Hmmmm buy a Outbound 52 used or a 56ft Crowther Cat for blue water sailing

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

We recently did a 800 mile crossing in a rally with 3 cat's and 6 mono's. Had winds over 30 knots for most of the time.

Fact is, NOBODY was comfortable. The mono sailors were constantly wet, we had heaps of noise. Off watch we'd put earplugs in to sleep. The mono guys started running out of dry clothing, bedding was wet etc. One mono sailor had a bruise from his backside to his ankle. My wife broke a fingernail.

Interestingly, NONE of the mono's skipper's wives made the crossing, all preferring to fly in. 2 of the 3 cats were crewed by couples.

2 of the cats arrived at Huon reef a day before the mono's and the other cat. So for that night we were MUCH more comfortable.

This is a story I've heard in enough variations to pursuade me that a cat is the ONLY option for anyone who wishes to travel with a woman, unless said woman by chance happens to be a sailor herself - in which case, this isn't really your decision, is it?

[videorov]

Originally Posted by neelie

Its even harder to imagine where you would haul out a 56ft cat or even where you would park it.

Yes that is something to think about. It will support itself on the short
keels if you want to DIY the bottom and other stuff.

[videorov]

Thanks for all of the replies.

[neelie]

Both GREAT boats. Each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Sadly, in the boat selection process, there is no holy grail of the one perfect design.

We had a cat and were happy with it. We're back to a mono now because of haul out issues and the constant climbing of steps. Paradoxically, we did more up and down the stairs in a cat than in a mono. Murphy's Law dictated that whatever we needed was always in the opposite hull.

As far as beaching a cat? Only in the sales brochures, or in desperation. You need that "perfect" beach and a decent tidal range and you must love racing the clock. It certainly is possible and people do it, but surprisingly few.

[Sand crab]

Here's a vid of a Catana 582. looks pretty comfortable to me.

Big cat sailing in a gale-Awesome waves, and sail control.avi - YouTube

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by neelie

As far as beaching a cat? Only in the sales brochures, or in desperation.

Got to love it when people post about stuff they have no idea about.