Performance catamarans like this carbon 62 footer can eat up those tradewind miles while also having the shallow draft for gunkholing

Most production cruising catamarans

The dual national New Zealander-American, has spent the last 30 years based in the US, which gave him good insight into this market. Unable to find his perfect boat, he partnered with experienced South African multihull boatbuilder, Leon Scheepers, to take over the former Phil Harvey yard in South Africa, including some of the staff who had previously made Gunboats. This fast-tracked the new marque after the Dutch design team of Simonis Voogd was appointed. The result is a lightweight hull with two versions to choose from — a performance cruiser and a race version. Our review boat came with twin centreboards, but dagger-boards are an option.

The first hull splashed at the Annapolis 2019 show, but it was at the Miami 2020 boat show where I caught up with the Kinetic team. 

The KC62 performance cruiser (hull one) is the initial model and will be followed later this year by the KC54. 

“I was looking to buy a fast cruiser, a Gunboat in fact, but they were winding-down back then so I decided to build my own,” Bob said as we sat in his owner's suite on the KC62. 

Kinetic is a semi-custom yard, building only three hulls at a time. Building to the standard of leading premium market offerings required the details of Kinetic to be exacting. 

“This gives us the ability to have a quality boat that is also a fast cruiser, ideal for those long Pacific legs for visits to my home in New Zealand,” he said. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The aesthetics of curved bows with fine entries and chined topsides dominated by a glass encased saloon creates a striking profile on the KC62. This go-fast look is backed up by a performance sail plan, prompting me to declare it ‘best in the Miami Boat Show’ as it proved a real show-stopper — even the great Vincent Lauriot Prevost from VPLP was talking to me about it. 

Of course, style without substance doesn't do too much in the ocean, so my day spent at sea would reveal all. 

For boats like these, the challenge I've found is blending the raw power with a sail-able package that won't scare the living daylights out of raw owners and their families. For large vessels, this is where smart technology plays a part, so Kinetic used hydraulic sheeting, digital systems and even a drop-down thruster on our review boat. 

Steering is from three points, with twin tillers outside and the main console wheel at the forward saloon bulkhead, nearby all sail controls in the foredeck cockpit.

CATAMARAN YACHTS FOR SALE

GLASS SALOON

The carbon structure, including carbon compression posts under the coach roof mainsheet track, allows the saloon to be dominated by windows, which creates an airy space. This is enhanced by skylights, including a large one allowing the helmsman to see the mainsail. However, the wisely chosen vertical angles used and gently sloping forward facing windows maximises shade without compromising the great views. 

Inside, the build is carbon composite furniture with wood inserts including carbon/porcelain worktops with foam core and stainless latches on all cupboards and drawers. All storage is near floor level, which creates a clean design. 

The extensive galley is on the starboard at the back, and the navigation station is in front beside the steering console, while on port is the lounge-diner area. This creates extensive floor space, yet with enough hand-support at sea, as I found out during a bumpy ride from Miami when the swells broke over the bows and across the flat decks. 

The U-shaped galley is surrounded by generous workspace, and storage below but without fiddles, which I'd have preferred. The extensive equipment list includes three Vitrifrigo drawer fridge/freezers and a Miele electric four-burner hob and oven. There's double sinks, with two water makers to keep the elixir flowing. Renewable power is via 2200W solar panels on the coach roof and there's also a 6KV Fischer Panda generator (24V), should the optional washing machine be installed. 

FORWARD HELM

All sail controls and halyards are centralised in the forward cockpit. Just one step behind is the primary helm station inside the front of the saloon, where there's an array of push-button controls for the sails. These include dump buttons for the hydraulic mainsheet and the traveller, which is on a line driver. A good safety option is the Upside Up System from Ocean Data Systems which has quick releases for the mainsheet, traveller and forward sails, if pre-set parameters in shroud tension, pitch and heel are exceeded

Ideally, I'd prefer the button for the latter painted in red given the potential of the KC62. Of course this push-button system may lack ‘feel’ but it does give instant control of the sail plan. 

The moulded console is dominated by two large B&G screens showing trim angles and data. Twin B&G autopilots are the other essentials here, to ensure effortless cruising. Interestingly, there are no engine throttles. Instead, they are located nearby on the edge of the moulded navigation station with thruster joystick alongside. Handily, there's also a Dockmate remote handset to control the drop-down bow thruster and Yanmars, plus there's a joystick. All house systems are controlled by the Kiwi-built Czone digital switching bus which gives quick error checking and data feedback to the skipper. 

Also here is one of the main systems cabinets, all neatly fitted by Cay Electronics whose engineer Zack Volpe talked me through this extensive installation. “Installation is just part of our service because we have to extensively test and support the customer afterwards,” he said. 

The other main system centre, in a cupboard in the starboard hull, houses inverters and other electronics high up, well above any water incursion.

OWNER’S LAYOUT

Our review boat was the owner's version with portside suite and two guest cabins in the starboard hull, accessed via stairs on each side of the saloon. Again, the clean design philosophy dictated a fuss-free finish throughout with wipe-down faired surfaces. Viewing the owner's suite also allowed me to see the extensive structure of the hulls, which have wide longitudinal carbon stringers and ribs for stiffness. The owner's layout has the athwartships bed midships with bathroom forward and the lounge-study aft. 

“We're considering extending the lounge to become a second bed here,” Bob said when we convened here to discuss the KC62. 

Good points throughout this suite included generous storage space below the elevated queen-sized bed and a number of port lights which allow through-flow of air — ideal for tropical sailing. The other essential in all large sailing cats was also present — an escape hatch on the inside of each hull. 

Moving to the starboard hull, the forward cabin has the same layout as the owner’s bed, with the aft ensuite cabin having a fore and aft located bed. Below this bed is an engine access point, so not an ideal place of rest when motoring.

CUSTOM RIG

Kinetic offers a fixed or rotating mast and a custom rigging plan according to customer desires. Our review boat had the standard package of Southern Spars high modulus carbon mast with North Sails which looked ideal for a performance cruiser, as North sailmaker Mike Wolfs explained to me as we toured the rig. 

“I've been working with Bob since the inception of the project and on this particular boat we recommended North 3DI Endurance sails for reasons of durability, strength and the kind of tropical climate this boat will spend its time in,” he said. 

The sails were a bit heavier than their 3DI raw product, said Mike, due to taped seams and anti-chaff protection. The mainsail is manageable, reflecting the original remit of this boat as a short-handed couples' cruiser, spiced-up with some regatta sailing, so the three slab reefs can be tucked in quickly from the mast base. To this end, there's also a self-tacking jib and track inside what is a fairly large fore-triangle, extended by the use of the structural longeron spine. This supports a cutter rig with fractional top-down furled genoa/J Zero and the spinnakers. 

For upwind, the largest genoa/J Zero is 120 per cent and sheets near the shrouds. The coach roof mainsheet is hydraulic and its traveller is controlled by an Antal line driver, the same type used for the centreboards and is reinforced with carbon posts underneath to cope with the loads.

ENTERTAINMENT AFT

The aft cockpit is fully geared towards entertainment, apart from the secondary outboard helm stations — tillers on our boat but twin wheels is an option. Tillers give direct control to the quality Jefa quadrant and linkages, so you can feel more acutely the loads on the twin rudders, while also having a great view along the race-line of the KC62. These disconnect when not in use to reduce friction on the wheel. 

Views right across the hulls are enhanced by those large windows as well, plus the two doors at the forward cockpit which blast airflow through when required. 

The cockpit layout is clean and simple with couches on each side and across the transom, where a barbecue and wet bar are moulded in. Water access is on both hulls, with davits in between for the dinghy, which worked well when I lowered it to take my leave from the KC62. The entire area is shaded by the coach roof extension and teak underfoot finishes this area off nicely. 

Moving forward is easily done along the flat side decks that have low profile hatches. Handholds are good, on the tall coach roof and matching lifelines. At the bow, the forward cockpit dominates, yet there's enough space for lockers, including one for the sizeable windlass which is operated within the safe confines of the forward cockpit.

CARBON INFUSED HULL

The main structures of the hulls, bridge deck, window surrounds, and coach roof are made in standard moulds, but the rest is custom built. 

“The forward and aft cockpits can be changed to suit a particular client,” Leon Scheepers said. 

The laminate is 100 per cent carbon fibre infused with epoxy resin, including all webs, floors and structural shelves. Hull form has a chine for more volume in the cabins and the nacelle is quoted as having 1m clearance, which is good. 

Interestingly, the nacelle underside is flat, which may induce wave slap. I asked designer Maarten Voogd about this, who then explained his rationale. 

“What we try to do is maximise bridge deck clearance in order to minimise slamming. If we would shape the bridge deck to deflect waves, it would come lower and therefore have more hits. Our theory is that you want to have no hits at all instead of deflecting the waves. The experience we have with lots of ocean miles on the Leopard Cats made us decide to keep it flat,” he said.

Foils can be centreboards or the more race orientated daggerboards that enhance lift (by generating two tonnes on the race version KC62) and pointing. However for cruising, centreboards are an ideal compromise, and the Kinetic ones are mechanically fused to retract on impact (as they are buoyant).

The slight downside of centreboards is additional turbulence in the empty slot when deployed, but for cruising they would be my personal choice. Engine access is via hatches in the aft deck where the four cylinder sail drive Yanmars have ample working space around them, including the 6kVA Fischer Panda generator on the port side, and our review boat had twin Spectra water makers (one is standard). Tankage is generous (1400L fuel and water) and is custom carbon built to maximise volume.

MIAMI OFFSHORE

Motoring along, the striking seascape of Miami and the offshore isthmus of Miami Beach was the ideal setting for sailing the KC62, given its myriad shallows. 

At the helm, watching the B&G plotter, I stood between it and navigation station to operate the throttles for the 80hp Yanmar saildrives as we headed south towards the fabled Florida Keys. The B&G GPS showed a cruising speed of 9.8kt (2100rpm at 9L/h), aided by using the overdrive pitch change on the Gori propeller, before we slowed to hoist the sails. All halyards were nearby at the mast base and the big electric Harkens quickly hoisted the mainsail, guided by lazyjacks.

In the forward cockpit, we were protected from the swells that broke through the trampolines, and large scuppers removed the water. Turning off the wind, the genoa was unwound, and we were sailing. At the carbon helm, I stood with two hands on it to cope with the pressure, until I called for some trimming which eased the load on the spade rudders. 

The sailing numbers matched our power figures, with 9.5kt boat speed at 50 degrees apparent wind, in the 15kt breeze. At the push of a button I hardened up the sail plan to improve our pointing to 29 degrees, and a boat speed of 11kt. This was done while bashing into 2m lumpy seas — a tough test but nothing groaned or complained throughout the KC62. 

Tacking proved a quick and easy affair. Both keels were fully deployed by push button before I put the helm down and the spade rudders pushed the KC62 easily onto the new tack. However, expedient cruising sailors would have gone off the wind and hoisted the Code 0, so we did likewise, unfurling and sheeting it beside the aft bulwark of the coach roof. With speeds touching 12kt and smoother sailing, the Florida Keys beckoned, a stunning place to cruise for what is a stunning performance cruiser. 

CATAMARAN YACHTS FOR SALE

FAST FACTS

PRICE (USD)

$3,150,000 (ex-taxes)

OPTIONS FITTED 

Base model – Jockey seating, 100hp Mercury four-stroke, front deck cushions, mooring package, basic Fusion entertainment pack

AUSTRALIAN SPE OPTION

$74,995

Options include: Blue/tangerine upholstery, Mercury 115hp four-stroke, Targa Arch T-Top, side-by-side seating, front deck cushions, mooring package, Simrad G09 GPS/sonar

GENERAL

LOA 18.9m (62ft)

Beam 8.8m (28ft 9in)

Draft Boards Up (Standard

Rudder) 1.4m

Draft Boards Down (Centreboards) 3.1m

Displacement — Target lightship 10,350kg

Displacement — Full cruising weight 21,500kg

Bridgedeck Clearance 1m

ENGINE

Engine 2 x Yanmar 4JH80 80hp (folding propeller)

CAPACITIES

Fuel 1360L

Water 1560L

SAILPLAN

Mainsail 116sqm/ 143sqm (race-performance version)

Solent/Jib:67sqm/72sqm

Storm Staysail 35sqm

Fractional Code Zero 153sqm/185sqm

Masthead Code Zero 180sqm/205sqm

Spinnaker A2 316sqm/342sqm

Spinnaker A3 (Cruising) 243sqm/275sqm

SUPPLIED BY

Simonis Voogd

BUILDER

Kinetic Catamarans South Africa

W: kineticcatamarans.com