cougar 8m catamaran review

The Cougar 8m in production

A fast catamaran measuring 8m in overall length is growing in popularity, say the manufacturers of the Cougar Catamaran, D P Marine, run by Dave Parham and his son Ross.

The firm is based at the Wireworks Industrial Estate near Bridgewater and currently has four boats under construction. The first boat left the yard about six weeks ago.

D P Marine began business just one year ago. Dave and Ross Parham are both ticketed charter skippers with considerable experience in GRP lamination, so their move into boat building was "a steep learning curve, but the natural way to go".

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Cougar Catamaran 8 / 10m

Cougar catamaran 8 (also available as a 10m boat).

The cougar cat is available with 2 wheelhouse options to suit every need! The larger wheelhouse version has a 9 foot by 8 foot wheelhouse which is ideal for charter angling and diving applications, whilst the smaller wheelhouse version is ideal for the commercial fisherman as it provides the maximum amount of deck space.

With engine ranges from twin 100 hp to twin 250 hp installed below flush decks.

Specifications

This vessel is an ideal workboat for windfarm work and for charter angling and diving, built to C.O.P 60 miles for 12 persons.

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Cougar R8 & R9

One of the world’s leading RIB brands, Cougar, is now being built under licence in  New Zealand. Barry Thompson checked out the first models produced locally. The name Cougar may not mean a lot to some, but if your are a performance boating enthusiast you will have certainly heard the Cougar name. From the company’s beginnings in 1969 the Cougar name has been synonymous with cutting edge technology and winning mono and multihull powerboat designs for commercial, military, racing and leisure purposes.

The first catamaran to win an offshore powerboat race was a Cougar and this revolutionary design heralded an era of dominance, which is still today echoed by the company’s involvement with Honda’s one class race series, currently the largest in the world and Pro Vee a class for the original Thunderboats.

Lessons learned and technology researched and developed in racing have been directly used in the design and production of Cougar’s entire range of boats, even down to the inflatable boat range.

Tauranga based Cougar Marine New Zealand Ltd launched their first boats in late January, the Cougar R8 and R9 centre console models and these will soon be followed by the R10 twin outboard centre console and the all new Cougar R11 cabin.

Developed in New Zealand by Cougar Marine NZ, the first Cougar R11 cabin will be shipped back to Cougar UK for evaluation for the UK and European markets. The R11 is also available in centre console.

Brothers Chris and Adrian Hanley, along with Wellington businessman and offshore racer, Grant Smith set up Cougar Marine New Zealand Ltd, in response to demand for the boats from parent company Cougar Marine UK.

”The company was looking to expand its production using an overseas builder and after some disussions with Cougar Marine UK director, Steve Curtis, we did a deal and within less than six months we produced our first two boats”, said Chris.

”While we see the majority of our boats will probably end up overseas, we feel there is a niche market in New Zealand and will be keen to get as many sales as we can locally”.

Cougar Marine NZ have set up a new factory in Tauranga and have scheduled production for about 50 boats a year.

He sees the Cougar range being ideally suited to everyone from the superyacht owner looking for a fast tender, to local buyers looking for a sleek sexy sport RIB. “I can just see one of these moored at the bottom of a canal property in Pauanui or Sanctuary Cove”.

Small Beginnings

The smallest in the range, the R8 is based on an 8m x 2.44m RIB stepped grp 24 deg hull. This is the same hull as used for the Formula Honda 225 class but has had some alterations made to the positioning of the strakes to improve the handling. The second local Cougar to be launched is the R9, which has basically identical dimensions to the R8 but is just over ½ a metre longer overall. Big difference is the R8 is for single outboard installations only and the slightly larger R9 for inboard stern drives. Other than that everything forward of the rear seat is identical.

Both boats are fitted with hypalon tubes with a .480m fendering diameter. The tubes are tapered and add to the aerodynamic profile of these boats. A variety of colour choices are available also. The twin stepped hull design of both the R8 and R9 hails from a racing pedigree and gives an exceptionally level ride in the most challenging of seas. Construction is a grp composite with foam stringers and a lot of Kevlar through the hull for extra strength.

Stable and fast. That’s the easiest way to describe the R8 that I took for a blast the morning of the Gulf Harbour offshore powerboat race. Cougar Marine have generously provided an R8 as the start boat and an R9 as the dedicated medic boat for the 2008 offshore season. Because of this the R8 was fitted with a set of flashing lights on a stainless radar arch, something that is obviously not standard on the normal boat. However everything else was just as anyone would buy it.

Powered by a single Mercury Verado 250, the R8 is a rocketship, with a top speed when I ran it of 67mph @ 6400rpm. Unfortunately we were not quite propped right to get to the magic 70mph, but Cougar Marine NZ are working on that. Interestingly the 300hp Mercruiser 350 Mag also topped out at 67mph.

The R8 is rated for outboards 150hp to 300hp, but with the recent release of the Mercury Verado 350, I’m sure that will soon be changed. Currently the R8 is only available with a 20” transom, which eliminates some of the larger engines from some brands.

With the help of the supercharged Verado, acceleration from a standing start to maximum speed is ultra quick and you certainly have to let your passengers know what you’re doing. The boat literally leaps onto the plane instantly, with no hesitation or bump spots. By working the trim as we accelerated I found the boat very responsive and easy to control. Cruising across a very confused sea messed about by a 25 knot breeze, the R8 was a pleasure to drive. It’s predictable and surprisingly comfortable.

Having had the experience of driving a lot of monohulls at high speed I was particularly impressed with the balance of the boat and the way it ran fast and softly across the sea. No slamming, no hard knocks. Even for someone not familiar with driving this style of boat at speed, it would be hard to get into too much trouble.

I say surprisingly not because I didn’t think the hull could handle it, but on first impressions I didn’t like the look of the sculptured saddle seats. However after over 30 minutes of hard running I was pleasantly surprised and even my passenger commented on how comfortable the seats really were.

Cougar’s standard layout is a set of twin saddle seats and while they work okay I think I would personally prefer a traditional double bolster arrangement forward. This is in fact an option that Cougar Marine NZ are looking at offering. You still have the aft bench seat, but the advantage is a lot more space in the rear of the cockpit.

Despite a strong breeze the boat remained totally dry inside and we never took a drop of water on the screen. The driving position is a good one and all controls and instruments are easily at hand or in view. I particularly liked the large screen displays.

Both boats are centre console with plenty of cockpit seating both behind the helm and forward. The standard seating layout allows for six behind the console and two ahead. In the R8, when the rear bench seat is raised – on airstays – there is a massive storage area, which on the standard boat will be complete with a cooler and water tank with transom shower. Options include dive racks for bottles.

In the R9, this void is obviously taken up with the engine and while the hull is the same, the deck is longer and overhangs the sterndrive. A cost effective way to produce two different size models from the same hull.

The console provides excellent storage as do floor lockers and under the straddle seats. Stainless steel handholds that double as back rests for the seats are securely bolted to the deck for maximum strength.

The console features a carbon fibre dash facing with ample space for the electronics. Cougar Marine NZ offer Raymarine packages as an option so you can really add what you like. In our test boats that included a Raymarine C120 , gps, plotter, sounder and Raymarine 218 VHF. Instrumentation is all Smartcraft.

Ahead of the console is a moulded bench seat with a storage bin beneath. There is also a large floor storage locker to stow even more gear, big enough for a couple of dive bottles and your dive bag. There is a moulded anchor locker in the forepeak and large stainless steel Sampson post, with the option of a windlass. Although not fitted to our test boats, there will be a dedicated anchoring fairlead arrangement over the bow as an option in future models.

Also available is a u-shaped lounger in the forepeak with cushions and a central table on airstays that drops down to transform the whole area into one giant sunpad. It’s a reasonable large and workable cockpit that has the benefit of being self draining. In the R9 it was also finished with Flexiteak on the sole that certain gives the boat an up-market look.

There’s no doubt the new R8 and R9 Cougar RIBs are the hottest looking RIBs on the market.  While they were never designed for the commercial market, overseas they have found their way there anyway. They are essentially a versatile inflatable with stylish lines and an exceptionally smart finish. The bonus is they not only look good, they perform even better. For their first efforts Cougar Marine New Zealand have done a great job and the finish is to be praised. Although the first boats had imported tubes, the plan is to supply the boats with locally made tubes in the near future.

It’s certainly a boat that falls into the niche market category, but then if you are looking for an RIB with that extra panache then you would go a long way to find anything to outclass a Cougar RIB.

Specifications

• Model: Cougar R8 / R9
• Price as Tested: R8$106,000 (incl motor/trailer)            R9$110,000
• Designer : Cougar Marine UK
• Builder : Cougar Marine NZ
• Material: gpr/ Kevlar/ Hypalon
• Type:  RIB Centr Console
• LOA: 8.4m(8m)  9.00m(9m)
• Beam: 2.44m
• Deadrise: 24 degree
• Hull Configuration: Deep vee stepped mono
• Trailerable Weight:  R8:2040kg R9:2280kg
• Height on Trailer: 2.1m

Engine Capacity

• R8 Outboards 150-300hp
• R9 Inboard diesels to 315hp/ Inboard petrol to 350hp
• Fuel Capacity: 240L  

Challenger 680 HT

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Fishing Films & Facts

• Fishery Sciences

Boat Test Aboard the Cougar 8M Cat Cuveran II

Working space is a precious commodity on a fishing boat. That being the case, why then would any charter skipper want to down size from a 32 foot to a 26 foot boat. One reasonable answer might be because its a catamaran. In the case of the Messer's Parry business 'Jensen Sea Angling Charters' at Rhyl, a brand new 8 metre Cougar Cat to be precise. As it says on the Jensen website, she may only be 26 feet in length, but here's how she compares in size to our other boats...

• Jensen (Tony Parry's Offshore 105) � 34 feet x 11 feet = 141 square feet of deck area.
• Suveran (Simon's Parry's previous boat) � 32 feet x 12 feet = 118 square feet of deck area.
• Suveran II (Simon's 8m Cougar Cat) � 26 feet x 13 feet = 160 square feet of deck area.

You could say that the figures speak for themselves. But what's the Cougar 8m like on the water and in service with a paying party. Only one way to find. So it was down to Rhyl to join up with Simon Parry on a trip organised by of all people the Salvation Army as a supported recreational break for a group of their customers.

As always, I arrived well before the designated pick up time so I could have a mooch around the mooring area and draw up some preliminary conclusions before stepping on to board. The photograph of the two 'Suverans' at the mooring tells its own story. Granted, the camera angle does favour the Cat in the foreground. But even when viewed from the other direction the difference between the two boats remains striking. And from whatever angle, it is hard to get your head around the fact that there is a 6 foot differential between the two in favour of the mono hull.

On board, that feeling still doesn't go away. Try as I may, and I tried from every angle and vantage point available to me, I simply could not get a photograph taking in the entire width of the stern. In part that is down to the boat only being 26 feet in length. Had it been a little longer I would probably have got it all in. But that's the whole point here. It didn't need to be any longer. With a beam like that you get more effective fishing space than on a conventional mono hull simply because fishing over the stern is the place to be on any boat for a whole host of practical as well as tactical reasons. From that perspective, this boat was going to make and keep many more anglers happy. But as we all know, fishing isn't only about having lots of elbow room and more availability of prime spots on the boat. First you have to get out to the marks, after which you then have to get back, sometimes chased back by deteriorating weather. So handling, ride, stability and safety, while they are not angling buzz words, from an owners perspective will carry much more weight in the decision making process than a lot of anglers might think.

By virtue of their beam in comparison to mono hulls, Cats are always going to be more stable platforms to work from. On a flat calm sea, you won't find anything better other than perhaps a big angling RIB. But as we all know, the sea is often anything but calm, and working boats frequently have to go out in less than perfect conditions. So how does having two hulls spanned by 'bridge' compare to a single hull over the range of sea conditions found off the North Wales coast. The simple answer is that no independent observer like myself out for a single day assessment is ever going to be able to satisfactorily say, though from what observations I was able to make, coupled to my experiences of fishing from Cats elsewhere over the years, twin hulls win hands down in every department so far as I'm concerned. But for a more informed critique on this particular make and model, its over to the people who have had her out in conditions far worse than any paying customer should have to face, Tony and Simon Parry.

Before airing their views, let me first say that when he's not taking out angling parties, Tony Parry does a lot of work on the nearby offshore wind-farm, skippering their boat on essential maintenance runs out in all sorts of weather, and that boat also happens to be a Cat. So it's no coincidence that they too decided to buy a Cat this time around. And while you might expect the buyer of any new boat be full of praise for their latest acquisition, this was in fact a long considered decision based on a lot of practical experience with both Cats and mono hulls. In Tony's opinion, mono hulls, while they have been excellent work horses over the years, have now had their day. At the time of writing, the Cougar had been sea trialled in winds up to force 6, which is more than paying customers are going to be taken out in, and in terms of stability she performed as anticipated. Its very stable, has a good turn of speed delivering 28 knots flat out and 16 knots when cruising, is very economical to run, which in the current climate is a major plus for both anglers and operators, and handles well in a rough sea at all angles to the wind and tide, sliding over the waves with very little slamming. It's worth pointing out here that while force 6 is not a big wind, in the Irish Sea where we get a smaller shorter wave pattern than in other parts of the country, for a Cat it could potentially be tricky as smaller waves can smack under the tunnel which I experienced some years ago and it is not a very nice feeling. But to date, this hasn't happened with the Cougar and would therefore by unlikely to on an actual fishing trip.

Suveran II has both of her 200 hp Iveco engines sited below deck which means there is no engine cover set in the middle of the fishing area. But like trying to furnish a house that has no fire place, a fishing well needs a focal point to arrange things around and to put tackle and bait boards on. So they have stood a large plastic pallet box in the middle of the deck, which while it takes up room, actually looks and works better than an open space, and can be removed at a moments notice if required. Space in not a problem inside the wheel house either, which at 9� feet by 8 feet can comfortably seat half a dozen anglers in addition to Simon and a crew. What I did find surprising, though when I think about it, I don't see why I did, was the fact that there is virtually no stowage space beneath or forward of the instrument console. The hulls sweep up at either side to support a short broad flat decked area just ahead of the front windows. But you can't have everything. I personally would much prefer the extra working space. I find that if you have lots of stowage on a boat you will invariably find something to put in it, whereas if you don't have it, you learn to load the thing accordingly.

Though the Cougar 8m could very comfortably fish twelve, for reasons of comfort and having a single twelve person life raft, Suveran II has only been licensed for ten. Without any effort at all, two or even three people can fish directly over the stern. The two anglers fishing in each of the corners, though they are counted as fishing from the sides, are technically also fishing over the back, leaving the other five or six anglers depending on how you play things, spread along the two sides, all of which makes for more comfortable and effective fishing, and if my recollections of charter fishing are anything to go by, less reason for there to be tangles. On the day I joined Simon, probably to a man with the exception of Salvation Army supervisor David Rose, all on board were novices. Just the kind of party likely to give tangling problems. Yet tangles were rare indeed with everyone catching fish, and judging by the banter on board, all happy to be out there giving it a go, which pretty much sums up the comments from other parties that have been out on the boat. Not a negative comment between the lot of them, which if the down sizing from the old mono hull to the current Cougar Cat had meant less room, would have come from some of Simon's regulars either said on board, or as non-repeat bookings, which hasn't to my knowledge happened. One of those rare examples then of smaller actually being bigger, and in many ways, better too.

SEE VIDEO VAULT � Cougar Cat.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Multihulls: owners’ experiences and reviews

• Toby Hodges
• January 18, 2019

How do you select the right catamaran to best suit your cruising? Learning from other owners is a good place to start

They have two different boats, different sailing plans and two very different sets of experience. But what these cruisers have in common is a desire to explore in two hulls rather than one. Hal Haltom explains how he drew on decades of monohull sailing to choose a relatively light displacement Outremer 51 for the World ARC, while David Weible and Kellie Peterson tell of their snap decision to sell up and set sail in a Lagoon 42. They share hard won tips about setting up the boat for ambitious cruising and give an insight into life at sea.

Hal Haltom – Outremer 51

Hal Haltom, 59, from Texas, bought an Outremer 51 in 2016 and set off on the World ARC that winter. With his wife Marsha and daughter Haley, he has sailed more than 27,000 miles across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans to reach South Africa and believes that it makes sense to buy a lighter boat that performs better in light winds.

We did two trips through the eastern and western Caribbean with our kids about 10 years ago on a Tayana 52 monohull. This time we switched to a catamaran because it had features that we thought were better: living above the waterline, level (and not rolly) and easier sail handling. Once we decided to switch, we started looking at the available boats in our price range. My wife Marsha and I have raced sailboats for many years and we wanted a better sailing cat, which ruled out the heavier ones. At the Miami Boat Show in early 2015 we looked at a Catana and St Francis but it was an Outremer 51 that interested us . Afterwards, we flew to the company’s factory in La Grande- Motte in southern France and were impressed. We thought the Outremer 51 was a boat that a couple in their 50s could handle and we ordered one and took delivery in May 2016.

Fit for bluewater

Ours is the base boat with only a few options added because Outremer builds a boat that is ready to go bluewater cruising. We have an aluminium mast, Mastervolt lithium battery system (360Ah at 24V), Dessalator watermaker, 560W of solar panels, and a Watt & Sea hydrogenerator. All this equipment worked well. As did the B&G instruments, Lecomble & Schmitt autopilot, Volvo D2-40 engines, and Incidence and Delta Voile sails. We don’t have a diesel generator. Sailing on a sunny day, we can run the watermaker using only the batteries and on a cloudy day, I may need to turn on an engine for an hour or so. Each engine has a 110A alternator running through a Sterling booster. At anchor, we rely on the solar panels, which is all that is needed in the Tropics.

My advice would be to buy a boat that sails well and handles easily. Also, I would keep the equipment as simple as possible while maintaining the comfort level you need. Passagemaking is hard on boats. A light boat requires less effort to sail and a simpler boat requires less maintenance and repair. Even though our boat is a light cat, we have found it to be well-built and comfortable. Outremer has also been very responsive in dealing with any issues during the two-year warranty period and beyond. After spending the summer cruising the Mediterranean, it was time to head off on our big adventure. We left La Grande-Motte in October 2017. We sailed to Spain and Gibraltar and crossed the Atlantic to St Lucia in November 2017 with the ARC+ rally. We joined the World ARC rally in St Lucia and sailed to Panama, through the canal, across the Pacific to Australia, and then across the Indian Ocean to Richards Bay, South Africa, where we are now.

The three of us have sailed more than 27,000 miles and are pleased with our choice of boat. Fast cruising is enjoyable and it is always good to get into port sooner. We typically sail in tradewind conditions at boat speeds of 8 to 10 knots. We had six 200-plus mile days in a row during our crossing of the Pacific from the Galapagos to the Marquesas. During our Indian Ocean crossing we had 30-plus knots of wind for several days and 4m seas. The boat also performed well in those conditions. When cruising, you see more light air than heavy air and it is very nice to have a boat that will sail fast in light air. An additional benefit of a fast cat that is often not mentioned is the ability to sail with a reduced sail area and still go fast. We often sail with two or three reefs in the main and just our working jib in 15 knots of wind, which makes the boat very easy to handle, while still going fast. Another advantage is with narrow hulls and a smaller saloon the side decks are wider, which make moving around much safer. Our huge foredeck also makes sail handling much safer and easier, with less stress all round as we move through the water.

David Weible and Kellie Peterson – Lagoon 42

David Weible had a liveaboard adventure on a leaky monohull many years ago but he and his partner Kellie still managed to surprise themselves when they decided to sell their Florida home and go cruising. They chose a Lagoon 42 and, with few regrets, have just crossed the Atlantic to Saint Lucia after a summer in the Med.

A little more than a year ago, we were riding our bikes across the playa at the Burning Man festival in Nevada when a dust storm rolled in. We took refuge in a lighthouse art installation, talked about our dreams and hatched a plan: sell everything, buy a sailboat, sail the globe — and share our story on YouTube. Four months later, we made an offer on a Tartan 44 monohull in St Petersburg, Florida. A sea trial and inspection revealed major issues, so we kept looking for another bluewater cruising boat. In February, we flew to San Diego to see a Tayana – another disappointment. But the effort wasn’t a total loss: we discovered catamarans. We looked at Leopard, Fountaine-Pajot and Lagoon. When we boarded the Lagoon 42, a comfortable catamaran that could really take us places, we were sold.

The delights

Hull #300 was delivered in August. We moved aboard on a Saturday and set sail across the Bay of Biscay the following Wednesday. Sitting at anchor in Spain, navigating narrow rivers in Portugal, picking our way through the Atlantic fog, surfing big swells on the way to Madeira, lounging with the wildlife in the Selvagens and currently sailing across the Atlantic Ocean have all added up nicely and validated our decision to buy the catamaran.

Starship Friendship handles a lot better than we expected. These heavier cruising catamarans sail really well with the right sail plan, but they do come with a relatively conservative set-up. The square-top main, Code 0 and ACH cruising chute options are a must. On a dead run, speed over ground exceeds half of the true wind speed; up to 45° into the wind, with 15 knots or more, she does even better. On a beam reach, she nearly matches true wind speed; fly the chute in as little as 8 knots and she’ll keep a comfortable walking pace downwind. In a solid swell, she’s balanced and comfortable. Crew members suffer little or no seasickness and are not worn out after longer passages.

We still have a wishlist of improvements including a dual battery charger for 110V and 220V, painted bow compartments to avoid fibreglass itchiness, an accessible place for wet gear and fishing tools, and a bit more solar and battery capacity (oh, and a Parasailor too). The broker recommended two rigid LG300 solar panels, which put out roughly 270W each at max output. This is not enough to run all systems on the boat, so when we go offshore, the generator becomes a necessity – we run it for roughly four hours per day. If money were no object we would have loved to put a custom stainless attachment above the dingy davit with three or four panels, which would be the correct amount of power necessary for our boat. Otherwise, we have not done much to her. The lighting indoor and outdoor is bright and does not have dim or colour option. We put red spinnaker tape over our lights when offshore to create a more friendly night environment and intend to have red lighting in the Caribbean. We also installed an electric toilet in the owner’s cabin, which has been really nice. The helm station is a hot topic among Lagoon 42 owners. It’s a love-hate relationship. A lot of owners find the seat uncomfortable and too short. We have seen many modifications. In bad weather we are cautious and always use safety tethers while at the helm. We run a piece of webbing on occasion from the arm rail on the seat to the grab rail on the helm for additional safety in heavy conditions.

Our only real regret is that we were rushed to meet our Atlantic crossing deadline. Buyers benefit from more time and support during the handover. Details like setting up the boat, walking through the installed gear, testing the systems and reviewing best practices make the experience less stressful and more satisfying for those with resources on hand. If we ever pick up a new boat again, it would make sense to deal directly with a local representative — having boots on the ground seems to improve the experience for those we’ve talked to. Our friends in the Lagoon community rave about the assistance they received with warranties, training, and delivery services from local agents. That said, would we buy again? Yes. The stability, easy sailing rig, forgiving design and comfortable floor plan deliver one hell of a good lifestyle.

The Starship makes cruising easy and handles a variety of conditions comfortably. Her reliable performance under sail has made our passages pretty awesome. From France to Gibraltar, Tangier to Madeira, Salvagen to Cape Verde and across the ocean — the voyages of Starship Friendship have been stellar. She’s even a bit famous. The YouTube channel ‘Sailing Starship Friendship ’ chronicles all the good and the bad. Luckily, the stability of a catamaran makes editing at sea easy and new episodes are published every Sunday – even in big seas and strong winds!

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Skillfully crafted & engineered to last

Cougar catamarans, uk based manufacturer of, cougar catamaran leisure & workboats, mca approved 10-14 metre work boats, cougar displacement, welcome to audacious marine boats & mouldings ltd, uk manufacturer of mca approved cougar catamarans based in ramsgate in kent, on the southeast coast of england., truly impressive fishing vessels, vessels manufactured to order in 6-14 metres, 3 build options available, quality workmanship & practices, fully scms & mca approved, for a commercial fishing boat, angling boat, workboat, private boat and shallow drafted survey vessel or crew vessel, you can’t get much better than a cougar catamaran, our company, build options, technical specs, choose your build option, mouldings kit, full structure, view technical specifications, cougar catamaran specifications, wheelhouse specifications, engine specifications, other specialist services.

We also specialise in the following  services from our Ramsgate workshop

• Commercial GRP Repairs
• Specialist GRP Parts & Mouldings
• Electrical & Mechanical Work
• Anti-fouling
• General boat maintenance

Our Cougar Catamarans are fully approved by the SCMS  Small Commercial Vessel Authorised Certifying Authority and MCA (Maritime & Coastguard Agency).

We use Technautic Marine Windows ISO 12216 certified aluminium marine windows and doors.

Our business meets the British Marine Federation Code of Practice and complies with UK standards, guaranteeing you top quality manufacturing.

Start planning your new boat...

Take the first step and get in touch with us using this contact form. You only need to tell us brief details about what you’re looking for and we will get in touch to discuss the details. If you like what we say, we can arrange to send you a price guideline.

TESTIMONIALS

A lovely 7 metre Cougar Catamaran by the team at Audacious Marine.  This craft has now completed more than 1000 hours without issue and with exceptionally low fuel consumption, being run at a constant speed of 13kn with the two Selva Murena 25XS Outboards.

Audacious Marine Boats & Mouldings Ltd. Sally Shed, Military Road Ramsgate, Kent. CT11 9LG.

Registered in England, registration no. 12347588.  

Registered address: 3 High Street, St. Lawrence, Ramsgate, England, CT11 0QL.  VAT registration no: 344 294 494.

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• 8-12 Meters

Cougar 8M power catamaran for sale

Stability of the cougar catamaran is amazing with very little movement and they have been coded for 12+2 although the majority choosing to code them for 10+2. All of our moulding and GRP work is done in our separate, temperature controlled moulding workshop, before vessels are then transferred into our fitting out workshop to continue their build. 

Standard Potting Style Wheelhouse Moulding

• Roof all-in-one
• Height: 2 Metres (max)
• Width: 2.1 Metres (max)
• Length: 2.4 Metres (max)

Angling/Private style Wheelhouse Moulding

• Separate roof
• Width: 2.75 Metres (max)

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Engine Options

The 8m version with pods and 115hp outboards performs at least as well as the version with inboard Nanni 115s.   If you are considering having an outboard version, of course, please  contact us.

Engine Specifications

• 18 knots top speed / 15 knots cruise
• 24 knots top speed / 18 knots cruise
• 27 knots top speed / 20 knots cruise
• 26 knots top speed / 19 knots cruise
• 28 knots top speed / 21 knots cruise
• 8 knots top speed / 22 knots cruise

Top Speed / Cruise

• Performance

About Cougar

• Rigid Inflatables
• Patrol Craft
• Custom Tenders
• Special Projects
• The US1 Series
• Cougar on Patrol
• Your Cougar
• Cougar Racing
• Historical Cougar

From the Company's beginnings in 1969 the Cougar name has been synonymous with cutting edge technology with both mono and multihull powerboat designs for commercial, military, racing and leisure purposes. For 50 years our constant striving to make technical advantages in the development of high strength and lightweight structures to maximise performance on the water has forged an enviable reputation that is recognised throughout the maritime world.

Originally founded by Clive Curtis, James Beard & Chris Hodges the company today is run by and continues its winning ways through Clive's son, multiple World Champion Steve Curtis and the Cougar team.

A long line of high performance craft with impeccable sea keeping have been designed and produced, from boats thoroughly tested and proven on race circuits around the world. The first catamaran to win an international offshore powerboat race was a Cougar and this revolutionary design heralded an era of dominance, which is still today echoed by the Company's involvement with developing Honda's one class race series into the largest one design series in the world and its involvement with the Spirit of Qatar offshore racing team.

Lessons learned and technology researched and developed in racing has been directly used in the design and production of Cougar's entire range of boats, even down to the introductory 6 metre rigid inflatable boat. The Company prides itself on this unrivalled approach and will always seek to strive and refine all processes to the benefit of our clients.

Today Cougar is not a high volume manufacture but it specialises in building custom bespoke boats around the clients requirements 

Cougar Powerboats

UK  Tel: + 44 (0)1329 484861 or + 44 (0)7977463991

USA Tel: +1 (561) 906-96955

e-mail: [email protected]

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CATALAC 8M Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of CATALAC 8M. Built by Catalac / Tom Lack Catamarans Ltd. and designed by undefined, the boat was first built in 1975. It has a hull type of Catamaran (no boards/asym.) and LOA is 8.23. Its sail area/displacement ratio 12.96. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by 76 L, runs on undefined.

CATALAC 8M has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about CATALAC 8M and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, auxillary power tank, contributions, who builds catalac 8m.

CATALAC 8M is built by Catalac / Tom Lack Catamarans Ltd..

When was CATALAC 8M first built?

CATALAC 8M was first built in 1975.

How long is CATALAC 8M?

CATALAC 8M is 7.77 m in length.

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