Like many on here have said,
buying a cat is always a compromise....I would agree though that Nautitech found the balance, I bought a 40 a year ago despite initially wanting in 45 and have not looked back, I really love her.....I chartered two FPS, a Helia and and Salina for a combined total of five weeks and I would not buy FP, I do not think the quality is very good, and despite what many say I do not think it is as good as
Lagoon....subjective of course though....I think FP show age really fast, flex, and cabinetry is loose and creaky when sailing.....having said that they do sail better than Lagoons which can be a bit wallowly, and terrible for pointing....the FP will sail a bit better and point a bit higher IMHO. The Nautitech will sail and point quite a lot better than both, maybe the best performing cat without
dagger boards and for a good
budget....quality of cabinetry is good and solid, better than the
Lagoon and FP IMHO, my
boat is nearly two years old now and well tested and holding up very well....the UK dealer's after sales
service is very good also.....with respect to the
helm debate, it depends where you are, I spent years moaning about exposed twin helms but when I tried my
boat for a week first first I soon realised they were indeed brilliant for sailing....the blind spot is actually quite limited, and a small
price to pay for the social benefits, and the manoeuvrability benefits in a
marine, everything can be done from the rear and its sooooo easy, and importantly (if you love the "feel" of sailing) you can hear and feel the slightest pick up in speed, not to mention
monitor sails really well, its really makes a great difference. If you love sailing and feel get twin helms (they do not feel exposed in quite bad
weather here in the UK), if you want to
cruise around the tropics and don't mind sacrificing that feel, and want a sun
deck get a flybridge as they undoubtedly are great for that, and a compromise is a
single bulkhead
helm....both the latter will have very limited and awkward visibility in the marina, but if you're cruising round the
BVI and
anchoring you won't care! Spent 8 years sailing all different types of cat and they are all different and all have pluses and minuses....for me personally, the Nautitech was the best balance of what I wanted.....anybody want more detail just ask.
ps spoke to two
delivery skippers recently about Lagoon 450 and 42, both skippers said the same about pointability and wallowing....but on a reach or downwind they will go of course with a
code zero out....they also both said they didn't like quality of FP so I'm not the only one who thinks as I do....
Also the new
Nautitech 46 Fly is now out, as I type its sat next to me in the marina....I don't like flys anymore but if you like the Nautitech look and quality its a decent flybridge option.....
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