Catboats are a classic American sailboat design that have been around for over 100 years. They are characterized by having a single mast with a cat rig, meaning the mast supports a single large mainsail without a jib or other foresails. Catboats perform very well for their size and are a popular daysailer or small cruising boat in coastal areas. Let’s take a closer look at how well catboats actually sail and their strengths and weaknesses.
What is a Catboat?
A catboat has a beamy, wide hull with a shallow draft and a single mast set far forward. They are almost always sloop rigged with a large mainsail and no headsail or jib. The mast is raked aft slightly and allows for hoisting a big sail area that generates a lot of power. Catboats have a small cabin or cuddy for storage and shelter, but most have open deck space suited for day sailing.
Advantages of the Cat Rig
The catboat rig has several advantages that contribute to its sailing abilities:
- Large sail area – With no jib sail, the cat rig allows for a very large mainsail that provides ample power.
- Simplicity – Having just a mainsail and no headsails to tack makes the boat easy for one person to handle.
- Easy to control – The single sail is easy to reef or furl to control power in high winds.
- Good downwind – The large mainsail catches a lot of wind when going downwind.
With just a mainsail and no overlapping jib, the cat rig is simpler than a sloop and ideal for cruising couples, families, or solo sailing. The large mainsail delivers plenty of power for the catboat’s moderate displacement.
Disadvantages of the Cat Rig
While the cat rig has advantages, it also comes with some downsides:
- Upwind performance suffers – Without a jib, catboats lack pointing ability going to windward.
- Susceptible to flogging – The big mainsail can flog violently when sailing off the wind.
- Requires reefing – The huge sail area means reefing is critical in high winds to avoid being overpowered.
- Mast compression – The single mast and sail can create compression and mast strain issues.
The lack of a jib does hinder beating performance. The large mainsail area also requires vigilance in higher winds when reefing to avoid excessive heeling and sail flogging.
How Do Catboats Perform Under Sail?
The unique characteristics of the catboat rig influence how it performs under sail. Here is a breakdown of how catboats sail on different points of sail:
Upwind/Beating
Catboats are not at their best when sailing close hauled beating into the wind. The lack of a jibfoil to help point higher works against them when trying to make progress directly upwind. Their comparatively lightweight construction and beamy hulls also limit windward ability. Most full keel catboats will tack through about 75-90 degrees depending on conditions.
Despite their shortcomings going upwind, a well-designed catboat will still make respectable progress to windward. Their ample sail power allows them to point reasonably high. However, they lose ground to comparative sloops and will take more tacks on a beat.
Reaching
On reaching courses with the wind on the side, catboats excel. The large sail area powers them well on reaches in moderate winds. The hulls are buoyant with high form stability, allowing them to stand up well to the breeze. Proper sail trim is important to optimize sail shape and avoid stalling when sailing on a reach. Well-tuned catboats are swift reaching vessels.
Downwind/Running
Downwind is where the cat rig shines. With the wind aft of the beam, catboats surf along swiftly and smoothly. The huge mainsail catches lots of wind when running square downwind. The long waterline and fine stern sections prevent squatting and contribute to excellent downwind manners. Many catboats will plane off the wind when enough breeze fills the sail. Easy control of the lone mainsail allows for optimum sail shape.
How Do Catboats Compare to Sloops?
The catboat’s main competition has traditionally been the sloop rig. How does the performance of catboats compare to sloops of a similar size? Here are some key considerations:
Upwind
On upwind legs, comparable sloops point higher and make better progress beating into the wind. Their jib helps point the boat higher, while the mainsail drives them forward. Multi-sail rigs with a jib simply sail closer to the wind.
Reaching & Downwind
On reaches and downwind runs, catboats excel. Their huge sail area provides an advantage over sloops when sailing off the wind. Proper sail handling and tuning are still required, but catboats relish offwind sailing.
Ease of Handling
For casual daysailing and cruising, the catboat is easier to handle thanks to its single sail configuration. Tacking and gybing a catboat is straightforward and requires no headsail jibing. The simple cat rig is ideal for short-handed sailing.
Performance
When it comes to pure speed, comparably sized and tuned catboats and sloops are similar. While sloops point higher, catboats make excellent progress dead downwind. Tradeoffs between designs mean both rigs offer good performance.
So while catboats lag going upwind, their strengths off the wind and simple handling attributes make them very capable boats. The cat rig offers advantages for shorthanded sailing and family use over more complex sloop rigs.
What Conditions are Best for Catboats?
Catboats thrive in ideal moderate wind and sea conditions. Here are the conditions that allow catboats to sail at their best:
- Winds in the 10-15 knot range
- Flat water or small chop
- Reaching or running with the wind
- Mild tidal currents
When the wind fills in but is not too strong, catboats relish the opportunity to romp around under full sail. They have enough stability to stand up well to moderate winds without excess heel. Flat water or a small chop allows them to surf along smoothly. Offwind sailing showcases their abilities. Minimal currents reduce sailing angles and leeway.
In these optimal moderate conditions, catboats sail swiftly and gleefully with their large mainsails powered up. They are lively and rewarding to sail downwind in the conditions they were designed for.
Marginal Conditions
Catboats are less happy in marginal winds and seas:
- Very light winds under 5 knots
- Strong winds over 20 knots
- Rough water and big waves
- Heavy chop
- Strong tidal currents
In very light breezes, catboats struggle to get moving due to their bluff hulls and lack of a large foresail. They also become more of a handful in boisterous winds and big seas. Their comparatively light displacements cause them to pitch and toss more dramatically. And strong tides and currents hinder their ability to sail efficiently on certain points of sail.
Notable Catboat Brands & Models
There are several prominent catboat manufacturers that have popular models on the water:
Beetle Cat
- 11 foot 7 inches
- Daysailer type
- Over 4,000 built
- Fully battened sail
- 420 pounds
The Beetle Cat originated as a small daysailer in the 1920s. With its wide beam and shoal draft, it epitomizes the handy little catboat. The Beetle Cat Boat Association keeps the class alive today.
Herreshoff 12.5
- 12 foot 6 inches
- Daysailer/tender
- Classic Herreshoff design
- 440 pounds
- Designed in 1914
Designed by legendary yacht designer L. Francis Herreshoff, the Herreshoff 12.5 is a classic small daysailer catboat. Its quick construction from herringbone planked pine makes it a popular build-it-yourself boat.
Marshall Catboat Series
- 15 to 22 foot models
- Daysailers & cruisers
- Traditional designs
- 100+ built
- Fiberglass construction
Marshall Marine produces a line of good sailing catboats in various sizes. The Marshall 15 and 22 are especially popular for their quality construction, comfort, and sailing traits.
Menger Cat 14
- 14 foot 4 inches
- Plywood daysailer
- Strip or stitch-and-glue plans
- Large cockpit
- Simple build
The Menger Cat 14 is a home-build friendly plywood catboat that is easy to construct. With ample beam and stability, it makes a good family daysailer.
Com-Pac 16
- 16 foot 3 inches
- Fiberglass cruising catboat
- Enclosed head
- Sleeps two
- Inboard or outboard power
The Com-Pac 16 from Com-Pac Yachts is a popular cruising catboat. It has weekend accommodations for a couple and can be daysailed or cruised.
Conclusion
While the catboat design has its roots as a workboat, it has evolved into a quintessential daysailing and weekend cruising sailboat. The cat rig provides excellent power off the wind while keeping boat handling simple. Although they are not the ultimate upwind performers, catboats shine when reaching and running. Their blend of sailing traits, utility, and ruggedness has maintained their popularity in coastal areas for generations. For casual sailors, catboats remain one of the most fun and rewarding traditional American sailboats afloat.