Visit our Popular Forums

djtopper · 19-10-2013, 13:54

For the last year or tow, the majority of my real and fantasy catamaran world has consisted mainly of FPs, Lagoons and Leopards. They're all lovely boats and I've enjoyed sailing them. Every time, however, I've always wished for an extra 2 or 3 knots in any given situation. Oddly, in my ignorance, I've always looked at Catana cats as a bit of an oddball bunch. That rear helm always struck me as odd. Yet, I've remained intrigued.

That all changed for me last weekend when I set foot on an Outremer 5X.

Having seen just how beautiful, well built, and comfortable a daggerboard cat can be I'm now on a new quest. I must sail one. I can't believe I've ever felt otherwise. I mean, it's as clear as day why you'd want them. I simply didn't know the scale of performance increase they offer. Even still, makes very simple sense to me just by looking at how much less surface friction your hull has to the water. I feel like Saul on the road to Damascus.

I've been told that there aren't any 5Xs for charter and I suspect Gunboats will never be. So other than the various Catana's I see (and am anxiously awaiting the opportunity to sail) mainly in the BVI does anyone know of other makes / models in other locations?