zapcat purchase

nugent · 11 March 2005, 16:10

long time no words from my self..
missed you all of course...

looking to purchase zapcat any down falls on said item that i should be aware of before letting go of my hard earned dollar?
any comments greatly appreciated been watching these for some time now and do like the idea of owning one so easy to launch and park up out of the way,,
many thanks in advance..

David Hickman · 13 March 2005, 18:32

I tried to get a quote for the basic model but with a trailer, flexible fuel tanks.
I had an standard e mail back from the sales chap telling what i already knew as we had a presentation at the RYA conference.
I replied again asking for waht I wanted, and still waiting about 4 months later!!
Come on ZapCat, I need a reply!!

Jono Garton · 13 March 2005, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Hickman

we had a presentation at the RYA conference.

Is that what you call it

David Hickman · 13 March 2005, 20:44

OK!!!!!
More of aren't we great etc etc...... But come to try and buy one... Euan ( think his name was) passes it onto the sales chap who sent me everything that I picked up in Coventry anyway!!!!!!

It may be a toss between your Avon or a Zapcat!!!!

Rogue Wave · 13 March 2005, 21:42

Nugent to answer your question, yes they are great fun! and easy to maintain and move. They are a lot smoother to be on than you would imagine as they kinda skim across the surface

The engines are Tohatsu 50's and they pretty reliable an low tech so you can look after them quite easily, they do go through coils quite often though and these are not a warranty item so I'd get a spare.

Also my friends won the team Chamionship last year ( they had four Zapcats) with Team Navaho and have decided not to compete this year. They have a couple for sale I'll pm you their number if interested.

Euan has left Zapcats and I think gone on to V24's or

The sales guy is now called Tony Jones 07780996400

nugent · 14 March 2005, 18:03

thanks for the replys not sure if buying an ex race craft is a good idea though,,, obviously worked well..
many thanks demo day m,e thinks with credit card handy,,
or second hands look good round 3.5k mark searching time i think

King_C · 14 March 2005, 18:09

u wanna have a word with craigdavis.....hes jus bort one and is racing it this year....ill point this thread out 2him.

C

craigdavis · 14 March 2005, 18:21

Hi there nugent i have brought pne of the navaho race boats a few months ago and i am going to race it this year. I found that buying a second hand one works out wel as long as you chose the right one if u are looking at gettin into racing for the first time becase of the fact its cheaper and youcan get one with all the works dun which saves you a lot of money. my engine had had work done to it that would have cost me over £2000.

If you want to have a chat about them pm me ure details and ill send u mine and i can metion u to tony

Jimbo · 14 March 2005, 18:22

Apparently ZapCat are also now selling Cats fitted out for Safety Boat work. I think they have a 40hp on the back, and are apparently quite good as they are nice and low for windsurfers and dinghies. Only problem is that you're a bit exposed to the elements on them.

Ed the Duck · 15 March 2005, 10:48

Nugent,
I was in the same situation as you 2 years ago- In the end I decided against the Zapcat as I wasn't going to race it and wanted to do some serious passages. I ended up buying a Gemini GRX420.

The GRX420 has a similar (or identical?) underwater hull to the zapcat, but has a bow, fatter tubes and a full transom . I went for an ex-contract 40hp Mariner as the price was far lower than a new Tohatsu. The performance and handling is very impressive (though not quite like a zapcat) and playing in surf is superb fun. I had concerns about the lack of transom draining, but have had no problems so far.

You sit in (rather than 'on') the GRX and it has an incredibly dry ride for such a small boat. Strap a few ortlieb drybags in the bow and you can carry loads of kit with you.

Get in touch if you want more info or if anyone wants a blast out.

Ed

tim griffin · 15 March 2005, 11:00

How much would you expect to pay for a decent second hand one as would like one for our lifeguard club

craigdavis · 15 March 2005, 11:05

What are you looking for Tim a zapcat or a grx 420.

tim griffin · 15 March 2005, 11:34

Zap cat or the thundercat we already have two bombards just interested as we would have to apply for a grant to purchase one,and not sure if we can get this for a secondhand boat.

gtflash · 15 March 2005, 11:57

how about someone making a 7m zapcat, that would be cool... or is a zapcats ability purely in its nimbleness??

craigdavis · 15 March 2005, 13:16

Zapcats do make very good surf rescue boats because they are a ver stable platform and can cope with the battering of the surf and that they lower down which make it easy for getting people out of the water into the craft.

the only thing that comes close to 7m one is this made by thunder cat.

http://www.mullacottmarine.co.uk/

Thunder cat do a 5.3m boat with a steering wheel

nugent · 16 March 2005, 17:17

ED thanks for the offer
really am in a pundry as to what to buy going hunting over easter ,, let you know the results real soon

craigdavis · 16 March 2005, 17:36

What would you use a zapcat for i you got one Nugent.

Ed the Duck · 16 March 2005, 17:41

Nugent,
More than happy for you to PM me if you've got any questions about the Zapcat/ Gemini GRX420 choice - I spent ages trying to work out what to get. Requirements were for a boat that would take up little room at home, easy to transport, easily launched through surf and 'safe' to do singlehanded passages.

Would change a few things about the boat if I was starting from scratch again, but there's nothing too major.

Shame you wern't around at the weekend - had 2 mates up from birmingham because of the big surf running on the local beach. GRX performed well, my helming didnt.

Ed

craigdavis · 16 March 2005, 17:46

Ed whats the grx like. Did you have a go on a zapcat. Sounds like fun what hight surf did u have.

Ed the Duck · 16 March 2005, 18:03

Craig,
My GRX is way slower than a Zapcat - it doesn't have that insane acceleration. No suprising as I went for heavier denier hypalon, have a bow, carry a lot of kit (anchor, spare fuel, tools, etc, etc) and have a 93kg 40hp engine, with a plastic prop.

Tops out at 30kts with 2 onboard and all the gubbins. In the surf I trim the engine right in, put doelfins on the engine and drop the pitch on the prop - better acceleration at the cost of top speed.

Surf on sat was a messy 6-8ft. Having a superb time up until it went wrong! Started when I landed awkwardly, ended up out of the boat, clambered back in, restarted and kept on going. Hadn't realised that the fuel line had severed at the mid point. Engine sucked in water rather than fuel coughed and died.

Got the sea anchor out and started the drift back through the surf to the beach. Took on alot of water, but the boat drained really quickly despite the lack of open transom. Incredible force in the waves and was really impressed by the sea anchor's performance. All came a croper about 40m of the beach where the waves were dumping. Backflip, and an upside down boat on the beach.

Not too much damage - scaped outboard cowl, lost compass, vhf dodgy now?

Biggest concern is that the righting strap parted when I tried to right the boat on the beach! Glad it didn't happen offshore!