Fewer than 100 were built, so the Edel Cat 33 remains a comparatively rare survivor rather than a mass-market multihull.
Design and Construction
The Edel Cat 33’s defining structural feature is its dismantlable construction. The hulls and cockpit or bridgedeck assembly can be separated using an assembly of aluminium beams—a feature almost unknown among production cruising cats.
The hull and deck are solid fibreglass. Different keel alternatives were offered, including a bilge-keel arrangement: twin keels that allow the boat to be beached.
At 33.8 feet overall and just under 20 feet in beam, the boat has a length-to-beam ratio of 1.66. That makes the platform notably roomy for its length; by this ratio, it’s more spacious than 90 percent of similar sailing catamarans. Its displacement-length ratio of 113 places it among what reviewers called “light racers,” with 58 percent of comparable sailboat designs categorized as heavier.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Edel Cat 33 carries a compact fractional sloop rig. Together with the three-volume superstructure, it gives the boat a visual character quite unlike that of modern catamarans.
Sail area is 645 square feet on a displacement of 7,200 pounds, producing a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 27.67. That figure is consistent with the light-racer classification and the boat’s semi-offshore cruising equipment.
Auxiliary propulsion comes from a simple outboard engine protected by a cover, keeping the installation minimal, accessible, and serviceable. With the twin keels, draft varies from about 2.6 to 2.9 feet depending on load. That’s shallow enough for gunkholing and for the beaching permitted by the bilge keels.
Deck and Accommodations
The deck plan was genuinely original for its era. Each hull is independent and has its own companionway, while a pair of broad side decks separates the central nacelle from the hulls.
The topsides structure is divided into three distinct volumes, reinforcing the impression of two private hulls flanking a separate central living area. Inside are six berths and 250 liters of fresh water capacity, while headroom is above average for the class.
The separate companionways and generous beam appealed to charter operators, who valued the simple, redundant access to each hull.
Ownership and Refits
Because the hulls and bridgedeck can be dismantled using aluminium beams, owners have a practical transport or storage option that most catamarans lack. However, the boat’s kit-built origins mean fit and finish vary from one example to another.
The outboard remains easy to reach under its cover, and the solid-fibreglass hull and deck are straightforward to maintain. The low original price and the dealers’ “Edel Kit” nickname reflect a boat intended to be assembled and owned outside the full-service brokerage world, an approach that still found favor with professional charter fleets.
Verdict
The Edel Cat 33 is a pragmatic, light-displacement cruising catamaran with a genuinely unusual dismantlable structure and plenty of beam for its length. Its compact rig, separate hull companionways, and beachable bilge keels suit shoal-water cruising and simple ownership. The trade-offs are its rustic kit-built origins, variable assembly quality, and a small production run that limits refinement and spares commonality.
Pros
- Dismantlable hulls and bridgedeck joined by aluminium beams, allowing transport and storage
- Generous beam for its length, above-average headroom, and six berths
- Beachable bilge keels and shallow draft for a catamaran
- Light-racer displacement and a fractional rig intended to provide lively performance
Cons
- Delivered in kit form, with a rustic finish and assembly quality that varies between boats
- Simple outboard propulsion rather than inboard diesels
- Fewer than 100 built, limiting shared knowledge and the parts network
