Mono that's Cat like!

[Skipper65]

Ok, stay with me here.

Wife wants the flat sailing, comfort at anchor and space of a cat. I think they are ugly as hell, don't sail the same and am dead set on a mono. But I'll admit cats are more comfortable and have more space at anchor, and in at sea (in calm seas).

I need a mono/cat! Would like to hear of Boat recommendations and ideas that are out there that have the most cat characteristics, but are monos?? Blue water capable only. Pilot houses are a definite possibility.

40 to 80 ft range and let's ignore the costs for now and pretend we're using Monopoly money.

This is a very serious question and I'm sure I'm not the only sailor out there with the same debate/problem going on in their house. Too many spouses bailout of cruising after a year, and too many sailors end up sailing alone or sailing on a cat and wishing they were on a mono. There has to be a good compromise.

Thoughts and ideas?

Thanks.

[danstanford]

Moody DS54 seems very "cat like" in terms of main deck living spaces.

[boatman61]

Sailboats Sense 57 - Sailing Yacht Beneteau

[a64pilot]

I truly, honestly don't get the whole sails flat thing that so many talk about, many Mono's sail pretty flat, and some heel way over in 10 kts of breeze, pick one that sails flat. 20 degrees is my max, actually she will usually sail a little better / faster if I reef back to 15 or so.
I have only spent one rolly night, and that was my own tiredness that caused me to anchor in what I knew was not a good spot, moved early next morning.
I'd think a larger pilot house mono would have as much room, and not have two long tunnels when you go below

[SealyTechSrvcs]

You can always have a custom boat designed for you. Boat design is usually 5% of the cost of a custom boat, and you would then have EXACTLY what you want/need - including designed for the heel and motions you're looking for.

If you're looking for more space, there's no substitute for, well, space. So, you will obviously need a broad beam. A broad beam will also improve most motions and reduce heel under sail, but it will increase heave. For the lengths you're talking, finding a boat with space and motions that will accommodate your wife.

Obviously, when we design custom boats, there is no magic design that fits everyone. Also, you never gain anything without giving else something up.

[Sea Dreaming]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I truly, honestly don't get the whole sails flat thing that so many talk about, many Mono's sail pretty flat, and some heel way over in 10 kts of breeze, pick one that sails flat. 20 degrees is my max, actually she will usually sail a little better / faster if I reef back to 15 or so.
I have only spent one rolly night, and that was my own tiredness that caused me to anchor in what I knew was not a good spot, moved early next morning.
I'd think a larger pilot house mono would have as much room, and not have two long tunnels when you go below

Sail trim makes all the difference! One does not absolutely have to heel but some boats to "stiffen up" at 15-20°. Once a boat has found its sweet spot comfort for crew improves, even at a heel.

When I first started sailing the idea of heeling scared me silly. But my imagination was pulling from the races and thrill seekers I had seen on t.v. . I have since discovered how much control one has over their boat and that comfort is much more controllable than I imagined.

Still, I do envy the folk with pilot houses. There is a psychological comfort in a wall between me and the sea that I can't control. It's a symbolic barrier but I am a simple creature and easily fooled!

[DWJ]

The boat for you is the Shannon 53 HPS A mono with all the benefits of a cat
A Motorsailer that Actually Sails

[Tayana42]

Skipper, I think it's time to embrace your inner cat. I'm a mono hull sailor but I can recognize a lot of advantages in a cruising cat. Use some of that Monopoly money to charter one and give it a good try. You might like it.

[Time2Go]

Shannon Boats
38 HPS
53/55 HPS
Going out on one this summer
New concept hull shape, strange to say the least
Cheers
Neil

[Mark424]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

Skipper, I think it's time to embrace your inner cat. I'm a mono hull sailor but I can recognize a lot of advantages in a cruising cat. Use some of that Monopoly money to charter one and give it a good try. You might like it.

To put it another way, do you want to be right or be sailing? We hear the armchair "must haves" all the times on these forums. Must have shaft drive (vs sail drive), must have staysails, must have......it's all theory until you spend time aboard, then you focus shifts to size of the ice box, depth of the boarding ladder, size of the bimini and shades, quality of the autopilot, sightlines docking. Or maybe tracking down waves if you are passagemaking.

You can be righteous and stay home, go yourself, or compromise. I've raced, chartered, cruised and crossed oceans in monos and cats over 30 years. There are good and bad versions of both. Dear friends live aboard their Hunter 49 in So Cal, is it a great sailing boat, no! teeny in mast main, massive freeboard, short keel. But the minute I climb aboard and plop down in the cockpit with good friends, sparkling water, and the smell of the ocean, I get a big grin - and that's before we leave the dock. We get to the island just fine.

There are lots of good sailing cats out there. Charter a Catana w/ a big screecher and surf down waves at 13 knots and see how much fun you have. Try a Chris White, Seawind, Schionning, Maine Cat.

Maybe it's just me, but there are no ugly sailboats once they hit 10 knots, I'm at the helm surfing and smiling.

[Cheechako]

Yes, what the world needs is a 40 foot x 18 wide mono. Flat racing shell design. Ok... maybe not, but I have thought about it before too. Too much wetted area? Too much flat panels which oil can I suppose... so let's just raise the center panel up and... oh wait! That's a cat!
I'm thinking the Moody DS....

[Mark424]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Yes, what the world needs is a 40 foot x 18 wide mono. Flat racing shell design. Ok... maybe not, but I have thought about it before too. Too much wetted area? Too much flat panels which oil can I suppose... so let's just raise the center panel up and... oh wait! That's a cat!
I'm thinking the Moody DS....

getting close: 50' x 16.9' Pogo 50, "surfboard"

[bjymd]

The Jeanneau 54 DS is wide and sails flat. It rips thru swells with 20-25 knot winds with ease. The deck is huge and has plenty of space to entertain or live. Below in the salon, there is a15 by 20 ft space which is much bigger than most cats. The primary difference is that the salon is much lower and closer to the water whereas the salon in a cat is higher and brighter. The DS54 sails beautifully at all points except directly down-wind in swells when it has a tendency to waddle. The cat,on the other hand , will handle like a floating brick and that is why they motor everywhere . Not biased at all, or at least not much. I sailed both before buying and love monohulls: classic.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Mark424

getting close: 50' x 16.9' Pogo 50, "surfboard"

That is very cool

[Stumble]

Well a performance cat will easily outsail a monohull on all points. But it does nothing to resolve the ugly factor for you.

I would suggest taking a look at something like a Rapido 60 trimaran. It sails flat like a cat, faster than anything her size not made out of carbon, and has more lounging space than you could ever use. The cabin is going to be smaller than a cat the same size, but the deck space...

All up price about $1.8 million with all the goodies (and yes you want the goodies), a stripped out version runs about $1.3 must then you don't have the carbon wing mast... and you really want the carbon wing mast.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbaVqknWn6E