Looking for information about Intercat, Endeavour and Americat boats

[nomad artist]

Hi, I am a new member of this forum because I am trying to get accurate information about the sailing characteristics of these catamarans. I am looking for a small catamaran to buy for myself to single hand and liveaboard for Florida, Bahamas and the Caribbean. I am very familiar with the Catalac catamarans having sailed them in Europe but there are none available in North America, so I am looking at alternative boats. Could people tell me more about these three - the differences between them (I am confused about that!) and the suitability for my requirements and ease of single handed sailing by a mature woman. How are the boats with the underdeck clearance and pounding against the waves. I love cats and hope that I can use my very small budget to find a small cat and not have to reduce myself to buying a monohull (horror!) Thanks, Sue.

[bongo]

Hi Sue,

We have all been where you are now. The search!

I've owned Bongo, my Endeavourcat 30 for going on ten years. Bought it in the Galveston Bay area and moved it to Pensacola in May of 09.

To answer some of your questions about the boat:

Mine's an extremely well built boat...solid. Maintenance is about average depending on how much extra stuff you have added and of course how you take care of it. Mine is a very simple boat and I've kept it that way for good reason. About the only major upgrade that I've added is a chartplotter and to me, it's invaluable. I used to single hand quite a bit when I wast in my early fifties but that was then. If I ever go back to single handling, I would have to add an autopilot. May not be a bad idea even with crew on board for longer openwater passages.

The hull clearance is always a question and a dilemma with a small catamaran. Bong is no exception. I've found that if I anchor in a well protected area and avoid sailing/motoring to windward in very choppy to rough conditions, the slamming is not to bad. However the reality is with such a minimal clearance, it's gonna happen. However, I think it's a characteristic no matter how big or small the cat is. The boat was built for coastal sailing and that's all I've done. Have always wanted to take it to the Bahamas one of these days but not sure about crossing the Gulf Stream. But, it's not because of limitations of the boat. After all, a young couple sailed their Endeavourcat 30 from Panama to Australia last year. It's really a matter of my experience or lack of.

The cabin is very confortable for up to two people. It has a lot of storage and make for a nice little on the water condo.

I'm not that familiar with the Intercat or Americat. But I once did meet a seventy year old man on an Americat 30 who had been traveling the great circle loop with a trip to the Bahamas or two along the way . He had been single handing off and on for the past ten years! When I asked him the same questions you are asking, his reply was "I just wish it had a jib" (Intercat and Americats' were "cat" rigged).


I hope this info helps you. This is really a great forum. I've learned quite a few helpful tips.

Good luck with your decision and let me know if I can help further,

John
S/V Bongo

[MonsterK]

Dear NS,

Having owned a 1990 Intercat (28 ft.) since mid 2003 and done a limited amount of coastal cruising I can offer a few opinions.  First, I would say the Intercats and directly related early Endeavors(30 ft.) and Americats (see history info on this site) were not conceived as hard core blue-water boats.  However, one couple recently did Panama to Australia in an Endeavor 30 (also info on this site).  I can say that my boat survived Katrina in the water with no damage (other than a piece of a pier that wedged in between the hulls causing some scratches) in what was an almost completely exposed location once the surge got above 14 ft (it peaked at about 22 ft.)
Structurally speaking, other than an issue with plywood separating in some of the utility sole areas under the water and fuel tanks, the boat seems well assembled with good materials (including some higher tech honeycomb material for crucial bulkheads) and well finished.
I did upgrade all the hull fittings to bronze and upsized the bilge pumps and associated plumbing.  Other additions include a Honda 50 EFI 25" shaft, Harken lazy jacks, an epoxy barrier coat on the hull and a complete re-rig (standing and running rigging).  A new compass, GPS, depth and speed are on the shelf ready to go in.

My experience with bridge deck slam is limited to the Intercat which, according to the numbers should slam at least as much as any production cat (and i think the bridge deck clearance is similar on the smaller Endeavors and Americat).  There is some slamming (although slapping seems to better define it) in some sea states such as quartering into heavy chop but it almost seems like the bridge deck meets the water near the stern before much velocity has developed so the impact is muted.  i guess the downside in this situation is extra drag but, in the wind velocities needed to create this situation, it really shouldn't slow the boat much....you're limited more by the overall hull parameters at that point. Bottom line, here on the Northern Gulf Coast when the winds pipe up to 15 to 20 knots, we're ready to go sailing ...while most everyone else is coming in.  I've been on a 36 ft. Pearson in similar conditions and have to say I'd take my Intercat any day.  Just not a "leaner" by nature or training I guess.

As far as single handing, mine is equipped with in boom reefing which has never been serviceable even when rigged according to the schematics...friction is too high.  I am planning to either re-rig this system with smaller line or go to a simpler external set-up.  Otherwise, with all control lines lead to the cockpit, its an easy boat to handle especially if you're running cat boat style on just the mainsail as the Intercat was primarilly designed for.  A small jib helps in lighter air (<10 knots) just to improve airflow over the main.  I bought the boat in order to learn to sail and it has instilled me with confidence.

Maneuvering under power is also excellent once you learn to respect how much current the keels can catch.  On my boat I separated the steering of the outboard from the rudders which lets me pivot it in close quarters like a thruster.  However, the main reason for de-coupling the steering was so that the weight of the power head (originally a 90 hp on my boat..!) was not felt while tilted up and under sail.  A boat with a smaller outboard, like a 15 hp, would likely be more pleasant with everything synchronized. 

Hope this is of some help. 

George

[juliohm]

Hi, I just purchased an Americat 3014 for the same reasons, small enough to allow me to single handle and with enough room to live aboard.  I just moved on board in January and am still learning about the boat.  Have not had a chance to go sailing since its being kind of cold here in Charleston, SC.
I will keep the board updated as I become more familiar with this boat.
I owned a Gemini 34, which, although very roomy and spacious, was difficult for me to handle by myself.  Hence downsizing to the Americat.
Julio

[MonsterK]

Welcome aboard...If you bought it locally I think your boat is one I tried to get my sister and bro-in-law to buy about 5 or 6 months ago.  They wound up with a 28' Island Packet but still love them anyway.  Hope you enjoy it!