beaching cruising cats

[leehaefele]

I have a Leopard 38 with "Sacrificial" keels. Builder, Robertson & Caine, says that these cannot support the weight of the boat. The Travellift operator advised weight was 27,000# loaded.

[colemj]

27,000# seems VERY heavy for a 38' catamaran. Travelift scales can be inaccurate and are seldom calibrated. If the keels can't support the boat, how would one set it on land at all? Do you need to build a specialized cradle? I'm pretty sure I have seen Leopard 38's sitting on their keels on land.

Mark

[Kanani]

Watch your tide table. Hate to see you put her on the beach at high tide, on the highest tide of the year. Be sure that the next high tide is higher than the one that you beached her on. If you don't, you could be there for a long time.

BTW.....if the keels can't support your boat....I wouldn't recommend taking her out to sea where she will surely get an uneven pounding from time to time..

[changeman]

Beaching a cat is not rocket science.
Check the sea bottom is even to avoid twisting of the hulls when grounded. Choose a calm day.
If the beach angle is more than say 5 degrees, assess the final resting angle of the cat and make appropriate arrangements to cope with it. This includes use of the galley when the inevietable mealtime comes around and the use of the heads afterwards.
Approach the beach VERY slowly and gently ground the bows. (I would never approach while going astern as there a high probability of damaging rudders or props). Stop the engines.
Unless there is significant wave action or a cross current, the cat should rest there quietly without any help from engines or anchor and a 47 ft cat has enough weight to weather minor water turbulence.
When the time comes to float off, you will feel the boat come unstuck and must have engines ready to pull you off. Take care that if a swell has built up, you do not bounce the props off the bottom.
Hope this helps.

[fastcat435]

I put my cats onto the beach a lot and the best way to go about is is to beach one hour (min) after high tide , thta way you are always assured that you will be able to get her floating again.

[toewsrus]

We've beached ours


More Pictures

I basically spent some time prior scoping out the spot at both high and low tides.

It worked like a charm. The spot I was at was a little muddy and we sunk a little. Next time I'm thinking I'll use some half sheets of plywood to put under the keels to help me "float" on top of the bottom.

[Southern Star]

A properly designed/constructed cat with mini keels most certainly can withstand having the entire weight of the boat on the keels. My boat is currently on the hard with only some 2x6's under the keels for the winter.

Brad

[quartersplash]

Thanks to you all for sharing your experience. I received this reply from the Designer of the Mayotte 47, Alex simonis
Dear Gary,
Your e-mail came through via maarten to me.
Congratulations on purchasing you new boat.
The Mayotte is a great go anywhere cat.

Regarding you questions:
1: yes, if build to the design the boat can stand on it's keels.
Make sure that the boat is however propped up correctly so that
it doesn't tip forward or backwards . (normally an extra set of block
under the
bows wouldn't hurt.
2: yes is can be beached that's why the angle is put on the keels.

3: Drawings are available: Cost for this is our standard fee for
supplying them.
Euro 500,-- + Delivery.

Delivery
Free: in PDF format via e-mail
CD/mailed Euro 25,--
CD/DHL Euro 75,--

CD/s have PDF and Autocad
drawings on them.


Kind Regards

Alex Simonis