I prefer tris. I like stepping down into the
hull. It's easier to maintain clearance of the beams than a bridge deck and results in a lower CE with less windage. I like compact accomodations where I feel more secure in a seaway and a
single engine for auxillary. I like sitting in the
cockpit and being able to see over the cabin. I like a
single daggerboard and a bulkhead under the
mast to transfer the
compression load of the rig.
To elaborate on a major point, with 3ft bridge deck clearance and 6ft
headroom in the deck house you're looking at a boom height of 11 or 12 ft above the
water at least given reasonable deck clearance and minimal
cabin sole and roof thickness in a hypothetical cruising cat. Compare that to 7 or 8ft on a comparible tri. Lowering the CE that much is a major factor in stability, performance and ultimately
safety.
Tris are very weight sensitive and are unsafe if overloaded. It often takes a good sized one to carry the stores that many require. Dave