Sloop-rigged Maine Cats are sailing the world, but now you can also motor a Maine Cat. The latest design for the Bremen boatbuilder is the Maine Cat P-38, a twin-hull cruiser powered by diesel-electric.
The Ossa Powerlite engine, built on the West Coast, is almost noiseless and far more fuel-efficient than conventional diesel or gasoline engines. It’s better for the environment, the builder says.
The prototype P-38 is under construction and after sea trials this month (March 2007) will be put into production. “We’re very excited about it. We’re breaking new ground,” said Lynn Vermeulen.
The P-38 looks like a traditional monohull from the side, and that appeals to customers, she said.
As sailors age, they find a stable catamaran easier to sail. When managing sails becomes too much of a chore, there is the P-38. “Some of our customers asked if we would consider it,” she said.
She and husband, Dick, have been building their Maine Cat catamarans for 14 years, and their Maine Cat business in Bremen has turned out some 100 boats, ranging from 22 to 46 feet.
The motorboat is a new departure but won’t mean a cutback in sailboats. Maine Cat’s 41-foot sailing catamaran remains popular, the Vermeulens said. Three of them are on order, and four Maine Cat 30s have also been ordered.
The 22-foot version has been discontinued but customers can sometimes find existing ones on the used market.
The Vermeulens employ 20 people at their shop, and along with building new boats, sell used cats and charter four Maine Cats from a base in Hope Town, Bahamas. Maine Cat is switching to a resin infusion process in building foam-core fiberglass hulls, which makes them lighter without sacrificing strength.
Lynn Vermeulen said besides attractive lines, she and Dick try to make their boats environmentally friendly. All Maine Cats have solar panels, she pointed out. “You don’t have to be plugged in at the dock.” For further information about Maine Cat, visit the company’s website: www.mecat.com.
— Steve Cartwright