Desert guy with catamaran questions

[danielamartindm]

Unless you have money to burn, IMHO, buying a new boat is not a good idea. Attend some boat shows and go aboard the cats there with the admiral. She'll take a shine to one of them. Then look for a recent-year, well-equipped used one. Happy wife, happy life. Maybe.

[Tom and Maje]

Originally Posted by joesail

Tom and Mage you stress adequate storage. This is a big concern as my wife and I shop for Cats to move aboard. Wife thinks we need 50 foot to have enough room and storage but I'd like to stay under 45 so we can get into more marinas and anchorages. And the price of a used 50 is through the roof.

We have an older 44 mono now and we have no where near the storage needed for just clothes and supplies. I'd be interested if you are able to store everything you want (not just need) in your 40 or if you would recommend a slightly larger size and for what reasons.

If I am to sell everything I own and move aboard I need to feel like my cat is a nice tidy home with a place for supplies and everything I need.

Maybe a little OCD working here too.

Wife has to be happy or my liveabord days are numbered.

Well we sold everything, almost. A 44ft is nice. But don't give up seaworthiness for space. Look around. If you're used to a 44ft monohull, you'll be surprised at how much living space a cat has. And, when you're looking at the boat, think about what you could change. It really only cost us about $400 to make our pantry, but it's functional and looks nice. Look at a lot of cats. Our choices were restricted because my husband is 6'4" and needs headroom.

To be honest, your biggest challenge is not how much space is on the boat, but what you and she are going to do. I write fiction professionally, and, although, the 34 year plan was for me always to work, my husband is bored and going back to work for 5 years. Do you each have a hobby that can keep you occupied? Does she or you like to tinker? I have a friend who quilts and sells them for the price of the fabric. Other ladies do other things.

If she hasn't joined Women Who Sail, an FB group (she will need her own FB page), I suggest she do so. It's all women, and there is no question she can ask that someone doesn't have experience with.

Maje

[mikereed100]

Originally Posted by joesail

Tom and Mage you stress adequate storage. This is a big concern as my wife and I shop for Cats to move aboard. Wife thinks we need 50 foot to have enough room and storage but I'd like to stay under 45 so we can get into more marinas and anchorages. And the price of a used 50 is through the roof.

We have an older 44 mono now and we have no where near the storage needed for just clothes and supplies. I'd be interested if you are able to store everything you want (not just need) in your 40 or if you would recommend a slightly larger size and for what reasons.

If I am to sell everything I own and move aboard I need to feel like my cat is a nice tidy home with a place for supplies and everything I need.

Maybe a little OCD working here too.

Wife has to be happy or my liveabord days are numbered.

Friends cruising on a Lagoon 400 have an obscene amount of storage. He claims they put 10,000 lbs of absolutely necessary equipment aboard, sinking the boat 4" in the process. The damn thing still keeps up with us.

[arsenelupiga]

Originally Posted by mikereed100

Friends cruising on a Lagoon 400 have an obscene amount of storage. He claims they put 10,000 lbs of absolutely necessary equipment aboard, sinking the boat 4" in the process. The damn thing still keeps up with us.

you gave me courage to load it with another 1000kg

Currently estimate my L 400 at 12 T. Sub 10 kn true wind performance is still competitive comparing to monos, including upwind when seas not too bad.