catamarans

[JAKEPAD]

I am considering moving from monohull to catamaran for the next boating season. Any advice on what to buy for cruising only. I've read copiously but never sailed one so I am eager to contact anyone on the east angian coast who could offer me a sail.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Don't do it, you know they capsize on every voyage, they are unseaworthy and you will be a lower class of sailor.



Just getting you prepared.......

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk/movies.html>Dolphin Movie From Top Cat</A>

 

[JAKEPAD]

thanks for the gloomy advice! We went to and enjoyed your website, especially the large amount of drinking that appears to go with catamaran sailing! Could sway our decision to buy!

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[Talbot]

Catamarans differ just as much as half boats. I would recommend that your starting point should be how much money you have, then decide what sort of sailing you want to do. Assuming you are in the secondhand market, the twins have a good reputation (see Jules for more data on these), Catalacs are probably the best family boats, but not very capable to windward although there is considerable work going on in the catalac community at the moment to improve this without affecting the overall safety of these boats, a Prout 31-37 is probably the best overall compromise, hence their price!!!! Stay away from French cats, and any that have daggerboards - daggerboards have no place on a cruising cat, they need manpower to tend the sails to avoid dangerous situations. If money is no problem (lucky you /forums/images/icons/smile.gif) then some of the nicest cats at the moment are being built in South Africa. I am not in East Anglia, but my 9m Catalac is still in the water until end of this month, and could offer you a sail (Portsmouth area)



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[ccscott49]

LIke cats, great at anchor, lots of room, comfortable, but whay are they so ugly?

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[RupertW]

Having spent many nights at anchor in cats and even more in monohulls, I'd go for cats anytime. They are also fantastic sailing platforms at sea - there aren't many conditions that I would stop me cooking a proper meal at sea in a cruising cat, and I'm prone to seasickness!

Not sure I agree about the steering clear of French cats. I've crossed the Atlantic in a Lagoon and found it looked after the crew well in some pretty awful wind and weather combinations, as well as providing a very good helming position for seeing over the top of waves for much more of the time than a monohull, which adds a lot to the ability to dodge about and catch the waves right in more extreme conditions.

Weeks of downwind sailing was also blissful (and easier on the self-steering) when you don't roll - and regularly doing 10-15 knots was nice too.

Beauty - well the look of a modern cat either grabs you or repulses you. I love the Starship Enterprise look of a Lagoon.

Capsizing - just look at the statistics for cruising multihulls vs. modern cruising monohulls. It takes one hell of a wave to turn a 23 foot wide platform over, and you don't get many of those outside the Southern Ocean.

But...I'm not sure I'd have a cat for English coast and cross-channel sailing. Cats are not cheap if you are going into marina after marina, especially as marinas have relatively few catamaran-friendly berths.

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[windypig]

Go for something with reasonable windward performance. I would stay well clear of Catalacs, unless you like to motor a lot. All the Prouts go well to windward except the Quest 31. My old Ranger had centreboards that gave very good windward performance.
Some of the new French cats look good but cost a lot.
If your idea of perfect sailing is hopping from marina to marina (my vision of hell!) then cats are probably not for you.
We have self sufficient sailing! Big solar panels, wind generator, water maker, shower, invertor, big diesel heater,etc. Who needs marinas? Never used or needed shore power.

Good luck shopping

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[jamesjermain]

My dream boat at the moment would be an 11m version of Daren Newton's made-to-measure Dazcat 10. This is not everyone's ideal of a cruising cat - it has centreboards, a big rig and might be considered a bit hairy, though the stability figures look good. On the otherhand it is really exhillerating to sail, has practical if simple accommodaton and offers the option of some gentle, or not so gentle, MOCRA racing.

But the 10 is hideously expensive so goodness knows what an 11 would cost.



<hr width=100% size=1>JJ

 

[Jeannius]

Some French cats are good.... I own a Privilege 435. Sailed her across to the caribbean with ARC2002. Listening to all the 'half boat' people complaining about the conditions (apparently they were rolling about a lot) made me realise I will never go back to a monohull.

Mike

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[DavidofMersea]

Re: Drying out on legs

Have you read the posting "Drying out on legs"? Why don't these people buy cat's?

David of West Mersea

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[Vasco]

A cruising catamaran with good windward performance is a bit of an oxymoron

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

So is a monohull sailor who spends all his time justifying why he does not own a catamaran.



<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Top Cat Homepage</A>

 

[oldharry]

Having sailed both, I would say a good Cat being sailed properly to windward, is no worse off than the average smaller bilge keeler doing the same thing. There are exceptions - both sides of course. Although I have sialed cats in pretty vile weather, I have never felt I was in any danger of being tipped over.

Of course if you hold too much sail up for too long, any boat will go out of control - its just that it is a rather more terminal disaster for a cat!

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[mikewilkes]

How dare you infer my mistress is ugly!!!! I challenge you to a dual sir!!!
Two bottles of vino tinto at five paces - then when we run out two more.

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[timevans2000]

Is your understanding of windward performance based on actual experience of catamarans or what you have heard?
We regularly sail in company with a small fleet of monohulls. In a cross section of conditions we certainly do not suffer with poor windward performance when compared to several popular bilge keelers and some of the more modern French fin keelers. Interestingly, when we have a 18 mile trip home in a F5 to windward, we are usually the last boat still sailing when some monohulls have dropped their sails and put their engine on. We are often first home or not far behind.


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[oldsaltoz]

Don't do it, you will never enjoy sailing a mono again............
Andavagoodweekend...



<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[martinparsons]

Hi,

I haven't read all the postings however I chartered a cat (to keep the world level for my wife and friends) and laboured long and hard to keep it moving (it was a Fontaine Pagot 40 - I think) On the second day I got the hang of it and sailing freer than I would in a monohull it went a avery respectable and comfortable pace. I got mine from Victory Yachts in Haslar (they have about 3 to charter)

Good luck - it's worth a try

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[snowleopard]

most cruising cats fail to match monohulls in pointing not because of the extra hull but because they have shallow draft. racing multis have deep dagger boards and go to windward with the best of them.

if windward performance is your criterion for a good boat you can get it in a multi by buying one of the lift-keel designs or get a boatyard to add a metre onto the bottom of your keels. most cruisers are happy to stick with the advantages of shallow draft.

there is also the pragmatic approach - i can achieve 10 knots vmg with my twin diesels when required.

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[Pelican]

Have a look at :www.glacierbaycats.com
Pelican

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[timevans2000]

Anytime you would like to sail on a cruising cat with good windward performance you are welcome to join us.

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