Design and Construction
Catalacs were built as North Sea boats with a relatively low center of gravity and low windage, traits that suit a vessel intended for rough water rather than sunny lagoon hopping. Owners report that the hulls carry a lot of very dense fiberglass everywhere, and the boat is built a bit heavier than the typical catamaran of its size. That density produces a stiff hull with a nice margin of strength to stand up to groundings or collisions with objects in the water. The rudder is hung on a stout keg that protects the sail drive and the prop, and a well-protected helm station helped the same owner stand extended watches without being exhausted. The solid fiberglass hull and deck, with lead ballast, reinforce the impression of a boat engineered for punishment rather than weight savings.
Rig and Handling
The Catalac 10 carries a modest sail area for its size, which keeps loads manageable but will not win any passage races. The owner report notes that she is not a fast cat under sail or under power, yet she sails remarkably well for a loaded cruising cat and tacks well without needing any tricks like back winding the headsail, maintaining a nice 5-plus knots under modest breezes. The low center of gravity and low windage let her stay upright and on her feet in a storm, though she goes into irons fairly easily and will stay there without a lot of attention — a handling quirk worth respecting when maneuvering in tight spots. Twin 25-horsepower sail drives give the power to work off a lee shore and to push the bow into the wind when needed; the owner's loaded boat motored very quietly at around 6 knots on the GPS on one engine at about 2400 RPM, burning well under a gallon an hour.
Accommodations
Storage is the defining theme below. There are four very large lockers at both ends of the boat, which the owner warns invite overloading the ends. Each of the two staterooms has a lot of shelves, drawers, and compartments, and the port hallway alone holds two large hanging lockers, a tall chest of drawers, and several 6-foot-long shelves. The galley is fitted with the storage needed for a month or so between grocery stops, and each head has great storage for the things that logically go with it. Ventilation is generous: six opening hatches in the ceilings, eight side windows that tip in and can be left open in most rains, and two large sliding windows on each side of the raised salon section keep the interior livable on a hot day.
Known Issues
The only documented handling caveat is the tendency to fall into irons and stay there if not promptly corrected. The dense construction and protected running gear argue against structural worries, but the large end lockers create a real risk of stowing too much weight fore and aft, which would degrade the boat's otherwise steady sea manners.
The Verdict
The Catalac 10 is a deliberately heavy, quietly powered cruising catamaran built for northern waters and long self-sufficient stretches. It trades speed for stability, protected systems, and staggering stowage. A buyer who values a boat that stays upright in a storm and carries a month of provisions over one that clips along at speed will find the design coherent and purposeful.
Pros
- Low center of gravity and low windage from a North Sea design brief
- Dense fiberglass hull with strength to absorb groundings and collisions
- Protected sail drives and props behind a stout rudder keg
- Exceptional storage throughout, including month-long galley provisioning
- Twin 25 hp sail drives for lee-shore escapes and quiet motoring
Cons
- Goes into irons easily and lingers there without attention
- Built heavier than typical cats; not fast under sail or power
- End lockers tempt overloading that hurts trim
