38' cat OK to circumnavigate?

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by Skip JayR

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I never heard of Catamarans using drogues or parachut anchors... thats mostly theory...
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Mostly theory? Do trimarans count?

The parachute sea anchor was invented by John & Joan Casanova, who were the first to circumnavigate on a trimaran aboard their custom Horstman tri Tortuga Too.

They also proved the worth of the concept by lying to their sea anchor during what could be called survival conditions rounding Cape Horn.

If I were to cross oceans on a suitable multihull I would choose a parachute sea anchor (AND a drogue) over a liferaft.

[captlloyd]

Yeah, that last video that was supposed to scare the beejesus out of us sure didn't to me. Actually the couple are laughing and appear to be having a fun ride. The cat looks very stable. If you plan on circumnavigating the world you can expect to deal with some weather like this. Just be prepared.

[psychfeld]

very cute.

the offshore-offspring hazard should be taught in captain's class.

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

Yeah, that last video that was supposed to scare the beejesus out of us sure didn't to me. Actually the couple are laughing and appear to be having a fun ride. The cat looks very stable. If you plan on circumnavigating the world you can expect to deal with some weather like this. Just be prepared.

So in the event of this kind of weather, I am sure they were surfing in the mid to high teens, would one lock the trannys in gear to induce drag, or let em freewheel?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

So in the event of this kind of weather, I am sure they were surfing in the mid to high teens, would one lock the trannys in gear to induce drag, or let em freewheel?

I dropped the trannys in gear once on a cat while surfing in the teens to try out that theory...did not like the result...the boat felt less directionally stable and less responsive to the helm (bad combination!)...quickly put them back in neutral....normal feel returned.

Dont know why, but speculate that locking the fixed props at that speed could have churned up a lot of turbulence ahead of the rudders and thus effected handling.

[Kaptain Ken]

I highly recommend you watch a series of video's by a pair of newlyweds on board their Lagoon 38, "Honeymoon", as they enjoy their honeymoon. They chronicalled their voyage on YouTube - catch them from the beginning: S/V Honeymoon joins the Caribbean 1500 Rally (Episode 1).

[smj]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

"...So the boat should not be too small for speed (I'd count it safely at an average cruising speed of at least 12-14 knots which requires a maximum speed of 18-20 knots)..." -SkipJayR

At an average of 14.7 knots overall, Enza just barely exceeded the criteria for being safe.

I've sailed a LOT of different cruising cats and there are damn few that will consistently run those kinds of AVERAGE speeds over a long haul. Better spring for a Chris White or a Gunboat if you want to be "safe".

I seriously doubt a Chris White design or a Gunboat would consistently average 12-14 knots, unless they had really big engines!


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[psychfeld]

that is so fitting. I cannot say enough how poignant is this link.

I truly appreciate your thoughtful and gracious and pertinent info - way to pay it forward my friend!

safe sails

[Doublewammy]

We have a 43 foot cat, bought in Fort Lauderdale, we sailed back to Fremantle and now in Asia, it has been perfect for the two of us. One thing i have noticed about smaller cats is that there are heaps of the lagoon 380s out there, all across the Pacific and throughout Asia so I reckon they must be ok. I am definitely not a lagoon person just telling you how I see it.

[arsenelupiga]

interesting discussion with some original ideas however i believe this sequence is incorrect from experience. Sea also moves in direction of waves and this adds to stability of cat in that situation. Even narrow cat will benefit and is more stable than it appears

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by BambooSailor

Lagoon 420/421 does not have flybridge steering, it has bulkhead helm. All bigger Lagoons, starting L440/450 have flybridge. I tried L450 (for two weeks only) and hated it as much as you did for the same reasons. That was a deal-breaker for me.

Opps..!! Your right.. just checked my site and it was a 440...
Sorry folks.. 'Black Hole'd it...Again'

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

interesting discussion with some original ideas however i believe this sequence is incorrect from experience. Sea also moves in direction of waves and this adds to stability of cat in that situation. Even narrow cat will benefit and is more stable than it appears

Yes. Those pictures are completely inaccurate.

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[weavis]

Im going to postulate the theory for my Ph.D thesis: "Internet information may not be as accurate as some would have us believe."

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by psychfeld

the offshore-offspring hazard should be taught in captain's class.

Nice reading as a starter:

SAILING OFFSHORE IN A PRIVILEGE 39 CATAMARAN AROUND THE WORLD.Â* CAPTAIN DAVE.

[Seman]

Hello Psychfeld,
your concerns about sailing a larger boat are in my opinion unfounded.
I started to learn on a 26' trailer sailor, 2 years later I had the need to go bigger, however was concerned about my ability to handle the larger boat single handed. I bought a 35 foot mono, which I thought was already a few feet too big.
To my surprise the 35' was easier to handle.
6 month later sold & bought a 42' mono, great boat, easier to sail single handed, I sold 16 years later.
Now I sail my 48' cat.
I would suggest a cat larger then 40' would be the way to go.