Monohulllers, Tell Us What You Like About Multihulls

[boatman61]

I Repeat.....
Whats not to Like.....
Just coz ya gotta bunch of prejudiced hillbillies arguing the toss...
Don't lay their crap at my door....
Phil...
aka; Boatslut

[VirtualVagabond]

I'm a bit with boatman here. I've also sailed and owned both and enjoy each for what it is.
And I'd say any members whose opinion is worth a damn would agree

Just a few observations...

While I can appreciate the motivation for these threads, it feels like kindergarten. "Now sit down boys and girls and let's find something nice to say about each other..."

The few PITA problem kids won't participate anyway...

The idea misses the mark because the problem is not the boats, it's the owners (a few of), and threads saying nice stuff about owners wouldn't last long. Probably wouldn't get beyond the initial post.

The whole idea of the 2 threads overstates the problem IMO. I've seldom seen the interactions as anything more than a dig in the ribs. There are a few humourless peasants who get worked up occassionally, but that's life in a community.
The mods soon put a jackboot up their butts and life goes on.

Good natured teasing is part of the camaraderie here, not to be PCd away.

Oh yes... and I like cats for all the good reasons stated above etc etc

[maytrix]

I own a Mono, but prefer Cats.

We're never in a rush, so I don't really consider speed and I've always been happy with the speed we've had in a Cat anyway. The level sailing is nice, it certainly makes moving around the deck under sail easy as well as much easier in rougher conditions. I think for both my wife and I the #1 reason we prefer Cats is due to the space. Spacious cabins, galley..etc. And this is just on Charter versions - the owners version cats are even better on space!

Only plus I can see to a mono (based on what's important to us) is price.

[Dockhead]

It's really just a matter of taste, and idiotic to argue about it. Cats aren't really my cup of tea in general, BUT:

1. Fantastic maneuvering with two engines
2. No more life at 30 degrees heel
3. Shallow draft
4. Great view from the saloon

The one I chartered in the Windward Islands for two weeks, a Norseman 43, was not fast. But I like the theory of a cat flying downwind, shattering its hull speed. Just never experienced it. Maybe someone will lend me a Gunboat for a year or two

[Geoduck]

Originally Posted by Southern Star

Thanks Geoduck - at least your comments about sailing downwind and chasing pretty girls around the larger deck area are positives! Not sure what you mean about anchoring problems, unless it is the increased windage? Frankly, I have found that cats have a huge advantage in rolly anchorages and that you can make up for the windage, as on any boat, with better ground tackle.

Cheers!

Brad

Ahoy Brad-
Yeah - I had to anchor off D.I. to get behind a 45knt westerly - either that or be driven on the beach. Ive done this several times in my 45' fishing boat (troller)
The night I spent on the Tri that I was delivering was all kinds of fun - anchor drill 101 -60lb plow / 300' of 3/8 chain / 3/4 nylon shock line. It finally held but the ride was wild. To much windage under the hull.
Fishermen do this stuff all the time and we usually have the gear to do it with - cable hydraulic drum anchor winches, etc.
In a storm situation like that, I would let out 3-400' of 5/8" cable to be able to ride out the surge & breaking surf. That much heavy cable acts like a shock absorber and you can usually stay put.
Anchoring in Drakes Bay is another all night drill - I've seen it blow 70knts in there.
I wish I had the room on the foredeck for a drum winch on my ketch - I'd sure as hell put one there - you can sit in the dog house and turn a lever to raise your anchor - I used to make a pot of coffee while I was waiting for all that cable to come up!
Back to the thread- I think multihulls are fun when the deal is right - depends on what you want to do.
I'd like to have one of those 17' tri hull kayaks that go like hell!

[callmecrazy]

The only real benefit I see for cruising cats is the extra space and comfort factors (which is a really big benefit IMO). Not sure I'd ever want one though, unless I suddenly had a family of 5 to house...

OTOH, if I had the money for a multihull, I'd definitely be interested something like this

Dragonfly 35 Trimaran - YouTube

[VirtualVagabond]

Here's an unusual positive feature of multihulls... They make my partner prefer monos... old ones

It's weird, I know, but she has a thing about interiors looking like flimsy caravans... (trailers?), and all the cats she's seen fall into that category, as do many newer production monos.

She likes loads of old timber, but fortunately also likes varnishing!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by VirtualVagabond

She likes loads of old timber, but fortunately also likes varnishing!

A keeper then

[deckofficer]

There has been a couple of seasons I found myself sailing both. I would have to say the transition from wind energy to boat speed was what I noticed the most. The mono was a lead swing keel Balboa 26, and the multi was a Corsair tri 27'. Sailing Lake Tahoe with the short duration wind gusts, the Balboa would heel over, but the speed would not change unless it was a long duration gust. The Corsair would accelerate right with the gust, rather cool I thought.

[Tropic Cat]

Like some of you I own a cat, yet routinely sail monos as well. For sheer fun, I prefer a mono heeled over, and hard on the wind. My boat is sedate by comparison, but when the day is done and the anchor let go, there isn't a mono guy in my marina who doesn't prefer my boat.

[donradcliffe]

Monos don't have the thrills of a cat on the edge, with the weather hull kissing the water, just before the capsize/pitchpole...great fun, but you'd better have one hand on the mainsheet.

The cats also make much better party platforms.
.

[nknowland]

the space. the draft.

[Boracay]

It's the draft...

If there is another boat after Boracay it would likely be a power cat.

My understanding is that power cats are much more seaworthy than similar sized runabouts.

[callmecrazy]

aren't all cats 'power cats', just some have a mast and some dont?

[David_Old_Jersey]

Space and Speed - although not neccesarily on the same boat.

If I was ever wanting an extended cruise somewhere like the Carribean (and had a Partner to keep happy - with plenty of shoe storage etc) would certainly consider a Catamaran. Indeed, would go so far as to say pretty much ideal.......

Would still love a 60' (+!!) Trimaran, just for the hell of it - but that will have to wait for my lottery win (it's overdue ).