Visayan 60' Catamaran (V18) General Arrangement

Visayan 60' Catamaran (V18)

General Arrangement

The general arrangement plan of the first Visayan 18 Catamaran now under construction shows the layout of this big cat intended as a field trip vessel for a mission organization operating throughout the Philippines. Basic requirements included sleeping as many as possible on board during operations and carrying a modest amount of mission cargo. Powerful engines insure schedules can be met regardless of weather, and shoal draft allows the vessel to closely approach remote villages in rivers or bays or lacking pier side facilities. Many different interior arrangements are possible with this design. A power only version is also available.

Important features to note in this version are as follows:

• Spacious Salon
• Fully Covered Cockpit
• Broad Stern Deck
• Maximum Ventilation
• Big Galley Down
• Private Forward Cabins
• Hull Width Toilet Compartments
• Bridge Deck Stateroom
• Walk in Engine Rooms
• Design Flexibility

Spacious Salon

The salon arrangement has been kept simple to maintain an overall feeling of spaciousness and to maintain flexibility of arrangement. The dining table will seat 8 without crowding. The forward bench seat is narrow at the table for comfortable seating, but widens out to form 2 additional single bunks for comfortable sleeping in the well ventilated salon if desired.

Lightweight weatherproof or attractive locally manufactured rattan chairs are used at the dining table. These same chairs can be carried to the huge stern deck to watch the sunsets, always a pleasant activity in tropical waters.

The navigator has a full-sized chart table with substantial chart stowage and basic navigation instrumentation at hand. A radar/chart plotter/GPS at the chart table can be swung to face aft to be visible to the helmsman in the cockpit. //top

Fully Covered Cockpit

A centrally located fully covered cockpit spans the width of the vessel between the salon and bridge deck stateroom. Entrances to both bridge deck cabins are weather protected by the hardtop of the cockpit. The floor of the cockpit is raised as it is the top of the large fuel tanks whose weight is best located centrally in the vessel. From this already raised floor level the helmsman has an elevated pilot chair with excellent visibility all around. The cockpit is open at the sides, though roll down flaps may be used to improve weather protection. Forward and aft windows open to maintain ventilation and visibility. //top

Broad Stern Deck

The after deck space on the Visayan 18 serves as the front porch of the boat. The large area accommodates a full size inflatable or 14 foot dinghy without crowding. Stern lifelines across the back of the deck (not shown) are removable from flush sockets for boarding of the dinghy. A heavy tender may be lifted by a simple guyed aluminum pole socketed into the aft cabin wall with the mizzen halyard winch doing the hard work. The pole is stowed out of the way when not required. Stern seats double as deck lockers and a safe propane bottle locker. The two aft crew sleeping cabins are entered from the stern deck. Safe boarding from dockside or dinghies is accomplished from the side of the hull at the stern stairs. //top

Maximum Ventilation

Generous ventilation is an important feature often not found in designs intended for use in colder climates. An otherwise well designed boat, if not properly ventilated, will be a sweaty misery in the tropics. Air conditioning is unnecessary on our Visayan cats.

The large forward salon windows on the Visayan 18 open fully, but seal well when closed, and will safely stand up to the roughest sailing conditions. When fully open they add extra shade to the forward salon and permit the lightest breezes to flow through the entire salon area for maximum comfort. Large deck hatches are installed over the hull cabins, with opening cabin side ports to keep air moving down below as well. All of the aft windows of the owner’s stern cabin open similarly providing shade and ventilation. Thru-out the beams, bunks and storage areas, careful attention is given to ventilation to keep the entire boat fresh and cool. //top

Big Galley Down

Many cruising chef's prefer a galley up on the bridge deck, (and you can have that if you wish) but this boat is so well ventilated that airflow in the salon could disturb the cooking flame and the stove will function better in the hull. With the large open pass-thru to the salon, the cook is still a part of the conversation, but without imposing the galley clutter in the salon area. There is a full size double sink, 3 burner stainless stove with oven, a top opening refrigerator, and a separate top opening freezer. With all these built-ins there is still enough counter space in this galley to prepare a banquet. //top

Private Forward Sleeping Cabins

The forward sleeping cabins feature true double bunks (big singles in the bows), well ventilated with generous headroom and comfortable bench seats surrounded by substantial stowage space. The current project includes 4 stacked berths in the port center hull area, with hanging lockers and stowage spaces across the aisle. //top

Hull Width Toilet Compartments

Port and Starboard toilet compartments are full hull width. A large separate shower compartment is also available in each hull. The starboard toilet and shower are arranged to be privately accessed from the stern stateroom and the port compartment is set up to be the vessel’s public restroom. //top

Bridge Deck Stateroom

The center bridge deck area is dominated aft by a large stateroom. This cabin is a proper apartment or office with a large desk, comfortable sofa seating, queen size bed, and lots of stowage. //top

Walk in Engine Rooms

Engine rooms are dedicated machinery spaces with walk-around standing headroom providing convenient access to the engines, pumps, refrigeration, water maker, and other ships equipment. This first vessel is being equipped with two Yanmar 4LHA-TBE 4 cylinder turbocharged diesels engines rated at 160 hp. //top

Design Flexibility

We have emphasized some of the basic design features of the Visayan 18 here that make it a truly comfortable warm weather cruising catamaran. As custom builders, we can modify this design to make it more suitable for colder weather as well, if required.

Take a close look at these sketches of the Visayan 18 and we think you will agree with us, that this is a big cruising cat well worth considering.

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