Argus E35 displacement cat

The Argus E35, a comfortable cruising catamaran that can do a 6500 nautical mile lap of Australia using less than $10,000 worth of fuel, will be one of the stars of this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

Argus Boats is a newly formed division of Outback Marine Australia which is having the Roger Hill-designed boats built by Chincogan Catamarans in Murwillumbah, NSW.

Powered by twin 90hp outboards, the E35 will have a top speed of around 20 knots, making bar crossings a breeze, but will cruise comfortably -- with almost no wake -- at 10 to 15 knots. Designed to allow two couples or a family to explore the Australian coast, the E35 draws only 0.6 of a metre giving it access to many waterways that would strand conventional vessels.

The bridge clearance is only 2.9 metres, meaning the low railway and road bridges that put many coastal waterways out of bounds for boaters are no longer a problem either.

Company founder Gary Pacey says the E35 is a perfect coastal cruising yacht for our times.

“Cruising people generally don’t want to shut themselves inside and run a generator all day for air conditioning,” Pacey says, “So we asked Roger to see what he could do to keep thing cooler. The forward glazing has been kept more vertical while the extended brow reduces solar heat loads.”

Power requirements are met by a generous bank of house batteries that are kept charged by a solar panel with over 500 watts capacity, making the E35 virtually self reliant for electric power. An inverter powers 240 volt appliances.

Pacey is hoping to launch the boat with a base price of around $325,000.

Rather than trying to jam numerous cabins and berths into the 10.55 metre hull, designer Roger Hill has opted for just two mirror image cabins both of which feature queen-sized beds with European-style slat bedding to give good air flow and prevent mould build-up. The large galley, with over two metres of bench space, is in one hull while the spacious bathroom occupies the other.

The saloon will comfortably seat eight but is ideal for four or six. The covered rear deck also has room for up to eight when entertaining. There are two helm chairs adjacent to the controls and an “eyebrow” over the windscreen protects the helmsman from the sun.

Designed with narrow hulls and a deep forefoot, the E35 rises slowly in choppy conditions so the hull slices through waves rather than bouncing over the top. The outstanding fuel economy – as little as 1 litre per nautical mile – reflects the hull design which causes minimum water disturbance and almost eliminates the fuel gobbling bow wave and large following wake.

The E35 is expected to be in great demand for the Barrier Reef charter market and a fly-bridge version is being planned. The installation of twin inboard diesels is also being examined.

Check out the Argus Boats website for more details.