Design and Construction
The Hurricane’s defining character comes from its hulls. These are large, convex, wave-piercing tubes of vulcanized rubber with no PVC, chlorine, or toxic plasticizers, and the material is fully recyclable and rated for a 20-year service life hulls are made of a special EPDM/natural, vulcanized rubber skin. Grabner’s construction goal was maximum buoyancy with minimal resistance, which lets the boat sail upwind at roughly the true wind speed. The 21-inch-diameter tubes are stabilized by a crossbar and joined to an anodized aluminum frame through sleeve inserts; square plug connections at the frame and mast are designed not to torque or twist in heavy air and seas. Stainless steel is used for the centerboard mount, terminals, shackles, and karabiners.
Rig and Handling
The rig is a fractional sloop with a square-topped, fully battened main and a furling jib set from a short aluminum sprit, totaling 118 square feet. There is no boom to strike crew, and a 4:1 mainsheet purchase keeps the sail controllable by hand even in a blow. The 20-foot tilt-up mast rotates under sail to capture every puff, but a ball joint with a limiter can lock rotation in stronger breeze. Double shrouds control mast bend, and a jib luff and leech tensioner plus a mainsail luff tensioner, clew board, sheet leads, and traveler give the sailor real trim authority. SAIL Magazine’s test sailors found her zipping along at 9 knots on a close reach in 10 knots of wind, and boats.com recorded 50 degrees apparent wind angle at nine knots in the same breeze test sailors found her zipping around at 50 degrees apparent wind angle doing nine knots. Windows in the sails aid visibility, and hiking straps let crew get weight well outboard when the wind pipes up.
Accommodations and Layout
This is a daysailer, not a cruiser, yet the layout is practical. The foredeck is very usable, and the space between the hulls carries gear or extra crew; the boat is rated for a crew of four, though two sail it readily. A small outboard or a trolling motor up to 6 hp can be clamped to the frame for windless days. Packed for travel, the boat splits into two long bags for frame and mast (about 71 by 12 inches each) and a smaller satchel for the rubber hulls.
Options and Ownership
Grabner offers an upmarket carbon version with a 100 percent carbon rig that saves 13 pounds over the aluminum mast; the stiffer carbon also helps mainsail shape and makes righting after a capsize easier. Optional light- and heavy-weather sails, a trapeze, capsize protection float, bow deck seat cushion, sun canopy, tarpaulin, swim ladder, and dry bags extend the boat’s range. The rubber is easy to repair, and the whole package is light 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 a single sailor can manage. Its environmental story and pack-down convenience are unmatched in its size class, and its upwind performance belies the soft hulls. The trade-offs are those of any minimalist beach cat — no cabin, no creature comforts — but for what it is, it is exceptionally well resolved.
Pros
- Wave-piercing vulcanized rubber hulls with no toxic plasticizers, recyclable, 20-year rated
- Sails upwind near true wind speed; 9 knots recorded in 10-knot breeze
- One-person setup in 40 minutes; packs into three bags at 187 lb
- Rotating tilt-up mast, 4:1 mainsheet, full trim controls, no boom
Cons
- Inflatable hull format limits it to daysailing and light shelter
- Optional carbon rig and sails add cost and complexity to a minimalist design
