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The newest trend in offshore fishing boats
It's no secret that the popularity of catamarans as trailerable sportfishing platforms is on the rise. More of them are showing up at the marinas and launch ramps, and these fishing cats are certainly getting plenty of ink in the national boating and fishing publications. This vessel is really the purrfect choice for offshore anglers?
Anglers in remote parts of the world have been using power catamarans for many years, This incredible offshore technology has really needed a big, mainstream company with unimpeachable credibility to step up to the plate, to give the catamaran concept validity in the eyes of the masses. That's exactly what Grady-White has done.
Performance
This Tigercats planning-hull is ideal in 4- to 6-foot waves and the wind-against-tide.
It is powered by twin 150-hp Yamaha Saltwater Series (only 350 hours) In slow-troll mode, the F-26 trails a stern wake about 3 feet long - virtually nonexistent - and no white water to speak of. At speeds above 7 mph, you'll find two distinct prop-wash lines and a single line of white water on centerline from the outboards and tunnel.
Having the engines mounted on 60-inch centers means when you put one engine in forward and the other in reverse, you can pivot like a dog chasing its tail. Breaking with Grady-White's constantly variable vee (no two points along the hull have the same deadrise) tradition, the Tigercat's deadrise angle remains constant from the transom up to about the helm seat, at which point it starts to vary to a larger angle deep vee. That makes this F-26 Tigercat hull a deep-vee, planning hull. A displacement cat hull will be slower but will have a more fluid motion through the seas than a planning cat hull. A planning hull, like the Tigercat's, is considerably faster but still provides some of the landing-off-a-wave thud we are all used to as the chines and flat surface hit the water. But make no mistake, this boat will take much more weather than any 26-foot mono-hull and do it in greater comfort. There is very minimal blow-back (spray coming out the front of the tunnel) and only when dead into the wind with the engines trimmed all the way down. And what little spray remains very low, close to the foredeck.
Fishing
As you'd expect from Grady-White, every possible consideration is made for fishing ease. Straight from the factory, the Tigercat accommodates 26 rods. Add the optional T-top for a total of 30. The 11-gallon cooler box will keep your thirst slaked while you dip bait from the 45-gallon live well and load fresh fish into the 60-gallon insulated fish box. If that is not enough room, a 72-gallon insulated fish box, a full 52 inches long, will handle all but the biggest pelagic.
Construction
Like the rest of the Grady line, the Tigercat uses solid fiberglass and polyester resins throughout. The walk-around provides plenty of room to access the bow, and the increased stability of the catamaran hull allows you to work the anchor in total security even in the roughish seas.
On the Tigercat, you step down into the fully enclosed shower and head to starboard. An extremely large berth forward provides such massive storage under it.
The 53-square-foot cockpit has a toe rail to hook your feet under while gaffing or reviving fish, and the centerline walk-through accesses the large, open transom bracket area, allowing you to reach a rod tip well out beyond the engines when necessary.
Even though the new Grady-White Tigercat has softer, more rounded lines, designer C. Raymond Hunt Associates managed to do one very important thing: Make the Tigercat look unmistakably like a Grady-White.
These boat details are subject to contract.
Note: Offers on the asking price may be considered.
This Grady White F26 Tigercat has been personally photographed and viewed by Erik Maltby of Boatshed Florida.
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