'Swing Cat' is a performance cruising catamaran with a bridgedeck completed and launched in 2016. This Richard Woods Eclipse design is owner built of solid wood and marine plywood and sheathed in biaxial glass fibre cloth impregnated with West-system epoxy resin. The performance aspect of the boat comes from having daggerboards (rather than low aspect ratio keels), outboard motors for auxiliary power (rather than two inboard engines) and laminated tri-radial sails including a drifter (on a bowsprit) and a spinnaker. Swing Cat features many other details, including attention to minimising environmental impacts.
Swing Cat has beaching keels and kick-up rudders so is happy drying out in tidal creeks. Its wind generator and 6 solar panels charge 500Ah of battery storage which provides electrical energy via 12V DC and 240V AC distribution. One can live off the grid with a high level of creature comforts while remaining connected to the shore via computers and mobile phones (if desired!).
When on shore power in a marina, full use can be made of a microwave, toaster, electric kettle and electric heating.
The interior accommodation consists of a double cabin in the stern of each hull and single cabins in the bow of each hull, giving sleeping accommodation for 6. The bridgedeck cabin provides comfortable seating around a large table and access to both hulls. A cockpit awning, together with cockpit cushions, provide further shady seating in the cockpit as well as shelter from any shower. The trampoline forward of the bridgedeck, between the hulls, is a favourite place for sunbathing, watching the sun go down, or for watching dolphins on passage.
The hulls and cabins are fully lined and insulated ensuring a cool interior on hot days and a cosy interior on cool days. When at anchor on cold evenings a wood burning stove is available.
Swing Cat is designed to have minimal impact on the environment. The sources of renewable energy means there is no need to have a fossil fuel generator. There is an electric motor for the tender.
There is no discharge of sewerage from the boat and no conventional holding tank. An ecological toilet ensures the separation of liquids from solids with both being captured, and disposed of, separately. The absence of urine in the solids tank, together with the use of mechanical ventilation, ensures that using the heads is a pleasant experience!
Swing Cat also has a grey water tank for cruising in environmentally sensitive areas. This tank retains washing-up and shower water until it is OK to discharge it – for example when dried out on a beach, grey water can be discharged only when the tide is in and the boat is afloat.
With forward-looking sonar, broadband radar, AIS Tx & Rx, VHF radio, Echomax radar reflector, electronic chart plotter, full size chart table and safety equipment, including lightning protection, Swing Cat is fully equipped for creek crawling or bluewater sailing.
Swing Cat was built by its owner starting in 2011 and was launched in 2016. The website documenting the build and its sea trials can be found at www.swingcat.co.uk
The reason for the sale is that the owner and his family no longer have as much time for sailing as they did previously.
