XCAT Sail Innovations
The XCAT Sailing model has everything you need to start harnessing the wind. Both sails and all the rigging are included. We strongly recommend the Sailing Equipment Set to take your XCAT sailing experience to the next level.
1 - Fully battened square-top mainsail creates a lot of power. This sail is looped onto the mast for easier mounting and so it can be stowed still attached to the mast while rowing.
2 - Large laminated window in the genoa allows for safe navigation regardless of what tack you are on.
3 - Forestay is cleated at the mast step. This allows you to drop the mast while on the water for easy passage under low bridges and powerlines.
4 - Trampoline is made of a Textiline mesh that automatically tensions when the trampoline is installed. This prevents the need for tedious and time consuming lacing.
5 - Color coded and marked trampoline speeds up assembly by removing the guesswork. Shroud blocks and shrouds are marked with their respective red and green coloring. The positioning for the genoa and mainsheet blocks are marked on the center beam.
6 - Full length hull keels afford leeway resistance to the XCAT without the unnecessary draft of daggerboards or a centerboard. The boat will float in 6 inches of water!
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XCAT Sail Features & Benefits
The world’s first hard-hulled catamaran that can be transported on the roof of your car and assembled in 12 minutes—all without sacrificing quality or performance.
Lightweight Construction
The XCAT hulls are made of an HDPE skin wrapped around EPP foam forms to create unsinkable but ultra-light hulls. Combined with the anodized aluminum frame and carbon mast, the XCAT weighs in at 165 pounds when rigged as a sailboat. The heaviest part of the boat are the hulls—at only 38 pounds each—which is lighter than most kayaks!
Continuous Line Furler
An in-house designed endless loop genoa furler allows for easy reefing of the sail area when on the water. An endless loop furler allows you to easily furl and unfurl the sail regardless of wind direction and speed.
Safety as a Priority
The XCAT was designed to be an expedition boat, which required a focus on durability and endurance. This translates to a day sailing beach cat that makes light work of foul weather. The XCAT rig has been tested to withstand conditions as high as a Beaufort 8. The mast float and mast with floatation inside makes sure this boat is quick and easy to right in the event of a capsize.
Built-In Heave-To Feature
Most sailboats can heave-to without too much trouble, but many boats struggle to remain hove-to as the wind builds. On the XCAT, if you furl the genoa, hard sheet in the mainsail, let the rudder free and sit forward of the mast: the boat will sit within 5º of true wind direction and will average a half knot in reverse, regardless of wind speed. This is a fantastic feature for novice sailors or anyone who gets caught by a squall in open water.
OE Inboard Electric Motor Option
The XCAT is the smallest production sailboat with an optional inboard motor!
Whether you want the security of being able to get back home when the wind doesn't cooperate or the ability to short tack up a narrow river, the eProp is the perfect solution for any XCAT sailor!
Fast & Easy Assembly
The XCAT assembles with no tools or hardware. There are audible *clicks* when things get attached or are tight. This lets you know that it is locked and ready. Once you are familiar with the process, assembly can be done in about 10-15 minutes. The Red Beard Record is seven minutes and thirty seconds.
Genoa with Barber Hauler
Oversized 110% genoa allows for the XCAT to be rigged with a much shorter mast without sacrificing performance. This reduces heel in heavy winds and allows you to sail under bridges for which other other sailboats would have to de-mast. The centralized genoa cleats allow you to trim regardless of which side of the boat you are on. The barber hauler, typically seen on racing boats, allows you to haul the genoa clew closer to the centerline, allowing you to point higher on the wind.
Kick-up Rudder
The anodized aluminum rudder is resilient and perfectly formed. There is a built in lifting and kick up feature. You can easily lift the rudder to clear any seaweed or for shallow waters.
Dyneema Shrouds
Dyneema shrouds are lightweight, easy to store and still allow for an incredibly tight rig that is ready to withstand heavy winds. The shrouds feature a double shackle system where it attaches to the boat. This makes the XCAT easier to right from a capsize by lightweight sailors.
XCAT Sail Technical Specifications
| Overall Length | 16' 5" |
|---|---|
| Overall Width | 7' 2" |
| Air Draft | 16' 9" |
| Water Draft | 6" |
| Total Weight | 165 lbs |
| Sail Area (Jib + Main) | 90.5 ft² (35 ft² + 56 ft²) |
| Mast Specs | 14' 9" Carbon 2pc | 9 lbs |
| Crew Capacity | 1-3 people |
| Carrying Weight Capacity | 551 lbs |
| Hull Material | HDPE |
Packing & Assembly Specifications
| Bag for Trampoline / Mast | 8' x 6" x 6" |
|---|---|
| Crossbar Bag (w/ wheels) | 6' 6" x 15" x 10" |
| Assembly Time | ~12 minutes |
| Trailer Needed | None |
| Tools Required for Assembly | None |
XCAT Sail Featured Accessories
Sail it. Row it. Power it.
Go Ahead, It's Your Move
The XCAT combines versatility, portability and performance in a way that no other boat on the market can. The XCAT Sail is perfect for achieving your fitness goals, or use it on your next river or lake rowing adventure. You can maximize the XCAT’s versatility by powering it with an optional outboard motor, or add a sailing kit to XCAT RowVista for the ability to row and sail at the same time.
Resources & Support
- KKGRated 5 out of 5 stars6 years agoStill wonderful after 3 years.
This thing is a little rocket.
This is my Third year with the X-cat.
I still love it. I also have a 30 foot keelboat, but I take the X-cat out a lot.
The X-cat is stable & well designed.
I just took it out in worsening weather (against my better judgement). Very choppy conditions and accelerating winds with some light rains.
I was sure I would pitch-pole but did it just would not happen.
I also stayed pretty dry which was a big surprise.
The motor is also wonderful for leaving against the tide.
We’re still happy with it.
- RCRichard C. L.Rated 5 out of 5 stars7 years agoThank you, Alex. You've helped me extend my sailing experience well into my Senior Years
The X Cat is fast, easy to rig & de-rig, NO trailed needed, easy to learn on, much less likely to capsize or pitch poll when sailing fast. I'm no longer concerned about sailing solo in the ocean. I'm very old & the X Cat and Alex Caslow have extended my sailing experience by several years. Several people have asked me, after I had rigged the boat, how I could get it in the back of my truck. All I had was the truck & a truck bed extender - NO TRAILER. My wife has a navicular fracture so I'm now sailing solo. Not a problem.
Thank God for Alex Caslow at Red Beard Sailing and for the X Cat Catamaran!
- KKGRated 5 out of 5 stars8 years agoWe still love it
Update for 2017.
I would purchase an Xcat again.
Frankly, I'm surprised how happy we are with this boat.
The Xcat handles the short chop well. Great for daysailing on LI sound. It's drier than I thought it would be.
The quality & durability of the Xcat are amazing.
The boat tolerated the winter very well. The fit & finish appear to have been designed for decades of use.
The quality stands out. The Xcat gets compliments from other sailors & the harbor police.
