Rowing (sculling) Catamarans with Sliding Riggers by Virus


	Kataram

NEW MkII MODEL

	r o w i n g f o r e v e r y b o d y

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<<< WATCH THIS VIDEO 1st.

If you haven't already watched the video on the left then please watch this first as it gives a helpful overview.

Watch the video for an introduction to the different types of rowing boat.

Steve Walker has 40 years experience of rowing and coaching and he sums up in simple language why you might choose one rowing boat over another.

			A single sculling boat that combines the speed of skiffs with the stability of catamarans.

			The unsinkable VirusBoats Kataram is almost impossible to overturn.

			Quick and manoeuvrable the Kataram is also practical. Very lightweight, it is easy to put into the water and it can be readily transported on a car.

VirusBoats Rowing Sculls Fast, affordable recreational sculls.			With its stable platform the VIRUSBOATS Kataram is suitable even for the disabled to learn rowing.

			A sliding wing rigger linked to the foot stretcher replaces the traditional sliding seat and fixed rigger. The sliding wing virtually eliminates pitching created by weight transfer, which is especially important for a short boat.

Why a catamaran?

For a boat to be fast it has to be narrow. Unfortunately with single hulled boats this means that the boat becomes less and less stable, the narrower it gets. Also, the narrower a boat is made, the longer it must be for the boat's volume to be adequate to support the weight of the rower without sinking. The length of the boat helps to minimise the pitching of the boat as the rower slides fore and aft on the traditional sliding seat. But the long thin shape has the disadvantage of a large wetted surface area, which leads to increased hull friction with the water.

The solution to these problems is to have two short narrow hulls side by side in a catamaran arrangement.

Why a sliding rigger?

A short narrow boat tends to pitch fore and aft so VirusBoats used an idea that had been discovered by the racing community - the sliding rigger. This keeps the weight of the rower in the middle of the boat so the boat no longer pitches thus reducing drag.

But it has another advantage. The conventional arrangement, where the rower slides fore and aft on a sliding seat in order to take advantage of the power of the legs, produces an oscillation in hull speed above and below the average speed of the boat. The extra drag at higher speeds is not compensated for by an equally reduced drag at lower speeds so a boat with a sliding seat is not as fast as it could be. However, the sliding rigger arrangement greatly reduces this oscillation in hull speed. Hence the Kataram is able to combine both speed and stability in one compact arrangement!

Add to this the boat's light weight and its hard wearing, smooth, gel-coated, fibreglass hull and you can readily see why this is a fun, fast, practical boat which offers opportunities for the enjoyment of rowing that have not hitherto been available.

What does it feel like?

Strangely it feels much the same as rowing with a sliding seat. Many people have difficulty getting their heads around the concept of a sliding rigger so you are not alone if you do too. The action of the rower is essentially the same so you would not have to alter your technique. The outrigger and foot stretcher are connected together (just as they are connected together through the boat conventionally). But instead of the seat moving towards and away from the stretcher the stretcher moves towards and away from the seat. As the rower's legs bend, during the recovery phase of the rowing cycle, the stretcher is brought towards the rower's seat and it brings the outrigger with it. This enables the rower to take a longer stroke than would be possible if no sliding were involved.

During the power phase, when the blades are in the water, the boat is propelled, as the legs straighten, via the seat of the rower, which is fixed to the boat. In a conventional, sliding-seat boat it is the rowing pins that propel the boat along, as this is what is connected to the boat.

You might think that pushing the boat along by your seat could lead to some wear and tear in that part of your anatomy. And if the boat were heavy you would be right. But with a lightweight and sleek design such as the Turbos and the Kataram this does not present a problem. And in any case the seat has been ergonomically designed for the comfort of the rower.

We have video of the original MkI kataram in action in the VirusPlus part of the sailing section of this site.

How fast is it?

Two 3.2m long hulls can never be as fast as an 8m long, fine, racing boat. But with a maximum speed of 7 - 8 knots the Kataram is every bit as fast as a Turbo Skiff yet more stable than a Yole and much faster than a Yole. So for the single user it is a great compromise.


Is the frame stiff enough? Yes even without any diagonal bracing the hulls are well connected together by stout tube and there is a throat in each hull to receive it. How heavy a rower will the Kataram take? The seat is about a foot (30cm) above the water and your heels have to be about 20cm below this height. With a 75kg rower this was achievable in the MkI Kataram but the MkII has a higher volume so much heavier rowers can now be accommodated without their feet touching the water too often. The boat will not sink but you may want to wear wet-suit booties in cold water!


How easy is it to carry? With a weight of only 40kg and being only 3.8m in length the Kataram is easy to handle on your own and can readily be dismantled for compact stowage or transport. A simple trolley is available too, as shown here.



What oars (sculls) should I choose? Whether or not you are an experienced sculler, used to handles that cross over in the middle of the stroke we recommend the modern fully adjustable racing sculls made from a composite of carbon and other fibres and have hatchet shaped blades. Both the overall length and the leverage may be adjusted so you can optimise the overlap of the hands. They are stiff, lightweight and extremely durable. The sleeves are designed to make squaring and feathering your oars very easy when combined with the modern oarlocks that are fitted to the Kataram.

What colours are available?

There is quite a range of colours available for this boat. Apart from the White and Yellow you can have a boat made in Blue, British Racing Green or Ferarri Red.


What is the price? Suffice to say that these boats are very affordable, especially when you consider that it comprise TWO hulls. Our price list assumes that boats will be delivered in England or Wales so we need to ask you where you live and where you would want the boat delivered in case we need to quote you specially. Do not be put off by this. We have delivered boats to Japan, Guatemala, Australia, Sweden, Scotland, Menorca, Ireland for example, at very reasonable cost. If you would like a price list then you may download one after providing this information. If you are in the USA or Canada then click here. Otherwise please click here to request a price list.

How long does it take for delivery of a boat?

Usually between three and six weeks. It just depends how busy we are with orders. Obviously there is an element of seasonality in this business.

I WANT TO BUY! How do I go about placing an order for one?

Ordering by TELEPHONE. Most people want to talk to someone about their purchase and we are only to happy to share some time with you. We love boats and rowing and talking about both. We never tire of it. So if you want to place an order over the phone then call us on +44 (0)870 770 2728.

Ordering by MAIL. The old fashioned way. And why not? Send us your payment (cheque or banker's draft) with your order to Ahoy-Boats, 36, Salmon Leap, Chester, CH4 7JJ. We will contact you upon its receipt to reassure you that it has been received. Please remember to include as many different ways of contacting you as possible; Telephone, Mobile, Email.

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Quick Summary of the Kataram		Kataram	Fast, Stable, Affordable, Rowing Catamaran
l	40% broader abeam than a Yole for greater stability	Kataram	Fast, Stable, Affordable, Rowing Catamaran

l	unsinkable	hull:	Fibreglass
l	pitching from weight transfer virtually eliminated	hull:	Fibreglass

l	smooth glide which does not brake the run of the boat between strokes	colour:	White
l	low-maintenance rigging	colour:	White

l	lightweight, corrosion-resistant alloy wing with stainless steel ball bearings	seating:	Fixed seat with swivelling oarlocks on sliding wing rigger attached to foot stretcher
l	rigging adjusts without tools in less than a minute	seating:

l	wing and stretcher adjusts to three positions	length: width: weight:	3.80m 1.40m 60kg
l	uses aluminium sport 300 or racing oars	length: width: weight:	3.80m 1.40m 60kg

l	easily dismantled	*Single rowing catamaran built for speed combined with stability.*
l	easily transports by car


	How to contact us If you still have any unanswered questions then please contact us. We get many emails each day and we read them all and reply as promptly as we can. However, sometimes we get backed up and there may be a delay in reply. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable time then please try again. If you are in the USA or Canada then please click here instead.

Ahoy-Boats, 36 Salmon Leap, Chester, CH4 7JJ, United Kingdom. Contact Us.