Design Brief & Intent
The Sol Cat 20 was conceived as an open-water racing machine that prioritized hydrodynamic efficiency over simplified beach launchings. Unlike the ubiquitous, asymmetrical rockered hull shapes of contemporary beach cats like the Hobie 16, Vernon engineered the Sol Cat 20 with highly symmetrical hulls and deep, retractable daggerboards. This design choice eliminated the lateral slip common to banana-hulled catamarans, allowing the boat to point exceptionally close to the wind and drastically reducing drag.
The build quality also departed from standard production practices of the mid-1970s. Rather than relying solely on traditional chopped-strand fiberglass, Sol Catamarans incorporated advanced composites for the era, utilizing Kevlar and graphite layups to optimize structural rigidity while keeping the overall package incredibly light. Additionally, the interior hull spaces and deck junctions were fused together using a flange-less bonding system that eliminated the traditional raised rub-rail joint. This created a sleek, aerodynamically clean hull profile that resisted torsional flexing under load.
Innovations & Hull Architecture
Two primary engineering features distinguish the Sol Cat 20 from other performance catamarans of its time. The first is its unique, factory-designed telescoping beam extension system. In the late 1970s, the physical dimensions of a high-performance multihull presented a significant highway trailering challenge. To achieve the 10-foot beam necessary to provide a stable, high-righting-moment racing platform, the boat would ordinarily require permit-restricted wide-load trailering or tedious, complete track disassembly at the launch ramp. Sol Catamarans resolved this by integrating a telescoping mechanism into the aluminum crossbeams, allowing the fully rigged 10-foot beam to compress down to a highway-legal 8 feet for transport.
The second major innovation lies in the rig. The Sol Cat 20 utilizes a powerful fractional sloop configuration with an aerodynamically clean, rotating aluminum spar. This setup maximizes the efficiency of the mainsail’s leading edge, behaving like an airfoil to significantly improve performance on tight reaching and upwind legs.
Sailing Performance & Handling
With a bare displacement of just 475 pounds and an exceptionally high sail area-to-displacement ratio of 64.39, the Sol Cat 20 is a lightning-fast machine that demands constant crew focus. The boat's extremely low displacement-to-length ratio of 28.78 highlights its ultra-light, wave-slicing hull form. At the helm, the symmetrical hulls and deep dual daggerboards provide crisp, positive tracking and an impressive ability to claw to weather.
The boat's capsize screening ratio of 5.13 and comfort ratio of 1.74 tell the real-world story of its handling. It is highly sensitive, responsive, and unforgiving in heavy air. The massive righting moment generated by the wide 10-foot beam allows a fit, active crew to carry substantial sail area in higher wind ranges, but managing the mainsheet requires vigilance to prevent pitchpoling when sailing downwind or during sudden gusts. Additionally, like many classic, daggerboard-equipped catamarans, the Sol Cat 20 has a low-buoyancy bow profile compared to modern wave-piercing designs, requiring the crew to keep their weight well aft when running downwind to avoid stuffing the bows. Tacking can also be challenging; because of the low-displacement hulls, sailors must execute a precise technique, often backing the jib momentarily, to prevent the boat from getting stuck in "irons" mid-turn.
Known Issues & Triage
For modern buyers and owners maintaining these vintage racers, age-related structural degradation is the primary concern. Since production ceased decades ago, any existing Sol Cat 20 is a candidate for thorough structural triage.
- Telescoping Beam Fatigue: The telescoping aluminum crossbeams and their locking mechanisms must be carefully inspected for galvanic corrosion and structural wear. Sand, salt, and lack of lubrication can seize the slides, while stress fractures can develop around the locking pins or mounting bolts due to decades of torsional twisting.
- Deck and Hull Soft Spots: Despite the advanced Kevlar and graphite materials, the fiberglass decks and hull sides can suffer from delamination. The areas surrounding the daggerboard trunks, mast step, and beam connection pylons are subject to high stress concentration and should be checked for flexing or soft spots.
- Dolphin Striker and Rigging Play: The dolphin striker—the cable and post assembly support beneath the forward crossbeam—must be under high tension. A loose or damaged striker can lead to catastrophic failure of the front beam under mast load.
- Rudder Gudgeon Stress: High-speed gybes put immense leverage on the transom. Inspect the fiberglass around the rudder gudgeons for spiderweb cracking or internal laminate breakdown.
The Verdict
The Sol Cat 20 is an exhilarating, historical artifact of the golden age of beach catamaran racing. It is not a boat for beginners or casual, single-handed daysailing, but rather a technical, high-performance speed machine suited for experienced sailors who appreciate classic design and blistering speed.
Pros
- Blistering speed and exceptional upwind pointing ability thanks to symmetrical hulls and deep daggerboards.
- Innovative telescoping beam system makes trailering a 10-foot-wide boat exceptionally easy.
- High-quality original composite construction featuring early uses of Kevlar and graphite.
- Highly responsive, tactical feel at the helm that rewards skilled crew work.
Cons
- High physical demand and complexity make it unsuitable for single-handed or novice sailors.
- Low-buoyancy bow sections increase the risk of pitchpoling in heavy downwind conditions.
- Replacement parts and class-specific hardware are scarce, requiring custom fabrication or adaptive sourcing.
- Prone to getting caught in "irons" during sloppy or slow tacks.
