Tokyo Express
Tokyo Express Overview
Watch the overview of Tokyo Express, my 40ft catamaran that I built from scratch over 2 years and 9 months.
🎥 Featured Video
Get an overview of the complete Tokyo Express project - from concept to launch.
Build Time: 2 years, 9 months
Length: 12m (40ft)
Design: Modified Grainger
Launch: August 15, 1997
Tokyo Express (TE) - 12m Catamaran
is a 40ft (12m) sailing catamaran I built, starting in late 1994 and launched on the 15th August 1997.
She is a Grainger design which I made some changes to creating, among other things, a new bridge deck cabin I could stand up in. With a standing headroom of 2 metres and wrap-around windows giving all-around visibility, she has an airy feel inside.
Tokyo Express (TE), has one large daggerboard of my design, replacing the original boards. The hull construction is strip-plank western red cedar.
A cedar core with fibreglass inside and out, laminated with epoxy resin. The interior floors and bulkheads are all marine plywood. The external finish is 2 pack Polyurethane paint with acrylic windows bonded to the hull.
The rig is fractional, with a fully battened mainsail. Engines are two (2) 9.9hp 4-stroke Yamaha outboards. One of which doubles as a 120 amp alternator.
Speed under motor is 9 knots with 2 motors (7 knots with 1 motor). Speed under sail was excellent as this boat was light. She is an easily driven boat and after fitting the single, very large daggerboard, goes up-wind like no other cat.
The beginning
I built the original shed many years before. My plan back then was to build a 21 foot keel yacht. My first step to prepare for building a cat was to lengthen the shed...
Launching
This was the day I'd been dreaming of—for a long time. I learnt what it meant to be patient! But it was more than worth the wait.
The build
I built the cat in the bush in South East Queensland. Living in a caravan next to my shed, I spent nearly everyday building.
Cruising
After 2 weeks anchored in the Noosa River, commissioning charts, testing the sails...
Life aboard TE
TE was home for nearly 5 years. I sailed her many times up and down the east coast of Australia, from Sydney to Lizard Island at the northern tip of the Great barrier reef, then later into the Pacific as far east as New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Following the sun and the seasons, living at anchor. Noosa Heads was my home port in those early days. I used to cross the bar and anchor up the river, opposite the sailing club, whenever I was passing through.
Like a migratory bird, moving with the seasons. There is something magical about being free to move as you wish, and take your home with you.
The book has the complete story
The building of Tokyo Express was a nearly 3 year journey with many twists and turns before I finally got started.
On the website here are photos and a brief description, but in the book you'll learn the full story of those 3 busy years in the shed.
Join in on the adventure! There is a lot of practical information too about how I built this boat and a look into life in the bush in Australia, on the Sunshine Coast - Queensland.
Quick Facts
- Length: 40ft (12m)
- Design: Grainger catamaran
- Construction: Strip-plank western red cedar
- Build Time: 2 years 9 months
- Launch Date: August 15, 1997
- Engines: 2x 9.9hp Yamaha outboards
- Speed: 9 knots under power