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chris mac · 09-12-2020, 16:38

I own a catamaran. Full time live aboard and I do not own my own dock. In the last year I have paid extra for docking a grand total of once!
Most places have accommodation for cats. Whether it's a wall, t dock, or shallow shore slip, something is usually there.
We also tend to anchor more as the swell and wave action is less noticable.
Docking cost just really isn't a big concern in the real world for owning a cat. It may be in a very localized setting, but if you are moving around it really isnt

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75Driver

I didn’t take it as you blowing your own horn but I would guess the vast majority of CAT owners do NOT have their own dock. Mooring fees are a significant factor in calculating ownership costs. I would suspect your situation is an exception, not the rule. I think I see it too when cruising ICW’s and anecdotally looking at private mooring vs marina. Way more CATS moored in marinas than a private homes water front.

CatNewBee · 10-12-2020, 00:56

If you are a cruiser / liveaboard, you anchor out most of the time.

We only need marinas for clearing in and out of countries, serious provisioning, fuel or for repairs and haulouts. Many of this activities can also be done in ports or boat yards, where the fees are much lower. Marina prices drop significantly off-season too.

So this costs are not really a show stopper. A rented land based home is more expensive.

Barra · 10-12-2020, 14:48

Cat berthing is a bigger or smaller issue depending on where you are. In Europe it can be eye watering and gets tedious fast. Often in summer you can't get a spot at any price or have to book well ahead.

I admit to getting a bit jealous of the mono guys who could just turn up and there was always room for one more.

If cats don't cost more to berth or there isn't a shortage of suitable berths where you are just wait awhile. It's coming. Just simple supply and demand.

When you own a cat and cruise you get used to being a bit creative on how often and where you berth. Just goes with the territory. More comfortable to be anchored out on but also more need to do so more often.

JamesPNW · 10-12-2020, 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicHughV

Why a Lagoon ? These boats are Winnebago's with a sail on it. Do yourself a favor and sail one of them and some other cats before you and your check book become departed friends. Remember too, that most cats are built for the charter trade, this is akin to buying a car from a car rental company. Caveat emptor !!

I owned a L440 Cat and love it for long passages. I also owned an Oceanis 350 and use it for day sailing - was mistaken in thinking my Admiral would love a cozy mono . My 440 can cruise 7-10 knots at ease in 10-20 knots wind. I don’t care about racing so the big Cat sailing is in a much more comfortable rhythm than my mono. Although I have not seen any mono in the 45ft range could run 8-10 knots without not dumping everything on the floor. Plenty of people owned charter Cat, living onboard, sailing the globe and happy with them. Making blanket statement about charter Cats performance or quality seems ignorant at best. Each boat is unique as is as good as the owner made it to be.

Sand crab · 11-12-2020, 03:59

James, where do you keep your boat? I saw an L440 in Port Orchard, WA.
Thanks
Bobber

Ladolcevita.eh · 11-12-2020, 06:50

We love our Lagoon, we wanted comfort verses speed as we live on ours. Yes lots of lagoons there are a few lemons out there as they are a production boat.
We've been on ours for 3 years (2015 model 421).

Get a reputable survey and be picky, often brokers force you to buy something you are uncomfortable with, go with your gut. It took us 6 years to find ours, we were told that what we wanted was not out there.
We found ours.

save1960 · 11-12-2020, 07:57

Don't buy Lagoon !!! Crappy boats, unsafe and will not last long !! A total rip-off !

CatNewBee · 11-12-2020, 09:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by save1960

Don't buy Lagoon !!! Crappy boats, unsafe and will not last long !! A total rip-off !

We have a 400S2 and are very happy with it.

Have you ever stepped on board of one, from where does your bias come from? The oldest Lagoons are still around sailing the oceans, don't know how you come to this verdict.

chris mac · 11-12-2020, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by save1960

Don't buy Lagoon !!! Crappy boats, unsafe and will not last long !! A total rip-off !

Well that opinion obviously has little to no basis in reality!
I write this aboard a 1993 lagoon. So exactly how long are these boats not lasting???

P3sailor · 11-12-2020, 10:27

Probably because they're sooo very ugly!

Cadence · 11-12-2020, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by save1960

Don't buy Lagoon !!! Crappy boats, unsafe and will not last long !! A total rip-off !

I love statements like this. Unpredicted with anything.

save1960 · 11-12-2020, 11:57

Actually I have been on 3 of the newest Lagoons (not talking about the older ones which were much better made). The newer ones are poorly built with second grade materials. I also saw bulkheads glued instead of glassed. Absurd and dangerous !!

chris mac · 11-12-2020, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by save1960

Actually I have been on 3 of the newest Lagoons (not talking about the older ones which were much better made). The newer ones are poorly built with second grade materials. I also saw bulkheads glued instead of glassed. Absurd and dangerous !!

So you have been on 3 boats of a line of thousands and you condemn the entire brand.
That's alot of evidence you have put together!