Alabama's Gulf Coast Fishing with ProKat Boats and
Phil Mosley
The Advantages of Catamaran Fishing in Salt Water
 Editor’s
Note: The second week in May, 2007, I fished 60-miles
offshore with Phil and Phillip Mosley of Mobile, Alabama
in a 2660 Center-Console ProKat built by Mike Robinson
of Lincoln, Alabama, with twin, Suzuki 4-stroke, 175-horsepower
engines that purred like kittens. In fact, the engines
were so quiet that a cell-phone conversation easily
could be conducted while sitting on top of one of the
engines as it idled.
Question: Mike, why did you take the catamaran (a twin-hull
design) and decide to make a fishing boat out of it?
Robinson: My background is in building v-bottom boats,
but I always felt anglers could fish more days and have
more fun if they had a smoother, more-stable ride. After
spending some time studying catamarans and working with
them, I decided the design of the catamaran hull offered
smoother rides and a better way to fish, even in rough
seas. 
Question: How long and how wide is the boat we fished
from, and what are some advantages of a catamaran?
Robinson: Our Coast-Guard-inspected boat has a 27-foot,
1-inch centerline with a 9-foot, 4-inch beam. This boat
is a better-riding boat than a v-bottom boat because
of the outside-stability chimes, instead of the inside
fulcrum point like a v-bottom boat has. This boat runs
a 90-degree entry through a wave. When running a v-bottom,
there’s a 70-degree entry into the wave. Hitting
a 4- or a 5-degree with a v-bottom almost stops the
boat. However, with a catamaran design, the two hulls
hitting the wave slice right through the waves. A catamaran
is more stable and gets through a wave much easier than
a v-hull boat. An easy way to see the difference in
a catamaran fishing boat as opposed to a v-bottom boat
is to put four or five guys on one side of the boat.
With a v-bottom boat, the boat will roll to one side,
while a catamaran boat will hardly move.
Question: What nifty little things are built into the
ProKat to make salt-water fishing easier out of this
boat?
Robinson: Unlike other boats, the ProKat is 100% wood-free.
Our company offers a lifetime warranty against rot and
a 10-year limited hull warranty, one of the best in
the industry. In the past, many salt-water boats have
had problems with rotting, soft floors and transoms
because the boats had wood overlaid with fiberglass.
The boats we’re building today are lighter, stronger
and maintenance-free. We also deliver packaged boats.
Today, dealers like to get their boats with the engines,
the rigging and the wiring done, the batteries, the
stainless-steel propellers, the hard tops and the outriggers
in place, and the wash-down and the tackle systems set
up. A dealer has very-little preparation to do once
he receives the boat from us and before delivery to
the customer.
Question: How many people will the boat we fished from
accommodate?
Robinson: The day we fished together, we had seven big
guys with plenty of room. The boat is rated for eight
adults.
Question: Why do we see more people using catamarans
today for offshore fishing?
Robinson: Catamarans offer a softer ride, and they’re
more stable and easier to fish from than a v-bottom
boat. The twin sponsons, the reverse chimes and the
tunnel that allows the water to slipstream through the
boat give it a positive tracking capability and a smoother
ride. The 2660 ProKat is a center-console boat. We also
make this boat in a walk-around with an enclosed head
and shower for the ladies.
If you want to know more about fishing Alabama’s
Gulf Coast, visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention
and Business Bureau at www.gulfshores.com,
or call 800-745-SAND.
For more information on ProKat Boats, call 205-763-0231,
or visit www.prokatboats.biz.
Tomorrow: Famous Kat Owners
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