The Dandee 8M Catamaran
The Dandee 8M Catamaran is only 8 meters (26’-4”) long but 6 meters (20’-0”) wide! It incorporates many of the best features of much larger multihulls—flat sailing, high performance, shallow draft, huge deck spaces and is virtually unsinkable, but what sets the Dandee 8M apart from other multihulls is the unique ability to be demountable and transportable allowing for trailering or container-shipping worldwide! Stunning good looks, high-tech materials and very competitive pricing make this a wonderful opportunity for those wishing to venture into the world of micro-multihull sailing.
Designed in cooperation with well respected and world renowned multihull designer John Shuttleworth, this design has a futuristic, aerodynamic shape with low windage. The hulls are voluminous with heavily flared sides, creating spacious and airy cabins while keeping surfaces below the waterline to a minimum. The wide beam allows for a strong powerful rig and makes for an enormous cockpit and foredeck trampoline area for this length of boat. Designed with collision bulkheads in the bows, several integral watertight compartments and stable decks it provides a safe and reassuring platform on the water. Available with mini keels for cruising simplicity or drop centerboard and kick-up rudders for shoal draft sailing and superior performance.
ABOVE DECK & COCKPIT LAYOUT FEATURES
The aft bridge deck has wraparound seating for up to ten surrounding a large removable dining table. It has five spacious seatback storage lockers and includes an insulated drink cooler and gas/petrol locker under the aft seats.
Moulded-in boarding steps and swim ladders on the transoms allows for easy entry from the dock or from the water.
The foredeck trampoline is high grade UV resistant woven vinyl with strongly reinforced edges laced to light and sturdy aluminum rods.
An optional hard Dodger or canvas canopy gives great protection from sun and spray.
A generous foredeck anchor locker is provided in each hull; they are deep, self draining and allow for safe and easy anchor deployment. The bridgedeck beam has two hatches giving access to a huge locker for sail and fender storage. The decks have many areas of moulded-in non-skid surfaces providing for a safe and secure footing when moving around the decks.
Moving below deck via the companionway steps into the port hull you’ll find a full length ’cozy’ double berth aft complete with a privacy curtain. Under the bottom step is the battery compartment.
The galley area amidships allows for standing headroom and incorporates a comfortable bench facing a generous galley counter with ample shelving over and storage under. The standard model 
includes a stainless steel sink with hand pumped water and an insulated icebox. Space can be provided for a cook stove with oven and even a small refrigerator.
Forward of the galley is a separate cabin with a small bench opposite a hanging closet and three storage shelves. 
The forward berths are suitable for an adult (or two children) and have a large opening screened hatch overhead. Under the berth is still more storage and a sealed watertight compartment forward.
The starboard hull features similar aft cabin berth arrangements as the port side both forward and aft but amidships is a navigation/computer area with bench seating opposite.
Forward of the navigation area is the toilet with privacy curtains, vanity sink and holding tanks.
The Dandee 8m catamaran is designed to be shipped ‘demounted’ in a shipping container from the factory, making it easy and economical to deliver anywhere around the world.
The assembly of components is straightforward and detailed instructions are provided. If necessary we can include an allowance for an assembly advisor at the launch site. Initial assembly and setup takes approximately one full day.
The Dandee 8M catamaran can be transported by road when demounted. However with a demounted trailering width of 3.3m it may require a ‘wide load’ permit in some areas.
Rodann Yachts provides a trailer plan for those interested in launch and retrieval or transporting by road. Check with local bylaws for transportation codes if transporting by road.
The hulls and decks are moulded with ‘Core-Cell’ foamcore sandwiched between layers of fibreglass cloth and/or mat and Vinylester resins. High stress areas are additionally strengthened with layers of carbon fiber. Where necessary (in way of deck fittings, bolting flanges and bridgedeck beam to hull connections) the foamcore is replaced with solid glass or encapsulatedmarine plywood. The Dandee 8M is built to meet the ‘American Recreational Boating Safety Regulations’ and European ‘CE’ standards.
Rig
A simple but strong three stay fractional design rig is used for the standard Dandee 8M. The mast, boom and aft cross tubes are Carbon Fibre for high strength and low weight. The mainsail is computer cut Pentex’ ‘with a square cut top with three reefs, a large roach, full length battens and flakes into lazy jacks for easy sail handling. The mast base incorporates a socket that sits on a matching stainless steel deckfitting ball allowing for passive rotation. Halyards exit the mast around the ball and turn via base mounted blocks through deck organizers aft to jam cleats and self tailing winches. The Pentex jib is self tacking. Boom mainsail cover and jib bag are included. All deck fittings are stainless steel.
Expect to see speeds up to ten knots on a reach and lightly loaded. Downwind with an asymmetrical spinnaker and the drop centerboard version should allow you to achieve speeds in the low teens or even more.