Design and Construction
African Cats built the 305 using its proprietary Vector-K vacuum-infusion process. The dry, high-tech material structure is sealed and vacuum-bagged before the resin is infused. According to the builder, the result is a lightweight, very strong, and very fast catamaran.
Epoxy resin is used throughout, and both the hull and deck are solid fiberglass, with no core material in the hull itself. The builder states that the hulls are completely free from osmosis, now and in the future.
This epoxy-infused construction produces a 30-foot yacht with an 18-foot beam and a displacement of 5,200 pounds. Despite that beam, African Cats describes the Vector-K model as a pure pleasure to sail.
Rig and Performance
The Fastcat 305 has a fractional sloop rig carrying 622 square feet of sail area, divided between a 366-square-foot mainsail and a 243-square-foot genoa. Her mast rises 43.1 feet above the waterline, and her waterline length is 28.3 feet.
A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 32.1, combined with the light 5,200-pound displacement, helps explain the builder’s claim that the Vector-K variant is a pure pleasure to sail. Twin 13-horsepower diesel saildrives provide auxiliary power, while a draft of 3.3 feet suits shallow anchorages.
Her capsize screening ratio is 4.14, and her comfort ratio is 6.05. Those figures place the 305 firmly among light-displacement cruising catamarans rather than in the heavyweight offshore-passage class.
Accommodations
The Fastcat 305 offers more space below than its length might suggest. Three cabins provide berths for six people, with the rear cabin berths measuring 2.00 by 1.30 meters. All three cabins share one spacious bathroom.
The galley is in the saloon, which the builder describes as amazingly spacious, with a brilliant view all around. A period review likewise noted a comfortable six-seat saloon with wrap-around exterior views.
High freeboard provides nearly six feet of headroom in both the bridgedeck saloon and the hulls without giving the boat an excessively boxy profile. The cockpit also seats six. Special air mats ventilate the mattresses to help prevent damp, smells, and moulds—a thoughtful feature aboard a compact multihull.
Equipment
Factory equipment included LED lighting and wireless wind, speed, and depth instruments. Both the builder and the importer’s review confirm the wireless instrumentation.
The builder claimed that the 305 was better equipped than any other catamaran of its price and size. That was a bold statement, supported by the standard fit of epoxy construction, wireless instruments, and efficient LED house lighting.
Production and Ownership Notes
African Cats B.V. built the Fastcat 305 from 2002 to 2008, with Rajan Naidu credited as designer throughout. The builder presented the Vector-K method and epoxy infusion as ongoing innovations rather than one-off experiments. It also framed the osmosis-free claim as permanent because of the epoxy resin used.
The Verdict
The Fastcat 305 is a compact, light-displacement cruising catamaran that uses sophisticated epoxy infusion to combine strength and speed in a 30-foot, six-berth package. Its broad saloon and ventilated mattresses make the accommodation more livable, while the shallow draft and twin saildrives suit coastal and island cruising.
This isn’t a heavyweight offshore voyager. As the smallest catamaran in the African Cats range, however, the 305 makes a compelling case for accessible multihull ownership.
Pros
- Light, strong, epoxy-infused Vector-K hulls claimed to be free from osmosis
- Spacious three-cabin, six-berth layout with nearly six feet of headroom
- Shallow 3.3-foot draft and twin diesel saildrives for easy handling
- Factory-standard wireless instruments and LED lighting
Cons
- Low comfort ratio of 6.05 limits its heavy-weather offshore appeal
- One shared bathroom for all three cabins
- Production ended in 2008, with no new hulls available from the builder
