The Family Cat

Operating big cats in excess of 35ft, or 10m, can be a costly and painful exercise in respect of maintenance, where and what you can do with them, and all the aftermarket gear that inevitably goes on. After all, the majority of these boats come with a hefty price tag, can’t live on trailers under cover, and have to be permanently moored, which of course leads to more annual maintenance. Then there is the effort in preparing for the big trips away.

Long-serving Queensland cat builder Steve Shaw believes he has the answer to these concerns in his new twin-hulled 3100 Sports Cruiser. This is surely the boating enthusiast’s dream cat. Just perfect if you are looking to downsize to something a bit more user-friendly and cost effective, or upgrading to a long-lasting, well-finished and affordable cruising cat.

But to me, a rig like this smacks of the perfect retirement plan. Hitch it up and hit the road for a few months at a time with the wife or the whole family, or as a weekend getaway boat, or pack your best mates and head out to the reefs for some fish and fun.

The cockpit (self-draining and topped with Flexiteek non-slip sole) flows forward into a covered saloon, mini galley and helm station. All skilfully designed to include a number of homely features, all the while maintaining space and sociability. To port is a four- to six-seater dinette/coffee table that folds down into a double bed for extra accommodation. Opposite, the galley consists of a Granicoat counter top, stainless-steel gas cooker and sink, plumbed hot water, cupboard space and small fridge. It’s bordered by a neat grabrail so you can move through in a seaway.

Ahead of the galley is the helm, fitted in this case with a spread of top-of-the-range Raymarine electronics and an assortment of engine gauges and switch panels in good view of the skipper. And, you are protected from the weather while enjoying clear views of the road ahead.

Although a fully lined hardtop, with recessed lighting, protects the saloon, there are full clears around the windscreen. Personally, I prefer this as it creates a nice outdoor feel. Grabrails are everywhere and perfectly positioned both internally and externally for safe point-and-shoot fast passagemaking.

In the bulkhead between the helm and cabin companionway are flush-mounted stowage hatches or cupboards, with more storage under the dinette lounge. You’ll also find the microwave nearby. Just as importantly, the head with shower/toilet/hand basin combo caters for extended time aboard and the starboard helm module is really quite spacious once you step down into it.

 The 3100 PowerCat Sports Cruiser is loaded with standard features, however, these cats are usually customised to suit owners who want to, say, wander about the Whitsundays. To this end, the demonstrator had all the bells and whistles for family cruising and extended tropical stays aboard. Then comes the ride…

Running the 3100 PowerCat from Bribie Island to the Tangalooma wrecks off Moreton Island in a reverse tide with a 15-knot southeaster cranking against it — normally quite horrendous, to say the least — provided the perfect sea trial, too. To prove just how well these boats handle adverse conditions, Steve Shaw took us through the guts of the shallow banks rather than going around without sparing the throttles. Normally, I would expect to get pummelled about under these circumstances, but the 3100 Sports Cruiser had an exceptionally stable and soft entry coming down off the swell and chop. While the 16nm run between the banks and Tangalooma can take in excess of an hour on a smaller boat, we revelled in the rough conditions. Without having to hang on for dear life, cruise sat at 28kts,  and within 35 minutes we were relaxing at the famous wrecks.

The 3100 achieved an impressive top end of close to 50kts. That’s flying in boat this size and, while the fuel consumption would be brisk as well, it is nice to know that the boat can handle full-taps if needs be.
At the end of the day the ideal cruise speed was around 3500rpm, producing 30kts and economical running of 30lt/h per engine, which is good considering the twin 300hp Suzukis out the back. Total fuel used for the day was under 100lt — affordable for a full day’s outing.

The PowerCat’s narrow twin-hull design, large air tunnel and 28-degree deadrise is the recipe for a soft, dry and super comfortable ride. The twin 300hp Suzuki four-strokes, electronically assisted steering and controls, and superb electronics package made this cat an absolute dream to drive. Full marks.

While this 3100 was not designed for the avid offshore angler, fishing is no problem at all. The space available at the stern is ample for drift or at-anchor fishing and, when it comes to trolling, the boat has great stability and low-speed performance —  sip cocktails between islands and mackerel strikes. But release the billfish unless you want to make a mess of the plush seating!