catalac 900 any opinions ??????

[wotayottie]

I had a Quest too, and I would agree with your figures. I found that in flat water I could keep up with older bilge keelers to windward, and sometimes with fin keelers because I would be sailing faster and lower whilst they often pinched and went slower.

But in rough water, the Quest was a motorsailer to windward. It invariably was quicker to switch on the engine and motor directly up wind that to tray and tack upwind.

 

[MacMan]

Good to know I am not just a cr*p sail trimmer - which I probably am !

But give me a good blow downwind - I am off. Max so far 13 knots on a surf and 9 knots sustained for 2 hours + ! (No +ve tide)

Not many 33 foot cruising monos are doing this.

I tack upwind if the tide is with me and the weather is nice. If it's not I find the first place to stop and get a beer form the fridge ;-)

I am happy with this and I knew it is what I was buying.

From looking round Catalacs I can't understand how they can beat this. And would be impressed if they could equal this.

 

[davierobb]

John, thaks for the rsonce and let me asure you that this is not a troll, whatever that is....

 

[snowleopard]

Cats achieve much higher top speeds than displacement monos because a hull with over 8:1 length:beam ratio does not cause the bow and stern waves that limit most boats to 'hull speed'. The Catalac has a broad V hull form which does make waves so is limited to hull speed just like a mono of the same length.

A Prout needs a fair bit of wind to push it along but the more power you apply the faster it goes. This is not the case with a Catalac.

 

[boatmike]

Thats right Leopard. Actually the longer waterline Prouts claw up to windward a bit better than the Quest 31 largely due to their ability to power through, but they all require at least 15 knots of wind to perform and my heavy old Snowgoose which has a tall rig and a good set of sails goes best in about 20 knots of wind. On most points of sail I get about 50% of wind speed up to about 15 knots of wind. 20 knots gives about 9 knots speed, any faster than that and she is over pressed really although I have run down wind at over 12. The big advantage is I can still press on to windward nicely in 30 knots of wind but need ear plugs to shut out the slamming! Put a Catalac in 30 knots of wind and going to windward at all would be problematic. Please don't tell me what you achieve.... You would probably blast past me on all points........