BoatsAqua Cat 12

Aqua Cat 12

Catamaran, twin daggerboards · Lateen · First built 1961

Once the world's largest one-design catamaran class, this lateen-rigged twin-board design remained in production until 2003

Designed by Arthur Javes, built by Amercan Fiberglass Corp.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Catamaran Twin Dbrd.

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.98 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 73 kg of hull, so roughly 650 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 73 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.13 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LightHeavy

43 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 43
EasygoingPowered-up

48.9 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 48.9
  • Draws more than ~76% of boats her size on file

Compared with 43 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Lateen
Ratios
SA / displacement
48.9
Displacement / length
43.1
Hull
Hull type
Catamaran Twin Dbrd.
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1961
Units built
17000
Designer
Arthur Javes
Builder
Amercan Fiberglass Corp, American Fiberglass Corp

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Hobie 144.27 mSame hull family0.6 m longerThe original Hobie Cat, this lightweight beach catamaran features a rotating spar and a high power-to-weight ratio
Go on an adventure today | #SAIL #2532:21from Hashtag Sal

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Hobie Monocat 12A Hobie Alter-designed single-handed catamaran with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively performanceHobie 16The most popular sailing catamaran ever built, featuring a rotating spar and boardless hull for high-speed beach sailing

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Aqua Cat 12

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