Study Plan: Cataproa

by Bernd Kohler

The idea—a microcruiser multihull for the lowest possible cost and a minimum of work. It is impossible to have the weight of a full grown person in a cockpit at the back in such a small multihull. I wanted a permanent cabin. To realize this in a trailerable boat, only a single cabin on one hull would be feasible, like on traditional proas. I like proas but I do not like shunting. It’s okay for long distances but not, for instance, on a channel or river with a lot of traffic, like in the Netherlands. It takes too much time.

So, a tacking proa perhaps? A moment please—if I have a tacking proa then she sails on one tack as a Pacific proa and on the other tack as an Atlantic proa. A small ama in respect to the wa’a is not desirable when sailing as an Atlantic proa. Too low volume from a given wind condition can lead to a diving bow and an eventual capsize over the bow. Solution? Make both hulls the same length and volume. Next place the rig on the “secondary” hull and you have the Cataproa.