Dale Murray's Moda C-8000 catamaran has stolen his heart. After two years of ownership, his enthusiasm remains unwavering. The boat's curvaceous design and aesthetic appeal are undeniable. Its sleek lines and flowing shape make it a standout, even among other catamarans. The interior is equally captivating, drawing you in like a siren's call.

The C-8000's 2.5m beam makes it trailerable, but Dale keeps it moored on an inflatable berth at his waterfront property on the Caloundra canal system. As an avid fisherman, he appreciates the boat's rigid plate aluminium hull, which easily handles the challenges of the Caloundra bar. The shallow waters and treacherous sandbars pose little problem for the Moda, whether navigating out to sea or returning home. Its performance inspires confidence, making it an ideal vessel for Dale's fishing adventures.

Hull Design & On-Water Performance

The Moda C-8000's twin hull design provides a smooth and predictable ride. It effortlessly glides onto its air cushion with the power of twin Mercury Verado 150hp engines. This setup delivers a respectable 64km/h at 5700 rpm, offering both immediate power and torque for navigating challenging bar crossings.

The boat's stable footing and air-cushioned tunnel create an exceptionally soft ride, encouraging you to explore further and faster. Unlike many competitors, the Moda C-8000 maintains a confident, slightly nose-high attitude, eliminating the forward body slam often experienced in other vessels.

The hull design, crafted by renowned marine architect Scott Robson, sets a premium standard among ocean-capable catamarans. The strong hull features a 6mm bottom and unique sponsons with wide chines, allowing it to plane quickly with minimal bow rise. The C-8000's tracking ability is notable, turning easily without the outward lean that can be unsettling in other twin-hull designs.

The Moda C-8000's twin hull design delivers a remarkably smooth ride. It effortlessly glides onto its air cushion with the power of twin Mercury Verado 150hp engines. This setup achieves a respectable 64km/h at 5700 rpm, providing instant power and torque for navigating challenging waters.

The boat's stable footing and air-cushioned tunnel work in tandem to create an exceptionally soft ride, encouraging you to explore further and push the speed limits. Its confident, slightly nose-high attitude allows it to plane easily across waves without the forward body slam often experienced in other vessels.

Crafted by renowned marine architect Scott Robson, the hull design sets a premium standard for ocean-capable catamarans. The robust 6mm bottom and unique sponsons with wide chines enable the boat to plane quickly with minimal bow rise. The C-8000's tracking ability is notable, turning smoothly without the outward lean that can be unsettling in other twin-hull designs.

Private Escape Machine

The Moda C-8000 offers Dale a range of benefits beyond its performance. As a busy professional, he values his quiet time. He often uses the boat to escape to serene surroundings, such as white sandy beaches or overnight moorings in the tidal estuary.

The boat's accommodation is designed for comfort, featuring a spacious, lockable forward cabin with a large double berth. Although headroom is limited due to the tunnel's curvature, the layout is practical and cozy for an 8-meter catamaran. The cabin's full-beam design enhances its volume, and a compact head with a hot and cold shower is located in the port-side sponson. The head and shower has a very simple clip-in plastic screen to keep the area dry. There's also a floor drain for the run-off. The cabin also features plenty of storage facility beneath the berth plus LED lights and there's a lift-up hatch and twin fans to circulate the air. A soft privacy screen serves as a doorway, and Moda offers various optional cabin layouts.

Deck Space Galore!

The catamaran design provides vast deck space and exceptional stability, which is particularly important for Dale's son, who uses a wheelchair. Moda has designed a wide, hinged side door and ramp for easy access, and is exploring a davit-style system for added convenience.

The extended hard top and SureShade wind-out extension awning provide sun protection, covering the expansive cockpit. This awning is a standout feature, offering effective shade and weather protection.

Dale chose faux teak  SeaDek for all of the decking, combings and internal floor sections. This surface is visually appealing and practical, providing a soft and comfortable feel underfoot in all weather conditions. The SeaDek is easy to clean and maintain, while also reducing glare and reflection.

The Helm

This Moda C-8000 features an open cockpit through to the helm and dash which is ideal as a day boat and occasional overnighting. The helm offers panoramic vision through a stylish, curved windscreen, creating a refined aesthetic. The dash is simple yet effective, with a large horizontal section for storing essential items like phones, lures, and tackle.

The helm is designed for comfort, whether seated or standing, with an array of gauges, electronics, and instruments within easy reach. The array of electronics featured a Simrad NSS-16 MFD with radar, and I found the 600 watt transducer was entirely suitable in the limited depths we encountered. The unique sponson design reduces cavitation issues, making it ideal for transducer mounting.

Moda combined a very impressive assembly of features in the helm including Lewmar capstan winch switchgear, a Mercury 7" VesselView digital display, autopilot controls, gauges and twin binnacle "fly-by-wire" engine controls. Moda only recommends "fly-by-wire" recognising their superior control features and reduced long term maintenance.

Creature Comforts

The beige leatherette upholstery provides exceptional comfort, complementing the helmsman-style seats and side lounge with a large Waeco fridge/freezer on sliding tracks. Premium craftsmanship is evident throughout, particularly in the aluminium construction, welding, finish, and rolled corners.

The functional kitchenette features a Dometic 3-burner gas stove, a pressurised sink with hot and cold water, and ample storage. The layout is versatile, accommodating activities like offshore fishing, diving, or cruising with friends. The stability ensures a smooth ride, even in rough waters.

Additional features include padded combings, a removable rear doorway, drop-down boarding ladder, cutting board, live bait tank, rod holders, and a rocket launcher, plus there's 100 litres of water to keep the crew refreshed. Moda fully foam fills to commercial survey standards, and the build only differs to fully surveyed boats by the inspection process and accessories.

The Wrap!

When asked about his favorite and least favorite aspects of the Moda C-8000, Dale mentioned that the lack of on-water fuel at Caloundra requires him to transport jerry cans frequently, however twin 200 litre underfloor fuel tanks provide plenty of fuel capacity for most trailerable day boats. He loves the boat's size and layout, which perfectly suits his family, friends, and fishing adventures.

Dale's highest praise goes to the Moda team, with whom he developed a close relationship during the building process. He appreciates their professionalism, attention to detail, and excellent after-sales service, even two years after purchasing the boat. This speaks volumes about the quality and reliability of the Moda C-8000.

Say no more – this is a refined, premium quality cat that ticks all boxes!

Specifications

Model: Moda C-8000 

Designer: Scott Robson         

Type: Catamaran Hardtop

Construction: 6mm alloy

LOA: 8.00m

Beam: 2.50m

Power: 2 x Mercury Verado 150

Propeller: 17” Enertia

Fuel capacity: 400 litres

Water Capacity: 100 litres

Trailer: Optional

FUEL & PERFORMANCE DATA

RPM

Knots

L/h

L/NM

Range  (NM)

3500

16.0

36.6

2.300

150

4000

20.0

47

2.400

150

4500

25.5

56.6

2.300

150

5000

29.0

81.6

2.900

120

5500

32.5

110

3.400

100

5700

36.0

110

3.100

110

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