The 17-foot hull was offered in three deck styles. With a 7-foot-3-inch beam and a ballasted shoal keel, the Sun Cat remains one of the few modern American pocket catboats aimed squarely at family sailors who want simplicity without giving up overnight capability.
Design and Construction
Mills drew the Sun Cat as a wide, stable little cruiser. Its sweeping sheer and pronounced bow look purposeful rather than merely decorative. The hull and decks are hand-laid fiberglass, and both the hull shape and construction appear robust.
A weighted keel provides stability. A stainless steel centerboard in a fiberglass trunk—introduced by Com-Pac in more recent years—adds lateral resistance and serves as a trim control for helm balance. The builder claimed that the design had few moving parts and was nearly maintenance-free. With a displacement of 1,500 pounds, a 7-foot-3-inch beam, and a ballasted shoal keel, the boat keeps upwind heeling angles comfortably low.
Rig and Handling
The Sun Cat is a true catboat, with main and gaff booms. It uses Com-Pac’s patented Mastendr quick-rig system: a lightweight mast mounted on a stainless steel hinge a couple of feet above the deck, a Highfield lever on the forestay, and a safety pin that locks the hinge.
The main boom, gaff boom, sail, and all running rigging stay in place while trailering. That cuts ramp-rigging time dramatically compared with most trailerable sailboats. The mast can even be lowered while afloat to fix a halyard.
To raise sail, pull the main, or throat, halyard and the peak halyard together. The peak halyard runs through a 2:1 purchase. Both halyards lead through Spinlock line clutches, allowing you to release tension momentarily without dropping the sail. The downhaul controls luff tension, while two outhauls—one on each boom—adjust sail fullness. A traveler across the bridgedeck controls boom position.
Upwind, the boat wants a fairly tight setup, apart from the mainsheet, with the centerboard fully lowered. It punishes pinching but, with proper airflow, carries real power through tacks. On a reach, easing the peak an inch or two and lifting the board slightly can reduce weather helm. On a run, raise the board fully to reduce drag and avoid excessive round-up during an accidental jibe.
Cockpit and Cabin
The Sun Cat was offered either as a huge-cockpit Daysailer or in a cuddy-cabin version. In the open layout, it seats six adults with room to spare. High coamings double as backrests, and the curved aft corners wrap around the helmsman’s shoulders. Storage is provided beneath the cockpit benches and in an enclosed forward locker.
The standard cabin model boasts two berths, along with space beneath the bridgedeck for a porta-potti. Its 7-foot-3-inch beam makes the cabin genuinely spacious for a 17-footer and well suited to overnight use. The bridgedeck keeps water out of the cabin if a wave washes the cockpit, while sassy elliptical cabin ports light the interior.
Known Issues
A catboat’s single sail places heavy loads on the mast. That strain can flex the hull and appear as gelcoat cracks or crazing. Older boats—the oldest were around 16 years old by 2016—may need their standing rigging inspected or replaced. Deck delamination is also a possibility.
Given its central role in the rig, the mast hinge deserves close attention.
Parts, Refits, and Ownership
Parts are straightforward to find because the builder remained in business, and technical assistance is available. The hinged mast and trailering-ready rig mean a used Sun Cat can be launched and recovered in minutes. Its simple gaff rig, together with lazy-jack options, also keeps sail handling manageable for short-handed crews.
The Verdict
The Sun Cat 17-2 is an affordable, safe, and sturdy pocket catboat. It trades the complexity of a sloop for a gaff rig that a family can manage, yet remains responsive enough to trim adjustments to engage experienced sailors.
Its beamy cabin and shoal draft make it a credible coastal weekender, while the Mastendr system removes much of the difficulty from trailering.
Pros
- Quick, trailering-ready rig, with mast and sails staying in place
- Beam and ballasted shoal keel provide low heeling angles and a stable platform
- Roomy cockpit or a genuinely usable two-berth cabin for a 17-footer
- Parts and technical support available from the original builder
Cons
- Catboat mast loads can craze gelcoat and fatigue standing rigging
- Deck delamination is a recognized risk, and the mast hinge needs scrutiny
- The single-sail rig punishes poor steering habits upwind
