Scored a Donor Cat, What is it?

Discussion in 'Multihulls' started by Bigfork, May 21, 2018.

  1. Bigfork
    Joined: Dec 2009
    Posts: 76
    Likes: 9, Points: 8, Legacy Rep: 17
    Location: Montana, USA

    Bigfork Junior Member

    Greetings forum folks,

    So funny story…I just picked up a catamaran for 200$ that was 1,500$ two years ago. Buried behind a warehouse at a park and sell, the lot’s owner wants rid of it…tired of looking at it, don’t know what it is or what it’s worth is, or anything regarding sailing, and can’t find the owner. “give me 200 bucks and it’s yours”….so now I’ve got to hide another boat in my yard somewhere (the wife is not happy as I already have a set of H18 hulls tipped up against the garage to go along with a 21’ yacht, a laser, and a H16).

    So I have daydream plans as follows:

    1. Chop hulls about 7’ from bow, spin one and sister them together to make amma for western proa, stitch and glue the main hull.

    2. use one hull as a cockpit(ed) center hull and build ply ammas for ripping solo trimaran

    3. (The likely use) build ply center hull and use cat as donor to make strike 18 or something similar.

    4. Lastly, jerry rig the thing together as is and see if it goes like the clappers. This seems like the least likely plan as I already have a fast, wet catamaran: the H16, and this mast looks sketchy.
    one pic shows a gusseted splice in the mast...obviously a bad thing there but whatever...

    So my real question is….what early 80’s cat is this? A Sol Cat? VIN has been painted over or it's on the hull that's airborne and I can't read it.
    Park and Sell gave me a vin but it's not in front of me. I remember the last 4 digits were ...8282

    Mast length—34’3”

    Mainsail Luff—30’8”

    Hull—18’4”

    Beam—assuming it’s 10’, forgot to measure.

    So all the rigging appears to be there, boom with 6 to 1 sheeting tackle, rudders, carbon daggers (that may not be carbon or even the originals), tilt trailer, boat, sail in decent shape, (spliced) mast with diamond spreaders and Hobie mast Bob, curved mainsheet track with car, ...200$ for the lot! Seems to me the trailer and sail alone might be worth 800$ ?? I couldn't say no...the perfect donor boat.

    See pictures to help guess work. Thanks gang!!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. BlueBell
    Joined: May 2017
    Posts: 2,893
    Likes: 1,080, Points: 113
    Location: Victoria BC Canada

    BlueBell . . . _ _ _ . . . _ _ _

    Sandals, things are warming up in Montana.

    Nice score.
    Have fun.

    It's the first three characters that are of most interest on a VIN.
     
  3. Bigfork
    Joined: Dec 2009
    Posts: 76
    Likes: 9, Points: 8, Legacy Rep: 17
    Location: Montana, USA

    Bigfork Junior Member

    Numbers are in front of me now...the VIN numbers might be: A00368181 (not sure if those are zeros or the letter O)
    She also gave me some other numbers...:
    BLJ623 (?)
    CFZ8042F00005 (i think this is trailer reg)
     
  4. Richard Woods
    Joined: Jun 2006
    Posts: 2,210
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    Location: Back full time in the UK

    Richard Woods Woods Designs

    I agree, I think its a Solcat 18. But puzzled by the mast length V mainsail luff?? few beach cats have a boom 4ft off the deck. And even a Tornado only has a 31ft mast (approx.)

    Richard Woods
     
    DogCavalry and fallguy like this.
  5. Bigfork
    Joined: Dec 2009
    Posts: 76
    Likes: 9, Points: 8, Legacy Rep: 17
    Location: Montana, USA

    Bigfork Junior Member

    Yes,
    I believe that it is indeed a Solcat 18 (the hulls are just an inch or two over 18')
    That said, it's on a tilt trailer with a 10' beam and a curved main sheet track. None of the solcat pics I can find show a curved sheet track; they are all just part of the rear crossbeam like a Hobie.

    I'm beginning to think it's a Frankenstein (which doesn't change what I want to do). Something akin to a solcat 18 with solcat 20 beams and hack mast made from other extrusions. No solcat mast pic has diamond wires either. More after mods...?

    Hmmm. Still a treasure trove of parts.

    Curious what people think.
     
  6. Bigfork
    Joined: Dec 2009
    Posts: 76
    Likes: 9, Points: 8, Legacy Rep: 17
    Location: Montana, USA

    Bigfork Junior Member

    Anyone know what has more float volume...
    Hobie 18 or 1981 Solcat 18??
    My hunch is the solcat; it just looks a little taller and fuller.

    Most my research says the Solcat is/was slightly faster than the H18.
    If I do a strike 20 with the Solcat, I like the fact that the beam sockets are symmetrical; the hull is also symmetrical. The 10' beams might even be just right for the Strike 20.
    Anyone think of any other DIY center hull options? I like the simplicity of the Strike 20, but not the lines so much...Plus I'd love to have a sarcophagus to sleep one in, even if tight...and I'm 6'7" so that's gonna complicate stuff :)

    So much potential...all I can do is daydream!

    thanks!
     
  7. Doug Lord
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: Cocoa, Florida

    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    There is (was) a development class cat called the "18 Square" with 18 square meters of sail and a 10' beam- maybe your Solcat was converted to that class?
     
  8. Corley
    Joined: Oct 2009
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    Location: Melbourne, Australia

    Corley epoxy coated

    Kurt Hughes has a daysailor trimaran that can use beach cat hulls as floats. Plans for the classic Tremolino are still available through Pat Newick as well. Kurt Hughes Multihull Design - Catamarans and Trimarans for Cruising and Charter http://www.multihulldesigns.com/designs_stock/daysail/23_tri_day.htm
     
  9. Ike
    Joined: Apr 2006
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    Location: Washington

    Ike Senior Member

    The only one of those that makes any sense is the one beginning with CFZ. CFZ is a California assigned Hull Identification Number. But it is too long. 13 digits. Should be 12. One of those zeros probably doesn't belong. Any way this would bolster the theory that it's a Frankenstein. States only assign HINs to boats that don't have them or are homemade. I suspect someone bought some hulls and built their own.
     
  10. Al Snyder
    Joined: Aug 2024
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 0, Points: 1
    Location: San Diego

    Al Snyder Junior Member

    I also have a 16' Hobie Cat with a HIN that starts with CFZ. Total is 13 characters!
    DMV sent me a letter saying that it doesn't comply with the 1984 standards, that I need to correct it in 30 days.
    They allow only 12 characters.
    Do I need to make a 12 digit HIN # myself?

    This is the complete HIN:
    CFZ4999H0077N (H, zero, zero, 7,7, N)

    It does not fit to any standard!
    Can anyone decode it for me?
     
  11. Ike
    Joined: Apr 2006
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    Location: Washington

    Ike Senior Member

    You cannot assign an HIN to the boat. Only a manufacturer/builder or a state can do that. I suspect the original owner messed up when they got it from the DMZ and put it on the boat. You need to deal with the DMZ (what a nightmare) to get it straightened out. If you find out what it should be then you need to get permission from the Coast Guard to change it on the boat. That's the law. call 202-372-1077 or email rbscompliance@uscg.mil
    Or write to:

    Commandant
    U.S. Coast Guard
    Chief, Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch (CG-BSX-23)
    Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety
    2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE
    Washington, DC 20593-7501

    As For Decoding:
    CFZ4999H0077N (H, zero, zero, 7,7, N)
    CFZ = California
    4999H is a supposed to be a number assigned by the state.
    0077N should be only 4 characters
    7N is the model year and month of buidl, probably 2007 and N is nonsense. The last letter is supposed to be the month starting with A, B, C and ending with L, A is for August, B September and continuing to L for July of the model year . In other words a 2007 model years starts in August 2006 an extends to July of 2007. So the two zeros and the N don't belong. I suspect the builder made it up.

    Look at HINs For Boat Owners https://newboatbuilders.com/docs/HIN-101-for-boat-owners-part3.pdf
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2024
  12. Al Snyder
    Joined: Aug 2024
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 0, Points: 1
    Location: San Diego

    Al Snyder Junior Member


    Sorry, I should have mentioned this at the beginning that; my HobieCat is 1976 model year.
    I just found the title. Here's what's printed:

    Vessel Hull Number: CFZ4999H0077N
    YR Model: 1976
    Buildere: HOBIECAT
    CF Number: CF 4999 HN
    My Date of Purchase: 8/29/2006

    On front outer upper sides of both hulls CF4999HN is affixed.
    I wonder if they simply want me to affix the whole CFZ4999H0077N instead?

    I am attaching the letter and the format page DMV sent me.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Ike
    Joined: Apr 2006
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    Location: Washington

    Ike Senior Member

    CF Number: CF 4999 HN , is the State Registration Number. That number is already there on the forward end of the pontoons. it is Not the HIN. Typically on Catamarans the HIN it is on the right pontoon on the transom, or immediately next to the transom on the right side. Or on the cross bar near the transoms.

    Just fill out the form and send it to them with a photograph of the HIN on the boat, or a pencil rubbing. They will issue you another Title Certificate with the correct HIN. The HIN should be on the stern of the boat. If it is a Hobie the HIN should start with HCC, HCE, or CCM. Those are the Manufacturers ID Codes issued to Hobie. 'look at Hobie Sailboat and Kayak Serial Number Identification https://westcoastsailing.net/boat-questions/hobie-cat-serial-number-hull-number-identification/ for typical Hobie HINs.
     
  14. Al Snyder
    Joined: Aug 2024
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 0, Points: 1
    Location: San Diego

    Al Snyder Junior Member

    Unfortunately, that area is repaired and painted over. There's no trace from the engravings.
    I attached the pics of the HIN location. Absolutely no trace.
     

    Attached Files:


  15. BlueBell
    Joined: May 2017
    Posts: 2,893
    Likes: 1,080, Points: 113
    Location: Victoria BC Canada

    BlueBell . . . _ _ _ . . . _ _ _

    Al,
    This is an extreme idea
    ( finding HIN's is the bane of my existence ).
    Lightly sand in that area until it reveals.
    I'm not joking. I've done it. But go slow.
    Take a rubbing with a pencil and paper.
    Photograph the rubbing and the original,
    if you can get it to show, lighting is everything.
    BB
     
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