Best Upwind , Blue Water Cat ?

[Palarran]

Ok Darby, go with the Catana. You'll join that group of purist Franco-sailors who like to run around their boat in the buff. Ok, so you'll sail faster, closer to the wind, etc. then me but --- oh - I don't have a point, my thoughts where just drifting.

I do want to applaud you for taking the time to investigate this though. I wish my wife would have had some interest in in the planning stages of your boating experience. You'll make a good first mate.

Now, since I didn't start this thread, I can sign out - good luck.
David.

[Jeannius]

Originally Posted by Cruising Couple

Palarran .... I am sailing this ship to it's final destination! As long as you all are here to naviagte the passage with me However, I might get some crap about what I'm getting ready to say. I think I am just in love with the Catanas. Maybe it's just a woman thing and yes they are pricey, but they are just made well and have a nice flow for living aboard.

Sailing and life aboard? I know nothing about other than what others tell me. Budget? Wheew, but I like the older ones very much and Sand Crab says the older ones are built well. Apparently, their (Catana) assymetric hulls, high bridgebeck, daggerboards, and trampoline make them ideal for blue water. So, I can either A. Keep savng. B. Win the Florida Powerball C. Take $5 from each poster who drifts of hijacks a thread, in which case I will be buying my Catana in VERY short order.

I vote C and the question them, what to name her.

Darby

Catana are almost perfect catamarans with one enormous fault - in my opinion - The helm position.

I seriously considered buying a new 431 back in 2002 but eventually just couldn't contemplate sitting at the helm and being fried by the sun if the weather is good or sitting totally exposed to wind and wave if the weather is bad. I even asked Catana if the helm could be moved but was told no.

Never once regretted not buying one in the last 9 years and 38000nm aboard my Privilege.

[Sand crab]

+1.... Catanas are the perfect cat if you can live with the helm position. They are well built with Twaron (kevlar) in key places in the hulls and the interiors are way better than most. They can carry a good load without complaining and have great bridgedeck clearance. And there were few issues on boats built before 2000. Even after that I would say they are about even or ahead of Lagoon in the bitchin dept. And that's just some boats. (I read the threads) They won boat of the year for the 471 and the 50, I think. Both of those boats rock. I'd take one of those over just about any comparable sized boat by just about anybody. Some have built awnings or little biminis over the helms so there you go. My 2 cents

[Cruising Couple]

Originally Posted by Palarran

Ok Darby, go with the Catana. You'll join that group of purist Franco-sailors who like to run around their boat in the buff. Ok, so you'll sail faster, closer to the wind, etc. then me but --- oh - I don't have a point, my thoughts where just drifting.

I do want to applaud you for taking the time to investigate this though. I wish my wife would have had some interest in in the planning stages of your boating experience. You'll make a good first mate.

Now, since I didn't start this thread, I can sign out - good luck.
David.

Funny David .... Don't leave yet. I found a boat. But I have to take up a collection now. LOL

[Cruising Couple]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

+1.... Catanas are the perfect cat if you can live with the helm position. They are well built with Twaron (kevlar) in key places in the hulls and the interiors are way better than most. They can carry a good load without complaining and have great bridgedeck clearance. And there were few issues on boats built before 2000. Even after that I would say they are about even or ahead of Lagoon in the bitchin dept. And that's just some boats. (I read the threads) They won boat of the year for the 471 and the 50, I think. Both of those boats rock. I'd take one of those over just about any comparable sized boat by just about anybody. Some have built awnings or little biminis over the helms so there you go. My 2 cents

SandCrab ..... I agree with you and Jeannius .... there will have to be a bimini over the helm! We have a bimini and a dodger on our Tartan and in Florida, the bimini stays up all the time.

But look .... I found her guys! Send Money, Please. In fact, I think I'll post her on the Dream Boat thread.

Thanks,
Darby

[Cruising Couple]

Here she is:

EYB – Second hand boats - powerboats and sailing boats - Ads[d]=1&d[p]=1#tab6

And while I would prefer a white hull, I think I can suffer through.

We can all fit on this one!

WOW!
Darby

[Multihull]

Yellow ?

It reminds me of a pink submarine. Or was that yellow too?

[Sand crab]

Get the Powerball ticket. LOL

[Cruising Couple]

Originally Posted by Multihull

Yellow ?

It reminds me of a pink submarine. Or was that yellow too?

That was yellow too!

The Beatles - Yellow Submarine [Official Video] - YouTube

[Cruising Couple]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

Get the Powerball ticket. LOL

I know, right?! And then, who cares about headwinds. If we win, you are all invited aboard for the celebration!

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Cruising Couple

Here she is:

EYB – Second hand boats - powerboats and sailing boats - Ads[d]=1&d[p]=1#tab6

And while I would prefer a white hull, I think I can suffer through.

We can all fit on this one!

WOW!
Darby

Yes, that is a LaRouge design - one of the designers I mentioned earlier that make fast boats that are not well known in the US. You can get smaller models. That one has fixed keels. LaRouge designs both fixed and daggers versions and manages to get fantastic upwind performance out of both.

Mark

[Cruising Couple]

Originally Posted by colemj

Yes, that is a LaRouge design - one of the designers I mentioned earlier that make fast boats that are not well known in the US. You can get smaller models. That one has fixed keels. LaRouge designs both fixed and daggers versions and manages to get fantastic upwind performance out of both.

Mark

I love the LaRouge design, and since I am dreaming anyway, I would just prefer it on a white hull. What a beauty she is! Certainly, I would never spend that much money on a boat -- even if I had the money, but she is good to look at. Thanks for the information, maybe I will include the smaller and older models in my search and research them too. Can you tell I am a researcher by profession?! LOL

Darby

[Cruising Couple]

Mark unless there is a Hot Wheels version of the Amber Cat .... it isn't going to happen. That didn't take much research to discover they don't make them small enough and they haven't been making them long enough for us to be able to purchase one. LOL

It appears there are two for sale worldwide, both ~$2M US.

Well, it's fun to window show anyway.

[Tropic Cat]

Originally Posted by Cruising Couple

I know, right?! And then, who cares about headwinds. If we win, you are all invited aboard for the celebration!

And you know what? You'll fit every one of us on board that monster. Each of us can probably have our own stateroom

[tamicatana]

While you're dreaming, check out the Gunboat. Faster than all of 'em.