PVC Pipe Catamaran Sailboat RebelCat 5 on the MOVE!

Finally, some video of RebelCat 5 sailing (see RebelCat.com), and fast. I mounted camcorders on the cat - you have to watch this video to see how cool this is. Many thanks to those who requested video, the only way to convey the thrill of a speeding catamaran. Now with new sails, centerboard and rudder, RebelCat 5 really moves. If you want this kind of thrill, my DVD shows you how to make this cat from ordinary PVC pipe and locally-available materials, with simple hand tools and no boat-building skills required. When your RebelCat is ready, let's all go sailing! Updates appear on my web site regularly, as I and others improve on an already great-performing cat. You can get the DVD free and even win $500 for making the cat - details at www.RebelCat.com. See you on the water! Music by Muse.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• catamaran
• sailboat
• PVC
• pipe
• sailing
• sail
• sailor
• lake
• pontoon
• boat
• cat
• DVD

[TheParkour907]

hi im 13 and i live in Alaska, and im planning on making a rebelcat, I just have a few questions on building the boat? Im not buying the DVD because i only have so much money to spend on this. 1. what material is cheapest and lightest to use for sails? 2. would a wooden mast work fine?

3.is there a way i could put ore locks on it and row it when there is not any wind?

4.how would i mount the mast the simpleist way

5.and is it a 'must need' to have a keel?

it would help a lot if you could help?

[marjamada]

@TheParkour907 - 1. Plastic sheeting (cheap) polytarp better. 2. Wood mast okay 3. Oar locks okay (RebelCat 4 had them) 4. Mast in a hole/pipe 5. Keel/centerboard/daggerboard is a must, or your cat will drift downwind. Good luck with your cat.

[wjionieis]

Would a PVC mast work?

[marjamada]

@wjionieis - Not very well, as a mast must be strong and stiff. I use aluminum pipe. Home Depot has wood railing (round with one small flat side) that would work on a small cat. You could put a sail track on that flat side.

[wjionieis]

Thank you I was watching your vid and I was wondering is a 8 by 4 foot sail going to be able to propel me though the water

[marjamada]

@wjionieis - To answer your question, I would need more information: type and weight of boat plus crew, shape of sail and area (4 x 8 square is 32 sq ft, triangular is 16 sq ft), propel at what speed under what conditions? If you are talking about a cat, you may want a high-aspect-ratio sail - tall and narrow, like a wing. A triangular sail 4 x 8 will not propel you very fast. Consider wind-surfing sails and how small the 'boat' is. A cat will need a bigger sail to go the same speed.

[marjamada]

@wjionieis - Perhaps, but you might consider using a boat. ;-)

[marjamada]

@wjionieis - If you are a small person, around 100 lbs, it might work. 8" pipe floats 21.75 lbs per foot, so 14' gives you just over 300 lbs flotation. That means your total weight - you, boat, cargo - cannot be over 150 lbs, so your cat has pontoons half out of the water. However, you might find that pontoons that short give you a bumpy ride over chop - up, down, up, down. Put traffic cones fore and aft and it will improve flotation and ride. Keep boat weight low. Good luck.

[wjionieis]

I found some PVC but it's 14 ft. Long and I plan on cutting it in halve it's 8 inch do you think that it will work also I'm getting your video in the mail today

[marjamada]

@wjionieis - Not hammocks, but cargo space for light things, like oars, rope, shoes... Notice that they get sprayed with water. I do have ways to raise them higher, but that day I didn't bother.