Could this be the future of motor boating?

[ari]

Very interested to see Prestige has launched a power cat because, until now, these have been solely the preserve of niche builders and Prestige (part of Jeanneau don't forget) is about as mainstream as it gets. They won't have done this unless they think there's a real market for them.

And if you think about it, boats have been getting steadily taller and taller to create more space within a given length, but eventually (surely) they must 'top out'. So expanding width-ways instead of upwards is perhaps the next logical step. It will be very interesting to see whether other mainstream builders previously wedded to the monohull concept (Princess, Fairline, Sealine, etc etc) follow suit with their own catamaran models.

 

[Bouba]

Multihulls are a sore subject here...they are increasing exponentially but there is no room for them in any port in the eastern end of the French Med....year on year it’s getting increasingly more difficult to find a berth...even winter berths are getting scarcer and scarcer. So taking two for one boat is just greedy in my opinion. As far as I know cats are charged at 150% for a berth...that makes for an expensive upkeep for, in the example above, a 48 foot boat

 

[Rappey]

I've had two small outboard powered cats. For me the ride was unrivaled. It just smoothly sliced through the waves at speed whereas a monohull would have to slow down due to severe slamming.

 

[Portofino]

Saw one out today in 1 M + waves .In the head sea off a 1/4 bow they don’t 1/2 have a terrible snapping , kinda trying to twisting motion .It’s as if each hull gets the wave not at the same time .Very jerky .

Economic on fuel if you plan to do commercial hrs .
Worth renting first to see if you ( and crew ) can stand the up wind ride .
As always try before you buy , not ride it first time out on its sea trail in benign conditions, with a lot of financial commitment in it .

A friend of ours has a sailing cat about the same L .
The sleeping cabins are narrow and as such with a double bed one person has to climb over the other to get out etc .
This is almost a deal breaker for the woman .You get more hull slapping they tell us .
Kit wise it’s a bit compromised as the actual hull volume of the 2x canoes is less than a mono hull of 48 ft .
Sure the top bits bigger , but the lower spaces are compromised so stuff like the Aircon , geny are in one or the other canoes .
Or there is two tiny black tanks which fill up over quickly.

At a boat show , you don’t sleep on them , fill the black tank , run a geny or run the AC .You are wowed by the vast cabin + galley up top .

When touring say Corsica they have had to anchor off a few times too many due to no room at the inn .
Sometimes in windy conditions which means little sleep and kinda blunts the whole boaty experience.

Just when you fancy a nice marina berth , a restaurant, some people watching at a marina side bar …..you end up bobbing about in that thing .

As I said rent one first .

 

[Elessar]

I agree with Porto. Rent one.

Can’t stabilise them either.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

I do not see them as the future for the reasons Porto said.
They also tend to chine walk a bit even the best ones.

But speaking of the Prestige 48, I just saw Nick's video and that engine room access and finishing for a 1.2 million euro,,,,

 

[ontheplane]

Multihulls are a sore subject here...they are increasing exponentially but there is no room for them in any port in the eastern end of the French Med....year on year it’s getting increasingly more difficult to find a berth...even winter berths are getting scarcer and scarcer. So taking two for one boat is just greedy in my opinion. As far as I know cats are charged at 150% for a berth...that makes for an expensive upkeep for, in the example above, a 48 foot boat

True = but if you need a 48' boat, surely you'd get away with a 35' Cat? so wouldn't Berting be much the same?

 

[Bouba]

True = but if you need a 48' boat, surely you'd get away with a 35' Cat? so wouldn't Berting be much the same?

I think not...width is king when paying for Med style berths

 

[Bigplumbs]

Multihulls are a sore subject here...they are increasing exponentially but there is no room for them in any port in the eastern end of the French Med....year on year it’s getting increasingly more difficult to find a berth...even winter berths are getting scarcer and scarcer. So taking two for one boat is just greedy in my opinion. As far as I know cats are charged at 150% for a berth...that makes for an expensive upkeep for, in the example above, a 48 foot boat

Having any big boat is just plain greedy in many ways. But then of course they are most likely owned by people who think they are entitled to more than others which of course they are not

 

[Bouba]

Having any big boat is just plain greedy in many ways. But then of course they are most likely owned by people who think they are entitled to more than others which of course they are not

It’s a personal choice....some people like one big boat...others like seventeen small boats...

 

[ChromeDome]

...until now, these have been solely the preserve of niche builders ..

Some sort of experience with catamarans within the Beneteau group owning Prestige (and Jeanneau + Ecess + Delphia + Four Winns + Wellcraft) under their Lagoon brand.

 

[Bigplumbs]

It’s a personal choice....some people like one big boat...others like seventeen small boats...

No it is about the amount of space you take up. I only use one boat at a time so will use about 20 ft max of length. The other boats are at home on my property. The water is shared space and big boat owners simply think they are entitled to more of the shared space than others. It is simply greed. Deny it all you want it is true. These same people also often don’t like to be told the truth

 

[ChromeDome]

The space issue really depends on what waters. I haven't seen any congestion lately.

 

[Bouba]

No it is about the amount of space you take up. I only use one boat at a time so will use about 20 ft max of length. The other boats are at home on my property. The water is shared space and big boat owners simply think they are entitled to more of the shared space than others. It is simply greed. Deny it all you want it is true. These same people also often don’t like to be told the truth

I also like a good gripe about people taking up too much space on the water...but I reserve my ire for the yotties and their interminable races...who else races on a circuit in front of a harbor entrance so that you can’t cross because they are coming at you from all directions?
To be honest, if someone is on your favorite anchorage, it doesn’t matter if it’s a small or large boat...they still have got your spot..

 

[paradave]

No it is about the amount of space you take up. I only use one boat at a time so will use about 20 ft max of length. The other boats are at home on my property. The water is shared space and big boat owners simply think they are entitled to more of the shared space than others. It is simply greed. Deny it all you want it is true. These same people also often don’t like to be told the truth

By not using all your boats at the same time you have bought more than necessary and have altered the market and have needlessly and greedily pushed boat prices up just like holiday home owners in Cornwall have pushed up house prices. Argue it if you like but landlords do not like hearing the truth and often try to deny it.

 

[Seastoke]

How are cats charged in the uk

 

[oldgit]

Cats are very popular with the commercial 30-40 + ft sector, providing a vast amount of deck/saloon space up top .
Each engine with its own space , maintenance is easier with all round access and no other engine poking you in the back.
The engines usually also well aft so absence of noise and vibration compared to mono hulled boat.
Thought the ride was very smooth and stable when underway compared to any single hulled boat in any Thames esturary beam sea, especially when stationary.

This one did venture up the Thames as far as Cookham. Problem or two getting through a couple of the smaller locks.

 

[DAW]

I think not...width is king when paying for Med style berths

I don't see catamarans in the 40-60ft range being the future of leisure boating in the Med for those that want a boat for day/occasional overnight use and want to spend their evenings in a marina ... at least not in the more popular, congested areas of the western Med like SoF and the Balearics ... because there is limited space, its rare to find two empty berths next to each other so availability of overnight visitors berths for catamarans is limited, and annual rentals are either not available or expensive because the 150% rate doesn't apply and you have pay for two spaces. Most of the marinas in these areas currently have long waiting lists, so the idea that they will feel any commercial pressure to adapt to a changing market in the short to medium term is highly optimistic.

For less congested/popular areas, those wanting to spend most of their time cruising/living onboard and staying on anchor overnight, and for charter operations where the boats are out cruising most of the time, then catamarans can be a great solution. But this is already reflected in the popularity of both sailing and motor cats in places like the eastern Med (Croatia, Greek Islands, etc.) and the Caribbean (Bahamas, etc.), where the usual practice is to cruise and stay overnight on anchor, and off-season berthing is readily available and relatively cheap.

Fast, medium-size cats are a great solution for work boats, and many of the tourist ferry services in SoF use them. However, they don't have to worry about finding a berth.

With the M48, I suspect Prestige is going after the same markets as Lagoon, Leopard, etc. who are all doing very well selling motor and sailing cats in large numbers to private owners and charter operations in the eastern Med and Caribbean .

 

[ari]

Having any big boat is just plain greedy in many ways. But then of course they are most likely owned by people who think they are entitled to more than others which of course they are not

The needle on my irony meter just snapped! ?

 

[oldgit]

Santa Kats. Marina.
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