Comments from
the Builder:
I chose to build the Catfish Beachcruiser as it was stable to
sail, and had a deep cockpit to stop the little'uns jumping ship! It
also had to be trailerable and at 800lb was just about manageable. It
is 15'1" loa, has a water-ballast keel giving a draft of 15", an
in-board rudder, and the rear bunk houses a battery that I run an
electric flover 55 motor from, which gives it a searing 5kn. The build
took 7 months in the garage, and yes, it nearly didnt make it out the
door, at 6 1/2ft wide! The construction is stich-and-glue ply, glass
fibre cloth on the outside of the hull, with yacht paint and varnish
finish. The addition of bunks and a cut-back coaming/deck was my idea
as the original plan had little space for people in the cockpit.
Sailing her is a steady affair, nothing too fast but solid enough not
to spill your drink! She answers gently to the helm, and will self
correct the inexperienced captain by turning to windward if
over-cooked. We have not taken 'scorpion' out recently due to the
arrival of crew member no. 2, but this summer should see more
floatation added in the bunks, and possibly a wooden cuddy/cabin top.
Hope this helps,
Adam
Building starts with cutting
out frames, bulkheads, sides and bottom.
Sides are then attached to bulkheads
and frames.
Bottom and bilge panels are next, the
seams are filled with thickned epoxy and covered with fiberglass tape
and epoxy.
Addition internal framing and deck
supports, mast tabernacle.
Skipper in his completed hull, motor
well and test fitting sails.
Here's a gallery of Action Sailing photos:
