Stinkpotter conversion

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mikeplummer

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Well the gin palace is up for sale; I need something that I can single hand when necessary. None of the motor boats I fancy seem to fit the criteria that I've set; speed is not of the essence but comfort and the ability to ride heavy weather is, allied to potential blue water use. Its time to join the rag and stick brigade!

The long shortlist includes Malo 37, Sweden 40, Hanse 400, Rustler 36, Regina 35 ............ However a potential googley has been bowled at me. There is a possibility of a PX with a catamaran, nice boat, ticks nearly all the boxes but theres something I can't get my brain around ....

As a stinkpotter you typically moor up in marinas, with a monohull you have the choice marina or hook, but with a catamaran marina access is limited so in most instances its hook or buoy. Is this a problem? Should I be worried?

Your thoughts please, especially from any catamaran sailors who might be reading this post.
 
marina fees for cats can be acceptable - although I tend not to use them much anyway. It really depends on the width of your cat!
 
We made the change from stinkpot to rag and stick - wouldn't go back now.

Add Nauticat to your list as well - either a 39 or 42. You either love the layout of the pilot house or you don't - personally I'm a fan (but I've got one!) Don't let anyone tell you that Nauticat only do motorsailors - both 39 and 42 are pilot house yachts, the 39 being a little quicker than the much heavier 42.

rgds

rob
 
Welcome North_Channel.
Do you know I,ve been thinking along those lines, brr phew blimey I think I,ll go an av a cold shower, sort meself out. Shouldn,t have bought YM.
Be looking at Classic boat Forums and Mags next. Shiver Me timbers, nearly succumbed! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
many cats can take the ground so add lots of beaches to the marina list. Also...cats would be not-rolling in an anchorage where monos would want to go into port. And for a given length of boat, a cat can carry a bigger hence drier tender.
 
Sailed a Catalac 9M for 11 years no problems with marinas except some charge more but you do tend to take up more space.
 
Well I think the original poster needs to think along your lines, certainly would benefit from thinking more about the single handing issue. I would disagree with him that MotorBoaters don't have the option, or take the option, of lying to the hook, why ever not? I do.

I would query the benefits of a modern motor-sailer for the single hander because the freeboards tend to be so high. I would give great thought to deck work and coming alongside, protection from going over the side, how much work can be done from the cockpit etc.

An older style aft cockpit motor-sailer like a smaller Inchcape or Fifer, though they are wood, have a nice aft cockpit you can do quite a lot from. I saw at Malpas a rather nice 30-something-footer motor-sailer ketch, grp with an aft cockpit, wheelhouse (open aft), looked an easily handled animal, lightish spars, but I don't know what the model was. Looked sort of 1970's.

I decided to stay with Motor Boats and narrowed my search to an old out of service lifeboat or a Grand Banks 36, in both cases the choice was based on high safe stanchions, a low freeboard, and level walk round decks with easy access from the wheelhouse.

I would be interested to hear of Motor Sailer options that enjoyed some of these benefits. Modern designs want to cram in as much living space as possible, and I don't think this makes them user friendly for the single hander.

The original poster should think hard about insurance, (and where to get it). I'm insured with Northern Reef who allow me single-handing, but much has been written on these forii about them not complying with UK standards, though nobody has yet said they haven't paid out. The problem is that insurance companies are becoming ever more limited in what they are interested in insuring and most will not allow it, (my experience, it may not be true).

I think I'd avoid the cat option if I was staying for any time in UK waters. Coming alongside is always necessary for fuel, shopping, water etc. so occasional marina berths are needed and they won't be popular there or easily accomodated in the season. Also the same problem applies to single handing, you're a long way from the warps when at the helm, high topsides are often a problem with them too, and although I have no experience I guess windage can be an issue when parking. On the upside away from the UK I think they'd have a lot of advantages, and deck work must be a breeze.
 
Thank you all for your comments.

As I said its a long shortlist, but the motor cruiser has to sell first before I get too carried away on its replacement.

Milltech wrote a lot of sensible comments, which co-incide very closely with my thoughts. One obstacle thats been overlooked is the potential problem of lifting a cat out if it becomes necessary, rather than just drying her out.

So what is my decision? I think the cat, although fitting so many of my requirements, has to be knocked on the head, I actually had no problems with the concept or practicalities of single handing her, thats what she had been set up for.

I would not be changing my Princess 40 had it not been for the fact that my wife "has done" boating and I can't always rely on friends for crew whenever I get the urge to use the boat. To buy the cat means a swinging mooring 15-20 mins down the river, not all potential crew would be keen on this possibly wet trip, if single handing, picking up the buoy even with a "mooring mate" attached will not be easy taking into account the confines of the only mooring available, and the wind / tide effects.

Finally, being in the marina is a sociable experience with like minded people around whatever their type of boat. There's always a helping hand or a tool available for those special jobs, with beverages available to celebrate both success or failure. I'd miss that.

Milltech, you almost stated the obvious in your last paragraph, underway the cat is the clear winner, but, every journey must come to an end unfortunately.

Thanks again for your ideas and comments.
 
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