Single or Double ????

[Deleted member 36384]

.... I can't seem to get my head round how the accomodation works in a cat even after looking at couple of websites. ....

Andy you need to look at various models to understand the various types of catamarans on the market. For example there are 30' LOA Catamarans with accommodation only in each hull (long and narrow) and with accommodation in an integrated bridge deck (fabulously spacious). You can also have bridge deck pods not integrated with hulls (narrow and spacious but you need to go outside to get to the pod).

http://www.multihulls.co.uk/
http://www.multihulls.uk.com/wharram/boats.htm

The above two web sites will give you a broad brush view of the catamaran market and styles available for cruising.

As for sailing performance ...............

 

[mikeinkwazi]

haveing some history

Andy you need to look at various models to understand the various types of catamarans on the market. For example there are 30' LOA Catamarans with accommodation only in each hull (long and narrow) and with accommodation in an integrated bridge deck (fabulously spacious). You can also have bridge deck pods not integrated with hulls (narrow and spacious but you need to go outside to get to the pod).

http://www.multihulls.co.uk/
http://www.multihulls.uk.com/wharram/boats.htm

The above two web sites will give you a broad brush view of the catamaran market and styles available for cruising.

As for sailing performance ...............

I'll confess to sailing Trimarans offshore since '73!! There are some interesting posts on this topic, as well as the usual number of bigots. I suggest reading 'The cruising Multihull' by the designer Chris White (ISBN 1-85310-287-3) for some background before looking at the market.

 

[Tropic Cat]

I would agree with the poster above who mentioned cats designed by Darren Newton (Dazcats) and Richard Woods - they can certainly show a clean pair of wakes to many monohulls of similar length.

Richard stopped and paid me a visit last year while sailing one of his Transit 38 boats through Florida. I had a chance at the helm one day and was absolutely amazed at the performance of that boat in light winds. The boat was well behaved and pointed better than some mono's I've sailed. However, my little Catalac 8M needs more wind than Richard's design to hit her hull speed and the comparison in catamaran designs of the '80' to today's boats is notable. Current catamaran designs are definitely not your father's catamaran.

 

[snowleopard]

my little Catalac 8M needs more wind than Richard's design to hit her hull speed

The Catalac is one of the few cats around to have a 'hull speed'. The underwater shape creates waves in a way most modern designs don't. The general rule is that a hull beam:length ratio of 1:8 or better prevents significant wave formation.

 

[Talbot]

The Catalac is one of the few cats around to have a 'hull speed'. The underwater shape creates waves in a way most modern designs don't. The general rule is that a hull beam:length ratio of 1:8 or better prevents significant wave formation.

The Catalac underwater shape has little in common with modern catamarans. The Prout version with LARS became the defacto standard for a host of very goo reasons. However, the Catalac shape which has a number of areas more akin to motor boat design derived from wartime MTBs does have some advantages.

It will plane.

It's performance in bad weather e.g. sliding sideways down a big wave is much more on the side of safety than performance.