Catamarans your opinions please

[farquart]

looking to get a cat for weekend sailing on the south coast with summer cruise to france, we lived aboard are old boat for 2 years in the med and now have two small children so looking at caravan sailing.

What are the pros and cons of ownership

 

[barfly4657]

[QUOTE What are the pros and cons of ownership?

Do you mean ownership v chartering? Or the pros and cons of two hulls versus one? In which case expect passionate outbursts from afficionados (many of whom haven't sailed much else.) For starters, how big is your budget?

 

[farquart]

Sorry I was a bit vague

looking at ownership budget 30k max

 

[MacMan]

What are the pros and cons of ownership

Loads of generic stuff on the web. A quick google finds

http://www.multihullcompany.com/Article/Catamaran_Vs_Monohull

But many more. Did you have something specific in mind. LOA ? or Budget ?

If you are really lucky some people who have sailed on both cats and monos' may reply ? ;-)

PS Probably the single biggest thing I would say is the motion. They do move, it's just different from mono's. Never bothers me and I have been sick on a mono in the past but some people are the opposite.

I do like Mono's - in general they are prettier to look at. I would feel sorry for the mono's having to look at me but mostly they are down below the waterline and can't see out at Anchor and so it isn't a problem for them. ;-)

Someone on here often states he would prefer a mono for weekend and round the cans and cat for long term cruising. I can see a lot in that - but can't afford two boats !

 

[jonjo]

looking to get a cat for weekend sailing on the south coast

This is the one scenario where using a cat is most problematic:

1 - Crowded coast = expense.
2 - Short sailing trips means frequently having to plug away back home against the wind.
3 - Non tradewind passage making.
4 - More difficult to heat the structure of a Cat off season.
5 - Chilly exposed cockpit likely given your budget.

I would like to own a cat in a warmer climate and I might even cope with the disadvantages in the Channel for a few years before the big off.

 

[multihullsailor6]

Farquart,

Some Pros (in order as they spring to my mind):

Speed, space, level sailing, shallow draught thereby making more places available for sailing and anchoring, quieter movement at anchor, very often twin engines, movement at sea

Some Cons:

Higher initial costs (esp. when new), higher marina fees, higher maintenance costs

Unless you have already done so, sail on a cat of the size you are eying for a weekend at least to see if you like it / the movement. Then start hunting.

Even if you are only going to cruise, go for a catamaran with good sailing capabilities, i.e. good pointing and speed.

Have you and your wife other criteria of what you are looking for?
- Max. size?
- Full cabin versus open bridgedeck?
- Keels or daggerboard?

And do check out www.multihulls4us.com, a forum dedicated only to multihulls with lots of knowledgeable and open contributors.

Roger