Projects

Grahame Parker Brisbane CityCat - Gootcha

Australia
Length Overall26 m
Engines2 x Scania DI-12 (305kW @1800rpm)
Speed26 knots
Grahame Parker Yacht Designwww.grahameparkerdesign.com
Norman R. Wright and Sonswww.wrightsons.com.au

Design Concept

Designed by Grahame Parker Design, Sydney, the Brisbane City Council’s CityCats are lightweight, power-efficient, low wash vessels designed for rapid boarding and discharging of 162 passengers to meet the City of Brisbane’s growing transportation needs.

The Brisbane City Council, in conjunction with Grahame Parker, chose composites to reduce weight and maintenance, and also to allow for the inclusion of compound shapes to the vessels.

Construction

Built by Norman Wright and Sons, Bulimba, Queensland, second and third generation models of the CityCats have incorporated DuFLEX panels that were CNC kitted to reduce the build time for the manufacture of the bulkheads and centre support girders. A combination of cores – structural foam and end grain balsa – were used in the panels, each chosen for the mechanical properties required in the specific areas of the structure.

Super lightweight Featherlight panels, with ply inserts included to provide a pre-finished edge, were supplied as routed kits for the internal fit-out to maintain control over finished weight to increase overall performance while providing superior levels of stiffness, and thermal and acoustical insulating properties.

ATL’s FRP Bonding Angels were also used extensively for 900 bonding applications, in place of standard wet fibreglass lamination.
The 26m CityCats styling and construction are testament to designer Grahame Parker and the skilled team at Norman R. Wright and Sons, and if you are looking for ways to beat the traffic, or simply looking for ways to explore the Brisbane River, the Brisbane CityCats are the perfect way to do both.

CityCat Gootcha # 16 bears an indigenous name and features artwork by acclaimed local artist Judy Watson.