Greetings list members,

I am considering a re power for a cat and as my plan is a bit different would
love to get some feedback from you people.

I am considering a 1996 Shark cat 8000 here in N.Z.
It is glass with a lockup cabin. These boats are 8m on deck and about one
meter for outboard pods. 9m overall.

Currently has two old 200hp two strokes and uses fuel like there is no
tomorrow.
Vessel is heavy (not sure how heavy) and has planning hulls.

My repower plan is some lower power high thrust engines Yam 60s or the new
Honda thrust 60.
Any cruise between 8 and 10 knots will keep me happy as I am coming off an old
launch that does about 7 and  I just cruise around wherever I go.
I think I need to produce my cruise speed between 3000 and 45000 rpm for
efficiency with these motors.

Two main question for you all and I hope someone out there knows these cats?

Am I barking mad? I understand these are not nice displacement hulls but
wonder what kind of speeds such a cat will reach before pushing that wave up
and building resistance (effectively hull speed) Will this number be higher
for a cat than for a mono planning hull of similar waterline?

Handling? As this boat has a fairly low tunnel will it handle ok at lower
speed or will it turn into a complete pig used as a slow cruiser?

I am attracted to the boat by the excellent fish and dive platform it presents
and space for weekends away.

Cheers. Garry.

Garry,

Not familiar with this exact boat, but I know the style.

Yes, you should be able to reach a 8-10 kt cruise with those outboards.  A
planing cat hull will generally move in displacement mode better than a
planing monohull.

And yes, it will probably handle like a pig.  Waves will hit the tunnel
because it'll be riding low in the water.  It will likely be pushed around
by wind and waves as well.

Suggest you run it in displacement mode with the current engines in some
choppy conditions to see how it performs before you make that leap.

Bob Deering
Juneau, Alaska

Thanks Bob,

I will do a long test on a bad day for sure.

Only difference will be 200kg less on the transom if I go forward and change
engines as I would like.

Can't get much further away from here than you are!

Cheers. Garry.

Yes Bob,
You guys come on down and advise me for sure!
Went for a dive yesterday and have some scallops, oysters, and a lobster on
hand for your visit.
Would love to come up your way and try some of your wonderfull Halibat and
Salmon in exchange..

I took a look your site Georgs when I checked out your Boat sig as
suggested.
Very nice indeed.
I prefer Sedan boats to flying bridge styles that prevail here.
Sedans are nice and clean to look at.
When game fishing on my current boat anyone wishing a flying bridge is
directed to my inflatable which is
lashed to the cabin roof and very comfy on nice days.

If I had a larger budget there are some very nice cats to be had in N.Z.

Cheers. Garry Lees.
Mangonui
New Zealand