Ilmor-Powered Racing Cat Project Underway In United Kingdom

Designed by Adam Younger who formerly headed the famed Cougar Marine design office, a new 38-foot catamaran powered by twin 650-hp Ilmor Marine engines is being built by Ross-Smith Marine in England. At present, the project is in the tooling stages according to Younger, who has his own design office on the Isle of Wight.

An artists renderng of the first one-design catamaran for UIM Class 1 Stock. Art by Berserk Design.

The 38-footer is slated for completion by the end of the year. Once finished, it will be first entry in the new-for-2014 Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1 Stock field, a “one-design” spec class for which the builder will construct all the Ilmor engine-powered cats. The cost for each race boat—the builder and UIM organizers reportedly hope to have eight on the racecourse next year—will be approximately $384,275 (250,000 British pounds).

According to the designer, the builder is interested in finding “a partner” in the United States to “further explore possibilities there, both as race and leisure boats.”

“This could on the sales side or for duplicate molds and setting up as a separate builder,” Younger said.

Editor’s Note: Speedonthewater.com will report on this project as it develops.