Design Brief & Intent
The defining design parameter of the Endeavourcat 30 Mk II is its beam. At exactly 14 feet, 6 inches, the boat was engineered to fit into a standard 15-foot monohull slip. This "slip-friendly" footprint immediately distinguished it from wider contemporary catamarans like the Gemini 105 or the PDQ 32, offering immense logistical and financial advantages for coastal marina docking.
To maximize the interior volume within these dimensions, the designers utilized a unique molded V-shaped center bridge deck underbody, which Endeavour termed the "Hydra-cell". Described by naval architect Robert Perry as a stepped V-hull ending in a flat wedge, the Hydra-cell center section is flanked by outboard flats with recessed tunnels. This complex hull geometry allowed Endeavour to drop the cabin sole low enough to provide an astonishing 6 feet, 4 inches of standing headroom in the main saloon, bridge deck, and hulls—creating an interior volume equivalent to a 40-foot monohull.
The interior arrangement is incredibly spacious for a 30-foot boat, featuring two private double-berth staterooms in the forward section of each hull, a large U-shaped dining saloon on the bridge deck, a fully equipped galley in the starboard hull, and a generous head with a dedicated walk-in shower stall in the port hull. The joinery is simple and low-maintenance, relying heavily on easy-to-clean fiberglass liners accented with teak trim to add warmth.
Variations & Configurations
While the early hulls of the original design were cat-rigged and simple, the Mk II variant established the fractional sloop configuration as the standard.
- The Rig: The Mk II features a fractional sloop rig utilizing a fully battened mainsail with a high-roach profile, paired with a self-tending jib. The headsail is rigged on a "camber spar"—a curved aluminum spar fitted into a pocket on the sail's foot. This setup allows the jib to act like a wing and self-tack automatically, making short-handed sailing remarkably simple.
- Propulsion Options: The boat's propulsion options changed over its production run. The standard specification in the provided data features a single central 25 HP Honda four-stroke outboard engine. This outboard was typically mounted on a central pivoting sled or steerable outdrive mechanism linked to the rudders to assist with maneuverability. However, several factory-built and owner-retrofitted hulls were configured with twin Volvo Penta or Yanmar 10 HP inboard diesel engines driving sail drives. While the twin-engine setups add weight and maintenance complexity, they offer "spin-on-a-dime" handling that the single outboard sled cannot match.
- Draft: All configurations draw just under three feet (typically 2.83 feet), making the boat highly capable of navigating the shallow waters of the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Evaluating the Endeavourcat 30 Mk II through its technical ratios reveals a boat designed strictly for comfort and ease of handling rather than raw speed. With a displacement-to-length (D/L) ratio of 135.64 json, the boat sits in the light-displacement category. Its sail area-to-displacement (SA/Disp) ratio of 19.61 json provides respectable power once the sails are filled. However, because of its high wetted surface area and relatively conservative waterline length, it is not a light-air flyer. It requires a moderate breeze to overcome hull drag, but once active, it comfortably reaches speeds of 7 to 8 knots.
The capsize screening ratio of 2.93 json is excellent, confirming the high initial stability inherent in catamarans. The motion comfort ratio of 11.55 json, however, reflects the characteristic motion of a light, relatively short catamaran. In a seaway, the motion can feel quick and occasionally jerky compared to a heavy-displacement monohull. Crucially, the "Hydra-cell" center hull section reduces bridge deck clearance. When sailing into a choppy head sea, this lower clearance makes the boat prone to bridge deck pounding or slamming, which can be noisy and limit comfort. Off the wind or on a reach, however, the boat settles into a stable, level attitude, tracking beautifully and keeping the crew entirely dry.
Market Snapshot & Economics
The Endeavourcat 30 Mk II holds its value well on the brokerage market, trading as a sought-after entry-point multihull. Because it fits into standard monohull slips, it represents a highly economical entry into catamaran ownership, saving owners thousands of dollars annually in slip fees.
Buyers should expect a clean bifurcation in value between outboard-powered and diesel-powered models. The diesel sail drive variants command a premium due to their superior docking control and charging capabilities, but they also introduce significantly higher long-term maintenance liabilities. Because production numbers were relatively modest, these boats do not flood the market, and well-maintained freshwater or lightly used coastal examples tend to sell quickly when they appear.
Known Issues & Triage
While the vacuum-bagged, closed-cell foam core construction of the hulls and deck is highly robust and largely free of systemic rot, there are specific areas that require scrutiny:
- Sail Drive Corrosion: On twin-diesel models, the aluminum sail drive casings are highly susceptible to galvanic corrosion and electrolysis. If the zinc anodes have been neglected, the casing walls can pit and eventually fail, requiring costly replacement.
- Steel Fuel Tank Corrosion: Many older hulls were fitted with mild steel fuel tanks placed in damp areas of the lazarettes. Over time, condensation causes these tanks to rust from the bottom up, leading to fuel leaks. Replacing the tank is a major labor undertaking, often requiring fiberglass cutting of non-structural bulkheads to remove the old tank and slide in a modern plastic or aluminum replacement.
- Camber Spar Pocket Wear: The heavy aluminum camber spar in the self-tending jib places localized stress on the sail cloth. The pocket housing the spar frequently chafes through at the forward end, requiring sailmaker reinforcement or canvas patchwork.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modern owners of the Endeavourcat 30 Mk II focus their refits on enhancing autonomy and upgrading older propulsion systems:
- Lithium (LiFePO4) and Solar Power: The hardtop bimini and wide coachroof provide an ideal foundation for solar panel arrays. Veteran owners frequently install 400W to 600W of solar panels paired with lithium battery banks. This provides enough energy independence to run 12V refrigeration and occasional air conditioning without relying on a marine generator.
- Outboard Repowering: On single-engine outboard models, original older outboards are frequently upgraded to modern 25 HP or 30 HP high-thrust outboards (such as those from Yamaha or Suzuki) featuring extra-long shafts and power tilt, which significantly improves control in heavy swell and reversing currents.
- Trampoline Upgrades: Upgrading old, heavy vinyl trampolines to modern, high-comfort open-weave net materials reduces weight on the bow and allows waves to drain instantly, decreasing the boat's tendency to pitch in a chop.
The Verdict
The Endeavourcat 30 Mk II is a cleverly engineered, comfortable pocket cruiser that successfully packages the living space of a much larger vessel into a slip-friendly footprint. It is not a high-speed racing multihull, but for coastal cruisers, couples, and pocket-catamaran enthusiasts looking for a stable, shallow-draft platform to explore the Keys or the Bahamas, it is one of the most practical and economical options ever built.
Pros:
- Fits into standard 15-foot monohull slips, significantly reducing docking fees.
- Exceptional interior volume and 6-foot, 4-inch headroom throughout the cabin.
- Highly stable and level sailing platform that is easily managed single-handed.
- Shallow draft allows for effortless gunkholing in thin-water destinations.
Cons:
- Low bridge deck clearance leads to noisy slamming and pounding in head seas.
- Sluggish sailing performance in light air due to a high wetted surface area.
- Outboard-powered models lack the tight-quarters maneuverability of twin-engine catamarans.
