Are catamarans a good choice for liveaboard

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derk

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My wife and I hope to live on a catamaran in Turkey. However I have been informed that catamarans are not always welcome in some Med marina's. I would be grateful for any comment you may have as we would not wish to buy a cat only to be 'blacklisted' . Thanks for listening
 
The short answer is that cats are by far the best choice for living aboard but if you plan to spend most of your time in marinas forget it. A few will turn you away and some will charge 50% or 100% extra (whether you take up more space or not).

If you plan to spend most of your time at anchor and use marinas once in a while a cat is good.
 
Agreeing totally with snow leopard, if you dont stay at a marina, then the option is normally to anchor, and again a cat is by far the best boat to be in when anchored.

advantages:

spacious cockpit
stable at anchor
saloon with good windows which allows you to see around outside
decent well ventilated cabins
space
more space
lots of sunbathing areas

disadvantages

Marinas can be very mercenary (now thats a surprise!)
older cat designs are not brilliant to windward
 
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older cat designs are not brilliant to windward


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Actually I was pleasantly surprised by my Prout 33 of late 80's vintage.. On passage from Eastbourne to Dieppe I lost the engine and ended up having to sail into Dieppe in about a F5-6 (land breeze enhancing the wind) I had problems identifying the entrance -never been there before and was beating up and down with some reefs in and she went very well to windward.. I have to say I was surprised!

Probably a Cat is the perfect boat from the Caribbean onwards - in the med as others have stated.. but the shallow draft means you can creep into some well protected anchorages other 'deeper' boats cant reach!
Michael

Michael
 
didnt say that they wont work to windward, even my old catalac will go to windward - just not very quickly. Newer designs work better.
 
I agree too, but the point is that with a cat you don't have to go into marinas. Watch most monohulls at anchor in any kind of swell and they roll like a pig driving owners into marinas. Cats don't. No need for flopper stoppers on a cat! Also depends where you go, and what you call a marina. Many ports welcome cats and don't surcharge. you can usually find a nice quiet bay to anchor in that deep keeled boats don't go. Fit a watermaker and solar panels and all you need is to go ashore for food and diesel. Welcome to the antisocial world of cat ownership!
 
Many thanks for your replies. Yes we had intended to do a lot of anchoring in bays and only go into marinas for fuel and water.
There will of course be times when we will have lo leave the boat for essential trips back to the uk and possibly for some time over the winter. Next thing is to choose the right cat.
 
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... Next thing is to choose the right cat.

[/ QUOTE ]Now that could be a long thread.
 
I suppose we will have to pay £80k upwards for a decent size cat ready to go. I like the lagoon 38 or the F.P. Lavezzi 40 but that is reallystretching the budget even second second hand.
Will consider older styles at lower cost if we think they are suitable.
 
Re: Which would you buy?

A mate of mine also has about £80K & is keen to buy a Cat.

Wants it for eco-tours in the Phillipines, so max accomodation.

Any ideas on suitable type & where to purchase?
 
For around the £80-100k mark you can have a really good cat. One I had never considered until a friend looked at one and pointed out a lot of good features is a mid 90's Lagoon 37. Good liveaboard features like a low table in the saloon which is great for putting the feet on or using as a berth at sea (best place on my cat). Galley up or down versions as well. Not too many of them around though so will take some finding.
 
As a cat sailor for nearly 30 years - i would say definitely the best choice - but choose your cat wisely! Big is beautiful - but expensive! I managed very nicely on a 8m Catalac - and yes - she sails very well - but in marinas was able to get away with surcharges by pleading I was a 'small' boat - any bigger and as other correspondents have said - you will get charged a premium! And you will have to winter somewhere!
 
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The short answer is that cats are by far the best choice for living aboard but if you plan to spend most of your time in marinas forget it. A few will turn you away and some will charge 50% or 100% extra (whether you take up more space or not).

If you plan to spend most of your time at anchor and use marinas once in a while a cat is good.

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I was on a cat last Xmas in the Grenadines. It was a revelation, no spilt beer, loads of space and the surprise was that we docked only once in 12 days for water and fuel and I didn't suffer cramp in my knees. Last week I was on a Bav46 in the Tremiti Isles and I noticed the cramped knees after 3 days. If I had the money a cat is the only way to go. Amazing a totally different and comfy way to liveaboard.
 
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