Multihullers, Tell Us What You Like About Monohulls

[fgd3]

Originally Posted by Southern Star

C'mon multihullers, the monohullers are being much more complimentary about multis! Speak now or forever hold your peace about which side is more biased!

Brad

Maybe there's a reason for that.

Based on my experience with both, monohulls point higher and have more storage space for a given length. Their performance is less degraded by additional weight. They are easier to sail because they respond to being overpowered by heeling and rounding up. Keel boats recover from a capsize without assistance.

Fabbian

[Captain Bruce M]

Southern Star --
Thank you for the positive post. I read the other current toxic exchange on this forum, and could not believe the participants were fellow boaters! Don't we boaters have far more in common than we will ever have in differences?

Perhaps your appeal for multi owners to complement monohulls is not receiving the response you had hoped is because -- quite frankly -- for a multi owner to complement a mono they would have to highlight what they do NOT like in their multi. That said, let me say (1) what I like about monohulls, or (2) what I don't like about my multi (pick one).

Safety in a real bad storm: I believe that when caught in monstrous seas, a well-built mono is safer than a well-built multi. The monohull shape is much more conducive to tolerating a structural beating than a multihull.

Helm control in a storm: Multihulls require much more hands-on at the helm, and the autopilot is occasionally overwhelmed.

Smooth ride in ocean waves: My multi is incredibly stable, but roughy so. It rights itself to the slightest heel quite abruptly. A monohull's motion is more give and take.

Less sail attention in gusty winds: A monohull heels to spill a gust without overloading the sails and rigging. My multi will not, which means I must set sail to the gust velocity, not the steady-state wind velocity.

Dockage: My 27' beam gives few options in a marina.

Haulouts: My 27' beam gives few options for haulout.

On the hard: Vehicles tend to use my catamaran as a garage.

And the big one: Capsize vs sink!! I do NOT believe cats will not sink, but most modern ones are not as likely to sink. HOWEVER - in the ocean conditions that would capsize a large cruising cat - any occupants are unlikely to be able to hang on to the smooth underbelly. The best you could do is lash your life raft the to the hull and use the hull to attract rescue. (In the "toxic thread" referred to above, I was waiting for a multi owner to point out that the standard international chart symbol for a sunken wreck is a monohull. )

I love my monohull friends.

[careka]

I like the speed and Comfort,at anchor, space, storage.
and my wife likes that its not healing over.

But SPEED and Comfort is topp 2.

just have a look.

Banque Populaire au reaching à 33 noeuds!!!! Trophée Jules Verne - YouTube

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

I have owned both types, but I am currently the owner of a 38-foot mono.

You do realise that (according to the CF Planet Multihull sub-forum) you don't actually exist......

.......what's that like?

[hawaiisun2]

Originally Posted by careka

I like the speed and Comfort,at anchor, space, storage.
and my wife likes that its not healing over.

But SPEED and Comfort is topp 2.

just have a look.

The question wasn't what you liked about your multi, rather, what you liked about Monohulls. Everyone knows about the positive attributes of catamarans as you stated. What I enjoy about multihulls, aside from the "feel" at the helm, is that aesthetically, monos are so varied and can be absolutely beautiful. We moored next to a beautiful Bristol 54 last week and it took hours just to absorb the design and all of the nuances. Ever been awed by a 20 year old white plastic cat? So, yes, I am a cat owner and I love it, but you have to admit that they all pretty much look the same overall. We are driving the Honda Accords of the sea. Extremely functional, very reliable, but very much the same. Monohull owners have Ferraris, old Studebakers, Mini Coopers and some even have station wagons. Do I want to deal with teak decks and brass fittings? NO, but I am thankful that there are those who do on these classic boats.

[boatman61]

One of the reasons Multi's are more popular with certain folk is they've wider doors...
A definite asset for some....
Else they'd have to leave their heads in the cockpit all the time....

[Kettlewell]

You do realise that (according to the CF Planet Multihull sub-forum) you don't actually exist......

.......what's that like?

Some of us have come out of the closet, but most of us are in the don't ask, don't tell phase. I have run into a few like myself that have gone back to the dark side, and for some it was because of the motion--some prefer the smoother motions of a mono. For others it was the size, cost, complexity as they were downsizing. For some it was the lack of the joy of sailing--sailing most cats is like steering a bus--fast, but no thrill. Most cat cruisers I know set the autopilot offshore and retire down below to play video games and check the radar once in awhile. When on a well-tuned mono I can sometimes sit in the cockpit hand steering all night long just for the joy of sailing under the moon and stars--that usually isn't the case on a cat. My fondest memories of pure sailing joy are mostly on monos, but I have many great cruising memories from cats mostly because of the places we went.

I enjoy trying different types of boats and I can see pluses and minuses in every design. Haven't tried a trimaran yet, but I hope to some day.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by careka

I like the speed and Comfort,at anchor, space, storage.
and my wife likes that its not healing over.

But SPEED and Comfort is topp 2.

just have a look.

Yes...that would be great if I didn't want to see anything while I was out voyaging. Crippie!!!...you might as well take a frigging jet if you're going to go that fast!

[Therapy]

After sailing on my cat and several others.............very little.

There is some romance there and memories of course.

I saw my first heavenly twins in the early eighties and ..............well..............gosh............do n't know what to say.

[Sandyh]

I think the beauty of a veteran mono gliding through the water with a full set of sail is just fantastic.

The full-on modern racers which need an engine going for the hydraulics/electrics don't do a thing for me, but a bunch of gaffers on Sydney Harbour in the annual race is just a delight!

Cheers

[David M]

Do the French ever take their time?

[Sand crab]

I like the monos because they are easier to trailer. I like cats for just about everything else. BOB

[Palarran]

When I was in St. Martin a few weeks ago, Calistov42 was in Anse Marcel. I stopped by to say hello. His Valient 42 is one of the sexiest mono's I have ever seen. I would love to sail in it.

I think that there are many Mono's that are put together with workmanship that is truly an art. I haven't seen many cats that are finished in the same way. Most are made with cheap cabinets and hardware. So, with a cat you get more space but the space is typically put together cheaply and with many mono's you get great semi-custom workmanship.
IMO

[blueayes]

And then it was said and to be:

One house, one car, one hull.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

...By far the #1 best attribute of multihulls, IMHO, is the possibility of shallow draft on an ocean going boat, opening up vast areas of exploration, reducing coastal piloting woes tremendously, providing a huge safety valve in case of error, ...

Derelict monohull sailboat aground in middle of Suisun Bay (central California, mothball fleet in background):