Pocketcat 18

[Cachehunter]

Does anyone know where you can obtain plans for the pocketcat 18?
Or a very simular size and style of catamaran?

[DGentry]

Like you, I can't find those plans. But, as for other cats of that size, I suggest you check out Thomas Firth Jones. He's got extensive multihull cruising experience and plans for at least 3 plywood cats and a tri. http://jonesboats.com/

Of course, there's the Wharram catamarans, too, with an even more extensive cruising background. http://www.wharram.com/

And Duckworks has a pile of cat plans for sale, from various designers.
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/r/plansindex/multihullsail.cfm


Multihulls rule, for cruising. Usually faster, vastly more deck space, shoal draft, barely any heel, private hulls to escape into (with a cat), and no pile of lead insidiously waiting for any small excuse to drag you to the bottom.

Good luck!

[dirtsailor]

The Designer used to be here:

Pocket Designs, Cliff Vaughn, P.O. Box 1431, Lakeside, CA, 92040, USA, pcat18@concentric.net. (Pocket Cat 18)

Dirtsailor

[pippo]

I don't think those plans are being sold anymore. However, I have investigated the market for similar sized cats, and my favourite is by far Murray Isles' Zubian: http://www.islesdesign.com/designs/Zubian%20Data%20Sheet.pdf.
Other possible choices are
* Eco Cruiser by Bernd Kohler: http://www.ikarus342000.com/ECOpage.htm
* Weekender by the late Tom Jones: http://jonesboats.com/weekender.html; the whole set of plans is published in "New Plywood Boats"
* Jarcats J5 or J6 by Ross Turner: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~rhturner1/j5-6.html

[DGentry]

Mmm, - Pippo - Not to highjack this thread, but I didn't know that Thomas Jones had passed. Old news, I see now, but sad for me, none the less. Not that I knew him, but I have built one of his designs, and corresponded with him. And also, of course, there was the joy I got from all of his books . . . .

[Cachehunter]

Thanks for all the info; you guys have been very helpful. I acquired an old 18’ racing cat (it’s called a Carib 18 but seems to be the same as the Hobie) The cat is in disrepair (it’s sat outside a pavilion at my game club I belong to for about 3-5 years, and I know its been run over by at least 1 truck) but the mast and other parts seem to be in great shape so I plan to cannibalize all I can from it when building.

I like the Zubian model but have to say the JARCAT looks like it is almost exactly what I have envisioned in my mind.

[DGentry]

You might like this one as well, which looks somewhat similar, and is kind of designed to use old cat rigs and components: http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jg/hotchili/index.htm

[kenjamin]

Love the Hot Chili! At 17 knots let's assume she's planing at that speed. Seems like her bows would be in the air from the rocker aft that allow her to sail but what the heck. How many sailboats can do 17 knots at the pull of a cord and still be towed by a four cylinder car? I also like the encouragement to cannabalize other designs for her rig components. What a hoot!!! It would be worth the $100 just to read the plans.

[Cachehunter]

Love the Hot Chili! At 17 knots let's assume she's planing at that speed. Seems like her bows would be in the air from the rocker aft that allow her to sail but what the heck. How many sailboats can do 17 knots at the pull of a cord and still be towed by a four cylinder car? I also like the encouragement to cannabalize other designs for her rig components. What a hoot!!! It would be worth the $100 just to read the plans.

So I assume you do not feel this is a good boat plan? Being new its hard to take any sarcasm out of your post since I don’t know allot of the terminology. :confused:

[kenjamin]

No sarcasm. I really do like the originality and practicality of this design. It reminds me of something Phil Bolger would have come up with and I'm a big fan of his. I was a little surprised that it takes 22 sheets of ply to build although it does have an extensive cabin structure. I wonder how much of that is waste. If you're going to pull it with a 4 cylinder engine, it better be something like Toyota's 2.7 liter truck engine. That's a strong motor.

Having just built a Caledonia yawl my wife would probably be overjoyed if I started building a catamarran at this juncture – that, my friend, is sarcasm!