hh catamarans cebu

What Happened To Our New Catamaran?

We’re in Cebu, Philippines at the HH Catamarans factory for our first round of warranty repairs.  Sadly, things didn’t go as expected.   

The boat wasn’t in great shape, many of the jobs didn’t get done, and not all the work done was up to spec.

This is a new factory for HH, and CURIOSITY is the first finished boat they have worked on.  So, it was a bit painful and it took far longer than expected. Let's just say it was a series of unfortunate events for all of us.  

As you can imagine, everyone at HH feels TERRIBLE about the whole situation.  They have assured us that they stand behind their product and their customers. 

The Cebu factory now has new management, new systems in place, additional experts (especially in the finishing departments), enhanced training programs and it has undergone major infrastructure changes.  Just before we left, we were able to meet Rudy, the new general manager.  He is an impressive gentleman with 24 years in design and manufacturing in the marine, automotive, aerospace and defense industries. He shared some of his grand plans for the Cebu factory and I do believe him when he says all future work will be up to the high standards HH is known for.

So, while it has been a very stressful and expensive five plus weeks of living out of hotels.  We are happy to be back in our home and preparing for our next big passage. Plus, we get to share the journey with some of you, our Curiosity Crew!

Life is a wild ride, thanks for riding this roller coaster with us.

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A view to the future

• Advertorial
• Tech Briefs

It’s rather common to make claims in the marine industry about how certain new products are “bold” or “innovative” or “cutting edge” for their clever new approach to design, fabrication and/or function. And these claims are often not untrue, with technology moved forward another incremental step towards us being able to sail into the future faster, smarter and safer. At HH Catamarans they’re not content with these adjectives: they prefer to use the term “disruptive” to describe what they do, and their approach to design and fabrication in their new performance luxury catamarans as “future-proofing.”

Some dictionaries define this rather techie-sounding term as the process of making a product or system unlikely to become obsolete or fail in the future, certainly a laudable goal when considering the high pace of technological progress and the considerable investment made to own boats in this sector.

HH Catamarans willingly embraces innovation and change to produce the very best in the market, where their clients come to find a perfect balance of style, performance, safety and innovation that meets and exceeds their expectations. This is because each boat is carefully crafted to be a unique solution to the customer’s sailing goals, whether its racing, cruising or more often, both.

An excellent example of this approach is how HH Catamarans and its customers are embracing the very latest technologies for sustainability and eco-friendly operation of all the yachts in their product line, particularly the new HH44s and HH52s. There are two variants in each size: the OC (Ocean Cruising) model or the SC (Sports Cruising) model. OC models are fast, comfortable, family-friendly cruising yachts that have easy-operation features such as mini-keels instead of daggerboards and are appropriate for blue-water cruising, while the SC models have the very latest in technology, with C-shaped, carbon prepreg daggerboards, carbon spar and more than 4.2 kW of solar and regeneration power in the standard-equipped EcoDrive system.

The development of the Parallel Hybrid EcoDrive system is in response for the need for an efficient and eco-friendly solution to electric power management, which is vitally important for all extended range racing and cruising boats when the primary means of propulsion is sailing. While traditional yachts rely on the main engine and/or a generator to provide this, it comes at a high cost in excessive weight and emissions for a performance-oriented catamaran.

The EcoDrive system helps solve this problem as a robust and redundant hybrid electric/diesel propulsion system designed to bring the benefits of an electric drive (eg silent fume-free motoring, instant torque for manoeuvring, and hydro-regeneration of batteries while sailing) with the reliability of a trusted diesel engine. Nearly all of the 40 HH44s and HH52s currently on order have included this system.

Depending on boat size and sea state, the power output from EcoDrive and the battery storage capacity are, on average, designed to conservatively offer one and a half to three hours of silent, fumefree electric propulsion without requiring the owner to carry an unnecessarily large battery bank.

This should be more than enough time to leave the marina or anchorage, hoist sails and regenerate power as you sail away. And this power is available not only just for motoring purposes: the power delivered by the hydro-regenerators combined with 4.2 kW from the roof-top solar panels in this system are able to generate up to a combined 50 kW of power stored in lithium batteries that are available for all the other common uses on a luxury catamaran – even air conditioning. Compare this with a conventional genset which delivers only 6 kW at a weight cost of over 400 kg plus the fuel weight – the choice for EcoDrive seems obvious.

And working closely with their electrical engineering partners, HH Catamarans has developed user interfaces that can easily control a variety of functions in the 48 V electrical system onboard that operates everything from bow thrusters and sail-handling controls to climate systems and cabin lighting. Our modern culture now is accustomed to app-style functionality and HH Catamarans strives to offer this as well.

‘This technology may seem remarkable in our sector,’ says CEO Paul Hakes, ‘yet it is common, well-proven and mature in other industries such as automobiles. We find it remarkable that more builders have not embraced this because we find our customers are fully engaged with this functionality and provide valuable feedback for us on customising solutions they look for in their yacht.’

From decades of Grand Prix-level boat building experience and meeting the challenges of technology and customer expectation, Hakes knows this process well. His partnership with Hudson Wang to form HH Catamarans in 2014 has thrived on a common vision of bringing excellence in boat-building materials and techniques – in both custom and production settings – to innovative design that “disrupts” the marketplace.

With the experience and pedigree of renowned catamaran designers Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin, known worldwide for their pioneering influence in not only developing this sector of performance luxury catamarans, but also having a guiding hand in America’s Cup catamaran development, HH Catamarans has always had a strong footing in offering impressive performance in their product lines.

Adding this talent into the next generation is Hakes’ son James, whose own background in performance sailing and naval architecture provides the important design and engineering talent needed to ensure the visions from his father, Morrelli and Melvin and the customer feedback can coalesce into a buildable yacht that delivers on all expectations.

Hakes says ‘James is the ongoing brains behind the aesthetics of our designs as well as getting the system designs correct. An example is how he worked with Harken to design an effective captive reel winch system for the HH52.’

Hakes continues, ‘I’m really impressed with our team. Everyone works hard to improve yet still meet our standards because our order book is filling so fast. An example is the first HH44 hull took nine weeks to build, but by Hull 3 this time was reduced to four weeks. Nonetheless, the orders we are taking now are for delivery dates in 2026.’

Moreover, as the first 44s hit the boat shows this season and the market gets its chance to touch and feel these remarkable boats in person, Hakes and HH president Seth Hynes foresee an exponential increase in interest…Hakes says that 100 boats plus is not out of the question.

This is where Hudson Wang and HH parent company, Hudson Yacht Group, steps in to help. The Hudson Yacht Group operations in Xiamen, China are already impressive: with an investment of over $50m USD, the newly expanded Hudson Yacht Group factory spans over 1.2 million square feet and is situated beside a harbour for easy launching and hull testing.

This yard incorporates the very best technologies, modern halls, test pool, overhead cranes and hundreds of experienced craftsmen. This facility is on its way to becoming the biggest, best and most technologically-advanced yard in Asia and it is redefining how luxury boats are built.

Yet the high demand is outstripping even this massive yard’s build capabilities, so a new Hudson Yacht Group production facility is in build now in Cebu, Philippines where HH44s and HH52s will be built. Besides providing additional capacity, Philippine-based production will have another benefit: avoiding duties placed on boats built in China for the US market.

In Xiamen production will continue on numerous other semi-custom boats in the HH Catamarans product line, such as two HH50s and six HH60s, along with new projects as demand for them arises. As an example of how the HH Catamarans customises to customer needs, the first HH60 to be launched is owned by a former Class40 competitor and will have multiple swing helm stations, over 20 control lines with constrictors led to each station, asymmetric daggerboards and a carbon rotating mast.

‘We are extremely fortunate to have a solid base of enthusiastic customers, an incredible team and Hudson’s support and vision for the future,’ says Hakes.

‘At every step we have been able to expand as needed to meet our standards for quality, and now with this new facility in Cebu we’ll be able to meet the market demands for our products. No one wants to wait forever to fulfill their cruising and racing dreams, so this increase in our operations will bring those dreams faster to fruition.’

Click here for more information on HH Catamarans

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

First look: HH44 – smallest offering yet

• Toby Hodges
• September 5, 2023

Big solar capacity, fixed keels or daggerboards, protected helms and drop down transom platforms are just some of the key feature that make the HH44 stand out

Product Overview

The old adage that the many benefits of a cruising catamaran are achieved at the cost of its sailing qualities is no longer true and a growing proportion of buyers are seeking performance boats that are responsive and fun to sail. This part of the multihull market has of course existed for a long time, with the likes of Outremer, Catana and more recently Gunboat and Marsaudon Composites proving that lightweight ultra-fast catamarans can be safe and comfortable, yet also exhilarating.

HH Catamarans has grown rapidly since the yard was founded in 2012 by entrepreneur and boating enthusiast Hudson Wang. He has since ploughed some US$50 million into the company, including 1.2 million square feet of manufacturing space with state of the art production equipment, predominately at Xiamen in south-western China.

Wang has also recruited top talent, including Kiwi boatbuilder Paul Hakes, who as CEO has brought his knowledge of building very high end raceboats to a cruising audience who want an equal level of attention to detail in an impeccably finished yacht that also offers a high level of comfort and without sacrificing speed.

The latest model to hit the water, the HH44, will be the smallest in the range and therefore available to a wider audience, even if the price tag still ranges upwards of US$1 million ex VAT. Nevertheless this hasn’t deterred 35 owners ordering boats off-plan before the first one left the yard.

This Morrelli & Melvin design is not as ultra high performance as some of the earlier and larger HH models. This is especially true in the OC (Ocean Cruising) versions of the HH44, which have an easily handled format with aluminium mast, white gelcoat finish and mini-keels as standard instead of daggerboards. Nevertheless displacement is one third lower than that of many catamarans of this size, which promises enjoyable and rewarding sailing, as well as markedly reducing time spent under power when passagemaking.

SC (Sports Cruising) models include current race boat technology, including carbon C-foils and rig, a painted hull finish, plus over 4kW of solar panels.

They also have a parallel hybrid EcoDrive system developed by Isle of Wight company Hybrid Marine. This is intended to provide all the key benefits of an electric boat – including silent, fume-free motoring, instant torque when manoeuvring, and hydro-regeneration while sailing – without sacrificing the reassuring backup of diesel engines.

The first boat, an SC model painted in a striking metallic silver, was scheduled to hit the water this summer. Demand has been such that HH is currently building an additional set of moulds and two production lines will run for the HH44 at its Cebu facility in the Philippines.

HH44 specifications

LOA (transoms raised): 14.23m / 46ft 8in LWL: 13.28m / 43ft 7in Beam: 7.15m / 23ft 6in Draught (fixed keels): 1.52m / 5ft 0in Displacement (OC model): 8,750kg / 19,290lb Payload approx: 4,750kg / 10,000lb Mainsail: 74.2m2 / 799ft2 Solent jib: 51.1m2 / 550ft2 Base price 44-OC: US$957,000 ex vat Base price 44-SC: US$1,325,000 ex VAT Builder: hhcatamarans.com

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• HH Catamarans

About HH Catamarans

HH Catamarans build state of the art, carbon fibre, high performance yachts for a discerning clientele who seek an exceptional ownership experience. HH Catamarans was formed in early 2012 and set about developing a new brand, something extraordinary. In the years since “HH” has come to represent a commitment to the quality and success of every boat built.

The HH44 was met with enthusiasm and rave reviews at the Cannes Yachting Festival, when it made its international debut September 2023. Throngs of visitors came out to see the HH44, declaring it “spectacular”, “stunning”, “the future” and “the best boat in the show”.The HH44 has been nominated in the Boat of the Year, European Yacht of the Year, and Multihull of the Year competitions. In anticipation of a flurry of interest and new orders, the HH yard in Cebu is now operational, allowing for simultaneous production lines and a significantly improved production outlook. To learn more about current availability and pricing, please contact us anytime

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. NEVER COMPROMISE.

Award Winning

HH Catamarans design and build award winning, state-of-the-art, carbon catamarans for a discerning clientele who seek an exceptional ownership experience.

Performance and Luxury

Designed to withstand the rigors of sailing around the world multiple times in speed and style.

Design Excellence

Designed in partnership with Morrelli & Melvin in California, and built at a state of the art production yard in China, HH Catamarans can deliver a boat of far superior quality and value than anyone else.

Carbon Construction

HH are experts in carbon fibre construction. They build boats that will retain their rigidity, safety, longevity. They offer a hull warranty of five years, we expect their  boats to be sailing the world’s oceans for 50+ years.

Our HH Catamarans

Contact Details

Contact Steve Thomas:

NZ Boat Sales

P.O.Box 735, Nelson, NZ Phone: +64 3 546 6976 Steve’s Mobile: 0274 459 197

Or fill out the enquiry form below:

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What Happened To Our New Catamaran?

September 15, 2024 by Gone with the Wynns | Language: EN Play Time: 00:31:54 | SAILING YOUTUBERS

We’re in Cebu, Philippines at the HH Catamarans factory for our first round of warranty repairs.  Sadly, things didn’t go as expected. https://www.gonewiththewynns.com ☝Behind the Scenes, Gear Guides & More

⛵Our Catamaran https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/curiosity-sailboat

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_____________________________ The boat wasn’t in great shape, many of the jobs didn’t get done, and not all the work done was up to spec.

This is a new factory for HH, and CURIOSITY is the first finished boat they have worked on.  So, it was a bit painful and it took far longer than expected. Let’s just say it was a series of unfortunate events for all of us.

As you can imagine, everyone at HH feels TERRIBLE about the whole situation.  They have assured us that they stand behind their product and their customers. 

The Cebu factory now has new management, new systems in place, additional experts, new training programs and has undergone infrastructure changes.  Just before we left, we were able to meet Rudy, the new general manager.  He is an impressive fellow with 24 years in design and manufacturing in the marine, automotive, aerospace and defense industries. He shared some of his grand plans for the Cebu factory and I do believe him when he says all future work will be up to the high standards HH is known for.

So, while it has been a very stressful and expensive five plus weeks of living out of hotels.  We are happy to be back in our home and preparing for our next big passage. Plus, we get to share the journey with some of you, our Curiosity Crew!

———————————————————————————————-

WE’RE JASON AND NIKKI WYNN. A couple of explorers, modern-day documentarians, and cultivators of curiosity.

We’ve been chasing our curiosity around the world on wheels and keels since 2011. Why? Because curiosity is the key to unlocking life. It pushes us outside our comfort zone, softens our assumptions, and helps us embrace the great unknown. The more we let our curiosity lead the way, the more we discover about ourselves and the world around us.

Things We’re Most Curious About…

GETTING OFF-GRID Our home is also our transportation and we spend weeks away from civilization and sometimes land. So self-reliance and sustainable living are a must. We’ve learned heaps about renewable energy, managing waste, creating safe drinking water and foraging for food. We carefully manage our resources and we’re always looking for new and better ways to do so.

TALKING TO STRANGERS People are busy (even on remote islands) and travelers are a dime a dozen. It takes time to talk to strangers, and even more time to have a real connection. Going the extra mile to get to know someone is a commitment.

Which is why these are our most treasured experiences. Setting off into the world with curiosity as our guide and nature as our compass. We talk to strangers and accept hospitality without fear or reservations. Both giving and receiving.

ALTERNATIVE LIVING These are people who are doing things differently. Forgoing the mainstream, seeking freedom and living on the margins. Creative, unique and inspiring people who challenge our ideas of home and community.

Our journey is ever-evolving but the mission remains the same: #CultivateCuriosity

Timestamps if you like to Jump Around:

00:00 Teething Issues & Warranty Work 02:53 Day 35 Return to the Boatyard 04:35 Day 37 Splash Day 06:57 Sea Trial 09:56 Hits and Misses from Warranty Repairs 13:34 Stray Current Running Through the Boat 16:17 Solar Panel Issues 17:58 Main Sail Issues 20:23 Slow Motoring Speeds 21:10 Refrigerator Issues 22:14 Add Anti-Foul to Transom 23:00 Drainage Issues 24:26 Other Warranty Issues 25:28 New Crew Coming 26:25 Rigging Issue 27:19 The New Crew

#BoatLife #Catamaran #Sailboat #Travel #LifeStyle

© Gone With the Wynns 2024

What Happened To Our New Catamaran? Locations

• Cebu Marine Industry Inc. (10.4597775,123.6933985)

Gone with the Wynns

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HH44 Catamaran: The sailing TIE-Fighter

• April 19th, 2024
• Sailing Yacht

Safe the best for last, as they say, right? And as such I´d like to write my final article from this year´s La Grande Motte Multihull show about a very special catamaran. HH Catamarans is neither a newcomer on the boating market – actually, the company was founded some 12 years ago by the renowned boatbuilders Mr. Hudson and Mr. Hakes – hence the name “HH” Catamarans. Nor is their no-compromise approach new.

Honestly, I´ve seen them around but never really approached this brand or boat. Maybe that is because “HH” is an awkward name to speak, but surely because I did not really know what HH Catamarans was all about and frankly, what an awesome build their boats really are! In this, join me for a really cool walkthrough in a yacht that sets the bar a bit higher. Quite a bit!

Emerging Player: HH Catamarans

First things first: Yes, these are boats which are built in China. But, like with so many other things, it is not the origin of a product that is deciding but the briefing and budget given to the makers. In terms of HH Catamarans, the company has set up a state-of-the-art production plant in Xiamen that is owned and run by the company (not a rented production facility!). I haven´t been there but from what one can see online and by talking to the guys present at the HH Cats stand, this is the best from the best. Most advanced CNC , infusion and Carbon Fiber processing technology on the market. Cheap China? Not at all! This 44-footer comes with a plus one million price tag: An HH Catamaran is absolute top shelf luxury.

As apparently the stand and the catamaran was full the whole boat show, I walked by several times hoping for a calm spot to not being interfered with when taking pictures. Which was really hard. Even before opening and after closing times, the cat was full of people checking it out. Which is a good sign. And I can understand why it attracts so many people: Nearing myself from bow, the design and lines are really breathtaking!

The extra-slim hulls and the negative stems make for a fine, slicing entry. The freeboard is very high and distance from the middle section to the waterline pleasantly high: A sign for a very seakind and fast catamaran. I liked the angled shapes very much, instantly I am reminded of the “Star Wars” starship design of the famous TIE-Fighters by the Empire – a daring look for sure. The high class paint of the hull sets it apart from the white deck-salon. A starship, ready to fly.

This enthusiasm changes a bit when I look from a stern angle at the boat. Again, I am reminded of another starship, this time Captain Jean-Luc Picard´s ENTERPRISE D, which looks awesome seen from some angles and doesn´t work anymore from others. The reason for this strange look of the HH 44 are the closed aft sections. The boat appears to have been sort of “cut off” or “sawn away” at the stern – but later more to this, because there is a not so stupid reason.

A hidden gem

Anyways, right on the last day of the “Multicoque 2024” it was my last chance to do the walkthrough and so I went over. Again, even for a traditionally lame last boat show Sunday, the yacht was full of people. So I thank all the guys who allowed me to have them on my pictures here, and so I started my tour.

The HH 44 is the smallest entry level catamaran of the range. The shipyard offers a staggering palette of eight models, ranging from 44 over 50, 52, 60, 66, 80 and a huge 88 feet flybridge super-catamaran. The model shown at La Grande Motte was a used boat, so not brand new anymore, but there were no visible signs of wear. Also, the HH 44 is offered in two principal versions: A cruising catamaran and a high-performance cruiser with daggerboards as displayed at La Grande Motte. Setting my foot into the salon, I quickly realized that this is truly a hidden gem.

A starship for sure!

To stay a bit with the starship-theme, it doesn´t feel like being on a boat. Her design – lightweight sandwich and painted carbon structures – is kept in shiny gloss-white and hard black contrasts. Only a few other colors, like the LED-lighting or slightly crème-colored leather cushion derive from the black/white design. I like it, it really feels like being on a starship.

The salon offers a classy layout with a nice wide L-settee around a reasonably sized dinner table. The windows to the front, the sides and abaft are huge and offer a true 360-degree roundsight. Having a lightweight build utilizing the latest material for stiffness, there are literally no bigger solid walls, it really feels like as if the roof is hovering above the deck.

To make a connection from the “inside” to the “outside”, which is the large aft cockpit under a rigid roof, the large galley window can be folded up and secured under the roof, the sliding door is also removed. In this, a ship´s cook facing backwards will have most fun when providing a meal. Dishes and food can quickly be shuffled out or hauled back in after a meal. Right onto the worktop where a large single sink is located. That this catamaran is a different level indeed can be seen at some really nice details.

For example, the integrated steps to go onto the roof are – at the inside – nicely stitched and wrapped in padded leather. Wow! I absolutely loved how nicely the sunshades work which are made of up to three moving fans going seamlessly up and down. Everything is made of a nice, “heavy” quality – there are literally no cheap plastic clasps installed in the boat.

For a 44-footer, die salon made a great impression on me. The layout is classy and very practical. It holds also a fine balance between providing as much (free) space as possible and at the same time having a safe (less empty volume) room to roam about even in heavy seas violently moving the boat. Comparing the HH 44 salon to “our” Excess 14 , which has roughly the same measurements, this one has less room and feels more “filled”, but on the other hand, comes with a very cruising- and owners-sailed optimized layout.

Design meets practical solutions

Looking at some key features, the distinction between an owner-optimized and vacation-optimized boat becomes apparent. For example the nav-station. This is an indisputable feature in a cruising catamaran, but of course, for boats predominantly used as vocational ships which as well must work fine in charter business , a dedicated nav-station will be as small as possible. This is different from a catamaran or boat (same goes for monohulls) which are intended and thought-through for sailor and owners-couple usage.

If you liked the huge role model nav station on the Outremer 52 , you will simply love the one on the HH 44! The desk is big enough so that two persons can take a seat on the lightweight, very practical poufs . I personally like the pivoting stool on the Outremer 52 more, but I´m sure the yard could fit something like this here as well. Also, all electronic displays and controls of the boat to be found outside are mounted as daughter displays in here. A fully operational control-bridge – best for a heavy weather watch!

Another deciding detail – this time much, much better solved than on the (much bigger) Outremer 52 and many other catamarans I´ve seen is the galley. It´s a U-shape, which not just provides so much extra stowage, but also a safe standing position to prepare food or doing the dishes. A ship´s cook can wedge in here and there´s no danger of falling through an all-open salon.

The boat is loaded with such amenities and practical solutions. The point is that you will never have the feeling that something has be done afterwards or as some sort of concession to some weird client´s requests, but it feels like the boat has been constructed around these things. Best seen where the large washing/drying machine is installed. They haven´t taken out a cabinet and just somehow fitted a washing machine, the whole area was planned to fit it. And to look nice, on top.

A Cathedral of light: Cabins aboard the HH 44

Let´s stay down below for a while because this is there the HH Catamaran really gets exciting. First of all, the black/white design in combination with huge and manifold windows and deck opening hatches makes for a wonderfully light suffused interior. There are windows literally everywhere you look – and a friendly light atmosphere. Many other boats are like “traps”, rather boosting seasickness than curing it.

This light-concept is best understood when checking the aft sections of the hulls: Huge rectangular bed which utilized all of the area between the hulls´ walls instead of island beds (which in my opinion are nice to look at in a catalogue but are a waste of space and unsafe in heavy seas). But the best are the windows … just look at this:

Owners and VIP-guests sleeping aft will enjoy a sunroom-like openness. I cannot remember having seen a boat´s cabin that offers such a huge amount of transparent area, being here whilst underway on the blue Ocean must be a tremendous experience. The only downside – as with so many boats – is that the hull windows are so high that you cannot look out whilst laying in bed. I guess that´s a safety issue, but it would have had an extra boosting comfort effect for sure.

Have no fear for your privacy, all windows on the HH 44 are tempered so that nobody can peep inside. This is especially important for the aft cabin´s windows which are directly en par with the cockpit: Essentially, any helmsman would have a front row seat and look through a +70 inch TFT-screen onto the owner´s berth. Normally, you don´t want this. The beds aren´t just big, spacy and cozy. Underneath, parts of the really advanced propulsion system are installed.

Hybrid propulsion and autonomous energy generation

Sustainability in boat building is a huge thing currently and I support this. Big companies are investing a lot in research and development, smaller startups try out their ideas and approaches. Of course, full electric or hydrogen-based propulsion is a thing of the future, but the first brands have launched their hybrid boats already. The HH 44 is such a yacht and the shipyard calls their concept the “Eco Drive”.

It´s basically the proven, rigid and reliable Diesel engine with a linear electric motore directly attached. This electric drive with two 10 kW also works as an alternator so that, when under Diesel engines, the large batteries are constantly reloaded. The Diesel engines (Vetus) are fitted directly underneath the aft beds. This is a rather uncommon approach and I have a lot of questions regarding heat, possible (dangerous) fumes, noise and vibrations and last not least questions like maintenance (inside the cabin) to possible exchange of an engine, but apparently HH found a solution to this.

The interesting aspect of the HH Catamarans “Eco Drive” concept is the interaction of the ensemble. Diesel-mode is clear, all electric mode is also clear. Furthermore, the alternators – when sailing and the props aren´t locked – recuperation mode is possible. Meaning by having the props rotate when sailing, they function like a hydro-generator. Also, there is a very clever “mix”-mode, as I call it. When you need Diesel-Power but also sleep, only one of the Diesels can be operated whilst the other is in recuperation mode.

Entering via a big removable door or wall piece from the forward guest cabin, there is full access to the battery and charger-room. The HH 44 is equipped with a set of 48 Volts lithium batteries with a combined power of over 43 kW hours, which is very impressive. This capacity is more than enough to ensure a cruising range (at 7 knots) of over 600 nautical miles or the utilization of all possible amenities for onboard comforts, like fridges, freezers, washing machines and even an AC.

Apart from than, the whole rooftop of the catamaran is completely covered with solar panels . The maximum power generation of these is 4.200 Watt-peak, which is also a lot when sailing or anchoring in sun-rich areas. The HH 44, like his bigger sisters, is a proven concept and a safe offshore-capable system. I found especially impressive how openly and honest the shipyard declares that they consider all-electric propulsion for not ready now. For the sake of seamanship and safety at sea, this is a brave and trust-building standpoint, better than offering something that is not ready now.

Luxury amenities and full-cruising capabilities

So, with such a rich abundancy of electric power and a long lasting range of almost complete autonomy, this catamaran is set to re-define the combination of luxury cruising with performance sailing. Luxury, that´s often a matter of being able to use the same household appliances which make our daily life at shore so convenient.

The HH 44 offers all of them, and even more. For example, in the very roomy and tasteful designed owner´s bathroom I was happy to discover an electric towel dryer. Such a small appliance that can make life so much easier. A washing machine, dishwasher in the galley up and many more little “helpers” not only add to the impressive price tag here, but also and foremost add to the label “luxury sailing” which is truly earned.

HH Catamarans utilizes latest production techniques. This can be seen by looking at the bare numbers: The HH 44 has a displacement of 10.2 tons (empty) and 14.5 tons with maximum load. Compared to the Nautitech 44 for example, that’s 1 ton lighter. Even more, almost 3 tons lighter than the 12.8 tons of the Excess 14 . How is this achieved? Carbon, lightweight sandwich layups and even prepreg-applications are used to build the boat.

Here and there the shipyard offers a glimpse onto these facts by having bare glossy painted Carbon there to admire, for example in the bathrooms. People who know will easily recognize the thumb-metallic sound when knocking on the materials, which is a totally different sound from ordinary GRP layups.

Both boats are made for four persons who will love their aft cabins, but there´s also another guest cabin in the front with a single bed. At least here a small window nearly at the height of the head of the occupant is offered. I guess this is the cabin that will remain unoccupied anyway or utilized otherwise as additional stowage. Let´s check the performance data, now that we´ve seen her interiors.

Performance through High-Tech

In the 44/45 footer class there isn´t much to compare the HH 44 to. So let´s stick to the Nautitech Open 44, the Excess 14 and the Outremer 45 . The upwind sails area of the HH 44 is said to be 116 square meters, whereas Nautitech, Excess and Outremer clock in with 105, 135 and and 106 square meters. Being the lightest of them four boats sporting the second biggest area of canvas up in the wind, it should be clear which one performs best.

The Excess 14 is an excellent, easy to sail cruising catamaran which exceeds the projected sailing performance by the shipyard by far. But it is not a performance cat – as well as the Nautitech, both have no daggerboards which gives both the Outremer and the HH Catamaran a much better directional stability and upwind performance with significantly lessened leeway. I haven´t sailed the HH 44 (yet) but I´d say a match race between her and the Outremer 45 would be a great feat.

The HH 44 has rounded (C-shape) daggerboards made of carbon fibers, hence provide a huge safety margin, high stability with flexing capability and are easy to operate due to their light weight. Besides these features, walking the deck and inspecting the running rigging, I notice so many great details, like the Carbon shrouds with soft shackles or the tall 90 cm stanchions which provide maximum safety.

The HH 44 is a classy sports catamaran with two full-sized helm stations in the cockpit. The starboard side features the primary plotter and all control panels for anchor windlass, all electric winches (which can also be operated by foot) and some secondary displays for wind and log-data. Like on the Outremer 52, the steering wheels are mounted on a pivoting stand.

So in active “fun” sailing mode, the wheels are put to the outer face of the hulls, granting perfect view over the leeward hull. In cruising mode or during bad weather phases, the wheel is put to middle position (as shown in the pictures) to grant a dry stand for the helmsman underneath the hardtop and they can even pivot further into the inside of the cockpit, maybe useful in long motoring sessions.

The handling of all lines and winches is ergonomically perfect, all is well protected. I must say that for my taste a bit more “exposure” to the elements wouldn´t had been bad as I deemed the forward vision through the cabin windows an bit obstructed. Excess and Outremer have much more exposed helm stations in this matter. On the other side, aboard the HH 44 safety is apparently of utmost importance and a such this explains the decision for the positioning the helmstations this way.

A perfect ship?

Praise for the HH 44 is unison high. These boats win awards like Tiger Woods in his golden days. This year the catamaran was nominated for the prestigious “Multihull of the Year”-award. And as rumors go, they haven´t won because of the – surely justified, but ridiculously – high price of well over 1.5 million Euros. I can clearly see why the yachting magazines and blogs are full of admiration for this boat: Her finishing and building quality is close to flawless.

So I leave the boat after my intense time aboard. I leave her over one of the foldable bathing platforms, which also brings me back to the beginning of this article. Comparing the HH 44 to the ENTERPRISE D, with a “best view” and some more awkward angles. The closed stern with a foldable bathing platform is the reason for the strange looks of the HH 44. Now that I understood that safety is the main thing on this boat – I can see the advantage of having such a closed stern.

This is a view I could grow into and make my peace with. Yes, the high-active fully exposed Outremer 45 helm station is super exciting and makes for the most adventurous shots, but at the same time, standing a watch up there in really bad weather is clearly much more dangerous than on the HH 44. In the end, this catamaran shows how high class boatbuilding goes if tooling, machinery, material choice, intense high-class labour and of course a later price to be paid is all but secondary. The full order books of HH Catamarans speak for themselves, as well as the opening of a second high-tech production facility in Cebu. Impressive!

You might as well be interested in these related articles:

Carbon overflow: Gunboat!

At the Outremer shipyard

Sea Trial of the Excess 14 catamaran