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xsquid77 · 24-09-2009, 18:45

Hey all. A newbie here. as my screename suggests i am a us navy vet, and crossed the pacific and indian ocean from san diego to the persian gulf 3 times..in the mid to late 90's. although i spent the majority my time below decks in the 120f-240f(depending on sea temp) engine room on 6 hour on 6 hour off shifts 24-7, on my little time off i'd creep topside and see some amazing sights(day and night) that i'll never be able to put in words. i've always lived by the ocean and have spent plenty of time on power boats(not leaving the sight of land). anyways, some time has passed - and ive gone from broke navy grease monkey to not-so-broke civil nuke engineer. im in my early 30's but i figure by my early/mid 40's i'll be in position to retire. lately i find myself thinking what to do after that, and eventhough i have reciently learned to appreciate the wonderful game of golf - i can't see myself aging on the greens of the, 'villages..floridas friendliest home town

'. i was thinking more like the blues of french polynesia - back to the pacific for a few years or more, but i want to be the captain this time!

ill be looking to do it with somthing in the 50' range. btw i have ZERO sailing experience thus far but by that time i will have taken lessons and will be ready to rock'n'roll when the time comes. but you gotta start somewhere so.....mono hull or catamaran?why or why not and how long?( in laymans terms please ) thanks in advance for any advise

Christian Van H · 24-09-2009, 19:10

Oh no. God help us...

xsquid77 · 24-09-2009, 19:17

hahah ..i expected that, thats why im asking online =)

MarkJ · 24-09-2009, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsquid77

Hey us navy vet, and crossed the pacific and indian ocean from san diego to the persian gulf 3 times..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian Van H

Oh no. God help us...

I don't know why Christian thinks it may be a controversial subject?

Let me put it to you this way: Did you go accross the Pac and Ind oceans in a MONO-hull??????? or a Twin Hull?

Do you think the US Navy is SMART

or Idiots?

Mark
I shall now duck and watch the fireworks

Bash · 24-09-2009, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsquid77

ill be looking to do it with somthing in the 50' range.

You go price a few catamarans in the 50' range and get back to us.

MarkJ · 24-09-2009, 20:28

Seriously, Xsquid77, sorry we were having a bit of fun.

This forum has a multitude of posts asking that question and its not one that can be answered. But please look through those hreads because theres great ideas, great content, and only some naughty posts like mine!

xsquid77 · 24-09-2009, 20:31

well, lets not get into a debate about intelligence. i crossed in a single hull, but it had to be because we were hauling 2 hovercrafts that carried the 100 or so hummers and tanks (in trips 4-8 vehicles at a time) to the shore when we would ballased down to flood an enternal wetdock. also a bunch of amphibious armored personell carrriers. but the navy does deploy twin hull ships, but thats not the point. the point is, i have spent most of the past ten years honing a completly different(unrelated)skill set. now i want to venture in to somthing else..so i came to a place(here) to ask about it - its not about if i can afford it - its not about if im brave enough to be out there weeks on end by myself - its not about me being able to understand the concepts that ya'll have such a firm grasp on - i already know the answers to those questions. i was just looking for the quick answer to some basic questions and i guess i came to the wrong place. thanks anyway.

iiii · 24-09-2009, 20:50

Nobody can really answer that question for you. We sail a monohull and to me it's the only thing for long cruises; owners of multis will tell you multis are the only way to go.
You have to do the reaserch and decide for yourself.
A 50 footer is one hell of a lot of boat for a beginner!
Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you can handle it.

xsquid77 · 24-09-2009, 21:11

thanks for the answer..and thats not what i was saying at all...i'm talkin down the road..way down the road after experience..i think i wrote that. i would not invest that much in somthing i knew that little about. thats why i singed up/in tonite, to ask and get some idea/s of what im getting myself into. and i was going with the 50' figure because i figure youd have a better shot in a storm. plus room for friends from time to time. im not trying to plan every last detail - seems half the fun is just rolling with it. and no, i dont mean not plan the trip somewhere. i want to learn as much about it as i can. so, so far ive figured these no difference on a huge voyage between a mono and twin - just a matter of opinion. so, in your opinion why do you think a monohull is better?

cat man do · 24-09-2009, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Do you think the US Navy is SMART

or Idiots?

Smart enough to be changing their ways

Seafighter FSF1

INDEPENDENCE Littoral Combat Ship Built in Oz

SPEARHEAD TSV1X Built in Oz

JOINT VENTURE HSV1 Built in Oz

ColdFusion · 24-09-2009, 21:36

Great looking multihulls. All they need to do now is add sails

MarkJ · 24-09-2009, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat man do

Smart enough to be changing their ways

Some Naval architect had been watching the Jetsons.

Its designed for Psycological warfare: The enemy cracks up laughing.....

George Wade · 24-09-2009, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsquid77

thanks for the answer..and thats not what i was saying at all...i'm talkin down the road... just a matter of opinion. so, in your opinion why do you think a monohull is better?

The multihull is better for comfortable passages and possibly faster ones. There is room for a full sized chart table but you will be worried about the weight of all the pilot books

The monohull will often carry more cargo, if it is well secured.

The multi will lie comfortably to anchor where a mono may be rolling its guts out... But cost more in a marina if there's space for it. I'll be bumming a berth in a multi or buying one: depending upon a few bets I've made with the future. That's my preference.

As you haven't listed voyages to Antarctica I'd invest in a charter or two in Polynesia, including Kiwi. Half pure pleasure and half exploring the seaworthiness of each. Much better than asking opinionated yachties.