Ready to sail, the Hurricane weighs 187 pounds. It packs into three canvas bags and can go from car to water in as little as 40 minutes with one person assembling it.
Design and Construction
The Hurricane’s defining feature is its pair of large, convex, wave-piercing tubes. The hulls are made of a special EPDM/natural, vulcanized rubber skin, with no PVC, chlorine, or toxic plasticizers. The material is fully recyclable and rated for a 20-year service life.
Grabner designed the hulls for maximum buoyancy with minimal resistance, allowing the boat to sail upwind at roughly the true wind speed. The tubes are 21 inches in diameter and stabilized by a crossbar. Sleeve inserts join them to the anodized aluminum frame, while square plug connections at the frame and mast are designed not to torque or twist in heavy air and seas. The centerboard mount, terminals, shackles, and karabiners are stainless steel.
Rig and Handling
The Hurricane carries a fractional sloop rig with 118 square feet of sail area. Its square-topped mainsail is fully battened, while the furling jib sets from a short aluminum sprit. There’s no boom to strike the crew, and the 4:1 mainsheet purchase keeps the main controllable by hand, even in a blow.
The 20-foot tilt-up mast rotates under sail to capture every puff. In stronger breeze, a ball joint with a limiter can lock that rotation. Double shrouds control mast bend, while a jib luff and leech tensioner, mainsail luff tensioner, clew board, sheet leads, and traveler provide plenty of control over sail shape and trim.
SAIL Magazine’s test sailors recorded 9 knots on a close reach in 10 knots of wind. In the same breeze, boats.com recorded a 50-degree apparent wind angle at 9 knots. Windows in the sails improve visibility, and hiking straps allow the crew to move their weight well outboard when the wind pipes up.
Layout and Practical Use
The Hurricane is a daysailer rather than a cruiser, but its layout is practical. The foredeck is very usable, and the space between the hulls can carry gear or extra crew. The boat is rated for four people, though two can sail it readily.
For windless days, a small outboard or trolling motor of up to 6 hp can be clamped to the frame. When packed for travel, the boat divides among two long bags for the frame and mast—each about 71 by 12 inches—and a smaller satchel for the rubber hulls.
Options and Ownership
Grabner offers an upmarket carbon version with a 100 percent carbon rig. It saves 13 pounds compared with the aluminum mast, while the stiffer carbon helps maintain mainsail shape and makes the boat easier to right after a capsize.
Options include light- and heavy-weather sails, a trapeze, capsize protection float, bow-deck seat cushion, sun canopy, tarpaulin, swim ladder, and dry bags. These additions can extend the boat’s range. The rubber is easy to repair, and the complete package is light and compact enough to store in a closet and tow with a light vehicle.
The Verdict
The Happy Cat Hurricane is a genuinely unusual boat: an inflatable catamaran with real racing manners and a rig that one sailor can manage. Its environmental credentials and pack-down convenience are unmatched in its size class, while its upwind performance belies the soft hulls.
The trade-offs are those of any minimalist beach cat: there’s no cabin and there are no creature comforts. Within that brief, however, the Hurricane is exceptionally well resolved.
Pros
- Wave-piercing, vulcanized-rubber hulls with no toxic plasticizers; recyclable and rated for 20 years
- Sails upwind near the true wind speed; 9 knots recorded in a 10-knot breeze
- One-person setup in as little as 40 minutes
- Packs into three bags and weighs 187 pounds ready to sail
- Rotating tilt-up mast, 4:1 mainsheet, full sail-trim controls, and no boom
Cons
- Inflatable-hull format limits the boat to daysailing and light shelter
- Optional carbon rig and sails add cost and complexity to a minimalist design
