Very difficult to offer sensible commentary when you're giving us so little to work with; what about them was disappointing? They're both makers of relatively tubby production cats optimised for charter companies.
If they’re within budget, one of those would be very hard to beat. Fast, seaworthy, comfortable, good windward performance. It’s the only boat that could tempt us from Dragonfly ownership.
'Disappointing'... Build quality was apalling. Sailed like a bag of dead dogs and the slaming was intense.
Good steer. Might see you there.
Probably best not to put too much stock by the moaners here. It’s still very anti cat around here. However, it’s true its a long time since Fontaine Pajot built a decent boat, you may find that the production boats are all either dumpy things suited to motor sailing or tacky rubbish. It leads you to the boutique manufacturers, like Darren. Used ones do come up, if I were looking I’d definitely give him a call. He’s good company too, whats not to like?
All multis get at least a certain amount of disapproval here. The preferred answer for ‘what boat’ is probably something like a Contessa 33. Nowt wrong with them, but people should probably take a broader outlook. It’s 2023, not 1973.Lagoons seem to get a bad press on here but I've seen dozens and dozens passing through the Canary Islands, Windies, Panama and across the Pacific. Seems to suit so many liveaboards.
Dunno what exactly FP you sailed. I took an older one from St Lucia to Croatia. Wouldn't want to live on one. Have lived aboard so got an idea. New style look nice though bit boxy like all modern production cats, roomy but not for those in a rush.
Simply thoughts.....
It's a good place to start the search. Avoids the confirmation bias.
There's a core of people who are up for any propely designed boat. I’m not exclusively multihull, I like anything that sails well. Cats do look expensive, but then, they’re at least 1.5 times the size of the same length mono. I’ll admit tris have no such excuse. You only buy one to go fast, and pay for it too. We could have paid 1/4 as much for a boat of the same age with more room. But today we sailed home against the tide in the western solent. 8kn of wind, 2.5kn of tide. Everyone else goung our way was motoring. Cats can make great liveaboard cruisers. The problematic charter boats give some a bad name. Most multis have great build quality, by necessity.
Do people still do that? Rather quaint, in the 21st century.
There's a big Wharram comes here generally each year. Must be 60ft or more and stays for a few weeks. Often wondered if it belongs to some weird aqua cult and they go offshore and get the women to dress as mermaids....or something. Must stop doing that.
Try Wildings sailing on You tube