat, > primarily from a boating forum which shall remain anonymous (the initials > are HT). > > Do any PCW readers have any personal knowledge of the G-W F-26 TigerCat? > Barring that, third-person anecdotes will help me in my decision process. > > Thanks in advance. > > Guy Mandigo > > Ruskin, Florida > _______________________________________________ > Power-Catamaran Mailing List _______________________________________________ Power-Catamaran Mailing List