I had a P-cat from about 1995 to 98 or 99.
It was heavy, but that also means quit stable. While goofing off, I even made a motor mount and attached a 35 hp outboard.
Boy did that make the boat go when there was no wind.
In addition to beach-cat-like sailing I even drug it down to Mexico and used it as a sailing / scuba diving platform, with four divers, tanks, weightbelts, equipment and a large cooler for drinks and lunch.
What a blast that boat was.
I didn't like the very large and heavy metal daggerboards.
I never capsized the boat but always worried about what would happen to the daggerboards.
I also felt I'd never be able to right the boat....with it's non-sealed mast it was sure to turtle.
I did like the hard deck, for lunch use and as a dive platform.
I didn't like the funky internal main halyard and halyard winch system. The internal winch thing was a pain.
I did like the extra storage space in the boat's aft section.
I didn't like the hatch cover, held down with a bungy cord.
As a mater of fact, one time when we were drifting after I blew out the main, we went beam to seas and a somewhat mild boarding sea lifted the hatch and immediately swamped the boat....starting with filling the rear compartment.
The boat has enough flotation so it would be hard to actually sink the boat.
If we hadn't have had four divers, equipment, lunch ans so on, on board, we probably wouldn't have swamped.
Oh ya, and that 35 hp outboard, probably wasn't in the designer's mind, when figuring out the hatch thing...or the sufficiency of the boat's floatation
There was another guy in Utah who had a beautiful tricked out P-cat.
What a boat...!
He would sail that thing in a gale and make it sing.
For what it was, I really liked it...but it is definitely not like a modern beachcat with tramp.
On the other hand, there is a time, season and purpose for each kind of cat
Right.....
I still have a couple of different kinds of beachcats...and still like each one for different reasons....and purposes....
I finally donated my P-cat to a great Brigham Young University sailing club in Provo, Utah.
There are a number of P-cats still around and they’re great boats, though not like a trampoline beach cat....but then again...how many 19 foot trampoline beach cats can you load six people and a big cooler on and still sail almost as good as if it was less loaded.
Mine is hull number 54.
Last time I checked in about 2000, Pacific Catamaran still even produces boats on a custom order basis...though the business itself, doesn’t have someone there very often.
I’ve seen P-cats, in “beater” condition, but complete with trailer for sale in the $200 range.
A few years ago I saw a 1981 for $625 and a 1990 in beautiful condition for $1500
Pacific Catamran's address (at least last time I check in 2000 or so) was:
Pacific Catamaran
447 N. New Port Beach Blvd.
New Port Beach, California
92663-4201
tel. (714) 645-4520
There’s usually no one answering the phone...but I think the “owner” checks the answering machine and he was good enough to return my phone call when I was curious about this or that.... I think he spent a lot of time out of state.
If it would help, I’ve got some copies of owner’s manuals, articles about them in sailing magazines and some other printed stuff.
Good luck to you...
Tom H.
