500K. Cat or monohull ? Ocean crossings. Med + Bahamas. Beneteau 51.1 ?

[AboutTime1]

Lets say you have $500K to spend on a boat. You want to sail the Mediterranean for a bit then cross and sail the Bahamas. Or vice versa. Might go back and forth a couple times. Might hire crew to do it for you for some of them.

Do you buy a catamaran or a modern monohull like the Beneteau 51.1 ?

How uncomfortable is the monohull compared to the cat for the crossing ? How about at anchor ?

Slip fees are apparently very expensive in the Mediterranean, even for monohulls. More so for multi hulls. Apparently it is not easy to anchor there ?

Thanks

[Dogscout]

It's very easy to anchor out as often as you like in the Mediterranean. In my opinion a monohull is more comfortable for a ocean crossing, but a cat is more comfortable to live on while cruising. You will have to decide which one you prefer.

[Tupaia]

A cat, faster passages, more comfortable living and sufficient on board comforts to not need to stay in marinas. Of course there are good cats and not so good cats but you didn't ask that question.


In the med a 40ft cat is only slightly more expensive to moor than a 52ft mono with the same accommodation.



In the Bahamas a cat will allow access to skinny water where even a moderate draft mono might be restricted.



The primary downside is that cats are more expensive to maintain than monos.

[goboatingnow]

Monohulls are sailing boats cats are mobos with a stick

Cats are being charged 1.5 x berthing in the med at present ( or more )

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Monohulls are sailing boats cats are mobos with a stick

Cats are being charged 1.5 x berthing in the med at present ( or more )

Some people spout absolute nonsense.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

Some people spout absolute nonsense.

Ring the three marinas in Ionian Greece then come sailing and watch the number of cats actively sailing

[AboutTime1]

Originally Posted by Dogscout

In my opinion a monohull is more comfortable for a ocean crossing

Why is that ? I would have thought the cat would be more comfortable due to no healing and a less side to side rocking.

[smj]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Monohulls are sailing boats cats are mobos with a stick

Cats are being charged 1.5 x berthing in the med at present ( or more )

Even in light winds our cat will normally sail past the monohulls that are motor sailing, so I guess you’re theory doesn’t always ring true?

[django37]

Originally Posted by smj

Even in light winds our cat will normally sail past the monohulls that are motor sailing, so I guess you’re theory doesn’t always ring true?

Depends on the type of cat, doesnt it? In medium to strong winds, the cat is faster - also to windward - but most charter cats are sailed very badly. Have sailed 3 years i Greece - here you only pay by length: 0.47 Euro pr meter + VAT. Have sailed mine round the world - would never do that in a mono

[smj]

Originally Posted by django37

Depends on the type of cat, doesnt it? In medium to strong winds, the cat is faster - also to windward - but most charter cats are sailed very badly. Have sailed 3 years i Greece - here you only pay by length: 0.47 Euro pr meter + VAT. Have sailed mine round the world - would never do that in a mono

Absolutely does, and it depends on what type mono.

[Tetepare]

And here we go again.

[tamicatana]

posting this question in the multihull forum, suggesting a Bendytoy,

smells like a troll rolling in spam to me

[Dogscout]

Cats and monos move differently in swell. I like a mono moving with the swell vs a cat. It might be preference but it matters to me.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by AboutTime1

Why is that ? I would have thought the cat would be more comfortable due to no healing and a less side to side rocking.

Disclaimer: I have much, much more experience at sea on a monohull than a cat. That being said

Yes, cats don't heel or not much but to me, the buoyancy and sailing level gives a quick jerky motion when sailing upwind and the wide spread between hulls sometimes a weird, twisting motion when seas are on the beam.

Monohulls in these conditions do heel but the motion is smoother and damped by the weight of the keel.

At anchor I've watched a monohull rolling like mad while we sat comfortably in the cockpit with drinks on the table.

[smj]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Disclaimer: I have much, much more experience at sea on a monohull than a cat. That being said



Yes, cats don't heel or not much but to me, the buoyancy and sailing level gives a quick jerky motion when sailing upwind and the wide spread between hulls sometimes a weird, twisting motion when seas are on the beam.



Monohulls in these conditions do heel but the motion is smoother and damped by the weight of the keel.



At anchor I've watched a monohull rolling like mad while we sat comfortably in the cockpit with drinks on the table.

Maybe the solution would be to take a catamaran and stick a hull in the center……..[emoji16]