How stable cats really are (video)

[Christopherlour]

I have taken Hobie Cats through some very large surf with the sails up. I would not like to do the same with my Corsair. I have through a low surf with a monohull when the motor quit. I felt lucky to have not been hurt.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by BillKny

Nobody who actually knows what they are talking about thinks catamarans are "easily" flipped. That is a total straw-man argument.

They are amazingly stable--most of them anyway. The big safety issue is not that catamarans flip easily, they do not. That they CAN be flipped by poor sailing technique is, of course, true.

The issue some people have is that that they ARE very stable... after they flip. there is no recovering. Very high form stability is very much a two sided coin.

True. Unfortunately a lot of people don't know what they're talking about, but still like to talk....

[Mrfish]

Originally Posted by pcmm

You need to create an account to see the video....

I didn't!

[nortonscove]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Yeah. I’m just talking about form stability. Not talking about ultimately how well the cat did in those waves and whether or not it could still motor out of there. Doesn’t look like it could.

But it stayed right side up. That’s all I’m getting at. And these conditions would have rolled any mono several times.

First I don't think many people think modern cats flip easily. Second I don't think this is typical of the situation that one would think of as when a cat might flip. My thinking would have to do with over canvassed boats and third I'm not sure about the statement regarding monohull definitely flipping. There's nothing in that video to tell us why you would make that statement. The conditions actually don't seem extraordinary for any boat other than something really small or open.

[Martkimwat]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Yeah. I’m just talking about form stability. Not talking about ultimately how well the cat did in those waves and whether or not it could still motor out of there. Doesn’t look like it could.

But it stayed right side up. That’s all I’m getting at. And these conditions would have rolled any mono several times.

Nobody disputes that cats are stable, but unfortunately they are equally as stable upside down....

[Manateeman]

The Crew and not the Captain post the following.
The crew of this vessel are experienced which holds them to a higher standard.
They were in safe harbor and had the opportunity to learn local knowledge.
They had a current forecast and facing the waves, could clearly gauge the forces.
The decision resulted in others setting forth ...at risk...in these conditions.
Simply not the definition of a Prudent Mariner.
Everyone makes mistakes.
The manatee crew .

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Manateeman

The Crew and not the Captain post the following.

The crew of this vessel are experienced which holds them to a higher standard.

They were in safe harbor and had the opportunity to learn local knowledge.

They had a current forecast and facing the waves, could clearly gauge the forces.

The decision resulted in others setting forth ...at risk...in these conditions.

Simply not the definition of a Prudent Mariner.

Everyone makes mistakes.

The manatee crew .

Sure reads like to me someone made a bad decision. Likely there was a schedule involved.

Regardless of whether mono or cat, that situation clearly had significant danger potential.

In all fairness, Ive made the call to run some pretty rough passes a few times. It worked out but could have easily gone wrong. However, big rolling breakers across the jetties as pictured I like to think would have changed my mind.

[adjo]

As they say: cats are extremely stable upside down - monos are extremely stable on the sea bed

Indeed - a lucky escape.

[Cliffhanger]

This is another good example. Especially to compare how a cat behaves with a following sea. A long keel mono might escape a broach if you are lucky and skilled but I can't imagine a modern, flat bottomed fin-keeled mono not broaching and rolling.
v=qp9WvZzxdR8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp9WvZzxdR8

[conchaway]

I am not allowed to say anything disparaging about catamarans on this site ,so let me try this: Out of curiosity, do you have any video of a catamaran being KNOCKED DOWN and righting itself?
It's just a rumor, but I've heard that a mono hull will right itself, while a catamaran will not. Please help me here.

[Cliffhanger]

Originally Posted by conchaway

I am not allowed to say anything disparaging about catamarans on this site ,so let me try this: Out of curiosity, do you have any video of a catamaran being KNOCKED DOWN and righting itself?
It's just a rumor, but I've heard that a mono hull will right itself, while a catamaran will not. Please help me here.

Oh yeah, I have a video that shows this, right next to the video of the monohull sinking and then re-floating itself...

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by conchaway

I am not allowed to say anything disparaging about catamarans on this site ,so let me try this: Out of curiosity, do you have any video of a catamaran being KNOCKED DOWN and righting itself?

It's just a rumor, but I've heard that a mono hull will right itself, while a catamaran will not. Please help me here.

Riddle me this, why more fear of capsize than sinking?

[Searles]

Maybe think again ,2016 large cat with c/ b down flips in the Derwent Tasmania in verry benign conditions accidents bo happen ,there is a lot more to the east coast incident than is being talked about , cats are stable to a point ,so are monos,knowing that point is seamanship ..⛵️⚓️

[mikereed100]

The second wave strike illustrates a point that Derek Kelsall wrote about. That when a wave strike lifts a hull, the same wave will lift the other hull before the boat can capsize.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by mikereed100

The second wave strike illustrates a point that Derek Kelsall wrote about. That when a wave strike lifts a hull, the same wave will lift the other hull before the boat can capsize.

that's right, and i think it illustrates the need for a cat to be able to slide sideways when in danger. to me this is a danger of dagger boards - they are intended to stop more of this slide than will mini-keels. this can be managed if boards are up, but...

cheers,