'Beautiful Catamaran' - An Oxymoron?

Octopus · 24-03-2009, 15:55

I've been reared on classic yachts, such as those designed by Alfred Mylne, and every time someone decribes a catamaran as a 'beautiful cat' I stop in my tracks. Are they serious? I can think of many positive adjectives to describe catamarans, but beautiful, graceful and elegant are three that I would never use. Is it just me, or do others have this problem too?

Don't get me wrong, I think catamaran's in general are wonderful and some over 50ft look almost elegant, occasionally verging on the graceful and once in a while bordering on the beautiful, but for me they never quite make the grade. Which is a shame, because many people have said of my boat, "what a beautiful boat" and I've just thought "yeah, yeah, stop patronising me". This attitude detracts from my enjoyment.

Please convince me that 'beautiful catamaran' is not an oxymoron.

Chris

markpj23 · 24-03-2009, 15:59

I used to feel the same way... but the more time I spend with her the more I see her beauty. And for that matter - who cares what others think? Cats are most pretty when sailing flat at over 8 knots

S/V Illusion · 24-03-2009, 17:10

Do you really expect everyone's opinion on what constitutes beauty to be the same?

Meck · 24-03-2009, 17:24

No offense, but you sound like a Ferrari dealer talking about a Porsche..

Cheers,

Jon

snort · 24-03-2009, 18:12

Some catamarans are beautiful to me, some monoulls are ugly. Some trimarans are beautiful and some are not. There! That's probably the most profound thing I'll have said today.

Aussiesuede · 24-03-2009, 18:22

As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think it's a lot like "First Love". You generally remain attracted to that which you first cut your teeth on. If you mention "sailboat" to the average person, they will instantly think of a monohull. If you mention "catamaran" they'll generally think of two small hulls with a trampoline between them and someone hanging off the side of it. I find that the average person who is not into sailing had no clue what soever what a cruising catamaran is - and no picture pops into their head of what one might look light. I find this to be the case everytime I have to explain it to someone. When I fwd a picture to help them visualize - I usually get a response along the lines of "That looks so cool - I've never seen one of those before". So I think someone who is into sailing will have a natural tendency towards thinking of beauty in the terms of "classic" mono lines. But those who are outside of the sport - I find more often tha they gravitate towards the lines of the newer cruising cats when they see one. So if talking to a sailor, I think that most would say that a classic monohul is more beautiful. But if you were to just sit a picture of a Privilege 745 next to an Oyster 80 - (BOTH GORGEOUS yachts) I think most of those without any connection to sailing would pick the Privilege 745.

snort · 24-03-2009, 19:04

Low freeboard on that monohull....or are they shuttling cattle to market?

44'cruisingcat · 24-03-2009, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octopus

I've been reared on classic yachts, such as those designed by Alfred Mylne, and every time someone decribes a catamaran as a 'beautiful cat' I stop in my tracks. Are they serious? I can think of many positive adjectives to describe catamarans, but beautiful, graceful and elegant are three that I would never use. Is it just me, or do others have this problem too?

Don't get me wrong, I think catamaran's in general are wonderful and some over 50ft look almost elegant, occasionally verging on the graceful and once in a while bordering on the beautiful, but for me they never quite make the grade. Which is a shame, because many people have said of my boat, "what a beautiful boat" and I've just thought "yeah, yeah, stop patronising me". This attitude detracts from my enjoyment.

Please convince me that 'beautiful catamaran' is not an oxymoron.

Chris

It's impossible to convince someone that they like something they don't.

But if your boat is too offensive for you, I'm willing to take it off your hands.

cat man do · 24-03-2009, 19:17

Sex on 2 hulls

Ram · 24-03-2009, 19:38

Chris
Why did you buy a cat ??

Octopus · 24-03-2009, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat man do

Sex on 2 hulls

Sexy? Perhaps. Stylish certainly. Beautiful, er no.

Chris

Octopus · 24-03-2009, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ram

Chris
Why did you buy a cat ??

For a thousand other reasons that have nothing to do with beauty.
Chris

Octopus · 24-03-2009, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

It's impossible to convince someone that they like something they don't.

But if your boat is too offensive for you, I'm willing to take it off your hands.

I like my cat, I love my cat, but like all others cats it just isn't beautiful to me.
Chris

Octopus · 24-03-2009, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussiesuede

As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think it's a lot like "First Love". You generally remain attracted to that which you first cut your teeth on. ... I think that most would say that a classic monohul is more beautiful. But if you were to just sit a picture of a Privilege 745 next to an Oyster 80 - (BOTH GORGEOUS yachts) I think most of those without any connection to sailing would pick the Privilege 745.

Now we are getting somewhere. That Privilege 745 is certainly bordering on the beautiful.
Chris

Meridian · 24-03-2009, 23:29

[quote=cat man do;267897]Sex on 2 hulls

Yeah, BAD sex. Like a bag over her head, and one over your head in case hers falls off kind of sex. "Fugly" comes to mind...

Saw a Catana 52 the other day...good looking for a cat.

Hope no one got their feelers hurt.
John