Performance catamarans 40-48 foot range

[Talbot]

I like the look of these
https://maxcruisemarine.com/max42sc-sailing-catamaran/

There is a YouTube channel of the build of one - worth a look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzifrNMldWE

[etoimene]

Originally Posted by CaptainRivet

look at the HH44, thats how you do it.
https://www.hhcatamarans.com/hh44

3,2kw and you can get another 0.5kw on the davits...well i am sure you could squeeze more out of this space above davits aftermaket

And brilliant use of Jeffa swinging wheels.
Seen that on one Schionning 1360. https://www.katamarans.com/schionning-arrow-1360/

I prefer HH because of more vertical cabin sides - more space and less sun entry.

These are not Formula 1 cars so I would be happy to sacrifice some aerodynamics for usability.

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by etoimene

And brilliant use of Jeffa swinging wheels.

Seen that on one Schionning 1360. https://www.katamarans.com/schionning-arrow-1360/



I prefer HH because of more vertical cabin sides - more space and less sun entry.



These are not Formula 1 cars so I would be happy to sacrifice some aerodynamics for usability.

We're debating the Jefa movable helm for our cat. Having talked to a few dozen boat owners with them, the majority have said that they seldom actually move the helm after the novelty wears off. It gets left in the up position and the owners steer like everyone else when the need to keep dry - with the autopilot. -Matt

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by Talbot

I like the look of these

https://maxcruisemarine.com/max42sc-sailing-catamaran/



There is a YouTube channel of the build of one - worth a look.

The 44sc is the same boat (2' stern extension) but produced as a sail-away, fully finished boats in the Vietnam factory. The hulls are 1:12.25 fineness ration and maybe a bit narrow for a typical cruiser. The new 48ft has a bit wider hull - similar to the Balance/Outremer - and might be a better fit if looking to load up the boat.

Matt

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by Matt Johnson

We're debating the Jefa movable helm for our cat. Having talked to a few dozen boat owners with them, the majority have said that they seldom actually move the helm after the novelty wears off. It gets left in the up position and the owners steer like everyone else when the need to keep dry - with the autopilot. -Matt

Well on most boats there just a useless gimmick but on the HH44 they make a lot sense.
Yes autopilot is used most of the time but if the **** hits the fan i am protected when hand steering and can do it in the sun when just having fun sailing.

Yes Ruby Rose was one of the good ones till they went to be seawind ambrassadors... Seawind are good ones but its just getting too much.

[poseidon2027]

Thanks everyone for the feedbacks. I didn't expect this thread to get this much action but definitely glad for all the discussions.

My favorite is probably the balance 442 however the wife and I agree that the elevated bed is a no go. It is just way to high and we plan to use the bed for other activities other then sleep and being a few feet from the ceiling would be a total hindrance. Might seem petty but it is what it is.

The seawind has the same bed problem but besides that I cant stand the dual helm looking through the saloon. Seems like a terrible design.

In my research I have come across the Aventura 44 and Vision 444. Those perfectly fit what we are looking for. My only concern would be I don't know these brands so I have no idea about their quality. If anyone has any information that would be really great. Also I believe they are kit boats so I don't think ide be able to put it together myself so these unfortunately will probably be eliminated from my list.

In the end, the condomarans might be enough for us. The plan is to sail the Caribbean for about a year then decide if we want to continue (obviously it'll be up to her). They say buy the boat you need now, not the one you may need. So for now that is what we need.

Now I just need to decide on a size. Its just the two of us so a 40 sound like its enough, but maybe we'll look up to 45 for a little better performance and limit the hobby-horsing.

In case I do have more money than I'm projecting maybe ill look into the Outremers, balance (if they jut put the bed aft the height issue would be solved), and a few others.

[Matt Johnson]

Neither the Vision or Aventura are kit boats. The Vision 444 and Seawind 1370 both have pretty wide hulls - I don't know about the Aventura - so they are a different animal (less performance) than the Balance and Outremer.

Matt

[poseidon2027]

Originally Posted by Matt Johnson

Neither the Vision or Aventura are kit boats. The Vision 444 and Seawind 1370 both have pretty wide hulls - I don't know about the Aventura - so they are a different animal (less performance) than the Balance and Outremer.

Matt

That's good to know, thank you for the information. So it seems that the Vision 444 and Seawinds are the middle ground between the condos (FPs, Lagoons and Leopards) and performance (Outremer, HH, Balance).

If that's the case and if I can find any decent reviews on the Vision 444 that may at the top of my list. I cant seem to find any reviews or anything on the Visions though but with my long time frame that should certainly change. Definitely making me excited though, while I'm not experienced enough to get one of the best performance cats, I do want some liveliness.

[slowNlow]

Originally Posted by poseidon2027

Thanks everyone for the feedbacks. I didn't expect this thread to get this much action but definitely glad for all the discussions.

My favorite is probably the balance 442 however the wife and I agree that the elevated bed is a no go. It is just way to high and we plan to use the bed for other activities other then sleep and being a few feet from the ceiling would be a total hindrance. Might seem petty but it is what it is.

The seawind has the same bed problem but besides that I cant stand the dual helm looking through the saloon. Seems like a terrible design.

In my research I have come across the Aventura 44 and Vision 444. Those perfectly fit what we are looking for. My only concern would be I don't know these brands so I have no idea about their quality. If anyone has any information that would be really great. Also I believe they are kit boats so I don't think ide be able to put it together myself so these unfortunately will probably be eliminated from my list.

In the end, the condomarans might be enough for us. The plan is to sail the Caribbean for about a year then decide if we want to continue (obviously it'll be up to her). They say buy the boat you need now, not the one you may need. So for now that is what we need.

Now I just need to decide on a size. Its just the two of us so a 40 sound like its enough, but maybe we'll look up to 45 for a little better performance and limit the hobby-horsing.

In case I do have more money than I'm projecting maybe ill look into the Outremers, balance (if they jut put the bed aft the height issue would be solved), and a few others.

Thought the same thing re bed height on some of the brands. Looks like the aft stateroom on the balance has a nice low bed…. Around 12 min into this video.

https://youtu.be/K9TpAfBhpec

[jmh2002]

Originally Posted by slowNlow

Thought the same thing re bed height on some of the brands.

Yeah, this is how most of the more performance orientated brands are going to give both a large double, as well as skinnier hulls. Whether it be from Balance or even all the way up to a big 90ft Gunboat they tend to have these beds way up high to take advantage of the bridgedeck and leave the hulls for heads, etc.

I understand the reasons and the compromises involved but I'm not much of a fan of it either.

I guess it works for some people and not for others.

Outremer seems to have resisted this so far.

[Matt Johnson]

It's people insisting on a walk around berths. How else could they meet that objective on a narrow hull? My only objection is the bridgedeck length needed to make this work and the close overhead making me a bit claustrophobic.... The bigger the boat and the less this is an issue.

Matt

[jmh2002]

Originally Posted by Matt Johnson

It's people insisting on a walk around berths. How else could they meet that objective on a narrow hull? My only objection is the bridgedeck length needed to make this work and the close overhead making me a bit claustrophobic.... The bigger the boat and the less this is an issue.

Matt

Agreed. But people don't always know what is best for them...

And of course we see this throughout different parts of boat design, especially now as more 'new to boating' customers have arrived, and as more househould features are coming to boats too.

As I said I guess it works for some people and not for others.

Some people will be happy with the compromise of height, claustrophobia, and added bridgedeck length to gain a larger double, the appearance of walk around (even when it's mostly not really), hull space for larger heads, etc, all the while keeping slimmer hulls for performance.

That's fair and can make a lot of sense. But it might not work for everyone, and some might get tired of climbing up into those high beds and having limited space for activities other than sleeping.

Still, that HUGE shower that this layout makes possible on the Balance must be really attractive for some customers.

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by poseidon2027

Thanks everyone for the feedbacks. I didn't expect this thread to get this much action but definitely glad for all the discussions.

My favorite is probably the balance 442 however the wife and I agree that the elevated bed is a no go. It is just way to high and we plan to use the bed for other activities other then sleep and being a few feet from the ceiling would be a total hindrance. Might seem petty but it is what it is.

The seawind has the same bed problem but besides that I cant stand the dual helm looking through the saloon. Seems like a terrible design.

In my research I have come across the Aventura 44 and Vision 444. Those perfectly fit what we are looking for. My only concern would be I don't know these brands so I have no idea about their quality. If anyone has any information that would be really great. Also I believe they are kit boats so I don't think ide be able to put it together myself so these unfortunately will probably be eliminated from my list.

In the end, the condomarans might be enough for us. The plan is to sail the Caribbean for about a year then decide if we want to continue (obviously it'll be up to her). They say buy the boat you need now, not the one you may need. So for now that is what we need.

Now I just need to decide on a size. Its just the two of us so a 40 sound like its enough, but maybe we'll look up to 45 for a little better performance and limit the hobby-horsing.

In case I do have more money than I'm projecting maybe ill look into the Outremers, balance (if they jut put the bed aft the height issue would be solved), and a few others.

Outremer you pay a lot for the name and the quality problems raising, for this amount of money not acceptable

Aventura not really...vision i don't know.

If just the two of you a 2-4old Neel 43 or 45 trimaran. Very well priced and fast. No new boat, let the former owner sort out the quality problems, for the price they are acceptable and can be fixed. Hard to get more comfortable performance for the amount they cost. 43 is 350+50 for extras, assume they will be 300 and most quality problems fixed when 3 years old. Assume they spend 50k additional on that.
Its mostly fit and finish stuff that sucks.

[smj]

For us ventilation is one of the most important factors in bunk placement. I’m sure the forward bunk would get better ventilation than aft? Not sure about most bridgedeck bunks, but ours has hatches that open up to the anchor locker which in turn opens up to the trampoline area. The ventilation is great, even when raining.

[jmh2002]

Balance has at least made the effort to put both hatches as well as a ducted ventilation system there, which is fantastic to see.

No idea how well it works in practice though, but absolutely it's better than no ventialtion system.

As you said, ventilation is one of the most important factors, not only for bunks, but for the whole boat.