About us | Smartkat New Zealand | Handmade in Europe sold in NZ

This page is about us and to tell you Smartkat is there for enthusiasts, adrenaline junkies, travelers and people who love sports! Whether you are a professional sailor in the Americas Cup or Volvo Ocean Race for Team New Zealand or just started out sailing we value your experience. We’ve made these boats for people who enjoy life and want to be out there doing it. To make sure you get the optimal sailing performance from your catamaran we have made a couple of standards and rules that apply to all our products.

#1: INTELLIGENT LIGHTWEIGHT SOLUTIONS

Our patented lightweight centerboard construction and intelligent rigging system are the main contributors to eliminating weight, the heart of every Smartkat. these innovations account for both the performance and the character of our boat. Creative technical solutions translate into a perfect distribution of force within the rigging, even when sailing in harsh conditions. Using these methods of construction and design, we have been able to reduce the thickness of all core materials while maintaining an ideal performance/weight ratio. Especially in light winds, the Smartkat will deliver maximum performance and propulsion.

#2: PRECISION AND AGILITY

You can compare the Smartkat to a decathlete – a lean sharp body with lots of defined muscle for explosive power, strength, and speed. but you also need to consider endurance for the long-game, and that’s why cutting back on unnecessary weight is the key to our boat’s sterling performance. Centerboard-based catamarans have enormous advantages when it comes to steering precision and responsiveness. The Smartkat shows a great aptitude for fast tacks and sailing close to the wind.

#3: MOBILITY COUNTS

It makes no difference if you’re packing for a weekend trip or an expedition – you should always try to travel light. whatever means of transportation you use to get to your sailing destination, Smartkat has got your covered. We stick to an intelligent 2-bags-only system and kept the weight for each bag under 25kg – the maximum weight allowed at flight check-in.

#4: SINGLE- HANDED OPERATION

If you are sailing alone, Smartkat is designed for one person to manage all aspects of the boat. Transportation, setup, launching, and sailing are all single person operations.

#5: BIONICS – YOU CAN NOT CHEAT NATURE

Smartkat uses round aluminum tubes for all of its major components to achieve the most durable, impact resistant, and rigid setup around. This design leads to the best weight/stability ratio on the market. The same can be said for the hull: round tubes with a diameter that is optimal for high-pressure inflation, providing maximum stability and buoyancy.

#6: CUT THE CRAP

Smartkat focusses on what is essential. we don’t add features that detract from the boat it’s high performance and stability.

For example, instead of using metal rods to fix the trampoline net to the frame, we use durable cords. Fewer metal results in a significant weight saving and adds to the catamaran’s overall stability.
Additionally, we don’t use transparent sections for the mainsail. Sure, the aesthetics would be great, but using monofilm would affect performance in strong winds. It just doesn’t have the same tear-resistance as Dacron or X-PLY. The captain sits below the mainsail and needs this additional support to navigate. These may appear to be small details, but we’ve assessed every inch of the Smartkat in this way to build you an incredibly efficient and durable mobile catamaran. A boat that will stand up to the test, even in the toughest conditions.

#7: ONE PRODUCT – ONE PROMISE

There is only one Smartkat – the original. it comes in one size, with one purpose, and without compromise. since the very beginning, we have stuck to our founding ideas and been careful not to chip away at the brilliance of Smartkat’s original concept. over the years, we’ve undergone steady development in order to make product improvements, but all modules and components are true to Smartkat’s formative design principles. You have the added advantage of upgrading your Smartkat as new innovations come on stream, without ever compromising the fundamental design and performance features that you have come to love. Keeping your boat up-to-date will also preserve your Smartkat’s high resale value.

#8: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE NATURE

The Smartkat is specifically designed to sail in harsh conditions. our boat is certified for winds measuring up to 6 on the Beaufort scale, a feature unmatched in our field. That´s why we call it the ultimate mobile performance catamaran for adventure seekers.

#9: CRAFTED BY HAND WITH QUALITY IN MIND

All our Smartkat models are engineered in Germany and produced in Austria. every single powerframe is hand welded by our professionals, who know the forces the catamaran will encounter in harsh conditions. We are proud of our specialists and our small manufacturing facility. We have quality and not quantity in mind – and we’re good with that.