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The Worst Catamaran Ever Made (The Wildcat 350 Controversy) - Ep 362 - Lady K Sailing
December 29, 2025 · 8 min · 38K views
White Wildcat 350 catamaran docked at marina under bright sky
What this video covers
The Wildcat 350, a 35-foot catamaran designed by Jeff Schooning, suffers from extreme inconsistency in build quality due to fluctuating standards at the Chartercats South Africa shipyard.▶ 3:09 While the design features narrow hull entries and a high power-to-weight ratio capable of 8–13 knots, construction quality varies wildly between individual hulls.▶ 3:33 Well-built units feature solid laminates and tight tabbing, but poorly constructed examples exhibit structural issues including soft decks, delaminated balsa cores, weak bulkhead tabbing, and gelcoat blistering.▶ 4:18 The interior layout offers significant volume for its length, comparable to a 40-foot catamaran, with three or four cabins and two heads.▶ 5:05 Prospective buyers face significant risks regarding structural integrity, necessitating rigorous surveys of moisture levels, chainplates, mast steps, and hull-to-deck joints.▶ 6:23 A 2005-era Practical Sailor review of a charter-fleet Wildcat 350 highlighted poor rigging and handling, though owners of well-maintained vessels often report reliable performance.▶ 1:26 The boat remains a high-risk, high-reward purchase where the quality of the specific hull determines its value.
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