Cat Ketch 17

Description

The Cat Ketch 17 (CK17) is a compact, trailerable sailboat designed by Belgian naval architects Gert Mertens and Bruno Goossens of Mertens-Goossens Design for Bateau.com, a company specializing in CNC-cut plywood kit boats. Introduced around 2005–2006, it's intended as a fast, roomy expedition daysailer or micro-cruiser for solo or small-family adventures in protected waters like bays, lakes, or coastal areas such as the Florida Keys. The design emphasizes simplicity, stability, and versatility with a sharpie hull and unstayed cat-ketch rig (two free-standing masts without standing rigging), making it easy to build, rig, and sail even for beginners or solo operators. Built from stitch-and-glue plywood with epoxy sheathing, it's lightweight and unsinkable with foam flotation, suitable for beach launching or trailering (total rig weight ~800–1,000 lbs.). Production is via plans or kits from Bateau.com (~$1,500–$3,000 for kits; full build cost ~$5,000–$10,000), with dozens built worldwide by amateurs. It's out of formal production as a stock model but remains popular for homebuilders; used examples are rare but available for $4,000–$8,000.