Looking for cat designed for 1

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by lukejns13

I'm very debt averse Brian but my girlfriends logic is that everyone else has mortgages on their home so why shouldn't a boat be any different? Especially since we plan living on the cat for a long time.

While this is true historically a home has been viewed as an asset that at least keeps up with inflation, boats usually decrease in value. In the current economy this may not be true but a home is still more likely to hold value batter than a boat.

Not saying don't borrow for a boat if you really want it and can afford to, just that you should know what you are getting into.

[Scout 30]

I'd also take a look a the blue water capable Seawind. You can get into a newer Gemini or Endeavor for that kind of budget.

[JasonS]

We are a working couple 2 years into owning our 1999 Manta 40. We spent a good two years looking at different boats, including monohulls and cats with the smallest being a 31 foot and the largest being 46 feet. Our budget started below $100k and ended up over 2.5x that.

We attended multiple boat shows, including Cruiser's Forum at Annapolis, St Petersberg, and a couple Miami and Ft. Lauderdale shows. And we retook the learn to sail/liveaboard classes, but this time on a catamaran.

That sealed the deal and the last 12 months was spent evaluating cats in the 40 foot range - and we looked at a LOT of them!

I'm one to analyze and reanalyze. And still believe we made the right choice for us. First, don't rush. Try different boats. Take test sails where available at boat shows. Either charter a boat for a week, or look online for those who may do day charters.

Learn about the pros and cons of each boat. You're starting right by asking questions on the forums.

Do be prepared to spend 10% annually of the purchase price on maintenance/upgrades. Insurance is also significant. Know how mechanical you are and how much time you are willing to invest to learn - ie marine electrical/diesel classes, fixing a marine head, replacing an inverter, boat bottom cleaning, etc. I didn't know how to do anything 2 years ago and now handle many of the maintenance and repair chores myself.

Congratulations on starting the journey and best of luck in your search to find YOUR best boat.

Jason
Manta 40 - Breathe

[lukejns13]

Thanks a bunch for the advice Jason. You're experience is a lot similar to what ours will be soon. What are the names of the sailing and liveaboard classes you took? We both need to do that this year.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by lukejns13

Wow thanks so much for all the answers y'all. I'm so glad I made an account here. My main reason for one cabin is that I want as much interior room as possible. I love open concept cats like the helia 44 (sadly it's pretty far out of my price range) and I have no problem sacrificing an extra cabin if it means an open salon area. I guess they're few and far between though. I'm not hugely against monosails but I a million times prefer cats. Really what I care about more than anything is a cat with a big lounging area.

Ah, the objective is a big open salon area...why didn't you say so!

There is no correlation between that and number of cabins on a cat because typically they are not derived from the same space. The cabins are typically down in the hulls and the deck house (where salon is located) is on top of the bridge deck.

To maximize salon space on a smallish cat look at galley down configurations. This way the whole deck house is salon space. They built a few galley down versions of the Wildcat 35 which resulted, IMHO, in an excessively large main salon...like a small stadium. And, it still had 4 cabins & 2 heads in the hulls + a big cockpit. Even with a galley up version we've had a dozen guests aboard for happy hour with plenty of room in salon + cockpit (not even includng all the deck space...the forward tramps are also a popular lounging area...esp at night with a clear sky).

Also keep in mind that cats typically have lots of cockpit space, so having a means of opening up the salon into the cockpit (as most do) creates a lot of indoor/outdoor common space. For example, when we lived aboard we had a fully enclosed cockpit, with the main salon doors fully open it was like one big living area.

Seawinds might also interest you because they are built with a door between the main salon and cockpit that folds up and out of the way, making essentially one open air space.

The single cabin boats, like the podcat, are small boats with small spaces...not what you are looking for I think.

If you want to see some good lounge area "porn" then check out the Lagoon 62...wow...but you will need to add another comma to you budget.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by lukejns13

I'll definitely look more into that but we need something more enclosed since we're going to be living and working from it. I probably should have specified but this will be for a liveaboard. I could make do with anything but my girlfriend wants something as close to the interior of a helia 44 as possible. If only I had that kind of money.

A fully enclosed cockpit area on a cat makes a big diff for this use, but full enclosure canvas work aint cheap...plan to spend at least $5K on most cats for good qaulity custom enclosure work.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by thinwater

I think you may be surprised how often a second cabin is useful, even if it is the 2 of you. I sail with just my wife much of the time.

• One of you is snoring
• One of you has a cold
• One of you is injured and need the space
• Very hot (cooler with a bed to yourself)
• Guests
• Separate lounging/reading space

....

Ah, and his and her hulls are a very important feature of cruising cats for couples...after a squabble, you can retreat to your separate hulls and meet in the middle to make up later.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by lukejns13

I'm very debt averse Brian but my girlfriends logic is that everyone else has mortgages on their home so why shouldn't a boat be any different? Especially since we plan living on the cat for a long time.

Bad financial logic. A boat is a depreciating asset...a home MAY appreciate. Financing a non-income producing asset for personal use is a poor strategy. Similar to the logic of always having a car payment (I've never had one...I also drive a 26 y.o. Jeep!). Crowd-think is usually wrong. Its usually based on comforting conformity, not sound analysis...like a herd of lemmings waddling off the cliff...oh it feels good to belong...SPLAT!

With the money you save on interest send your GF to financial planning classes!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by brianlara 3

Two views, both easily understood.
But if ever the chips are down and the cash stops flowing in "no mortgage/loan" has to be good, imho.
Anyway Luke, the mob here at CF are going to help.

Cash is King...esp if you ever plan to go cruising...stay free of personal debt (certain types of investment/business debt are a diff thing).

[LTDsailing]

Luke,


We run a sailing school and boat brokerage in Grenada. I have two boats that might be interesting for you a PDQ 32 (2000 PDQ 32 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com) and a Seawind 1000 (1997 Seawind 1000 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com). They are both two cabin boats - but like others have said - use one of the rooms as a workshop or office. The Seawind has a really nice open layout which would be great in the Caribbean! Both boats have the advantage of starting out in Grenada - great place to start your Caribbean sailing adventures! Feel free to message me here or email me directly if you have any questions: Chris@LTDsailing.com

[lukejns13]

Wow that lagoon has an amazing interior! I'm of similar mind when it comes to debt and have also never not owned a car outright. I guess we're more looking at the boat as a house than a boat so that's how she justifies financing it. All our friends are going and buying the houses they plan on living in forever and I guess we're looking at the cat the same way but we probably shouldn't. Do younger liveaboard people typically keep their yachts forever or buy new ones every so many years?

[lukejns13]

I'll definitely check y'all out and be in touch LTD. We plan on buying our boat in the Caribbean to avoid having to sail it a long ways so it'll be nice to have a place in mind to look once we narrow down what we want.

[takeabow40]

hitchhiker cats john made a pod one that was for sale has layout you are after

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by lukejns13

Wow that lagoon has an amazing interior! I'm of similar mind when it comes to debt and have also never not owned a car outright. I guess we're more looking at the boat as a house than a boat so that's how she justifies financing it. All our friends are going and buying the houses they plan on living in forever and I guess we're looking at the cat the same way but we probably shouldn't. Do younger liveaboard people typically keep their yachts forever or buy new ones every so many years?

Never build or buy a house assuming you will live in it forever...not very likely...better to think about resale appeal/value. Life happens and houses need to be sold. Currently building my 5th house...I expect thats about average over a life time. Results from my house sales have ranged from break even to doubling my money.

Same for a boat (except the returns part). You will almost certainly sell it one day. Im only on my second cruising boat, but some swap more often. Lost money on the first one and will lose money on the second.

Boats never make financial sense, but probably best to sell a boat before the next major refit is due. Ive had my current boat for 14 years. Should have sold at about 10...and let someone else do the upcoming major refit.

[Sailorbob8599]

Just curious ... what part of Texas are y'all from?