
FATCAT2, POWER/SAIL CUDDY CAMPER, 15'
X 6', 450 POUNDS EMPTY
Fatcat2 is still really a prototype
boat even though I can show photos of a completed boat.
What happened is that the builder, who is in his mid 80's,
was taking the prototype to the lake to test when it was
damaged in a road accident. It's been repaired but the
boat is near Green Bay and it will be next summer before
any testing can be done.

Fatcat2 is a cuddy cabin sailer patterned
somewhat after a traditional catboat. She's the widest
boat I've ever done, proportionally speaking, but lots
of boat have been built to these proportions and my my
Piccup Pram,
which is almost similarly wide, certainly has no difficulties
in rough going. The multichine bilges make a big difference
and I wouldn't try a serious boat like this with a totally
flat bottom. This boat has a short wide cockpit with benches
that should be comfy for three adults. The cabin will
be nice for a solo camp or a hide-out for two.

The mast is about the same length as
the hull and steps in a tabernacle, both features should
make for quick rigging. With a crutch or gallows to hold
the struck rig you should be able to fold it all down
without unhooking all those lines that a gaffer needs.
I've seen it done on a Mudhen and it looks like Walter
has rigged his Fatcat2 that way. If you look hard at the
tabenacle in the photos you might make out that Walter
also has rigged a winch to pull the mast up.
This boat is not ballasted. I did some
paper studies of its stability which backed up my experiences
in boat like this. They are usually most stable at about
20 degrees of heel, which might be the most heel you should
sail at normally. Beyond that point the righting moment
decreases until it reaches zero at about 50 degrees of
heel and she'll go over. I'd expect her to lay high on
her side because the rig is buoyant. Most likely you will
have to parbuckle her upright with a rope if the leeboard
is on the high side of the knocked down boat and out of
your reach. I'd expect a rope or transom step will be
needed to reboard the boat. The cockpit will take on a
small amount of water but I'll bet she'll sail with it.
A bucket is the only way to clear that sort of water,
those pretty hand pumps being about useless. (Making Fatcat2
self righting in the usual way would mean making the belly
twice as deep to float about 400 pounds of ballast, then
add a self draining raised cockpit. A very different boat
that some might prefer.)

Fatcat2 is built with taped seams and
no jigs or lofting required. The plywood bill looks like
four sheets of 1/4" plywood, fours sheets of 1/2",
and two sheets of 3/4" plywood for a thick bottom. |