The Frugal (AKA poor) Sailor

[Yowieboy]

Thanks Boatman and Weavis for clearing up that headroom point for me. Much appreciated! I'm afraid that even my mini first mate (in stature only) wouldn't quite be able to stand up straight and hold her head up high in there...
W.

[Buzzman]

She'd be fine in the hulls and cockpit, as they are both over 6ft.

Never having been on one, relying on pics from the net, it appears the saloon in the Catalac 8m is purely for sitting down only, being two parallel berths with a pop-in table or pop-in filler piece to make the berths into a second double.

The main double berth is forrard of the saloon and is accessible mainly from one of the hulls, although some of the examples on the net showed thru-holes into the main berth area, like crawl access, from the main saloon.

So you wouldn't want to stand up there, really. Duck and enter, then step down into the hulls, where there is certainly enough headroom being 1.95m, or 6ft 6in.

[uncle stinkybob]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Sorry Jim, you’re probably right. My bad… But have you seen the prices of Harleys? And have you seen the rather poor mileage most of them get? Not particularly frugal; fun I’m sure, but not very frugal.

But whens the last time you saw a H.D. sitting in a garbage dump? My 07 FLHX gets around 45 miles to the gallon, when I sell it, I'll get as much or more than I payed. Yes, very frugal in the real world.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Bleemus

Catalacs sail like pigs. I delivered one once and we laughed the whole time at how it sucked. Sorry if I offend but a Winnebago that floats is still a piece of crap.

Well Bleemus, Ive been on several and my experience is a little different to yours.

I have however been on one where the sails were well used and passed their sell by date and that was a difficult journey. Overloading and dirty bottom can make them difficult, nay impossible to windward at times, but rectifying that problem brings them back into line.

Too many happy owners to validate your singular experience.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Yowieboy

Thanks Boatman and Weavis for clearing up that headroom point for me. Much appreciated! I'm afraid that even my mini first mate (in stature only) wouldn't quite be able to stand up straight and hold her head up high in there...
W.

Take a look at the Catalac 900 they brought out with the raised coach roof.. made a nice difference.
At 6'2" I still could not stand straight but.. life was much more comfortable.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Take a look at the Catalac 900 they brought out with the raised coach roof.. made a nice difference.
At 6'2" I still could not stand straight but.. life was much more comfortable.

The 900 is indeed the best of the Catalacs... in the smaller versions

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by weavis

The 900 is indeed the best of the Catalacs... in the smaller versions

... the Cadillac of Catalacs? The Michael Jordan of Catalacs?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Blue Crab

... the Cadillac of Catalacs? The Michael Jordan of Catalacs?

The Harley Davidson..!!!
Great in a straight line and downhill..

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by boatman61

The Harley Davidson..!!!
Great in a straight line and downhill..

You can't say this in public but I have to laugh at the Harley owners groups. First is the actual outlaw gang members, fewer by the year, combined with the huge number of folks who appear to be outlaw gang members but really are welders and such with jobs. The last of the rugged individualists my butt!

Then the dentists and other prof groups recognizable by clean clothes and balding heads.

And all these folks look down at those of us who ride comfortable steeds with mufflers.

[barnakiel]

Catillacs have good interior. Make excellent economy liveaboards.

b.

[weavis]

When I moved to the US in '98, it was the dream to get a Harley. Brits hear all the hype.

I went to the Harley shop and looked at the models. I heard them, I test rode a few.

The enjoyment I got out of the Honda Gold Wing lasted a long time...

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by weavis

When I moved to the US in '98, it was the dream to get a Harley. Brits hear all the hype.

I went to the Harley shop and looked at the models. I heard them, I test rode a few.

The enjoyment I got out of the Gold Wing lasted a long time...

SailorChic has one for sale if you've an urge to 'Relive your Youth'..
Spanish ladies love the speed buzz..
When I was working a beach concession in Fuengirola back in the 90's we ran a twin Banana that took 5 on each float.. the Brit women would be squealing about their hair and make-up by 10kts.. the senoritas would be screaming 'Venga Venga..!!!' arms waving.
2017 could be an amazing summer..

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by uncle stinkybob

But whens the last time you saw a H.D. sitting in a garbage dump? My 07 FLHX gets around 45 miles to the gallon, when I sell it, I'll get as much or more than I payed. Yes, very frugal in the real world.

Oh, that’s so cute. My bike, a Yamaha Majesty (400CCs of raw power ), gets over 70 mpg, cost me little to buy and will sell for about the same when the time comes. Maintenance costs have been oil, break pads, drive belt, and tires. Very little to go wrong. Insurance is cheap b/c of the type of bike, and the fact that if I drop it I don’t cause thousands of dollars of damage. And yes, it will go faster than any legal speed limit (at least in North America).

As for your mileage, even my car gets 50 mpg, and probably cost less than your HD.

Last year I drove my bike nearly 20,000 km on one trip, exploring Canada and the USA by bike. I can carry all that I need (including all my camping gear), all at a fraction of a cost of your noisy chrome toy. And yes, I can go as fast as desired or necessary.

So, which is truly frugal in the “real world”?

I’m sorry, but Harley’s are more about marketing than functional (frugal) bikes. The “bad boys” of the road , most of whom never really go very far b/c it costs too much, and they’re afraid to get all that shinny chrome scratched up.

(Actually, I concede there are some Harley models that might be considered frugal: The old Goldwing comes to mind.)

Back to cheap, good boats. For our American friends looking for bargains should be looking north these days. Our dollar is back down to about 75% of the value of the American greenback, which means all our boats are essentially discounted to that level. I bought my current boat in the USA shortly after the ’08 crash, when Canada didn’t suffer nearly as much. Now times have shifted back.

Frugal American buyers should look north for great deals.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by boatman61

SailorChic has one for sale if you've an urge to 'Relive your Youth'..
Spanish ladies love the speed buzz..
When I was working a beach concession in Fuengirola back in the 90's we ran a twin Banana that took 5 on each float.. the Brit women would be squealing about their hair and make-up by 10kts.. the senoritas would be screaming 'Venga Venga..!!!' arms waving.
2017 could be an amazing summer..

I have no urge to get back on a M/bike. Although I did have flashes of memories when I saw SC was selling hers..

Ive had 3 Goldwings, I CBX and a Silver Wing... Honda was my favourite Bike. Ive also had Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawazakis...

[Travelnik]

I want one of those Harley Goldwings that Mike was talking about!
My Honda Goldwing hasn't exactly been reliable, but no Honda has for me.