Five of the Top Power Catamarans

Somehow, the anglers knew. When power ­catamarans first started working their way into the mainstream a few decades ago, offshore fishermen were among the first adopters. They didn’t mind the different look because they knew what they were gaining in the stability and seakeeping that a twin-hull boat could provide. Soon the long-distance cruisers took to them too, as the secret got out that they could take to waters in smaller boats normally reserved for the biggest and burliest of V-hulls. Now? Cats are part of the big-boat circuit as well, with 35- to 50-footers seen roaming the canyons and cruising hotspots. If you like to roam outside the inlet, here are five of the biggest cats that get the job done. 

Jump To:

• Invincible 46 Pilothouse
• Four Winns TH36
• World Cat 400 CC-X
• Aquila 47 Molokai
• Twin Vee 400 GFX2

Invincible 46 Pilothouse 

The Pilothouse version of the Invincible 46 allows you to overnight in style and comfort, or enjoy weather protection en route to the fish, and the 1,000-gallon fuel capacity gives the boat incredible range. When we tested this boat with quad Mercury Racing 450s, we recorded a range of 593.9 miles while cruising at 40.7 mph at 4,000 rpm. Top speed, if you’re wondering, was 71.2 mph. But this angling platform is about so much more than just the performance numbers.

The Invincible 46 rides on a hybrid-­asymmetrical hull that combines the best of a proa cat’s efficiency with the wave slicing and ­stability of identical twin sponsons. The hulls are double-stepped to further improve efficiency and running attitude. This cat can handle heavy seas and provide comfort offshore on days when less-worthy boats are still in their slips.

The pilothouse allows the captain and crew to experience the ride in plush comfort. In addition to the helm seating and the aft U-shaped lounge, there is an aft row of captain’s chairs. However, you can delete the second-row seating and ­extend the lounge for a roomier feel. If you want some fresh air, the pilothouse opens up nicely with port and starboard sliding doors, helm and passenger sliding windows, and a power-sliding window on the aft bulkhead that opens the cockpit to the cabin. Belowdecks, there’s sleeping accommodations for four, plus a galley that can be custom-fitted to your needs.

Even with the pilothouse, Invincible bills this boat as having 360-degree fishability. There’s plenty of fish-fighting space in the cockpit and the bow, which can convert to a three-person sun pad when the lines are in. Bring all the bait you want with the dual 60-gallon transom livewells, along with the 70-gallon in-floor well. All are fed by a sea chest with six pumps to keep the bait fresh. A rigging station folds out of the mezzanine seatback so cleverly that we might have missed it in our initial inspection if it hadn’t been pointed out. Drawers and tackle-box slots keep gear, tools, and leader spools organized. Six shotgun rod holders on the transom will prove ideal for storage and rigging. There’s lockable rod storage under the gunwales too. The transom arrangement eschews a transom door, but Invincible has an inward-opening portside door for hauling fish to the deck.

Overall, the Invincible 46 Pilothouse is set up to be a badass long-distance fishing and cruising machine.

Four Winns TH36 

With an aggressively wide 14-foot-7-inch beam, the Four Winns TH36 packs a ton of creature comforts into this catamaran to exceed the needs of the typical dayboater. Start with the aft living room—er—cockpit, which rivals the setup of many backyard patios. The seating is genius; the cockpit lounges slide and lock in several positions, both with and without tables. Slide them outboard, and two L-lounges reside on each side of a central walkway. Slide them inboard, and you create a giant U-shaped lounge. At the cockpit’s forward end, large plush, upholstered double chaises face aft. It’s all one level from here, right up to the bow lounge. Amidships, a pair of counters to port and starboard house the galley. Lift the faux-stone lids to reveal a cooktop, sink and optional grill, with a fridge hiding underneath. The massive bow lounge provides even more social space for up to eight people.

The dual-console layout evokes the feel of a bowrider on steroids. The helm provides excellent visibility from the adjustable captain’s chair, from where the captain can observe twin MFDs mounted in a pod that extends from the top of the console without restricting the view beyond. We tested this boat with a pair of Mercury 350 Verados, achieving a top speed of 37.1 mph and a nice cruising speed of around 25 mph. With the twin hulls, we found the boat to be as smooth as silk while knifing through swells that might cause a similar-size V-hull to pound.

While designed primarily for ­daytime roaming, the TH36 is set up to also be an ­overnight cruiser. Two cabins with queen berths reside belowdecks, each with its own separate head and shower. So you and your guests, or a family of four, can enjoy some ­privacy when it’s time to draw the curtains.

The extended platform between the ­outboards proved to be a favorite feature. It’s a great spot for taking a dip at anchor when the engines are off, but it also makes for a great boarding spot, showing that the TH36’s comfort factor starts before you even leave the dock.

World Cat 400 CC-X 

An OG in the power-cat space, World Cat has been producing center- and dual-console fishing catamarans for decades. Coming out on the heels of its 40-foot dual-console, the 400 CC-X is the flagship of its center-console fleet.

With a 604-gallon fuel tank, the 400 CC-X can deliver a range of over 600 miles, as proved during test day when, powered by quadruple Yamaha F300s, we recorded a range of 611.6 miles at a 27.5 mph clip at 4,000 rpm. You can get to the blue water and back, or the Bahamas if you live in Florida, and still have fuel to fish along the way.

Because of its long length and wide beam, the 400 CC-X can fit three high-back seats with armrests at the helm. The captain’s place would be at the center seat, which adjusts electrically behind the brushed-aluminum Edson wheel with brodie knob. The three-­sided tempered-glass windshield provides wind and spray protection, while an electric opening vent at the top of the windscreen allows a breeze on hot days. Our test boat sported two 22-inch Garmin touchscreens—a trio of ­17-inch displays is also offered—that showed everything, from systems (lighting, pumps, etc.) to the engine readouts. The 400 CC-X comes with a key-fob control, so you can turn on the lights and systems while walking on the dock. Some thoughtful touches at the helm include a padded recess atop the dash to securely hold phones and glasses, plus a handy glove box with a drain.

In terms of fishy features, the 400 CC-X is stacked, with an inward-opening tuna door leading into the 200-square-foot cockpit, with padded coamings and nearly 30 inches of walk-around space past the console and T-top to chase fish. In the cockpit sole are a pair of 80-gallon insulated fish boxes (with overboard Grouper Gulper pumps) that can be optioned as bait tanks; another pair of 154-gallon fish boxes (5-by-2 feet) are forward. Up at the bow, there’s actually a casting platform that hides the Lewmar anchor windlass. Our tester boasted the optional Cat Track sliding seats forward, which can combine into a centerline coffin box, creating a sun pad, or separate into a U-lounge. So there’s definitely room to relax and chill. Rod capacity? There are four vertical holders on each side of the console, three rod racks on each side of the cockpit aft, six lockable racks forward, an ­additional six locking racks under each ­gunwale, plus six rocket launchers on the ­T-top—five behind the helm and 11 scattered around the bow. Bring your entire arsenal.

Aquila 47 Molokai

The largest of the cats in this roundup, the ­Aquila 47 Molokai can take on square-edged seas with aplomb. When we tested it with four Mercury 400 Verados on the transom, we pointed the bow through the inlet and took on some serious swells with nary a shudder. It can run far, fish hard, and cruise in comfort—all in one finely appointed package.

Aquila’s heritage stems from the ­cruising side, so we’ll start with all the amenities ­designed to keep you in comfort between ­marina runs. Tucked into the low-profile console is a fully outfitted air-conditioned cabin with a queen berth; 6 feet, 7 inches of headroom; big windows; overhead skylights; and a surprisingly spacious head with shower. The genset is powered by lithium batteries that provide eight hours of juice for cooling the cabin.

Abovedecks, the 47 Molokai is all ­fishing. There are 22 rod holders all around the gunwales, plus attached to the carbon-fiber hardtop and in piping along the hardtop stanchions. Twin 42.5-gallon livewells are built into the transom for your baits, and insulated 4-foot, 148-gallon macerating fish boxes hide under deck hatches along the console walkways.

Tucked under the carbon-fiber hardtop (reinforced for the optional Pipewelders tower) are seven Stidd seats: three up front behind the helm and four in the raised mezzanine to spectate the action. That helm is impeccable, from the eyebrowed black dash with twin (or triple) Garmin MFDs, C-Zone switching, custom Fusion audio, and Mercury joystick. Driving the 47 Molokai when equipped with 1,600 hp is an absolute blast. The double-stepped hulls keep the boat at a good attitude while running along at a crisp pace. We recorded a top speed of 66.5 mph with the throttles pinned, while still maintaining a range of 562 miles. Throttle back to a comfortable 48.1 mph cruising speed at 4,500 rpm, and the range jumps to 654 miles.

Overall, the Aquila 47 Molokai is a boat ­designed and built to go places.

Read Next: Six Boats Built for Adventure

Twin Vee 400 GFX2 

The new Twin Vee 400 GFX2 is the next generation of the builder’s GFX model, with many redesigned features and a new digital control system to make operation smooth and seamless.

As of press time, we haven’t been able to get on the Twin Vee 400 GFX2, the newest model in the lineup. But we will soon. Here’s what we know about the company’s flagship offering. This boat is designed to be an offshore fishing machine. It will feature more than 450 square feet of deck space, 2,500 quarts of insulated storage, 150-gallon livewell capacity, and plenty of space to fight and land fish.

Fishing-wise, the GFX will have twin 475-quart coffin boxes with stainless-steel inserts and two in-deck 700-quart fish boxes with macerators. There will also be four electric-­reel outlets if you’re looking to fish deep. For rod holders, there will be 10 mounted into the gunwales per side, plus eight more on the hardtop piping aft of the helm. The main cockpit will have a rear-facing tackle station to prep your arsenal. A starboard-side tuna door helps for landing large pelagics and doubles as a great spot for dockside ­boarding. The helm has triple captain’s chairs, with ­additional seating for three just aft. A fully enclosed windshield keeps the captain and crew protected from the elements. The dash has space to mount twin 22-inch MFDs. A freshwater head in the console and transom jump seats add to the creature comforts.

The 400 GFX2 can be powered by quad Mercury, Yamaha or Suzuki outboards up to 1,800 hp total. Depending on your power choice, cruising speed should be in the mid-40s, with top speeds in the high 60 mph range.

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