Anywhere catamaran can't go?

[Ranshiro]

I'm in the process of getting a catamaran and transitioning to sailing the world full time. I did make a comment about perhaps getting a monohull first, to which my partner jumped in excitement proclaiming that we could now go on the French canals.

This got me curious, are there any other places I'd be missing out on being able to go by having a catamaran? Looking online it seems possible to go from Netherlands all the way through to the Black Sea (and then to Mediterranean) on a catamaran. Same with from Atlantic to the Great Lakes. But both of these require removing the mast, and while there seem to be plenty of videos online of monohulls with their mast lying on frame on the deck, I haven't seen any of such example of this on a catamaran. Is this even a thing on catamarans?

Anyway I'd be curious if there are any places catamaran owners miss out on being able to go. (I did ask a question similar to this on the monohull forum, please forgive me for somewhat double dipping).

[Tillsbury]

Even on a monohull you'd want a very shallow draft or a lifting keel to get around the canals freely.

[TeddyDiver]

The main channels are both wide and deep enough for most sailboat but for the old ones ( like the most in England or Canal du Midi in France) it's really narrow and shallow (1.4m max draft in Canal du Midi, 7' beam for narrow channels in Midlands) which excludes most sailboats..

[44'cruisingcat]

Yep, the English canal boats are pretty narrow.

[Sand crab]

Cats travel with their masts all the time on the Erie Canal and Great Loop.

https://romesentinel.com/stories/eri...business,20124

[Whomda]

Into a regular sized slip.

[Dennis.G]

Originally Posted by Whomda

Into a regular sized slip.

This is a huge deal in many locations. If trying to get into many marinas you may either find no room for you at all, or just getting stuck with a very high dock fee. Of course no problem if anchored out.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Whomda

Into a regular sized slip.

at just less than 15ft beam my prout fits into a regular size slip,and more importantly into a standard size 5m travel lift dock

[geoffr]

A prout Snowgose can do the older french/english canals with the 15' beam.

We've done the Canadian and American canals with our prout.

[Taipe]

[QUOTE=Ranshiro;3047118]I'm in the process of getting a catamaran and transitioning to sailing the world full time. I did make a comment about perhaps getting a monohull first, to which my partner jumped in excitement proclaiming that we could now go on the French canals.



Welcome to the obsession with taking to blue water! I expect you have already been told that a cat cannot right itself when upside down and is nearly impossible to right on it's own when knocked down. So if you decide on a cat, for it's obvious advantages of speed and a more level beam expanse, you would want to plan courses where confused seas are not prevalent. And, lamentably (chuckle) this leaves out a circumnavigation using any of the passages through or around the Horn.

All the best to you as you embark on lovely adventures!

[JPA Cate]

Ranshiro,

Imo, it is more to do with where you want to go. If you're into high latitude work, your average production cat or mono is going to be questionable. If you're into a through the ditches circumnavigation, it would be a different story.

There are some marinas that charge extra for catamarans, because they take up two spaces. Not all do. But you can see the logic, even while thinking it's unfair 'cause it's only one boat....

It will be a challenge to heat a cat for high latitude work. Lots more to insulate, and warm.

And if your body doesn't like twitchy motion, perhaps not the best choice. However, some people's bodies don't like the ponderous mono motion, either.

Ann

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Ranshiro

I'm in the process of getting a catamaran and transitioning to sailing the world full time. I did make a comment about perhaps getting a monohull first, to which my partner jumped in excitement proclaiming that we could now go on the French canals.

This got me curious, are there any other places I'd be missing out on being able to go by having a catamaran? Looking online it seems possible to go from Netherlands all the way through to the Black Sea (and then to Mediterranean) on a catamaran. Same with from Atlantic to the Great Lakes. But both of these require removing the mast, and while there seem to be plenty of videos online of monohulls with their mast lying on frame on the deck, I haven't seen any of such example of this on a catamaran. Is this even a thing on catamarans?

Anyway I'd be curious if there are any places catamaran owners miss out on being able to go. (I did ask a question similar to this on the monohull forum, please forgive me for somewhat double dipping).

As a WAG depending on the cats beam may be a problem.

[44'cruisingcat]

[QUOTE=Taipe;3047440]

Originally Posted by Ranshiro

I'm in the process of getting a catamaran and transitioning to sailing the world full time. I did make a comment about perhaps getting a monohull first, to which my partner jumped in excitement proclaiming that we could now go on the French canals.



Welcome to the obsession with taking to blue water! I expect you have already been told that a cat cannot right itself when upside down and is nearly impossible to right on it's own when knocked down. So if you decide on a cat, for it's obvious advantages of speed and a more level beam expanse, you would want to plan courses where confused seas are not prevalent. And, lamentably (chuckle) this leaves out a circumnavigation using any of the passages through or around the Horn.

All the best to you as you embark on lovely adventures!

Suggestion: before attempting to answer someone's question, get a clue.

[Mike Banks]

You have hit on the only limiting factor of multihulls--the width of the vessels. Big ones require specialist lifts or railway slips, which translates to MUCH MONEY for every day on the hard.

Then there are width limits to the places one can travel--but if you are into waterways or canals, a swing-keel vessel such as a Tartan 37 will do fine if you un-step the mast.

Have you considered a larger trailer-sailer? That will lose you a little size and comfort but save a bundle in marina fees.

[Cadence]

[QUOTE=44'cruisingcat;3047490]

Originally Posted by Taipe

Suggestion: before attempting to answer someone's question, get a clue.

Amen! And you aren't being even a bit crass.