Home Tournaments Calendar Weather Merchandise Sponsors

Go Back   Spearboard.com - The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Boating Social Media Forum > General Topics (Non-regional) > General Spearfishing & Diving Discussion

General Spearfishing & Diving Discussion This is where you post to discuss general spearfishing topics that could apply to any region.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 3 votes, 5.00 average. Display Modes
Old 11-22-2009, 05:16 AM   #1
Behslayer
Registered User
 
Behslayer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Big Island
Posts: 5,098
Building a Small 'Cat' Runabout any examples?

Hi, I'm hoping to build a small Cat Style Runabout to use as a little dive platform. Does anyone out there have a good example, advice, a link to a website, that could help me avoid making some mistakes. The general idea is a lightweight Catamaran Hull much like a Hobie Cat, but perhaps a little more robust and shorter ie @10-12ft long. My hope is that this craft will move well with a 6hp engine with 1 or 2 other divers on board.

Here our issues are:
-Weight. We often need to carry the engine up and down cliffs.
-Weight. We often need to carry the hulls across stretches of beach or reef.
-Speed and Durability.

Here are some of the ideas I'm thinking about:
-Fiberglass Hulls, hollow, sealed, but with some kind of drainage hole incase water does get in there.
-Aluminum Braces and Center Beam
-Teak wood, Fiberglass, or Marine Canvas Weave for the "deck"

Any advice is appreciated.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Flycat1.jpg
Views:	93
Size:	146.3 KB
ID:	116424   Click image for larger version

Name:	Flycat2.jpg
Views:	120
Size:	141.6 KB
ID:	116425   Click image for larger version

Name:	Flycat3.jpg
Views:	98
Size:	146.3 KB
ID:	116426   Click image for larger version

Name:	Flycat4.jpg
Views:	115
Size:	147.0 KB
ID:	116427  

Last edited by Behslayer; 11-22-2009 at 05:27 AM.
Behslayer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 08:22 AM   #2
WreckDiver
Memeber What?
 
WreckDiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: In the Middle of Fl
Posts: 3,797
Re: Building a Small 'Cat' Runabout any examples?

This may give you some ideas, its called a Craigcat - they have all kinds of configuration for these.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	CraigCat.jpg
Views:	238
Size:	92.5 KB
ID:	116437   Click image for larger version

Name:	CraigCatBanner.jpg
Views:	383
Size:	25.9 KB
ID:	116438  
WreckDiver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 09:06 AM   #3
stevemc1
Firmly imbeded member
 
stevemc1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sarasota, FL
Age: 68
Posts: 3,486
Re: Building a Small 'Cat' Runabout any examples?

I have seen people use a 14' and 16' Hobie cat and put a small outboard on it, and it worked fine. That would be easiest if you can find one. Instead of the trampoline, they had plywood on top.
stevemc1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 09:25 AM   #4
jonahtribe2
Registered User
 
jonahtribe2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 344
Re: Building a Small 'Cat' Runabout any examples?

check out "wharram catamarans" google it. go to the self build part. they sell plans for polynesian style cats. they have a sweet little 14' and a 17' called the "hitia". teak deck and the hulls are easily reattached at the launch site. set up for sail but people regularly put small motors on them
jonahtribe2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 12:13 PM   #5
jymz
Spearbot
 
jymz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Vancouver, BC
Age: 50
Posts: 224
Re: Building a Small 'Cat' Runabout any examples?

thundercat, super duxx, dux, hammerhead, all models of inflatable that fit the bill. Light and fast. I use one for spearing.
__________________
http://www.makospearguns.com
jymz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 01:38 PM   #6
dr.ed
Registered User
 
dr.ed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: West Virginia
Age: 78
Posts: 1,047
Re: Building a Small 'Cat' Runabout any examples?

Not DIY but a choice ~70lbs and could be rigged for an outboard and remove rowing seat and cover frame.

http://www.aire.com/aire/products/default.aspx?id=178

http://outside.away.com/outside/gear...ction=showgear

You may be able to buy just the hulls.
dr.ed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 06:10 PM   #7
Behslayer
Registered User
 
Behslayer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Big Island
Posts: 5,098
Re: Building a Small 'Cat' Runabout any examples?

Thanks for the links and ideas. Interesting hull shapes on the Dux and Thundercats which look like they would turn on a dime and be great in our often swell ridden entries.., the idea for the Sun Shade, the frame of the Aire Raft, are good for us too.
A friend built one of those Wharram Cats in Thailand and has been sailing around Indonesia all year in it. Beautiful boats.
Thanks,
Behslayer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:44 AM.


The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Social Media Forum Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2002 - 2014 Spearboard.com