MiniCat Guppy

MiniCat is based in the Czech Republic and manufactures a range of inflatable catamarans from 9’8’’ to 15’ (3 to 4.6 m). The idea is to offer easy-to-use boats that are easy to transport, quick to assemble and fun to use. As a result, all models can be disassembled and transported in a wheeled bag that fits in the trunk of a car or on the roof rack, that can find a place in an RV and even be transported by airplane... For our purposes, MiniCats will also find a place aboard our liveaboard multihulls.
MiniCat has been in existence for 17 years and has already sold hundreds of boats all over the world. The concept has also won over famous sailors such as Laura Dekker, who at the age of 16 became the youngest person to sail solo around the world. Having had the opportunity to sail on a MiniCat, Laura fell in love with the concept and, since 2010, has even become an ambassador for the brand. Laura even participated in the creation of her own boat - the 420 Laura Dekker Ltd. Edition.

Simplicity of design

At just 9’10” (3 m) long, the Guppy is the smallest model in the range, making it a perfect introductory sailboat or a fun toy. Of course, it features all the advantages of the brand’s catamarans, starting with its light weight of just 60 lbs (27 kg) and the fact that it can be carried in a bag just 5’5” (1.65 m) long.
Based on the popular MiniCat 310, the Guppy is now in its second generation. This version incorporates a number of innovations, such as floats already attached to the frame. It also features a 13’6” (4.15 m) flexible composite mast that is simply attached to the frame, without stays. The mast itself is composed of three easy-to-assemble parts. This makes the catamaran much safer in strong winds, as the mast flexes and prevents the sailor from capsizing at the slightest gust. The little multihull also benefits from an aluminum frame to stiffen the whole, a solid trampoline permanently attached to the floats, a lifting rudder mounted on an articulated tiller arm and two small keels that slide under each float. These fins are made of UV-resistant polypropylene, and their design and shape allow the boat to sail close to the wind, while still allowing it to be used in shallow water.

A catamaran assembled in 15 minutes

Last but not least, handles all over the boat make it easy to hold on while sailing or to carry the catamaran. The floats themselves are made of reinforced Heytex 5509, a material produced in Germany that is highly resistant to abrasion and wear.
Their diameter is 15” (39 cm), enabling them to support a load of up to 518 lb (235 kg). In keeping with its reduced size, the Guppy’s rig is once again very simple, consisting of a single 48.4 sq ft (4.5 m²) square-topped mainsail. This sail is made of 175-210 gsm Dacron following the brand’s signature design Tfunky. It has no boom, but a fairly rigid bottom edge combined with a mainsheet and vang.
Once all the components are out of the bag, assembly takes just 15 minutes, and can be carried out without any special knowledge or tools apart from a pump to inflate the floats.

Once on the water, the fun really begins. Let’s be clear, this multihull is primarily designed for a child or an adult who is new to sailing. However, even at the age of 54, it’s hard for yours truly to resist the call of the Guppy! Without a headsail, the sailing performance potential is obviously a little more limited than that of the perennial jib/mainsail combination, but on the other hand, the Guppy can count on its featherweight to take advantage of the lightest airs. In fact, while its surface area in contact with the water is pretty large for its size, the MiniCat manages to take off at the slightest breeze. On the day of our test, the wind was unfortunately a little light, but it’s still amazing to see how the Guppy accelerates, especially on the beam-reach. Another positive point is the tiller extension, which makes maneuvering easier. As for tack changes, they’re disconcertingly easy. We also tried out the catamaran with two on board. Here again, the fun is (still) there, and the Guppy is still capable of real acceleration. With a steady wind, the exercise quickly becomes fun, and you can even make the float fly a little to windward without fear of capsizing - stability, for such small hulls, remains remarkable.

Conclusion

Easy to transport, quick to assemble, the Guppy proves to be a lot of fun at the helm, and not just for children. Priced at a few thousand euros, this catamaran is certainly one of the best introductory models available, thanks to its stability, ease of sailing and the sensations it provides. Without doubt, the best toy ever!

With its bright colors, large floats and mainsail, the MiniCat Guppy looks like a big toy.

Space is a little tight on board, and you sometimes have to twist a bit to get her into the wind, but that’s part of the game.

Once it catches a breeze, the Guppy takes off quickly and the fun begins.

The catamaran comes with a 90° flip-up rudder.

The flexible mast support is attached directly to the aluminum trampoline frame.

No boom, but the foot of the sail is reinforced, and the presence of a vang allows it to be fine-tuned.

The Guppy is easy to transport thanks to a wheeled bag that fits in the trunk of a car - and in a locker aboard a cruising multihull!

Assembly takes just 15 minutes and requires no special knowledge or tools.

The assembled Guppy weighs just 60 lbs (27 kg) and has plenty of handles for easy launching.