Baron sportsman would be my preference. Cheaper to run and a heck of a lot safer.
Seen the bottom of lots of cats and no mono hulls through years of sea rescue

seen bottoms of more monos than cats......
comes down to personal preference & experience, had both monos & cats, cats certainly are a different beast to master if your used to Mono's,
Got a 2300 Noosacat now after four or five monohlulls & a smaller cat, BTW simple rule of thumb with cats is the bigger they are the better they go ....
never say never , but would be hard pressed to consider a monohull in any configuration now
once your used to the way cats work you'll never look back. biggest cons for them is the initial cost, cos of the twin propulsion required & generally need 3500 kilo capacity tow vehicle, Landcruiser,Patrol etc

Thanks for the replies, loos like it is a personal preference. I think I'll stick to the sportsman, perhaps a repower would ber in order. Lots of threads about installing a pod and out board on here. Think I may just put a new inboard in though as I really like the ride in the sportsmans with the inboard. Those 4.3l VP look sweet.

 Good luck , keep us posted on what you get up to 

cheers 

Wow, looks like a very expensive undertaking to replace the AQ171 with a 4.3l Volvo penta. I need to replace the leg as well. Back to the pod conversion, I have noticed that guys on here have been successful with the pod installation with an out board and was wondering if they could be so kind to tell me who installed the pod and how much it cost.

 Can't give any idea on cost, but have seen some fab'd up & fitted by fella in Malaga, does a great job & any work I've had done by him has been more than reasonable with the cost

Just came home from Rotto in convoy with my mate Baron who was in his 18ft Baron sportsman.

20-23 knot southerly, horrible following sea conditions that really sorts out a good boat from a bad one.

While it was relatively safe in the Whaler it was still a bit hairy at times with nasty peaking following waves.....the Baron is substantially smaller than the Whaler and whilst Baron had a harder time than me, he got home safely with kids on baord, a testament to the quality of that hull.

My old man has owned a few cats over the years from 20ft Shark cat to 34 ft Kevlat that I have broached in seas better than today......I would have rather be in the Baron than a cat in those conditions.......

Why is it between a Baron Sportsman and a Sharkcat?
What sort of budget are we talking about. I.e. purchase boat and cash still available?
I have a Baron, and the ride is crap. She's stern heavy. I'm in the process of moving weight forward, which as I have discovered makes a big difference to the ride. It's a standard boat with the outboard out on a frame, called an " Baron Outrider". Same hull as that used for the inboard motor version.
Just be aware that there are two basic kinds of pods (brackets USA) 1/ with a step at the transom, designed so that the prop is out of the pressure wave when underway. The bottom of the pod is clear of the water when on the plane, and 2/ which is also called a "Hull extension", which the pod follows the contour of the hull, basicly, as it says extending the hull. This pod will also give you added buoyancy, which can will effect the trim of the boat. But also off setting the weight of the outboard being set father back from the C of G.
There is also another type of "bolt on bracket" available in the states, which allows the motor to be lifted or lowered vertically by hydraulics, this is an easy option and allows the prop to be adjusted to its best efficiency while under way.
If you goggle bracket images, you should see examples of all three on the net, if not I could put some images up.

are you talking generically "sharkcat" or specific brand/manufacturer, a lot of people call all multihulls Sharkcats ... not all cats are created equal, same as monohulls

All's quiet on the Western Front.

Considering taking a look at a Bruce Harris shark cat with twin 130hp 4 stroke hondas. Heads were replaced after the cracking issues they had suffered when first coming out on the market. I have been interested in cat but have never had the opportunity to take one out, thats why I am asking the questions. The sportsman has an older aq171 motor, although it runs fine parts are harder to find and expensive, exhaust manifold alone over a couple grand. I was thinking of the pod and an outboard but it sounds like that mod can drastically alter the ride if not done right.

Considering taking a look at a Bruce Harris shark cat with twin 130hp 4 stroke hondas. Heads were replaced after the cracking issues they had suffered when first coming out on the market. I have been interested in cat but have never had the opportunity to take one out, thats why I am asking the questions. The sportsman has an older aq171 motor, although it runs fine parts are harder to find and expensive, exhaust manifold alone over a couple grand. I was thinking of the pod and an outboard but it sounds like that mod can drastically alter the ride if not done right.

If its the one with a 2 year old trailer looks good. just remember its double the cost for motor servicing. My research into making and fitting pods is "No-body knows" its pot luck how it turns out, some winners, some losers. Good luck with the venture.

 That boat has been on the market for quiet some time. 

I own the same boat and repowered mine with 115 yammi fourstrokes, it isn't the prettiest boat (ex coastgaurd) but I have always felt confortable in some pretty nasty conditions. From personal experience I wouldn't touch it the weight of the fourstrokes on the back of mine are borderline and from memory the honda's are fair bit heavier. I have also been out on a baron sportsman with a pod and newer outboard, with respect to baron owners you cant compare the ride with a cat it doesn't even come close. Mine has had no broaching issues in some extremly average issues, you do cop some spray up your back when windy and travelling at speed though.

I am considering buying a biggger boat or giving the old hull a revamp at the moment, having aready spent 30+ on new motors I am leaning towards revamp. The only reason I would steer away from this one is if you have problems with the motors you are up for big dollars like I was.

Good luck with the new boat, once you go a cat you will never go back!

 That boat has been on the market for quiet some time. 

I own the same boat and repowered mine with 115 yammi fourstrokes, it isn't the prettiest boat (ex coastgaurd) but I have always felt confortable in some pretty nasty conditions. From personal experience I wouldn't touch it the weight of the fourstrokes on the back of mine are borderline and from memory the honda's are fair bit heavier. I have also been out on a baron sportsman with a pod and newer outboard, with respect to baron owners you cant compare the ride with a cat it doesn't even come close. Mine has had no broaching issues in some extremly average issues, you do cop some spray up your back when windy and travelling at speed though.

I am considering buying a biggger boat or giving the old hull a revamp at the moment, having aready spent 30+ on new motors I am leaning towards revamp. The only reason I would steer away from this one is if you have problems with the motors you are up for big dollars like I was.

Good luck with the new boat, once you go a cat you will never go back!