Cat's Paw: A Free Plan for a Straight-Sided Plywood Catamaran
A twin-hull sailboat with two straight-sided exterior plywood hulls, flat sheer and five frames per hull.
Cat's Paw takes a refreshingly direct approach to the sailing catamaran. Its two hulls are straight-sided exterior plywood with a flat sheer, built over five frames each. That keeps cutting and fitting about as simple as twin hulls can be. If a catamaran has been on your wish list but the curves looked daunting, this plan is a gentle way in.
Cat's Paw at a glance
| Detail | Cat's Paw |
|---|---|
| Type | Catamaran sailboat |
| Construction | Two straight-sided exterior plywood hulls, flat sheer; five frames per hull |
| First published | 1978 edition, p. 57 |
| Craft Print | No. 245 |
| Plan sheets | 10 |
Why simple hulls make sense
Straight sides and a flat sheer mean plywood panels go on with minimal bending, so each hull is closer to careful carpentry than to sculpture. Five frames per hull give a clear, repeatable structure. That simplicity lets you concentrate on accuracy and finish rather than on wrestling plywood into complex curves.
Building two identical hulls also has a hidden benefit: you learn on the first and do a better job on the second. Ten sheets give a detailed set of drawings to follow. With patience and space for two hulls side by side, it is a very achievable twin-hull project.
The original plan sheets
These are the 10 original sheets from 1978, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Before you build
- Cut matching parts for both hulls at the same time so they stay identical.
- Check the crossbeams and hull spacing carefully, since misalignment will make the catamaran sail poorly.
- Learn to reef or depower early; catamarans are stable but can be caught out by strong gusts.
Download the plan
All ten original Cat's Paw sheets in one file, ready to print or view on a tablet by the bench.
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