Finding the Right Boat
Ali and I fish together most of the time. Both of us have been running trailer boats for as long as we can remember. When talk came up about upgrading to a bigger boat we decided to sell ours and partner up.
We started looking at all of the great boat manufacturers that are here on the West Coast. We wanted a fishing boat with that would offer more comfort as 70% of our time on the boat is made up of long runs to our offshore fishing grounds. In the last couple of years the average run has been 50 to 100 miles one way for 3-4 hours of fishing time. Most of the runs back to port are headed in to the normal SoCal afternoon wind and chop. On average we are dealing with 10-12knots of wind and 2-3 feet of mixed chop. Many times we will fish for a week straight. If the fishing is good work gets pushed to the side and we go. It’s the nature of being a fisherman.
Stock Worldcat 270 EC 
During the 2007 Yellowtail Shoot Out (held in the parking lot of
West Coast Power Cats) we started eyeballing the
Worldcat 270EC. The first thing we noticed was beauty. Just the lines of the boat flow together and make this vessel very appealing to the eye. We climbed on board and felt quality. The fit and finish of this boat is top notch. The gelcoat is smooth, all the hardware is 316 Stainless, hardtop is overbuilt, quality eisenglass, comfortable seats and layout at the helm fit us perfectly.
Helm of Worldcat 270 EC 
The boat came rigged from the factory with all the options we could want and more. This included winless, power steering, combing pads, eisenglass, stow bag, cockpit lights, dive latter, and a full size Danforth compass. Even bumpers, life vests, fire extinguisher, flares and dock lines. Every hatch is lockable and there is tons of storage throughout the boat. There are even two different fish hold/coolers on the boat. The large one in the transom (300 quart) is more than big enough for a few limits of Albies or Yellowtail.
Worldcat 270 EC Deck and insulated cooler 
For us the cabin of the boat is laid out perfectly. A small sink with fresh water, locking drawers under the sink, full sized head with holding tank, a queen size bed, lighting, chart and rod storage, easy access to the fuse panel and helm wiring, a CD changer with controls at the helm, plenty of head room and a tow huge storage hatches underneath the bed in the sponson. The cabin is perfect for overnight trips to the islands and taking the wives out on a cruise.
Full toilet 
Small freshwater sink 
A few weeks later, we met with Brady at
West Coast Power Cats to take a test drive. The weather was perfect for a cat run. There was 2-3 of chop with 15kts of wind on top. We were both amazed by how well the boat took the chop without pounding or throwing water on the windshield.
We had found our next boat…
As every serious West Coast Angler knows, the cockpit is where the action happens. The cockpit of the
Worldcat 270 EC can easily fish 4 people in one of our hot tuna bites. The beam Is 8’6”, but it feels a lot bigger. The same can be said for the entire boat. This has to be the biggest 27’ boat we have ever fished.
Catching Fish 
We recently caught a 325lb Thresher shark on the boat. Even with 3 adults standing on the port side lifting that fish in the boat, the stability was unbelievable. I have fished on a regular basis with 3-4 people on board a mono hull with 8’6” beam and only 2 were allowed on the same rail at a time due to the boat keeling over.
Stable at the rail 
Due to it’s catamaran hull the
Worldcat 270 EC is very stable in just about any sea direction. The twin sponsons’s cut through our normal 2 to 3 foot chop at any angle and provide a “cushy” ride as the hull is riding on a pillow of air that is trapped in the tunnel. It is very common for a catamaran to spit water forward and over the bow when air gets trapped in the tunnel between the sponson’s. This is called tunnel sneeze.
Worldcat’s patented Vector Flow keeps all of the “spit” under the tunnel where it belongs. This is a must for running offshore against the wind and waves.
Vectorflow 
The more we get used to driving the
Worldcat 270 EC I have noticed it likes to go fast. We are used to cruising 22-26 knots in a mono hull and taking a few slams and spray while trying to get somewhere fast. The
Worldcat 270 EC likes to run fast. At a 25 knot cruise it feels like we are doing 16-18 knots in the old boat. The tunnel on the boat just clears the 2’ wind chop. It’s a smooth ride but it gets better.
Running Fast 
Ali knowing a little bit more about Catamaran’s tells me to go faster to smooth out the ride. I’m thinking to myself “what the?” . As I threw down the throttles a little more and the hull felt like it just broke loose from water. The bow came down and I’m watching the gauges to see what my economy is doing. Economy is going up the faster I go? The ride turns in to a soft bob while cutting through all of the chop. I couldn’t believe it. Now I’m 30+knots wherever I go. Even wave jumping is smooth. Going straight in to a 4’ swell the boat launches and lays down smooth. No slam, no spray, nothing falling out of rod holders, not even bait sloshing out of the tank.
Sitting on Trailer 
You get what you pay for
The
Worldcat 270 EC is a Yacht Certified Vessel. This means the boat’s entire construction is in compliance with all of the requirements by the
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) for larger yachts. The electrical systems, steering, power rating, field of vision, buoyancy, bilge pumps, fuel systems, navigational lights, rails, steering wheel, seacocks, thru-hulls, and drain plugs are all up to Federal Code. To back this all up, boat comes with a 10 year transferrable hull warranty. To our knowledge
World Cat is the only trailer boat builder to receive this certification.
Overall my first impression of the
Worldcat 270 EC is speed, economical, quality, and comfort. It met both Ali and I’s requirements so we dove rite in.
West Coast Power Cats on Mission bay has been a pleasure to work with. Everything from the financing to delivery of the boat was smooth and as promised.
Dwarfing a Full Sized Lifted Truck 
Now that we had chosen our hull, it was time to pick the right power package….
:
Linear Mode
