![]() Like most cats, the 280 does not require trim tabs. Point of fact: The boat never pounded once all day, no matter the speed or sea direction. The cat ate it up, running straight as an arrow without a hint of pounding. I attacked them quartering, the gusts buffeting us from the starboard side. The seas had grown even steeper, with the wind whipping up white caps and blowing spray across the surface. The wind was pushing 30 knots when Cope suggested we run to a wreck closer to shore. It integrates all the electrical systems on the boat, and allows their operation from the two touchscreen Garmin units aboard without the need for engine gauges and separate switch panels. He explained that with the 280CC-X, World Cat had done away with mechanical switches and breakers in favor of the new Mastervolt CZone intelligent digital-switching system. I mentioned to Lane that I really liked the placement of the battery switches and breaker panel under the helm seats facing the console. Those factors combine to give the boat a solid, quiet, shudder-free ride and also enhance its tracking ability. The stringer grid is a foam-filled composite structure glassed into place, stiffening and fusing the twin hulls and the arched tunnel area, and connecting them into a single rigid assembly before the inner liner is installed. Lane explained that this is the first three-piece-construction boat for World Cat and that all major components, including the liner, deck, console and hardtop, have been vacuum-bagged and resin-infused for reduced weight plus increased strength. I also found the 280 noticeably more nimble and responsive to the helm than expected. We settled into a 32 mph cruise at 4,000 rpm with lots more speed to spare.Īccording to Yamaha testing, the boat tops out just a hair over 50. It jumped on plane quickly (Yamaha testing shows the boat can hit 30 mph in just over 8 seconds). The boat is surprisingly fast, with twin Yamaha F200 outboards providing the motivation. “It’s also faster out of the hole and at top end,” he said with a sly smile. The 280CC-X is built on a refined planing hull with pads on the aft portion of the running surfaces so it lifts on top of a sea while retaining the soft, stable ride twin hulls provide. Lane was fishing near me, so I asked him to explain World Cat’s construction methods. World Cat flush-mounted twin Garmin multi-function displays into the black face of the console, which made the screens stand out even in bright sunlight.Ī sharp entry and graceful sheer give this cat a sleek look. The twin Llebroc high-backed helm chairs added to the comfort factor whether sitting or leaning against the lifted bolster. The three-sided glass enclosure crowning the center console and the carbon-fiber-reinforced standard hardtop protected the helm area from sun, wind and rain, making the boat a pleasure to run. The ride was soft, with no hint of slap or pounding, and the hull was dead quiet. I was immediately impressed with the way the twin hulls handled the conditions. Next stop: an artificial reef 12 miles to the north through choppy seas. He throttled up and the cat did its thing. ![]() Traber ran the boat to Cape May Inlet, where the wind against the tide created substantial turbulence. The rain stopped on cue, and by the time we had donned warm clothes and loaded on food, rods, rigs, sinkers and a bucket of green crabs for bait, the wind was already honking at 15 to 20 knots from the west. So, would the opportunity to spend a day thrashing this new World Cat just reaffirm my preference for single-hull deep-V boats? I’ve tested several power catamarans and fished a lot more over the years with mixed feelings. Yes, I fall firmly into the opposition camp. It offers fishing amenities and creature comforts with a redesigned hull and a new construction schedule that could sway even the most ardent monohull devotees. But the all-new World Cat 280CC-X is a game changer. Those characteristics turned off some potential buyers. Early catamaran designs certainly handled differently than monohulls: They were typically slower and tended to generate a lot of hull noise when running. ![]() Is one hull better than two? That’s the monohull versus catamaran conundrum. Max Power – 400 hp MSRP – $231,366 (as tested) More Information: Courtesy World Cat Deadrise – N/A (catamaran) Dry Weight – 7,300 lb. fuel, four crew Top Speed – 50.4 mph 5,850 rpm Time to 30 mph – 8.5 seconds Best mpg – 2.36 26.2 mph (3,500 rpm) Hull: LOA – 27 ft. Performance: Power – Twin Yamaha F200s Load – 110 gal.
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