One for catamariners

[Beadle]

I keep getting this strange whim to but a Cat.

I like the look and price of both Catalac and Heavenly Twins

Basically my question is which is best and why?

Or is there an alternative better than both?

The intended use is coastal cruising mainly self & SWMBO - occasional son and/or daughter

Speed not main priority - comfort and minimum workload more important.

 

[Lady Campanula]

HT2.

 

[oldsaltoz]

I keep getting this strange whim to but a Cat.

I like the look and price of both Catalac and Heavenly Twins

Basically my question is which is best and why?

Or is there an alternative better than both?

The intended use is coastal cruising mainly self & SWMBO - occasional son and/or daughter

Speed not main priority - comfort and minimum workload more important.

You need to have a look in some of the multi-hull forums and some boats for sale.

There are some very sleek power and sailing cats around.

But try before you buy, not all people like the sudden deck motion on some cats, have you considered hiring one?

Good luck.

PS. I used to say " catamaran, you must be joking" now I own one and wonder why I waited so long.

 

[fergie_mac66]

You cannot fault a 9m catalac apart from to windward and if properly set up with good sails a lot of improvment can be made . The 8m is comfortable for 2/3.

Good Info on the catalac here

http://www.catamaransite.com/index.html

owners group here

http://www.bobcatandcatalac.btinternet.co.uk/

 

[simonfraser]

8m catalac, had one 10 yrs ago, excellent floating caravan, motor to wind or don't bother at all.
reaches and sails downwind just fine. outboard ok. loads of space, go for it.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I owned a 9m Catalac for several years and cruised with my wife and four young children. I can't think of a safer boat for a family.
The 9m is not a sparkling performer, but we were caught out once in the Irish Sea in an F7. The only complaint was the dominoes kept sliding off the saloon table, and a flower vase fell over.
When going to windward I used to run the leeward engine. It gave us an extra knot or so and helped us point a bit better.
They are reputed to be unsinkable with closed cell foam at the ends of each hull and between the top and bottom mouldings of the cockpit sole.
AFAIK only one has ever capsized and that was because someone had fitted keels to each hull in an attempt to improve windward performance. One was pooped crossing Biscay, and because the cabin door was open the boat was filled. She stayed afloat and the crew had an interesting time bailing out.
There is, or was, a thriving owners association.

 

[catalac08]

We considered whether to get an 8M Catalac or a Heavenly Twins about 8 years ago. One big difference is that on the heavenly twins the two cabins aft of the cockpit are awkward to enter, you have a small steep step to go down into the cabins and they are quite confined in there; if you have kids or guests that need good privacy however then this is better than the overall bigger but less private accommodation on the catalac 8m. I would guess that for crossing oceans the very large and sociable cockpit on the catalac might seem a bit vulnerable to filling if hit by a big wave although lots have crossed the atlantic without mishap. I have sailed in company with a HT27 and the 8m catalac was faster on a reach and run and slightly slower closer on the wind. I think they are both well made and have devoted owners. The 8m catalac is a bit quicker than the 9M and feels like a more modern boat, it was designed about 6 years after the 9M although the production runs overlapped. The waterline length on the catalac is a fair bit longer than the HT and my impression is that it hobby horses less. As oldsaltz said the motion of a catamaran is different to a displacement monohull, but I find a quick jerky movement far preferrable to the long continuous rolling and heeling on a monohull.
Both good boats; comes down to personal preferences on accommodation and layout. Before you get set on twin diesels whatever your choice I would not rule out the petrol outboard option. You can set this up to steer to give good berthing capability and a new engine is only about £3K which would only scratch the surface at reconditioning a pair of 20 year old diesels. Yes diesels are inherently reliable on the combustion/ignition side but then you have injectors, injector pumps, fuel pumps, stern glands, clutch and other peripherals that in multiplicity add up to a less reliable package on old equipment.

 

[Boathook]

We considered whether to get an 8M Catalac or a Heavenly Twins about 8 years ago. One big difference is that on the heavenly twins the two cabins aft of the cockpit are awkward to enter, you have a small steep step to go down into the cabins and they are quite confined in there; if you have kids or guests that need good privacy however then this is better than the overall bigger but less private accommodation on the catalac 8m. I would guess that for crossing oceans the very large and sociable cockpit on the catalac might seem a bit vulnerable to filling if hit by a big wave although lots have crossed the atlantic without mishap. I have sailed in company with a HT27 and the 8m catalac was faster on a reach and run and slightly slower closer on the wind. I think they are both well made and have devoted owners. The 8m catalac is a bit quicker than the 9M and feels like a more modern boat, it was designed about 6 years after the 9M although the production runs overlapped. The waterline length on the catalac is a fair bit longer than the HT and my impression is that it hobby horses less. As oldsaltz said the motion of a catamaran is different to a displacement monohull, but I find a quick jerky movement far preferrable to the long continuous rolling and heeling on a monohull.
Both good boats; comes down to personal preferences on accommodation and layout. Before you get set on twin diesels whatever your choice I would not rule out the petrol outboard option. You can set this up to steer to give good berthing capability and a new engine is only about £3K which would only scratch the surface at reconditioning a pair of 20 year old diesels. Yes diesels are inherently reliable on the combustion/ignition side but then you have injectors, injector pumps, fuel pumps, stern glands, clutch and other peripherals that in multiplicity add up to a less reliable package on old equipment.

The 8m is quicker in lighter winds but the 9m is better in rougher conditions as the bridge deck (the bit linking the hulls) is higher and less likely to slam. Modern outboards are reliable. The only problems that I have had has been poor servicing by a mechanic and dirty fuel that got through 2 filters. The motion is something that is either liked or disliked but stowing for sea is something I consider when the wind is F5 and above.

 

[rivonia]

Hi. You are looking at very old style cats here. Solid build and NOT meant for speed but for comfortable living. Go for it. We are living aboard our "Solaris Sunrise Catamaran" In the Med at the moment. Lots of space and very safe.

Fair winds

Peter

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I keep getting this strange whim to but a Cat.

I like the look and price of both Catalac and Heavenly Twins

Basically my question is which is best and why?

Or is there an alternative better than both?

The intended use is coastal cruising mainly self & SWMBO - occasional son and/or daughter

Speed not main priority - comfort and minimum workload more important.

Catalacs have chine hulls like motorboats and sail poorly. They are really motorsailers but with good accommodation. Could never stand one myself since they really are ugly.

Heavenly Twins are good sea boats but from an earlier generation of cats and have hulls with the profile of a rocking chair. Not surprisingly they do pitch a bit. But they are very safe.

If you can run to the cost, as better bet would be a Prout.