Jun 12

Jun 12 The Top Compact Catamaran Boats: New Models and More Interest in Sport Cats

The outboard sport catamaran craze has spawned an entirely new generation of hulls and added new models to the class. Brands like Skater started with small true tunnel cats before graduating into larger offshore race boats and bigger sport cats. Marine Technology was always known for big offshore race boats, but now the bulk of their business is the outboard sport cat market. DCB built their business with luxury performance boats and their true tunnel M37R is the most popular boat in their lineup now. Let’s be real though, not everyone can afford a twin engine sport cat in the 28’and up range, but consumers do appreciate the benefits of a true tunnel and now there is an emerging market for smaller more affordable cats.

Eliminator Boats

Eliminator boats of California made a big splash recently with the launch of a new tunnel hull design for the popular 255 Speedster. Eliminator had already re-designed this boat a few years ago to look very cutting edge and modern, and now you can get it in a true tunnel version making it a deadly weapon. The generous beam at 100” and high freeboard make it a big 25’, and the hull has all the key advantages of a cat, like great rough water ability. Eliminator is going to keep making the center pod 255 in some configurations, and the tunnel version is ready for twin 300R, or you can get a single where they will put a very modest center pod in order to help the center mounted engine perform.

The first true tunnel speedster has twin 300R, the tunnel comes in closed bow only as a pure performance model. Other configurations are available.

The updated tunnel features a short fixed tunnel extension that smooths out the ride in the mid range and Jake Farleigh from Eliminator told me the hull performs beyond expectations. He has run it in really challenging conditions and it performed flawlessly. This a big win for Eliminator and opens up the market for them.

The 255 is big and deep, you can load it up with 5 people easily. This is a great affordable sport cat that is priced like a 25 but can act like a bigger boat. Nice interior work by Eliminator boats.

I personally love singles, and a 25 and under cat with a big single is really slick setup to me. With the 255 Speedster you’re going to get a really well finished interior and a full wrap windshield for practicality. It can run 115 MPH with twin 300R, propped for daily driving. You can probably expect 95 + with a single 400R.

Trick Powerboats

Another company that has been making waves recently in the catamaran market and has been completely rejuvenated with a new model is Trick Powerboats based in South Carolina. Trick has created one of the most stunning compact cats on the market with it’s new 23’ that has the look of a big cat, a nice sleek curved windshield and a unique low profile. This is a great hull for a single, it has a very modest center pod that is V shaped with a 21 degree deadrise, and is completely out of the water above 65 MPH, to get the benefits of a true tunnel, while helping the ride at low speeds. You won’t get the hard landing of a flat center pod or the pop from a big wave. Jeff Haag and his team, Lee Dashiell, Pat Vella and Jeff’s wife Rita, have a ton of experience and they put a lot of time and thought into this boat.

The Trick 23 Widebody is just a stunner. It looks good from every angle.

Trick absolutely nailed the design on this one. A single 300R seems about perfect on this. Of course, you can run twins, which will no doubt be a rocket, but I love a single and I really like what Trick has done here. The full windshield makes for a really practical ride too. Jeff of Trick told me they did all the design with real world modeling and not in CAD, there were too many details they wanted to get right and there is no better way than sitting in model. Jeff’s own design is built with Divinycell core on the sides and deck, while the hull is solid glass. The 23’ hull is 1,400 Lbs out of the mold and has a really nice interior. Jeff spent some time on the seats and made them really lean and comfortable, inspired by high performance automotive seats, yet easy to care for and durable.

It’s a widebody. There is lots of performance here and value is incredible. (images from Trick Powerboats)

All the Trick boats are painted using Sikkens paint for a perfect finish and fully capped as standard. The hull is 102” wide with a 55” tunnel width, so it’s a big 23’. You get a large cockpit, and lots of room in the 2+2 interior. With the single 300R, they are breaking 100 MPH.

Lanier Custom Boats

Lanier Custom Boats of Florida has been around for a long time and are known for their fishing machines, which look amazing. Utilizing the same proven hull, LCB makes a sport deck version that is 21’ and features a wide 8’6” beam, even though it’s the shortest boat in this article, the hull can really handle a chop, again the benefits of a true tunnel come into play. The compact cat weighs about 2,200 lbs and uses Corecell for core material, with carbon in the running surface. Rumor has it they are getting a 25’ model ready.

A classic look and great proven performance make the LCB a standout.

With the choice in power now for big single outboards from Mercury Racing, you can run the 300R, 400R, or 500R if you wish, I love the economics and simplicity of the 300R. Either way you get a compact performer that looks really great. The LCB should perform like a much bigger boat. And, for the most part, you can probably leave most V hulls in the dust in a brisk chop without slowing down. They have seen 95 to 100 MPH with a 300R, and 117 MPH with a 450R.

The business end of the 21 Lanier. A nice deadrise off the sponsons and a true tunnel design make this a really useable compact boat in rough water.

You can opt for twins on the LCB, seen here with them center mounted. Nice cockpit too.

I’m a big V hull guy and I have to admit the benefits of a cat are hard to ignore. The ease of driving, the rough water ability and the efficiency overall are impressive. A well setup cat can really run all day really fast and efficiently, while running right over the chop, which is great for a day on the water. Also, the larger beam is nice for a day on the water. I think we will see more and more true cat offerings form other manufacturers. I am seeing some small builders in the fishing segment offering performance cats that look really cool too.