Great review Bob!

Anyone have any information on the Motor-Cat 27 from Poland? I have read
this boat is a desirable trailerable catamaran.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Austin [mailto:thataway4@cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 10:09 PM
To: Powercat
Subject: [PCW] TomCat 24 review and sea trial

We looked at several other boats in our quest for a trailerable catamaran
cruiser. We would like to have a cruising range of over 300 miles, enough
storage for 10 days food and gear, a n easy to get in bunk,  a head with
shower, and speed up to 30 mph.  This needs to be trailerable behind a
standard tow vehicle, and without permits.  We currently own a 22' C Dory
Cruiser which is light, but hard to get into the bunk and no head
(portipotty under the bunk).

This is my impression of the TomCat 24 (there is a new boat: the TomCat255,
of which there is only one--and apparently still being finalized ref
rigging, see C Brat web site for reports on that boat).  The 255 is 18"
longer, weight about 1000 lbs more, and two 135 or 150 4 strokes, vs two 115
Yahama four strokes on theTomCat 24 we tested.

General fit and finish was typical of the C Dory line.  The interior was
spray gel coated, but not polished.  The hull to deck joint fasteners had
epoxy or some other sealant over them like the classic C Dory.  The side
decks were extremely narrow (4")--and the hand rail on the cabin top was way
inboard, so walking along the side deck was difficult--and almost
impossiable to undo dock lines from the side.  There was just a side cleat
about 1/3 aft, no foredeck or anchor cleat--no foreward cleats.  The windows
were very large--the middle foreward window opened to allow a breeze, aft
windows opened about half way, sliding windows opened slightly over a foot.
The boat was cool enough underway--but at rest, a bit hot in the enclosed
pilot house. (90 degrees outside).

The cockpit was good size about 7'x6' and self bailing.  There is a built
inseat/ ice chest/fish box aft, and a nice diving platform/swim step. Head
room was 6'4", two burner diesel stove and sink as in the traditional C dory
with helm seat on the Stb side.  Both dinette seats faced foreward and could
seat 4 inside the pilot house. (port side).  The bunk is athwartships and
about 7' x 48"--a bit difficult to get into;  get on the floor and crawl in.
The head was under the steering console and difficult to get in and out (for
a person 6' 2" and 200 lbs). Head room in the head was about 5 feet--cramped
at the best.

Sight lines were fair foreward--but the bottom of the opening window (middle
of three windows) cut off sight about 100 feet out, so for me a natural
position did not give good visablity--I would adjust the seat height (not
easy to do).

The hulls are definately "planing", with a sharp entry, but becoming V
almost immediately--the boat had twin 115 Yahama 4 stroke  counter rotation
outboards.  Maneuvering was excellent as expected.  The boat came up to
speed as a planing boat would--but definately there was a difference at 17
mph, where power could be backed off--indicating this as the planing speed.
The top speed with full fuel and four adults was 35 mph.  Best cruising
speed was at 4000 RPM which gave about 24 mph and a fuel consumption giving
2.9 miles a gallon.  (this is about 0.7 mile per gallon better than the
Glacier bay--whose best speed seemed to be around 24 mph and 2.2 miles a
gallon.)  The sea was very flat--and we ran back across the wake (which was
minimal)--even on this I felt that there was some "slap" with the
TomCat--and we felt  that the Glacier Bay rode better.  However the motion
of the TomCat was not as "quick" as the Glacier Bay.

The TomCat 255 does address the sight lines, and a much bigger, full size
head--but still has the crawl in bunk, and narrow side decks--the railings
are better.

In comparison the Glacier Bay 2690 had a larger bunk, which was easier to
get into.  The head was much easier to access in GB.  The galley was smaller
and dinette was smaller, with less storage in the Glacier Bay.  The
visability in the Glacier Bay was better, as was the access to the foreward
deck--and deck hardware.  There was no opening windshield in the Glacier
Bay--but I feel that top opening hatches facing foreward would give adequate
ventillation.  The Tom Cat 24 with 116 gallons of fuel would have a range of
290 miles with 10% reserve.  The Glacier Bay with 180 gallons of gas has a
range of 350 miles with a 10% reserve.

Also running the TomCat 24 on one engine gave a max of 10miles per hour
--anything more the engine was lugging--the boat had to get over a "hump" to
get more speed.  The Glacier Bay was able to get to over 15 .mph. (but has
35 more hp/engine)

We also looked at Twin V 27 foot weekender--work boat construction, not well
finished--no headroom in the cabin and the demo boat leaked badly!  World
cat SC also had a very nice fit and finish.  The bunk in the 28 footer was
too small, the head was unusable when the bunk was made up.  It was much
more of a fishing boat.  The Sea Cat, was not quite as nice as the World
Cat--and had the same short commings--none of these boats had an adequate
galley for  full time trailer cruising.

All of these boats require at least a 3/4 ton truck preferably a one
ton--since the towing weight gets close to 10,000 lbs, including trailer.
My friend with the TomCat 24, felt that his 1/2 ton was struggling even in
Florida, and the Tom Cat 255 is at least 1000 lbs heavier.

At this point our choice of the pilot house trailerable cats is the Glacier
Bay 2690. the major shortcomming is storage--and that can be addressed by
using the fish boxes in the deck for food and gear storage.

Bob Austin

We are launching the first at the London Boatshow in january. Some first
info on www.motorcats.com see MC27

Regards

Victor Aspey

-----Original Message-----
From: power-catamaran-bounces@lists.samurai.com
[mailto:power-catamaran-bounces@lists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of Georgs
Kolesnikovs
Sent: 19 August 2005 11:53
To: Power Catamaran List
Subject: [PCW] Motorcat 27, was TomCat 24 review and sea trial

Anyone have any information on the Motor-Cat 27 from Poland? I have read
this boat is a desirable trailerable catamaran.

I don't know much more than I posted earlier this month:

http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/power-catamaran/2005-August/000281.ht
ml

There is a PDF brochhure available from Kris Czerwonka in the Bond
Yachts marketing office in Poland mailto:motorcat@tlen.pl.

I'm told tooling is starting on Hull #1 which I hope to see when I visit
Poland in September to take the Motorcat 30 for a spin. The new MC27,
which is actually a 29-footer, will make its debut at the big
international boat show in London this winter.

--Georgs

Georgs Kolesnikovs
Power Catamaran World
http://www.powercatamaranworld.com