Explanation for the Increase in Multihull Popularity

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by ShipHappens

Now that's a perfect example of Darwin's theory of evolution in practice

I'll be, the new guy got my intent on this thread.
It wasn't a multi vs mono thread.
Welcome to CF.
ShipHappens, I think you and I are going to get along just fine.
Like your choice of username.

[belizesailor]

Awful lot of mono vs multi bias expressed here. Obviously the sailing community has not evolved beyond that tired old issue yet...with lots of cliche' old biases being posted here by both sides of the fence.

Monos and multis are simply different categories of boat design. Each with their own pros and cons and suitability to different uses.

I sail both monos and cats, and even the occasional trimaran. I even run power vessels sometimes -- in fact I used to be relief captain aboard a 55' power catamaran -- oh my -- a double sacrilege! All have their pros and cons, but regardless of the number of hulls you can have a great day on the water aboard any of them.

[MacG]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Fast mono? Contradiction in terms?

No. not really, but I prefer to stay open minded. If the environment is set for the use of multihulls, then why not. If you need to go upwind all the time matter differs.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by MacG

No. not really, but I prefer to stay open minded. If the environment is set for the use of multihulls, then why not. If you need to go upwind all the time matter differs.

Love that! You like to stay open minded, then make the classic closed minded statement of all time!!!

[Factor]

Originally Posted by clifflindsey

But if you flip them you cant flip it back over!

But if your mono sinks it wont float.

FFS why do we have this rubbish in every thread.

[44'cruisingcat]

I though he was talking about the baby!

[ShipHappens]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

I'll be, the new guy got my intent on this thread.
It wasn't a multi vs mono thread.
Welcome to CF.
ShipHappens, I think you and I are going to get along just fine.
Like your choice of username.

Thanks. Looking forward to my stay here at CF. Been lurking the forums here for a while, lots of great stuff.

Edit: Also I sail half a cat. (Close to) Zero experience with multi's, so I'm avoiding those arguments because I wouldn't be able to give objective (unbiased? ) opinions.

[MacG]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Love that! You like to stay open minded, then make the classic closed minded statement of all time!!!

Many years (whenI had still horses AND a wife) I sailed Tornado' s from our beach. I may claim at least 10 years of beach launching experience. Save for the beaches, there are no significant numbers of cat' s here in Holland - for the very reason I mentioned. Have a close look at the topography of Holland and decide for yourself.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by ShipHappens

Thanks. Looking forward to my stay here at CF. Been lurking the forums here for a while, lots of great stuff.

Edit: Also I sail half a cat. (Close to) Zero experience with multi's, so I'm avoiding those arguments because I wouldn't be able to give objective (unbiased? ) opinions.

Good on you. Pity more people with no cat experience can't do the same.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Fast mono? Contradiction in terms?

Nope. I own a Hobie 33 -- way fast mono.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Nope. I own a Hobie 33 -- way fast mono.

It was a joke joyce. I thought the whistling smiley was the univerally accepted "joke indicator".

Sure there are some quite quick mono's. It's just that there are even quicker multi's.

(Right now I'm really kicking myself I didn't take some video yesterday!)

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

It was a joke joyce. I thought the whistling smiley was the univerally accepted "joke indicator".

Sure there are some quite quick mono's. It's just that there are even quicker multi's.

(Right now I'm really kicking myself I didn't take some video yesterday!)

Yes, there are certainly multihulls that are faster. I used to race on a Corsair F-31 -- way fast! Break 20 knots without breathing hard. The H33 can approach those speeds, but it is definitely being sailed hard to do so.

But of course, neither the H33 or F31 are comfortable cruising boats. And the only cruising multis I know of that will regularly approach these speeds are large high-end boats (not what most cruising sailors are buying for sure)

To try and veer back on subject here...most big comfy cruising cats (and yes I have run many of them) are not that much faster than a monohull of similar water line length. Especially once they have been loaded up with tons (literally) of cruising gear and creature comforts. Hard on the wind they are in fact typically a bit slower. Off the wind, in just the right conditions, a bit faster.

I think the real compelling reason most people acquire cruising cats is the comfort not the speed.



(There that should throw a little fuel on the fire! )

[Factor]

So true belize, thats why you need to be careful in choosing a multi. Fat heavy loaded monos dont go to windward either indeed some of the - "its a full keel - great sea boat" monos struggle to actually sail to windward at all.

[downunder]

The following is an extract from a thread in the lagoon owners section.
Gives some indication of why multihulls are gaining in populatity.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post884204

Quote
"Speed upwind -- We experienced 35kn front wind in the Gascogne Gulf, with a sea I usually don't like to deal with: short and crossed waves.
For a first handling, it could have been a stressfull experience ...
It was, but only to some extense. The boat would behave in a very stable and reasuring way. The steering position on the flybridge gave a very secure impression (I wonder if sometime this impression should not be a danger in fact). At night, it was quite impressive to see the boat plunge into a wave, slow for a few seconds, and then accelerate again like a much light boat she is definitly not, with lots of power and reactivity (we had 2 reefs in the main at the time).
In these conditions, with no optimisation of any sort, as that was our 2nd day aboard, we averaged 11-12Kns.
Needless to say we were happy to reach the North coast of Spain ; but not at all exhausted, as I confirm the boat is incredibly confortable.

Speed downwind -- Around the Finisterre cape, we experienced 37-42 Kns at about 120°, with the according sea. The boat had a maximum speed of 13-15 Kns, and we were never stressed in any way. In fact, we all recall a very good meal this particular evening: Duck magret pommes sarladaises and a fantastic 'Côte-Rotie', all in a confort one wouldn't dream of on a monohull (my previous experiences).

Genneker speed -- I used the Lagoon Gennaker many time, but ether there were to much wind, or too little (welcome in the Med !), and altough I believe it is an obligatory piece of equipment, I didn't break any record with it. Speed would usually range in the 7-10 kns."

[sailstoo]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Fast mono? Contradiction in terms?

Cat that goes to weather...oxymoron. Cat that'll fit into a single slip...ibid. Cat that'll right itself from a knockdown...don't even think about it. Next.....