Alegra Motorsports Pro Class 1 Catamaran Renovation On Track
The longtime head of Super Cat Rigging in Stuart, Fla., Gary Stray knew he had his work cut out for him prepping Carlos de Quesada’s Alegra Motorsports 45-foot Victory catamaran in time for the 2025 Pro Class 1 season, which starts May 17 in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Installing the cat’s spec-class Mercury Racing 1100 engines was the least of the renowned rigger’s concerns.
The Alegra Motorsports Pro Class 1 raceboat project is on track for early May completion.
The Dubai-built raceboat also needed significant hull-and-deck work and—like its engine compartment—its interior needed to gutting and updating.
Stray, who is working alongside longtime Super Cat Rigging team-member Patrick Cleveland and a couple of other technicians brought in for the project, is pleased with his progress so far. What’s more, he said that plans to begin testing the cat in early May are on track.
Carbon-fiber battery boxes were among the many custom-fabricated parts for the build.
“Almost all of the long lead-time items are here,” he explained. “Getting fuel cells has been a problem in the past, but I ordered them back in November and they are shipping next week. They’re the only long lead-time items we are waiting on.
“It’s coming along really well, though we still have a lot to get done before May, such as wiring the boat, which is a big task,” he continued. “The bottom changes are nearly complete. Engine fitment is complete and the new windshield has been bonded in place. We are building an outer mask for the canopy to go over the windshield. The next step is priming and painting the cat in house.”
Carbon mounts were built for the cat’s quick-release engine system.
Stray set up engine systems—oil, fuel and water—to be “modular” on each engine. He created a quick-release setup on the custom carbon-fiber engine mounts. When the crew removes an engine, those systems come out of the bilge compartment with it.
“It’s all one piece,” Stray said. “We can have an engine out and on the floor in 12 minutes. We can get it back in the engine compartment in 14 minutes.”
The 45-footer has required extensive hull work and modification.
Stray, who began his career with the Class 1 Victory team more than three decades ago, said he’s pleased to be doing actual rigging work again rather than simply managing the project.
“Are we working long hours and weeks?” he said, then laughed. “Yes, we are. But I am kind of enjoying being back doing hands-on rigging. It’s where I started. We even got Lou involved doing some carbon-fiber work. She’s a stellar wife.
“It’s going to be quite a boat,” he added.
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