How does the Takacat handle wind chop?

[PeterM]

What Chris said - the same boat with a 9.8 Tohatsu ( which was OK ) was verging on useless with my Yamaha 9.9hp

[Fishingribs]

Having had a short ride out on Chris’s superb little takacat (thankyou Chris) I was amazed how well it handled.
I was very surprised to see little or no water coming aboard through the open bow.
The transom bar (yes,it’s just a bar) appeared sturdy even under doughnut conditions
The chop I encountered didn’t bother the tak at all, it happily rode it with ease.
Seating.. probably the worst thing to get used to, very low with no real ability to do anything other than flop on the floor and brace yourself against each tube. That said, once I was comfy it turned into a full bore blast where nothing phased the takacat.

All in all, I found it to be an amazing toy.. why a toy?
In my opinion it is completely impractical for my family, but it was huge amounts of fun for me.
If I had a bigger boat (rib etc) I would have a takacat to play out with.
Someone with slightly older kiddies and a more sea happy wife may well have a different view.

The prop really was a problem. I couldn’t get a tight turn exit bite on the water at all.
Chris and Peter have messed about with different outboards, hopefully Chris’s newly purchased prop once cupped will improve the set up tremendously.

Love the concept, love the ride, it just needs more gee gees and a prop that bites.

Martin

[gratemaker]

Hi Martin, it sounds like you had the same fun as i have with my Kaboat it is a cross between a kayak and a boat it goes like the clappers with the 5hp 4 stroke but it is a bit iffy in a chop because of the flat bottom i will try and post a vid on my next trip out.

[pedro916]

I was out on my Honwave 32 with a friend who was on his takakat both had 10 hps and I can tell its a very capable craft , yes its no good for more than two people unless you are just cruising around but it can certainly handle itself , went in some serious swell that to be honest should not have been in and it did everthing the honwave could which included getting us back to safety for me a little over priced but a nice bit of kit.

[Lord Enoch]

If buying one of these inflatable cats be very careful on your choice of engine. The inflatable cats are very fussy on propeller size and shape, and with some outboards it's very difficult to get them to work without extreme propeller ventilation.

Thanks for the comments, guys. I'm really liking the idea of a cat.

What is there about an inflatable catamaran that creates problems with propeller ventilation as compared to a typical inflatable dinghy? Is this only a problem with 10+hp engines?

[harrison]

What is there about an inflatable catamaran that creates problems with propeller ventilation as compared to a typical inflatable dinghy? Is this only a problem with 10+hp engines?

Having just purchased, not yet got wet, a small cheap cat style tunnel hull inflatable I fear I’m soon about to find out.

I imagine the problem lies with not getting clean/flattish water immediately over/before the prop. On a conventional hull the keel line smooths out the water as it exits the transom, but on a planing cat, the transom and hull are elevated and the water level over the prop potentially not as constant. Finding the ideal motor height will be a bit of a black art methinks.

Not sure it's dependant on motor size, more if planing or not, and the bigger motors probably just highlight the problem I would imagine.

I think some motors seem to be a bit more tolerant resisting ventilation issues but only useful if you have access to try different types.

Many find running a cupped prop helps and some fit doel fins, whilst the racing cats run surface penetrating cleaver props. Interestingly some of the manufacturers recommend cupped props and I’ve noticed in some promo videos the motors often sport doel fins.

Gut feel for our little boat, a Tohatsu 9.8 two stroke with a cupped prop will be the biz, although no real idea until tested.

[beerbelly]

i am thinking of buying a 330 to take away with the caravan does anyone know what they weigh packed up i cant find any info .also i have a 5hp 4 stroke mercury and an 8hp 2 stroke mercury would these be ok there both short shaft but i have always found the mercury short shafts to be nearer 18 inch than 17inch being slightly longer might help reduce the ventilation folk seem to be having

[Tyger]

@beerbelly if you check out the latest takacat's they have lowered the rear top transome bar by approximately 3", so now dips in the middle, apparently they are now not getting any issues with ventilation according to the feedback for owners (so they say). Can't wait for mine!