EXPLORER
- 4-Piece Aluminium Mast – silver powder coated
- Flexible mast mounting join
- Aluminum double frame – fore & aft of mast
- Front trampoline with fixings for ‘Pod’ or storage
- Dyneema rope shrouds
- Aluminum Rudder & Centre board
- Without Bowsprit
- Main Sail 7.7 m² – Polyester Dacron – can be reefed (single design)
- Jib 3.5 m² – Polyester Dacron (single design)
- ‘Endless’ Jib Furler
- Grey Hulls with multiple chambers
- Strengthened hull base
- Hull side ropes
- Black/grey Main Trampoline
- Telescopic tiller extension
Featuring multi-chamber floats, double frame, front trampoline with fixings for ‘Pod’ or storage, flexible mast-mounting joint and much more – this boat will be your best appendage for multi-days adventurous voyages in extreme conditions
ORIGINAL CONCEPT
Over the last (almost) 20 years of MiniCat we have noticed MiniCat sailors using their boats in various and interesting ways. One of the most fascinating was how some groups of sailors were getting together to take trips, often over a few days, sleeping on the beach and sailing by day. Some of these intrepid sailors were mounting small tents on their MiniCat to sleep in overnight but needed to disassemble the tent whilst sailing.
This made us start to think about creating a new boat to enable sailors to undertake more adventurous voyages with their MiniCat and to provide a boat that was much more robust than an M420 or M460. We wanted to create a boat that was capable of safely embarking on multi-day voyages, carrying equipment to enable longer expeditions. We then thought further about the type of environments that these sailors might push themselves to explore.
Serendipitously, whilst considering this new concept we were contacted by Dave King from Arctic Alive. Dave an extremely experienced and hardened Alaskan explorer (now located in Lapland and exploring the arctic north) was looking for a suitable small, portable but very robust and durable sailboat to use for an Arctic expedition he was planning in Greenland. He immediately bought into our Explorer concept.
Dave asked to be directly involved consulting on the design process of the first prototypes on the MiniCat Explorer, bringing his wealth of decades of experience in extreme environments to the table. Martin Horak (MiniCat Founder & Designer) set to work on the design with consultation from Dave and after numerous highly detailed conversations over many months the conceptual design was born.
The basis of the collaboration was for Dave and his team to have use of the first two MiniCat Explorer prototypes to use on their 2024 Greenland Arctic Expedition in East Greenland. For us at MiniCat this provided the opportunity for the ultimate test.
CURRENT STATUS
Following months of extensive, indeed epic testing with the two prototype boats inside the Arctic Circle (Norway & Greenland), the design is now finalised, and the certification completed, so we are now ready to commence production
We decided that instead of having different variants of the Explorer model (as with M420 & M460), with this model we will have the ‘base boat’ plus a variety of options available so the customer can configure their own boat dependent on their specific requirements. This is in the same way as if you were buying a new car. There are options that are necessary for a team of adventurers who want to make an extreme expedition in the Arctic. Likewise, we have different options for the family who intend to use their boat to explore islands in warmer climates and sleep on the beach for a few nights. Therefore, it will be possible to configure the boat according to your own use.
PRODUCTION TIMING
Production is now commencing, with the first customer deliveries due at start of March ’25.
We are now offering customers the opportunity to place a pre-order for their boat.
The conditions of the pre-order are that the customer will place a non-refundable deposit of €1,000 and by doing so they will be allocated their build slot for early delivery in March 2025. They must confirm the configuration of their boat by Feb 1st 2025 and they will be invoiced for the balance payment to be paid by Feb 10th 2025.
To place your pre-order please email us on info@minicatamaran.eu or download the order form below, fill in and send back to us on the same email.
| length | 5200 mm |
| width | 2200 mm |
| height of the mast | 6100 mm |
| weight | 80 kg |
| diameter of floats | 490 mm |
| main sail with reefing | 7.7 m2 |
| jib | 3.5 m2 |
| trampoline main | 1900×1450 mm |
| trampoline front |
2000×1450 mm |
| design category | ‘C’ |
| carrying capacity | 600 kg |
| number of persons | 4 |
| time of assembly / dismantling | 50 min. |
| dimensions of the bags | 3x 1750x300x300 mm |
| engine power | 4,4 kW/6 HP |
| engine weight | 30 kg |
| motor shaft | Long shaft – L |
| norm ISO | ISO EN 6185 Kat. VI |
FRAME & DECK
The MiniCat 520 Explorer frame, fore and aft of the mast, to which the floats attach, is produced from light-weight aluminium and the frame parts are powder coated matt silver. The trampoline is produced from high strength woven plastic fabric. The frame is attached to the floats by means of welded-on ‘flags’, which are inserted into the pockets on the floats. The forward frame is fixed and fully weight bearing to allow installation of the ‘Pod’ or the water-proof storage system.
FLOATS (HULLS)
The MiniCat 520 Explorer is equipped with two inflatable floats 5.2 m length and 49 cm diameter. The floats are made of reinforced Heytex 5509, highly resistant to abrasion and very hard wearing. This material and production technology was adopted from the production of ‘white-water’ rafts. The floats with a combined load capacity of 600kg.
The M520 Explorer has multi-chamber floats, the advantage being maximum safety, this is because when sailing in conditions where there may be the risk of puncture (ice, rocks etc.) if the hull is punctured it does not result in total collapse of the hull and therefore prevents capsize or sinking. This feature is unique amongst all small inflatable sailboats.
The standard (base) version of Explorer comes with ‘twin-chamber hulls’. There is the option to upgrade to ‘triple chamber hulls’. Each chamber has its own valve, these are located on the top of the float so that the float can be repressurized on the water.
MAST
The mast consists of four sections of equal length, slotted together. The length of the assembled mast is 6.10 m. The mast is from alloy tubing and has a groove for the sail attachment, it is attached to the frame by a flexible mounting joint for ease of assembly. This construction ensures high rigidity and strength for ultimate safety, performance and enjoyment. There is an option to upgrade the aluminum mast to the full carbon fiber version.
SAIL
The MiniCat 520 Explorer is equipped with a main sail and a jib. The total area of the sails is 11.2m2 (main sail 7.7m2 sqm, jib 3.5m2). The main sail is fully ‘reefable’ to allow for all winds. The jib is fitted with an ‘endless furler’. The material ‘Polyester Dakron’ is used for the main sail and the jib. Both the main sail and jib have transparent windows to ensure better visibility and security while sailing. The M520 Explorer can also be equipped with optional rolling Genna.
RUDDER & CENTRE BOARD
MiniCat 520 Explorer is fitted with one rudder in the craft centreline, attached to the frame. The automatic cleat will unlock the rudder rope in case the boat runs aground, thus protecting it from damage. The design of the rudder allows it to be raised at a 90⁰ angle, so at the shore or in very shallow water there is no danger of damage. The rudder can be locked in both positions, raised or lowered. The tiller arm is jointed allowing full 360⁰ movement. The M520 Explorer is also fitted with an aluminum retractable centre board for maximum control.
FITTINGS
Fittings from the companies Ronstan, Seasure, Clamcleat and Suchomel are used throughout the MiniCat. All spare parts and accessories are available. See our SPARE PARTS & ACCESSORIES CATALOGUE.
