Ekolo'kat 33 by Nicolas Gruet

Eco-philosophy, for the pleasure of "full-on" cruising

NEW: Download and print the PDF spec sheet

The lightness and slimness of this catamaran make it a real machine for generating apparent wind. Its lifting appendages mean that shallow anchorages are easily accessible, and the boat can be beached, thanks to the Kevlar protection on the bottom of the hulls. The propellers are positioned on the interior lateral parts of the hulls to avoid any impact with the seabed. It is designed for six passengers for a weekend or a short cruise, and the vast cockpit contains a kitchenette and a table for meals; everything can be protected by a large forward spray hood at anchor. The Ekolo'kat 33 could also suit a day-sailing programme for twelve passengers, thanks to its great stability. The hulls contain three double berths, a head/shower and a navigation area.

Thanks to its construction in plywood-epoxy, from developable panels, including the mast and forward crossbeam, this big cruiser can easily be built by an amateur in very little time. It is built upright in a female basket mould. The structure's lightness means that a modest sail area is all that is needed for a high level of performance. A "Solomon technologies" electric propulsion system is possible: under sail the motors become alternators to recharge the batteries. On short cruises, the boat can be equipped with a small petrol 4-stroke auxiliary generator to increase the initial range.

Nicolas Gruet
Tahiti, February 2006
http://ng.archinav.free.fr - This article was first published in Multihull World.