Barry Philpott of Blue Boats on the island of Bryher in the Isles of Scilly has been producing small working catamarans for around 20 years, and Powercats in particular since 1993. So he knows a thing or two or about the concept. But like any boat, after 13 years, the evolutionary process is bound to leave its mark, and with a brand new hull completed in 2006, that is exactly what has happened in respect of his 5.25 metre (17 feet 2 inches) Powercat 525 DB. Furthermore, a full cuddied angling version (the Powercat 525 DC) will also follow hot on its heels. This was the model I particularly wanted to see, but unfortunately was not available when, with just a couple of days notice, I quite literally dropped in on Barry while I was over in the Scillies fishing for Blue Sharks. But I was able to put the new hull though its paces, and quite an impressive piece of kit it turned out to be.
This was my first experience aboard a 'dinghy' sized Cat, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I've always had it in my head that Cats were mooring boats. But after a day with Barry, my mind has been completely changed. I can now see the advantages fishing from a small Cat might bring, though in fairness, as with all boats, there will be disadvantages too. Potentially the biggest of these, though not tested here because the companies everyday work boat is kept on a mooring at Bryher, would be open beach launching, and more to the point, retrieving in a lively sea. The Powercat 525 does have a purpose built trailer for those who like me regularly tow between venues, and there is a new trailer with a self centring cradle in the pipeline too. What I would say is that if like me when you do beach launch on a regular basis, you are highly likely to encounter testing shoreline conditions, and this boat most certainly will take those conditions once it gets afloat.
Sods law dictated that as soon as I arrived in the Scillies for some offshore fishing the wind would get up. But for this particular day afloat, that was just what we wanted. All too often you get the kind of boat test conditions in which even a bath tub would not be troubled. But not this particular day. Conditions were available on the Atlantic side of Bryher to challenge any small boat. But first I had to get across from St. Mary's where I was staying. So at 8.00 sharp I was picked up a Hugh Town quay and whisked across the sound to the boat yard. Barry took the helm for this leg of the journey. I just sat there getting a feel for how the boat might react. It wasn't exactly rough due to the shelter afforded by the surrounding bits of land. But it was lumpy enough with a reasonable beam on swell as we crossed the more exposed part of the sound where the brisk south westerly wind was pushing up. I remember making these mental notes - doesn't roll like I thought it might; no slamming, and a very secure, comfortable, dry ride.
First things first. We needed an on water photo shoot, so some of Barry's friends staying on the island agreed to bring their own Powercat 525 DB down to get a few boat to boat shots manoeuvring about and pass bys on the plane. Progressively we pushed on up the sound between Bryher and Tresco looking for ever livelier conditions. Barry and his friend were even willing to take the boats around to the windward side of the island and into the aptly named Hell Bay, but there wasn't any point as photography would have been out of the question. Then it was back to the workshop to get the full specification low down on both the boat we had been playing with, and the model that was about to go into full production.
The open boat version we had for the day would make an excellent multi functional angling and pleasure boat with plenty of room to fish four in comfort. But for serious year round angling, this model would have its detractions, a point which Barry was only too well aware of, hence his investment in the new angling cuddied version. This however is purely a comfort thing, as there were open Powercats moored both at Bryher and over at St. Mary's which were in full time use as inshore commercial boats. Potters in particular like the open boat concept to work in. Anglers on the other hand, and year round anglers in particular, like a bit of shelter to snuggle into as well as keep instruments, spare clothing and tackle dry, and in that respect, I am as guilty as anyone. In built stowage, a good instrument friendly steering console and comfortable seats also help sell small boats, and all of these were to be features of the Powercat 525 DC.
But without having seen the new top moulding in the flesh, it's difficult to comment further. I was there to test drive and assess the new hull upon which the 525 DC would be built. From what I could see of the cuddy design drawings and photographs, anglers should not be disappointed. Lots of stowage space including lockers are provided up front, and you can have either a fully open, a half bulk head, or fully lockable bulkhead versions according to taste. The windows are bolted polycarbonate perspex with a single full expanse across the front.
This means no hatch, which I have long argued is no bad thing, but only if anglers side anchor using a lazy line as opposed to walking around to the bow, which for security reasons, is fully railed. Swivel pedestal seats are fitted with the helm aft of the cuddy like on my current boat which I find uncomfortable in a beam on winter breeze, something an extending folding dodger has cured at a stroke. One other minor criticism which I didn't pick up on at the time is the need for a spray screen on the cuddy top for that bit of extra eye protection, particularly in winter. Again, something that could very easily be remedied either in house or at home. A cuddy top frame is also available for lights, aerials and the like.
For the journey back across to St. Mary's, the helm was handed over to me. It was play time. The first thing I noticed was just how responsive the boat was when the throttle was eased forward. Like a real Cat, it was waiting to pounce. Very impressive, though I was a little disappointed with the top end acceleration which I am sure was down to the fact that this particular boat had twin 30's instead of the twin 40's it is rated to take. On we pushed into more open water to find a bit of swell. What I wanted to do was try it on the turn at a range of different speeds and angles to the waves. I thought that tight turns might be a problem, but they weren't. It grips the water exceptionally well.
More comfortably than a mono hull. No banking or rolling. Just a nice flat turn at any angle to the sea. It remained equally stable at both high and low speeds beam on to and angled across the swell. No sign of any slamming, particularly from wave crests under the tunnel between the hulls. The positioning of the decking I am told slightly compresses the air between the hulls when the bow comes down providing sufficient cushioning to alleviate impact slamming. Whatever the reason, it certainly works, providing a very comfortable and stable platform which I could not fault whatever I tried to do with it. So I just kept the power on full, something you most certainly would not have been able to do without suffering a battering in a mono hull.
The Powercat 525 can take outboards up to 80 hp, which split across twin 40's might just fall a little short of its maximum rating, but is a reassuring way of powering a boat, particularly if you fish on your own. Far better than a single 80hp and an axillary which is dead weight, and for the most part dead money. A single 40 hp outboard on a Powercat will still push it along at a very respectable 12 knots, something a small auxiliary cannot hope to match. With twin 30's the maximum speed runs out at around 25 knots. Fit twin 40's and it can top 30 knots with the added bonus of excellent fuel economy due to the design of the hulls, and an ability to keep the throttle's open because the boat still rides like a dream, particularly the new version with its extra 500 Kgs of buoyancy to get the nose up higher.
