Multi Hull Show Portsmouth

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We're based at Royal Clarence so were there by "default". We did go and have a look but were true "fender kickers".

Why?
 

AIDY

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<<< why ? >>>

Just wondered what I missed. there was talk about it on the forum at the end of last week, like to here show reports etc....
 

rwoofer

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Went along this morning. Seemed quite quiet.

All the exhibitors were very welcoming and it was nice to look around boats without feeling rushed. Was very impressed with the Broadblue 385. For my height it seemed more spacious than the Privilege 495, which seemed to be full of obstacles for anyone over 6ft.
 

Brierley

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We went and it was very useful to see a variety of different cats lined up in a row, though now we're more confused than ever about our priorities with regard to hard bimini vs. soft bimini / inside helm vs outside helm / one helm or two / trampoline vs front wet lockers etc etc

And where did that fog suddenly come from yesterday afternoon??

We liked the Mahe (36') but would have preferred to see the Lavezzi (40') which unfortunately didn't make it to the show. Didn't like the deep well in the cockpit of the Broadblue 385 which meant you had to perch behind the helm or up on the seat to see ahead, though visibility was very good from the helm and the inside layout was much better than anything else we saw. We also liked the flexibility of a smaller main, with two roller headsails.

The Privilege struck us as being a 'holiday home' cat rather than a serious cruising cat - even at nearly 50', there was far too much wasted space and at 5'8, I was not impressed to be knocking my head on the ceiling trying to get into the owners berth at the front. With that power shower, they'd need to be permanently connected to shore water supplies or never switch off the water maker!

Would definitely go to the show again if they do decide to hold it annually - much better use of our time than the boatshow at Excel.
 

MacMan

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I went.

An excellent show for anyone even half serious about cats.

A real civilised experience compared to SIBS/LIBS.

But if you were after a sauna/plunge pool/conservatory/non stick frying pan sadly they were not availble at this show /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

It was quiet but when I mentioned this to the guys on the boats they were fine with this as, in their own words, they had to spend less time on "crowd control" that they have to at the LIBS etc. The exhibition costs are in a different ball park from LIBS/SIBS etc and they were much more comfortable with this.

I think it is a shame that more effort wasn't put into publicity as I only heard about it on the off chance.

Were welcome by all and plenty of time to look round without being rushed.

The test sails were especially welcome - we got to spend at least an hour on both the Broadblue 385 and the FP Mahe 36. With no real committment from us other than being properly interested (which we are but for the future rather than "now")

So my "mini review" of what we saw

(It's fair to say we looked at these from prospective live aboard perspective)

FountainePajot

Shame there was no Lavezzi as originally promised. They said it wasn't ready in time which is a shame. Enjoyed looking round and test sailing. Sailed well in very little wind. Concerned by lack of bimini (hard top or otherwise and exposed helm). Was concered and surprised by "hobby" horsing motion in almost no swell in the quiet conditions of Sunday. This was MUCH worse than the Broadblue we tried later. More on this later. Did seem like a lot of boat for your money. The other customer on the trail sail was a veteran of a fews cats (unlike me) and was impressed too.

Lagoon

Love the hard top bimini, not sure about repairing the electric drive when half way round the world in a back end of beyond when it breaks. Why have they ruined the beds by chopping the end of them off so you will spend your life kicking your wifes feet? When challenged the guy said that some people preferred having them easier to get into. Maybe you need this if over 60/70/80 but seemed over the top to me. The flybridge helms on the bigger 440 are bizarre.

Broadblue

OK so this is a nice boat. You can really see the little touches where someone who has been REALLY sailing has had an influence. (e.g. the two little half steps to get to the saloon roof) Why don't more people have these little touches? Even charterers (where I know a lot of the FP/Lagoon fleet end up) Just looks really homely as you step aboard. But it can't sail can it? I mean with 8 people, all that wood being well built it just won't be able to go anywhere right ? So that what I was thinking when we went out for a sail. Firstly the motion it was much better than the Mahe. The Hobby horsing was almost gone. I know it is heavier which will help but was given a lesson on hull design which is claimed is also the key to smoothing out the ride. It is bigger than the Mahe too - would have been nice to compare the Lazezzi. The real plus for the BB here is the rig set up. The Furling Genaakker is so easy to pop out and adds a massive volume of sailing area. It tacked without backing the Jib and was leaving the 50 foot Privelidge for dust when it happen to be out on the same course at the same time. Helm seat is funny as you can't touch the floor with your feet. Would prefer fully hard top bimini but the guys said that may be coming as an option. Not sure about being able to say in the runway on the bimini and not fall down on the material section but in reality we dropped the main in 4 secs be reaching the mast from the cockpit. Still have concerns about bridgedeck clearance and therefore slamming in a seaway but conditions did not allow us to test this.

Nautitech

Definitely bare by comparison. The assumption would be you would get the benefit in performance. Twin helms interesting and kinda seems to waste space but does keep the cockpit clear.

Catanna

Good to see this as an example of earlier generation cat for what you can get for you money in the used market. A great idea but helped convince us that we want a new generation cat !

Privelidge

Funny boat - did have air conditioning through ! Distinct impression this was designed for people who don't sail and won't sail. Sales guys on board genuinely shocked when SWMBO investigated foredeck. Not sure anyone else had been on top all day long ! Claim to know all the customers by name (I should think so if you pay that much !
 

tcm

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the funniness of the privilege 495 at southampton might be that it is galley-down? I don't thik it had aircon? Also, i wd be a bit surprised if a boat designed with partial hardtop was due to come outwith full hardtop anytime soon.
 

MacMan

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No,

Not really the Galley down - which is fair enough although not my preference but rather the Berth layout which makes a lot of the stateroom but leaves plenty to hit you head on.

The guy on the boat said it had air-con.

Wasn't terribly interested so didn't ask to see it.

Although bigger than all the other boats there was a lot of wasted space.

The massive steps on the sugar scoops wasted loads of room to start. It really is targetting a different market so as with most things in life it might be right for them but wasn't for me (we couldn't afford that anyway)
 

mobeydick

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"Didn't like the deep well in the cockpit of the Broadblue 385 which meant you had to perch behind the helm or up on the seat to see ahead, though visibility was very good from the helm"

as a BB385 owner, my wife prefers the feeling of safety in the 'deep' cockpit in a rough sea (feels more like a monohull cockpit, in that way, than a bathing platform), and you can actually see pretty well straight through the saloon windows from the cockpit.
 

tcm

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i have a P495 and wondered about headroom in fwd cabin but it seems ok really. I spose bigger boats by definition "waste space" - though i dunno what else should those aft/sugar scoop steps be full of?
 

MacMan

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What's you experience (or lack of) of waves slamming the bottom of the bridgedeck when conditions get lively ?

The condition on Sunday were so benign we didn't get chance to judge this aspect.

It very hard to judge the relative merits of different designs unless you sail one after each other of the simlar LOA and in the same lively conditions. Which I have't done yet.

PS Any other niggles on the BB ? Things you don't like or would change ?

My perspective is from one who very much admires the boat overall.

PPS If you ever need honest hard working crew please let me know /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 

jamesjermain

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Quite so TCM

I get quite worred when a cat designer/builder does use up all the space. It generally means the boat is overweight and slow. The larger the cat, the less need to fill all the gaps.

An early mentor of mine, the small boat designer Percy Blandford often said: 'The most difficult thing to design into a boat is lightness'.
 

MacMan

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Q :What should Sugar scoops be full of ?
A: Sugar, of course

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

More serisouly I take your point. I guess the bigger the boat you just don't NEED to cram everything in.

There clearly was a lot room for entertaining on the P495 - and that was really the unscientific "feeling" that I got when we had a look round. A great boat for entertraining groups on.

And nothing wrong with that - but not what I will eventually be looking for
 

Jeannius

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[ QUOTE ]
The massive steps on the sugar scoops wasted loads of room to start.

[/ QUOTE ] They are only there to turn the Privilege 465 into a Privilege 495. Same boat but with 3 ft stuck on the end. Does improve load carrying though. Bigger number means you can charge higher price!
 

hobiecat

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The thing that really struck me about the show was how similar all cruising cats have become. You used to be able to spot a Prout or catalac for miles away by the hull shape, rig and superstructure. I had to wander up close and see which brand I was looking at. All bar the broadblue have fractional rigs, all have U shaped hulls and fine entry plumb bows, and even length beam ratios looked similiar. All superstructure looks similiar - Privilege has a nose I suppose. Most arguments are on interiors I would imagine - galley up or down??? Do peeps agree?
 

tcm

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Ooh you are are one victor, helping up a catamaran thread with the flimiest bit of "contentious" posting. But okay...

Actually i think moden cats are a bit *more* different between brands than they were: fontain pajot frinstance are just one of several that have a definite recognisable stylish shape throughout the model range. Some other brands have also managed a not-instantly-repulsively-ugly theme too.

Compare this with Prout for example which managed to even choose an ugly *name* for crissakes.

Older cats seemed to have loads of aluminium caravan windows just plonked on two hulls. These days at least the caravan windows are sometimes glued in without the aluminium frames, so that's a bit of progress, realy?
 

hobiecat

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I think catalac, prout, woods, edel, heavenly twins eventually died when FP came on the scene. All those companies have gone and the Lagoon, nautitech,BB, have appeared. They played catch up and copy - then even improved on FP designs. Would not say nautitech/Fp/lagoon/catana were instantly recognisable boats apart - they all look very similiar to me.
 

tcm

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Ooh no, i think many are very recognisable: the FP's have the black perspex "smile" design, the Lagoons have the vertical conservatory windows all round the forward side of the saloon which is a tinily bit reminiscent of the Enterprise but makes you wonder what would happen if a big waves punched them, Catana have the helm position way out on one stern to save a few quid in helm mechanicals and keep the skipper out of earshot.

What car do you drive victor? - this will be vair interesting to see if you have chosen a car with similarity across all models of that brand, or not.
 
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