Design and Construction
The Phantom is a fiberglass catamaran with raked stems and vertical transoms. Its solid-fiberglass hulls attach to a frame spanned by a central trampoline, keeping weight low and the middle of the boat open.
For transport or storage, the hulls can be detached from the trampoline frame. This allows the 14-foot boat, with its 6.67-foot-beam, to be broken down rather than trailered fully assembled. Displacement is a light 350 pounds.
With the daggerboards down, the Phantom draws 2.18 feet. Retracting them reduces draft to six inches, allowing the boat to float off a beach or use a shallow ramp.
Rig and Handling
The Phantom carries a Bermuda rig configured as a fractional-rigged sloop, with a rotating mast—a suitable combination for a light planing dinghy. Total sail area is 140 square feet, enough to drive the 350-pound boat with little effort.
Steering is through two transom-hung, kick-up rudders controlled by a tiller. These work with a pair of retractable daggerboards. In shallow water or during a sudden grounding, the rudder blades pivot upward instead of binding. The daggerboards likewise retract, reducing draft from 2.18 feet to six inches.
Twin rudders and twin boards give the Phantom predictable tracking and make it easy to launch or recover from a beach, without a centerboard trunk intruding on the trampoline.
Accommodations
The Phantom has no cabin or enclosed space. Its only “accommodation” is the central trampoline stretched across the frame between the hulls. Crew sit or lie across this span and move their weight to trim the boat.
Each hull serves as a buoyant float rather than a livable space. The boat is intended for day sailing, with gear carried in bags.
Verdict
The Phantom is a compact, cleverly engineered catamaran dinghy. Its detachable hulls and retractable boards address the usual difficulties of transporting and launching a trailerable cat. It’s light enough to manhandle and simple enough to maintain, while the rotating fractional rig keeps it lively in breezes that a heavier boat might struggle to use.
The trade-off is complete exposure to the weather. With no shelter and only a trampoline for crew space, the Phantom is best suited to fair-weather day sailing and sailors who don’t expect a cabin.
Pros
- Hulls detach from the trampoline frame for easier transport and storage
- Retractable daggerboards reduce draft from 2.18 ft to 6 in
- Kick-up rudders protect the blades in shallow water
- Low 350 lb displacement paired with a 140 sq ft rotating-mast rig
Cons
- No cabin or enclosed accommodation
- Trampoline-only crew space limits comfort and gear stowage
