The Multihull Center, a British company specializing in multihull repair, refit and maintenance, has begun work to rebuild the hull of the Gunboat 55 Rainmaker.
Gunboat 55 Rainmaker lost its mast 200 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras during a storm with squalls reaching 70 knots. The 350-foot freighter Ocean Crescent came to the rescue of the crew who had abandoned the boat, but it was unable to approach the catamaran and instead ran into it, practically sucking the multihull under its propellers. The crew was rescued later by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and brought safely to land.
The Gunboat 55 Rainmaker hull drifted in the Atlantic Ocean for 14 months until it was spotted near Bermuda by Oracle Team USA training members there. Despite the long time spent in the ocean, the hull was intact and afloat.
The Gunboat 55 Rainmaker's crash, which occurred during delivery to the owner, was one of the reasons for the bankruptcy of the American catamaran manufacturer. In May 2016, Gunboat was sold at auction to French yacht holding company Grand Large Yachting.
As an asset recovery measure, Gunboat's new owner purchased the hull of the Gunboat 55 Rainmaker. The boat has been cleaned of dirt and salt and intends to be restored.
