Aqua Marina Aircat 335 + Hidea 5HP

[mike_o]

Newbe here. After browsing this and other forums for a while, I decided on above combination for fun and fishing on the sea on calm days. This is my first boat and I decided to go cheap as I'm not sure if the interest will linger. I may also decide to experiment with some hydrofoils (real ones, not on the outboard) later on.

Ordered yesterday at 560 EUR, the Aircat arrived today and this first post wil be unboxing and initial impression (for what it's worth coming from an absolute newbie)

[mike_o]

OK, just getting to terms with the way this forum works, and I was prevented editing the first post further. Time or too many edits? I don't know, but I had problems uploading some of the images.

Anyway, the packaged arrived fairly unharmed at a pick-up point near me, but a little more man-handling, and the fibre bands could have harmed the items inside.

Everything was neatly packaged in separate bags and foam blankets. The material seems to be vinyl and some spare patches are included for repairs. The pump must be the most thin walled object I have ever purchased and the hose is more plastic than rubber, but it works well - for now. For the price, the quality seems OK.

[mike_o]

The unboxing and "assembly" - to no small extend helped by a Ryobi centrifugal hi flow pump - was swift and easy.

The transom top seems to be 50cm from the pontoon's bottom. I have no idea how this thing sits in the water / planes, but I need to check on the length of the outboard's leg. I chose the short version, expecting the AV plate to sit just below the surface at full power.

[harrison]

Hi Mike, welcome aboard.

Your new Aircat looks great, and at a good price too. Here in ‘rip off Britain’ they retail at £839.

Reckon at just under 360mm the transom height should be okay with the short shaft. Our U-Deluxe 298 had a deeper transom at over 385mm and required some drastic height reduction surgery!

We also ran a 5hp Hidea many moons ago when they were first available here. It ran great and never missed a beat.

Look forward to hear how it goes on the water.

[Tyger]

Looking good, love the cat's, Mine comes on Monday. What size motor are you planning and what's is the max recommended?

[Tyger]

Sorry just noticed the title.... 5hp.

[mike_o]

Harrison, thank you!
Tyger: Max recommended is 10hp. I did consider the Hidea 9.9, but it's a lot heavier than the 5HP (22kg), which I can actually carry without killing my back.

The Hidea arrived next day after I placed the order, and I quickly checked it out and fired it up. I came with(!) the gear oil filled, which made a mess, when I unsuspectingly opened the filler screw The engine oil was empied, so I filled half a liter and a little fuel.

Initial impression is OK - you get (at least) what you pay for (540EUR shipped including external fuel tank). The throttle cable buckle is nicely made of brass, but the screw cuts directly into the cable and a strand is already broken. It should have had a thin sleeve. The hood is difficult to fit correct, I suspect the filler cap rubber is mounted upside down, preventing the hood from sinking down in place.

The engine started up nicely, but I cut it after 10-20 second, as it had no water cooling.

[mike_o]

Today was less windy than yesterday, so I loaded the boat and motor up and headed for the beach. My trailer is unavailable right now, the CAT went on the roof of the car and the outboard into the trunk. I had made a simple beam with two wheelbarrow 6" wheels to help get it from the car to the beach. This worked so well that I could even roll it with the outboard mounted.

The maiden (mine and the boat's) was more difficult than expected. For safety, I had a 5mm wetsuit on, and I remembered to fit the kill cord. But boy, did I find the combined steering and throttle akward. I have driven many different cars and gocarts, ridden motorbikes and even flown a range of airplanes, but this felt strange.

I sat on the left pontoon and operated the throttle with my rigth hand and kept gassing it, when I wanted to throttle down. Also the waves were a bit choppy, so I bounced around a lot. No chance to use the gopro.

The positive: No submarining and the bow didn't lift skyhigh. I didn't notice any cavitation, either.

[Tyger]

Looks really smart, mine like yours will be new plus we ( my wife) are also first timers. Glad it all went well. We will be treating our cat as a wet boat so all but hot weather will ne wet suits.

[harrison]

But boy, did I find the combined steering and throttle akward. I have driven many different cars and gocarts, ridden motorbikes and even flown a range of airplanes, but this felt strange.

I sat on the left pontoon and operated the throttle with my rigth hand and kept gassing it, when I wanted to throttle down.

Looking good there Mike.

Might be worth a try sitting on the starboard (right) sponson and using left hand for throttle/steering. Throttle should feel more natural and tiller further away from body. Added bonus, weight on starboard tube will counter rotational force of prop and help level out the ride.