CAT63: A Sleek Sail Cat

A beautiful new boat has been launched by Turkish boutique builder Soyaslan. CAT63 is a 63-foot catamaran built using the cold molding construction process more commonly used for smaller vessels. That's because the complex process consists of layering sheets or planks of wood over a plug or frame. The wooden elements are glued together then sheathed with epoxy.

Beyond the wooden interior, it's the modern lines of the boat that immediately draw the eyes. The shearline swoops from low sterns up toward the heavily flared bows of the boat, which are themselves raked aft. Take a look at her underway.

"The durability and longevity of the hull is without comparison," says founder Can Soyaslan. "Wooden yachts can last well over a hundred years, while the vibration, sound and heat insulation are much better."

The catamaran is powered by twin Yanmar 110-hp engines hooked up to ZF saildrives for an 8.5-knot cruising speed and over 10 knots full throttle. There are a huge 60kWh of lithium batteries aboard and eight 430W solar panels.

"With the current setup, she can spend the night at anchor without generators, even with the air conditioning running. And with eight solar panels, we have minimized the generator usage," explains Soyaslan.

Accommodations include two large double cabins and two twins for eight guests, and a further three berths for crew. A generous sailplan includes a 1,075-square-foot mainsail, 625-square-foot jib, and a giant 1,560 square foot Code Zero for reaching. The boat achieved better than 10 knots during sea trials, according to Soyaslan. In case you're wondering (and we know you are), the starting price is 2 million euros, which is about $1.95 million.