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Why does the Sea
Cat have a smoother and drier ride?
With only about 10% of the frontal
area of conventional mono-hull boats, the hulls cut through choppy seas
without the slam and spray. It’s like cutting through the water with two
knives instead of a spoon.
Doesn’t the tunnel pound or
sneeze?
The advanced design of the Sea Cat traps air and aerated water caused by spray
from the chine. This aerated water, unlike solid water, is compressible giving
an added cushion to the ride. A wide roll designed into the bow, just under
the rub rail, turns water downward. This practically eliminates the sneeze or
misting which is common on other Power Cats.
What makes the Sea Cat
more fuel-efficient?
MWMR – Minimized Wave Making
Resistance.
In a mono-hull, the width of the hull, required for stability, causes excess
Wave Making Resistance. Wave Making Resistance accounts for much of the total
resistance of a boat moving through the water. The twin hulls of the Sea Cat
support each other, which eliminates stability as a compromising factor.
Why is the
Directional Control superior on a Sea Cat?
Again, stability is the key. When
a mono-hull rolls, the thrust of the engines oscillates from one side of the
hull to the other and requires constant correction by the helmsman. On the Sea
Cat, especially duel engines models; thrust is more in line with the hull.
Helmsmen that who are not accustomed to a boat like this are inclined to over
steer until they get familiar with this characteristic.
What about weight and passenger capacity?
The Sea Cat can carry weight more
efficiently than a conventional boat primarily because a conventional boat
must lift the weight up and over the Wave of Resistance. The greater the
weight, the bigger this wave and the greater the speed required to keep the
boat on a plane and not trying to bull doze the sea.
What about structural
problems of a multi-hull?
At Sea Cat, we are not trying to
win races by making the boat light. Also, we use a structural grid to which we
bond the liner and hull together to form one very strong unitized unit. After
the grid is glassed in the hull, the boxes formed by the grid are injected
with foam for flotation. There is no wood used in Sea Cat Boats!
Don’t all Catamarans have
these advantages?
Basically yes! All catamarans have
many of the above advantages. The family of quality catamaran builders is
increasing rapidly as the public becomes aware of these advantages. All of
them have designs that accomplish some of the above. As with any other
product, some are better than others. Look and compare standard features,
performance and ease of maintenance, not just price alone!
What is the difference between a planing cat and a semi-displacement cat?
With the increasing popularity of
power cats, these terms have taken on a somewhat different meaning. Nearly all
of the popular power cats plane. A semi-displacement cat is “on plane” but
does not have the ability to significantly raise its bow to achieve less water
resistance and therefore greater speed and economy. In this
“semi-displacement” configuration, the cat gives its best ride in rough chop
because the two hulls are cutting through the chop. The Sea Cat has the
ability to operate as a full planning cat as well as a semi-displacement cat.
Simply trim the engines down to hold the bow down. Your speed will decrease to
that of a “semi-displacement” cat, but you will get a better ride in rough
choppy water. When you are in calmer water, trim the bow up for more speed and
economy.
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