Recommend Research Material, Please

[gwmort]

I'm looking for books to read (or online sources) that can give objective advice on the best qualities to look for in a cruising catamaran, and ideally some head to head comparisons of different designs with pros and cons.

I've been digesting everything I can find but most f it has been from designers, builders, or brokers who all seemed to extoll what they were selling.

I'm sure I'll get good advice and perspective from reading the posts here, but I am looking for objective unbiased engineering/design principles.

[tuskie]

For starters try Tarjan, Gregor (2008) "Catamarans: The Complete Guide for Cruising Sailors" International marine/ McGraw Hill.
IMHO it's a bit "Americacentric" to my (Aussie) mind, but quite authorative never the less.

[FSMike]

"The Cruising Multihull" by Chris White

[gwmort]

Thanks for the guidance.

[snort]

Have a look here: Choosing the right offshore, live-aboard catamaran.

[Intentional Drifter]

White and Tarjan are both excellent. So is Charles Kanter's two books.

I've found Bay Yacht's on-line articles to be a bit disingenuous. Their comments about what is "good" vs "bad" are both simplistic and subject to change, depending on what is being featured on the current models of the boats they are selling.

ID

[snort]

I have no relation to the website, but thought it provides a good introduction to what makes a good catamaran. I was wondering if you had any differing opinions to what's presented there. That would make for some good debate on this thread that may be helpful to the original poster.

[gwmort]

Originally Posted by snort

I was wondering if you had any differing opinions to what's presented there. That would make for some good debate on this thread that may be helpful to the original poster.

Yes please share. I had read that article before and found it to be a little too sales-pitchy. Any objective thoughts on the content to help me evaluate it would be great. I'm ordering the other books mentioned (local bookstore has very few sailing books).

[axel&andie]

Agreed with the Tarjan recommendation. Kanter's books are "ok" and have some valuable insights, but suffer from irrational/erratic organization, and haphazard and inconsistent model to model coverage. On *some* boats, he has one sentence, followed by "I know these boats very well." Well, thanks, Kanter, but where's the thoughtful, informative review of the catamaran in the first place?!
Also, the Cruising Catamaran Communique and Cruising in Catamarans are basically the same book. Communique has a bit more updated information and is the newer edition of Cruising in Catamarans, but I find it unethical to sell these books with different titles instead of just labeling them older and newer editions. I bought both, and 90% of the books are exactly the same.

[Tropic Cat]

I've found Charles Kanter to be extremely knowledgeable. He's been the bible on Cruising Cats for years, as he's spent years sailing them and living aboard.

Kanter was instrumental in guiding me to my first cruising catamaran, and I would recommend reading his latest book.

[Factor]

Chris White - The Cruising Multihull
Gavin Le Seuer - Multihull Seamanship

[axel&andie]

Originally Posted by Tropic Cat

I've found Charles Kanter to be extremely knowledgeable. He's been the bible on Cruising Cats for years, as he's spent years sailing them and living aboard.

Kanter was instrumental in guiding me to my first cruising catamaran, and I would recommend reading his latest book.

There isn't much debate about his depth of knowledge. However, the points still stand: the two books I've mentioned are very badly organized, and near-replicas of each other, even though they're sold with different titles.

[Tropic Cat]

Still, he's the authority. Is Jack Bryant still the town attorney up there in Skaneateles?

[axel&andie]

i never knew him, but heard his name in the news a few years ago, if it's the same bryant you mention.

were you friends?

i googled him to refresh my memory of the news, and i'm afraid jack and his wife were both murdered in nc.

best wishes,
axel

[Tropic Cat]

Yes Jack and Irene were very old friends. I had no idea....