World Cat Boats - definately one of my Favorites

I have been enjoying the use of a 26 foot Grady-White Catamaran the past 7 years. Its fitted with twin Yamaha 150HP 4 Stroke Outboards and the remarkable thing, the boat has never broken down. The ride is silky smooth as it slices through small waves and wakes like a knife thru butter. So its a pretty dry boat and I can even use this walk-around when it rains, as the wrap around plastic clear view screens gives adequate protection.

My experience with Power Cats has been more than positive. It is my honest opinion that the ride of a mono hull cannot match that of a multi-hull in small to moderate seas. Beyond sea state 3 or Beaufort Scale 4 almost all types of boats below 80 feet will struggle with holding a comfortable course. I have had the good fortune of cruising on-board mid-size cabin cruisers of 50 and 60 feet and I observe that they pitch and roll a lot more than the little Cat within Port Singapore in seas confused by the collision of waves and multiple wakes of a hundred passing ships. Obviously a heavier 60 footer would be more comfortable when cruising the South China Sea as a larger boat gives greater confidence and interior luxury.
One of the Power-Cats I've been studying for some years now is the World Cat. It's popular in the US. but hasn't made its way to Singapore yet. Check out this video.

  

Mono Hull or Cat....... This video will help you decide...

A small Power Catamaran Passage Maker

Passage Makers do come in small sizes as the Aspen Cat proves so. The Aspen is a 30 foot Cat powered by a single diesel Volvo 220HP. One hull is larger than the other and she is a full displacement hull, The biggest benefit of the Aspen design is fuel economy and a much larger space for a 30 footer.

The Aspen Power Cat

   Here is a video of the Boat builder Larry Graf and his son Nick attempting to set a record for the circumnavigation of Vancouver Island in one non-stop shot. They made the record comfortably.

There are no Aspen Cats in Singapore yet. I can easily see the benefit of this boat for the type of cruising we do in Singapore to offshore destinations in Malaysia, Riau and Thailand.

Pulau Bawah, Anambas Islands

When the boating season starts again in March/April, I should be heading to Pulau Bawah; 40nm shy of the popular Anambas Islands. Apparently Bawah is stunningly beautiful with plenty of fish life and live corals. It is 141nm from Nongsa Point Marina, where we clear immigration and customs before heading straight for Bawah. We will have to watch the fuel as the nearest fuelling station is at Pulau Siantan in Anambas. The boat I'll be onboard has a range of 288nm at 25knots SOA (Speed of Advance) so we should be fine. From my experiences in the South China Sea, April and May are the calmest months for offshore journeys in a small boat.

We'll I better start getting my dive and fishing gears in order before April.

Could this be the future of Small Boats

The first time I saw the Nauti-Craft on Youtube a year ago, I knew it was a great idea. Although revolutionary for a boat, the use of hydraulic shocks is standard on land vehicles and its function is fully understood. The decision to make the Nauti-Craft a Catamaran is a wise one. This has enabled her to cruise at high speeds with standard outboard motors in heavy seas with ease.
Buy why would anyone opt for a Nautical-Craft. The answer is... so they'll arrive in better shape.
This is so true when making an offshore trip to exotic destinations like Pulau Tioman (120nm), Pulau Bawah (140nm), Anambas (180nm). Its easy for a 60 foot Cabin Cruiser to cruise there at 16 - 24 knots in relative comfort. But for a small craft, the faster you arrive at these destinations. the better it is for you. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to sleep along the way or have a decent rest when cruising in a boat less than 36 foot & under 6 tons.When the seas go beyond Sea State 2 (Beaufort state 3), you will have to throttle back to 15kts max. With the Nauti-Cat suspension system, you'll probably be able to maintain the SOA (speed of advance) of 25 kts in similar conditions.  

The Nauti-Craft in Head seas fitted with twin Yamaha V6s

As the height of the free-board is unusually high for a boat this size, she provides a generally dry ride. The main hull is built like a standard mono-hull, probably to give it added bouncy in heavy seas. I guess the video say its all.

  

Diving in Raja Ampat Indonesia

Much has been said about the rich marine life at Raja Ampat situated west of Pulau Waigeo, just north-west of West Papua, Indonesia. As expected, accessibility to Raja Ampat is only by boat, after a long domestic flight to Sorong from Jakarta. It would probably be quite an adventure to try to cruise to Raja Ampat from Singapore. The journey of 2,000 nautical miles will take 8 days non stop cruising from Singapore at 240nm a day or 10kts SOA (Speed of Advance).    

Is Raja Ampat worth the arduous journey there. Watch this video and decide yourself.

Princess Cruise 19 Jan 2016

I must have been a seafarer in my past lives. The sea continues to intrigue and invigorate my life. Hence whenever I feel down or just dull, I would go out to sea. It never fails to bring life back into my daily routine. On the insistence of my wife, I went on a cruise onboard the Sapphire Princess. She's about 110,000 tons and has 16 levels of glamorous entertainment whilst on voyage to Penang, Langkawi and Port Klang. The decor is fit for a king.

Leaving the Cruise Centre at Marina South

Inside the enormous Cruise Centre. Plenty of space and only occupied during boarding and disembarkation 

My family arriving onboard the Sapphire Princess

Check out the sacks of potatoes waiting to be loaded onboard

The Central Stairway

The cabin is spacious compared to Star Gemini. Very well designed indeed.

There were so many restaurants on the ship, The most popular on was probably the buffet on the 14th floor 

The Charm of Marina South

It was only last November that I realised that I could cycle along the East Coast PCN (Park Connector Network) all the way to Marina South and beyond. It was such a beautiful ride. So scenic and the cycle track was so very well kept. Bravo Zulu to the people at National Parks and to the Singapore Govt. for realising this plan. I feel proud to be Singaporean. The PCN has been well thought through and certainly well constructed. My mountain bike will be well used.

Entering the East Coast PCN across the bridge from Upper East Coast Road to the Food Centre

After 6 km I arrived at the Marina East Golf Driving Range

 

Riding after Garden by the Bay to the Marina Barrage

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The guards don't mind you cycling inside the Marina Barrage. They were friendly and helpful with directions

Past the Marina Barrage en-route to Marina South

The breakwater after the Marina Barrage

The cycle track along Marina South

These harbour crafts moor at the Marina South Pier 

Very breezy. open and welcoming

Anglers fishing from the break-waters

The Harbour Crafts for hire to the ships at anchor and also to the nearby Offshore Islands.