Caesar Surfcat / Gemini GRX420 / Zapcat / Thundercat

[RickW]

Hi All

Looking to get one of these for beach launching from Whitsand Bay in Cornwall

Does anyone have any practical advice as to the best outboards to go for and general advice

Loving the look of the Zapcats but other half not too impressed with he videos I have shown her commenting how would she be able to sip her prosecco!

Leaning towards the surf/Gemini grx wondering how many are still using these for fun and exploring

Have read the various threads but the info seems quite dated

loving ROflhat's black Thundercat that looks a cracker

Rick

[two stroke mick]

RickW

I considered purchasing one of these a few years ago. Is there a dealer in the Uk or Ireland? Have you any idea of the cost?

regards

TSM

[RickW]

For Gemini and Zapcats yes - for Caesar no

[beamishken]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ribs...54532298040795

These may be of interest to you I know nothing about them but maybe someone else could tell you more

[RickW]

Facebook links to a closed group so can only see the join page

[lukewhiting]

I use mine for leisure not racing.

It's a pretty good all round boat to be honest. You can race around or go out in big surf or you can just cruise round the harbour or anchor in the bay.

There's enough room on the deck for a large bag with all the rubbish your passengers bring with them and two people.

My engines fairly standard but still get 50mph out of it.
It's a tohatsu 50hp with a few breather mods and a stainless prop.

Easy to maintain, tow, launch etc and cheap to run.
Insurance is £130 for me.
£40 including oil and fuel for a whole day out.

[RickW]

Yup it's pictures like those which kind of turn the other half off! As to the Facebook thing I think it seems to be zapcat clones used as target drones with multi fuel engines

[beamishken]

Yeh rickw has it they are unused target remote controlled drones based on zap cats with multifuel engines 4k each

[lukewhiting]

Just show her these photos then!

If your looking to buy eBay's and gumtree can be good. But try talking to the guys in Southampton at thundercat racing uk. They'll help you out

[RickW]

Who was the manufacturer and if unused are those engines or multi fuel good

[beamishken]

A few pictures from the Facebook listing they say unused asking 4k each

[RickW]

Unless the engine is massively amazing I would pass personally

[beamishken]

I've no idea what there all about or even what zap cat hull is worth but there seems to be lots of them that the guy needs rid of so you'd expect them to be cheap
I don't think the engine is probably the best thing for a zap cat and I doubt if there remote control they are tiller engines so probably need to sell the engine separate to the Hull or spend big on tiller control

[falcon0310]

Originally Posted by beamishken

I've no idea what there all about or even what zap cat hull is worth but there seems to be lots of them that the guy needs rid of so you'd expect them to be cheap
I don't think the engine is probably the best thing for a zap cat and I doubt if there remote control they are tiller engines so probably need to sell the engine separate to the Hull or spend big on tiller control

If you find me one cheap ! Pls

[RickW]

They want 4k a pop seems steep - anyway the new Gemini's seem to be a bit beefier in tube dimensions if that makes sense

Hopefully ROflhat will be along in a bit for a contrast between the various types

Would also like to hear from current runners of the Gemini GRX420

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by beamishken

Yeh rickw has it they are unused target remote controlled drones based on zap cats with multifuel engines 4k each

Ah that's what they are, did wonder......

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Ah that's what they are, did wonder......

Look at this on eBay* http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142353329909

There actually listed on eBay too but at 5k instead of the 4k on Facebook
I'd imagine to the right person the engines are probably worth a few quid but there remote control so no good for the boats there on. multi fuel might appeal to a commercial user
God knows if the boats are built to the same spec either .If they are brand new and correct spec I assume they are worth a few quid but as a package there pretty useless unless you fancy a very expensive remote controlled boat

Could be entertaining driving a ghost boat into a busy marina though

[Roflhat]

Originally Posted by RickW

They want 4k a pop seems steep - anyway the new Gemini's seem to be a bit beefier in tube dimensions if that makes sense

Hopefully ROflhat will be along in a bit for a contrast between the various types

Would also like to hear from current runners of the Gemini GRX420

I would avoid those boats on ebay, they appear to be made by a company called Sprite, not sure if anyone else has heard of them but I haven't. If you do go for a zapcat/thundercat go for a known brand which is race proven, if they can withstand racing they're pretty tough!

The ones on ebay are are RC targets for missile lock etc. I spoke to a guy who worked with them.

Gemini's are generally slightly heavier than Ceasar/Aquarius hulls but if you're going for an older hull then a Gemini is more likely to hold together better. All the new hulls coming from South Africa are seam welded as opposed to glued together.
My brand new Ceasar F10 was ~£3000 delivered to my door, custom built with carbon nose etc. so £4000 for an unknown brand is very steep. Worth getting in touch with Jacques at Ceasar, tell him I put you in touch.
I had a surfcat before the thundercats and it was an exceptional boat, almost as good as the thundercat in every way and better at carrying weight and more stable too. There's a guy up here with a zapcat who uses it for fishing, has an A-frame with rods at the back, they make a very stable platform when stationary.
I've never tried a GRX but from what I hear they are the Gemini equivelent to the Surfcat, a bit heavier again but they look very tough. Aquarius make good boats too, I've never owned one but they win a lot of races and almost every speed record in a thundercat is held by an Aquarius. Infanta are a big name too but there have been quality issues reported with a few of their boats, also no UK dealer as far as I'm aware.

Here's a couple of Ceasars, the F10 on top and Pacemaker below which is the models they currently offer. The F10 has a raised nose for better rough water handling but the pacemaker is slightly faster. Mine is an F10

[HDAV]

Saw them on FB not eBay did see the about being targets (why would you sell targets? Just sink them?)

[fel2]

Ceasar can ship worldwide. I only have good word (yet) for jacques at ceasar, i just bought a surfcat and can't wait to try it. It is ready to get shipped out. I hope everything will be allright once i uncrate the boat. They sold alot and i could not find any bad comment or complaint on the boat they make or any horror story. That why i went with them.


I was really in between the surfcat and zapcat style and what made me go with the surfcat is i just won't race anytime soon.