Okay, here's another 'short run' production boat. Looks like its from the Star Wars drawing board, check out the Sizzler! Damon add it to the treasure trove!
http://albany.craigslist.org/boa/2970174714.html
love it! it was in the jaws 2 movie, but 2600$ is a bit pricey for my cheapazz. i think they weigh in well over 400lbs. the good news is that is you wreck it, you can always recycle it like a beer can!
I bet that thing is impossible to tack, and probably why it didn't catch on.
Oh I love the Sizzler and have a few good pictures, not many under sail though! Aluminum and filled completely with foam from the factory (which slowly absorbed water and become extremely heavy).
http://thebeachcats.com/pictures/?g2_itemId=3367
Price on that one (with no sail!) is pretty funny.
This is the second Sizzler for sale in the Albany area in two seasons. Wonder if there was a dealer here
once upon a time.
The trailer is worth at least $1000. Pete
Agreed the aluminum trailer is worth some $. I wasn't aware that the hulls were also aluminum, some recycle value there! What is the thing laid across the back on the rudders and under the tillers? No sign of a mast or sails.
For anyone viewing this thread and wanting more info about the Sizzler Catamarans. I had forgotten about an eight year old article here that gives a lot of history and details. Enjoy.
http://www.thebeachcats.com/news/116/sizzler-catamaran-aluminum-beachcat/
Cool history!
Hey, do you know if anyone has written up a comprehensive history of catamarans in the 1960s to 1980s era? I was looking for info on the boat I have, and ran across a neat article from a boat builder who lives out here. He designed several of the boats that are operated at the resorts here, and sailed and raced with a bunch of the designers of the beach cats we all use. Neat article, but too short in my mind. I'd love to see all these stories in one place.
Thanks for feeding the interest in extinct cats, Damon.
Tom
benedict wrote: Hey, do you know if anyone has written up a comprehensive history of catamarans in the 1960s to 1980s era?
Well I've collected everything I have been able to find starting in the mid-nineties when I started moderating the old hobielist mailing list.
I'm always begging people to dig through their archives and find those old sales brochures and advertisements from all those many (now extinct) beachcats produced in the early years. Just when I think I've seen them all someone comes up with a new picture. And I haven't even scratched the surface of all the unique designs from outside the USA.
Here's that article I mentioned. It covers a lot of ground on early beachcat history, and goes into the building of some of the larger trans-oceanic racing cats:
http://setsail.com/catamaran-history-the-early-days/
Sea Smoke, which is mentioned in the article, is moored about thirty minutes from my house. Not a beach cat, but not a cruising cat, either. The first time I saw it I did a double-take. It's largely been converted for whale watch tours and night sails, but it still has the high aspect ratio rig of a race boat. It's a good read.
Tom
P.S. As soon as I get my boat finished I'll be happy to add lots of photos to the P-Cat section.