Alerion Express Cat Daysailer Garry Hoyt and the Alerion team bring us this updated version of the traditional Cape Cod catboat. Catboats are older than Bill Wyman and may be an acquired taste. Certainly the styling, with its snubbed-off ends and superbroad transom, gives the catboat its distinct look. However, we are seeing more boats today with minimal overhangs and broad sterns, so the catboat does not look as foreign as it did to me in the early '60s. Garry Hoyt can't leave anything alone.
Catboats have too much weather helm.
Catboats don't go to weather. This allows you to reef effortlessly to any increment of mainsail area and it also allows you to get rid of the main quickly when you get to the dock. You put this boat to bed in 30 seconds. You get under way in 30 seconds. This is good.