Packcat Express Development

      Over 10 years have passed since Bill Munson designed the Packcat LC. It was time to take the high speed landing craft concept to the next level of performance and comfort. Up to this time, many Munson landing craft were being produced as high performance hot rods, and there was a demand for a more a radical landing craft design that offered more capability. It was also time for Bill to build himself a new boat for Puget Sound.

Bill is a dedicated sportsman and his new boat needed to be the ultimate sportfishing and cruising machine. The new boat must a fast, beamy, stable landing craft that is fuel efficient with lots of range and storage. It must also have lots of room to fish, crab and shrimp, as well as be a very comfortable for year round use in the Pacific Northwest. Live aboard accommodations, flushing head, hot water shower, galley and a queen berth also needed to be included. A small cruising/trolling motor was required to troll for salmon. Bill did not wish to utilize either the Packman or Packcat existing designs but wished to develop a "next generation landing craft" that encompassed all the hull design tricks learned over 45 years of boat building. In 2005 Bill started the development of the Packcat Express hull. Three years and hundreds of hours of design time later, Bill placed an order for his new boat. The boat was completed and delivered in the spring of 2009. It is a significant step forward in the evolution of hull design worldwide. The hull has Patent Pending status.

Vessel Capabilities

The Packcat Express hull incorporates symmetrical 24 degree deadrise hulls at the transom providing a very comfortable ride at high speeds in adverse conditions. The narrow asymmetrical pickle fork sponsons at the bow providing an extremely sharp entry that slices through chop, rather than riding over the top. Tracking skegs were added to the bottom to increase slow speed handling and high speed turning. An extra large wave breaker on the tunnel at the bow was added to minimize wave slap at high speeds in rough seas. The Packcat Express is suitable for high speed offshore applications as well as near shore, shallow draft operations. Its many refinements make it the most capable landing craft ever produced. It is available in sizes from 28 to 65 feet in length.

Propulsion Options

The Packcat Express requires two main engines. Twin outboards or sterndrives are easily accommodated. Larger models may also be powered by dual waterjet propulsion. The Packcat Express cannot be powered by a single engine due to the amount of air captured in the tunnel area.

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