To date some 3500 or so Maricats have been sold, many to people just looking for an easy boat to rig and sail. It certainly is:
- A boat to take on the family holiday.
- A boat just to muck around on.
- A boat to go out on Saturday and race around the buoys at the local sailing club.
- A boat to take out into the surf on Sunday with the family.
A great number of boats where sold to the hire fleets where many people experienced the thrill of catamaran sailing for the first time only to return home from the annual holiday and seek out the manufacturer to buy a boat. Today if you wander around any suburban streets and look in the back yard you're most likely to find a Maricat.
A Little Bit Of History
Originally promoted as “THE COMFORTABLE CATAMARAN” the basic asymmetrical banana shape of the Maricat 4.3 hull has not altered over the years. As the popularity of the boat increased only small modifications where made to keep the cost down.For example, the rear beam and the traveller track were integrated into one extrusion and a one-piece trampoline replaced the original two piece one laced up the middle. The small cruising jib however, was replaced with a larger racing jib, developed by Graeme Bundock. The racing jib made the sloop rigged cat very competitive and large numbers of sloops soon appeared at regattas and State and National Title.
The boat was well known for the many multi-coloured sails. In the early and mid eighties, where a racing fleet of eighty plus Maricats was not uncommon, the coloured sails made a spectacular sight at many coastal & inland venues. Pictures featuring fleets of Maricats often appeared on post cards & other tourist destination promotional material.
One of the original early sales brochures for the 14 footer best described the boat:
“The eighteen months of development work show up the instant you jump aboard. This lady has class!"
From the fine entry bows to the high aspect ratio rudders, the boat is complete in every way.
The expensive ‘go-fast' options offered on other craft are standard equipment on the MARICAT 14. Full width traveller, six-block mainsheet, geared down haul, etc., are not an expensive afterthought you will need to buy later – they are standard equipment.
Your safety and comfort are well catered for. A righting rope is, of course, standard equipment. Should you hole a hull the large lockers double as buoyancy tanks and will keep your boat afloat. “Saddle sores” are a thing of the past when you sit on a MARICAT 14. The trampoline joins smoothly into the curved fibreglass decks and this provides comfortable seating whether you are pottering along in a drifter or straining to hold a hull down on a screaming reach.
The versatility of your MARICAT 14 will also be appreciated…Go racing on Saturday and take two or three or maybe even four with you for a spin on Sunday. You don't need a crew, but the buoyant hulls ensure that you need not leave them behind.
Decks are available in burnt orange, bright orange, red, yellow, tan, royal blue, light blue, lime green, light green, dark green, black and white.
Sails are available in yellow, orange, green, royal blue, light blue, red, lime green, black and white”.
Original Technical Information
 Length | 14 ft (4.2 metres) |
| Beam | 7 ft 6 ½ in (2.3 metres) |
| Weight | 90 Kilograms (fully rigged) |
| Sail Area | 110 sq ft (11 square metres) |
|
Original Standard Equipment
| FIBREGLASS BATTENS | SEALED MAST |
| ROTATING MAST | RIGHTING ROPE |
| ANODISED MAST | JIB KIT AVAILABLE |
| KICK-UP RUDDERS | LEACH LINE |
| WATERPROOF LOCKERS | OFF-THE-BOAT SHEETING |
| LOOSE FOOTED SAIL | CENTRE SHEETED TRAVELLER |
| SIX BLOCK SHEET | COMFORTABLE SEATING |
| GEARED DOWNHAUL | HIKING STRAPS |
| GUNWALE RUBBER | AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED |
| SEVEN FOOT ROLLER TRAVELLER | NON SLIP DECKS |
| COLOURED SAIL | TWELVE COLOURS |
| BOOM VANG | ASYMMETRIC STEERING |
| LONG SAIL BAG | SUITABLE FOR SURFING |
| SNAP HOOK RIGGING | EASILY RIGHT ABLE |
|
The specifications have not altered from the boat your see today.
Where Can I Go To See The Boats In Action?!
The boat today is still very popular with fleets of Maricaters found around the nation. Some of the known places where fleets of Maricats are still sailed today are:
| Lake Munmorah NSW | Liverpool Sailing Club NSW |
| Carcoar Dam NSW | Maples Dam Armidale NSW |
| Concord and Ryde Sailing Club NSW | Narooma NSW |
| Hobart Tasmania | Swan Lake ( Sussex Inlet NSW) |
| Lake Albert Wagga Wagga NSW | Toukley NSW |
| Lake Cargelico NSW | Woy Woy NSW |
| Lake Keepit NSW | Tuross Head |
| Wyangla Dam NSW | Lake Liddell (near Muswellbrook) NSW |
| YMCASC Canberra ACT | Sanctuary Point NSW |
|
Regular events are held each year where Maricaters from around the country gather to sail over a series of races. For the latest details on recent events and up coming events see else where on this page.
Over the years the Maricat 4.3 has given many sailors their start in sailing from which they have progressed to other classes.One of the better-known champion Maricaters is
Darren Bundock, now a world champion Tornado and Hobie Cat sailor. See Darren's life story at . Other world champions or noted sailors who started in Maricats are Brad Sumner (world Hobie 18 and 17 sailor) and Phil Dash (5 th in recent world Etchels titles).
In the late eighties the M 5.0 was introduced. This boat was designed by Greg White (a Maricater of many years experience) and produced at Mariglass. The boat was developed as a stepping-stone from the wet 4.3m Maricat to a faster and larger boat using trapeze and centreboards. It was hoped to prevent the drain on the class with many sailors going to bigger boats.
Boat Performance
The Maricat's basic design has not altered greatly over the years allowing the performance to be relatively consistent. Changes to mast rake and sail profile have made the boat easier to sail and faster in strong winds. However, the VYC yardstick is as relevant today as it was twenty years ago. Being an ‘Off the Beach' class the boat performs at its best on flat water which makes it ideal for many of the coastal lakes & estuaries along the Australian seaboard as well as the inland lakes and water storages. Changes to the boat's configuration are controlled by a set of rules established by the manufacture and overseen by the class association. Being a controlled one design class the winners circle is not dominated by who can afford the best hulls or the latest technology in sail material or design.The Maricat champion has been able to race fairly using acquired skills & knowledge of the boats performance characteristics. The class rules and specifications are available on this page.
Sailing the Maricat 4.3
The Maricat is known for being forgiving on a reach when the bows are thrust down in a gust. In most cases the buoyant hulls lift the bows clear again often sending a plume of spray high up onto the main sail. Optimum traveller settings are required on a work to reduce most of the heeling motion often associated with a catamaran. Also when working, the curved deck mouldings makes hiking out using the foot straps an enjoyable and comfortable experience.
Maricating Today 21 st Century style
Little has changed with the Maricat design over the years. The biggest change occurred in the mid eighties with the introduction of white sails in better quality sailcloth in association with the raked rig.This change saw the gradual decline in the famous coloured sails. Whilst no new boats have come off the production line in recent years the Maricat is still very popular for the recreational or local club round the buoy sailor who does not wish to have too many dollars invested in a high performance boat. Second hand prices in the Sydney and Canberra markets have settled around $1200 to $ 1500 for a boat in reasonable condition on trailer with a full set of sails gearbox etc. Most boats coming to the market are over fifteen plus years old but the age of the boat has not affected the performance characteristics at all. In fact some of the older boats with the original back beam design are still extremely competitive.
Maricats – You Can't Go Past ‘Em
The popularity of the boat has ensured the success of a strong “ family focused ” class association over the years both Nationally and in various States. The Maricat Association of NSW and ACT Inc. has been part of the boats history since its formation in 1976. The association conducts two major events each year at various venues around the state. Local events are also conducted. The aims of the Association are:
- To promote the sailing of all Maricats in NSW and ACT.
- To provide sailing tuition to members.
- To encourage participation of Maricats in competition at club and regatta level.
- To promote Maricats as a class especially suited to youth sailors.
- To provide 2 championship series for all Maricat classes, on a yearly basis.
- To promote Maricats as a sailing class.
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