Aspen Power Catamarans has been building asymmetrical multihulls in the 28- to 40-foot range since 2008, and the 35-foot C108 is the newest addition. Larry Graf, the company’s founder, incorporated decades’ worth of experience into the design, which is intended to support adventures such as Alaskan cruising or weekend escapes. The powercat has double-bottom hulls, watertight collision bulkheads, and foam-filled bows that are reinforced with Kevlar. If necessary, the boat can get home on a single motor.
The C108′s proa-style displacement hulls have identical lengths, but the starboard hull carries 35 percent more volume than the port hull. This setup helps give the cat a fuel-efficient and seakindly ride, according to Graf, and lets Aspen spec a pair of asymmetrically sized outboards while still delivering on-rails tracking.
One of the first things I noticed on board was the unobstructed sightlines from the boat’s Bentley helm seats. The interior is aesthetically clean, with an Ultraleather starboard settee (with power-reclining seats). A 12-foot-long galley is to port with Corian countertops, a two-burner cooktop and oven, a mini refrigerator, and a sink. The cabin has an Amtico teak-and-holly sole. Interior handrails are where I would want them, although the boat delivers significant form stability for its 10-foot-8-inch beam.
The C108′s accommodations include twin berths along both hulls and a forward master stateroom with a king-size berth, hanging locker, lighted bookshelf and underberth stowage. The single head is accessed via the master stateroom or the starboard berth, and there’s enough stowage for an extended voyage. Fit and finish are noteworthy; I saw no raw-wood finishes or aluminum frames on the headliner or port and starboard windows.
Owners can customize the helm, including an optional teak dash and a variety of Garmin electronics; this C108 had dual 12-inch screens. All C108s have unimpeded behind-the-dash access via a fold-down panel in the master stateroom. Electrical components are fused with Blue Sea Systems equipment, all cabling is labeled, and the builder only uses marine-grade tinned-copper wire.
The C108 carries 130 gallons of fuel, and a 180-gallon tank is optional. Range is about 239 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 15.9 knots. Handling is solid; the boat inspired confidence when I put it through its paces off Anacortes, Washington.
The Aspen Power Catamarans C108 might be asymmetrical, but it strikes a solid balance between performance and comfort.
Check out more: The New Cat Class
Careful Glazing
The C108 has curved and tempered safety windshields, as well as bonded solar-guard side windows, which are treated to reflect 50 percent of sunlight transmission to keep the C108′s interior cool.
25.5 Knots
Average top speed at 5,200 rpm with the 200 hp (starboard hull) and 115 hp (port hull) Yamaha outboards on the pins.
Fine-Tuned Maneuvering
Bow thrusters are standard and fitted onto the bigger starboard hull. An optional stern thruster is built into a fiberglass module that provides additional buoyancy.
Ready for Towing
The C108 and an aluminum trailer weigh a combined 12,500 pounds, allowing a three-quarter-ton (or bigger)pickup truck to tow the boat.
Solar Option
The C108 can be ordered with dual 120-watt Sharp solar panels that, when mounted on the coach roof, yield 10 to 14 amps, according to the builder. Given that the boat’s refrigerator averages 5.5 amps, owners can keep the beer cold while also charging their boat’s batteries at anchor, sans generator.
Take the next step: aspenpowercatamarans.com
