Smallest Catamaran to attempt to cross the Atlantic or Pacific

[Lundy]

Hey everyone, I am wondering what everyone thinks is the smallest Catamaran that should attempt the crossing of the Atlantic or Pacific? Myself, I have no clue. Hence the reason I am asking. Not a dardevil attempt but a comfortable trip with 2 or 4 people that want to explore the beautiful destinations out there.

Lundy

[Sunspot Baby]

I am sure some 26' Prouts have done it. Wouldn't want to be in that tight space with 3 other folks though. Certainly not for the time it would take to cross the big pond.

It's not just size. Not all cats (or other boats for that matter) are created equal.

George

[David_Old_Jersey]

I seem to recall that some of the smaller Wharrams have. But don't quote me on this!

Actually it just occurs to me that I don't seem to hear much about Wharrams any more. Have they gone out of fashion as folk can now use more modern building techniques to build more "sophisticated" boats and also get more accomadation? or is it just that these folk spend less time on the Net?!!

[Ram]

I would not feel confortable in anything less than a 35-6ft. cat. Mine is 38 and 4 people crossing the Atlantic would be tops for confort and privacy.

[DtM]

Crossing the Pacific coud,l be done in smaller hops than crossing the Atlantic.

Maybe that will influence the decision.

Perhaps smaller to cross the Pacific.

[Sunspot Baby]

The hop from California to Hawaii is, I think, the longest stretch of water with no land on the planet. I am not sure I agree with the short hop theory.

George

[southernman]

Someone's done it on a Hobie 16 - remember seeing the doco on it.

[Steve Rust]

Several years ago I read a series of articles about the Wharram Tiki 21 "Cookie Monster" doing a circumnavigation. Wharrams may not be everyones cup of tea but you see them all over the world. If your budget is small there a several that may suit like the Cherokee, Iroquois, Heavenly Twin, Catalac, Prout Snowgoose, etc. All these have a long history of safe passagemaking. If you have money to spend then there are many options in the over 40 foot. Under 40 you have fewer chioces but still good boats like the PDQ 36, several Fountain Pajot models, Gemini 105, Privalege 37 and 39, Lagoon 37, etc. One other thing to think long and hard about is the idea about going cruising with 4 people. Unless you are a family man it is a recipe for failure in the long run IMO. Most of the stories I have heard about groups of friends buying a boat and going off to see the world don't seem to get past the first year. It is differant if you have a friend help out on a long passage, you know it's only for a few weeks and you can put up with any friction that develops. Most successful cruising teams seem to be husband/wife or other committed couple relationships. If you have good friends or a couple who want to go have them get their own boat and buddy boat.

[Dunkers]

Steve's words are very wise. I have seen many boats pull into an anchorage in the Caribbean after crossing the Atlantic and the crew doing a bomb burst and never meeting up again. A problem that you may not be aware of is that if you have a crew member leave the boat in some far flung port you are responsible for him/her until they either fly out or leave on another boat. That can work out very expensive if the authorities insist that you pay for his flight home, you could be talking about thousands if its a remote place.

Wharrams do seem to have disappeared off the scene. There don't seem to be a lot on the second hand market these days either but I haven't really searched that hard for them. They have made some remarkable passages and it seems that if you are a bit of a handyman then all the maintenance is relatively cheap and easy. Of course the accommodation is a little spartan but if you are on a tight budget then this may be the answer for you.

[multihemmo]

Laurent Bourgnon crossed Atlantic with a friend in a Hobiecat 18 in 1986.
Not so comfortable though. He told that he trained for the crossing so that he put his foulweather gear on, turned the shower cold water running and went sleeping there.
The "gourmet" food was a 10cm cubicle containing mainly fat; one for each day.

[Pura Vida]

F 27s, while not exactly a catamarn have crossed pacific. The first crew to complete the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific did it in a Hobie 18.

The question is why the smallest? Could the question be framed as what it the best value in a long distance cruising cat? I would be curious to hear opinions on that one myself.

[marc]

Don't know too much about the Wharrams', but I think they're far from "off the scene". On TheMultihull.com they seem to be very active
Marc

themultihull.com

[marc]

Multihull Sailing - Information and Members Forum

[emeraldsea]

Just checked out the progress on some guys bulding a Wharram 26? I think.
They hope to launch sometime this year and plan to cross the pacific.
Wouldn't catch me going with them though.