why dont you consider a multihull?

[timevans2000]

interesting reading all this debate. I have sailed various monos all my life. My last boat was a cat, my current boat is a bigger cat. We live on her every weekend in the summer. My experience is that very few people spend as much time on their boat as us. Maybe it is because they cant afford the time or maybe they havent got the comfort we have on a 37 ft cat. We have sailed 2000 miles in her this season in winds upto force 7 on several occations, usually in the Irish Sea. The reality is she is moderately fast (best 24 hour run 190 miles this year), very comfortable (less so to windward in a blow cos she will go too fast through the waves unless you reef down) and safe (I wouldnt have bought another one if I thought it was unsafe). The only place I have ever been charged more than a mono is Kilmore Quay in southern Ireland. They make up a different price everytime you go, mono or multi! This includes my cruising ground from Plymouth to Oban including Ireland. My boat has alarger than standard rig and consequently when lots of boats use the engine we sail. We have done 130 hours on the engine this year, mostly coming in and out of harbour. I doubt I would have similar statistics in most mono cruising boats

 

[kgi]

Re: why dont you consider a multihull? re reberto

UNfortunately all the "go cruising" books are written for monohulls, so most of it does not apply to the multihull brigade, you have to get into the mindset to think light, most cats only draw 1metre so anchoring is not a problem, 20 metres of chain will do it and 70 metres of rode is all you need for most anchoring situations, then you have the Fortress and the spade anchors both in aluminium more weight saved, fit a decent water maker and you can halve the size of your tanks, and all of a sudden at least 50% of your weight issues are gone, my cat steered itself all the way across the atlantic on autopilot without a problem, the only thing we did was at night we put a reef in the main, and flew the staysail, Roberto most of your fears are groundless......get a cat....have fun............keith

 

[Roberto]

Re: why dont you consider a multihull? re reberto

You are tempting me!..
As per anchoring, even with a 1m draft I would only consider to anchor in deep water, I tried the picture-like of going a few meters from the shore (either tropical sand, or stern tied to a tree) and the few times I just missed disaster. Woke up in the middle of the night, wind changed, chop built up, boat pushed to shore, cut!cut! cut! and run away, now as a rule I prefer the safety of deep water anchorage + boat free to turn. That limits a lot the available anchorages unfortunately! (I may be one of those coming next to you during the night, a good reason to buy a multi itself). And as a multi has more windage than a monohull, I would feel safe only with a heavier anchor and rode. Sorry I still miss the magic of lightweight anchors!
Dessalinators... hmm, I just made the personal accomplishment of buying a gps and with enough with electric machines, few times I sailed in other people boats more time was spent in port searching for the fridge - ac - converter - inverter technicians than actually using them..

 

[Pelican]

Click on www.cruiser.co.za (South Africa) for information on a 32ft cat with 5 doubles (2 ensuite) - very popular in the USA and with the Rand being low, selling like hot cakes!

Pelican

 

[timevans2000]

Re: why dont you consider a multihull? re reberto

In favour of multihulls

I often dry out on a beach at night using my main anchor to point me out to sea and a kedge to point the stern to the beach. This way when you float you dont swing all over the place. Also if a bit of a swell develops you dont roll.

I suppose it depends where you sail but I use a gas fridge from a caravan. It works brilliantly and uses no power. I dont think you get enough efficiency for very hot climates though

I dont like marinas. I try to avoid them at every possiblity. I never hook up to shore power because I never need to. I have a 64 watt solar panel that keeps my 220 amp domestic bank charged. I have a gas instantanious water heater that gives me a hot shower everyday. If I was sailing off long term I would fit another panel or two and a water maker

 

[kgi]

Re: why dont you consider a multihull? re reberto

II don't have a fridge in my boat, they're to much trouble, no ac either,most of the watermakers are really reliable, half the reason they fail is due to neglect, as for anchoring near the beach, just drop a kedge on the way in.........now get a cat and have fun!!!!!!!!!!..............keith

 

[Roberto]

Re: why dont you consider a multihull? re reberto

I do not see why all this passion for anchoring near the beach?! Is it the "beach with slanted coconut tree" feeling? On a dinghy or walking on the sea bottom you get wet anyway, and in the (not many) sandy shores its candid appearance often hides nasty black rocks.
If you anchor main anchor out + kedge ashore, a windshift would either push your boat hard aground (weak anchor) or far from the shore near the other monohulls, whose owners are notoriously kind and would give you a lift to your cat on their dinghies.
incidentally one more reason to buy a multi indeed!