Are monohulls safer in a gale?

[Factor]

No Eric - its shockingly evidential. Get the video out, you can see the people themselves talking and the captain of the rescue ship and listen to the recordings of the radio operator and boats he was talking to.

[44'cruisingcat]

In a gale, ie winds 33-45 knots, I'd expect either type to be safe.

We sailed for 4 days in gale force conditions, in loose company with 2 other cat's and 6 mono's.

Nobody got into any real trouble, a blown headsail (on a mono) being about the worst damage.

However, the crews on the mono's spent the whole trip soaked through, the cat crews were dry. The mono's crews all had bruises, the cat's none. 2 of the cat's arrived at the anchorage 24 hours before the first of the mono's, 48 hours before the last of them.

I know where I'd prefer to be.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Factor

No Eric - its shockingly evidential. Get the video out, you can see the people themselves talking and the captain of the rescue ship and listen to the recordings of the radio operator and boats he was talking to.

A storm or two and a handful of boats is hardly some depth of factual information. One of the definitions of anecdotal is "based on personal accounts".

Until someone like Coles re-studies some massive storm with a sufficient number of multihulls and monohulls subjected to similar conditions the "mono vs multi" argument will persist on.

[smj]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I don't really like catamarans, and I worked as a charter captain on one so I'm not basing that on google images. But honestly, a well founded and well crewed multihull is fine. As others have pointed out there are WAY more things going on than just multi vs mono. All that being said I'd personally rather be on a heavy displacement monohull. The 70's era boats that are built like brick s-houses don't really have a contemporary in the multihull world. That's not to say that there aren't very able multihulls, but you're not going to find one ready to go for 40k like you can a westsail or pacific seacraft mariah, as an example.

Not correct. The Prouts were built in the 70's and would probably be a good comparison to the Westsails etc. I'm pretty sure the old Prouts have more safely sailed blue water miles than the Westsails and you could find an older Prout 35 Snowgoose for around $40,000 or less.

[Weyalan]

Given that the OP posted the question in the multihull forum, the answer is, obviously, that multihulls are safer in a gale. Had he posted in the monohull forum, the anwer would have been that monohulls are safer. Rocket surgery it ain't

[colemj]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

In a gale, ie winds 33-45 knots, I'd expect either type to be safe.

Oh. I didn't take "gale" literally and just assumed the OP meant something closer to hurricane strength.

Yes, in gale winds, as long as we aren't beating into them, we hardly notice. On a recent passage, we ran before 35-40kts with expected seas and it was a smooth ride - cook dinner, play guitar, read, etc.

And we only had one rudder!

Those are not bad conditions at all on a catamaran unless beating into it.

Mark

[ArtM]

This question is usually related to "turtling".

If a multihull goes over, it does not come back up. It is going to stay upside down.

That said, it's very very hard to flip over a low-profile, wide aspect, and heavy cruising catamaran, especially if it is being competently sailed. I believe I have heard that it has only happened once or twice ever, and at least one of those incidents related to possibly incorrect usage of a daggerboard on a somewhat lighter and narrower catamaran at high speed.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Cat's that have been abandoned in storms have been found later floating, right side up, and in fairly good condition. So they have survived with NO crew skill.

The same is true, of course, of monohulls.

Not a very convincing argument either way IMO. And for that matter, not an argument with a defensible resolution.

Jim

[s/v Beth]

Couldn't we all just hold hands and sing combaya?

[RTB]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

However, the crews on the mono's spent the whole trip soaked through, the cat crews were dry. The mono's crews all had bruises

Mono hull sailing next to Lagoon 420 Catamaran in the 2010 Harvest Moon Regatta - YouTube

I got some bruises on that PSC, as did other crewmembers. It was blowing 25 knots during the video, and picked up over 30 knots toward the finish line. I did talk with one of the crew aboard the Lagoon, after the regatta was over and we were at the docks. He had a headache from hours and hours of bombs going off on that cat....something most multi guys don't really talk about that much. Either mono or multi will get the job done. They are just very different, with good and bad/advantage-disadvantage, for each.

Maybe it all boils down to boat handling and seamanship (to answer the OP's question)?



Ralph
Refinished handrails | sailing away with R & B

[RichandHelen]

What does "bombs going off" mean?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by RichandHelen

What does "bombs going off" mean?

Has to do with cat sailing I think. Must be a horrible experience!

[colemj]

"Bombs going off" refers to waves being caught under the bridgedeck with no outlet causing loud noises and vibrations. The extent to which this happens varies greatly with different designs and sizes. All catamarans will do this at some point.

It is more annoying than horrible. Rolling downwind is horrible

It is mitigated greatly by simply changing the angle of attack to the waves.

Mark

[neilpride]

Lagoon 400 cat airborne - YouTube

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by neilpride

I will never understand how people can do that. Prefer a little rolling at or over hull speed by far!