50ft Custom Power Catamaran For Sale

When an owner travels to New Zealand with the criteria of creating a 50ft power cat that will safely cross oceans cruising at 20kts for 1000nm, you know he’s serious. Designed to navigate the equator and built to cross the seven seas, Equinox 7 is a power cat that was built through a labour of love and learning. And now this 50ft power cat is for sale.

As a consultant to the maritime industry, it was important to owner, Peter Forster, to better understand the ins and outs of the design, build and commissioning of the vessel. Peter turned to a designer who excels in creating vessels to meet an owner’s specifications – Roger Hill, New Zealand’s most prolific power and sailing catamaran designer.

Launched in June 2011, Equinox 7’s maiden voyage to Brisbane featured a typical low-pressure system with 45kt winds. The vessel handled superbly well, with not even a wave breaking over her bow.

Whether you’re retiring and want to travel Australia and/or overseas or looking for the ultimate fishing charter, this is a versatile vessel for a couple or comfortable for 20 passengers. With just 400 hours on the clock, she is lightly used and presents in new and easy-to-maintain, immaculate condition.

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Stepping onboard there is no doubt that Hill has delivered a superbly practical and efficient semi-displacement pilothouse power cat that’s paramount function is serious ocean passage making. Equinox 7 is constructed to CE survey standard in New Zealand and 2C survey standard in Queensland then subsequently enhanced to enable NSCV commercial registration 2C for up to 30nm offshore, including two crew and 10 passengers.

The business end of this vessel provides some serious space, be it for play time, partying, or chasing pelagics. Great storage below the teak deck, complete with air compressor, also makes it suitable for diving enthusiasts.

Inside the well-appointed and spacious galley, you will find plenty of storage space and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances including a dish drawer, sharp microwave, and oven. A convenient servery through to the cockpit is a welcome addition for outdoor entertaining.

Opposite, to port, is a cosy lounge and coffee table that cleverly converts into an extra berth, ideal for those unexpected guests!

Forward, the main saloon is a raised pilothouse with a port side helm and a starboard side U-shaped dining area, large enough for 6-7 guests.

Dual helm stations with electronics duplicated for ease of navigation from flybridge or pilothouse display Furuno navigation packages with autopilot, night-sight, back up GPS, forward sonar, fleet broadband, satellite phone, wireless IT, Trac Vision TV and Kobelt controls plus a fantastic Bose surround sound system with controlled speakers to all areas.

ACCOMMODATION

Equinox 7 boasts a three-cabin layout including service cabin with clothes washer/drier and genset space.

The master stateroom, forward in the starboard hull, is spacious with an awthwartships island berth with a beautifully upholstered bed head with plenty of headroom and storage space. A drop down TV directly in front of the bed provides entertainment and, like all the cabins, there is a dedicated air-conditioning system.

Directly aft is a surprisingly spacious en suite, which comes complete with a long moulded vanity, head and full head-height shower cubicle with glass doors. This layout is mirrored opposite on the port hull.

The other cabins are both in the port hull, with the shared en suite between the two. The double berth, forward cabin is located over the tunnel roof, with the aft cabin in the beam of the hull. Both cabins have loads of storage options, plus the aft cabin provides internal access to the engine space via a bulkhead hatch.

The flybridge is accessed via external stairs and is a great spot for all on board to relax and enjoy the scenery while underway.

THE TRADE-A-BOAT VERDICT

A 3.4m RIB with 15hp Yamaha four-stroke engine sits aft of the flybridge and is easily launched by the davit on the starboard.

Of course it’s only fitting that this feline purrs along on twin 450hp 3126 CAT engines, performing most efficiently at a 15-20kt cruising speed, with a sweet spot at 18kts.

Her construction of full foam cored composite means she is built tough to test the trials of passage-making, yet only weighing 24 tonnes at full load. Drawing only 1.05m, she can be operated in many coastal bays and estuaries in all tidal conditions.

This clever cat can quite easily be crewed by a couple with the remote docking system making manoeuvring a breeze. There is also a handy door direct to the portside deck, ideal for berthing, anchoring or coming alongside.

Complete with seven folders of vessel craft evaluations, renderings, manuals and certifications, she is priced at a third of the build cost, and is the ultimate vessel for someone wanting something special at a very special price!

Equinox 7 is located at Rivergate in Brisbane.

50FT CUSTOM CATAMARAN SPECIFICATIONS

PRICE: $1,300,000

YEAR BUILT 2011

MATERIAL Foam core composite

STYLE Flybridge

TYPE Semi-displacement power cat

LENGTH 15m

BEAM 5.9m

DRAFT 1.05m

ENGINE 2 x 450hp Caterpillar 3126 marine engines

CONTACT Peter Forster

PHONE 0418 726 325

EMAIL pforster@consultancybureau.com.au