At Pro Cat, our choice to develop catamarans is a direct reflection of our corporate philosophy. The benefits of this style of boat are enormous and we are encouraged on a daily basis to innovate in its application to offer a superior product to our customers. The main benefits below are proof of our commitment.
Why a Pro Cat Catamaran?
Dual-engine reliability
All Pro Cat catamarans have two engines with hydraulic steering, electronic control and joystick. If one engine loses power, you can still safely return home using the second engine. With independent electronic steering on each motor, you always maintain full control.
The Roll Effect
Traditional mono hull boats roll on the V of the hull. The deeper the V, the steeper the roll, the flatter the V, the harder the ride when the boat hits the waves. This roll effect can often be compounded by each wave creating a pendulum-style effect. The catamarans with their two separated hulls drastically reduced the roll while maintaining a good buoyancy where necessary on the outer edges of the boat.
Softer landings in swells
When a catamaran moves forward, the air is forced to enter the tunnel and is compressed between the hull and the waterline. This becomes like a shock absorber allowing the boat to ride on a sort of air cushion. If the boat leaves the water, the re-entry is much softer than with a mono hull because the air trapped in the tunnel and the lower hull surface combine to lower the impact, thus providing a gentler ride. A well-designed catamaran such as the Pro Cat is easier to navigate during gale conditions and in formed seas. Also, it can be driven in and out of wave breaks with real ease. The feedback is that the faster they ride, the better the navigation!
Knife versus tablespoon effect – more economical
The design of a catamaran can be compared to a knife versus spoon effect. While a mono hull has a much larger surface moving in the water, and pushing water, the catamaran’s knife-like hull penetrates the water. The general consensus suggests that catamarans use up to 30% less fuel than equivalent mono hull vessels. The Pro Cat design takes this effect even further and achieves an additional 15% performance at high speed compared to other catamarans. The result is increased fuel economy and requires lower-power engines for the same performance.
Safety at Sea
It’s a simple fact that catamarans offer a safer hull than a mono. Like Pro Cat, good catamarans offer as standard, two separate tanks, self-draining and fully sealed decks, foam-filled hulls, two engines, stability and incredible performance in rough water. Pro Cat innovates even further by adding 5 waterproof compartments to each hull, which means that even if you have a hull tear that floods 2 compartments, you will have 8 other compartments that will keep you afloat and take you home.
Heritage
Pro Cat catamarans were originally designed to meet the very demanding needs of commercial fishing operators in England’s North Sea. These customers require hulls capable of enduring extreme sea conditions with strength and reliability. These fishermen put the boats to the test on a daily basis. It is these testing grounds that ensure that your Pro Cat catamaran meets the requirements of the most difficult working conditions.
