Yup and that's not even the max layout.. .. the boats only the 50 ...theres a 55 which gives a slightly neater layout and more space . Plus the boat has a unique hull material ..but I will leave it to him . but geologists ❤ it.😂
Thanks so much for making this! Sandy is especially thrilled about getting to see everything she couldn't due to her ankle. Great to meet you on board ... Can't wait to see next week's sailing vid!!!
My experience of most cats I've sailed is they are hot weather boats that you tend to live outside in the cockpit area, which is a shaded exterior living space where you lounge, BBQ, and socialize. It can be an extension of your salon too, and Seawind are particularly good at that design. This boat didn't have that. Yes, when the dingy is down you've got a good sized space but its not a lounging area and for a large cat the interior salon is relatively small and who wants to be inside when your anchored in the Exhumas or Fiji or somewhere remote and beautiful,? Add to that the galley which seems to be in the only place they could find for it, right over the stairs, and it really does lack space. I'm not convinced they couldn't have made far better use of the area than that have, all done i am guessing to allow for the forward situated steering. I must say, I've delivered a boat with that set up and it's got a lot going for it but you find your close quarters visibility isn't great and unlike an aft steering position you can't climb up or stick your head out to see corners. On passage it's really irrelevant as the boat steers itself most of the time and the on watch crewman has little to do. So basically it's a no from me on living space design.
He was probably constricted in his filming and thus didn't show one of the most important features. The boat has a garage-door-like rear wall that raises up for the experiences you're describing. Additionally there is a rear table and sitting area that is stored away which allows for more of a bathing suit like lounging. Lastly, I have never seen this galley design (I agree it's strange), but there is another option that puts the stairs down toward the bow separated from the galley. I would encourage you to watch some other Windelo reviews to see these features.
@@War4theWest it's a shared seating area with the internal sliding doors open. Where crew and family can all sit and share the passage safely even someone with mobility issues. Also with all round sliding windows you can open the whole living area up to any breeze. You also have 2m of freeboard and with the canted hulls ...and carefully chosen tramp netting .The boat stays remarkably dry even in heavy seas. . As I've said elsewhere this is the earlier 48/50 the 54 has extra space. For another view see the Barefoot doctor's tour and interview. I was thinking he was going to do a part two .?
Arrive today on the market to do the same thing as everyone has little interest. It is first of all a travel, sailing and pleasure boat, and not necessarily to charter on ultra hot islands. There are already plethora of models for this kind of program
16:19 Best shower I’ve ever seen on a boat Facts 19:22 That hatch by the bed though. OMG. love it. Looking under the cat. --------- Yeah this boat is phenomenal I’m curious about how the basalt and the PET behave with serious dings also repairs.
The inspirational daddy of this wonderful boats key concept is the Deepblue Rapido r550 which is worth looking at given that its was built in the same yard as the Daz cats .. and though the same length of the W 55 its even more suprising...though nearly a decade older.
It's not perfect, but it's pretty damned close. There are a few things I would definitely change if I were to buy one, but outside of Chris White or Gunboat cats, you just can't get a good forward cockpit anywhere else, and it's a must have. Perching out in the weather at the very back end of one of the amas has always been a bad helm position, worse if they try to put it on the roof. This is where the helm should be (albeit with a few changes). And I really love the use of basalt, massive solar, and the diesel-electric hybrid system. The problem with buying production cats is that you ALWAYS have to settle for whatever design or engineering decision were built into the thing, because they can't/won't change them for you. So, it's refreshing to see a production cat that gets so close to perfection, at least for my list of requirements.
completely agree. most cruiser cats like this should be forward cockpits with the intention of being like a pilothouse build on a monohull. the geometry lends itself to either opening the windows and enjoying the breeze or battening down against weather while still being able to do whatever you need to do with winches and lines in roughly the same configuration either way.
Quite impressive. The integrated walk on solar in particular is something I have never seen before. Even with such a large boat that is a massive amount. The actual output and lifespan will be very interesting. On the one hand I worry about the lifespan, on the other I think the high integration protects so much better that many failure modes are eliminated. The price is substantial, but there are solar cats and sail cats of similar performance that cost the same -this is both! I think the next step is a fuel cell backup with a stable gel for emergency only. By the numbers, it shouldn't be hard to never use that genset. Looking forward to your sail video!
mmm, Fuel Cell... w/ hydrogen generation and capture. Combine w/ multi-fuel burning diesel engine (20 yr old mercedes tech) for back-up.. The "biggest" secret problem with hydrogen is that individuals can generate their own fuel. Big Bro doesn't like that...
@@troublekaliman Theres two combustion generator motors im looking at the Durham university opposed free piston design.. which uses a reciprocating field generator the other is the Liquid piston Rotary... both of which use only about 50 parts including fasteners in the main engine structure are more efficient because they dont use con rods conventional cranks or all the other bearings etc the trad ICE does but quieter smoother greener. Plus you can rebuild this sort of motor on the cockpit floor. A 40hp liquid piston motor is about the size of a large 🏀 and can be held in the hands . The Durham one was less than half 50cm long 20cm deep and 24 wide with the exhaust and water cooling . Unfortunately Toyota scooped it up developed it ..then hid it . 🤔
You might have missed a thing, the whole back wall, I mean the entire rear sliding doors can be opened up. The winch you pointed is for lifting the rear panel.
Like the integration of the solar/hybrid system. Like the forward cockpit, seems like a good solution for a cat. Don't ike the stairs down from the galley, seems like a safety problem. The inside nav station seems redundant. Navigate from the forward cockpit. Wonder how well closing off that area is going to work in a heavy sea. Hull staterooms look really nice, have to wonder how well the seals on those big windows will last. Like the separate shower, much preferable to wet heads.
Interesting design , including the wrap around windows in the aft cabins but the design of the saloon looks too small and with very little aft cockpit for entertaining it doesn't seem to work (for me). Really like the center steering area , it would be the best place to be in a swell or the usual rock and roll of a boat on passage. Will be looking forward to your review next week of the sail. Thanks for the video.
I like parts of it. I wish the kitchen design was a little better, especially concerning the stairwell. Maybe they could include a folding table top to provide more work area above the stairs. It could be folded over the stairs when they were not in use and also provide an area to grasp to prevent falling down the stairs. I also wish it had a little more fresh and black water storage.
Yeah if I had to nitpick, I'd do away with the nav station and maybe add some counter space/galley on the port side too. I like how there's always something to brace against though.
Take a look at the 55 and they offer two kitchen layouts and a choice of interior finishes. With the rear doors open the seating part slides /Flips to complete the whole covered outside floating pavillion feel . I think this is an early version ..that did a circular navigation of the Atlantic with two families on board and returned via the Newfoundland Iceland Faeroes Shetland route in horrid weather, dry as a bone.. then down to the Med. Sailing in socks 😂 The Electric hybrid, multi feed in system means it uses a lot less fuel. In fact it tends to arrive with its batteries full and always quiet checks on the motors every two years 🎉
@@DrJBear-vi8ys 👍🏼It puts the stairway between the cockpit bulkhead and the L shaped kitchen top .. so better for safety but ...perhapse better on the larger 54 ...being French the boats are metric based so actually 48…54...58...theres also a little bro projected. All these boats are regularly single handed by the Windelo team. Theres also a revealing account of how well they handle rough weather provided by the prototype owner and Katamerans.
Superb boat, if I ever win the lottery would be on my list. Only point - what happens to this boat and its electrics if it takes a lightening strike ? Is there any protection built in or are all electrics fried ?
Electric could be the default for a lot of boats - cats, sailboats, cruisers. Yeah stick a small engine in as a backup but charge off the wind / solar by default. And cats have so much surface area that it's a no brainer since the range of a solar powered cat is far more than most people are likely to do in a single day of cruising. Especially for the money that people would save in fuel, and not having to go to a fueling dock, plus noise / vibration. Biggest issue is that electric is still relatively new to marine and where it is available, it costs stupid amounts of money.
Great looking boat. I am not a fan of Electric motors. Be sure and keep your boat out of Freezing Weather. I lost half of my battery band in my barn because I didn't keep them from freezing. They had heaters. The lay out of the boat is very nice. I wish you well. Gman
These are cool, but not my favorite layout of theirs. They offer bunk cabins in the front that I think are more space efficient (both hulls.. Owners side bunks even fold into the wall!!) and this puts the office area forward. I also am not too sure on that TINY washer/dryer combo. Maybe just for my personal clothes, but I doubt you'd be able to wash even one bed's worth of sheets in it. I'd consider having them build one in where that dishwasher goes and maybe use a smaller drawer dishwasher instead. Depends on the aft galley version's layout though, as that's also the one I'd go with. Those stairs look like a menace in a bad sea if you're trying to cook on the forward galley.
Question; I have no experience with boats, let alone a catamaran. What is the purpose of the trampolines? To keep people from falling into the water? Why not just build a solid platform? Can they be used for relaxation and recreation?
It's the master cabin. I think there is a version that has smaller daybed and I think bit different galley/saloon layout but you lose some headroom from master and/or the aft guest cabin
Its the raised ceiling in the master suit ..its a off duty layout pad or sun pad when at anchor and windows down .. The headroom is very generous in these boats so no banging your head or bending over while walking around below or indoors. Unless your closer to seven foot.
The flicker of LED lights is because their "refresh" rate is different than the camera's frame rate. Same reason wheels, propellers, rotors in film sometimes look like they're going at odd rates or backwards even.
Nice. The anchor chain in the cockpit seems like an odor problem waiting to happen. Perhaps it come with a airtight (possibly transparent) cover. Additionally, if the forward cockpit can be made airtight it could function as a buoyancy factor in rough seas, I imagine.
So many things I love about this boat, especially the cockpit, but the kitchen layout next to the stairs looks pretty dangerous. I’d love to see more sheltered outside space at the back, with either a smaller salon or a combined cockpit/salon to accommodate that. I’d like solar that was easily repairable too but I guess that would require other compromises. The cockpit is the thing that would make me buy it anyway.
LED lights come on and off almost instantly. So if they are being powered by AC at 50 or 60 hz, they come on and off 50 or 60 times per second. If your video is 30fps and the power is 50 hz, or if your video is 24 and the power is 60, it's not synced, so it gives you that perceptible flicker.
Beautiful catamaran! Tip - Try not to get your hands in the picture frame, we know what you are talking about. I battled through the video because of this. PS This is my first time watching one of your videos. I’ll be back.
luv the boat but what's with the rust on some of the fittings ie genset mounts drain on forward storage hinges and what looks like a drain out of the same storage drain i plan on getting one but i hope they sort out some of these its a new boat after all
@@rolidcz7954 Yep. And non toxic to work with, with a particle size less likely to enter the lungs. You still need to be suited and masked up though, of course!
Is it just me or is the dual helms in a protected area on a boat that doesn’t heel over that are 2 steps from each other seem a little silly? Very interesting boat, but not what I’d want to be blue water cruising on with a huge following sea.
Seems silly to me too, I would rather have one helm but a good camera system with various views around the boat (especially aft) monitored back to the helm to aid in docking and such.
I think it is silly to save money on a boat that starts at $1.3M by not providing a windward helm on all points of sail. Waves are much less of a problem in a boat like this because the waves don't go faster than the boat.
It's not just you mate. The overall layout and interior design is poor. Way too much space taken up by the cockpit. There's no aft outside space which is your typical outside lounging area. The galley is an accident waiting to happen and the dishwasher location is 🤣😂. The nav station is either unnecessary or too small I can't figure which but it looks like an afterthought. Time will tell whether the solar panels will last but from what I've read/seen stick on panels don't last because of overheating... Also not a fan of the large number of colors and textures on the interior finishes.
@@LearningtheLines That's....not what "outside" means.....the aft cockpit is tiny, and there are *plenty* of performance cruising cats that offer a lifted dinghy without compromising on space. And in this case, not only do you not have any useable space while under sail, but there's practically no safety features to keep you from just walking off the sugar scoops. The lifelines end a few feet forward, and the dinghy davit/cockpit extension looks to be just a single pivot point held in with a bolt on each side.
Very nice boat but you will never get the 6k watts of solar out of that set up. Much of it will be shaded, probably 3-4k at best. Then the flexible panels don't put out as much power and they don't last long. I do love that backup gen though, you'll need it. Electric motors probably should be a little bigger. We just aren't there yet with all solar boats, it will be awesome when we are. Could have been better placement with the solar, so you could have used better panels. The quality of the panels are a big difference. Been doing it for years with RV's. What they did is nice in theory but I wouldn't have done it that way.
Absolutely right. Flexible panels attached directly to the deck will overheat and quickly die, probably three years in the tropics. Why don't European builders ever supply kick up rudders to compliment the daggerboards? Lots of other nice innovations though. Certainly a stepping stone between boats of old and what will eventually become a viable alternative.
This systems already proven itself its lighter simpler and easier to repair than an entrained mixed hybrid. Besides you can change and up date all the elements of this system independently ... Try carrying a spare propulsion diesel motor round the world in a saloon stool sized plastic box. .. plus they dont need any servicing for two years. The other thing is the generators can be removed you still have a spare .. and the next thing will be doing away with bulky complex heavy conventional poppet valve piston engines for far smaller simpler lighter multi fuel motors . Basically that you can carry by hand in and out of a standard hatch. You also have huge reductions in battery cost and safety..with Na ion cells hitting the market in cars this year. Running an Ice generator at its Stoichiometric optimum saves fuel pollution and wear. If you need more convincing check out the Edison trucks company of BC and their Topsey hybrid logging truck. Diesels really dont like running at variable speeds /loads and for short periods. They need transmissions and clutches ... More dead wt and complex moving parts. Here the motor drives direct 100% control at all speeds in both directions. 🤷🏻♂️😎 The motors can even stand being under water. 😂
Not going to comment so much on the boat since others already did so. Just like all boats, this one as well has it’s great features and it’s shortcomings. I was following your channel quite some time way back when you and your wife worked (and demo boats) together. Then your first baby arrived and your wife disappeared from videos (to rise to more important tasks and duties no doubt). Short time after you moved to NS (I believe) you started second channel featuring conversion of van to motor home. Unfortunately that was also time where your videos dropped in quality (on both channels) and I dropped both your channels from my subscriptions. Today your channel 'Learning the Lines' appeared on my YT home page, so I viewed couples of clips. Sadly I have to say that there is no improvement in your videos. It is obvious that you you mean well and trying to cover all. But if I may suggest, slow down from 5th to 2nd gear and stop 'dancing' with your camera. Your takes won't be so 'jerky' and believe me, you will actually show a lot more. Well, this is 'my two cents'. I will keep you in my subscriptions for now, to see if your clips will improve, with which I sincerely wish you very best of luck. And for those who got impression that I am 'Mr. Know It All', well, not long ago I was called 'Retired Old Fart Photographer' (with years doing photography for living).
I really like the boat but those stairs off the galley look like a real hazard when underway. Rough seas and a fall is bound to happen. Would need to gate that off for safety.
The layout is pretty goofy. The galley being ridiculously dangerous and a major traffic problem. I still don't understand front cockpits. Separates the crew and can see a wave coming into the interior.
This boat is for northern climates where it's colder and rainier and you want more indoor living space and a protected cockpit. But then the solar is not going to be that effective there (scratches head)
In northern latitudes, you are actually likely to be sailing it in the summer, not the winter. That means that the hours of daylight are longer than in the tropics, but the heat is still not so intense, and solar panels really, really do not like getting hot, and lose a lot of efficiency so they are likely to provide more energy, not less, in real operating conditions than in the tropics and low latitudes. I agree with comments that the attachment of the panels directly to the deck is questionable though, from both the wear and the heat POV
I’ve watched these videos about this particular boat several times, and I still see no way to secure access to the boat to the steering. The best I can see is someone can easily get into the steering section with the two helms. This is something that I do not like at all.
@@LearningtheLines that is not what I said. I have not seen any way to close up access to the steering. Thus the boat is not secured. And anyone worth their salt can sail off a dock and there goes the boat
@@DrJBear-vi8ys this is true but entering from the forward station gives hidden access to the interior. Nothing like breaking into a boat when no one can see what you are doing even at noon. Not this is a problem but I this is also one of three boats I am looking at
Wtf, why would they think it was a good idea to put stairs right IN the kitchen...?? Half way through a rough passage, feeling like crap from seasickness....One moment forgetting the stairs and a bad fall.... Stunningly lack of understanding of Basic Safety on a cruising vessel. Also doesn't say what exactly is used to comletely enclose that forward cockpit.
Forward helm is brilliant. Salon is too small for a cat that size. Rear cockpit as well, too small. Suicide galley is ...nonsense. Below decks are okay. She's...a little in the raw stage. Just my opinion.
My question is..How much does it cost to replace the solar panels? Most solar panels last 5 years... I wonder.. would the cost in fuel pay for solar panel replacement after 5 years? Any thoughts people?
I dont see the point of electric propulsion as done on this boat. With 53Kwh of batteries you will basically get about 16nm of cruising range and you have nothing left. Even though you have 6kw of solar, you practically only get half of that with shading and say you get 5 good hours of solar you would be lucky to get 15kwh, maybe 30kwh of energy. Not enough to keep up with the propulsion. So you will end up using diesel a lot in real world scenarios. 18kw engines is also low for such a sized boat. In the sailing front, like the cockpit, but the stairs by the kitchen is not safe. Nice boat, but not the propulsion system.
Electric cars have 360 cameras. Electric cats should have them too. I don't think that the space under the beds is fully utilized for storage. I would prefer 2 smaller generators for redundancy, plus a larger laundry machine and separate dryer. Rainwater collection. A sliding solar panel to cover the skylight when not needed that doubles as a shade.
When I first saw this boat a few months back I thought it had some interesting features. The more I watch the videos the less I'm convinced. While Im not sure of this vessel's age I saw gaskets falling off, rust on some fittings and in this video it appeared that wood work was just poor quality and space planning was filling voids. I did not like that galley with refrig drawers hanging over stairs and stove one step from falling down flight. Way too dangerous at sea. The nav station is also a waste of space with the twin helm area. In the warmer climates, I believe you'll feel like you're stuck inside. Disappointing as the more I review this boat the less I like it.
@@geoffstrebel2808 No, there are fare more performant catas out there, and the quickest ones do not have flybridges. Indeed this is the sole Gunboat with a flybridge, but it would have perform even better without one. No flybridge -> more sail area. It is not rocket science..
Sorry to be sounding negative. But this is such a poor interior layout design. that kitchen is 3 out of 10. They need to re-evaluate the floor plan. this is awful for a beautiful boat.
I also thought the work areas all make very poor desks, and the galley requires disturbing the cook to go in the starboard hull, which is interesting...
Respectfully disagree on liferaft location. In inverted you will never get it...if need it quickly it should be close to cockpit and salon not have to go forward to deploy it.
Inverted, catamarans go stern down typically. Having it forward ensures it stays above water. It can be deployed inverted as easily as it can be deployed right side up.
First some will love it some my not for me.i will start with what I like the walkable solar panels are nice , the back where the dingy goes that can lower when at anchor is nice but I think would be better if it lowered to water level . But I'm not really impressed with this one especially for the price tag not a fan of the interior and why would they put that big of trampoline instead of making the interior go farther out under like on most cats like the privilege or some of the sunreefs. This to me doesn't seem like a good boat for anyone sailing /motoring more then an hour or so to destination. Cuz even with 2 people that want to go cruising and circle navigating just seems like a poor interior design.and the thought of 12 people on this boat can't even imagine like I said this would be good for a weekend warrior with 1.5 + millon to spend but iv seen alot others in that price range that for me seems like a way better bang for the buck
No, the answer is no, NO Cat is a great Bluewater boat, only in good weather conditions is a cat good in bluewater. I would take a Mono in mid to bad weather over a CAT every time. Don't get me wrong I like Catamarans, I just don't think they are better than a mono for bluewater sailing. This is a great rich man's coastal boat all day long, but bluewater only in good weather I would not like to get caught in bad weather out in the middle of the ocean in a Cat, you probably will be okay but your odds do down with a cat for sure.
![A STUNNING 50' Dream Yacht That Can Take You ANYWHERE [4k Tour] Learning the Lines](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mAM3QbaWUDo/mqdefault.jpg)
![A STUNNING 50' Dream Yacht That Can Take You ANYWHERE [4k Tour] Learning the Lines](/img/tr.png)
![The WEIRDEST 40' Sailboat I've EVER Seen [Short Tour] Part 2](/img/n.gif)
Studying and sailing Catamarans for half a century: This layout is simply the absolute Jackpot for a 15 m boat.
Thank you for this presentation, Sir !
Finally a practical and elegant solution for arraying the amount of solar panels needed to feed an electric propulsion system.
Yup and that's not even the max layout.. .. the boats only the 50 ...theres a 55 which gives a slightly neater layout and more space .
Plus the boat has a unique hull material ..but I will leave it to him . but geologists ❤ it.😂
Thanks so much for making this! Sandy is especially thrilled about getting to see everything she couldn't due to her ankle. Great to meet you on board ... Can't wait to see next week's sailing vid!!!
So finally you got to get aboard a Windelo 😎👍🏼🧙♂️🇬🇧
a proper 21st century cat - hurrah!
quirky, extremely innovative layouts.
My experience of most cats I've sailed is they are hot weather boats that you tend to live outside in the cockpit area, which is a shaded exterior living space where you lounge, BBQ, and socialize. It can be an extension of your salon too, and Seawind are particularly good at that design. This boat didn't have that. Yes, when the dingy is down you've got a good sized space but its not a lounging area and for a large cat the interior salon is relatively small and who wants to be inside when your anchored in the Exhumas or Fiji or somewhere remote and beautiful,? Add to that the galley which seems to be in the only place they could find for it, right over the stairs, and it really does lack space. I'm not convinced they couldn't have made far better use of the area than that have, all done i am guessing to allow for the forward situated steering. I must say, I've delivered a boat with that set up and it's got a lot going for it but you find your close quarters visibility isn't great and unlike an aft steering position you can't climb up or stick your head out to see corners. On passage it's really irrelevant as the boat steers itself most of the time and the on watch crewman has little to do. So basically it's a no from me on living space design.
He was probably constricted in his filming and thus didn't show one of the most important features. The boat has a garage-door-like rear wall that raises up for the experiences you're describing. Additionally there is a rear table and sitting area that is stored away which allows for more of a bathing suit like lounging. Lastly, I have never seen this galley design (I agree it's strange), but there is another option that puts the stairs down toward the bow separated from the galley.
I would encourage you to watch some other Windelo reviews to see these features.
The massive loss of living space is due to the ridiculous dual helm forward cockpit. Terrible design choice imho.
@@War4theWest it's a shared seating area with the internal sliding doors open. Where crew and family can all sit and share the passage safely even someone with mobility issues.
Also with all round sliding windows you can open the whole living area up to any breeze.
You also have 2m of freeboard and with the canted hulls ...and carefully chosen tramp netting .The boat stays remarkably dry even in heavy seas. .
As I've said elsewhere this is the earlier 48/50 the 54 has extra space.
For another view see the Barefoot doctor's tour and interview. I was thinking he was going to do a part two .?
How often are you at the stove/hob. Sometimes I go days without cooking on it, so it's not intrusive being at the top of the stairs.
Arrive today on the market to do the same thing as everyone has little interest. It is first of all a travel, sailing and pleasure boat, and not necessarily to charter on ultra hot islands. There are already plethora of models for this kind of program
16:19
Best shower I’ve ever seen on a boat
Facts
19:22
That hatch by the bed though. OMG. love it. Looking under the cat.
---------
Yeah this boat is phenomenal
I’m curious about how the basalt and the PET behave with serious dings also repairs.
I love this boat, wow!
God i love that boat.
Sid enote... You can set your recording at 50Hz vs 60Hz and you can void the flicker from shore power.
I am interested to hear about the longevity of all those flexible panels.
I would love to see more mono hauls go this route. It’s time for tech to make its way to the seas
A shot of rum in your coffee is an excellent substitute for courage and experience
The inspirational daddy of this wonderful boats key concept is the Deepblue Rapido r550 which is worth looking at given that its was built in the same yard as the Daz cats .. and though the same length of the W 55 its even more suprising...though nearly a decade older.
For anyone else who was curious, I believe this poster means the BroadBlue Rapier 550.
Amazing floor plan and setup
Love it, but the Dingy needs an eclectic motor with access to solar charging.
It's not perfect, but it's pretty damned close. There are a few things I would definitely change if I were to buy one, but outside of Chris White or Gunboat cats, you just can't get a good forward cockpit anywhere else, and it's a must have. Perching out in the weather at the very back end of one of the amas has always been a bad helm position, worse if they try to put it on the roof. This is where the helm should be (albeit with a few changes). And I really love the use of basalt, massive solar, and the diesel-electric hybrid system.
The problem with buying production cats is that you ALWAYS have to settle for whatever design or engineering decision were built into the thing, because they can't/won't change them for you. So, it's refreshing to see a production cat that gets so close to perfection, at least for my list of requirements.
completely agree. most cruiser cats like this should be forward cockpits with the intention of being like a pilothouse build on a monohull. the geometry lends itself to either opening the windows and enjoying the breeze or battening down against weather while still being able to do whatever you need to do with winches and lines in roughly the same configuration either way.
Quite impressive. The integrated walk on solar in particular is something I have never seen before. Even with such a large boat that is a massive amount. The actual output and lifespan will be very interesting. On the one hand I worry about the lifespan, on the other I think the high integration protects so much better that many failure modes are eliminated.
The price is substantial, but there are solar cats and sail cats of similar performance that cost the same -this is both! I think the next step is a fuel cell backup with a stable gel for emergency only.
By the numbers, it shouldn't be hard to never use that genset.
Looking forward to your sail video!
Lifespan of the solar is definitely a factor. I'm curious to see how long they last in a cruising setting.
@@LearningtheLines
Theres recent breakthroughs been made by the Chinese but tested and confirmed by the Germans under EU rules.
mmm, Fuel Cell... w/ hydrogen generation and capture. Combine w/ multi-fuel burning diesel engine (20 yr old mercedes tech) for back-up.. The "biggest" secret problem with hydrogen is that individuals can generate their own fuel. Big Bro doesn't like that...
@@troublekaliman
Theres two combustion generator motors im looking at the Durham university opposed free piston design.. which uses a reciprocating field generator the other is the Liquid piston Rotary... both of which use only about 50 parts including fasteners in the main engine structure are more efficient because they dont use con rods conventional cranks or all the other bearings etc the trad ICE does but quieter smoother greener. Plus you can rebuild this sort of motor on the cockpit floor. A 40hp liquid piston motor is about the size of a large 🏀 and can be held in the hands . The Durham one was less than half 50cm long 20cm deep and 24 wide with the exhaust and water cooling .
Unfortunately Toyota scooped it up developed it ..then hid it . 🤔
awesome! except the part about toyota...they knifed it eh?@@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665
You might have missed a thing, the whole back wall, I mean the entire rear sliding doors can be opened up. The winch you pointed is for lifting the rear panel.
Like the integration of the solar/hybrid system. Like the forward cockpit, seems like a good solution for a cat. Don't ike the stairs down from the galley, seems like a safety problem. The inside nav station seems redundant. Navigate from the forward cockpit. Wonder how well closing off that area is going to work in a heavy sea. Hull staterooms look really nice, have to wonder how well the seals on those big windows will last. Like the separate shower, much preferable to wet heads.
would love to see a 60ft version, for something less cramped though.
Interesting design , including the wrap around windows in the aft cabins but the design of the saloon looks too small and with very little aft cockpit for entertaining it doesn't seem to work (for me). Really like the center steering area , it would be the best place to be in a swell or the usual rock and roll of a boat on passage. Will be looking forward to your review next week of the sail. Thanks for the video.
Fair enough. The aft cockpit does open up a ton to probably double the size when at anchor though.
I like parts of it. I wish the kitchen design was a little better, especially concerning the stairwell. Maybe they could include a folding table top to provide more work area above the stairs. It could be folded over the stairs when they were not in use and also provide an area to grasp to prevent falling down the stairs. I also wish it had a little more fresh and black water storage.
Yeah if I had to nitpick, I'd do away with the nav station and maybe add some counter space/galley on the port side too. I like how there's always something to brace against though.
Take a look at the 55 and they offer two kitchen layouts and a choice of interior finishes. With the rear doors open the seating part slides
/Flips to complete the whole covered outside floating pavillion feel .
I think this is an early version ..that did a circular navigation of the Atlantic with two families on board and returned via the Newfoundland Iceland Faeroes Shetland route in horrid weather, dry as a bone.. then down to the Med. Sailing in socks 😂
The Electric hybrid, multi feed in system means it uses a lot less fuel. In fact it tends to arrive with its batteries full and always quiet checks on the motors every two years 🎉
There is also a u-shaped galley option.
@@DrJBear-vi8ys
👍🏼It puts the stairway between the cockpit bulkhead and the L shaped kitchen top .. so better for safety but ...perhapse better on the larger 54 ...being French the boats are metric based so actually 48…54...58...theres also a little bro projected.
All these boats are regularly single handed by the Windelo team. Theres also a revealing account of how well they handle rough weather provided by the prototype owner and Katamerans.
Superb boat, if I ever win the lottery would be on my list. Only point - what happens to this boat and its electrics if it takes a lightening strike ? Is there any protection built in or are all electrics fried ?
The furniture creeks like crazy.
Electric could be the default for a lot of boats - cats, sailboats, cruisers. Yeah stick a small engine in as a backup but charge off the wind / solar by default. And cats have so much surface area that it's a no brainer since the range of a solar powered cat is far more than most people are likely to do in a single day of cruising. Especially for the money that people would save in fuel, and not having to go to a fueling dock, plus noise / vibration. Biggest issue is that electric is still relatively new to marine and where it is available, it costs stupid amounts of money.
Great looking boat. I am not a fan of Electric motors. Be sure and keep your boat out of Freezing Weather. I lost half of my battery band in my barn because I didn't keep them from freezing. They had heaters. The lay out of the boat is very nice. I wish you well. Gman
These are cool, but not my favorite layout of theirs. They offer bunk cabins in the front that I think are more space efficient (both hulls.. Owners side bunks even fold into the wall!!) and this puts the office area forward. I also am not too sure on that TINY washer/dryer combo. Maybe just for my personal clothes, but I doubt you'd be able to wash even one bed's worth of sheets in it. I'd consider having them build one in where that dishwasher goes and maybe use a smaller drawer dishwasher instead. Depends on the aft galley version's layout though, as that's also the one I'd go with. Those stairs look like a menace in a bad sea if you're trying to cook on the forward galley.
Question; I have no experience with boats, let alone a catamaran. What is the purpose of the trampolines? To keep people from falling into the water? Why not just build a solid platform? Can they be used for relaxation and recreation?
They allow water to go through. In very rough seas, a solid platform would increase considerably the chance of the boating capsizing.
Really love the Windelo. Is the transom only secured with the lifting ropes?? Did it feel solid and secure???
I love this catamaran too. I've been a fan since their launch but alas, like yourself, I'm not in a position to afford one...yet.
What was under that area to lay down in the cockpit? Seems to take up so much space.
It's the master cabin. I think there is a version that has smaller daybed and I think bit different galley/saloon layout but you lose some headroom from master and/or the aft guest cabin
Its the raised ceiling in the master suit ..its a off duty layout pad or sun pad when at anchor and windows down .. The headroom is very generous in these boats so no banging your head or bending over while walking
around below or indoors. Unless your closer to seven foot.
The flicker of LED lights is because their "refresh" rate is different than the camera's frame rate. Same reason wheels, propellers, rotors in film sometimes look like they're going at odd rates or backwards even.
Nice. The anchor chain in the cockpit seems like an odor problem waiting to happen. Perhaps it come with a airtight (possibly transparent) cover. Additionally, if the forward cockpit can be made airtight it could function as a buoyancy factor in rough seas, I imagine.
Are you the guy that sings "Rich Men Noth of Richmond"?
You caught me!
So many things I love about this boat, especially the cockpit, but the kitchen layout next to the stairs looks pretty dangerous. I’d love to see more sheltered outside space at the back, with either a smaller salon or a combined cockpit/salon to accommodate that. I’d like solar that was easily repairable too but I guess that would require other compromises. The cockpit is the thing that would make me buy it anyway.
LED lights come on and off almost instantly. So if they are being powered by AC at 50 or 60 hz, they come on and off 50 or 60 times per second. If your video is 30fps and the power is 50 hz, or if your video is 24 and the power is 60, it's not synced, so it gives you that perceptible flicker.
No temperature control for when the windows and doors need to be closed or winter like climates?
Fun for expert tech troubleshooter, nightmare for others.
Beautiful catamaran! Tip - Try not to get your hands in the picture frame, we know what you are talking about. I battled through the video because of this. PS This is my first time watching one of your videos. I’ll be back.
luv the boat but what's with the rust on some of the fittings ie genset mounts drain on forward storage hinges and what looks like a drain out of the same storage drain i plan on getting one but i hope they sort out some of these its a new boat after all
This thing is next level awesome.
What’s a boat like this one go for?
Hull is from "basalt - PVC/PET" ? what are the advantages or disadvantages compared to grp ?
It's about half way to the weight/strength savings of carbon fiber, while using an substrate that takes far less carbon emission to produce.
@@DrJBear-vi8ys Interesting, and is the hull self-repairable as a GRP?
Great idea just feels a bit cheap and cheerful.😊
@@rolidcz7954 Yep. And non toxic to work with, with a particle size less likely to enter the lungs. You still need to be suited and masked up though, of course!
Is it just me or is the dual helms in a protected area on a boat that doesn’t heel over that are 2 steps from each other seem a little silly? Very interesting boat, but not what I’d want to be blue water cruising on with a huge following sea.
Seems silly to me too, I would rather have one helm but a good camera system with various views around the boat (especially aft) monitored back to the helm to aid in docking and such.
I think it is silly to save money on a boat that starts at $1.3M by not providing a windward helm on all points of sail.
Waves are much less of a problem in a boat like this because the waves don't go faster than the boat.
@@skyak4493I’m going to go out on a limb and guess you’ve never sailed a catamaran in the open ocean before…
It's not just you mate. The overall layout and interior design is poor. Way too much space taken up by the cockpit. There's no aft outside space which is your typical outside lounging area. The galley is an accident waiting to happen and the dishwasher location is 🤣😂. The nav station is either unnecessary or too small I can't figure which but it looks like an afterthought. Time will tell whether the solar panels will last but from what I've read/seen stick on panels don't last because of overheating...
Also not a fan of the large number of colors and textures on the interior finishes.
Wow, that is bitchin!
I would probably add a wind generator as well but this thing is damn near autonomous.
Is there no door to close off master cabin looks like a drop down curtain. surely not
I prefer the other setup with a bigger kitchen
Who's ready to tumble down the stairs while making dinner?!
No outside seating 🤔
Open up all the windows an you're outside.
Yeah, but when you fully open up those aft salon doors, it basically creates an indoor/outdoor space.
@@LearningtheLines no not really
@@LearningtheLines That's....not what "outside" means.....the aft cockpit is tiny, and there are *plenty* of performance cruising cats that offer a lifted dinghy without compromising on space. And in this case, not only do you not have any useable space while under sail, but there's practically no safety features to keep you from just walking off the sugar scoops. The lifelines end a few feet forward, and the dinghy davit/cockpit extension looks to be just a single pivot point held in with a bolt on each side.
Very nice boat but you will never get the 6k watts of solar out of that set up. Much of it will be shaded, probably 3-4k at best. Then the flexible panels don't put out as much power and they don't last long. I do love that backup gen though, you'll need it. Electric motors probably should be a little bigger. We just aren't there yet with all solar boats, it will be awesome when we are. Could have been better placement with the solar, so you could have used better panels. The quality of the panels are a big difference. Been doing it for years with RV's. What they did is nice in theory but I wouldn't have done it that way.
Interested in what you are suggesting for different solar panels and placement.
Absolutely right. Flexible panels attached directly to the deck will overheat and quickly die, probably three years in the tropics. Why don't European builders ever supply kick up rudders to compliment the daggerboards? Lots of other nice innovations though. Certainly a stepping stone between boats of old and what will eventually become a viable alternative.
a million plus no way dude
Hello, I don't like that boat, could you tell me the basic price?
if solar is pasted on the roof it a mistake bad setting it hv to be replaceable solar panel
È pensato benissimo!!! In soli 15m .. il prezzo è altissimo ma è ovviamente per una determinata clientela americana mi sa..
it depend on the owner if it suite them
I like the HH diesel electric configuration better
Respectfully disagree. This system is simpler, and simpler is usually more reliable.
This systems already proven itself its lighter simpler and easier to repair than an entrained mixed hybrid. Besides you can change and up date all the elements of this system independently ... Try carrying a spare propulsion diesel motor round the world in a saloon stool sized plastic box. .. plus they dont need any servicing for two years. The other thing is the generators can be removed you still have a spare .. and the next thing will be doing away with bulky complex heavy conventional poppet valve piston engines for far smaller simpler lighter multi fuel motors . Basically that you can carry by hand in and out of a standard hatch.
You also have huge reductions in battery cost and safety..with Na ion cells hitting the market in cars this year.
Running an Ice generator at its Stoichiometric optimum saves fuel pollution and wear. If you need more convincing check out the Edison trucks company of BC and their Topsey hybrid logging truck.
Diesels really dont like running at variable speeds /loads and for short periods. They need transmissions and clutches ... More dead wt and complex moving parts.
Here the motor drives direct 100% control at all speeds in both directions. 🤷🏻♂️😎 The motors can even stand being under water. 😂
Mmm, beautiful comment.
Imagine falling down the stairs with a knife in ur hand.. Yikes lol
Not going to comment so much on the boat since others already did so. Just like all boats, this one as well has it’s great features and it’s shortcomings.
I was following your channel quite some time way back when you and your wife worked (and demo boats) together. Then your first baby arrived and your wife disappeared from videos (to rise to more important tasks and duties no doubt).
Short time after you moved to NS (I believe) you started second channel featuring conversion of van to motor home. Unfortunately that was also time where your videos dropped in quality (on both channels) and I dropped both your channels from my subscriptions.
Today your channel 'Learning the Lines' appeared on my YT home page, so I viewed couples of clips. Sadly I have to say that there is no improvement in your videos. It is obvious that you you mean well and trying to cover all. But if I may suggest, slow down from 5th to 2nd gear and stop 'dancing' with your camera. Your takes won't be so 'jerky' and believe me, you will actually show a lot more.
Well, this is 'my two cents'. I will keep you in my subscriptions for now, to see if your clips will improve, with which I sincerely wish you very best of luck.
And for those who got impression that I am 'Mr. Know It All', well, not long ago I was called 'Retired Old Fart Photographer' (with years doing photography for living).
The title of this clip would make a lot of people believe it's entirely electric. I don't think I've seen a title yet that has the truth in it.
The problem with solar panels on the walkways are is they don't like stuff dropped on them.
There is nothing more I hate than a self tacking jip, is there an overlapping genoa option? The forward helm is also a no no.
bet that thing gets hot with all those black solar panels
Would be interested if you ever review a silent yacht. No rigging, no diesel engines (outside generator), possibly a kite sail.
Donate for a Dream
I really like the boat but those stairs off the galley look like a real hazard when underway. Rough seas and a fall is bound to happen. Would need to gate that off for safety.
The layout is pretty goofy. The galley being ridiculously dangerous and a major traffic problem. I still don't understand front cockpits. Separates the crew and can see a wave coming into the interior.
buono
This boat is for northern climates where it's colder and rainier and you want more indoor living space and a protected cockpit. But then the solar is not going to be that effective there (scratches head)
In northern latitudes, you are actually likely to be sailing it in the summer, not the winter. That means that the hours of daylight are longer than in the tropics, but the heat is still not so intense, and solar panels really, really do not like getting hot, and lose a lot of efficiency so they are likely to provide more energy, not less, in real operating conditions than in the tropics and low latitudes.
I agree with comments that the attachment of the panels directly to the deck is questionable though, from both the wear and the heat POV
I’ve watched these videos about this particular boat several times, and I still see no way to secure access to the boat to the steering. The best I can see is someone can easily get into the steering section with the two helms. This is something that I do not like at all.
You can get behind the helms through a cabinet in the cockpit.
@@LearningtheLines that is not what I said. I have not seen any way to close up access to the steering. Thus the boat is not secured. And anyone worth their salt can sail off a dock and there goes the boat
Any boat with an external helm has the same issue. With minor modifications, washboards could be added to the forward openings.
@@DrJBear-vi8ys this is true but entering from the forward station gives hidden access to the interior. Nothing like breaking into a boat when no one can see what you are doing even at noon.
Not this is a problem but I this is also one of three boats I am looking at
Why dagger boards on a cat? It's not a hydroplaning boat I don't think right
I want one , only 1 mil short or 2
Just tell us the price, from the beginning!!!
We want to understand today's value!!!!
Wtf, why would they think it was a good idea to put stairs right IN the kitchen...??
Half way through a rough passage, feeling like crap from seasickness....One moment forgetting the stairs and a bad fall.... Stunningly lack of understanding of Basic Safety on a cruising vessel. Also doesn't say what exactly is used to comletely enclose that forward cockpit.
Forward helm is brilliant. Salon is too small for a cat that size. Rear cockpit as well, too small. Suicide galley is ...nonsense. Below decks are okay. She's...a little in the raw stage. Just my opinion.
more than one "daumen hoch"
The front helm is cool and so is all the solar. But everything looks cheap. As a chef that kitchen looked great until I saw where the stairs were
My question is..How much does it cost to replace the solar panels? Most solar panels last 5 years... I wonder.. would the cost in fuel pay for solar panel replacement after 5 years? Any thoughts people?
Love your videos. Always positive... Respect!!! But man. This was shining a turd. Haha.
When the buyer shouldn't be allowed to make decisions.
I dont see the point of electric propulsion as done on this boat. With 53Kwh of batteries you will basically get about 16nm of cruising range and you have nothing left. Even though you have 6kw of solar, you practically only get half of that with shading and say you get 5 good hours of solar you would be lucky to get 15kwh, maybe 30kwh of energy. Not enough to keep up with the propulsion. So you will end up using diesel a lot in real world scenarios. 18kw engines is also low for such a sized boat.
In the sailing front, like the cockpit, but the stairs by the kitchen is not safe. Nice boat, but not the propulsion system.
Electric cars have 360 cameras. Electric cats should have them too. I don't think that the space under the beds is fully utilized for storage. I would prefer 2 smaller generators for redundancy, plus a larger laundry machine and separate dryer. Rainwater collection. A sliding solar panel to cover the skylight when not needed that doubles as a shade.
❤❤❤
Not a fan of roll up cover. If boat flips it's a lot less area that can hold air
strange after all the solar and electric motors they STILL. HAVE. A OLD OUTBOARD on the dingy !!! WHY NOT ELECTRIC ???
Solar panels will not last very long besides the efficiency will drop dramatically (they are not cooled).
When I first saw this boat a few months back I thought it had some interesting features. The more I watch the videos the less I'm convinced. While Im not sure of this vessel's age I saw gaskets falling off, rust on some fittings and in this video it appeared that wood work was just poor quality and space planning was filling voids. I did not like that galley with refrig drawers hanging over stairs and stove one step from falling down flight. Way too dangerous at sea. The nav station is also a waste of space with the twin helm area. In the warmer climates, I believe you'll feel like you're stuck inside. Disappointing as the more I review this boat the less I like it.
Man a plastic hood up front in rough weather, would never trust that on long passages.
My vote is no, since it lacks a flybridge.
It is a performance cruising catamaran -> no flybridge
@@louislegrand9025 Gunboat 72 -> undisputed ruler of performance catamarans -> has flybridge.
@@geoffstrebel2808 No, there are fare more performant catas out there, and the quickest ones do not have flybridges. Indeed this is the sole Gunboat with a flybridge, but it would have perform even better without one. No flybridge -> more sail area. It is not rocket science..
@@louislegrand9025 I don't want quickest. I want flybridge. That isn't rocket science either.
That kitchen with the stairs looks just plain dangerous.
Sorry to be sounding negative. But this is such a poor interior layout design. that kitchen is 3 out of 10. They need to re-evaluate the floor plan. this is awful for a beautiful boat.
Looks cluttered.
Aseguró es lo ideal para una pareja excelente cocina Lo mejor que he visto😊
Agreed, the interior especially the entire bridge deck is poor in overall concept
I also thought the work areas all make very poor desks, and the galley requires disturbing the cook to go in the starboard hull, which is interesting...
disagree completely
Respectfully disagree on liferaft location. In inverted you will never get it...if need it quickly it should be close to cockpit and salon not have to go forward to deploy it.
Inverted, catamarans go stern down typically. Having it forward ensures it stays above water. It can be deployed inverted as easily as it can be deployed right side up.
@@LearningtheLines I'll stick with rear location. After of trampoline will still. E under. And as salon fills it will sink more.
It is designed to be available from either side of the trampoline. Webbing ties can be removed from either side.
Bluewater electric sailboat? This is an oxymoron...
She is a hybrid !!!
Floor plan is poor, that kitchen feels very insecure to me…
Who wants to cook on that oven, get slapped by a wave, and fall down the stairs. Not great guys
For a 1 person craft it would be fine. Maybe 2 max. Anymore than that, naw
Are you in a hurry?
First some will love it some my not for me.i will start with what I like the walkable solar panels are nice , the back where the dingy goes that can lower when at anchor is nice but I think would be better if it lowered to water level . But I'm not really impressed with this one especially for the price tag not a fan of the interior and why would they put that big of trampoline instead of making the interior go farther out under like on most cats like the privilege or some of the sunreefs. This to me doesn't seem like a good boat for anyone sailing /motoring more then an hour or so to destination. Cuz even with 2 people that want to go cruising and circle navigating just seems like a poor interior design.and the thought of 12 people on this boat can't even imagine like I said this would be good for a weekend warrior with 1.5 + millon to spend but iv seen alot others in that price range that for me seems like a way better bang for the buck
Kitchen set up is just dumb.
Very nice joke
No, the answer is no, NO Cat is a great Bluewater boat, only in good weather conditions is a cat good in bluewater. I would take a Mono in mid to bad weather over a CAT every time. Don't get me wrong I like Catamarans, I just don't think they are better than a mono for bluewater sailing. This is a great rich man's coastal boat all day long, but bluewater only in good weather I would not like to get caught in bad weather out in the middle of the ocean in a Cat, you probably will be okay but your odds do down with a cat for sure.
Everything was going great until the point where it showed the guest sleeping berths, not impressed with any of those berths. B minus grade.