When a Flats^®Cat passes over the water, air is injected or rammed into the large bow entrance raising the boat up out of the water allowing the boat to ride on top of the waves and gently walk from side to side on the Cat Hulls, thus eliminating the pounding affect created by most mono Hulls. The seemingly flat hulls push water straight out away from the boat, far enough that spray cannot be drafted up the almost vertical sides, and into the boat. Since natural waves are uneven in their physical make up and do not roll evenly like a wake from a boat, the Cat Hulls encounter different waves at different intervals creating a side to side or walking motion. To put it simply, a mono hull in rough water is like jumping up and down on one foot and a catamaran is like walking smoothly on both feet.

The ram air affect which affords the Flats® Cat to run smoothly across the top of the waves also serves another function when entering shallow water. As air passes under the bow and approaches the inside walls of the Cat Hulls, the water under the boat is compressed slightly and in turn rebounds up into the water channel of the twin hulls. It is here that the water comes in contact with the sub-hull. The sub-hull is a slightly downward curve about one third of the way back from the bow. The purpose of the sub hull is to purge most of the air out of the water that is flowing into the Cat Hulls. The water is then wedged or trapped in between the Cat Hulls by the patented reverse angle inside hull wall. When the water passes under the transom, a jet effect is formed compacting the water even more and aiding in forward motion. When the water exits the transom it explodes up into the lower unit and propeller of the outboard which allows for good handling characteristics, and more than adequate water pressure for engine cooling. At speeds exceeding 20 MPH the Flats® Cat Hull has 1/2" draft, meaning the boat is on top of the water, not pushing through it. When entering water that is 7" or less in depth, the water is compacted between the hull and the bottom creating a lifting effect which raises the boat to about 1/2" plus draft. This means that the keel-less Flats Cat will not hit sub surface strata while there is any water below the boat at speed. However, when equipped with a tilt and trim engine and a standard 5" Jack Plate, skeg drag will occur in about 3 1/2" of water, signaling the boat operator to seek deeper water. This is a built-in safety factor for shallow water running, which has been well received and appreciated by our boat owners.

Catamaran Boats have always been known to be very stable while sitting still on the water or moving at speeds, simply because you have 2 hulls. One hull enhances the other, meaning that as one hull is raised or lowered due to water movement, the weight versus the flotation of either hull are trying to stabilize each other. Cat Hulls displace only about 1/3 of their weight which enables the boat to run across the top of the water - not through it.

As the wind pushes the boat water begins flowing through the Cat Hulls which positions the boat at a 45° angle to the wind. This allows you to drift in a desired direction. To slow down or alter the direction of drift simply lower the engine down and turn the steering wheel.

Water flows through the Cat Hulls helping to eliminate drag, which makes for very easy poling. With the absence of a keel, there is no veering or cutting from side to side.

It is all boat owners' greatest fear to run aground in shallow water or to be left in shallow water due to tide flow. The elliptical shape of the Flats® Cat Twin Hulls allows very little bottom contact when sitting in below draft level water. The hull shape also discourages any suction to occur, and in most cases, is easily pushed into deeper water.

Due to the fact that our outboards are elevated so high on raised transoms and power lifts, very little of the motor or propeller protrudes below the bottom of the hulls. This extreme height makes a Flats® Cat boat the least likely water craft to do harm to sub surface strata or aquatic marine life.