Question for Beamy Cat Owners (25ft+)

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by Nahbrown

I own a Lagoon 440 that has a reduced mast to 64.5 and a 25.5ft beam. Being able to CAREFULLY navigate the ICW is a huge bonus. We have had to wait for a few tides to drop in order to fit under a few bridges.



We dont do a lot of time at marinas as we haul out in July and put back in January. We were on a dock for a few days in January after being put back into the water and 2 days in Bimini in February. All the rest is spent on the hook. When I have wanted dockage its not been an issue many times.



Haul out is another issue though and it is difficult to find places to accommodate us.

Key Largo, ft Lauderdale, Fort Peirce, Cape Canaveral, St Augustine, and Savanah Ga all have at least one place that can haul us though.



I love our big bottom girl though and the stability is tremendous, especially at anchor. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a beamy boat in the future

Thank you Nahbrown - and I bet the first time going under a 65ft bridge with just a few inches to spare must have been interesting!

[Scaramanga F25]

CatCo's marina in St Augustine.

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by GRIT

We hauled out at Georgetown, Md. They can haul up to 30 feet, as I recall. That cuts your 800 mile gap down somewhat.

GRIT has a 25 foot beam and 72 foot air draft.

I don't know if someone's already given you this list, but it's been on Cruiser's forum for a while. It's a great compilation of haulout facilities along the US east coast.

You'll normally only have to haul-out once every couple of years, so it's a concern; but I wouldn't suggest you let it hinder you from buying a boat that you like.

And to answer the OP question: Yes, we'd do it again. But you should know, we didn't build this boat "for" the US east coast, we built it to travel the world; and based our compromises on that premise.

Cheers.
Paul.

Thank you for the encouragement Paul - and thank you for the haul out list! Seems someone needs to host these online, as there’s several floating around. [emoji848]

Your point about only hauling out every year or 2 for planned maintenance is exactly what we’ve been wondering. What about emergency haulouts - is there some distance that’s reasonable?

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

We didn't have a wide beam (only 14ft) but as smj indicated...air draft is a much bigger consideration if cruising the east coast.

Having to go outside to get around low bridges can often mean long detours and if the weather is nasty, the ICW may be just fine but having to offshore may mean not being able to travel or traveling in questionable conditions.

Thank you valhalla360 - appreciate the advice!

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by SailSB

We have a leopard 46 with a 25' beam and 72' air draft.
Have been up the Chesapeake to Baltimore, down the coast to Bahamas and back twice now. Hauled in Edgewater MD, Thuderbolt GA, and Fort Lauderdale, FL We have friends that have hauled in Spanish Wells Bahamas.

To date our biggest hassles have been from mast height. If your cruising the east coast, make sure your mast is ICW friendly.

You can always find a place to haul out withing a couple hundred miles. If you can't find a slip, you can anchor. But we have misjudged weather a few times and would have loved to be safe and sound in the ICW. Had to delay movements for weeks to wait for weather, and even then had some really uncomfortable rides.

Our plan was not to cruise the east coast but go down thru the carib. So when we bought, ICW was not on our minds. Unfortunately Covid changed those plans for a year , but we are back on track now.

We are in the Dominican Republic now, at a slip for the first time since January. Looking for a weather window to hope to Purto Rico. So far had no problems getting slips When we wanted one once we left Florida. Florida had slips, but they were very expensive ($5/foot).

If I were to buy again, I would go with an ICW friendly stick. If the size you need to fit all those people prevents that, be ready for some tough sailing and lots of waiting for weather.

I did not see what your cruising plans are. You say east coast, but are you really looking for a liveaboard that will house your family and not really move too often? If so, ICW becomes less important. Find where you want to base and get the biggest thing that will fit. IF your planning on moving a lot to really explore the east coast, Mast Height will be your biggest problem.

Ken

Thank you Ken - lots of good points to consider. Ideally - we’d like to be cruising the Caribbean more than east coast US, but for hurricane season that was our plan to return to NC or venture further north.

Originally Posted by SailSB

Find where you want to base and get the biggest thing that will fit.

Thank you - we hadn’t really considered having our base somewhere else…[emoji848]

[GRIT]

Originally Posted by nc_cabin_fever

Thank you for the encouragement Paul - and thank you for the haul out list! Seems someone needs to host these online, as there’s several floating around. [emoji848]

Your point about only hauling out every year or 2 for planned maintenance is exactly what we’ve been wondering. What about emergency haulouts - is there some distance that’s reasonable?

As with everything about cruising, distance from a haulout has everything to do with your comfort level. There's always a beach around you can stop on for a quick fix, if needed.

So far, we've beached the boat for cleaning and maintenance 3 times, and hauled for paint once. It's all about your comfort level, and that changes as your experience grows.

Good luck in your search.

Paul.

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by MIRELOS

at 28'-10" ours is wide and the air draft of 86' do not allow for intercostal but we like our boat; comfortable, roomy and fast.....as far as haulouts you can get a list of yards that can haul a wide beam (try aeroyacht.com), marinas only a T birth so not all can accommodate...we anchor or take a mooring most of the time. We did not think of the logistics when we purchased her but have gotten used to it and don't mind at all.....Bon Vent and enjoy

Thank you Mirelos! Your Eleuthera 60 is a perfect example, and one we’ve considered as it accommodates our crew very well. Do you sail back to NY in the off-season?

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by Puget Dan

We have Trimaran with a 20' foot beam and have no problems getting hauled out here in the Northwest. all our commercial docks have lifts of up 30+ because of the fishing boats. Look for commercial docks and we have also found docking space by sub leasing from commercial boats. Love the beam of our boat as it has lots of room for the grandkids and the wife does not like lots of heeling.

Thanks Puget Dan - sounds like a great setup!

[captlloyd]

You didn’t state the size of your family and how often they would be sailing with you. Do you really need a cat that big ?

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by jmschmidt

Most Caribbean yards can haul big cats. There is a new maintenance center and hurricane hole in the DR which sounds really good.

Thanks jmschmidt! I guess it just depends on where we go for hurricane season.

[smj]

If you want to base out of NC you need to do some serious research on the ability to get a home base marina considering beam and mast height.
Since COVID, in my opinion finding a slip for a catamaran has gotten way harder and way more expensive. If your mast height doesn’t allow you to fit under 65’ bridges your choice of marinas will be few and far between. Now if you want to base out of the Bahamas or the Caribbean you should have way more options.

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by Flatswing

On the S Chesapeake, Zimmermans-Mathews, VA yard recently upgraded their facilities to haul cats up to 32’ beam on a specialized hydraulic trailer. Small reputable yard, quality repair facility but not inexpensive.

Thanks Jeremy - and I'm glad you mentioned Zimmerman. I had called them when we were considering a 31' ft beam - and noted:
Hydraulic Trailer, gap between the ramp and dock may be too close for 31

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by Scaramanga F25

CatCo's marina in St Augustine.

Thanks! 👍🏼

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by GRIT

As with everything about cruising, distance from a haulout has everything to do with your comfort level. There's always a beach around you can stop on for a quick fix, if needed.

So far, we've beached the boat for cleaning and maintenance 3 times, and hauled for paint once. It's all about your comfort level, and that changes as your experience grows.

Good luck in your search.

Paul.

That's really cool! 😎

[nc_cabin_fever]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

You didn’t state the size of your family and how often they would be sailing with you. Do you really need a cat that big ?

Thank you captlloyd - good question. Our crew will normally be the 6 of us, mostly teens, and occasionally 8. We've all trained on, chartered and test sailed a bunch of smaller cats. Hull length doesn't tell the whole story - but I think 44' is about as small as we want to go, and 50' seems to be our sweet spot.

But when we look at the current market, we are trying to be flexible - and there's a few larger boats that we could go for if we can get comfortable with the added complexities.