Choosing 50-60ft Cat vs a 40-45ft Cat

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by CatCaptain

I have no problem docking singlehanded. Otherways it is good to bee two. Anyhowe we mostly stay on anchour.

I just installed a Lewmar remote for my windlass - It works great and helps when your anchoring by yourself.

We have a full batten Mainsail and even with electric winches it is my job to put i t up. It takes some time to set, and it is advantages having my wife on the helm during this. The autopilot does the job, but not like a crewmember.

I've found that the autohelm is better then the crew member as they tend to oversteer. What I ask them to do is use the autohelm and adjust with the course variation buttons.

We tend to take down the sail longer from shore and motor the last 15 minuts to shore to avoid unwanted stress.

Couldn't agree with you more on this.


In that case I would consider furling boom and thrusters to assist in ports.
I personally can't see any reason for thrusters on a cat. I think the maintenance and cost would be worse then the 5 times per year you actually could use the thrusters. Would you just do one hull?

In the end; bigger is better!
Is that your opinion or your wifes
CatCaptain

It must be beautiful sailing Norway. I hope you can post some advice in the destinations section for that area. I have a large print of the Lofoten Wall in my office. It makes my imagination run wild. David

[Full Sail]

IMO the real issue between the 50-60 and the 40-45 is your wallet. Those 10 feet really give you almost twice the boat. As you know, things break, youll pay double for that repair. Haulouts will double. more maintenence etc. I love my boat, but sometimes (usually after I get the yard bill) I've considered downsizing a little bit.
Cheers

[Multitalent]

It depends on Your intended use, crew size, crew capability, and deep pockets. As others have noted - the maintenance, fuel, repairs, spares etc. all cost much more for larger cats. `A 45 footer is totally seaworthy in good hands and if not another 10 feet won't save you. Reserve as many cruising tickets as possible for shore excursions, added electronics, and cruising freedom.

[category4jay]

I know this is old but what did you decide?

[Sundowners]

I looked at a beautiful Lock Crowther


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Sundowners]

Typo sorry.

A 50 ft Lock Crowther in Phuket Thailand. It's an oldie 1994 it think. It looks in better condition than any of the 2010 models nearby. Let me know if you need more details. Was a good price for its size and condiion. 350k aud.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by Salacia

Hi there, I could really use some seasoned advice here. As a preamble, I am a competent mono sailor / racer, and have sailed own Catalina 42 from BC, to Mexico, and off to Hawaii. I was double handing with my wife, which meant I was mostly single handing except for watch keeping.

We're in the market for a catamaran now and have been mostly looking in the 40-45 ft range for an open ended offshore cruise. So far, we've been quite interested in Manta, privilege, and St francis.

But, I believe that there is no replacement for waterline to give added comfort, load carrying capability, etc. Because, of this I am also considering something like the FP Marquises 56.

My concern is can I handle the boat on my own and deal with the significantly increased loads, etc? I would really appreciate feedback from parties who have a cat of this size, especially anyone who has made a similar transition. Any and all suggestions and opinions are welcome. Thanks in advance for your assistance!

NO NO NO

[Barra]

We have been at anchor here in greece for the past few days with a meltemi blowing. A few boats have come and gone from our little spot as the holding is not what it looks to be. We watched a 50 foot charter boat drag onto a 60 foot private boat with just a couple aboard (both monos).

All hell broke loose in the 30 knot gusts with multiple groundings, snapped windlass shaft, burnt out elec winch, primary anchor and 60m chain cut loose etc etc It went on for hours.

My point? a big boat is a real handful when sh*t happens and if its just you and the mrs its often going to be too much to handle.

just my 10c

[dirkdig]

Over 50 ft and i think you would almost want a full time engineer to keep everything working and to help manage it.
Our 440 at 44 ft is great to manage and we can just keep up the maintenance


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by mikefp60

I learned on 42-47 foot multihulls. ASA 101,103,104,114 etc.. Was looking for something in the 50 foot max territory and ran across the FP 60 that I eventually bought. Got it for a great price. But it is magnitudes of order more difficult to handle. Two skilled sailors can run it but I prefer to have 3-4 if doing any length of passage. We've been from Trinidad to Rhode Island. Sailed probably 80% of the time. Motored the restRaising and lowering the main is quite a bit more difficult. even with elect winch.

Docking is quite a bit more difficult than any boat I handled before. My boat will sail sideways at 3 knots in a 20-25 knot blow. Huge freeboard area. Getting onto fuel docks etc is a trip. But you really don't do that all that often.

But once you get it all set up and running..... its sailing heaven. I wouldn't discourage you from going for the larger boat, and I am learning all the time, but it is more difficult to handle.

Good luck with the quest.

Mike

These are key points I think for a typical cruising couple use. I've run a lot of different cats as a charter/delivery captian and the loads vary significantly between 40' something and 50' something and up.

My concern for a typical aging cruising couple use of a larger cat is that if the power assisted winches etc went out then they could not handle the loads manually in any significant weather...that could put them in a very dangerous situation.

Docking a larger boat is a real challenge single handed, just due to the distances involved from helm to cleats if nothing else. But, in these size ranges it can easily be done by two once you get your routine down. I regularly dock boats in these size ranges with one crew member.