Cat in the fast lane

Retired V8 Supercar driver, water ski champion and now the CEO of the Boat Works complex on the Gold Coast, Tony Longhurst, has recently taken delivery of his Yanmar-powered luxury cat, Kato.

Kato is an impressive vessel. Her vital statistics include a length overall of 18.0m, beam of 8.4m and displacement of 12,000kgs. In each of the two engine rooms is a Yanmar 4JH4-TE matched to the new-model Yanmar SD60 Saildrive and Gori three-blade folding prop. The Yanmar / Gori package pushes Kato along at a remarkable 15 knots under power.

Designed by Schionning Designs in NSW and custom built by Noosa Marine in Queensland over a period of 14 months, Kato is an imposing yet sleek boat. This is a hand-crafted hull built from composite materials and without moulds. The manufacturer says that through the intelligent application of these composite materials, Kato has the right blend of strength and light weight.

When designing their new multihull, Tony Longhurst and his wife knew what they wanted from their new boat. They were looking for improved sailing performance over their previous multihull. They also wanted to combine great performance with comfortable accommodation and to ensure that the level of fitout and comfort was the best available.

Tony Longhurst and his wife intended to sail Kato alone most of the time on their extended cruises on the north-east coast of Australia and beyond.

The outcome is a customised version of the Schionning G-Force 1800. Kato has been built to sleep eight. The port hull is the guest side of the hull while the starboard side is dedicated entirely to the owner’s suite. All the cabins are spacious, filled with natural light, uncomplicated and welcoming.

Between the two hulls is a spacious bridgedeck which houses the huge lounge and galley. Easy open access to the rear deck brings the living area and cockpit together as one.

Every aspect of the design, construction and fitout of Kato was subjected to intense scrutiny; the engine room being no exception. Based on past experiences with Yanmar and further research into the power options, Tony Longhurst decided on the top-of-the-range Yanmar 4JH4-TE engines driving the latest Yanmar SD60 Saildrives.

“Yanmar is a perfect match for Kato,” said Longhurst. We selected the biggest Saildrive package in the range and I’m glad that we have all that power on tap for whenever we need it.”

The Yanmar 4JH4-TE engine develops 75hp at 3200 rpm. It’s a four-cylinder, turbocharged engine which displaces 1.995 litres. The standard 125 amp alternator produces maximum power for the high electrical demands of cruising boaters.

Rounding out the propulsion package on board Kato are a pair of three-blade Gori 20" x 15" folding overdrive props.

The three-blade Gori propeller has a patented overdrive function, a second pitch which can be compared to the fifth gear in a car. The overdrive function can be used when motoring in calm waters or when motor sailing for noise reduction and lower fuel usage.

While the motoring performance of the Yanmar package is remarkable, under sail Kato boasts exceptional performance. In light winds of just eight knots, Kato recorded a boat speed of 9.8 knots. Under stronger winds of 16 knots, Kato has clocked 24 knots.