Carolina Cat 18 Centre Console

The debut model in the Carolina Cat range (part of the US Powercat Group) is the 18 Centre Console, a wonderfully soft-riding powered catamaran with a single, centre-mounted outboard engine, big, open fishing deck area, and plenty of standard fishing features and accessories.

All four powered catamaran brands are now distributed locally by Fishing And Leisure boats, along with Tracker aluminium Boats, Sun Tracker pontoon boats, Century, Tahoe and Mako fibreglass boats, and Nitro performance bass boats.

There are three models in the Carolina Cat range. They include a centre console and a dual-console bowrider built around 7.0m (23') twin outboard hulls – and the subject of this test report, the 18 Centre Console.

Getting a powered cat to perform well with a single, centre-mounted outboard is not easy due to the difficulty in getting clean, undisturbed water-flow through to the outboard’s drive leg and propeller. In this case the single outboard installation works pretty well as there is minimal ventilation – and only when the hull is rising on to the plane. Once the hull is up and running, the prop bites clean (non-aerated) water and grips very well.

As you would expect, having a single outboard engine helps to reduce the cost of the Carolina 18CC – at least compared to other powered cats.

With a Yamaha 90hp four-stroke outboard, single axle aluminium braked trailer, inshore safety gear for four people, boat and trailer registrations, the Carolina 18CC is priced at $50,900.

With regard to standard features and equipment, the Carolina is essentially a turn-key package with all the gear you need to get out on the water – with the exception of electronics such as a fish finder/GPS.

Just about everything you can see on the test boat is standard – including the deluxe helm console with hydraulic steering, console rod rack, removable Coleman ice box/helm seat, massive 90-litre live bait tank with overhead seat, tackle storage drawers, grab rails, drink holders, four stainless steel rod holders in the rear quarter seats, recessed bow and stern cleats, and more.

Standard features not apparent in the photos include a self-draining, non-skid fibreglass cockpit, foam-filled hull to Level Flotation standard, 500gph bilge and live bait tank pumps, and below deck rigging for electronics and electric trolling motors, etc.

The only factory options available for the Carolina include cushions for the bow casting platform, cockpit lighting, aluminium stern rails, coloured hull bottom, and a bimini-top. The test boat had all of the options (save the bimini) and was powered by a larger Yamaha 115hp four-stroke outboard, lifting the package price to $56,900.

The big casting deck forward will be great to fish from and the boat has the lateral, and fore-and-aft stability to carry the weight of a hefty angler perched off the bow.

Similarly, you can fish from the two small transom corner platforms which double as quarter seats, and which contain storage underneath for batteries, and access to bilge pumps, fuel filters, plumbing, etc.

Optional cushions were fitted on the bow platform of the test boat to create a comfy sun-lounge, but are easily removed and re-fitted as required.

The Carolina 18CC has two anchor lockers, one locker on each side of the boat, under the casting deck, complete with a stainless steel cleat.

Two additional storage bins lie under the forward deck, accessed via So-Pac style hatches. These surprisingly large bins extend back under the deck from the hatch opening and will be ideal for stowing clothes, towels, etc.

The main focus of the Carolina’s interior is the large, well-designed fibreglass console. It is situated just forward of the centre-line in the cockpit and is wide enough to shelter the skipper and co-pilot – though the accompanying helm seat/ice box is only just big enough to seat two adults.

A reversible back-rest allows you to face aft so you can be seated while drift-fishing or fishing at anchor.

The helm console has two wide storage shelves under the stainless steel steering wheel, but there is not a lot of dash space overhead.

There is provision for engine instruments and a switch panel, but fish finders and GPS units may need to be bracket-mounted and tucked under the windscreen.

The best feature of the helm console is the massive 90-litre live-bait or live-fish well built into the front of it. The well is easily big enough to keep live bass, bream or flathead alive as may be required for competition fishing.

Other console features include vertical storage for four rods on each side of the console, drink holders and a grab rail.

As noted earlier, there is plenty of fishing deck space. The lower cockpit (excluding casting platforms) measures 3.2m by 1.88m wide. That’s a broad fishing area suitable for three to four adults, though you will need to take care when fishing from the cockpit sides as there is only 520mm of freeboard.

In noting the above however, it should be stressed that the Carolina Cat is intended as a bay fishing rig that can be used offshore in good weather – and in this context the relatively low cockpit freeboard should not be an issue.

These were ideal conditions for testing a powered cat as we were able to get an immediate feel for the Carolina’s handling, ride and performance.

Was it any good? Absolutely! Running into the chop, the ride in the Carolina is uncannily soft – much softer than we had expected. The sponsons on the Carolina are so sharp at the fore-foot that the two hulls cleave straight through short, sharp chop – and there is enough height in the tunnel to ensure that when the boat does get airborne off the bigger waves – that it comes down without any hull slap or banging.

The Carolina Cat was also dry. We took barely a drop over the bow or quarter in the bay chop and it was only when we took the boat offshore – with 1.5m plus waves at the entrance – that we landed a bit of spray onboard.

At rest and underway the Carolina is very stable and it was sure-footed in a following sea with the bow trimmed out correctly.

When confronted by a set of particularly big waves, the Carolina felt a little light in the bow coming off the wave crests, but you could keep the bow down by running more negative trim and easing off the throttle at the right moment.

Through these offshore tests the Yamaha’s propeller had plenty of bite too; there was no ventilation or cavitation while running at speed, even when climbing up the backs of some pretty big swells.

The Carolina 18CC is conservatively rated for a maximum of 115hp. The test rig was fitted with a Yamaha 115hp four-stroke outboard and this combination produced a top speed of around 30 knots.

It doesn’t quite have the cockpit freeboard to succeed as an all-weather offshore fishing rig, but on a good day we would happily run a few miles offshore.

Taken as package, the Carolina 18CC is an excellent boat, combining great performance with light weight, safety, easy handling, and a “turn-key” level of interior fit-out.

Priced from: $50,900 with 90hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard, single axle braked trailer, inshore safety gear, boat and trailer registrations.
Hull length: 5.54m
Beam: 2.46m
Hull weight: Approx 770kg
Towing weight: Approx: 1250kg
Deadrise: N/A
Maximum power: 115hp
Engine as tested: Yamaha 115hp four-stroke
Fuel: 114 litres
Maximum persons: Seven