Design and Construction
Johnson’s design centers on a middle pod section he calls the Deltapod. It is intended to remain submerged and break up waves passing between the two main hulls. According to Johnson, the wake created by the pod allows the bridgedeck to sit higher above the water while still keeping discomfort from wave impacts down.
The pod also allows the main cabin sole to sit lower than it could beneath a flat bridgedeck without sacrificing headroom, creating useful additional space below. The boat has two small keels and draws just 2 feet 6 inches. With a beam of 15 feet and displacement of around 11,000 to 12,500 pounds, the Packet Cat 35 is a beamy, shallow-draft platform. Its D/L ratio of 165 identifies it as a heavy, volume-driven cruiser rather than a lightweight performer.
Rig and Handling
The rig is derived from a masthead sloop, but the mast is stepped well aft. This enlarges the foretriangle and reduces the mainsail, placing much of the sail area forward. The genoa’s tack sits on a platform extension.
The foretriangle isn’t masthead in the conventional sense. Meanwhile, the mainsail has a roach that overlaps the backstay, preserving sail area but complicating the use of lazy jacks. All control lines lead aft along the housetop to the cockpit, while the sheet winches are arranged along the aft coaming. This allows a short-handed crew to work the boat from under cover.
Auxiliary power comes from twin 27-horsepower, freshwater-cooled diesels. Boats.com’s reviewer estimated a top speed under power of about nine knots and possibly ten. The modest SA/D ratio of 19.1 reinforces the boat’s emphasis on steady cruising rather than light-air speed.
Accommodations and Deck Layout
Comfort and space are the stated priorities, and the layout provides two nearly equal staterooms for two couples. The port stateroom is separate from its head for greater privacy, while the starboard cabin adjoins its own head. Both heads include shower stalls.
The roomy galley has a large refrigeration box and a serving window for passing meals to the cockpit. In the saloon, the dining table folds against the starboard bulkhead to free up floor space.
Outside, stern boarding platforms on both hulls lead up to a veranda level and through an open coaming into the very large cockpit. Forward, the flush foredeck provides a broad area for lounging in the sun.
The Verdict
The Packet Cat 35 is a thoughtfully engineered cruising catamaran that trades outright performance for interior volume, shallow draft, and a soft motion in a seaway. The Deltapod is a genuine design response to bridgedeck slap, while the twin keels and 2-foot-6-inch draft open gunkholing grounds that deeper-draft cats can’t reach.
The accommodations are well balanced for two couples, and the deck plan helps keep sailhandling manageable from the cockpit. However, the mast-aft rig, overlapping mainsail roach, and non-masthead foretriangle make for an unusual arrangement that demands careful sailhandling. The modest SA/D ratio also means progress in light air will be slow.
Pros
- Deltapod reduces wave impact and creates additional interior volume
- Shallow 2-foot-6-inch twin-keel draft suits easy anchoring
- Balanced accommodations for two couples, with separate and adjoining heads
- Twin 27-horsepower diesels provide strong auxiliary speed
Cons
- Low SA/D ratio limits light-air sailing performance
- Mainsail roach overlaps the backstay, complicating rig handling
