3 cabin or 4 cabin

[FlyingScot]

Under no circumstances could I see buying a cruising boat that doesn't have dedicated showers. Many 4 cabin layouts have 4 heads. 4 "wet" heads where you sit on the toilet to shower. No thank you.

4 cabin two head catamarans usually have separate showers. This was an option.

3 cabin two head catamarans usually have one smaller head one larger head. Typically both are "dry" with separate showers.

We went with the 3 cabin 2 head owner's layout. No regrets, but the storage is nice under a berth so an extra one would be nicer. But this doesn't outweigh the private hull when guests are aboard and we close off our side. Also, it feels much 'bigger' when you look down an entire hull as you move around. Some catamarans waste this 3 cabin layout space more than others. A large 'couch' down in a hull makes no sense to me, but some may love it.

[gsuescum]

Most of the time it will be you and your wife and you’ll want the space. When you have 4 guests in the other two cabins, you’ll desperately want the space.

[sailingforfun]

We tormented over this very decision, until some wise soul told us it's your boat and its about your comfort. That sounded like good practical advice. We chose the Lagoon 450 3 cabin and never looked back. We loved it and would do it again.

Yeah, we had the same concerns of enough space for family and friends joining us in exotic places but it seldom happened. Work, kids, school, money, etc., there was always a reason they couldn't make it. As a result, even in our 3 cabin we had an empty cabin or two more times then not.

My advice would be to place your comfort at the top of the list and buy accordingly.

[contrail]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Under no circumstances could I see buying a cruising boat that doesn't have dedicated showers. Many 4 cabin layouts have 4 heads. 4 "wet" heads where you sit on the toilet to shower. No thank you.

4 cabin two head catamarans usually have separate showers. This was an option.

3 cabin two head catamarans usually have one smaller head one larger head. Typically both are "dry" with separate showers.

We went with the 3 cabin 2 head owner's layout. No regrets, but the storage is nice under a berth so an extra one would be nicer. But this doesn't outweigh the private hull when guests are aboard and we close off our side. Also, it feels much 'bigger' when you look down an entire hull as you move around. Some catamarans waste this 3 cabin layout space more than others. A large 'couch' down in a hull makes no sense to me, but some may love it.

There are plenty of cats with "wet heads" where you do NOT sit on the head to shower! That is often a monohull thing. You just don't have separate compartments. On many, you can install a curtain.

[Canarios]

Originally Posted by jmondl

My wife & I are buying our first cat, and will predominantly use it for a several weeks at a time in the Caribbean and on the East Coast. The owner's version (3 cabin) seems most logical, but others tell me the 4 cabin is more desirable (despite the higher market demand for 3 cabin) because the 4th cabin adds more storage space, and is welcome when more guests arrive, whereas the larger shower, etc. of the 3 cabin
is only mildly more comfortable and does not off-set the benefits of a 4th cabin. Three cabin owners: do you wish you had a 4th cabin? Four cabin owners: do you miss the larger shower/head?

Of course you shall buy the the three cabin version.
We have a Lagoon 380. Had it for 11 year now. From France to Stockholm 11 years ago 10 yesrscinbthevthe Baltic sea and Stockholm Artipelkago and now sailed down to Gran Canaria Intend to stay here for several years. You have one hull for yourself. Will never have more guests than what the two other cabins can hold. You dont want to have more people onboatd. Furthermore; Fish and friends stinks after three days. We installed a deck hatch between the shower and the front Storage room, makes easy access to everything stored there.

[Wyamba]

I would say the 3 cabins. A larger head with seperate shower is a huge deal for comfort.

Plus 8 people is a lot of people on a boat when it comes to catering, dinghy ashore, water for showers etc. You probably won’t want to host that many people too often.

Even if you have kids and want to host another family, if the kids are little they can all squash up like camping - we’ve had 4 in our V-berth. We also keep a few air mattresses if teens want to sleep on deck under the awning.

[Inanna]

Two ifs:
If 40' or +44'; if visitors are couples or singles.
If 40' and visitors are couples, 6 people on board is already a lot. Eight is only for an emergency. If visitors are single, you could survive with 5 people on board.
So, if you are looking at 40', and you don't plan on having more than two couples at a time, owners is the best. They will envy your confort, but they didn't have to pay for the boat (and you will have to witness fights: nobody wants the forward cabin).
If you can afford 44+, look at the advice the 44' owners are giving, I own a 40', and wouldn't even look at a 4 cabin 40.
Good luck!

[StuM]

There's another thread going on at the moment about converting a 4 cabin to a 3 cabin. There are several older threads on the same topic.


I've never seen a thread wanting to convert a 3 cabin to a 4 cabin.

[Barra]

Originally Posted by Inanna

Two ifs:
If 40' or +44'; if visitors are couples or singles.
If 40' and visitors are couples, 6 people on board is already a lot. Eight is only for an emergency. If visitors are single, you could survive with 5 people on board.
So, if you are looking at 40', and you don't plan on having more than two couples at a time, owners is the best. They will envy your confort, but they didn't have to pay for the boat (and you will have to witness fights: nobody wants the forward cabin).
If you can afford 44+, look at the advice the 44' owners are giving, I own a 40', and wouldn't even look at a 4 cabin 40.
Good luck!

Good point on the couples vs singles but dont forget families either. For families with occasional guests 4 cabin starts making sense.

At 40 feet the usual killer is the cramped 4 wet heads in charter version more than the extra berth (which can always be useful storage)

What about a 2 head 4 cabin version though eg the FP Lucia 40?

Havnt seen the 2 head version in real life but on the plan it looks like a decent alternative to the usual charter 4x4 versions. full size dedicated shower and head.

Might be the best of both worlds at 40 feet.

Anyone seen one in real life?

[gsuescum]

Originally Posted by Barra

Good point on the couples vs singles but dont forget families either. For families with occasional guests 4 cabin starts making sense.

At 40 feet the usual killer is the cramped 4 wet heads in charter version more than the extra berth (which can always be useful storage)

What about a 2 head 4 cabin version though eg the FP Lucia 40?

Havnt seen the 2 head version in real life but on the plan it looks like a decent alternative to the usual charter 4x4 versions. full size dedicated shower and head.

Might be the best of both worlds at 40 feet.

Anyone seen one in real life?

Real life: for a few years we've been running a luxury charter business. It is a Privilege 615. It has an oversized king bed master and two king bed guest cabins. There is also a crew on board in their own queen cabin. Lot's of space and comfort, especially compared to a 40-44 footer. Everything taken care of, super easy trip.

When she isn't booked we go once or twice a year on her ourselves. We EASILY have space for 4 guests to join us for a "super fabulous" trip. With all that you will not believe how hard it is to fill up the boat. People get busy, especially those with families. You don't know how many times we end up going by ourselves or just one other couple. Just this last March we had two couples coming for 7 days of sailing in the BVI; such an easy trip. One couple canceled a week before "because the husband was stressed about missing work." This is going to happen all the time, especially when you are not picking them up right next to a super convenient airport.

Please don't go and buy a 4 cabin boat for the 4-7 days a year that you fill her up completely. Buy a 3 cabin boat for the other 95% of the time when it's just you, your wife and 4 friends.

[Sbonder]

Guillermo, I just sent you a pm.

[Wmkenney]

I have a 3 cabin Leopard 44, love the 3 cabin. It is rare we have enough guests to warrant the 4 cabin. And the owners hullnis very comfortable, closed off to the rest of the boat. Remember, most times it will be just the 2 of you, and undoubtedly the more room the better. Happy Wife Happy Life

[jmondl]

Thank you, everyone. We are sticking with the 3 cabin. As many of you note, just two of us will be aboard most of our sailing time, so we will likely appreciate the extra space there most days. When crowds arrive, they will need to use the hammock or find other accommodations. I'm very comfortable with this decision.

[BayCoastal]

We have a Lagoon 450 owners version and we love the three cabins. We would never choose four. The issue that affected us the most was that we had it in a charter program and it does charter significantly less than the four cabin boats. But for us that’s fine – less wear and tear by still offsets some cost. But when we are on it that extra space means a great deal - boats are tight as it is.

[Ostinato]

Maybe I missed it but if you are going to live aboard and do most of your own work repairing stuff then you need to think seriously about space for a workshop and washing machine. The fourth cabin on your cabin’s side can easily be converted to that and then reversed when it comes time to sell.

The washing machine is a bonus that will save you and/or your spouse a lot of time and hassle.