What's the Right Boat for Me?

[allardr]

okay all you weathered sailors out there who love their sails. I have never sailed a multi larger than a hobbie but am seriously thinking about going with an approx 50' Cat instead of a 60' monohull when I retire. What say you all about the pros and cons. It just seems a multi would be so much more comforatable.

[Laidback]

What Budget, Where are you planning it to take you, How many people on the boat the majority of the time, Why 50ft. Of the many catamaran designs available - which ones appeal the most???

[Palarran]

I'm sure a lot of people would love to debate this. If you want to look up about 20 such debates in the past, use the Google search function. It's the small "search" button with a down arrow. Type "monohull catamaran" and read away.

[Factor]

Oh dear - here we go again.

For what its worth - Lightwave 45 would be the boat. Staying under 15 meters is important for a few bureaucratic reasons in my part of the world.

[James S]

Being over 15 meters sometimes has its benefits as well...when I imported my boat to Lebanon boats under 15 meter had to pay 25% boats over 0.

I would agree with Factor that in most cases smaller is better in the eyes of officials.
As for your question.. I'm a mono guy because I believe they are the most robust and I can pile on as much weight as I please.

Having said that, I sure like the open spaces, back decks, redundancy in having two engines and possibility of still floating with catastrophic damage to the hulls, of the Multis
.
BUT....If its going to pound in a heavy sea, as many do, I dont want it.
Keep in mind that many modern monos pound as well.

I'm a full keel guy...no pounding EVER!

[David M]

There are plenty of threads in this forum comparing mono's with cat's. What really matters is what you prefer. The best way I think to determine that is to do a number of charters of both.

[s/v Beth]

I am not going for this one again! My wife wants us to cruise on the Mariner of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) I think it has something to do with being out of the galley....

[StuckInTexas]

I had the same question, so I bought and read Gregor Tarjan's guide to Cruising Catamarans. He treats the mono vs. multi question very thoroughly. Excellent book, and well worth reading for anyone considering cruising on a multi-hull.

[Cheechako]

For comfort ,room, speed the multi wins getting from point A to Point B. For aesthetics, the pure joy of sailing, and tradition the mono wins. A 42 foot cat is huge. As you age you will find the mono companionway ladder is pretty tough on the hips and legs in rough water. The cat forces you to iso exercise a little due to the mild jerking motion, but it's nothing like dealing with the ladder and the "cave". You can sit AT your nav table in a cat and watch the radar and out the window while traveling at night. We had 17 aboard for Thanksgiving dinner in Georgetown on our cat... a cat is faster than a trawler, as roomy and burns no more fuel than a mono..

[allardr]

I love any time on the water and appreciate your comments. I want my boat to take me where ever I point the hull and have been leaning toward the multi but love some of the amenities of the mono. I am going to find a copy of Tarjans book immediatly and check into this size thing you mentioned about lebanon and austrailia. Thanks for those points. For future posts I will spend the first couple years from Trinidad to the Great Lakes and Nova Scotia, after that who knows but Austrailia is at the very top of the list.

[Factor]

MAAATE, come to australia and buy new here - but wait a while till the US dollar gets better, its nearly parity at the moment.

[StuckInTexas]

Originally Posted by Factor

MAAATE, come to australia and buy new here - but wait a while till the US dollar gets better, its nearly parity at the moment.

Dude, good advice! Might have a long wait before the dollar goes back up though.

[Joli]

I would buy the white boat.

[snort]

If price is no concern, and it isn't at this point, just buy a giant Yapluka and have it fitted out to your heart's content.
P.S. invite us all on a ride too!