The Barker 26 Calibogue Bay and 26 Open, both custom-built to order, were created by renowned naval architect Michael Peters. These models are based on Peters’ patented Stepped Vee Ventilated Tunnel hull design. 

The company says that this hull has one of the ­lowest drag coefficients of any ­monohull in the world, producing ­increased speed, better ­handling, better fuel ­economy, and a ­smoother ride than ­conventional ­step-hulls. 

These two breakout models were joined later by the Barker 40 HPC (High Performance Cat) twin-hull boat.

Created more than a dozen years ago with the goal of building the world’s best boats, Barker has built a reputation for best in class yacht-quality fit-and-finish. 

Sarasota, Florida-based Barker Boatworks is now part of Strike Force 7, which also includes Canyon Bay BoatWorks and Perry Composite Manufacturing, builders of fiberglass and carbon-fiber boats.

Barker 26 Open

Like its stablemate the Barker 26 Calibogue Bay, the 26 Open has become an instant classic.

A hybrid bay/offshore boat, the 26 Open traded the Calibogue’s fly-fishing-style casting decks for a deeper cockpit with maximum open space for seeking, fighting, and boating big fish on both offshore and inshore waters.

The wide helm is tended by a leaning post with a guide helm seat with storage beneath; twin teak-back helm chairs are among options. The tackle station houses a generous window-topped 45-gallon livewell. 

Standard is a Key West hardtop with rear support legs for extra strength and 11 rocket-launcher rod holders. A sunroof or fully equipped half-tower with a second ­station is optional.

A 15-gallon livewell in the bow is matched by one in the transom, which also houses a 15-gallon transom cooler. ­Macerated, insulated fish boxes of 140 and 50 gallons each reside under the forward deck. 

Also standard aboard the Barker 26 Open are Garmin electronics, JL Audio, Odyssey AGM batteries, dual fuel fills, and eight Gemlux gunwale rod holders.

A Mercury 350 hp V-10 on a set-back bracket is standard power, along with a Mercury Vessel View 4 display. Twin engines are optional. An 8-foot Power-Pole keeps this boat in place when stalking fish in shallow water. An optional Seakeeper 1 gyrostabilizer reduces up to 95 percent of boat roll.

The 26 Open comes standard as an open fisherman; add optional forward seating for the perfect blend of fishability and family. 

Editor’s Note

Based on my experience, I know that the 26 Open represents one of today’s most versatile and well-crafted hybrid boats. With this boat, we were able to run offshore for mahi in the morning, then zoom back in to fish for snook in the afternoon. -Jim Hendricks

Performance Data

• Test Power: Mercury 400 V-10 Verado
• Test Props: REVX 21P
• Test Load: 6,800 lb.
• Test Speed: 56 mph
• Max Range: 180 miles at 40 mph

Specifications

Barker Boatworks – Sarasota, Florida; barkerboatworks.com

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Barker Boatworks began with building high-tech, Kevlar-reinforced vacuum-infused hulls with Michael Peters’ now-famous Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel hull design. When the company moved into performance catamarans, it looked again to Peters’ experience in design and performance. His long history of building competitive winning cats would serve Barker well. Today, Barker is known for focusing on three premium models: the Calibogue Bay, the 26 Open—both built on the SVVT hull design—and the high-performance, solid-built 40 HPC, created with the refined owner and angler in mind. 

Barker 40 HPC

The Barker 40 HPC—High Performance Cat—is a robust fishing machine boasting a smooth catamaran ride and center-console deck mobility.

Like all Barkers, this one can be tailored to suit any need, serving up comfort for a day cruiser and balancing hardcore fishing with fun. The raised leaning post makes ample room for a head beneath, and single or double row seating is available—the former maximizing cockpit fighting space; the latter, passenger comfort.

Two livewells in-floor and a pair in the transom are fed by a pair of sea chests. The forward lounge base can be chill-plate-equipped to minimize ice carriage. 

Gemlux rod holders on the gunwales and transom are ample and well-positioned. Locking rod storage beneath the gunwales keeps expensive sticks handy and secure.

Mercury power options range from quad 300s to quad 450Rs, and include JPO autopilot and joystick, features that make this 40-footer handle like a Jaguar. 

Every Barker boat is built to each customer’s exact specifications. Every member of our staff has skippered every Barker, and each boat has been built to rigid quality standards.

Manufacturer’s Remark

We take pride in building the highest-quality boats with the utmost attention to detail and customer service.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Quad Mercury 450 R (Racing)
• Test Props: Mercury Rev 4 26p outside, 25p inside
• Test Load: 20,000 lb. plus 250 gal. fuel 
• Test Speed: 83.8 mph at 6,350 rpm
• Max Range: 598 miles at 49.7 mph, 4,000 rpm

Specs

Editor Says

The 40 HPC combines an arsenal of angling amenities with an extensive list of comforts, innovative options, and improvements. The ride is also top-notch, especially in rough water, which is where this 40-footer really shines. -Randy Vance, Editor-at-Large, Boating and Fishing Group

More Info

barkerboatworks.com

The post Barker 40 HPC: 2023 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

With nearly a decade of building premium made-to-order boats, Barker Boatworks is launching a third classic fishing vessel.

First to bear the logo of Sarasota, Florida-based Barker Boatworks were sibling “ultimate bay boats” built on the Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel hull created by Michael Peters. The 26 Calibogue is a premium inshore specialist, and the 26 Open offers the same performance and draft without the casting deck, to better serve nearshore and offshore fishing styles. 

Most recently, Barker unveiled the massive, powerful 40 HPC, a serious offshore-fishing machine—also on the Peters-designed double-stepped asymmetrical hull.

Barker 40 HPC

The HPC stands for “High-Performance Cat,” and that it is, blending the deft handling of a center-console with the smooth ride of a catamaran.

Standard quad Mercury 300 hp V-8 Verados are overseen by a VesselView 703 and an Optimus 360 joystick with SeaStation GPS. (With quad Mercury Racing 450 outboards, it speeds into the 80 mph range.) Paddle trim control provides fine-tuning in turns. 

The hardtop, wrapped with tempered glass, carries Gemlux outriggers. Four JL MV digital amps power 18 speakers, and four subwoofers. Single-row seating is standard at the helm, with optional double-row seating available; the three chairs in front have folding armrests and bolsters. Forward, two lounges top the coffin box.

The 40 HPC has dual side doors with integrated ladders, reserving transom space for fishing.

The cockpit floor contains two 55-gallon livewells, and two in the transom, all four are fed by Hooker Marine sea chests. Cache your catch in four Frigid Rigid fish boxes. Forward storage is generous. The transom contains two 40-quart coolers, and two coolers wait beneath the second row of helm seats. Abaft those seats, a rigging station conceals a grill and sink—besides housing lots of tackle.

Manufacturer’s Remark

We take pride in building the highest quality boats with the utmost attention to detail and customer service.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Quad Mercury Racing 450R
• Test Props: Revolution 4Mercury 
• Test Load: 18,000 lb. plus 250 gal.fuel    
• Test Speed: 83.8 mph @ 6,350 rpm 
• Max Range: 598 mi. @ 49.7 mph, 4,000 rpm

Specs

Editor Says

The 40 HPC is a real head-turner that combines an arsenal of angling amenities with an extensive list of comforts, innovative solutions, and improvements on a number of fronts. The ride is also top-notch, especially in rough water, where this 40-footer ­really shines. – Alex Suescun, Executive Editor, Salt Water Sportsman

More Info

barkerboatworks.com

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Nothing provides a more stable fishing platform and more real estate on the water, per centerline length, than a catamaran. The Barker 40 HPFC, a Michael Peters asymmetrical-catamaran design, also jumps quickly out of the hole, delivers an 83-mph top end, and offers 620 miles of range, making it ideal for the canyons or for crossing the Gulf Stream.

Underway, this cat remains nimble whether meeting chop head-on or crossing it at 45 degrees. When it’s time to make a turn at planing speed, tuck the outside engines in and the inside engines out just two or three degrees, and you’ll experience a comfortable turn that heels inward slightly, not outward like so many early cat designs.

The 40 HPFC’s two 55-gallon transom livewells refresh using powerful pumps in dual sea chests, one in each sponson. Two more bait tanks, 50 gallons each, reside in the deck.

Insulated coolers for bait or beverages flank the transom livewells. Port and starboard dive doors make it easy to boat your trophy tuna, turn it and slide it into either the port or starboard 195-gallon Frigid Rigid fish box.

I found 16 Gemlux transom rod holders, and nine in each gunwale, stretching from bow to stern. Barker also offers optional 22-foot Gemlux carbon fiber outriggers.

Read Next: Barker Boatworks 40HPC First Glance

Set up as it was, my test boat was ready for trolling, kite fishing, or bottom fishing deep drop-offs for reef fish or swords. Barker makes Optimus 360 joystick steering standard and with it, the station-keeping function means most anglers will never need the standard windlass to hold the boat over fish.

While Barker makes a serious fishing boat, the company also commits to creating comfort for day cruising. Inside the console, I found a large head compartment, but what’s on deck really rocks the boat: Forward seating is lush and contoured for two people to enjoy the sun at rest or on the fly. Anywhere in the boat, the stereo system with its multiple speakers and sub woofers, each with dedicated amps, make the 40 HPFC the focal point of a sandbar afternoon.

Hull Specs

LOA: 40 ft. 4 in.

Beam: 11 ft. 10 in.

Transom Deadrise: N/A

Draft: 2 ft. 2 in.

Dry Weight: 15,000 lb. (w/o engines)

Fuel: 760 gal.

Max HP: 1,800 hp

Base Price: $760,000 (w/ quad Mercury 300 V-8 engines)

Performance

Engines: Quad Mercury Racing 450s

Load: Three people, 100 lbs gear 240 gal. fuel

Time to 30 mph: 4.7 sec.

Top Speed: 83.4 mph @ 6,350 rpm

Best MPG: 0.8mpg @ 45.4 mph (4,000 rpm)

Barker Boatworks

Sarasota, Florida

barkerboatworks.com

941-232-8646

The post Barker 40 HPFC Boat Review appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

A half-dozen years ago, after a decade in the boatbuilding industry, Kevin Barker set off on his own with the goal of building the “ultimate bay boat.”

He drew on the expertise of world-renowned naval architect Michael Peters, a specialist in designing high-speed boats with style, performance and quality.

They settled upon Peters’ Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel for a pair of single-hull boats: the 26 Calibogue, a premium fly-fishing specialist, and the 26 Open, a big-water fishing machine built on the Calibogue hull with similar performance and draft, but without the casting decks.

Now comes a third boat, a big catamaran.

All Barker boats are built-to-order, no two alike. The Barker Boatworks staff of 28, based in Sarasota, Florida, proudly “overbuild” each with yacht-quality fit-and-finish and rigging.

Barker 40 HPC

Everything about the new Barker 40 HPC—High Performance Cat—is big: more than 40 feet of twin-hulled boat, powered by quad 300 hp Mercury Verados but capable of carrying 450Rs, fed by 670-gallons of fuel, with another 100 gallons optional.

And what it does with all that bigness! With the four 450s, it tops out at 85 mph, and the boat cruises at 40 to 60 mph.

The 40 HPC, like Barker’s previous boats, is designed by Michael Peters Yacht Design, which has claimed 20 Class One World Championships on cat hulls from 39 to 43 feet.

The new boat features three-abreast custom seating and a leaning post with rear and side tackle centers, beneath an extra large hardtop bearing 15 rocket-launcher rod holders, lights, outriggers and antennas.

Lockable storage for up to 20 rods will please the 26 percent of offshore CC survey respondents who want that security. Dual side dive doors make people and fish passage easy.

Within the transom are 16 Gemlux rod holders—rod holders, in fact, seem to be everywhere—16 are standard on either side of the front lounge seating.

Only the elite 4 percent of survey respondents need three livewells, and Barker designed the 40 HPC to please them, with two 50-gallon transom tanks fed by a Hooker Sea Chest, and two more 50-gallon wells optional within the deck.

Two sets of Frigid Rigid fish boxes, 785-and 544-quarts will keep ice for days. An additional 532-quart insulated storage/fish box is located under the forward lounge seat.

Survey Says: On Target

• Tons of rod holders, livewells, fish boxes
• Flexibility of build-to-order
• Kevlar and carbon-fiber construction makes for a solid hull and a soft ride

Observations

• Asymmetrical cat design is easy to pilot and heels well into turns

Brand Says

• Best is the standard
• Barker employees have a passion for building high-quality boats

Reader Response

• “The highest-quality boats with the utmost attention to detail and customer service”

specs

LOA: 40′4″

Beam: 11′10″

Fuel Capacity: 640 gal.

Dry Weight: 15,000 lb. plus power

Max HP: 1,800

More Info

barkerboatworks.com

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Barker Boatworks has just announced the debut of its new 40 High Performance Catamaran, the company’s new quad-powered flagship designed by Michael Peters. “We’re very excited to offer this high-performance fishing catamaran,” says Kevin Barker of Barker Boatworks and the Strike Force Seven Boat Group. “With a pedigree of 20 UIM Offshore World Championships from Michael Peters Yacht Design, backed by more than 100 years of combined boat-building experience among our talented team of technicians, the 40HPC will exceed expectations at the offshore canyons as easily as cruising to dinner along the ICW.”

The new planing hull comes standard with quad Mercury 300 Verados and Optimus 360 joystick control. Factory performance tests produced top speeds in the mid-80 mph range. Fuel economy ranged from 0.8 mpg at 60 mph to 0.95 mpg at 40 mph.

Read Next: Multihull, Catamaran Boats Invade the Offshore-Fishing Market

The 40HPC features twin 55-gallon livewells in the transom and two more in the deck. Barker plumbed the wells through a Hooker Sea Chest with twin 2,500 gph variable-speed pumps and an oversized stainless-steel pickup to keep baits frisky. Forward and amidships Frigid Rigid fish boxes provide a combined 664 gallons of insulated storage for the day’s catch.

The standard hardtop comes with a 15-rod rocket launcher, Gemlux outrigger mounts and 22-foot carbon-fiber outrigger poles. Thirty-eight additional Gemlux rod holders reside on the transom, console and covering boards. Four electric-reel plugs also come standard, along with lockable rod storage.

Port and starboard boarding doors allow anglers to more easily boat big fish. Other standard features include a three-sided tempered glass enclosure, three-across helm seating, a tackle center, twin Garmin 8624 MFDs, Garmin GMR Fantom 6-foot open array radar, Siren Marine security, and an Airmar 2 kW in-hull transducer.

Specifications

LOA: 40 ft. 4 in.

Beam: 11 ft. 10 in.

Weight: 15,000 lb. (rigged)

Draft: 2 ft. 2 in.

Transom Deadrise: N/A (cat)

Fuel Capacity: 670 gal. (770 gal. optional)

Max HP: 1,800 hp

MSRP: Available on request

The post Barker Boatworks 40HPC First Glance appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

After 10 years in the boating ­industry, Kevin Barker ventured out on his own, putting his expertise — and indeed, his very name — toward one goal: designing and building what he would proudly call the “ultimate bay boat.”

First, he commissioned ­world-renowned naval ­architect Michael Peters, whose established-in-1981 Michael Peters Yacht Design specializes in ­high-speed boats.

Barker and Peters opted for the patented “Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel” design, with its reputation as having the lowest drag coefficient of any mono hull. That’s a prescription for higher speed, safe and crisp maneuvering, better fuel economy, and an all-around better ride than conventional stepped hulls, the company says. On that hull they created what have become two 26-foot boats: the 26 Calibogue Bay and the 26 Open and the soon-to-arrive 26 Open Tower.

All Barker Boats are built to ­order, and individual hull ­progress is often updated on Facebook. Two identical boats never leave the Barker Boatworks facility. What they share is 100 percent ­vinylester resin and ­composite-cored ­vacuum-infused construction.

And attention to detail: The Barker management team has more than 100 years of combined industry experience, and the ­entire 28-employee staff ­intentionally overbuilds its boats, using the best materials, technology and methods available — achieving yacht-quality fit, finish and rigging.

26 OPEN

Soon after Barker’s 26 Calibogue Bay was launched, it was joined by a sibling with an eye to the blue water: the Barker 26 Open, a versatile bay/offshore hybrid. And the line is still expanding with a soon-to-arrive 26 Open Tower.

Aptly, the Open’s open space replaces the Calibogue’s forward and aft casting decks; one fishes in, rather than on, the Open, whose cap is a bit higher to create a deeper cockpit too. “Open” might refer both to haunts — bay and offshore — and the floor plan of this hybrid bay/offshore boat. The hull has the same patented stepped-V ventilated tunnel ­design, for swift, dry trips across all kinds of seas with none of the bad behavior often associated with steps.

For more days offshore, you might opt for a full-tower second station, providing not only the fish-spying attributes of a stand-on, but also the full complement of fish- and direction-finding gear and controls.

At deck level there’s plenty of fishing room behind the 31-inch-wide helm and leaning-post ­tackle station, which houses a 45-gallon baitwell. (There’s a 15-gallon livewell in the bow, and you can add a pair in the transom.) There’s even more fishing space in the wide-open bow, with generous but unobtrusive in-floor storage. A dozen rod holders flank the console, and the 26 Open has a pair of macerated, insulated fish boxes: one ­a ­50-gallon and one a massive 140.

More Info: barkerboatworks.com

The post Barker Boatworks 26 Open: 2017 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

After 10 years in the boating ­industry, Kevin Barker ventured out on his own, putting his expertise — and indeed, his very name — toward one goal: designing and building what he would proudly call the “ultimate bay boat.”

First, he commissioned ­world-renowned naval ­architect Michael Peters, whose established-in-1981 Michael Peters Yacht Design specializes in ­high-speed boats.

Barker and Peters opted for the patented “Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel” design, with its reputation as having the lowest drag coefficient of any mono hull. That’s a prescription for higher speed, safe and crisp maneuvering, better fuel economy, and an all-around better ride than conventional stepped hulls, the company says. On that hull they created what have become two 26-foot boats: the 26 Calibogue Bay and the 26 Open and the soon-to-arrive 26 Open Tower.

All Barker Boats are built to ­order, and individual hull ­progress is often updated on Facebook. Two identical boats never leave the Barker Boatworks facility. What they share is 100 percent ­vinylester resin and ­composite-cored ­vacuum-infused construction.

And attention to detail: The Barker management team has more than 100 years of combined industry experience, and the ­entire 28-employee staff ­intentionally overbuilds its boats, using the best materials, technology and methods available — achieving yacht-quality fit, finish and rigging.

26 CALIBOGUE BAY

Kevin Barker was born in ­Savannah, Georgia, and grew up on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, off whose shores he formed his first fishing memories with his grandfather Maynard Barker, on Calibogue Sound.

No wonder, then, that his first boat was named in honor of those waters and early outings, its name also reflecting its ­coastal-bay-boat nature.

It’s at home in the shallows, drawing just 14 inches. Its ­18-degree deadrise sends it skimming the waters. It’s a dry ride too. Handling has as much in common with a racing boat — sure and secure — as with a fishing craft. But a fishing boat it is.

Bow (15-gallon) and stern (45-gallon) baitwells make it supremely fishable, and a ­50-gallon insulated and ­macerator-equipped fish box awaits the proceeds. (A pair of optional 25-gallon transom baitwells can extend the fishing day or options further.)

Baker designed the helm to not only contain a head, but also to provide easy access to rigging within hatches there.

Shallow-water anchors keep this stable fishing platform — beamy and stable at 9 feet 3 inches — in place. Everything else about it makes it move — 60 mph and more! It’s ruled by an elegantly clean helm, with digital, not analog, information.

More Info: barkerboatworks.com

The post Barker Boatworks 26 Calibogue Bay: 2017 Boat Buyers Guide appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Performance

POWER Single Mercury 300 Verado Pro

LOAD 45 gal. fuel, three crew, fishing tackle, safety gear

TOP SPEED 61.2 mph @ 6,200 rpm

TIME TO 30 MPH 8.3 sec.

BEST MPG 3.49 @ 29.3 mph (3,500 rpm)

HULL

LOA 25 ft. 6 in

BEAM 9 ft. 3 in.

DEADRISE 18 deg.

WEIGHT 4,250 lb. (with power)

DRAFT 1 ft. 4 in. (motor up)

FUEL 90 gal.

MAX POWER 400 hp

PRICE AS TESTED $128,000 w/ Mercury 300 Verado Pro and AmeraTrail trailer

Barker Boatworks

Sarasota, Florida

941-232-8646

Stepping Up

Riding on Air

Wide-Open Spaces

Stowage Galore

Tight and Dry

Comfortable Run

Innovative Touches

Immaculate Fit and Finish

Ample Helm Space

Running Strong

Fishing Machine

The post Barker 26 Calibogue Bay First Glance appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

A building wave of big, new multihull boats is sweeping across the offshore angling world. Catamaran fishing boats hailing from manufacturers such as Barker, Calcutta, Insetta, Invincible and World Cat now rival long-established monohull models in the 30- to 50-foot range for bluewater dominance.

What has spurred the trend? While cat-style fishing boats have been around for decades, advances in computer-aided engineering, boat-building materials and powerful new motors have accelerated development of bigger and more capable models. The latest fishing catamarans feature styling, handling and performance that have captured the interest and, in many cases, the boat-buying dollars of today’s offshore anglers.

Some multihull models reach 51 feet in length overall, and most—but not all—of the new fishing catamarans feature a center console layout. A number of the new multihulls are available with outboard or inboard power. Here are five models, presented in alphabetical order, that epitomize this new wave of big catamaran fishing boats.

Barker 40HPFC

Barker Boatworks new 40HPFC (High Performance Fishing Catamaran) features a Michael Peters-designed double-stepped multihull. Standard power includes quad Mercury 300 hp Verado V-8 outboards with an Optimus 360 joystick control system. The 40 HPFC is Barker’s first multihull boat and the largest of the brand’s stable of saltwater fishing boats, which also includes 26-foot bay and hybrid models.

Each 40HPFC features 100 percent vinylester resin and composite coring, with the hull, liners, decks and hardtops constructed using vacuum-bagged resin-infusion. The cat is backed by a limited 10-year warranty. Angling features include two 55-gallon livewells (one in the transom and another in the deck) are served by a Hooker Sea Chest with twin 2,500 gph variable speed pumps. Fish boxes forward and amidships, built by Frigid Rigid, provide a combined 664 gallons of insulated storage. Optional dual 65-quart slide-out coolers offer quick access to drinks and provisions. The standard hardtop comes with 15 rod holders, Gemlux outrigger mounts and 22-foot carbon fiber outriggers. Thirty-eight Gemlux rod holders are positioned in the transom, console and covering boards. The 40HPFC also includes four electric reel plugs, lockable rod storage, and saltwater and freshwater washdown systems.

There’s helm seating for three abreast with two side compartments and a rear tackle center in the seating module. A second row of three-passenger seating is an available option, along with a freshwater sink and 12-volt grill. The console incorporates a three-sided tempered glass enclosure and a forward lounge seat.

Garmin electronics and JL Audio packages come standard. Notable options include front-row reclining helm seats and a full-beam removable transom seat with removable backs and foot rests, and a Rebel EZ-5 anchor windlass. Power upgrades include quad Mercury 450R V-8 or quad Verado 600 V-12 outboards. Merc’s 450R outboards produced top speeds in the mid-80 mph range in company testing.

Barker 40HPC Specifications

• LOA: 40 ft. 4 in.
• Beam: 11 ft. 10 in.
• Fuel: 670 gal. standard, 770 gals. optional
• Weight: 15,000 lb. (fully rigged)
• Max Power: 1,800 hp

Calcutta 480

At 51 feet of length overall, the Calcutta 480 is impressive for its size alone, not to mention a world-class multihull design. Boasting a super-wide 17-foot beam, it offers a spacious deck with plenty of room for anglers, as well as superb stability while trolling or drifting.

Calcutta custom builds this catamaran to the specifications and needs of each buyer, and offers two interior configurations. One is a diesel inboard-powered express with a fully enclosed bow area and sportfisher-style cabin boasting a roomy helm deck, sleeping berths and enclosed head forward. The other features quad outboard-power and a walk-around deck layout with an enclosed pilot house and cabin.

On the express version of this cat, a pair of 550 hp Cummins diesel inboards linked to Arneson surface drives propel this big cat. On the outboard model, buyers can specify the power such as quad Yamaha 425 XTO engines. A 600-gallon fuel capacity and Calcutta’s efficient multihull design provides extended range.

Calcutta 480 Specifications

• LOA: 51 ft.
• Beam: 17 ft.
• Fuel: 600 gal.
• Weight: 31,000 lb. (express with diesel inboards); 25,000 lb. (pilothouse with quad outboards)
• Max Power: 1,100 hp (diesel), 1,700 hp (outboard)

Insetta 35 IFC

When Insetta introduced its 35 IFC (internal foil catamaran) amid last year’s pandemic shutdowns, the boat might have missed some of the attention it deserved. While hydrofoils aren’t new, they’ve been rare, particularly among fishing boats. Crafted correctly, foils can improve fuel economy 20 to 40 percent and enhance the ride by creating a dampening effect. Rob Coffey, Insetta’s director of sales and marketing, says the company wanted the 35 IFC to deliver optimal cruise speed and range, which results in less wear and tear on the engines and less fuel burned.

The foil, which lies between the two sponsons, is made from stainless steel and looks like a pair of airplane wings connected by a central strut. The foil’s backing plates are integral to the hull itself. Two smaller stainless-steel fins lie aft of the foil, on the inside face of each sponson.

Another unusual feature: Insetta tilted the outboards inward, toward each other, to ensure that the props on this asymmetrical multihull find enough water to maximize thrust. This cat’s design also allows it to turn like a monohull, leaning inward.

Standard fishing features aboard the 35 include a 156-gallon insulated coffin box, eight bow rod holders (with more aft), twin 30-gallon transom livewells (with an option for a third 70-gallon well beneath the mezzanine seat), three-pump-capacity sea chest, fold-down bait-prep station and tackle storage, and transom bulkhead rocket launchers. With twin Mercury 400 Verados, the 35 IFC topped out at 58.8 mph (5,800 rpm) in our testing. A best mpg reading of 1.73 occurred at 47.3 mph (4,400 rpm). Insetta also offers the 35 with twin 300s, which improves the mpg at cruise to 2 mpg at 42 mph, according to company tests.

Insetta 35 IFC Specifications

• LOA: 35 ft.
• Beam: 10 ft. 8 in.
• Fuel: 490 gal.
• Weight: 11,000 lb. (fully rigged)
• Max Power: 900 hp

Invincible 46 Cat

The 46 Cat is not only the largest multihull in Invincible’s growing line of offshore fishing catamarans, it is the company’s flagship, eclipsing even the Invincible 42-foot center-console monohull in length and beam. Designed by cat-design specialists Morrelli and Melvin, the 46 rides on a hybrid semi-asymmetrical multihull design that allows it to bank comfortably into turns. A double stepped-hull promotes quick acceleration and lift when powered with quad Mercury 450 Racing outboards. At wide-open throttle, the 46 is capable of 78 mph. The grid-stringer system, vacuum-infused hull, deck and parts result in super-strong and durable construction.

The helm station of this center console cat offers enough room for dual Garmin 24-inch displays. The hardtop is bonded to the console and includes an integrated full-height tempered-glass windshield and side windows. The 46 also features an inward-opening tuna door on the port side and four in-deck fish boxes with 1,334 gallons of total capacity. The custom-built 46 Cat boasts four livewells: two in the deck at 72 gallons each, and two 60-gallon transom wells. A dozen rod holders line the aft edge of the hardtop with 10 more on both sides of the console.

Two rows of helm seating, each with three seats, plus aft-facing mezzanine seating with a large molded cooler beneath, offer plenty of places to kick back while underway. On the forward console, two large lounges with contoured cushions, folding armrests with cup holders and comfortably reclining backs sit atop an insulated coffin-box-style fish box. The roomy console interior is also equipped with a head and sink, and provides access to the electronics, batteries, circuit breakers and other rigging.

Invincible 46 Cat Specifications

• LOA: 45 ft. 11 in
• Beam: 12 ft.
• Fuel: 1,000 gal.
• Weight: 20,000 lb. (w/ power)
• Max Power: 1,800 hp

World Cat 325CC

World Cat completely retooled its popular 320CC with enhancements such as an improved removable transom seating arrangement, increased insulated storage, and improved styling, then re-badged it as the 325CC. Standard features of this center-console catamaran fishing machine include bow seating with cushioned backrests for six adults; port and starboard insulated 56-gallon fish lockers, and a 26-gallon center fish box. A 45-gallon livewell is served by 1,100 gph magnetic drive pumps. The expansive helm area can accommodate a pair of 16-inch multifunction displays screens.

An available Shadow Series option includes a two-tone hull with any of World Cat’s available colors on the top and standard white on the bottom, a full hardtop, black windshield frame, black-powder-coated motorwell rocket launchers, gray SeaDek helm pad and footrest, black console hatches, and a black Edson wheel.

Other notable options include a bow filler with sun lounge cushion; removable bow table with dedicated storage; transom rod holders (three per side); blue LED underwater lights; manually retractable hardtop shade with Sunbrella canvas in Cadet Gray color; bow shade; outriggers and dual Garmin 8616xsv displays. A beefier new transom allows for a higher horsepower rating than what was available for the 320CC. The World Cat 325CC can handle up to 800 hp.

World Cat 325CC Specifications

• LOA: 32 ft. 2 in.
• Beam: 10 ft. 6 in.
• Fuel: 279 gal (twin 139.5-gal. tanks)
• Weight: 10,100 lb. (w/ power)
• Max Power: 800 hp

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