Things I'd still like added or improved:

Hello cat fans, Let me preface this with a disclaimer: I'm a catamaran dealer, so "caveat emptor." On the other hand, those of you who have spoken or corresponded with me (or read my books or seen my videos) know that I purposely represent many brands of cats specifically because I don't believe any one model is the "right" boat for all cruisers. Additionally, there are some models among brands I rep that I forthrightly dissuade would-be buyers from putting at the tops of their lists. But yeah, I'm biased toward cats, and that's why I enjoy selling them. Okay, 'nuff said. I'm writing because I just returned from a 2-week trip to France and Spain, during which I attended the Lagoon dealers' annual meeting, visited the Fountaine Pajot factory, and test-sailed a new 60' flybridge-design sail-cruising cat in Barcelona. This is a brief overview of some of the interesting "stuff" I saw and learned while across the pond. Lagoon, of course, has offered their 43' power cat for about 5 years now. The newest upgrade is a 44' version with a greatly expanded, tho' fully open, flybridge. This new 44' model replaces the just-discontinued 43-foot version. Good looking hulls, great construction. I'm still awaiting the long-promised redesign of the interior. But meanwhile, more than 75 happy owners are enjoying their current Lagoon 43s. This new flybridge is appealing. I'm not sure what a similarly long bimini will look like atop this high cruiser....but I'm among those boomers hesitant about spending much time under the sun's direct rays these days. While in LaRochelle I was able to board and inspect Fountaine Pajot's new Highland 35 power cat. This replaces the approximately 3-year old Greenland 34. I gotta say, this cat would seem to be the first STRONG competitor to the currently successful PDQ 34. My overall impression is that it's a well-done, 15%-smaller version of the company's Maryland 37....yet priced 30% less than the Maryland. The improvements that stand out most in my mind (compared to the previous Greenland 34) are the following: -- The flybridge is noticeably larger. Besides offering a wide seat for 2 at the flybridge helm, there's adjoining seating for 3 or 4 adults. Plus the extended flybridge could easily accommodate another 4 chairs and table or a pair of sun lounges, etc. -- The cockpit is much larger. This is easier to show than explain, and I took some side-by-side photos of the G-34 next to the new H-35. Alas, I just got word today from the factory that we dealers are not to post any photos for another week or two. Basically, FP offers a much "cleaner" stair design from the cockpit up to the flybridge. (BTW: Stairs are ALWAYS so much easier to transit than ladders. I remain amazed by the number of cruising yachts, especially expensive ones, that require the crew to use a ladder to get from cockpit to upper deck. Invariably bad design planning in my opinion.) -- The engine hatches are in the cockpit sole. Given the overhang provided by the extended flybridge, one can work on the engines without being subject to the vagaries of the weather. Better yet, whereas the previous engines were exposed, they now have an easily removed, L-shaped cover that allows for the storage of large bulky items in the aft end of these BIG engine compartments, without risk of said items (whether fenders, crab pots, etc.) from in any way sliding or falling into the engine itself. -- Natural light within the salon is much improved. For one thing, the previous single sliding glass door has had two additional, full-height fixed glass panels added. So most of the salon's aft bulkhead is see-thru. -- The "standard" Fountaine Pajot wood (until now used in all of their sailing cats [38', 40', 43' 46', & 60'] and all of their power cats [Greenland 34, Maryland 37, Cumberland 44], was a rather dark Duka wood. Now they've switched to maple. This makes for a very pleasant change from the darker hued woods typically used. Interestingly, the laminate surfaces within the salon are primarily gray. It greatly reduces interior glare from the sun, and makes for a unique contrast with the light maple wood. -- The settee cushions are SUPER. Just about every European cat I can think of could benefit from copying the Highland. The foam is thick, and high quality. The seats are deep enough (most settee seating is too shallow--that is, too short in the area extending under one's thighs). Just as important, the seating includes an excellent "bull-nose" (a raised/curved portion along the front edge of the seating that keeps one from slowly sliding off the seat. Even more important, the backrest angle is comfortable, thick, and plenty high. There's storage under the sette seats, plus in closed cabinets and clever "declensions" in the molded FG counter tops (along with fiddled edges) so as to stow a goodly amount of easily accessed-and-visible galley items. Things I'd still like added or improved: -- A 2nd set of electronic engine controls can be added to the maple counter top at the forward end of the salon. Given the spacious beam (approx. 14'), steering is more responsive when using the two engine controls rather than a steering wheel. So I consider the latter merely an option....and if I were concerned about having more than just engine controls, I'd add a joystick, not a wheel. -- It's easy to see how seating could be added for this interior helm station. But at present it's a post-delivery item, rather than factory available. I'm guessing that may change.....soon? -- There's room for additional galley-cabinet storage in the galley. I think it's a penny-wise/pound-foolish decision on FP's part to NOT include this. I'd definitely add such storage at no cost to any client of mine. -- The boat can be ordered with different interior layouts. I'm guessing that the most popular will be one in which the port hull contains a single berth forward, lockers and shelves midship (alongside the stairs that lead from the salon down into that hull), and a large double berth tucked into the area beneath the salon settee. Meanwhile, the starboard hull contains a matching double berth (but no headroom restriction, thanks to the galley counter above it in the salon), plust a roomy head in the forward portion of the hull (in place of the single berth in the forward portion of the port hull). Personally, I think having a separate shower stall makes one of the biggest differences between "camping" and truly "living" afloat. But currently the Highland 35 has the common "small-boat" answer: a telephone-type spigot that pulls out of the sink, in conjunction with a drain in the head sole and a sump-with-electric-pump to drain the shower water. It looked to me as though a shower stall could be fitted without a lot of trouble. Conversely, I'd be more apt to remove the single berth in the forward port hull, and turn that compartment into a shower stall plus storage shelves area. The hull design, as with the other FP power cats, is a displacement configuration. The Highland 35 can provide up to 1,000 mile range. Obviously, added tankage would extend that further. A pair of 75HP Yanmars will cruise you nicely at 15-16 knots, with a top speed of 19-to-20 knots. It'd be nice if it could deliver the same 26 knots as does her big sister, the Cumberland 44. But hey, the extra $400,000 for the latter SHOULD get you higher performance, right? Speaking of which, thanks to the recent 10%-to-15% increase in value of the US-dollar vis-a-vis the Euro during the past month, the Highland 35's introductory price is less than previously projected. It will run about from about $275K for US east-coast delivered boats, with another $15K to $20K for Pacific Coast deliveries. As such, it is priced just about the same as the PDQ 34. There are some interesting pros and cons for each of those two boats. As always, prospective buyers only benefit from the presence of yet another intriguing model from which to choose. Other news from Europe? While in Spain I ran out of time to see the new Excite 26, an intriguing new, broad-beamed powercat from a Spanish yard. I don't represent this cat, but I've been very impressed by the articles I've read about it. I believe there will be one at the Newport, R boat show in September. I believe that Sound Catamarans in Connecticut is importing this new pocket cruiser to the North American market. The gorgeous 60-foot, flybridge-design, sail-cruising cat that I sailed off Barcelona will soon have a new 67' power-cat sibling. I've already sailed aboard the company's 74' sailing cat. If the power cat offers the same level of luxury and comfort, it's going to be one absolutely AWESOME power cruiser. Again, the above is offered solely as info for those of you interested in knowing what's new in the power-cat biz. Kind Regards, Rod Gibbons founder: Cruising Cats USA power-catamaran-request@lists.samurai.com wrote: >Send Power-Catamaran mailing list submissions to > power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com > >To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/power-catamaran >or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > power-catamaran-request@lists.samurai.com > >You can reach the person managing the list at > power-catamaran-owner@lists.samurai.com > >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >than "Re: Contents of Power-Catamaran digest..." > > >Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: New TomCat 255 from C-Dory Marine (Georgs Kolesnikovs) > 2. Re: New TomCat 255 from C-Dory Marine (Vozzella, Ed) > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Message: 1 >Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 05:53:05 -0400 >From: Georgs Kolesnikovs <georgs@trawlering.com> >Subject: Re: [PCW] New TomCat 255 from C-Dory Marine >To: Power Catamaran List <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com> >Message-ID: <p062102cbbf012bb2e223@[70.25.217.203]> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > > >>Let me make one further comment why I like the Pilot house vs the >>more modern TC 24. The pilot house has nearly vertical windows, and >>over hang foreward. The TC has a sloped foreward windows, with no >>overhang. This seems to increase the "green house effect" and >>increase cabin heating--a detriment, at least in Florida and Utah, >>where it is hot. Might be a plus up North! >> >>Also light rain, does not get on the foreward windows on the pilot >>house- Also there is an opening window (actually a Bomar hatch) in >>the center in the Pilot house, not certain if the Tom Cat 24 has >>this opening window. >> >>One other issue which we will wait and see on--is that Malcom Tenant >>seems to feel that the bridge deck should be about 7% of LOA off the >>water line. The TC 255 does not seem to be high enough to meet this >>criteria--but not sure how important this is in a boat this size.... >> >>Now if I could design a trailer to drive a Miatia under the C Dory >>and trailer both--behind my motor home, we would really be in >>business! >> >> > >Thanks very much, Bob, for your comments. It's a delight to have >someone with your experience in boating contributing to Power >Catamaran List. > >--Georgs >

>Let me preface this with a disclaimer: I'm a catamaran dealer, so >"caveat emptor." Thanks, Rod, for the information from France and Spain, and a special thanks for leaving out a sales pitch. I started Power Catamaran List as a commercial-free forum for the personal use of private individuals, whether they be owners of motor vessels or wannabes. People who work in boating are welcome to participate on the List as individuals, sharing their expertise when appropriate. They must refrain from openly promoting or inadvertently shilling for their products and services in posts to the List. When in doubt, switch to private email. Blatant billboarding will only hurt your own cause on a List devoted to the non-business use of private individuals. >Lagoon, of course, has offered their 43' power cat for about 5 years >now. The newest upgrade is a 44' version with a greatly expanded, >tho' fully open, flybridge. Correct me if I'm wrong but there seems to be nothing available on either the Cruising Cats USA site or the Lagoon factory site about the new 44. Sound Catamarans has this page up: http://www.soundcats.com/FrameNewsLP44.htm Odd-looking profile, I must say. >While in LaRochelle I was able to board and inspect Fountaine >Pajot's new Highland 35 power cat. This replaces the approximately >3-year old Greenland 34. http://www.fountaine-pajot.com/rubrique174-en.html >Other news from Europe? While in Spain I ran out of time to see the >new Excite 26, an intriguing new, broad-beamed powercat from a >Spanish yard. I don't represent this cat, but I've been very >impressed by the articles I've read about it. I believe there will >be one at the Newport, R boat show in September. I believe that >Sound Catamarans in Connecticut is importing this new pocket cruiser >to the North American market. http://www.excitecat.com/ http://www.soundcats.com/EXCITECAT810Multihulls.pdf Excitecat certainly is a large 26- or 27-footer. If anyone has a chance to see the boat on the east coast, please post your impressions. --Georgs -- Georgs Kolesnikovs Power Catamaran World http://www.powercatamaranworld.com