How do sophisticated design tools and construction materials benefit cruising catamarans?
Slater: The desire for greater luxury and comfort makes the integration of weight-efficient design and construction critical when creating a catamaran. Cutting-edge design tools and lightweight materials create the foundation for a vessel that will deliver first-rate performance and ice for the gin and tonic. These luxury cruisers will never win a race against PlayStation, but they will perform decently while providing substantial comfort. Melvin: What materials you choose depends on what the cat is intended to do. If super-high performance is a high priority and you are willing to pay the price, building a boat with carbon fiber and other exotic materials can reduce overall weight and increase sailing performance considerably. Many fiberglass cruising cats can be light and fast—it’s just that a cat built with lighter and stiffer materials will be lighter, faster, and more expensive. What factors are involved in designing a cruising cat’s underwater profile? Slater: Start with a length
