Bobkat Boats International
Originally based in Cape Town South Africa, we have been designing Catamarans for more than 30 years.
Our team of engineers and technicians have specialised in the powered catamaran because we believe that the properly designed cat provides superior space, stability and comfort.
Demanding sea conditions off of the Cape coast has led to a hull design patented because of its unique seakeeping qualities. Boatloft provides specialist knowlege, basic hulls in various configurations, as well as fully fitted boats delivered anywhere in the world.
Latest Bobkat News
New 7.3m Sportsfisher / Sportscruiser
15 April 2009
The exciting new Bob van Niekerk designed 7.3m Sportsfisher / Sportscruiser is the latest addition to the vast Bobkat range of high speed rough water catamarans. It has had outstanding reviews and boat test by Erwin Bursik, the renowned boat test expert in South Africa.
It is designed incorporating the typical Bobkat asymmetrical hull shape and patents.
It was unveiled at the Johannesburg and Cape Town International Boat Shows at the end of 2008 and is making headline news in all boating publications in South Africa, with a possibility of it being on the Southampton Boat Show in September 2009.
There will be three model variants to the design, a soft top version, hard top version and walkaround console version. It is intended to be powered by two four stroke outboards between 90hp and 200hp engines, giving a top speed of over 55 knots. For optimum performance a set of FAST foils designed by Proffessor Gunter Hoppe of the Institute of Hydrodynamic and Mechanical Engineering at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa, can be fitted.
This boat is designed to be launched and retrieved off the beach and through the surf launching in mind, as with its 9.6m big brother.
Finish is outstanding with all fittings of the highest standard and this model is being moulded using resin infusion, so quality control is stringent.
New 7.8m Raceboat / Sport Cat
15 April 2009
There is much excitement in the anticipated launch of the new Bobkat Raceboat / Sportboat, which is intended to be launched during the latter part of 2009 and hopefully be unveiled on the London Boat Show.
This racebred rough water 3 pointer catamaran is incorporating a new patented hull shape and revolutionary tunnel design to accomodate a single 250 to 350hp four stroke V8 outboard capable of a speed in excess of 85mph in moderate to rough water conditions.
In the Sportboat version it will be able to carry four people, and is designed to handle the rougher sea conditions, when all other catamarans would find the going too tough.
So if the owner wants to go racing, he will have just the boat to take on all the monohulls, as this offshore catamaran is designed to do just that.
New Bobkat inflatable raceboat to enter the Thundercat Racing Series in UK
15 April 2009World renowned high speed catamaran designer Bob van Niekerk has completed the new innovative design of inflatable raceboat (known as a pencil boat due to it's catamaran shape), and production of this model is currently underway with the first boats being ready for the 2010 World Thundercat Racing Series.
The boat is designed along the lines of the current shape of pencil raceboat, but with numerous new innovative features, including stepped polyurethane keels to the sponsons and a unique shaped tunnel roof.
The tunnel roof will incorporate the patented Bobkat SKOKBREKER (shockbreaker) to the front section of the tunnel roof to soften the ride in big surf.
Moulded tunnel side lift rails will also be incorporated to assist in water / air medium hydrodynamic lift.
The boat is designed to fly over the surface of the water without the tendency to fly over backwards and to corner at a higher G without barrel rolling.
Bob van Niekerk is confident that this new design of boat, with a Pilot like Darryn Harrison, who is always willing to push the envelope to its limit, that the time has come to set a new trend in Thundercat Racing.
Go to (www.thundercatracing.co.uk) to see all about this adrenalin pumped action sport.
Download the coloured CAD sketch of the new inflatable raceboat
