Friday, September 7, 2012



Some time ago I decided to build a beach catamaran, a Hobby Kat, drawings of which were published in 1973 Mechanix illustrated, are freely available on WEB in these days, displayed on many sites, here is one: http://svensons.com/boat/?p=SailBoats/Hobby_Kat

Why Hobby Kat?
Free plans, easy to build, very similar to Hobie Cat (what a surprise! Even name is similar ;-) ), which is one of the most popular beach cats today... Also - there has been many questions on if it is worth to build, and how it would sail; on different forums. This also interested me, I wanted to find it out.

The project was started in 2009, the hulls were finished, rigging partially. But as I went to work abroad, it was put on hold, until this year, 2012, when it was assembled and launched.

There was a website about this once already, but due to change of regulations, the free web hostings were cut, so it disappeared. I will now restore the construction process for information and ideas and thoughts that could be useful for this or any other design.

I have made a few changes to original plans - length of the hulls has been extended from 14' to 16'; also, I have used Hobie Cat 16 sails; both main and jib, as I got these for real bargain price (this could otherwise be one of the biggest costs you will have). Not mentioning about many smaller details.

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11 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 17, 2012 at 10:30 AM

    Hello I am Frank Meilak. I have built a HobbyKat. Can you please give me an email address to contact you. Please send on frank7@maltanet.net

    Cheers

    Frank

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 29, 2013 at 7:51 PM

    Hi ,
    would be very interested in your construction info as i have the plans. If possable could you send it on to me at stephenfisher@optusnet.com.au.
    regards,
    Stephen fisher
    Melbourne Australia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EerikFebruary 1, 2013 at 10:41 PM

      Hi There, buddies, co-builders. I have replied to both post directly from my mailbox, so it hasn't appeared here... Anyway, I post photos now and try to add text as it goes.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousAugust 17, 2015 at 2:59 PM

    hey Eerik

    im debating building (or at least starting) one of these or a small sailing dinghy over the winter. Wondering how yours has held up and how many people/how much weight you've had on. also had a question about tramp placement if extending the hull.

    Thanks
    Jarett
    jarettzimmerman@hotmail.com

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    Replies
    1. EerikAugust 17, 2015 at 11:18 PM

      Hi Jarrett,

      The boat is still holding together. We have sailed with up to 3 people on board, in total about 270 kg or 600 lbs. Then I have to be careful and make sure that bow wouldn't sink. The tramp in increased proportionally, though I would like it to be a little more aft, as the lower sheet block is a bit forward. The side beams are bending through with tightening the tramp, so should be made stronger, T shape or L shape a bit, I guess. And rudder - I have trouble having the rudder blade between 2 layers of plywood - these bend a bit (I didn't glass the outside) and the blades go in a bit tight sometimes. better would be that the blade is just fixed to side of rudder head. Otherwise Hobie Cat's sails fit fine :)

      Good luck with your build!


      Regards,
      Eerik

      Delete
    2. EerikAugust 17, 2015 at 11:31 PM

      With tramp - I would like the rear beam to be a bit more aft. Front one is OK!

      R/Eerik

      Delete
  4. idoDecember 26, 2016 at 12:58 AM

    Hi Eerik,

    I am about to build this boat, and would also like to make it 16' as yours instead of 14' as original design. May I ask whether you made all dimensions (of ribs, transom, beam, rudder...) proportional (i.e. x16/14), or you just lengthen the 2 hulls?

    Thanks,

    Do Nguyen Ai from Vietnam
    donguyenai (at) gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EerikDecember 26, 2016 at 3:24 AM

      Hi Do Nguyen Ai,

      I increased all dimensions proportionally :)
      Good luck with your build! I used to live and work in Vietnam for 4 years myself.


      Regards,
      Eerik

      Delete
  5. robertoJune 10, 2019 at 12:32 PM

    Hi Eerik,

    It´s a beatifull cat!!!
    Could you send me the plans, please?
    I ´m not understand how you cut the plankings...Are there a plan for the plankings?
    Thanks!
    Roberto (from Argentina)

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    Replies
    1. EerikJune 11, 2019 at 6:31 AM

      Hi Roberto,

      The plans are still available on that link. There are no plan for the planks. I just lined up the frames, cut and attached the planks oversized; from there draw a smooth curve that touched all the frame corners and cut them ;)

      Cheers

      Delete
    2. robertoJune 11, 2019 at 6:42 AM

      Thanks very much Eerik.
      I´m going to test first a small scale (maybe 1:10 or 1:5) and after that, I ´m going to build the big cat!!!
      Thanks again..and good winds!!!
      Roberto

      Delete

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