The Fast Ferry Catalina Adventure was built by Geo Shipyard, Inc., New Iberia, LA. And designed by Viking Fast Craft Solutions, LLC. for Pacific Adventure Cruises, Marina del Rey, California. This 81‘ X 24‘ (24.7M X 7.3M) Catamaran vessel has carried passengers from Marina del Rey, California to Catalina Island and operated in Hawaii. She is a US Coast Guard Sub Chapter T inspected vessel certified for 149 passengers. The seating on this vessel is abundant, in the main deck cabin aft section there are 44 comfortable reclining seats built by Arduous, Inc., Tonasket, WA. In the forward section, 53 cushioned bench type settee seats built by Sterlings Upholstery, Inc. New Iberia, LA. with tables between. There is a padded bench on the stern for 9 people. On the front deck there is padded stadium seating for 21 people, great for the Whale Watch season. On the upper deck aft of the supper structure there are 57 padded bench seats.
There is a VIP lounge just aft of the pilothouse on the second deck for 15 passengers with a small bar and a private rest room. In the main cabin forward there is a large bar for the quest refreshments, two rest rooms, one ADA, three plasma screen monitors and a superb Stereo/PA system. The walls are covered with fabric and flooring with carpeting.
The Catalina Adventure’s hull form is a hydrofoil-supported catamaran utilizing the HYSUCAT technology. The hydrofoil-supported catamaran (HYSUCAT) is a hybrid of a planing catamaran and hydrofoil system, the catamaran offering high initial stability and large deck areas. The hydrofoils provide reduced resistance resulting in lower propulsion power requirements and dampened motions. There is a main foil forward and a trim able foil aft. The hydrofoils also lift the hull higher when planning which greatly reduces the height and energy content of the wake.
The noise levels on the ferry are very comfortable over the full range of cruising speeds and top speed. Viking FCS with its associates performed an advanced noise and vibration analysis using a computer model of the hull and propulsion system. This analysis also utilized data measured on past foil supported catamaran vessels. This analysis defined the most effective noise treatment options to keep noise levels within comfortable levels. The noise level predictions were not exceeded during trials.
