Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

RangerRob

Recruit
Joined
Apr 27, 2002
Messages
4
Looking at a 19 to 22 foot catamaran fishing boat for both lakes and bay fishing. I am considering these boats or any opinions, good and bad. I am only considering them because they can handle shallow bays from 8" to 10" and offshore fishing too. I understand the hul can handle rough water better than V-Hulls. Is this true? Has anyone rode in one?

Twin Vee Baycat 19
http://www.twinveeboats.com/19cc.htm


FastCat
http://www.fastcatmarine.com/

SeaCat Comet 20
http://www.twinveeboats.com/seacat/20cc.htm

I need some feed back on the ride, performance and etc.....I need advise on those that have compared the Catamaran and V-Hull style of boats.

Thanks and Happy New Year!
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

There several party boats running out of San Francisco Bay and everyone try to get on them first so hard to get a ride. They are faster use less fuel and ride better but not cheap.

Only time I would worry is when the swell are so big and close together that the area between the hulls hits the swells and lifts the boat.

Fishermen like them for the ocean here.
 

KCook

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
1,624
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

The FastCat is a high performance design. Very different from the TwinVee. Be sure to get a demo and see for yourself how cats run. Some folks love 'em, some won't go near 'em.

Kelly Cook
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

every boat has it's pro's and con's. look around and see what is the most used style boat in your area,
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
27,036
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

Rob, The "hype" on Power Cats is that when planing, air under the center part of the hull provides lift, thereby giving a softer ride than the mono hull. I find it hard to believe that a Cat will out ride a mono hull in rough water. I base this on the unlimited hydroplane boats on the ocean racing circuit. The cats are faster then the monohulls, so when the conditions are calm, the cats win. When it gets rough however, the monohulls win, because they ride better in the big waves.
 

RangerRob

Recruit
Joined
Apr 27, 2002
Messages
4
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

Results on customer input for fishing catamarans as follows. All agree that the catamaran rides alot better than conventional V-hulls. Also can withstand 4-5 foot waves in the gulf and draft less than 10" on some cats.

The manufacture list and links below are of the top performers that customers like the best. This list was compiled from five other forums.

Port Erie Outer Banks 18.5' Cat
http://www.porterieboats.com/story.htm


Caracal 18.5' Cat
http://www.twinveeboats.com/caracal/why.htm


SeaCat Comet 20' Cat
http://www.twinveeboats.com/seacat/20cc.htm
Boat Review:
http://www.boats.com/boat-articles/New+Boats-136/Double+Vision/11780.htm l



Twin Vee BayCat 20'
http://www.powercatboats.com/twinvee.htm


ProSports BayKat 20'
http://www.prokatboats.biz/individual.php?Pid=r


FastCat Marine C20' Cat
http://www.fastcatmarine.com/models.html
Boat Review:
http://www.bwbmag.com/output.cfm?ID=943291





Simmons Top Cat 20'
http://forums.jmoutdoors.com/showthread.php?t=4393
Cannot find website


I like the looks of the SeaCat Comet 20 and the FastCat C20...I am looking now to test drive. Most said I would have to go to Houston for the FastCat C20 and Victoria for the SeaCat test drive. Again, I am looking for a bass and bay boat....I will post my results!
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
27,036
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

Rob, It is not that I don't trust articles published by Catamaran manufacturers, but "I'm from Missouri", when it comes to evaluation of performance, by people with interest in seeing you purchase one of their products.

I am starting to see power cats bought by my neighbors. Perhaps one will take me for a ride, and I will have some first hand experience. However, good ride or not, they are IMHO, ugly boats!
PS usually when you buy a cat, you need to buy two motors as well.
 

panamas

Recruit
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Messages
5
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

RangerRob said:
Looking at a 19 to 22 foot catamaran fishing boat for both lakes and bay fishing. I am considering these boats or any opinions, good and bad. I am only considering them because they can handle shallow bays from 8" to 10" and offshore fishing too. I understand the hul can handle rough water better than V-Hulls. Is this true? Has anyone rode in one?

Twin Vee Baycat 19
http://www.twinveeboats.com/19cc.htm


FastCat
http://www.fastcatmarine.com/

SeaCat Comet 20
http://www.twinveeboats.com/seacat/20cc.htm

I need some feed back on the ride, performance and etc.....I need advise on those that have compared the Catamaran and V-Hull style of boats.

Thanks and Happy New Year!
 

panamas

Recruit
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Messages
5
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

I've been doing research for over a year and I just decided to go ahead and buy a Prokat 26 dual console cat. I could not be happier with my decision. The boat is so versatil that I go to the same places my kids go in their Boston Whaler. At the same time, the ride offshore is even better than advertized.
For those that still think that mono-hulls are better I suggest you go out on a very rough day a ride both a cat and a mono-hull and compare notes. You won't believe how much better the cat takes on the big seas.
 

kalla man

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 5, 2006
Messages
100
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

I say you get the 36 Walk-around Weekender Power-cat ....and take me fishing ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE PROJECT.......
s99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/kallaman/
 

JasonJ

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2001
Messages
4,163
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

You can't use the "what is everyone else using" trick in this case, because most people either can't afford them, are put off by their looks, or didn't know they existed. Besides, who cares what everyone else is doing. Just find out a way to run one in the conditions you expect to see, and make your decision based on your experience with it. Also, if you do talk to owners, make sure you talk to owners who actually use the boat for more than just putting around. Look for someone who uses the boat like you want to. To many people base their decisions on someone else and that someone else might not have a clue at all...
 

ddjones531

Recruit
Joined
Dec 5, 2010
Messages
1
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad for water skiing??

Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad for water skiing??

My husband is looking at buying a caracal or some other catamaran fishing boat...the kids and I don't fish, we water ski behind our boston whaler over 20 years old. Does anyone out there have information about water skiing behind a catamaran? We are on the Gulf of Mexico out of Florida. I need some help, advice and information.
Thanks.
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad for water skiing??

Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad for water skiing??

Really sloppy wake, and if the kids ever wakeboard they will hate it . . . ;)
 

glengold

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 24, 2010
Messages
310
Re: Catamaran Fishing Boats? Good or Bad??

This is a 3 year old thread, start a new thread in the water-ski forum to get more answers.

My guess is they would be no good for anyone serious about watersports, keep the whaler for that.

There is no such thing as a boat that is good for everything.
 
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