Maine Cat has built four custom multihulls to date with the Core-Cell Bead and Cove Planking System. This is a superior system that produces lightweight and beautifully fair assemblies. There are no restrictions on the shapes we can generate using Core-Cell structural foam.

This photo of the Warren 35 trimaran, built for Steve McLafferty, dramatically demonstrates this flexibility.

We also built a 46' ocean cruising/racing trimaran, Faamu Sami, for Richard Saltonstall that was launched July of 2001.

Last year we built the Maine Cat 38, whose specifications and building process are described below, as a prototype. After her launch in July of 2002 and sea trials, we learned a lot. This fall we refined the design which included adding 3' to her length and some other modifications to get it just right. Now we are in the process of tooling and building a new Maine Cat 41 performance offshore cruising catamaran, which follows the Maine Cat 30 high quality and excellent performance standards.. If you would like to discuss the possibility of Maine Cat building your next cruising catamaran, please call or email me - Dick V.

MAINE CAT 38 SPECIFICATIONS:

MAINE CAT 38 PHOTO ALBUM

Exterior pictures:

Hull and Deck Assembly: The hulls and bridgedeck are completed. We built them as port and starboard halves and joined them on the centerline. The starboard deck half is foam planked and ready to be glassed on the exterior. We used 1" thick A500 Core-Cell for all the coring on the deck, hulls and bridgedeck wing.

 

Port Deck Forward: Completed port half of Maine Cat 38 deck after she has been laminated inside and out, primed and faired with long boards. We will be bonding this half to the hull very shortly. Note very similar cabin roof profile to the Maine Cat 30 in the background.

 

Port Deck Aft: Aft quarter view of port half of deck after being primed and faired. This huge open bridgedeck area will be 10'-6" wide by 13'-6" long when she is fully assembled. Comfortable seating for 10 will be no problem and everyone will have a view of where they are headed.

Interior Pictures:

Galley Area: The galley is located in the port hull aft. Eye level windows run the entire length of the outboard counters. The companionway stairs will be located in the foreground of this picture. Tons of counter-space, Broadwater premium four burner stove and oven, upright opening refrigerator, separate chest freezer and built-in garbage receptacle.

 

Galley Area: Another picture showing inboard door and drawer openings and the built-in garbage receptacle in the foreground. Lots of room for a couple to whip up gourmet meals without tripping over each other. Headroom in the prototype is 6'-7" and in the production 38's it will be 6'-9".

 

Guest Head Area Port Side Forward: Spacious complete head area for guests. This area can be closed off from the centrally located cabin area and also includes a large single berth in the foreground.

 

Two Deck Halves Port and starboard deck halves are complete and ready to be installed this week. Note the athwartship companionway openings will be horizontal sliding pocket doors. Neat, clean and simple. A drop down table will go between the two bench seats up forward to convert to a full double berth on deck for tropical cruising.

 

Front View of Deck Halves Similar in design concept to the Maine Cat 30, we have allowed ample foredeck area to be open with trampolines for fast drainage of boarding seas when slugging it out in a seaway. The two large hatches in the front beam will access rode storage for two complete sets and the electric anchor windlass.

Interior Pictures:

Finished Port Interior Looking Aft Guest queen size berth is to the inboard side with over 38 cubic feet of storage space under the berth. The daggerboard trunk is supported by the foam cored bunk board and also acts as a "lee cloth" for a safe sea berth. Floor panels are fully removable to allow easy and complete access to all bilge areas. Notice the same gelcoated interior surfaces as the MC 30 for easy maintenance. Also note how open the interior feels by using composite ring bulkheads.

 

Starboard Interior Looking Aft All cabinets and partitions are tabbed-in and faired ready to be sprayed with white gelcoat tomorrow. This view shows the double curved bench and dresser unit in the foreground which is part of the changing area in the master suite. Moving aft will be the master head with a large separate shower compartment. Again notice the floor access panel to the bilge in the foreground of the changing area

 

Different Angle of Master Head Looking from inboard, you can see the shower compartment area a little better. It utilizes the entire width of the hull in this aft section, which measures 5-1/2 feet at waist height. Also note the composite deck beams installed athwartship in three locations for additional surface area for the critical hull to deck bonding.

 

Starboard Interior Forward Office Area This picture is taken from the single berth all the way forward in the starboard master stateroom hull. Just aft of this berth is very nice space where we will be building the owner's office. This area will have a chart desk with storage inside and a built-in bookcase inboard. We have allowed a nice area just above the desk surface for Nexus data repeaters, tank monitoring system, engine hour meters and a computer terminal.

 

Engine Room Port Side This almost looks ridiculous to have this huge space with such a small engine mount, but it is going to be the heart of our mechanical systems aboard the Maine Cat 38 and it is going to done right. I have seen too many engines crammed into areas you can only access by dismantling the furniture. We have the space to install everything in its proper place and make maintenance simple and easy to accomplish whether swinging on the hook or out at sea in a gale.

 

Forward Beam Storage This huge area in the forward beam will be used for anchor rodes, fenders, dockline storage and the electric windlass. It measures 9'-4" across by 3'-0" wide and 3'-6" deep. It is self-draining and easily accessible through the large hatches shown in our second deck photo above.

 

The hull to deck joining is finally complete and all the interior tabbing has been faired and finish gelcoat applied. All that remains on the interior is the electrical, plumbing and finish woodwork. Notice our low, smooth flowing aerodynamic cabin house. Aero-dynamic drag is a significant factor in windward sailing performance. The MC 38 will sail higher and faster to windward than any of our competition.

 

This is a great shot showing our enormous cockpit layout. This space is 10'-6" wide by 13'-8" long and will be entirely covered by our composite "sport" hardtop with 6'-5" headroom. Compare this wonderful cockpit with any other design on the market and we think you will agree the Maine Cat 38 offers a better solution than the standard bridgedeck cabin box.

 

Bow quarter shot showing our compression post and composite centerline plank splitting the trampoline area in to two smaller nets. The rigid plank allows a great spot to mount twin bow rollers either side of the headstay lug for two sets of "at-the-ready" ground tackle. We will also be installing a bearing sleeve near the forward end of the plank for the pivot point of our Hoyt jib boom. Notice the molded-in toerails running from the bow up and over the cabin house.

 

Bows and the foredeck area seen more clearly. We are using a black anodized aluminum compression post with a seagull striker which was beautifully fabricated for us by Metalmast Marine in Putnam, CT. It is wonderful to see the workmanship of these true craftsmen. We incorporated mooring bridle attachment lugs as part of the stainless steel beam end plates.

 

Finish painted with the forward hatches installed and seagull striker on the compression post. She is really looking beautiful and ready to get wet this month. Lots of work left to do but we hope to be sailing by the end of June. Call early if you want to be one of the first to sail a real performance cruising catamaran.

 

Close-up shot showing the sterns and "back porch" connecting the top stern steps. This aft platform will provide support for the RIB dinghy with the engine in a set of chocks. Davits have been eliminated by using a sprit extending out of the boom to lift the dinghy aboard. This aft platform and huge stern steps make water access quick and easy for all your water toys.

 

Wide angle shot showing the recently completed stern quarter of the New Maine Cat 38. Note one of her daggerboards in the foreground. The boards are 12% NACA four-digit series foils for very good lift characteristics through a wide range of speeds and good resistance to stalling.

 

Great picture showing the size of our sterns and the nice flat run aft for increase hydrodynamic lift, the ability to obtain higher speeds under power and lots of reserve buoyancy for power reaching under the screacher and mainsail in wind speeds up to 18 knots. Note our "sport" hardtop similar to the Maine Cat 30 in the foreground with the molded-in window tracks installed.

 

Shot showing the size of the cockpit of the Maine Cat 38. This entire area will be protected by the hardtop and a flexible or tempered glass window system which can be opened in fair weather and closed tight to make a wind and waterproof pilothouse in foul weather. Why not have the best of both worlds and be totally comfortable enjoying being out on the water in tropical 90 degree heat or sailing in Maine's 40 degree early spring conditions.

 

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Finally getting to a punch list which is less than seven pages long. Most of the deck hardware has been installed, deck rails and stanchions are complete, rudders are in and the Whitlock Mamba steering will be finished Wednesday. Bottom is painted, plumbing nearly complete and electrical 50% complete. We will make the launch on July 16th and are more than a little excited.

 

Bow on view showing the size 20 Lewmar hatches providing some great ventilation into the forward cabins. Also note the generous bridgedeck clearance and flare of the topsides to ensure no slamming of the underwing. The bows are 4'-9" off the design waterline and we have pulled the buoyancy out to the ends to eliminate any tendency to bury a bow when pressed hard.

 

Low profile topsides make the Maine Cat 38 look fast just sitting on her cradles in the shop. Wait to you see this catamaran move across the water. The MC 38 will be the fastest production catamaran under 50 feet on the planet. Simpler to handle, more protected cockpit area, superior visibility and the finest quality construction of any yacht. You will love sailing the Maine Cat 38.

 

Good shot showing our large balanced spade rudders and nice separation from the sail drive leg. The "back porch" really turned out better than it looked on the drawing. Everything just flows together and the function is wonderful. I can already see the water toys lined-up along the stern rail ready for deployment.

 

Cockpit area with a pair of Lewmar electric 50's port and starboard for halyards, reefing, jib sheet and daggerboard controls. Note the over-the-top blocks mounted on the aft beam face just off-center. We are taking the main sheet, traveler controls and spinnaker/screacher sheets under the back beam and to a pair of Lewmar 54's inside the cockpit just behind the helm. No lines to clutter the deck or trip anyone moving about the deck.

SAILING PHOTOS BY BILLY BLACK

 

MAINE CAT 38 PERFORMANCE CRUISER Sailing in 10 knots of true wind we were able to beat to weather at 7.5 to 8 knots of boat speed pointing high and maintaining course with one finger on the wheel. We tacked with just a turn of the wheel and if we didn't have to trim the wing mast on the new tack, we would not have to touch a line during this maneuver. We easily tack through 90 degrees. Our standard production Maine Cat 41will be fitted with a fixed aluminum mast. The carbon rotating wing mast will be available for our more performance oriented owners as an option. We have learned that if the mast is not trimmed properly your boat speed will suffer.

 

When we fell off 5 or 10 degrees our boat speed increased nicely. We are probably sailing 45 degrees to the apparent wind in this photo and our boat speed is 8.5 knots in the same 10 knots of true. Sailing only with our main and self-tacking jib. We have an articulating carbon bow sprit with the screacher furled on a Harken Code Zero furler. At 10 knots of true we can easily sail the wind speed with the screacher and main flying.

 

Sailing back to the harbor we set the spinnaker which launched from a sock. The tack maybe somewhat low for a cruiser, but this owner wanted to maximize the sail's area. The breeze was dying to around 8 or 9 knots and we sailed at 9.5 knots at roughly 160 degrees to the true wind direction. The Maine Cat 38 is so fast she pulls the wind around in light air to an apparent beam reach. Note the visibility of the owner seating at the wheel.

 

You get a great sense of the power the Maine Cat 38 has when you look at the foam off her starboard stern and realize the wind was blowing only about 8 knots. She is a fun boat to sail which quickly accelerates in a puff and maneuvers effortlessly. If you are in the market for a great boat your wife will love as much as you do.........you should sail the new Maine Cat 41 now!

The owner of our Maine Cat 38 prototype asked Gino Morrelli to run a Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) on his new MC 38. We used a realistic lightly loaded (3000 lbs. of payload) cruising weight total of 11,500 pounds. If the computer is right we have the fastest cruising catamaran now in production. Flying our standard mainsail and self-tacking jib in 16 knots of true wind at any angle of 80 degrees, he predicts a boat speed of 13.34 knots. Same sails, same wind and a 40 degree angle and we are beating to windward at almost 8.5 knots. Not bad for a cruising cat design to carry 5500 pounds of payload before she is on her design waterline.

If you want to purchase the finest built and most modern designed cruising catamaran now available in the world you should give us a call today and set a date to come see how we can make your crusing dreams a reality.

Call 1-888-832-2287 or email .

Dick and Lynn Vermeulen