290 Express Cabin Update

The 290 hull, liners and deck have been poly-bonded together, so we officially have a boat now that is in one piece. It has now taken it's place on our production line, which means we're getting very close to being completed.

We're working hard to finalize this prototype in time for the first water test this Friday... engines are hanging today and the dash and baitprep station will be added tomorrow in time for the first splash. This boat really comes together when we installed the hardtop and windshield, now we've got our cabin builders concentrating on finishing out the berth so that it looks "World Class".

Stay tuned for an update of our initial water test this weekend!

Friday Night Updates!

Here's a couple photos from late in the day on Friday, I couldn't wait until Monday to share. The deck fits great! The lines look good, and cabin is very spacious similar to the 320EC.

We also checked the bait prep station and the dash, which fit perfect as well. Next week will be a big week wiring the boat (hopefully the harnesses show up!) and starting to install cabinetry, doors, and doing final fit to check all the details...

This is going to be a great boat for fisherman... did I mention the two 300-quart fishboxes? How about the completely re-designed baitwell? You can read all the specs at our website for this offshore fishing catamaran...

As always, stay tuned for the next update on this boat and others in development... yes, we have other models we're working on currently too. Soon I'll reveal the final renderings on the next center console that we're working on, the 290CC... it's headed to mill today to get started!

We're also working on 270's and 290's designed more around cruising than fishing. You might remember that we originally pitched the idea of World Cat Cruisers a couple months ago on this blog, and have received enough positive feedback to get started!

Support Green Boating

Earth Day and boating. It sounds like a marriage headed straight for divorce court. A day set aside for honoring, protecting and replenishing Mother Earth, trying to get along with something as seemingly environmentally unfriendly as boating. Never going to happen you say.

At World Cat we’re working to change that perception. “Going Green” is something we take very seriously here. Heck, “World” is our first name. In honor of Earth Day on April 22nd I’d like to share with you how World Cat is embracing “Green Boating.”

World Cat’s product development and engineering team are working to integrate solar panels into future designs to charge battery banks and power electronics on our boats. We’re also investigating diesel electric power to propel our boats, similar to how hybrid vehicles work. Think that’s cool? How about recycling our old boat molds to use in fishing reefs? Gives a whole new meaning to fishing on a World Cat.

We feel like as a company we have only begun to scratch the surface of how Mother Nature and boating can peacefully co-exist.

The EPA estimates the average American produces 4.5lbs of solid waste each day. Think about it. That adds up quickly! Any materials that can be recycled will reduce the amount of waste that is incinerated or sent to landfills, therefore conserving natural resources and raw materials. Recycling prevents the emission of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants, saves energy, conserves resources and reduces the need for new landfills. Did you know that the following marine-related products can be recycled?

· Oil
· Used oil filters
· Shrink wrap
· Flares
· Lead batteries
· Monofilament fishing line
· Antifreeze

*Source: Earth911.org

29 Express Cabin

The hull liner for the 290EC was completed on schedule, looks great, and fits perfectly in the hull! Most importantly it holds the toilet quite nicely as you can see in one of the photos... seriously, everything seems really well spaced and comfortable.

We hit our first snag... waiting for wiring harnesses in order to set the liner into the hull. Oh well... we worked it out and they'll be here next week, we just hate losing time upfront but better they are done right than done quickly.

The headliner was pulled today too! We're setting the headliner into the deck tomorrow, and will be doing a preliminary dry set on Monday... at which point it'll look like a real boat. Just a couple more weeks until the maiden voyage and extensive testing!

Rigging the 290EC Hull

We have begun installing tanks, pumps, plumbing and soon electrical this week... this process of building the prototype, approving the vendor parts, and documenting the build to ensure manufacturing will be able to replicate consistently starting on boat #4 will continue throughout next week.

The hull liner was built today, it will be pulled and set in the boat next week and then the cabin build will begin.

Once we complete the under the deck work, and the initial cabin build, we're scheduled to set the deck onto the hull and bond together on April 21st. Right on schedule to have the first prototype to the water for testing and propping.

Next week it will start to look like a boat! Stay tuned for updates...

290EC Hardtop Preview

The 290EC is moving along on schedule and major components are starting to come together. We visited Ashley Welding to see the progress of a couple of the most important components, the aluminum hardtop frame and the stainless steel bow rail... both are coming along great, and fit the boat quite well.

You can see the deck lines in the photo, the final prototype version of the hardtop frame will be awesome. Sturdily built, looks great, and plenty of room to rig electronics.

I will post updates of the rigging and assembly process, we've been very busy trying to get all the vendor parts in house. The hull liner mold was completed today, as well as the bait prep station and various lids. Won't be long until this begins to look like a boat... stay tuned for updates, April will be a busy month.