McConaghy MC50 CAT - A brand new performance cruiser catamaran
2018-04-30
Auto traducir:At Palma International Boat Show 2018 McConaghy presented the MC50, a brand new performance cruiser catamaran.
MC50 is the first built boat in McConaghy line of sailing catamarans. MC60, MC77, MC82 and MC90 are all ready on the drawing board and just waiting for the production to start. The boats are build in Hongkong.
MC50 is a real performance cruiser in carbon fiber with a clear intention to keep the weight down and the sailing performance up.
Centerboard vs daggerboards
The boat is equipped with centerboards fully folded into the hull then retracted. Manoeuvring is handled with hydraulics. If you hit something, a safety sprint brake and the centerboards retract fully upp in the hull, change the sprint and sail on. Sailing on something with daggerboards gives a completely different result ...
The centerboards take no place from the interior, they residence completely under the flour.
The mast stands on a ball.
On a catamaran, the strain from the rig is very large due to the great stability of catamarans. To reduce unwanted loads on the structure, the mast stands on a ball that allows the mast to do small movements. This gives full control of the direction of the forces that arise, and it becomes easier to dimension.
Interior
This boat has a owner cabin in the starboard hull and 2 guest cabins in the port hull.
In the saloon there is a large pentry with a big kitchen island, dining area with adjustable table. A raised seat group is on the front starboard side.
In the front port side there is a helm station without steering wheel, but with the remote control it fits well for motoring.
The cabin has been extended far behind and does not give much space for cockpit, but there is an angular sofa on the flybridge to be able to sit under the sky. To get an outside feeling inside, the windows on both sides of the saloon are openable, by pushing a button the window slides forward and giving a large opening on each side, the glassdor in the stern can also be opened to a large extent, all to give a feeling of being outside when the weather allows. The advantage is, of course, a lot of space in the saloon. It feels like a spacious apartment, with a great view. The vertical windows that extend around the entire saloon provide good contact with the outside environment.
In order to keep the weight down, the interior is built as a composite with foam as a distance material.
Helm on flybridge
The flybridge has a helm on each side, you have great control over the surroundings from here, nothing that disturbs. Everything you need for sailing is pulled up here. All sailing from flybridge and social life one floor down.
Sailing
When we visited the boat, it had not got any sails yet, but everything speaks for good sailing performance, both uppwind and downwind. Low weight, centerboards, and a generous sail area.
In short, the boat will get their sails, and we hope we can come back with a report from the first sea trials.
New concept
McConaghy actually contributes with a new concept for catamarans. Performance approach Gunboat, even if they do not go so far.
McConaghy go for a more practical level and can offer a price that gives good value for money. Now these are not cheap boats, but in this segment they are in a good position. The boat we watched is for sale for just over 2 million USD.
Dimensions
LOA: 14.99 m
Max Beam: 8.0 m
Draft: 1.0 m - 2.7 m
Height of mast: 26.2 m
Upwind sail area: 150 m2
Engine: 2 x 57 hp
Fuel tanks: 500 L
Water tanks: 500 L
Headroom saloon: 2.0 m
Headroom hulls: 2.0 m
Summary
In our opinion, a very nice boat, the make gives a very good quality impression. A performance level that can provide sailing in 20+ knots. The boats are built to provide the same comfort as in your home. A pentry with the same equipment as you have at home, large storage and good space for social gathering. A real dream boat.
The designer Jason Ker has done a good job. The interior finishes were by Design Unlimited and construction by Mark Evans and his team at McConaghy Boats, famous mostly for constructing high-tech racing yachts.