Press release from Cruising Cats USA: MC-29; Seattle is North American boat-show debut The European-built MC-29 (MotorCat 29) -- a new, trailerable, motor-cruising catamaran -- will make its North American debut at Seattle's Boats-Afloat boat show, Sept. 13 through 17, 2006. It will then be available, by prior appointment, for seatrails on Puget Sound until Sept. 23 or 24, at which time it will return to Canada. This MC-29 (hull #12), will arrive by ship, from Europe to Vancouver, BC at the end of July. She'll be offloaded there, fitted with additional electronics, then cruised the 135 miles down to Seattle. Her owner is Grahame Shannon, the co-designer (with Jerzy Kostanski) of the MC-29. The Seattle show will take place on Lake Union, a half-mile northeast of the city's famous Space Needle tower/restaurant. The show is scheduled to include approximately 450 sail and power boats. This Seattle show takes place at about the same time as the Southampton (UK) boat show, which will mark the MC-29's European boat-show debut. This trailerable powercat is available with a variety of engine options. Mr. Shannon has had his MC-29 equipped with a single, 165 HP Volvo D3 inboard diesel (with counter-rotating propellers). Mr. Gibbons is especially fond of a twin-engine alternative (for reasons of fuel economy and systems-redundancy) -- a pair of 4-cycle, 60-HP outboard motors. Other power options also are available. Top speed for this boat is about 27 MPH. But a recent test with the twin 60-HP outboards showed that using just one of those outboards (with the other one stopped and in the raised position) moves the boat at 14 knots. This cat is much roomier than most similar length power cats. That's because of the incorporation of a large pod between the two catamaran hulls (similar to the successful cats being tested by the U.S. Navy). In fact, dockside the boat can (and often is) mistaken for a monohull design. But as soon as she's underway, the twin hulls become apparent. But that "pod" between the hulls gives excellent interior room (plus increased forward buoyancy). For example, the headroom at the aft end of the salon is 6'6", diminishing only slightly at the forward end of that cabin. Forward, there's a queen-size berth for the owner(s), while the 4-seat dining area converts into a double berth for guests. The private, and completely separate WC (toilet, sink, shower fitting) in the forward port hull provides 6'8" headroom. The MC-29's Seattle appearance is sponsored by Cruising Cats USA (Seattle, Portland, SF Bay, Hawaii). CC/USA founder, Rod Gibbons, and co-designer Shannon will be onhand at the show, and during the following week's seatrials. CC/USA is the western-US representative for the MC-29, and Mr. Shannon is the western-Canada representative. Advance reservations for seatrials for prospective owners are recommended. For discounted Seattle boat-show tickets, or for MC-29 photos or advance seatrial reservations, a toll-free number is available: (877) 937-2287. Cruising Cats USA (206) 297-1330 -- When I pass along press releases that I cross my desk, I post them for what they are, publicity releases from power catamaran builders, designers, dealers and others which represent the viewpoint of those same builders, designers, dealers and others. The discerning reader may need to apply a grain of salt. I post the releases for general information purposes, without any verification or endorsement. --Georgs Georgs Kolesnikovs Power Catamaran World http://www.powercatamaranworld.com PS Members of the trade are encouraged to ensure I'm on their media contact lists.