The popularity of ­outboard-powered multihull (aka catamaran, or cat) fishing boats has grown tremendously over the past few years as ­increasing numbers of boatbuilders enter this market. Yet, traditional monohull fishing boats still hold their own. As an angler looking to buy a new boat, it’s nice to have choices, but it also adds a new ­dimension to the ­decision-making process.

Ultimately, however, you are bound to ask: Which one is the best for saltwater fishing—a cat or monohull? The answer hinges on a number of factors and your personal angling ­preferences. Let’s look at the key factors. 

“A strength of the catamaran is that it has such low drag,” says Gino Morrelli, catamaran designer, whose design credits span from America’s Cup contenders and Olympic-class cats to power cats for charter use, up to a record-setting round-the-world 125-foot cat. “It’s just basic hydrodynamics: Two slim hulls have very low resistance. They push much less water than one wider hull and therefore require smaller engines and increase efficiency.”

If you’re thinking about a single outboard engine, you can stop thinking about buying a cat. By virtue of the design, nearly all cats must be powered by twins or quadruple motors—no singles, no triples, no quintuples. For any of these latter outboard configurations, you’ll need a monohull, which can also accept twins and quads. Now that we have that simple fact established, let’s look at additional factors to consider when shopping for a new fishing boat.

Cats can provide a softer ride than a monohull in a seaway because their knife-like hulls easily slice through the waves rather than crush them. “Two sharp hulls pound less in a seaway too,” Morrelli says. Cats also tend to remain flat throughout their speed range. On the other hand, monohulls—especially deep-V hulls—tend to experience bow rise when accelerating, though step-hulls have less bow rise than conventional V-hulls. 

The ride between cats and monohulls differs in other ways. For example, the motion of a catamaran in waves is more like a cantering horse, which some people like and others don’t. At low speeds in a beam sea, some power cats can have a sharp roll as swells pass under each hull separately, but monohulls also roll considerably, which is why gyrostabilizers have become popular aboard them. But the roll moment is different for each, and you might prefer one motion to the other.

That said, the inherent stability of the catamaran design rolls less with the seas, making fishing offshore less tiresome and more comfortable. Available from 20 to 48 feet, catamarans typically offer a large fishing platform with generous storage and fishing amenities. They are available in a wide variety of deck layouts, including center-consoles, dual-­consoles, and even pilothouse and express variants.

In hard turns, many catamarans remain flat or even lean outboard somewhat, which can intimidate inexperienced skippers more used to the inboard bank of a monohull. Handling is another factor to consider, and catamarans have both good and bad features. With the engines widely spaced in the two hulls, a catamaran is more maneuverable at slow speed and spins easily by using its engines. A monohull, with the two engines close together, requires more power and technique to spin.

The downside of handling a cat is the much wider beam: Turning a platform that is more than half as wide as it is long can take planning, especially in narrow channels. That wide beam has another downside: It might not fit into many marina slips, which means with a cat, you might be relegated to end ties (with more wave motion) or on side ties along a seawall. Catamaran slips are often more expensive too. With monohull saltwater fishing boats, the beam is narrow enough to fit into most any marina slip. 

Some, but not all, cats also have weird quirks, such as “sneezing” between the hulls when running in some conditions, which sends spray over the bow, and also pounding at times at idle speeds due to air pockets between the two hulls. Draft is something else to keep in mind, especially if you want to explore shallow waters. All things being equal, a cat hull generally draws less water than a comparable monohull.

That wide beam of a cat offers upsides, including more deck space for fishing. The generous room carries well forward, rather than narrowing toward the bow, as is the case with monohulls. However, if you are looking for maximum headroom in a center-console interior, a monohull is usually the better choice. That’s because the depth along the centerline of a monohull can more easily accommodate a step-down console interior. A cat, however, has no virtually no room along the centerline for a step-down console interior. That’s because, as you might imagine, it needs plenty of room between the hulls in order to allow the seas to pass underneath the boat.

Fact is, a cat has practically no room for insole storage lockers, fish boxes or livewells along the centerline as does a ­monohull fishing boat. However, the room within each hull of a cat is often immense, so this is where builders usually locate insole fish boxes, fuel tanks and dry-storage compartments.

That brings us to personal preference when it comes to style. Early cats—the ones introduced in the 1980s and ’90s—were a tad boxy, and that lack of streamlined styling turned off many potential ­buyers. A number of boatbuilders took heed, and in recent times have integrated sleeker sheerlines to cats—so much so that when viewed in profile, it can be difficult to discern a cat from a monohull at a glance. Yet, from other angles, the two still look different. Some boating anglers prefer the classic look and flaring bow of a ­monohull; others see new beauty in the design of a cat. 

Cat or monohull—which is best? There’s no perfect boat. But by weighing upsides and downsides, and taking a demo ride in each, you might find among the two types of boats one that is perfect for you.

Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical Cat Hull Design

When shopping for a catamaran-style saltwater fishing boat, you might come across the term “asymmetrical hull design.”

While you might infer that the two hulls are of different size and shape, the term actually refers to the differing shapes of the inner and outer walls of the two hulls.  The concept becomes most apparent when viewing a cross-section of the hulls. 

One example of this design approach is the running surface of the -Invincible 40 cat designed by the Newport Beach, California-based marine architectural firm of Morrelli & Melvin. The same -design principle has been incorporated into a -number of other Invincible cat models.  

The design is officially known as a hybrid semi-asymmetrical catamaran hull. “This asymmetrical shape allows the boat to lean inward while cornering, versus cat hulls with symmetrical cross-sections that tend to turn flat or lean outward in turns,” explains Pete Melvin, a principal in the Morrelli & Melvin design firm. 

The Invincible 40 also features two steps in each hull. Steps represent a fairly common design element of many of today’s monohull saltwater fishing boats, but an increasing number of cats also now feature steps, which ventilate the water rushing under the hull while underway to increase lift and efficiency.

With computational fluid-dynamic engineering (continued on page 24) software, the design team at Morrelli & Melvin is able to test numerous running -surfaces before construction of a boat ever begins.

“This allows us to refine the placement and design of a twin-step to maximize lift and efficiency,” Melvin explains.

In addition to the steps and asymmetrical hull design, a specially engineered pod above and between the hulls helps split the water that rushes through the tunnel in the middle of the sponsons while underway. 

This element serves to further soften the ride by aerating the water and -creating an air cushion as the boat descends off a wave.   

Not the confuse things, but getting back to our original premise, there actually exists power catamaran boat models with hulls of different sizes. 

The most startling examples come from Aspen Power Catamarans based in Washington state. The hulls of Aspen boats like the C108 are not a matching set. They’re asymmetrical.

An Aspen’s starboard hull is wider than its port hull. The thinner hull generates less drag. At the same time, each hull offers a balance between displacement and load, and that keeps the boat stable. The asymmetry goes largely hidden, except for one obvious element. 

The C108’s two outboards are not identical. On starboard is a Yamaha F200, on port an F115. Both engines share the same rpm range, and each is propped proportionately. This allows the C108 to run straight and bank flat when turning to starboard, but lean slightly outward in turns to port.

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Each Aquila Power Catamaran, from 28 to 70 feet, is designed top to bottom as a pure power catamaran, and not, as the company says, a de-masted sailing catamaran.

The faster you go with this power cat, the softer the ride becomes. The tunnel between the hulls is designed to reduce drag, increase lift, and cushion the ride. The raised bridge deck enhances visibility. The transition from at rest to on plane is essentially undetectable—aside from pin-you-in-your-seat acceleration—because there is little change in trim angle and the ride stays virtually level.

Aquila cabins and salons are served by smooth, quiet, and energy-efficient variable-speed air-conditioning pumps. At the helm, Raymarine electronics provide fully integrated and seamless information and control. 

Aquila 47 Molokai 

The Aquila 47 Molokai power catamaran boasts both serious offshore fishing chops and sumptuous luxury.

This big cat features a spacious, air-conditioned stateroom with a queen-size island berth, as well as a private head and shower. Two entry doors access the stateroom, where large overhead and side windows flood the cabin with natural light by day, and let you stargaze by night.

Largest of Aquila’s three-boat offshore Molokai line, the 47 Molokai is powered by twin 600 hp or quad 400 hp Mercury Verado outboards, either of which producing speeds of 60-plus mph and a smooth, ­predictable ride thanks to the boat’s aggressive twin-step cat-hull design and strong, lightweight vacuum-infused construction. Those rides can be far—700 miles and more, depending on engine configuration—due to its 1,048-gallon fuel capacity. 

It’s a luxurious voyage, thanks in part to seven ­protected helm seats in two air-conditioned rows. Triple sundeck lounges in the bow, aft-facing seats in the cockpit, and exquisite ­entertainment ­areas at helm, cockpit, and stateroom all speak to its superb comfort. ­Raymarine electronics, C-Zone digital switching, and a Fusion audio system inform, control, and entertain.

Pressurized livewells fed by a Hooker sea chest keep bait lively, while cavernous fish boxes accommodate the largest fish on the longest trips. Electric-reel outlets provide power for deep-dropping, and the carbon-fiber hardtop is ­factory-reinforced for ­outriggers and custom towers.

Back in port, joystick piloting makes close-quarters ­maneuvering a breeze.

Editor’s Note

Stepping aboard the ­Aquila 47, I knew instantly that this was a different breed of cat. Luxury touches and world-class angling features beckoned me to set out on a long-distance angling ­adventure, prepared to catch fish, and to do so in comfort. -Jim Hendricks

Performance Data

• Test Power: Quad Mercury 400 hp Verado V-10 outboards
• Test Props: 25P RevX
• Test Load: 26,300 lb.
• Test Speed: 67mph
• Max Range: 754 miles (4500 rpm, 48 mph)

Specifications

Aquila Power Catamarans – Saint Petersburg, Florida; aquilaboats.com

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Since 2006, Invincible has carried serious sport fishermen in pursuit of trophy fish and tournament wins in boats boasting intuitive designs, solid construction and thrilling performance. 

Invincible is proud of its semicustom, owner-designed boats with innovative hull designs. These include the original Michael Peters-designed and patented Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel (SVVT) single hull of its powerful tournament boats, and the partnered Morrelli & Melvin patented, hybrid, semi-asymmetrical hulls of its catamarans.

Invincible launched with the SVVT single hull in 2006, after its founder was unable to find a boat tough enough, fast enough and smooth-­riding enough to meet his demands as a serious angler and decided to build his own instead. Enlisting naval architect Peters’ design, he created a new standard in Invincible.

Invincible uses innovative and practical techniques such as vacuum-bagged infusion and diamond-patterned nonskid decks. It pays attention to console design and footrest angle, with hardtop frame sightlines providing better navigation. Invincibles have smooth hole shots and quick on-plane times.

When Invincible ­decided to get into the center-­console catamaran segment, it brought to market a cat superbly adept at high-speed turns, agile without need for trim tabs or tanked ballast. 

In single hull or cat, the company says, “No one builds a more athletic fishing machine.”

Invincible 33 Catamaran

Five years after launching its Morrelli & Melvin-designed catamaran line, Invincible has created its smallest cat platform yet: the 33 Catamaran, with the performance, versatility and amenities of its bigger siblings in a powerful, agile and nimble new form. 

Like all the Invincible cats, the 33 features a single-level deck and 360-degree walk-around fishability, including the ability to gaff fish at the bow. Standard are bow and below-deck storage and a deluxe console—its dash adopted from the 36 Open Fisherman—with room for a full-size head. The 33 Catamaran also boasts a finished bilge and high-speed pickup for livewell sea chests.

Top options include a hardtop, a windshield and enclosures, a folding tower with a dual station, a crow’s nest for the hardtop, outriggers and kingfish rod holders. For the helm select a pair of Llebroc seats or back-to-back helm/mezzanine seats. Behind the latter is a tackle center with a built-in cooler beneath the seat base. A removable rear bench seat is another option.

A variety of fishing options are available, including up to 47 rod holders, undergunwale rod racks, transom and in-deck livewells with sea chests, and a rear-facing tackle station. Underwater LED lights are also available.

The boat anticipates fishing success with four insulated fish boxes, two flanking the cabin and another pair in the bow. The space within the console-front seat can also be used for fish or gear storage. 

Editor’s Tip 

You can never have too much deck space, especially if you engage in active fishing styles like casting to breaking fish. Big cat boats maximize onboard real estate with wide beams that ensure everyone can hook up without having to dance around each other. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Performance Data

• Test Power: Twin Yamaha 300 hp V-6
• Test Props: Merc. Eco Enertia 19″
• Test Load: 2 people, 80 gal. fuel, 30 gal. water
• Test Speed: 44 mph at 4,500 rpm
• Max Range: 536 mi.

Specifications

Invincible Boats – Opa-Locka, Florida; 305-685-2704; invincibleboats.com

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Marine-industry veteran and bass-boat pioneer Earl Bentz does not slow down. Since the inception of his newest company, Caymas Boats in 2019 (he had been founder and president of Stratos and Triton), the Company has launched four new models per year across their four boat lines, with each debut making waves within the segment.

Bentz set his sights on designing and building an uncompromising fiberglass saltwater-fishing boat for both inshore and offshore anglers, and entered the cat market in early 2023 with their 34 CT.

Caymas 30 CT

Newest in the Caymas fleet, the 30 CT catamaran rides on Ride Dynamic Ventilated Stepped semi-asymmetric hulls, with aggressive bow flair that allows anglers to fish in comfort in challenging conditions.

The cat comes with two midship insulated compartments for fish or gear, totaling 1,040 quarts of insulated storage served by Whale Gulper Grouper macerator pumps. 

The transom houses a standard pressurized 70-­gallon livewell with an acrylic lid and high-speed pickup. Other storage areas are distributed throughout the boat. Automatic bilge pumps, six in all, are in hulls aft and midship. 

The leaning post has five rod holders, a custom tackle and tool system, and tackle and leader storage. In gunwales and the transom are a total of 11 Gemlux Bluewater rod holders.

The 30 CT features chaise-longue seating with six rod holders along and storage beneath it, and a flat deck that allows for unobstructed movement from stern to bow. The helm’s dash accommodates two 17-inch screens.

Options include Mercury joystick or Yamaha Helm Master controls, outrigger bases and poles, underwater lights, audio and electronics upgrades, custom helm-­seating upgrades, additional rod holders, electric-reel outlets, and an aft in-floor livewell. 

With a fuel capacity of 300 gallons and engine packages (featuring push-button start) up to 800 hp, it has both power and range. 

Editor’s Tip 

Fishing in big, rough seas can rattle loose hardware and other key components, unless fasteners are properly reinforced. That’s why Caymas goes the extra step by using aluminum backing plates glassed in for seats, cleats, rails, rod holders and tops. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

Specifications

Caymas Boats – Ashland City, Tennessee; caymasboats.com

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Recognized globally, Aquila Power Catamarans are crafted in what the company calls “one of the world’s largest, newest, most vertically integrated and ‘greenest’ yacht production facilities.” 

Sino Eagle Yachts, Aquila’s parent company, has more than 40 years of manufacturing experience, featuring advanced composites and new vacuum-molding techniques. In 2012, the firm worked with award-winning designers to launch Aquila Power Catamarans.  “Aquila” is derived from the Latin for “eagle,” a fitting name for a boat with such power, grace, and majesty. 

Aquila’s growing lineup of boats from 28 to 70 feet caters to the desires of both the leisurely adventurer and thrill-seeking explorer—and anglers in either category.

Their yachts feature wide beams and high bridge decks, the latter to minimize below-­deck slapping in choppy water conditions. Outboard engines are positioned well apart for agile, precise driving. The result is performance and comfort in elegant packages.

Aquila 47 Molokai

A rock-solid offshore-fishing center-console ­catamaran with plenty of power and fuel capacity, and ­construction ready to take on any seas, ­Aquila’s new 47 Molokai also offers all the ­comforts a ­family might request, from cozy sleeping ­accommodations to posh entertainment ­appointments.  

Performance and durability are thanks to reduced-drag twin-stepped hulls, and lightweight but strong carbon/epoxy construction.

The dual-entry cabin ­features a head, shower, air conditioning, ­queen-size island berth, and large overhead and side windows. Outside is seating for up to 17, including seven protected helm seats.

Fishing-ready, the 47 ­Molokai has 16 gunwale-­mounted and six transom-­mounted rod holders. In-deck and coffin-box fish and gear storage­—and transom livewell capacity—is generous. Among options are tuna tubes and in-deck livewells. 

The 47 Molokai offers both speed and range: It is thriftiest with its standard package of two 600’s at 4,000 rpm and 34.5 mph, with an 870-mile range. But bumping it to 5,000 rpm produces 46 mph and shortens the range by only 10 miles. Additional package options are available. 

Editor’s Tip 

The high-strength hullside windows on the 47 Molokai serve as an Aquila styling trademark, but they also serve a practical purpose when fishing, allowing the captain to see hooked fish in the water when they are close to the boat without leaving the helm controls. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

Performance Data

• Test Power: Quad Mercury V10 400’s
• Test Props: 25P RevX
• Test Load: 26,300 lbs.
• Test Speed: 67 mph
• Max Range: 754 mi. (4500rpm, 48mph)

Specifications

Aquila Power Catamarans – Saint Petersburg, Florida; aquilaboats.com

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With its dual-stepped, semi-asymmetric hulls, the 34 CT is a new-school cat that shows up and shows out. Powered by twin Mercury V-10 400 hp outboards, this boat delivers impressive acceleration and effortlessly handles challenging conditions. At 4,000 rpm and 36.7 mph, it achieved 1.2 mpg in our test. That efficiency equates to a cruising range of more than 400 miles, even with 10 percent of its 436-gallon fuel capacity left in reserve.

When it comes to fishing, the Caymas 34 CT offers a range of features. The spacious and stable deck provides a secure footing. With our toes tucked in the deck gutters and our thighs pressing the thick gunwale bolsters, we could focus on handling the rod or gaff, not staying on our feet. There are three livewells, six fish boxes (three per side) with macerator pumps and plenty of rod holders (six in each gunwale, five shotguns, nine tuna-stick hangers under the gunwales, and nine more shared between the hardtop and leaning post).

Fishing-wise, it’s apparent Caymas put the right people on the design team. But the designers and upholsterers get their kudos on the comfort side as well. A pullout transom seat and dual forward pullout lounges offer comfortable seating to complement the dual chaise-style ­lounges on the console’s front side. Under those posh cushions is a ton of storage or another fish box, as you choose. Every deck compartment is insulated for multi-use.

For more information on the Caymas 34 CT, visit caymasboats.com or check out our full review on saltwatersportsman.com.

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The popularity of the multihull (aka catamaran or cat) fishing boats has never been greater, as more and more boatbuilders enter this growing segment of the market. The inherent stability of the catamaran design rolls less with the seas, making fishing offshore less tiresome and more comfortable. Available from 20 to 48 feet, catamarans typically offer a large fishing platform with generous storage and fishing amenities. They are available in a wide variety of deck layouts, including center-consoles, dual-consoles, and even pilothouse and express variants.

Big Picture

The large deck area of a catamaran enables many large underdeck storage lockers and insulated fish boxes in the sponsons. This gives anglers ample room for gear and the day’s catch. The catamaran’s stability, fishability, and smooth ride in rough seas make it attractive to anglers as well as day-cruisers. A center-console version adds 360 degrees of angler access to the rail. With the dual-console design, generous seating behind a beam-to-beam windshield makes for a great family fishing-friendly setup.

Livewells

Live bait is one of the most popular types of fishing in virtually every coastal zone. To do it successfully requires optimal water capacity and proper flow. The minimum size of the outflow water plumbing should be twice the size of the inflow. The plumbing should have a drain at the bottom to shed scales at the end of the day, as well as a drain at the top of the well to adjust capacity and allow overflow. Above-deck transom-mounted wells should fully flood to the lids when running to keep baits from getting beat up. 

Tip: A sump box with multiple pumps in case a pump fails is the best setup for first-rate livewells. Conveniently located inflow and outflow valves make it easy to optimize the flow without tiring your bait from swimming too much in the well. 

Rod Storage

Having enough rod holders is essential to be successful for opportunity fishing. Look for vertical rod storage along the console and across the back of the T-top. Many models also have rod holders along the outboard transom wall. Having plenty of gunwale rod holders for drift- and kite-fishing is helpful. 

Tip: Placing adjustable swivel rod holders by Gemlux makes deep-dropping, lure-fishing and drifting even easier because they allow your rods to face the direction the baits are fishing, yet they can be swiveled back to keep rods from sticking out of the boat while running and docking. 

Horsepower

Manufacturers often offer multiple choices for horsepower, but whatever the choice, the engines must come in pairs. For example, you might order twin outboards (one for each sponson) or four outboards (two for each sponson), but single- or triple-outboard configurations are not common on a cat. Optimal selection should be made based on user load, weight of the boat, ride comfort , performance desires, and best case for resale. It’s a rare day when you can run wide open, but having more horsepower gives better torque at slower speeds and thus better control. Running larger engines slower gives better fuel efficiency too.

Tip: When possible, choose the highest horsepower offered because it typically leads to a better resale value with a shorter sales cycle. 

Rigging

Power steering from engine manufacturer Optimus or SeaStar is essential with the higher horsepower required for larger boats, and it makes installing and operating the upper station in a tower far more practical and comfortable.

Voltage

With the power demands of electronics, livewell pumps, stereo amps and more, it is wise to have at least two house batteries, and for larger boats, a third or fourth with a multibank charger for dockside. Each engine should have its own dedicated battery as well. 

Electronics

Typically choosing the largest screen or multiple screens that will fit on the console is best-case scenario for ease of use, ergonomics, and visibility. VHF radios, stereo controller, and equipment switches for lighting, pumps, and accessories should all be integrated with greatest visibility and ease of operator reach. 

A Tale of Two Hulls 

A catamaran rides on pair of hulls, or sponsons, each thinner and sharper than  that of a similarly sized monohull boat. The narrow sponsons of the cat tend to slice easily through water to deliver a smooth ride, even in rough seas. At the same time, with the sponsons positioned out to the sides of the boat, cats tend to roll less, thus providing great stability to enhance crew comfort, security and safety. However, cats tend to corner more flatly than a monohull, and some hulls (but not all) tend to lean outward versus inward during a turn.

Experts Say

Newer designs such as Invincible’s Morelli and Melvin-designed semi-asymmetrical sponsons eliminate some of the negatives of the cat design, such as “sneezing,” where water sprays out the front of the boat when hitting a wave. They’ve also controlled the uncomfortable “outboard lean” ­sensation common in older designs when in a turn. Once transitioned to a ­catamaran, many become true believers and preach the benefits of the design.

Editor Says: Saltwater fishing cats not only offer superb stability and smooth ride, but some also display exceptional speed and range. I recall one trip out of Key West, Florida, aboard an Invincible 40 Cat with four 350 hp outboards to the Dry Tortugas. It was a 60-mile run, and we made it there in 70 minutes. We caught more fish than our arms could bear, and then dashed back to Key West, arriving in time for cocktail hour on the same day. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

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When it comes to multihull fishing boats, the 40-foot-plus models seem to dominate new-boat introductions these days. Yet at least one multihull builder—World Cat—continues to deliver mid-size models. The latest example is the new 260CC-X, a 25½-footer that combines serious angling features with amenities that allow this center console to double as a comfortable family day cruiser.

This smooth-riding cat can handle up to 400 hp in the form of twin Yamaha F200 or Mercury 200 FourStroke outboards. Twin Yamaha F150s are also available as an engine package. A pair of 90-gallon fuel tanks keep the motors well fed while cruising to the offshore grounds. A covered 30-gallon livewell resides in the starboard quarter, and in the port quarter, you’ll find a 30-gallon insulated fishbox. Fresh- and raw-water washdown systems help keep this cat clean.

A wraparound glass windshield with a manual front vent is integrated into the aluminum hardtop frame to protect the helm, which features a Garmin 12-inch multifunction display, Garmin VHF, and Fusion Apollo 670 stereo feeding six JL Audio 6 ½-inch speakers through the interior—all as standard equipment. A second 12-inch Garmin MFD and other electronic upgrades are available as options.

A stitched brow over the dash helps reduces glare. Standard helm seating comes in the form of a powder-coated aluminum leaning post with four rod holders in the backrest and a Yeti Tundra 65 slide-out cooler beneath. Standard equipment includes a 31-series deep-cycle battery to serve house 12-volt DC electrical needs, while a pair of 27-series cranking batteries provide redundant engine-cranking capabilities.

Hydraulic steering also comes standard, but World Cat offers an optional Dometic Optimus 360 power steering/joystick system for the Yamaha outboards or Mercury’s DTS engine package with the Merc FourStroke engines. 

Read Next: World Cat 280CC-X Review

One of the most unique elements is a 50-inch-wide transom bench seat that folds down electrically to create a slightly elevated aft casting deck. The deck extends aft between the twin outboards, which enables anglers to work a fish around the transom. The platform includes a hand railing for safety and a fold-down boarding ladder for those days when swimming and diving are on the agenda.

A standard wraparound lounge (optional removable backrests) in the bow converts to a forward casting platform. Abundant dry storage resides under the elevated seating pods. The forward console features seating, and behind it is a door providing access inside the console. An electric marine head with an 8-gallon holding tank and overboard discharge is optional.

Specifications

World Cat – Tarboro, North Carolina; 866-485-8899

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I had previously tested the World Cat 400DC-X, a dual-console catamaran made for family fishing and fun. So when I saw the new 400CC-X cat last month in South Florida, I was amazed at how modifying the deck to accommodate a center-console design also created a fishing war wagon.

From the foredeck with its own lockable rod stowage to the 60-gallon aquarium-style livewell and the cooler with Dometic chiller plate in the transom, anglers will appreciate the 400CC-X. The cockpit features more than 200 square feet of space, and the side passageways with padded coamings are wide enough at 30 inches to chase fish forward. The standard hardtop comes loaded with rod holders and is designed to minimize overhead obstructions. 

With all that deck space, World Cat included multiple cavernous fish boxes. A pair of 115-gallon insulated boxes lie aft (with overboard Gulper Grouper pumps), another pair of 154-gallon insulated boxes that can be optioned as livewells lie forward.

I found ample coolers, too, including a 70-quart cooler under the cockpit bench seat and a 68-quart cooler forward. The portside tuna door opens inward for dock use, and a bait rigging station folds down from behind the helm seat.

The forward-entry console door when opened doesn’t block the skipper’s view, and the fully-lined head inside features a sink and freshwater electric toilet. At the helm, I found vented windows in the tempered-glass windshield, footrests at two levels, and a pair of Garmin 22-inch displays, which are protected by a reflection-blocking eyebrow.

World Cat lists twin Yamaha XTO 425s as standard power, but our test boat ran with quad F300s which, with the hammer down, gave me a top speed just shy of 60 mph. I found a cruising speed of 27 mph at 3,000 rpm, where the outboards consumed just 24 gph for 1.125 mpg and a range of more than 600 miles (with a 10 percent margin).

No question: The World Cat 400CC-X checks all the boxes for dedicated anglers.

Read Next: World Cat 400DC-X Boat Review

Hull Specs

Performance

• Engines: Quad Yamaha F300s
• Load: 800 lb.
• Time to 30 mph: 6.7 sec.
• Top Speed: 57.4 mph @ 5,900 rpm
• Best MPG: 1.125 mpg @ 27.5mph

World Cat – Tarboro, NC; 866-485-8899

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The Aquila 28 Molokai Power Catamaran is an agile and fast wave-slicing fishing platform that’s stable whether you’re trolling, drifting over a reef or sitting on the hook bottom fishing over a wreck. The vessel’s 9-foot-8-inch beam carries from bow to stern and aids in the vessel’s stable-as-a-table nature. The 28 Molokai’s hull design is based on a form from Hawaiian Cat designer Kirk Clark.

The powercat’s notable fishing features include two 94-gallon insulated fish boxes, a 30-gallon livewell, 15 rod holders, and Taco outriggers. There’s also a removable cutting board, a sink, pullout tackle boxes in a console on centerline and under-gunwale rod stowage. For live-bait fans, the bow’s cast-net space measures about 4 feet wide with unimpeded room to throw.

Powered with a pair of 200 hp Mercury outboards (twin 150s are standard), my test boat jumped on plane quickly, motors spooling up with dog-sees-squirrel urgency. I saw an average top hop of 46.5 mph at 5,500 rpm on a choppy winter day off Pompano Beach, Florida, with Aquila brand manager Alain Raas.

The 28 Molokai’s hull tunnel is wide and deep, creating a pocket of pillowlike air that provides a sense of liftoff. Shooting across an aquamarine sea, it felt more akin to flying over the water than riding atop it.

Dialing the controls back to 4,000 rpm made for a comfortable 33 mph cruise speed. At this velocity, the engines consume 16.9 gph, or 1.95 mpg. Considering the boat’s 150-gallon fuel capacity (keeping a 10 percent reserve), the projected range is 263 miles. Bring the speed down to 23.5 mph, where fuel burn drops to 9.4 gph (2.5 mpg), and the range jumps to 337 miles.

The 28 Molokai’s layout includes forward-facing foldout seats in the aft cockpit that measure 22 inches wide and 17 inches deep. The coaming lifts up, the seats fold out and down, and then the coaming forms a backrest. The helm bench accommodates a skipper and companion. The forward section of the helm console features a built-in bench seat for two. A head is inside the console and is accessed abaft the seat.

The 28 comes with another bench at the bow, and abaft it to port and starboard lie two more lounges with removable backrests. All the cushions can be removed when it’s a fish day.

Boaters who want more protection from the elements can choose the 28 Molokai with a cuddy-cabin layout. Sprinting offshore to chase billfish or sitting on the hook to catch dinner, the Aquila Molokai 28 is a solid blend of form and function.

Hull Specifications

Performance

• Engines: Twin Mercury 200s
• Load: Two crew, 75 gal. fuel, water
• Time to 30 mph: N/A
• Top Speed: 46.5 mph @ 5,500 rpm
• Best MPG: 1.95 mpg @ 23.5 mph (4,000 rpm)

Contact

Aquila Boats – Sold exclusively through MarineMax.

The post Aquila 28 Molokai Power Catamaran Boat Review appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.