I am very sorry to hear of both parties difficulties with purchase of the catamarrans. Unfortunately this is a problem not only with cats and not only in S. Africa. It has been known to happen in the United Sates. I will not put down payment on any boat which is not currently under construction, with a company which has substantial financial backing, and has a track record of honest production of boats. I would be even more leary in a country other than U S, Australia or New Zealand.. I would want to see the boat, see actual audited financial statements, make visits as the boat was built, with letters of credit involved and agreed stages of completion before funds were disbursed. I wish you the very best in attempting to retrieve your funds paid in advance, and further search for a boat. Regards, Bob Austin

Hi Bob, Not long after my boat was built Pachoud went belly up. I was lucky to be at the head of the food chain. I call it leap froging. The next boat pays for the first boat to be completed. In the end the house of cards folds. We all like to put our personal stamp on our boat, but there is a price to pay. I think it is better to buy a production boat from a reliable company that makes a boat as close to what you want and modify it from there. I did that with Wild Wind III a Prout sailing cat. To bring you up to date I am attaching our Christmas Letter. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Dennis Bob Austin wrote: >I am very sorry to hear of both parties difficulties with purchase of the >catamarrans. Unfortunately this is a problem not only with cats and not >only in S. Africa. It has been known to happen in the United Sates. > >I will not put down payment on any boat which is not currently under >construction, with a company which has substantial financial backing, and >has a track record of honest production of boats. I would be even more >leary in a country other than U S, Australia or New Zealand.. > >I would want to see the boat, see actual audited financial statements, make >visits as the boat was built, with letters of credit involved and agreed >stages of completion before funds were disbursed. > >I wish you the very best in attempting to retrieve your funds paid in >advance, and further search for a boat. > >Regards, >Bob Austin > > >_______________________________________________ >Power-Catamaran Mailing List > >. > > >