World Cat

World Cat is an American brand, there are almost two dozen models in the company's lineup, divided into two main groups - with a central location of the control console or with two consoles, like one of the newest models - 296DC.

The vessel has an unusual design, its silhouette is easily identifiable. Unlike many multihull vessels of this length, the 296DC's primary gathering point is the bow rather than the center or stern. This is facilitated by the considerable width, reaching 2.92 m, as well as the fact that the aft platform is conceived as a fishing area and there, for the sake of creating free space, places for rest were sacrificed. It can accommodate at least four: two in the opposite direction of movement, behind the captain's and passenger's seats, two more in the aft folding places that can be removed. There is no sun deck at World Cat 296DC. You won't be able to get it by transforming the seats. This is a serious disadvantage considering the spaciousness on board. You can sunbathe in the bow, but the 296DC is still seriously inferior to much narrower monohull vessels. The World Cat line includes models that are more sunbathing friendly.

The driver's seat is ergonomically reminiscent of an ordinary bowrider: a high windshield has a folding center section for passage to the bow, but due to the width of the ship, the captain's seat is very spacious, this is suitable for those whose dimensions are larger than average. The dashboard is noticeably larger than that of ordinary 9-meter boats: there is a 15-inch screen as standard, but there is a lot of space, and it is not difficult to install additional electronics. The captain's chair is designed for large people, it is wide, has no noticeable lateral support, and has a pronounced adjustable bolster in the front of the cushion. By lifting it, you can get a chair to steer the boat while standing. The passenger seat has the same design: adjustable rollers are rare there.

The design of the catamaran automatically means the presence of two engines. For the World Cat 296DC, the powerplant is quite expensive: the manufacturer recommends a pair of 300 hp outboard motors. For obvious reasons, it will not be possible to do with one, and it is only partially possible to save money by installing less powerful engines: 250-horsepower engines can be considered an acceptable choice, but less powerful options will significantly increase the time to planing, worsen the dynamics of the catamaran, but give a small gain in consumption fuel. The World Cat 296DC is where the recommended power is not overkill. With a pair of 300-horsepower engines, the vessel demonstrates outstanding dynamics, accelerating to more than 86 km / h, but such speeds are possible only with fully open throttle bodies and fuel consumption reaches unreasonable values. Even cruising 50-55 km / h is a good indicator, and at speeds no higher than 70 km / h, the consumption can be considered acceptable for a 600-horsepower unit.

The World Cat 296DC features a smooth ride and great ride comfort. These are the standard advantages of multihull vessels. The downside is slightly less sharp than conventional 9m boats, especially in tight spaces. Management is easy, without specifics (except for the standard features of catamarans) and high requirements for skipper skills. For beginners, it is better not to recommend the 296DC, as it is a fairly fast boat; the World Cat 296DC is a fast and comfortable catamaran for passengers, it is suitable for those who need more cabin space than in a bowrider. The vessel is suitable for sea fishing and at the same time for relaxing with family and friends during the day, has limited opportunities for sunbathers and is not intended for an overnight stay on board. The lack of budget power plants leaves an imprint on the cost, the level of trim on board is relatively modest. If you have an idea of the merits of the model, it can turn out to be an interesting proposition in the segment.

Brief technical characteristics of the catamaran World Cat 296DC:

Length: 8.87m

Width: 2.92 m

Draft: 0.38 m

Weight (with motors): approx. 4 t

Maximum / Recommended Power: 600 HP (2 x 300 HP)

Fuel capacity: 882 l (2 x 441 l)

Cage volume: 95 l

Water supply: 125 l

Cruising speed: 49 km / h

Maximum speed: 86 km / h

Fuel consumption at cruising / maximum speed: 135/240 l / 100 km

Passenger capacity: 12 people