Maine Cat Catamarans Review
Written by Catamaran Guru™
American Product Review: Maine Cat Catamarans
Maine Cat Catamarans, a family run business on the coast of Maine, has been building high performance composite sailing and power catamarans since 1993. This is a most impressive feat considering that most American boat builders have failed in this very competitive industry. With owner Dick Vermeulen at the helm and some dedicated and talented craftsman who have been with the company for over 15 years, Maine Cat has cemented its place in the performance catamaran category. Their pride and dedication to excellence is evident in every phase of the production process. Dick says: “We build strong, well-engineered boats and in the past 20 years we have spent less than $19k on warranty claims”; yet another feat in catamaran manufacturing!
Their unique “open design” catamaran was thought to be revolutionary nearly two decades ago. It is now widely emulated by some of the biggest names in catamarans, like Catana and Nautitech. This signature characteristic makes these catamarans appear a lot bigger than it actually is. The layout on the bridgedeck is open with 360-degree visibility from a centralized helm and a hardtop bimini overhead. It is surrounded with roll-down soft sides (acrylic windows) that can instantly transform the bridgedeck from an open patio to an enclosed room, or what Vermuelen calls the “great room.” In 2005 their new Maine Cat 41 was awarded "Boat of the Year" by a panel of judges from Cruising World Magazine, a very proud moment for the company.
Walker Bay Odyssey Supertender Deluxe Review
Written by Catamaran Guru™
American Product Review: Walker Bay Odyssey Supertender Deluxe
Today Catamaran Guru™ is excited to fill you in on a great rigid inflatable boat (RIB) manufactured in North America by a US company. We just bought the 12 ft 365 Odyssey Supertender Deluxe for our new Lagoon 450 Sport Top. We will be using this tender / dinghy during our crossing from France back to the US (stay tuned to follow us across the ocean!) and then on charter and for cruising. Walker Bay prides itself on its state-of-the-art technology and superior construction. They have won a dozen awards for product innovation, design, and commendable business practices.
We did the research and it has all the features that we want for our tender. The hull is designed to deflect water and therefor reduce spray. The 18" pontoons are big enough to ensure a dry bottom and are fitted with a heavy-duty rub rail/splash guard and are also resistant to extreme temperatures, U.V. rays, gas, oil, chemicals, & abrasions. It is fitted with a huge locker in the front with additional seating, cupholders and more. AND it is backed by a 10-Year Limited Warranty. We have owned many dinghies over the years and have tried all of them. The Walker Bay is perfect for a cruising boat, with lots of storage, great stability, and exceptional durability. We are convinced that this is the dinghy for us.
