FlatsCat

Work Boat for Shallow Waters

Seacor Environmental presents the patented custom built FlatsCat work boat. Combining the catamarans famous smooth stable ride with lightweight welded aluminum and a ram-air hull design, the FlatsCat is able to run in extremely shallow water, and more importantly provides an extremely stable work platform.

Because safety is the most important aspect in work boats today, the FlatsCat hulls and sub-hull are sealed air tight and injected with foam. Testing has proven without a doubt that the FlatsCat is absolutely unsinkable. This vessel is available in up to 23' lengths.

A truly revolutionary work platform for working with oil spill containment boom and equipment, the FlatsCat is truly the best work platform for spill responders.

Shallow Water Capabilities

The ram air affect which affords the FlatsCat to run smoothly across the top of the waves also serves another function when entering shallow water. As air passes under the bow and approaches the inside walls of the Cat Hulls, the water under the boat is compressed slightly and in turn rebounds up into the water channel of the twin hulls. It is here that the water comes in contact with the sub-hull. The sub-hull is a slightly downward curve about one third of the way back from the bow. The purpose of the sub hull is to purge most of the air out of the water that is flowing into the Cat Hulls. The water is then wedged or trapped in between the Cat Hulls by the patented reverse angle inside hull wall. When the water passes under the transom, a jet effect is formed compacting the water even more and aiding in forward motion. When the water exits the transom it explodes up into the lower unit and propeller of the outboard which allows for good handling characteristics, and more than adequate water pressure for engine cooling. At speeds exceeding 20 M.P.H. the FlatsCat Hull has 1/2" draft, meaning the boat is on top of the water, not pushing through it. When entering water that is 7" or less in depth, the water is compacted between the hull and the bottom creating a lifting effect which raises the boat to about 1/2" plus draft. This means that the keel-less FlatsCat will not hit sub surface strata while there is any water below the boat at speed. However, when equipped with a tilt and trim engine and a standard 5" Jack Plate, skeg drag will occur in about 3 1/2" of water, signaling the boat operator to seek deeper water. This is a built-in safety factor for shallow water running, which has been well received and appreciated by our boat owners.

Stability

Catamaran Boats have always been known to be very stable while sitting still on the water or moving at speeds, simply because you have 2 hulls. One hull enhances the other, meaning that as one hull is raised or lowered due to water movement, the weight versus the flotation of either hull are trying to stabilize each other. Cat Hulls displace only about 1/3 of their weight which enables the boat to run across the top of the water - not through it.

Standard Equipment

• Aluminum console
• 20 gallon fuel tank
• Safety rails
• Grab rails on console
• Injected foam-filled sealed hulls
• Dry storage in console
• 72 quart ice chest
• Seat with cushion
• Wind-screen

Optional Equipment

• Towing post
• Poling platform
• 5" or 8" hydraulic jack plate with indicator
• Tachometer
• Pressure gauge
• Tilt & trim indicator,
• 13" x 17" pitch 4-blade Predator propeller
• Trailer
• Extra fuel capacity
• 70 hp+ outboard motor