Design and Construction
The Catalac 10 has a 15-foot-3-inch beam and displaces 12,300 pounds. Catalacs were built as North Sea boats with a relatively low center of gravity and low windage, traits that suit rough water rather than sunny lagoon hopping.
Owners report that the hulls contain a great deal of dense fiberglass, making the Catalac 10 somewhat heavier than a typical catamaran of its size. According to the longtime owner, 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 hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the boat carries lead ballast.
The rudder is hung on a stout keg that protects the sail drive and prop. The well-protected helm station also allowed the same owner to stand extended watches without becoming exhausted. Together, these details give the impression of a boat engineered to withstand punishment rather than save weight.
Rig, Sailing, and Motoring
The Catalac 10 carries a masthead-sloop rig with 616 square feet of sail. That modest sail area keeps loads manageable, but the boat won’t win passage races.
The owner reported that the Catalac 10 isn’t fast under sail or power, yet sails remarkably well for a loaded cruising cat. It tacks without tricks such as backwinding the headsail and maintains a comfortable 5-plus knots in modest breezes. Its low center of gravity and low windage help it remain upright and on its feet in a storm.
However, the boat goes into irons fairly easily and will stay there without close attention. That handling quirk is worth respecting when maneuvering in confined waters.
Twin 25-horsepower sail drives provide the power to work off a lee shore and push the bow into the wind when needed. The owner’s loaded boat motored very quietly on one engine at around 6 knots on the GPS and about 2400 RPM, while burning well under a gallon an hour.
Accommodations and Stowage
Stowage defines the interior. Four very large lockers at both ends of the boat provide considerable capacity, although the owner cautioned that they invite crews to overload the ends.
Each of the two staterooms has plenty of shelves, drawers, and compartments. The port hallway alone contains two large hanging lockers, a tall chest of drawers, and several 6-foot-long shelves. The galley has enough storage to support a month or so between grocery stops, while each head offers ample room for the items normally kept there.
Ventilation is equally generous. Six opening hatches in the ceilings, eight side windows that tip in and can remain open during most rain, and two large sliding windows on each side of the raised salon section help keep the interior livable on hot days.
Known Issues
The documented handling caveat is the boat’s tendency to fall into irons and remain there unless promptly corrected. Its dense construction and protected running gear argue against structural worries, but the large end lockers present a genuine risk of carrying too much weight fore and aft. That would hurt trim and degrade the Catalac 10’s otherwise steady manners at sea.
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 exceptional stowage. A buyer who values a boat that stays upright in a storm and can carry a month’s provisions more than one that clips along at speed will find the design coherent and purposeful.
Pros
- Low center of gravity and low windage, reflecting its North Sea design brief
- Dense fiberglass hull with strength to absorb groundings and collisions
- Sail drives and props protected behind stout rudder kegs
- Exceptional stowage throughout, including galley capacity for month-long provisioning
- Twin 25 hp sail drives for working off a lee shore and quiet motoring
Cons
- Goes into irons easily and remains there without attention
- Heavier than typical catamarans of its size and not fast under sail or power
- Large end lockers encourage overloading that can hurt trim
