Catalac catamarans

A Catalac 9M ashore, showing underwater hull profile with pronounced "rocker".

A Catalac 9M, showing the solid foredeck, the flared bow, and the hard chine hull section which gives reserve buoyancy.

The Catalac company's main model was the 9-metre 9M. All the other models are derived from the 9M and use a similar design concept; the 8M even used the same hulls as the 9M.[2] All Catalacs were very strongly-built with thick grp hulls and glass windows. Some of the superstructure, such as the solid foredeck, was of sandwich grp construction. Compared to modern designs, Catalacs had a narrow beam of less than half the LOA,[3] and vertical transoms (rather than the more modern "sugar scoop" with transom steps). Initially featuring lifting dinghy-type rudders, Catalac moved to fixed rudders protected by a skeg; this allowed the boats to sail a little closer to the wind. Only the 9M has a staggered sheerline (which allows easy aft access from a pontoon); the other models all have an unbroken sheerline.

The sailplan is a masthead Bermuda sloop of modest area. Although modern catamarans tend to have a fractional rig, the Catalac's mainsail has a straight leech, short battens and no roach. Twin backstays run to the transoms, enabling the forestay to be kept taut. The babystay gives a slight mast curvature to enable a fuller-shaped mainsail. There are no known examples of a Catalac ever pitchpoling or being blown over and upturned.[4]

All Catalac catamarans feature:[5]

• Widely-flaring chines and overhanging bows.
• A considerable "rocker" underwater profile to allow manoeuvrability and skidding to leeward under high winds.
• Solid foredeck with no trampoline.
• Twin inboard diesels (sited aft), or single centrally-placed steered outboard.
• Vertical transoms.
• Aft cockpit with protected wheel steering.
• Conventional accommodation, with two main berths on the bridgedeck forward of the saloon.
• Occasional single berths further aft in the hulls.
• Galley-below layout (in the port or starboard hull).
• Single head & shower room.
• Roller furling on the forestay.

Catalacs have been very well-received. In Cruising in Catamarans[6] Charles Kanter declared that the Catalac "27 and 30 are among the best cruising catamarans ever produced". Kanter wrote,"when sailing in a 41-foot Catalac 12M alongside a beautiful 55 foot gold-plate ketch, Pacific High, we loped along with a steady upright forward motion and in 3 hours they were hull down over the horizon. In 16 hours we had covered 140-odd miles". In Catamarans for Cruising,[7] Jim Andrews (himself a Catalac owner) praises the 9M's interior layout and its good sea-keeping qualities. A Practical Boat Owner magazine review of a Catalac 9M summarised it as a "competent, versatile and long-lasting cat".[8]

Overall, 255 Catalac 9M boats were made, making it the most successful model in the range. The other production figures are: 8M - 216 built; 10M - 45 built; 11M - (no data); 12M - 27 built.

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