Zapcat / thundercat with console?

[bbnnee]

Hi, I get the thrill of the cat style boats racing but wanted to see the feasibility of putting a jockey console into one bolted to the aluminium floor. Would use for mainly bouncing up and down the coast with 1 or 2 people. Is this a terrible idea? Thought it could be put close to the bow so would ride flat through chop with just 1 onboard. Cheers

[Allye]

I’d say there just isn’t enough room and you’d be too high, the way a zapcat can turn you’d get thrown from it quite easily.

Ceasar did a larger zapcat with console that took up to a 90 or similar, very nearly bought one!

Have you had a go in one? Rather an acquired taste!

[Roflhat]

Definitely possible, just make sure the console it very low slung or you'll raise the centre of gravity too much. Wouldn't put it at the front of the boat either, you'll be plowing through the water. Maybe 1/2 way up the deck. On the genuine thundercats the floor is either plywood or carbon fibre, only the chinese imitation boats use alloy floors.

There was even a racing series in Bermuda using the 3m thundercats with consoles for under 12s. Personally I'd go tiller every time, cornering and responsiveness are the best aspects of these boats and you'd never match them using a wheel and throttle controls!

[HDAV]

Biggest question is why? What are you trying to accomplish the zap cats are surf rescue boats designed for use in the break zone

What are you doing on your console in the break zone?

Plenty of small 3-5m boats with various layouts for various uses I have seen a multihull inflatable with a console may well be a cracking reason for such a vessel (if there were you would see them being used)

[Allye]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Biggest question is why? What are you trying to accomplish the zap cats are surf rescue boats designed for use in the break zone

What are you doing on your console in the break zone?

Plenty of small 3-5m boats with various layouts for various uses I have seen a multihull inflatable with a console may well be a cracking reason for such a vessel (if there were you would see them being used)

Zapcats are race boats not rescue.

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by Allye

Zapcats are race boats not rescue.

Weren’t they originally surf rescue boats (based on the Caesar surf cat?) in South Africa that then started being raced?