the new John Brady A-Cat. She was built at the Independence Marine Museum in Philadelphia for a member of Seaside Park Yacht Club.
She’s caused a bit of a buzz on the Bay as she was built with longitudinal bulkheads to form a box structure instead of the usual hanging and lodging knees. Both methods are used to resist twisting. This is very important in large cat boats as the mast carries a huge load all the way in the bow where there is limited structure to counter the twisting moment. John’s method uses these bulkheads along with the cabin sole and decks to create a type of box girder. Interesting boat.
Spyder afloat and waiting to be finished. Seems like a tradition for these boats to start the first Bay race with tacky varnish or some item being installed on the way to the starting line.
Note the laminated knees tying the cockpit/cabin sole and the longitudinal bulkheads together.
I imagine there will be seats along each side of the cockpit. Maybe not for the first race, but eventually. Don’t ask how I know the name of that tune….
Should be an exciting time June 21st; there will be 12 A-Cats on the starting line.