Kick-up Rudders with Single retractable Centerboard

We certainly didn't invent kick-up rudders, they are available on many different kind of boats, but you rarely see them on larger cruising catamarans these days, and we think they ought to be there. The world is not yet totally "marinized" and as a cruising sailor you will still find many situations where deliberately beaching the boat for bottom painting or other maintenance will be required. You can expect an occasional beaching situation that wasn't planned too. This "big and shoal" is one of the real advantages of the catamaran configuration, but not if you are sailing with deep spade rudders. As mentioned spade rudders may be slightly more efficient under sail, but cruising "performance" involves practicality in all matters of conducting the overall voyage, and sooner or later, that is going to involve beaching the boat.

The strong Visayan skeg type rudders are designed to easily and fully kick up either after accidentally striking an object while underway or by deliberately being released to swing up. They can be completely removed from the boat by removing just two bolts.

A single well designed centerboard has proven to be very adequate for good cruising sailing performance in the Visayan designs. Minimum interference with hull accommodation is achieved by placing a useful pilot berth and counters over the centerboard case. Only one hull has to be configured to accept the board and we usually have a very spacious "galley down" in the other hull. Our centerboard has been designed to be nearly as efficient as an equivalent high performance daggerboard, but with the added safety of being able to automatically kick up in the event of striking an object or the bottom without damage to the board or the boat. The centerboard control lines are run aft to the cockpit area where they can be quickly released. [back to features list]

Rotating Wing Masts

Our Visayan designs carry conservative sloop rigs with rotating masts, fully battened mainsails, and furling jibs as standard for ease of handling while cruising. The slightly reduced sail area is handily made up for by the efficient performance of the controllable foil shaped mast. These masts use much less rigging than standard mast plans which reduces windage aloft and expense. Mast rotation is controlled by two sheets led to the cockpit area, and proper use will be quickly learned. For enhanced sailing performance in light to moderate conditions an additional "screecher" can be set free-flying on a "prodder" a-frame from the forebeam in front of the forestay. The rig has now in effect become a cutter sailplan.

The masts are very carefully built in our shop to engineered designs from Barlow Wing of the UK.
If preferred an aluminum non-rotating mast can be installed. [back to features list]

Maximum Natural Ventilation

The name of the game for comfortable tropical cruising is ventilation, an important feature often overlooked in designs intended mainly for use in colder climates. An otherwise well designed boat, if not properly ventilated, will be a sweaty misery in the tropics.

The forward bridgedeck windows on the larger Visayan designs open wide, but will still 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 side ports to keep air moving down below as well. Through-out the beams, bunks and storage areas, careful attention is given to ventilation to keep the entire boat fresh and cool. Noisy gensets and air-conditioning are not required on a Visayan catamaran. [back to features list]

Simplified Interior Arrangments

The interior furniture and appointments have been simply designed and are crafted to enhance the feeling of openness and lightness functionally provided by the generous deck area and ventilation openings. We paint the interior of the boats with the same paint used on the hull and decks for maximum durability, with a modest amount of varnished or colored trim. The result is a seamless, easily cleaned, and maintained interior. [back to features list]

Attractive lines

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course, and we certainly can't claim to be unbiased, but we feel we offer an unaffected design that is functionally attractive without deliberate styling, contrived angles or elaborate paint schemes. The boats have a pleasant blend of traditional appearance suitable to the sea in harmony with their modern multihull character. It has been a genuine pleasure developing the Visayan Series of catamaran designs. Consider the pleasure of owning one. [back to features list]