At the end of January, Aspen Power Catamarans announced that the builder of unique, proa-style power cats was hard at work on hull number one of the brand new Aspen C128. The new boat will have twin Suzuki 300-horsepower engines each with twin counter-rotating stainless steel props.
The C128 is now Aspen’s flagship and demonstrates resoundingly just how much room, quality and performance can be engineered into an innovative 44-foot power cat.
The new design is based on Founder and CEO Larry Graff’s patented asymmetrical proa catamaran hulls. By making one hull narrower than the other, the design reduces drag while the stepped hull chines improve lift as the boat gains speed. The combination requires less horsepower than symmetrical cat designs and thus reduces fuel consumption significantly.
The C128’s twin outboards will be much quieter than inboard diesels and have higher power-to-weight ratios. Plus, the shallow draft of the motors enables the boat to explore very thin water and even beach the bows.
The design will have a cruising speed of 18 to 20 knots and a top en of 26 to 28 knots. At an optimum efficiency speed of 16 knots the twin Suzukis will burn 17 gallons an hour or, according to Aspen, roughly half that of competitive boats. This fuel economy means the boat will have a useful range at cruising speed of 280 miles.
Aside from fuel efficiency, the proa cat design also provides an incredibly stable ride underway and will sit very still and upright at anchor, even in an exposed anchorage. Plus, the narrow bows tend to pierce through waves instead of leaping over them, which eliminates most slamming and pitching when punching into the seaway.
The proa-cat design in the C128 has 800 square feet of living space or the equivalent of a small waterfront condo. The flybridge has the helm forward where the crew will have great sight lines when docking or setting an anchor. The bridge has a U-shaped lounge area with a table for hors d’oeuvres and al fresco lunches.
The cockpit has room to set up folding chairs and has a door in the transom that leads to the engines and the nifty swim platform and ladder between them. This platform will make getting in and out of a dinghy convenient.
Because the side decks have been made quite narrow, the interior makes use of the boat’s wide beam. The dinette will seat four easily and six in a pinch. The galley has plenty of counter area and storage. The large curved windows, full width wind shield and a large window facing aft fill the salon with natural light and provide 360-degree vistas.
One of the engineering feats that really sets the C128 apart from its monohull cousins is the full width master suite under the foredeck. It has a centerline king-size berth, plenty of storage and hanging space and a private head with a separate shower stall. This is something you rarely see in a 44-foot performance cruiser.
Down below, there is also a roomy guest cabin with a double berth and a third smaller cabin with twin berths. These guest cabins share a head, also fitted with a shower stall.
Aspen has created a great niche in the power cat market and has a very loyal following. C128 hull number one will be launched this spring and will undergo sea trials by the factory crew on Puget Sound. Then the owners will take possession and spend the summer cruising the Pacific Northwest before shipping the boat to their home waters in Chesapeake Bay.
