A New Era in Aluminium Power Catamarans

The first OceanCat Marine Australia Weekender 26 has just been launched! Sea trials signpost the strong attraction that the OceanCat range of trailerable,
power catamarans will have for weekend family outings, keen fishermen and serious offshore anglers.

The OceanCats are designed by renowned and respected New Zealander, Roger Hill, highly regarded internationally, for his catamaran designs. The full brief to Roger Hill from Oceancat Marine was to design three models based on his latest symmetrical planing hull with down-angled, high-lift planing chines that ensure the boat pops up onto the plane very quickly with vastly improved planing efficiency. The ‘bulletproof’ 5083 grade aluminium hull with 6mm keel, 5mm hull and 4mm side plates and superstructure is designed and built to Australian Survey Standards using the Lloyd’s scantlings Standards.

The first boat in the range, the Weekender 26, is designed for overnight and extended cruising for couples and families. The second boat, nearing completion and launch, the Offshore 26, is capable of comfortable overnight use, but is designed with the keen fisherman in mind. The third boat in the range, the Reefmaster 26 will be a unique, long-range, centre-console, full walk-around power catamaran for the super serious angler. All three boats are legally trailerable with a beam of 2495mm and an overall length of 8.125m.

The Weekender 26, powered by twin 200hp Yamaha 4-stroke motors, has recently carried out sea trials on Moreton Bay under the close scrutiny of Yamaha technicians. The Weekender 26 performed beyond its design expectations achieving outstanding performance for such a big trailerable, power catamaran, achieving a maximum speed of 43kts (81km/h). Cruising between 3000-4000rpm at speeds from 17-28kts resulted in fuel consumption of around 1.95litres/nm or 0.95km/litre.

Cabin galley.

Fuel capacity for each of the OceanCat models is 660 litres. Leaving a 5% reserve, the range of the OceanCats will be 320nm (599km). The Weekender is the heaviest of the range, which suggests that both the Offshore and Reefmaster will have better fuel economy and greater ranges than the Weekender. The complete test results and sea trial photography are available on both the OceanCat Marine and Yamaha websites.
oceancat.com.au     yamaha-motor.com.au

Apart from the very efficient planing hull design, the most obvious difference that separates the OceanCat Weekender 26 from its competitors is the roominess and standard of finish. This high standard is achieved by our unique use of fiberglass componentry. OceanCat has invested heavily in fibreglass moulds for the head, cabin tops, galleys, dinettes and cabin liners.

Helm console.

A trailerable powercat, the Weekender 26, comes with a very attractive and fully lockable private head, surely a real winner, particularly with female crew mates. The moulded, fibreglass, stand-up head unit complete with Tecma electric toilet, vanity and shower is rarely, if ever, found on a trailerable boat. The complicated head mould was only achieved after detailed 3D modelling to use every cubic millimetre of useable space in the port hull. The head has a port-hull porthole for natural ventilation.

Water capacity is a standard 200 litres on the Weekender which also features a 70 litre black tank.

When you board the boat, walk into the cabin, and appreciate the gleaming white fibreglass Gelcoat, you have to remind yourself that you are aboard an aluminium power catamaran. The cabin area boasts a separate galley containing an Engel 57litre upright 12/240v fridge, twin-drawer units and separate rubbish bin as well as a moulded sink. The first Weekender 26 is also fitted with a 2kw Invertor and single, induction cooktop

Opposite the port galley is a four person dinette with the forward seat being two-way, becoming the helm seat when underway. Forward, under the fibreglass dinette are the lifejackets, flares and First-Aid kit locker, and, at the rear, is an Engel 30-litre 12-volt drawer fridge. The cabin area has a voluminous feel with all of the fibreglass componentry giving a superb finish, making the whole area simple, smart, and easy to keep clean.

The sleeping cabin is queen size with a length of 1.95m and good sitting-up height. It also features two, pull-out drawers, twin reading lamps and two, under mattress, storage compartments. Additionally, a removeable mattress section gives access to generous storage in the starboard hull. The cabin has an insect screened, Gebo, ceiling hatch, as well as a starboard porthole hatch ensuring great ventilation on those steamy, summer nights. Every possible storage area on the boat has been utilized including two bow lockers accessed through two Gebo hatches.

Cockpit showing access hatches to both hulls.

The cockpit is accessed from a central boarding platform which features a swim ladder for boarding the boat when at anchor. The cockpit is roomy and can easily accommodate a folding table and two deck chairs from which to enjoy ‘sundowners’. The cockpit sole has two, large hatches giving easy access to both hulls and all of the equipment housed there as well as two large storage spaces. The cockpit and cabin sole feature a very soft, under-foot, Seadek floor-covering. After a day out on the boat, your feet will appreciate the comfort provided by the Seadek.

This first Weekender 26 will be shown at all of the East Coast Boat Shows in 2019 and features pretty much every option possible including a full suite of Simrad electronics: GPS, fishfinder sounder, radar, autohelm, AIS, AM/FM music and VHF radio. Additionally, the boat is fully equipped, electrically, with shore power, Victron battery charger and 2kw 240-volt Invertor. The boat also features two AC Delco, start batteries and two 110amp, deep cycle, house batteries and a 12-volt battery monitor. Every internal and navigation light is Hella LED and the lighting system is run through the latest C Zone Digital Switching Panel

Generous sleeping accommodation.

The Oceancat Marine Australia Weekender 26 is the launch of a new generation in trailerable, aluminium, power catamarans, built to a design and benchmark that denotes strength, stability, and staying power. The OceanCat trailerable, power catamarans are built and equipped like no boat before to a standard rarely seen. They do, indeed, herald a new era in power catamarans.