HERMANN CAT
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 17 ft |
| LWL | 16.42 ft |
| Beam | 7.92 ft |
| Draft | 4.83 ft/ 1.67 ft min |
| Displacement | 2,800 lb |
| Ballast | 500.1 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 5.4 kn |
About the HERMANN CAT
Originally available with Marconi rig option. Molds later purchased by Cape Cod Shipbuilding and renamed Cape Cod Cat
The Hermann Cat is a rare 17.0 ft gaff-rigged catamaran designed by Charles Wittholz and built by Ted Hermann's Boat House in 1971. With a displacement of 2800.0 lb and a build count of ?, it represents a unique, low-volume entry in the early American catamaran market.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for coastal cruising and recreational sailing in protected waters, appealing to enthusiasts of traditional gaff rigs and lightweight, trailerable multihulls.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a low displacement of 2800.0 lb and a capsize ratio of 2.25, the Hermann Cat is not designed for offshore bluewater passage-making and is best restricted to coastal and inland waters.
- Comparables:
- Comparable boats include other early 1970s trailerable catamarans such as the Microcat or early Hobie Cat models, sharing similar dimensions and roles as lightweight, easy-to-handle coastal cruisers.
Performance
Estimated Value
Limited DataEstimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 17ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the HERMANN CATyet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a HERMANN CAT? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your HERMANN CAT?
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Used sails that fit the HERMANN CAT
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…