Multi-hull cruising: where to start?

[jbox84126]

Hey folks,

My SO and I are starting to devise a work remote while cruising plan. From my reading so, catamarans seem like the obvious pick for this lifestyle. We've been sailing a 30' US-Yacht for a couple years and are looking to upgrade in a big way. We work in tech and have a decent amount saved to spend on a bluewater capable cat.

So I have a couple questions for the community:
1) Are there intro to catamaran cruising posts on this forum that provide a nexus for information as we draw up our plans?
2) Do folks here have any recommended readings/guides for getting go with cruising? So far I've read voyager's guide and Catamarans. Both provided great info but felt a bit dated at times
3) In particular, I'm highly interested in database of 10-15 year old cats that could serve as a potential cruiser. Does something like this exist?

Thanks all for the help!

[Sand crab]

1.The best intro to cat sailing are probably the vlogs. Gone with the Wynns purchased one with no sailing experience. The looking at boats and then buying and repairing the boat videos are really interesting. The O'Kelleys bought a charter cat but they had owned boats before. They still spent $100K in repairs and upgrades. They both itemize the pre-purchase, purchase costs and then the repairs/mods. The older non-video blogs by Bumfuzzle and Slapdash are good reads. Both parties purchased their cats with no experience. The Bums then sailed around the world.
2. See above.
3. Almost all cats made recently or even not so recently will do as a cruiser so no real database on that. However there is, https://sailboatdata.com/ which lists the specs on many cats.

[jbox84126]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

1.The best intro to cat sailing are probably the vlogs. Gone with the Wynns purchased one with no sailing experience. The looking at boats and then buying and repairing the boat videos are really interesting. The O'Kelleys bought a charter cat but they had owned boats before. They still spent $100K in repairs and upgrades. They both itemize the pre-purchase, purchase costs and then the repairs/mods. The older non-video blogs by Bumfuzzle and Slapdash are good reads. Both parties purchased their cats with no experience. The Bums then sailed around the world.
2. See above.
3. Almost all cats made recently or even not so recently will do as a cruiser so no real database on that. However there is, https://sailboatdata.com/ which lists the specs on many cats.

On Number 3, does that extend to offshore passages as well? A lot of my reading so far seems to have a subtle warning about using charter-focused cats for offshore cruising. (We would just be thinking about trade wind voyaging)

[Sand crab]

Charter cats are the same boats as the non-charter version. You can take most of them around the world if you want with some work. They usually have maxed out the cabins and heads so they will make more money in charter. Typically they will lack some of the cruising gear some would probably want like radar, watermaker more solar and batteries etc. It used to be they were lacking generators and aircon although that has changed recently especially in the 42' and over size. Many times the charter cats are well used with many things needing replacement. On the one hand you can pay top dollar for that pristine owners version boat with all the goodies or you can get a better deal on a charter cat (usually) and then put the money into it so now you get a boat with lots of new stuff. Some of the best charter cats are the crewed charters especially when the owner is the crew because they are generally more cared for.

See this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izMqIfbj3_A

[Sand crab]

And this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ7JU3YQIF0

This one is the first one where they are actively shopping. Watch the next 10 or so which deals with the offer to buy, documentation, survey and signing the papers. They got a really nice boat but still had to put bucks into it. They had no sailing experience at all and they are now in Tonga. Not bad.

[boatman61]

Make it simple..
Owners version Lagoon 380..

[jbox84126]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Make it simple..
Owners version Lagoon 380..

I like the price point! but i've read mixed reviews on the lagoon 380's performance....everything ive read so far makes it seem speed = safety. Or am i overthinking things for a first major cruiser?

[Sand crab]

Speed = money

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by jbox84126

I like the price point! but i've read mixed reviews on the lagoon 380's performance....everything ive read so far makes it seem speed = safety. Or am i overthinking things for a first major cruiser?

Not really, just falling for the misconception that speed can save you from bad weather and one can outrun systems..
Sail in season and you don't have to test the theory..

[arsenelupiga]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Make it simple..
Owners version Lagoon 380..

what he says. for us 38 was too little so 400.

Add 70k USD to purchase price for every 0.1 knot extra average speed with same payload and space.

Add 3k USD to yearly maintenance budget for every 0.1 knot extra average speed with same payload and space.

or if you convince your wife to settle for less space then you go cheaper. Dont tell her about less payload else she says no.

Use spreadheet and plug in above numbers vs your budget and you can see wht you can afford.

[smj]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

what he says. for us 38 was too little so 400.



Add 70k USD to purchase price for every 0.1 knot extra average speed with same payload and space.



Add 3k USD to yearly maintenance budget for every 0.1 knot extra average speed with same payload and space.



or if you convince your wife to settle for less space then you go cheaper. Dont tell her about less payload else she says no.



Use spreadheet and plug in above numbers vs your budget and you can see wht you can afford.

My wife disagrees with your summation, she likes to sail!

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

Speed = money

Wise words

[arsenelupiga]

Originally Posted by smj

My wife disagrees with your summation, she likes to sail!

mine likes to sail too. And what is your point ?

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by jbox84126

Hey folks,

2) Do folks here have any recommended readings/guides for getting go with cruising? So far I've read voyager's guide and Catamarans. Both provided great info but felt a bit dated at times
3) In particular, I'm highly interested in database of 10-15 year old cats that could serve as a potential cruiser. Does something like this exist?

Thanks all for the help!

When PC's first came out you bought them from IBM with a training session, then you bought them from a specialist dealer with a how to book, now they come free with Cornflakes and a Youtube link.



When catamarans first entered the mainstream 20-30 years ago nobody knew much about the genre and there was a lot of opposition from the traditional sailing community so a lot of the "more technical" how to books about multihulls were written a while ago.



If you want to read and learn about abilities rather than the looks then following are good reads.



Multihulls for Cruising & Racing - Derek Harvey - ISBN 0229118704
Multihull Seamanship - Gavin-Le-Sueur - ISBN 9781912177080


In the meantime sail on as many cats as you can, not just at boat shows, walk round the boat yards and marinas, offer to crew, beg rides etc etc.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

And this.

This one is the first one where they are actively shopping. Watch the next 10 or so which deals with the offer to buy, documentation, survey and signing the papers. They got a really nice boat but still had to put bucks into it. They had no sailing experience at all and they are now in Tonga. Not bad.

Just keep in mind, they have a lot of rosy thoughts that turn out totally wrong.