21' Compact Cruising Cat

Gato Especial Specifications

This is a trailer legal cruising cat ideally suited for two adults without feeling cramped while on the water for a weeklong cruise. The boat will carry more for day sailing experiences. In a squeeze, it could accommodate the two adults and two non-adult kids as there is room in the hulls for individual bunks, or the kids could sleep out in the cockpit under a boom tent setup.

The primary bed space will fit a queen-sized mattress, though I would not opt for the full thickness type that you use on your bed at home. A nice firm foam mattress of about 4" will do nicely. Interior volume also accommodates a small galley area and a Porta-potti can be fit into one of the hulls with a curtain for a measure of privacy.

This is a trailer legal cruising cat ideally suited for two adults without feeling cramped while on the water for a weeklong cruise. click thumbnails to enlarge

The boat will run efficiently with an 8 hp outboard and will give it the oomph to chug back to the marina against a stiff wind and chop.

There is a reasonably high aspect, flip-up centerboard in each hull for upwind sailing efficiency and to allow the boat to be beached at will without blowing a hole in the hull. The rudders are of the flip-up variety with full access to their mounting hardware for ease of maintenance. The stern sections are modified sugar scoops with an intermediary step to give comfortable access back into the boat after a swim or routine bottom inspection.

There is an anchor locker on the forward slope of the cabin surface out at the bow. This keeps the mucky anchor and tackle from being messed with around the living space. Of course, if you set two anchors, there will be some messing with that at the aft end of the boat. Under each sitting space in the cockpit, there are storage lockers for items of that sort as well as fuel for the outboard, throw lines, flares, that kind of stuff.

The boat can be equipped with aluminum framed hiking benches, much like those that you see on Hobie 18 beach cats, which plug into sockets in the hull. This allows comfortable sailing well outboard of the main hull, enhancing stability and giving a wonderful view forward.

The 8'6" beam version is trailer legal in the US and Canada and the boat can be towed by a mid-sized car or truck rated for the weight. Dry weight of the boat, ready to sail, should come in at just about 950 lbs. with a trailer weight of about 250 pounds. On road trips, the boat itself can serve as a motel for overnight stays on longer drives.

The rigs that are OK for the boat, are directly off a typical beach cat, as shown above in the specs. The single mod necessary, if the H16 rig is used, would be the addition of a set of spreaders and diamond wires from an H18 setup to give the mast the necessary stiffness to handle the extra loads from the heavier Gato. Other than that, you can rig it with a sail as big as one from an H20, if you are a competent sailor who has fast cat experience. Running the H16 sized rig at 216 sq. ft., will allow this boat will clip right along without flying a hull, taking it too close to the red zone of a possible capsize.

If the builder decides on constructing the 10' beam version, they will experience several enhanced advantages. The boat will be more stable in all conditions, it will have more interior volume for comfort. It will still be trailer legal, but it will need a wide load permit from your state DMV to take it on the highway. These wide load permits usually go for about $80 a year in most states and it allows you to haul the boat during daylight hours with no hassle from the police.

If you are planning to put the boat in the water at one location and use it from there, the 10' version is the best choice. If you are going to go on many road trips with the boat and want to get away from the hassle of having a special permit hit from each state you drive through, then the 8' 6" version would be better.

The boat is built in marine ply in the stitch and glue method with full coverage laminates of epoxy/glass inside and out for a strong and very light boat. There is an integrated spray chine form in each hull. This design form creates interior volume in the living space of each hull, helps to create a much drier ride when sailing and adds reserve buoyancy.

Virtually all the sailing hardware comes directly from a beach cat, so the parts to run the boat are plentiful and reasonably priced, especially if you obtain them from the used market and shop smartly.

Virtually all the sailing hardware comes directly from a beach cat, so the parts to run the boat are plentiful and reasonably priced, especially if you obtain them from the used market and shop smartly.

Plans for the Gato are not completed as of yet. This is at the serious design study stage of things with only the fine tuning of elements yet to be finished. Anyone interested in the boat as a build project should contact the designer directly.
 
Please let me know what you guys and gals think of the Gato and please feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding this design. I’d appreciate it if you would direct your comments to the Duckworks Forum at Yahoo. I monitor that forum daily and can give a proper and timely response.  (yes, the name is but a very tiny nod to the Cuervo tequila brand that manages to be on board for every trip I’ve made to beach camp and explore in the Sea of Cortez)
 
Chris Ostlind
Lunada Design