MULTIHULL MONOHULL SURVEY

[Tropic Cat]

Sean,

You might have mentioned that your beam is only 15'3"!!

[Roy M]

I'll take the cat, sell it to someone ready to make the transition, put the money in the bank and leave on my existing Searunner 40 trimaran for somewhere over the horizon.

[Tropic Cat]

Here's what surprises me... so far there are 26 catamaran owners who checked the box in the poll. I didn't realize there were that many of us.

Come on guys... any more lurkers out there?

[Little Otter]

I recently owned a monohul while my friend was shiped out and I would choose a new custom GRAINGER because I have been e-mailing back and forth with them about designing a catamaran for me and they actually CARE!!!

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by rickm505

Here's what surprises me... so far there are 26 catamaran owners who checked the box in the poll. I didn't realize there were that many of us.

Ummmm... its a little unbalanced as its in the multihull forum.
I do detest all this multi v's mono stuff on CF. I did the dream boat thing to suggest a boat that I think would be my dream boat, not the specific number of hulls. There are much more important things like quality of build - in either mono or multi; sea keeping - in mono or multi; sea worthiness - in mono or multi.... etc

Mark

[Tropic Cat]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Ummmm... its a little unbalanced as its in the multihull forum.

Mark, you managed to find it OK, but point taken, why don't you begin a new poll

[c.spots]

I have had two monohulls, then a trimaran. Unless I just wanted to do one design racing, I could never go back to one hull. I did, however come down one hull to a catamaran. I couldn't imagine a more suitable type of boat for cruising. The only downsides are the initial price (but it keeps its value), and once in a while not being able to get a marina. However, these marinas usually couldn't take a much larger monohull either, and they would have paid a higher rate.

[mangomuffins]

Once again... GUNBOAT... and...
A completely restored Vivacity 20' twin keel.

mm

[Steve Rust]

I would substitute the word multihull for catamaran so it includes trimaran owners. I would chose a Marples CC44 trimaran or maybe stick with a tried and true classic and have my Searunner 40 recreated in modern high tech composites and stretched out about 3 feet.

[Pelagic]

You cannot compare apples with apples in choosing between the 2 types of sailboats nor can you compare with the many reasons for weighing your personal priorities, in making that decision.

Having said that, with all the marketing hype and increased cost per ton to buy a catamaran, together with all the nervous multi-hull owners pushing their choice to keep the perceived value higher, for X amount of $$$ I would chose a mono hull as I would get better value in today’s market.

Also, my personal preference living in a Typhoon area is a solid foot in the water in heavy seas.

[2Hulls]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

nervous multi-hull owners

[daily show]Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!![/daily show]

[Southern Star]

Thanks Pelagic for the inciteful (and clearly unbiased) analysis of the issue - monohulls cost less per pound (or ton) than multis and therefore are to be preferred. Forget about the fact that much of the tonnage of a mono is made up of lead or cast iron, forget about the fact that many cats are now using finite stress analysis and high tech materials and construction precisely for the purpose of keeping weight down - they cost more per pound! Duhhhhhhhhhhhh! I never thought of that!

I guess I better stop buying lobster, strip loin steak and palatable wines. I see the light. From now on its only hamburger, craft dinner and bag wine for me. Yes, 'if I had a million dollars', I would still eat Kraft dinner - I'd just eat more!!!!!

Pelagic, in this 'money is no object' thread, do you really think that is the best that can be said to support buying a monohull?

Brad

[c.spots]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

You cannot compare apples with apples in choosing between the 2 types of sailboats nor can you compare with the many reasons for weighing your personal priorities, in making that decision.

Having said that, with all the marketing hype and increased cost per ton to buy a catamaran, together with all the nervous multi-hull owners pushing their choice to keep the perceived value higher, for X amount of $$$ I would chose a mono hull as I would get better value in today’s market.

Also, my personal preference living in a Typhoon area is a solid foot in the water in heavy seas.

How much does lead cost per ton?
(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

[Southern Star]

By the way Pelagic, I am not a monohull basher. I understand why some would prefer a monohull; indeed, having owned both I still subjectively prefer a number of things about certain monohulls:

1. Appearance. I still love the look of a traditional mono with some overhangs, a sweeping sheer and relatively low freeboard.
2. I prefer the motion of a well balanced mono when sailing to windward.
3. I prefer the 'seat of the pants feeling' one gets in sailing a well-balanced monohull. You are closer to the water, the boat reacts instantly to wind gusts with increased heeling, and there is often a greater subjective feeling of speed.
4. There is something romantic and inviting about a cozy, if smaller traditional saloon with lots of teak, bronze, etc., etc.

What I don't understand is a monohull owner who chooses to turn some interesting musings about personal preferences into a personal attack on those who prefer multihulls. I purchased a cat because, on balance, I preferred it to a mono for my present purposes/needs; I did NOT do so as a result of 'marketing hype'. There are some real advantages, whether or not you choose to blind yourself to them.

Further, I am not 'nervous', but rather elated about my choice. And I am decidedly not part of some Machiavellian plot of 'all the nervous multihullers pushing their choice to keep the perceived value higher'. I thought I had heard some bizarre conspiracy theories in the past, but this makes Senator Joe McCarthy's fictional list of card-carrying communists in positions of power in the US government seem positively benign. Truly sad, Pelagic. Truly sad.

Brad

[Keegan]

Originally Posted by Southern Star

1. Appearance. I still love the look of a traditional mono with some overhangs, a sweeping sheer and relatively low freeboard.
2. I prefer the motion of a well balanced mono when sailing to windward.
3. I prefer the 'seat of the pants feeling' one gets in sailing a well-balanced monohull. You are closer to the water, the boat reacts instantly to wind gusts with increased heeling, and there is often a greater subjective feeling of speed.
4. There is something romantic and inviting about a cozy, if smaller traditional saloon with lots of teak, bronze, etc., etc.

Further, I am not 'nervous', but rather elated about my choice. And I am decidedly not part of some Machiavellian plot of 'all the nervous multihullers pushing their choice to keep the perceived value higher'. I thought I had heard some bizarre conspiracy theories in the past, but this makes Senator Joe McCarthy's fictional list of card-carrying communists in positions of power in the US government seem positively benign. Truly sad, Pelagic. Truly sad.

Brad

Bravo, bravo...well said Brad! I love my cat and would not give it up but also enjoy ALL of the nice things about a mono that you have mentioned above.

Funny on the conspiracy theory also.

Keegan