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Old 05-05-2021, 09:06   #1
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Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

At least that's what this article suggests. Whats your opinion. I feel it is a little bit on the short side!?
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Old 05-05-2021, 14:15   #2
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

It says "around 40 feet"

So I'm claiming their tick of approval.
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Old 05-05-2021, 14:29   #3
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

we both feel our boat is ideal size for us. It does appear we got lucky that purchased very well built boat as well. No knowledge, just luck. It is funny as this boat was turned down by couple buyers before us. We were just blissfully ignorant.
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Old 05-05-2021, 16:48   #4
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

pretty superficial article, but yep i agree...around 40' is just right for 2-4 people for trans ocean cruising

bigger or smaller both start to have issues

cheers,
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Old 05-05-2021, 16:51   #5
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

I would say a 51 foot light cat is just about perfect to sail around the world.
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Old 05-05-2021, 17:13   #6
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

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Originally Posted by Cayuse51 View Post
I would say a 51 foot light cat is just about perfect to sail around the world.
Nailed it. The perfect size is the size perfect for you. If it was 40 feet there would be no need for any other size.
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Old 06-05-2021, 01:03   #7
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

40ft is about the maximum size cat than can be operated manually by a single person (one half of a couple). Beyond 40ft there becomes an increasing requirement for mechanical aids, electric winches and the like.



Due to the improvements and availability in aid devices this limitation is somewhat outdated.
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Old 06-05-2021, 01:22   #8
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

The catamarans I saw in the Caribbean were 40 feet.
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Old 06-05-2021, 01:40   #9
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

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Originally Posted by Tupaia View Post
40ft is about the maximum size cat than can be operated manually by a single person (one half of a couple). Beyond 40ft there becomes an increasing requirement for mechanical aids, electric winches and the like.



Due to the improvements and availability in aid devices this limitation is somewhat outdated.

?????

That’s absolutely not correct, just as the same statement would also be nonsense for monohulls.

In our case, on a 55 foot cat, we need no aid devices other than a power windlass for our anchor rode (even more so now as we’ve just upsized our anchor from 30kg to 50kg (anybody want a S140 Spade anchor?)).

Our boat is easily single handed and as a couple, generally is single handed by either one of us. There is no need to call the other person for hoisting, reefing, dousing, tacking, gybing, surfing, etc. Well, except for watching dolphins and whales - that’s definitely a two person job.
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Old 06-05-2021, 02:02   #10
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

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Originally Posted by fxykty View Post
?????
In our case, on a 55 foot cat, we need no aid devices other than a power windlass for our anchor rode (even more so now as we’ve just upsized our anchor from 30kg to 50kg (anybody want a S140 Spade anchor?)).
Do you actually raise your 90+ sqm mainsail without an electric winch?

On my comparably sized main made with Dimension Polyant DYS that is a major pain - it is be possible to raise it with a winch, but I wouldn't do that for fun.


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Old 06-05-2021, 02:08   #11
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

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Originally Posted by fxykty View Post
?????

That’s absolutely not correct, just as the same statement would also be nonsense for monohulls.

In our case, on a 55 foot cat, we need no aid devices other than a power windlass for our anchor rode (even more so now as we’ve just upsized our anchor from 30kg to 50kg (anybody want a S140 Spade anchor?)).

Our boat is easily single handed and as a couple, generally is single handed by either one of us. There is no need to call the other person for hoisting, reefing, dousing, tacking, gybing, surfing, etc. Well, except for watching dolphins and whales - that’s definitely a two person job.

So you have an ELECTRIC windlass - I rest my case.

Raising a fully battened mainsail bigger than 60sqm (about the norm for a 40ft cat, Lagoon 40 has 56sqm) is PITA for the smallest member of the crew. Monos tend not to have fully battened mainsails.

I suspect your boat has close to 80sqm main and I bet it is a real joy to raise manually. How often does your better half raise your mainsail on her own? I bet it is nearly always a task that you take on.

Anyway my point was to give a reference to the "rather outdated" reasoning behind the 40ft statement. It is not a rule just a very rough guide by defining the point at which a catamaran becomes more technical.

No one is saying that larger boats such as yours cannot be handled without mechanical aids they just become more demanding for the average sailor at around 40ft.

I certainly wouldn't say that a 40ft cat is the ideal size for ocean cruising.
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Old 06-05-2021, 02:33   #12
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

The size you can afford is the perfect size cat. A 21 foot Wharram circumnavigated and the Swales took a 30 foot cat around Cape Horn. So it just shows what can be achieved.
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Old 06-05-2021, 03:02   #13
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

here our experiences
big enough - 3 days in 40ies kn and 5m waves beam reaching. no damage, noone got seasick.

life and space is great on boat. We can even handle 2 extra kind persons for a week.

we have everything on board and still boat sails fine for 40 footer.

we plan longer trips and trust the boat.

small enough - when someone picks up your anchor and mess arises in anchorage smaller boat is easier to handle and minimize damage.

when anchor winch refuses to work, one can raise anchor manually.

under 12.00m you are not obliged to have day anchor ball or cone when motorsailing - see colregs

Boat falls in 11-12m price bracket in marinas.

it is manageable to keep hulls clean with free diving only.

ps: our boat is 11.97m and has standard square top mainsail 60.6m2. 56m is non-square top also standard to L 400.
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Old 06-05-2021, 04:12   #14
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

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Originally Posted by arsenelupiga View Post
under 12.00m you are not obliged to have day anchor ball or cone when motorsailing - see colregs

I think you are misinformed about that. And the quick look at the text confirms my view, unless you are aground and not anchored, and are only talking about the corresponding lights/signal for that specific situation.

Could you please elaborate and add a link/quote?



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Old 06-05-2021, 04:41   #15
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Re: Perfect sized catamaran for ocean sailing is 40ft!

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Originally Posted by toolbar View Post
I think you are misinformed about that. And the quick look at the text confirms my view, unless you are aground and not anchored, and are only talking about the corresponding lights/signal for that specific situation.

Could you please elaborate and add a link/quote?



Paul
i was actually doing research today and found somewhere my claim. Cant find it anymore. Checking in wikipedia get this - so i am not clear about ball but cone holds.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_shapes



Where did you get your info ?
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