With a capsize ratio of 5.17 and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 63.54, the Evolution sits firmly among lively small cruisers rather than sluggish tenders. Yet it folds into two packs measuring 180 by 25 by 25 centimeters and takes roughly half an hour to assemble.
Design and Construction
Grabner built the Evolution around newly designed floats intended to deliver the best sailing performance in the series. The hull’s rigidity comes from an operating pressure of 0.3 bar, which the builder says guarantees a very stable, hard hull.
The air chambers have an airtight natural-rubber inner skin covered by an outer EPDM layer. Pressure-heated vulcanization joins the materials, while the multi-chamber system divides the boat into two independent air chambers for safety. The red hull meets ISO standard 6185cat VI/C and is rated for wind force up to 5 on the Beaufort scale.
Construction uses no PVC, chlorine, or plasticizer. Grabner says the boat uses renewable primary material that is 100 percent recyclable and produced under humane conditions. Easy repair is another stated attribute.
Dimensions, Rig, and Handling
The Evolution measures just over 15 feet overall, with a 15.26-foot waterline that matches its overall length. In other words, it doesn’t sacrifice sailing length to achieve its compact packed size. Beam is near 7.2 feet, and displacement is 174 pounds.
Its fractional-sloop rig carries a mast about 21.6 feet above the waterline and 123.78 square feet of sail area. That generous sail area relative to the boat’s low displacement helps explain the lively handling and speed Canadian Boating praised. Listed hull speed is 5.23 knots.
When the wind fails, the Evolution can be paddled or powered by an outboard. Grabner specifies a maximum of 6 horsepower, allowing the boat to serve as a tender or lake runner even without its rig.
Crew Space, Stowage, and Portability
Despite its compact packed dimensions, the Evolution is very comfortable and unbeatably stable, with plenty of room for crew and luggage. It can carry as many as four adults or a working load of 500 kilograms. Interior space measures 190 by 150 centimeters, while the bow and stern each provide 40 liters of stowage—enough for gear on an extended camp-cruise.
Grabner presents the combination of the smallest packing dimensions and the highest versatility as a hallmark of the design. The boat packs into two narrow bags measuring 180 by 25 by 25 centimeters. Packed weight is 75 kilograms, and assembly takes about 30 minutes, with a stated range of 25–35 minutes. It therefore needs little room for transport or storage between outings.
Limitations and Maintenance
The Evolution’s main constraints are inherent to the inflatable-catamaran type. Hull hardness depends entirely on maintaining the specified pressure of 0.3 bar. The two-chamber arrangement isolates a breach to one float, but the damage still requires prompt repair. No upper pressure limit or tolerance for pressure loss should be assumed beyond the stated figure.
Ownership centers more on preservation than refitting. The builder describes the boat as easy to repair, and the absence of PVC and plasticizer points to a skin that ages without the softening common to cheaper inflatables. The life of a used example depends on whether its EPDM and natural-rubber chambers have been kept at pressure and protected from prolonged UV exposure; otherwise, the renewable, recyclable construction is forgiving.
The 30-minute assembly time, 75-kilogram packed weight, and two-bag stowage also make seasonal ownership practical where there’s no room for a trailered rigid dinghy.
The Verdict
The Happy Cat Evolution is a genuinely engineered portable catamaran, not a toy. Its vulcanized, multi-chamber hull, tuned floats, and brisk sail plan combine compact transport and storage with real sailing ability. Its clean-material construction is also a quiet advantage for owners who care where their gear comes from.
Pros
- Hard, stable hull at 0.3 bar, with two independent air chambers for safety
- Fast and well-mannered under sail for its size, according to Canadian Boating
- Packs into two narrow bags and assembles in 25–35 minutes
- Recyclable, PVC-free construction that is easy to repair
Cons
- Inflatable construction requires disciplined pressure maintenance and provides no rigid-hull redundancy
- Limited by specification to Beaufort 5 and a maximum 6 hp outboard
