Speedcat at Southampton Boat Show Can It Handle a Wild Camping Weekend

A small boat can make or break a wild camping trip. Too slow, and the journey becomes a slog. Too cramped, and every dry bag turns into a problem. Too unstable, and loading kit on a slipway feels like a wrestling match. That is why the Speedcat featured in Buggies’ video from the Southampton Boat Show caught attention.

At first glance, it looks like the sort of craft that wants to be used, not just admired on a stand. Compact, open, practical and built around a catamaran-style hull, the Speedcat appears to sit in that useful space between tender, day boat and mini adventure platform. Then came the interesting part: Buggies asked whether he could take it for a wild camping weekend.

That is exactly the kind of test that reveals what a boat is really like.

A boat show can tell you about finish, layout and first impressions. A weekend with camping kit, changing weather, tidal planning, food, water and muddy launch points tells you far more. The question is simple: can the Speedcat move from show-floor curiosity to proper weekend adventure tool?

Why the Speedcat stood out at Southampton Boat Show

Boat shows are full of polished hulls, clever gadgets and big-ticket dream machines. The Speedcat stood out for a different reason. It looked usable.

The design centres on a twin-hull, catamaran-style platform. That matters for two reasons. First, it gives the boat a broad, planted stance on the water. Second, it creates a more open and workable deck area than many small conventional inflatables or tenders.

For a wild camping trip, that layout is more than a nice feature. It affects everything:

• How easy it is to load dry bags

• How stable it feels when stepping aboard

• How well weight can be spread across the boat

• How comfortable it is to fish, cook ashore, change layers or sort kit

• How confident it feels when conditions are less than perfect

  
  

The Southampton Boat Show setting also helped. Seeing the Speedcat in that environment, among larger boats and marine gear, made it easier to imagine its role. It is not trying to be a cabin cruiser. It is not pretending to be a luxury weekender. Its appeal is much more direct.

It looks like a boat for people who want to get out, carry kit, reach quiet places and keep the faff down.

That is probably why Buggies’ request felt so natural. A wild camping weekend is not a stunt for this kind of boat. It is the kind of use case that could suit it well, as long as the details stack up.

What features matter for a camping weekend

The exciting bit is not just that the Speedcat can carry a person and some bags. Plenty of small boats can do that. The real question is whether it can do it in a way that feels safe, organised and enjoyable.

From the way the boat is presented, several features look especially relevant.

The twin-hull shape helps with stability

Catamaran-style boats often feel steady at rest because the buoyancy is spread across two hulls. For camping use, that can be a real advantage.

Loading a boat for a weekend is rarely graceful. There are dry bags, sleeping gear, water containers, cooking kit, spare clothes, safety equipment and sometimes camera gear. A more stable platform makes that process less stressful, especially when launching from a pontoon, beach or slipway.

Stability also matters when landing. Wild camping often involves getting in and out at places that are not perfectly designed for boats. A craft that stays composed while weight shifts around gives more confidence.

The open deck suits dry bags and modular packing

A simple open layout is ideal for camping because kit can be packed in modules. Instead of trying to squeeze everything into fixed lockers, you can organise gear into waterproof bags and strap them where the weight makes sense.

For example, a clean camping setup might include:

• One dry bag for sleeping kit

• One dry bag for clothing

• One smaller bag for food

• One waterproof box for electronics and head torches

• One grab bag for safety gear

• One water container secured low and central

  
  

That kind of system works well on an open boat, as long as there are suitable places to lash gear down. On any small craft, loose kit is a problem. It can shift, get wet, fall overboard or make the boat harder to handle. The Speedcat’s suitability will depend in part on how easy it is to secure everything before setting off.

Outboard performance could make the range useful

A wild camping boat does not need to be the fastest thing on the water. It does need enough power to make progress safely and comfortably.

The Speedcat’s performance will depend on the exact model, engine choice, load, sea state and crew weight. That is one reason Buggies’ planned review is worth following. A boat can look lively when lightly loaded, then feel very different once it carries overnight gear.

The key things to watch during his test will be:

• How quickly it gets moving with camping kit aboard

• Whether it feels balanced with a loaded deck

• How dry the ride feels in chop

• How it turns at low and moderate speeds

• How easy it is to beach, recover or relaunch

• How much fuel it uses during a realistic trip

  
  

For camping, comfort often beats top speed. A boat that cruises happily, tracks cleanly and does not soak its crew is more useful than one that only impresses in short bursts.

The wild camping weekend is the right test

Buggies asking to use the Speedcat for a wild camping weekend is exactly the kind of review that cuts through showroom talk.

A proper weekend test brings together all the little details that matter. Can you launch it without drama? Can you secure the tent and sleeping bag away from spray? Is there enough room to move around once the boat is loaded? Does it feel safe when the tide turns or the wind pipes up? Can it land somewhere sensible without needing a perfect pontoon?

Those are not abstract questions. They shape the whole trip.

A good wild camping boat should make the adventure feel bigger, not harder. It should open up more route options, quieter shorelines and better camp spots. It should let you travel light but not recklessly. It should make the journey part of the fun.

That is where the Speedcat idea becomes appealing. Its compact size makes it feel accessible, while the catamaran platform gives it a practical edge. It could be the sort of boat that turns a short coastal hop, estuary run or sheltered inland adventure into a memorable overnight trip.

The review will be especially useful if Buggies shows the unglamorous parts too. Packing, launching, tying down gear, checking weather, working around tides, finding a legal place to camp and dealing with wet kit all matter as much as speed runs.

How the Speedcat could enhance the adventure

The best small adventure boats do three things well. They shorten the boring bits, extend the interesting bits and make simple trips feel special.

The Speedcat could do that in several ways.

It gives access to quieter places

A boat changes the map. Places that take hours to reach on foot may be a short run by water. Quiet beaches, sheltered creeks, river bends and remote picnic spots become realistic options.

That does not mean camping anywhere you like. Permission and local rules still matter. In much of England and Wales, wild camping usually requires landowner permission unless specific local rules allow it. Scotland has broader access rights, but responsible behaviour is still essential. Coastal areas, nature reserves, tidal islands and private foreshore can all carry restrictions.

The Speedcat could help reach beautiful places, but the best trips start with good planning rather than wishful thinking.

It lets you carry comfort without overpacking

On foot, every extra item sits on your back. By boat, you can carry a little more comfort, as long as weight remains sensible and secure.

That might mean a thicker sleeping mat, a proper dry change of clothes, a better stove setup or enough water for the full weekend. This is where the Speedcat’s open working space could shine. You can pack for a better night without turning the trip into a floating jumble sale.

The rule is simple: bring what improves the trip, leave what clutters the boat.

It turns travel into part of the experience

With the right conditions, the journey to camp becomes half the point. Running along a sheltered coastline, exploring a calm estuary or nosing into a quiet anchorage gives the weekend a sense of movement.

The Speedcat’s likely appeal is that it makes that movement feel direct and hands-on. There is no cabin wall between you and the water. You feel the wind, watch the surface, read the tide and pick your line. For many people, that is the draw.

Wild camping tips for a Speedcat weekend

A boat-based camping trip needs more planning than a campsite booking. It also rewards that planning with a better sense of freedom.

Here are the key points Buggies will likely be testing, whether directly or indirectly.

Plan the route around weather and tides

Start with sheltered water. A small boat loaded with camping gear is not the place to test poor forecasts.

Check wind direction, wind strength, tide times and tidal streams. Build the route around an easy launch, a realistic destination and a backup landing spot. If the trip involves coastal water, allow for the return as well as the outward run. A tailwind on Saturday can become a hard slog on Sunday.

Keep the boat light and balanced

Pack low, central and secure. Spread weight evenly and avoid piling everything at one end. Keep essential safety gear within reach, not buried under the tent.

Use dry bags in different colours if possible. It saves rummaging when light fades or rain arrives. Heavy items such as water should sit low and stable. Soft items such as sleeping bags should stay in proper waterproof protection.

Treat safety gear as non-negotiable

A fun camping trip can still involve cold water, sudden weather changes and awkward landings. Sensible kit matters.

Useful items include:

• A suitable lifejacket or buoyancy aid for each person

• A means of calling for help, kept waterproof and accessible

• Navigation tools, not just a phone with low battery

• Spare warm layers in a dry bag

• First aid kit

• Torch or head torch

• Anchor or suitable line where appropriate

• Basic repair and tool kit

• Fuel planned with a safety margin

  
  

None of this takes away from the adventure. It protects it.

Leave no trace at the camp spot

Boat access can reach fragile places, so camping habits matter. Arrive late, leave early and keep the footprint small. Avoid lighting fires unless they are clearly allowed and safe. Use a stove instead. Pack out all rubbish, including food scraps.

Keep noise down, respect wildlife and avoid nesting areas. If a location feels sensitive, exposed or questionable, move on.

What to watch for in Buggies’ review

The most useful review will be the one that shows what the Speedcat is like when the honeymoon period wears off. The Southampton Boat Show appearance gave us the spark. A camping weekend can provide the evidence.

Key moments to watch include:

• How easy it is to transport and set up before launch

• How much kit it realistically carries

• How dry and comfortable the ride feels

• How stable it is when loaded

• How it handles low-speed manoeuvres

• How well it copes with beaching or shallow landings

• How relaxed the trip feels after several hours, not just several minutes

  
  

If Buggies shares the full trip, from packing to return, it could become one of the more useful real-world looks at the Speedcat. A clean boat show walkaround is helpful. A slightly damp morning with coffee, tide tables and a tent packed into dry bags is better.

Can it handle a wild camping weekend?

Based on the concept, the Speedcat looks well suited to the idea. Its catamaran-style stability, open deck and compact adventure feel all point in the right direction. For sheltered waters, careful packing and fair-weather trips, it could make a very capable little camping platform.

The honest answer still needs time on the water. Suitability will depend on load capacity, engine pairing, handling when packed, ride comfort and how easy it is to live with over a full weekend. That is why Buggies’ request is so interesting. It moves the conversation from “that looks good” to “does it actually work?”

Follow along with his review and experiences if you want to see the Speedcat judged in the way that matters most: loaded with real kit, used for a real trip and tested beyond the boat show stand.

If it performs well there, it will prove something valuable. The right small boat does not need a cabin, a huge engine or a glossy brochure to create a proper adventure. Sometimes it just needs a stable platform, sensible packing and a quiet place to spend the night.