S/V Kat Boat


Here is the vessel as she is today. With a tanbark 145sqft sail following David's design by Really Simple Sails.


Technical Data
Name: S/V KatBoat 
Class: FatCat 2
Designer: Jim Michalak 
Builder: Mike Sandell c. 2008
Construction: MDO and Okume Ply
Length: 15'  (4.6 Meters)
Beam: 6' (1.8 Meters)
Displacement Poundage: 550lbs (249kg)
Speed: 3.5kts (8Km/H) Under Sail
Sail Rig: Gaff Rigged Cat 146sqft (136sqft to plan)
Range: Crew and Condition Limited
Crew: Day sails 4, Sleeps 2
Launched: June 12th, 2009
Port of Registry: Missoula, Montana
Joined the Fleet: September 15, 2018
 
One gaff rigged sail of ample size 
 One mighty mast stepped in the eyes 
A cockpit blessed with room galore 
A rudder like an old barn door 
A draft that is shoal, a beam that’s fat, 
It’s got to be a purebred cat.

 The current S/V Kat Boat was the prototype Michalak FatCat 2, originally named Julia L and built in Illinois.  According to the designer the prolific Jim Michalak "Fatcat 2 is a cuddy cabin sailer patterned somewhat after a traditional catboat." She's extraordinarily stable and moves well to weather. The Kat Boat displays some unique features. These include a winch for the mast, gallows to keep the spars out of the cockpit and due to a design tweak a 4.5" longer cabin. Jim also installed flotation benches on the sides and curved the cabin roof for a more classical catboat look. The gaff rig sets up on the trailer and sailing is "Weatherly, stiff and fast. Very fast if she's handled well" in the immortal words of Jack Aubry. 
  In the time I've owned the vessel she has shown no vices beyond what those of her type are known for. I'm very slowly putting her right for my wants and needs and that has proven to be a good experience. In the end I hope I will have a weekend cruiser that will day sail friends, sleep me and mine, and solo well.

Mike and Juila L. at their first appearance at Rend Lake, 2009. Here she is sporting her original polytarp sail and no gallows.
Rend Lake, 2011. Dacron sail from Duckworks, and gallows. She crossed the lake four times.
Rend Lake 2014, now sporting the "Sandell Tabernacle" and winch. There is an essay on this, here.
My first look at here via email. Sitting on her trailer in Vegas, ready for new adventures.


Our first time on the water together, September 2018

 First sail of 2020. Sporting a  new 145sqft sail by Polysail. David Grey designed the new sail plan. The sail here is at it's first reef. Photo by David Bixby

Archived on the Wayback Machine is the blog of the construction of my vessel. Although it is incomplete it does provide some insight into what went into building the boat. You can find it HERE

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