MIAMI—World Cat introduced its latest model, the 280 DC-X, a dual-console model at the Progressive Miami International Boat Show on Thursday. The company’s national distribution manager Wyatt Lane made the presentation to the press that was gathered at the company’s booth in the indoor displays.
While the boat impressed with its features, equally interesting was a fact that Lane brought up when he said that 13 percent of the buyers for this boat are first-time boat buyers. “Knowing that we’re getting new people on the water is good for the industry,” he said.
The hull has been designed with a lower profile to match the sheer line. The dual-console design has full-height windshields with a walk-thru center to the bow that has seating for six people. That’s one of the advantages of the catamaran design, the beam is carried farther forward to offer more space up front. Also noteworthy on the boat were a SureShade retractable sun shade over the aft cockpit and a shade that can be raised over the bow to provide relief from the sun’s rays.
Other amenities in the cockpit include a back-to-back seat to port that has a foot pedal for easy position changes. The walk-through from the stern boarding ladder between the motors to the cockpit is offset to port so World Cat can still provide a more spacious aft bench. The cockpit has Corian countertops and a freshwater sink the in galley and in the port console is a step-down head. At the helm, World Cat worked with Garmin on a more finished glass dash design with the GPSMap 7612 chart plotter.
World Cat builds the boat with infusion for a better-glass-to-resin ratio. With twin Yamaha 200-hp outboards, the boat runs an estimated 49 mph and cruises at 30 mph while getting two miles out of a gallon of fuel.
