Beetle Cat - Beetle 14

Beetle 14

Beetle, Inc. introduced a Bill Sauerbrey designed "Beetle 14" in 2007, responding to inquiries for a Beetle Cat with seats. The Beetle 14-foot (4.3 m) catboat is cedar-planked over white oak frames, with a canvas deck and oak coamings similar in style to the Beetle Cat. Two feet longer in length, the cockpit seats four adults. The interior on the first boat had a "natural" cockpit at the request of the owner, with painted or varnished seats. The developer made the custom stem head fitting, mast band and gooseneck patterns for the casting of the custom bronze hardware. The spars were built of solid Douglas fir and finished off with bronze hardware and blocks.

The Beetle 14 boat carries 180 sq ft (17 m2). of sail, proportionate to the Beetle Cat's rig; however, two sets of reef points are standard, whereas the Beetle Cat has only one. A topping lift is standard, as well as more purchase on the peak halyard and mainsheet. These changes, on top of a more depth of hull with less fullness forward, were intended to make the vessel easy to handle and fast. Two have been built to date.