Finally, We Got On Board—and We're Motoring!!!
Nomadicat is a beautiful boat, and we love her!
Here are our first impressions:
She's a beast.
She's luxurious.
She's incredibly well equipped for living aboard.
She moves through the water beautifully.
It's going to be wonderful living aboard and having you—our family and friends—come visit.
Here are some pictures from our time on the water:
That's the short version. You can stop reading here, or settle in for a longer catch-up on our adventures, discoveries, and the inevitable delays that come with building a rather unusual boat.
SHE'S A BEAST!
When I say she's a beast, I mean she's BIG.
The first time I stepped into the navigation station in the pilothouse, I was struck by the nearly 360-degree view. Looking out across the harbor, there was hardly another boat as big as ours, other than the commercial vessels.
With the addition of the hydraulic tender lift on the aft deck, Nomadicat is now about 50 feet long and over 18 feet wide. She weighs roughly 20 metric tons, with a listed displacement of 17.2 tons.
The good news? She's incredibly roomy, thanks to her catamaran layout. One of the biggest and most pleasant surprises was just how spacious the outdoor areas are, both fore and aft. There's plenty of room to relax, entertain, and simply enjoy being on the water.
Here's a picture of me standing near the aft deck with my bicycle, just to give you some perspective.
Her size, design, and distinctive aluminum construction also make her quite unusual. There really aren't many boats like Nomadicat. In fact, there's only one other Archipelago 47 out there, up in Norway.
People regularly stop and gawk as we motor by, and quite a few pull out their phones to take pictures.
Of course, size comes with some challenges. Nomadicat has a lot of freeboard—the height of the hull above the waterline—which gives the wind plenty of surface to push against. In strong winds, that can make close-quarters maneuvering interesting.
On the other hand, her high bows, substantial hulls, and overall design help her handle rougher water beautifully. More on that in a moment.
SHE'S LUXURIOUS!
The finishes and appointments Stephen and Thomas at Archipelago selected are probably nicer than anything I would have chosen for my rather frugal self.
The materials and workmanship are excellent. There's a beautiful folding oak table in the salon,
and a matching-in-spirit folding teak table will soon be installed on the aft deck.
During our time aboard, we were able to outfit the galley ourselves, take a nap down in the owner's hull, use the toilets (no hand pumping here—more like an aircraft toilet!), 
and enjoy the new cork decking on the aft deck. The cork is cooler underfoot and a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional teak.
We also had quite a few visitors during the week, including owners of other Archipelago boats—one a 40-foot all-electric model and another an 80-footer being built in Thailand—as well as prospective customers interested in the 47- and 52-foot models.
Everyone seemed genuinely impressed. Nomadicat turned out to be a pretty effective floating showroom for Archipelago!
SHE'S WELL EQUIPPED!
The propulsion, navigation, and integrated boat-control systems are impressive.
First, the engines. The twin 440-horsepower Yanmar diesels are beasts in their own right. During testing, we reached 22 knots at approximately 90% of maximum RPM. That's fast for a boat this size!
The Raymarine and Orca navigation electronics are top-notch.
Unfortunately, because the eMotion hybrid components hadn't yet arrived, we couldn't test all the functionality or see how everything would work together.
One particularly impressive feature is a sophisticated vessel-control system called ShipHeart. From a single screen, we can monitor and control much of the boat's equipment—lighting, pumps, electrical systems, and other onboard functions—while keeping track of fuel, fresh water, and waste-tank levels.
It's a far cry from the boats I remember!
And How Does She Handle?
This may have been the biggest pleasant surprise of all.
We had a chance to take Nomadicat into some rougher water, and she handled it beautifully. She turned and maneuvered as though she were running on rails.
That was a sharp contrast to my experience aboard another white fiberglass catamaran in the Adriatic, which seemed to pitch and roll at the slightest suggestion of wind or waves.
Nomadicat is different. She slices through the water rather than bobbing around on top of it. The ride feels solid, stable, and reassuring.
It's exactly the kind of boat we hoped we'd be living aboard as we explore Europe's coastlines.
CURRENT STATUS: THE WAITING GAME
Our original dream was to cross the English Channel this summer, perhaps head toward Paris via the Seine, and begin exploring the rivers and coastlines of France.
Unfortunately, that dream gradually became more of a pipe dream as delays in receiving the hybrid propulsion components continued to push back our schedule.
In fact, I learned today, October 5, that the final components have finally arrived at the Archipelago shipyard on the Isle of Wight. They still need to be installed and tested, but at least they're there!
The consequence of these delays is that, while we were able to test the diesel engines and many of the onboard systems, we couldn't complete the full sea trials or take final delivery.
That milestone will now likely happen in midwinter.
Once it does, Marilyn and I will be eager to get underway, explore the southern coast of England, cross the Channel to Brittany, and begin our journey south toward Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.
Not all touring was forsaken. While we knew there was going to be waiting involved, Marilyn and I explored a bit more of England (Cambridge, Oxford, E. London, and the Cotswolds) and took a trip to Budapest and Vienna complete with a Mozart concert in the Austrian countryside.
WHAT'S NEXT?
There are still several important steps before Nomadicat is truly ready to go.
First, the solar panels need to be installed, and the eMotion electric motors, batteries, and hybrid propulsion systems need to be fully connected and tested.
Once those systems are operational, we'll be able to complete the testing of the boat's electrical and navigation equipment, including radar, AIS (Automatic Identification System), and onboard internet connectivity.
We'll also begin the process of obtaining the necessary certification to offer Nomadicat for charter.
Marilyn and I anticipate spending roughly 100–120 days a year aboard, leaving a number of good-weather days when we could potentially charter the boat to help offset some of the operating expenses.
Sometime around December or January, when the next Archipelago A4001 is launched, the plan is to haul Nomadicat out of the water, apply her distinctive vinyl wrap, and complete the necessary inspections for charter certification.
Assuming everything goes according to plan—and we've learned to be careful with that phrase!—we should then be ready for the final handover.
We'll likely keep her somewhere in the Solent area, perhaps on the Isle of Wight or near Southampton, until spring, when we can begin our travels in earnest.
There's also an exciting longer-term goal. We're tentatively planning to join Archipelago's all-electric A4002 (the e40) at the Cannes boat show in late September. Together, Nomadicat and the e40 would make quite a statement: an expedition hybrid catamaran alongside an all-electric model, both designed for comfortable living aboard.
It should be a wonderful opportunity to introduce these unusual boats to the Mediterranean market.
AND ONE MORE PROJECT...
Over the winter, I'll also be working on a dedicated Nomadicat website.
The idea is to make it a place where family and friends can follow our travels, see where we are, and perhaps figure out when and where they might join us.
It will also provide information for people interested in chartering Nomadicat and showcase the unique features of Archipelago's expedition catamarans for potential buyers.
In other words, part travel journal, part invitation to come aboard, and part floating showroom.
For now, the important thing is that we've finally been aboard, we've taken her out on the water, and we know we love her.
The waiting hasn't been much fun, but those first days aboard reminded us why we started this adventure in the first place.
We're excited to get going in the Spring...it's going to be great - come join us!
