A catamaran with a distinctive style
The 36-foot catamarans are no longer so numerous in the catalog of new boats offered by the shipyards. With its angular roof and round hulls, the first multihull from the Czech shipyard Independent Catamaran did not go unnoticed in the Port Canto basin for its first public presentation at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2021. "This boat is the result of a meeting between the builder, myself and the designers, Tomas Jonas Janda and Vrtiska&Zak, around a prototype. He then helped me to develop equipment and tricks. Voluntarily, I did not want a naval architect. They are often too limited in their innovation" explains Jaromir Popek, co-founder with the designers of the Independent Catamaran yard.
A 36-foot catamaran that can be dismantled and transported
The result is a concentration of tricks to make a dismountable boat that can be fit entirely into a 40-foot raised container, rigging included. Built far from the sea in Bud?jovice, Czech Republic, transportation was a primary consideration. The catamaran is 11 meters long and 6.2 meters wide. Its hulls are constructed of glass-epoxy sandwich, while the platform, rigging, cockpit bimini and equipment are made of carbon. The rear beam is made of aluminum. The whole allows to display a displacement of 2.2 T in the bare hull racing version and 2.95 T in the visited version, with a draft of 0.85 cm with the daggerboards up and 2 meters with the appendages down.
A clever device allows the front axial beam to be used as a lifting goat for independent work, although the manufacturer recommends using a crane. The assembly time is announced as one day with four people. "It can also be interesting to shelter the boat in areas at risk of hurricanes such as the Caribbean or Florida," says Jaromir Popek.
Oriented for sailing performance
The IC 36 clearly shows ambitions of high performance under sail. If we could not test it, the presence of a wing mast and a sail area of 60 m² for its only 2.2 T of displacement, augur great slides. Even more once hoisted the code 0 of 46 m².
On the auxiliary propulsion side, 2 Oceanvolt electric motors of 6kW are proposed, but a diesel alternative is possible.
A large cockpit to live outside and sail together
The large aft cockpit, organized around a central table incorporating an outdoor kitchen, is protected by a rigid bimini covered with solar panels and front and side windows. The latter can be easily removed and stored in the lockers for more ventilation. Similarly, the aft part of the cockpit is protected by a textile cover on a rail. A direct central access to the mast foot facilitates maneuvering. At the rear, the access platform serves as an additional bench.
Two lateral helm stations, where all the current maneuvers converge, allow you to take care of the boat while remaining in contact with the passengers. Only the height of the step to access them is a bit high. If you wish, you can also steer the boat from the middle of the cockpit with the tiller, while keeping the visibility thanks to the large windows.
Hulls fitted out with clever ways to live on board
Although it does not have a closed saloon on the nacelle, the IC36 is still habitable. The port hull offers 5 berths with bunk beds to make the most of the space. Textile equipment allows storage. An interior kitchen completes the layout.
On the starboard side, there is a chart table at the foot of the companionway. The anti-skidding on the carbon daggerboard well allows you to hold on to it. Another triple cabin welcomes passengers at the back, while a sanitary facility occupies the front point.
Attractive, the boat, if it is of reasonable size for a catamaran, remains a nice high-end toy. The model visited in Cannes had a price of 497,000 euros before tax. The basic version, stripped of any interior, is offered at 346,000 euros ex VAT.
