Great Barrier Express

 Home-built from plans

Brand:

Tennant

Designed by:

Malcolm Tennant Multihull Design Limited

Yard(s):

Pilkington Boats Ltd

Description:

The Great Barrier Express (GBE), introduced by Malcolm Tennant in 1973, successfully demonstrated the exhilerating performance of a large beach-style catamaran. With the open wingdeck and alloy cross-beams of a conventional beach cat but with a length of 27 ft 9 in (8.5 m), the GBE is light and extremely fast. The boat established Malcolm Tennant internationally as a multihull designer, and one design racing in larger multihulls first became established with this class. It was in series production in several yards around the world, over 300 being built. There are two 29 ft 6 in (9 m) versions; one of the two has a bridgedeck cabin.

Type:

Racer

Multihull type:

Catamaran

Accommodation:

daysailor, no accommodation

LOA (length overall):

8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)

Beam:

5 m (16 ft 5 in)

Windward sail area:

38.0 m² (409 ft²)

Daggerboard / centreboard:

2

Displacement at design waterline (DWL):

1077 kg (1.06 tons)

Number of berths:

Outboard engines:

1

Fuel type:

Petrol

Trailerable:

Yes: requires demounting

First introduced:

1973

In production:

Plans available

Degree of customisation:

Several options

Designer's/manufacturer's website:

• Malcolm Tennant's website

Used boats for sale:

17 boats of this brand currently available!

* Exchange rates last updated: Sunday 27th January 2008 19:27 GMT