Design and Construction
African Cats built the 305 using the proprietary Vector-K vacuum infusion process, in which the dry, high-tech material structure is sealed and vacuum bagged before resin infusion takes place. The result is a lightweight, very strong, and very fast catamaran anchor. Epoxy resin is used throughout, and the builder states the hulls are completely osmosis free, now and in the future. Solid fiberglass forms both hull and deck, with no core material in the hull itself. The epoxy-infused approach yields a 30-foot yacht that carries an 18-foot beam and 5,200 pounds of displacement while still earning the builder's description as a pure pleasure to sail.
Rig and Performance
The 305 is a fractional sloop carrying 622 square feet of sail area, split between a 366-square-foot mainsail and a 243-square-foot genoa. A 43.1-foot mast above the waterline and a 28.3-foot waterline length give her a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 32.1, a figure that, combined with the light 5,200-pound displacement, explains the builder's claim that the Vector-K variant is a pure pleasure to sail. Twin 13-horsepower diesel saildrives provide auxiliary power, and a 3.3-foot draft keeps her comfortable in shallow anchorages. A capsize screening ratio of 4.14 and a comfort ratio of 6.05 place her firmly in the light-displacement cruising catamaran camp rather than the offshore-passage heavyweight class.
Accommodations
Where the Fastcat 305 surprises is below. Three cabins sleep six people, with rear cabin berths measuring 2.00 by 1.30 meters. A spacious bathroom is shared by the cabins, and the galley sits in the saloon, which the builder describes as amazingly spacious with a brilliant view all around. A period review reinforced this, noting a comfortable six-seater saloon with wrap-around exterior views anchor. Freeboard is high enough to deliver nearly six-foot headroom in both the bridgedeck saloon and the hulls without an excessively boxy profile. In the cockpit, there is seating for six. Mattresses are ventilated with special air mats to prevent damp, smells, and moulds, a thoughtful detail in a compact multihull.
Equipment
From the factory the 305 was fitted with LED lighting and wireless wind, speed, and depth instruments, the latter confirmed by both the builder and the importer's review. The builder claimed she is better equipped than any other cat in her price and size, a bold statement backed by the standard fit of epoxy construction, wireless instrumentation, and efficient LED house lighting.
Ownership Notes
Production ran from 2002 to 2008 under African Cats B.V., with Rajan Naidu credited as designer throughout. The Vector-K building method and epoxy infusion are presented as ongoing innovations by the builder rather than one-off experiments, and the osmosis-free claim is framed as permanent thanks to the epoxy resin used.
The Verdict
The Fastcat 305 is a compact, light-displacement cruising cat that uses sophisticated epoxy infusion to deliver strength and speed in a 30-foot, six-berth package. Her beamy saloon and thoughtful ventilation make her livable, while the shallow draft and twin saildrives suit coastal and island cruising. She is not a heavy offshore voyager, but as the smallest cat in the African Cats line she makes a compelling case for accessible multihull ownership.
Pros
- Light, strong epoxy-infused Vector-K hulls claimed osmosis free
- Spacious six-berth, three-cabin layout with near-six-foot headroom
- Shallow 3.3-foot draft with twin diesel saildrives for easy handling
- Standard wireless instruments and LED lighting from the factory
Cons
- Light comfort ratio (6.05) limits heavy-weather offshore appeal
- Shared single bathroom across three cabins
- Production ended in 2008; no new hulls from builder
