Visit to Darren Drew's Arber 38' performance cat "Wind Cheetah".

 

I try to do a little write up on every performance multi that I get a chance to look over and Darren Drew's 38' Arber cat is exceptional so I thought I'd jot down some notes whilst things are fresh in my mind.

For a 38' cat she is a bit of a tardis.  The hull flares add a lot of interior volume and she is pretty much full standing room everywhere in the hulls and bridgedeck.  The bows both have watertight bulkheads the main beam has a deep Web that extends down the full height of the bridgedeck and into the hulls the rear beam is a similar arrangement. The construction is all foam sandwich vinylester/glass.  She has been faired throughout and the finish is very impressive.

 Two generous double berths in the bridgedeck and double berths forward in the hulls also another double berth starboard side rear with a headspace underneath, port side aft has a shower with sump and headspace.  Galley down is on the starboard side which is nicely equipped with sensibly chamfered bench tops and massive locker space for supplies around the daggerboard case.  I was impressed with how open and airy it all felt with anyone in the galley very much able to be part of any bridgedeck shenanigans.  Portside has a spacious locker for tools and a workshop space.

The bridgedeck has generous Saloon seating and the diesel sits under the Saloon table with excellent access all around, the drive is transferred through a swinging drop down steerable leg which can be fully retracted up and out of contact with the water.  She also has a drop down bow thruster for extra assistance in slow speed maneuvering. Steering is done via a central wheel on the back of the rear bridgedeck bulkhead with the ability to steer manually with a tiller when racing.  

Darren has hotted the rig up a bit with a 17m fixed rig and multi spreader mast.  It all looks very robust and confidence inspiring for when you want to punt the boat hard.  There is also a fold up and articulating prodder for when you want to set some big screechers.  The prodder is mounted on the front beam, supported and stayed back with a very solid base on the front of the hulls with dyneema stays.  Deep daggerboards assist with her sailing abilities, the cases are run through the hull flare locker space and don't intrude on the sole in the hulls.