Does size really matter?

[stevensuf]

im sure you will find a 40 footer much more comfortable than a 30 footer at anchor as well.

[boatman61]

Size will/does matter in Europe for any of you New World Folks who maybe think about crossing the Pond to visit...
Marina's over here work berth price's in metre's
6-8, 8-10, 10-12, and so on.. its much better to have a 32ft boat, rather than a 33 or 34ft as that will up your marina charge by 30-40%
So we tend to go as close as our pockets and the boat builders allow to the marina's price difference's...
if you know what I mean...

[wadesmith]

Cat comfort is all about bridgedeck height and design. Higher is better. MUST have v shape to break standing waves. All cats slap in heavy weather. Its the most unpleasant nerve rattling loud and ugly experience - Leopards do it in modest weather - not a good thing. After that, there is really no difference in stability, so creature comforts, sailing performance, appearance and the deal you are offered matter. Best to pick what you want first, then search for the best deal. If you are interested in fractional share of an FP 48, go to Catamaran The Sweetest Thing, or contact me at wade@yachtsweetestthing.com

[smj]

Originally Posted by wadesmith

Cat comfort is all about bridgedeck height and design. Higher is better. MUST have v shape to break standing waves. All cats slap in heavy weather. Its the most unpleasant nerve rattling loud and ugly experience - Leopards do it in modest weather - not a good thing. After that, there is really no difference in stability, so creature comforts, sailing performance, appearance and the deal you are offered matter. Best to pick what you want first, then search for the best deal. If you are interested in fractional share of an FP 48, go to Catamaran The Sweetest Thing, or contact me at wade@yachtsweetestthing.com

Some cats with v shapes pound worse and drag their ass more than cats with a flat bridgedeck. Higher is better up to a certain point. If you want to go higher you have to also cut back on the amount of headroom in the salon as a boat with a really high bridgedeck clearance and a bridgedeck cabin with full standing headroom will also have a raised center of gravity making the cat less stable and more prone to a bad motion in a seaway. Bridgedeck height is usually proportional to boat length, beam, hull design and cabin height.

[belizesailor]

As w most things there is happy meduim. I have friends w cats in the 65-95' range. IMHO thats just too big for cruising use (better for commecial use). Their logistics hassles and costs are exponentially higher than the 40-50' class...try finding a yard that can handle 31' beam.

Whether mono or cat I think the 40-50 range is ideal for cruising use. Specific to cats this range gives you adequate load carrying capacity for all that cruising junk and decent speed potential.