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PCSailor · 24-02-2011, 10:49

Is there such thing as a safe, world-cruising multi-hull sailboat?

I am wondering? I am starting the hunt for a round-the-world boat and I think I would prefer a multihull. But not at the compromise of safety or putting peoples lives at risk should I get caught in bad weather.

Any voices of experience here?

Cheers,
Phil

thinwater · 24-02-2011, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCSailor

Is there such thing as a safe, world-cruising multi-hull sailboat?

I am wondering? I am starting the hunt for a round-the-world boat and I think I would prefer a multihull. But not at the compromise of safety or putting peoples lives at risk should I get caught in bad weather.

Any voices of experience here?

Cheers,
Phil

Really, leading questions sure to creat and endless stream of opinions, most thinly supported from people that have only sailed one or the other extensively.

Have you sailed on a multihull? I would suggest that by chartering and sailing with others you will learn what they are, whether you like them and whether you can sail one safely. The insurance companies offer the same rates. I think they are equal, but there flaws, in both comfort and safety, are different.

**boatman61** · 24-02-2011, 11:30

I agree with Thinwater... charter a Cat for a couple of weeks in the BVI's and sail for Antigua non stop... see how they fare going to weather...
make the return trip a liesurely island hop... and wallow in 'The Good Side'....
then take it from there....

Ram · 24-02-2011, 11:39

I have both types of vessels in charter use-and I personally prefer a cat for a host of reasons- but looks like your trying to stir the pot- this thread is about as old as the hills we have visited it here many times before

smj · 24-02-2011, 11:50

We have owned cats for 20 years and have never flipped one more than twice a year. This makes for a great opportunity to do spring cleaning

44'cruisingcat · 24-02-2011, 12:06

Simple answer: Yes. Many, many multihulls have safely circumnavigated.

Some blogs: http://www.fallado.net/maincontent/FalladoMain.htm

http://www.maxingout.com/

Mark Johnson · 24-02-2011, 12:06

OK, I'll bite...

Sisterships to our little Searunner 34, the one on the right, have been world cruisers for over 30 years...(hundreds of successful passages). A friend's 34, even went around by way of Cape Horn!

Then again, you might prefer the Chris White 54 on the left? Either one can cruise the world safely. The little one is really intense, but way less expensive to own, and the big one has much more comfortable a motion, but being 35' wide, is a beast to find dockage for, or a boatyard suitable to haul out at. It also is exponentially more expensive to own, though it probably represents the least expensive, per foot of length, multihull ever built!

The options are from one end of the spectrum to the other, in "safe" crusing multihulls, "IF" they have really good wing clearance, a low center of gravity, modest accommodation for the hull size, and total visibility forward under sail. This is just as a starting point.

The best ones in this category, are custom or semi custom, and you have to really do your homework to know what you're looking at. There are a few good safe production models as well. The above criteria apply equally to them.

so, there ya go... M.

Sailmonkey · 24-02-2011, 12:18

One could ask the same about a monohull, Is there such thing as a safe monohull for cruising around the world? I mean, with all that ballast don't they sink awfully quickly when holed?

No matter what boat you chose it's "safer" than sitting at the computer suffering from blurred vision, carpal tunnel, and a host of other problems brought on by fast food and traffic.......and now I continue on with my work day with visions of "safety smurf" dancing in my head.

Jeannius · 24-02-2011, 12:24

We are getting close to completing a circumnavigation on a cat, Privilege 435, as part of an organised rally. All 4 cats on this event have got this far (22000nm) without disaster and indeed, with very little in the way of drama even though we've had 50 knot winds and 15 ft waves

Your attitude to safety as a sailor is far more important a factor than how many hulls you have.

Factor · 24-02-2011, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman61

I agree with Thinwater... charter a Cat for a couple of weeks in the BVI's and sail for Antigua non stop... see how they fare going to weather...
make the return trip a liesurely island hop... and wallow in 'The Good Side'....
then take it from there....

Good in theory - but likely to give you a lot of wrong information about sailing characteristics. By all means charter one, for feel and and size testing and usability etc, but dont charter one to test sailing performance. Most charter cats have modest sail-plans, many have unadjustable outhauls, topping lifts tied off, rudders not in alignment, cheap but tough props that dont fold, sails that are blown out, rigs that are not tuned etc.

This thread is I fear going to have all the usual suspects turn up shortly telling porkies - like cats dont go to weather, - a good production cat will go to whether equally as well as a similar quality production mono, a good custom build will go to weather as well as a very good mono.

The issue here is more about size, the longer the distance the bigger the boat and the higher the latitudes also probably the bigger the boat.

But people have taken my boat type half way round the world, and indeed smaller cats have done Cape Horn etc etc.

perchance · 24-02-2011, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by smj

We have owned cats for 20 years and have never flipped one more than twice a year. This makes for a great opportunity to do spring cleaning

I prefer dogs as they go to windward extremely well. Next time your driving roll the window down and you'll see what I mean.

**GordMay** · 24-02-2011, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCSailor

Is there such thing as a safe, world-cruising ~~multi-hull~~ sailboat? ...

No, there isn't; but don't over-worry the issue. After all, life, itself, is a fatal activity.

dana-tenacity · 24-02-2011, 12:32

Is there a multihull that isn't more stable upside down - NO ;Is there a mono that won't sink, catch fire, .....NO; Is cruising 100%safe NO; Is life 100% safe NO.

simonmd · 24-02-2011, 12:34

Don't get misled into thinking a cat' is unstable. Most people with no experience of them seem to think so and I can't understand why. ANY boat will flip in the worst weather but even if it did happen, a cat's survivability is better. Sure a monohull can self right itself on some occasions but if it gets full of water it will quickly sink. Any half decent cat' that has overturned will stay afloat, even inverted and full of water.