Seaquest 46 Performance Cruising Catamaran

[Ratel]

Originally Posted by VikingBlod

Hi Ratel,

The SQ46 looks like a great boat, congratulations.

Looking at the renders its a little hard to get an appreciation of the Helm. The description make it sound like something unique and not seen before, but what I can make out it looks like what you might see on a HH50 where the helm is entered off the side deck vs like the Outremer 45 where you have both options (side and cockpit). It appears there is seating and the winches appear to be off to the side vs infant of you. No detail on the instrument displays. By chance are you able to post something that has more detail?

Thanks Neil...

Hi Neil,

We can’t wait for launch day

As far as I know the SQ46 is available in a twin helm (our choice) and a single helm. The twin helm makes mores sense to us.

All lines run from the mast directly under the boom towards the back where it splits neatly to the two helm stations. A more practical and elegant solution compared to the single helm setup.

The twin helm configuration (on the SQ46) looks better in my opinion.

Each helm station can be completely covered in inclement weather by closing the the sliding roof. Might consider a “foldaway bimini”. I see Balance Catamarans just came out with a “hard foldaway bimini” over their helm station.

We are still working on the final details of the helm station but there is enough space for all the instruments including plotter of around 12 inches, B&G was our choice. We also lengthened the helm seat so that two people can comfortably operate together from one side.

Entry to the helm station is from the cockpit side. We have opted to not have an opening side door. It would add unnecessary complication and weaken the roof structure. It is going to be very easy accessing the roof or the side of the boat from either of the helm stations without adding a side door.

Unfortunately I do not have any pictures/renders of our layout. Hopefully my description makes sense.

[VikingBlod]

Ratel,

That does make sense, in fact Mike sent me a couple of pictures which helped clear it up. From some of the renderings I got confused because it showed the side exit (which I now understand is an option). I thought I saw somewhere the boat could be steered from the cockpit for when the weather is foul. If so is that done with a similar setup as the Balance Versa Helm (wheel swings inward and down)?

One comment from the renderings, it looks like you're seated pretty high which makes it look like your head would be close to the boom on a reach (assuming single helm or your sitting on the leeward side). Is that just the way the render shows it or is it expected the seat will position you like that?

I am liking this boat but very curious how it gets finished out. From the MJ Sailing videos on the MaxCruise (Vietnam) I was not a fan of some of the finishing (open shelving, painted fibreglass). I prefer a little more wood and cabinet doors like the HH and Outremer 51/55 finishing.

Question, when looking at a rendering from the back the steps up from the sugar scoop look like they are greater than a standard step height, the same is true going from the cockpit to the side deck. Are we just missing some detail on the renders?

I really like the side picture you posted, it's very cool looking. Sure hope the boat looks that good.

Thanks Neil

[Ratel]

Originally Posted by VikingBlod

Ratel,

That does make sense, in fact Mike sent me a couple of pictures which helped clear it up. From some of the renderings I got confused because it showed the side exit (which I now understand is an option). I thought I saw somewhere the boat could be steered from the cockpit for when the weather is foul. If so is that done with a similar setup as the Balance Versa Helm (wheel swings inward and down)?

One comment from the renderings, it looks like you're seated pretty high which makes it look like your head would be close to the boom on a reach (assuming single helm or your sitting on the leeward side). Is that just the way the render shows it or is it expected the seat will position you like that?

I am liking this boat but very curious how it gets finished out. From the MJ Sailing videos on the MaxCruise (Vietnam) I was not a fan of some of the finishing (open shelving, painted fibreglass). I prefer a little more wood and cabinet doors like the HH and Outremer 51/55 finishing.

Question, when looking at a rendering from the back the steps up from the sugar scoop look like they are greater than a standard step height, the same is true going from the cockpit to the side deck. Are we just missing some detail on the renders?

I really like the side picture you posted, it's very cool looking. Sure hope the boat looks that good.

Thanks Neil

I am not aware of a “versa helm” option. Might be possible. I don’t really see the advantage for us. If the weather is that bad keep the roof closed and steer with the autopilot. Sailing is an outdoor sport, I don’t mind putting on foul weather gear when required.

In a seated position the boom will clear over one’s head, no problem.

The final finish of the boat inside is very much a personal choice. Just keep in mind that there are consequences with regards to weight, cost and maintenance.

I agree it is difficult to evaluate everything just based on a render. I’ve used the steps on the mold, they felt fine to me.

The SQ46 is a semi custom boat, best is to discuss your wants and needs with the builder. He is a straight up guy and will let you know if it is possible or not.

[Ratel]

Originally Posted by JustMurph

Definitely add the asymmetric spin. It's gotta be my favourite sail and really isn't hard to handle with a sock (155m^2).

We made a final choice on our sail package. Main sail, self tacking jib and asymmetric spinnaker. Should be good for a start.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Ratel

We made a final choice on our sail package. Main sail, self tacking jib and asymmetric spinnaker. Should be good for a start.

Good choices for a basic start package. We have a self tacking jib as well, mainsail of course, a symmetric spinnaker that we don’t use a lot (if it was an asymmetric we probably would use it more) and a gennaker (aka screecher) that we use a lot in lighter winds.

You may find that upwind and close reaching in light winds that you’ll be under powered with the self tacking jib. If we’re not sailing upwind we use the gennaker - it trims to 40* AWA but the speed it generates means our tacking angle is about 160*! Great for close reaching through broad reaching. So that could be your next sail, depending on the angles you can hold the asymmetric spinnaker.

Otherwise if you want good performance upwind in light winds (for us we’re underpowered in <8 knots TWS) you’d want a screecher that is relatively small (large overlapping genoa in size, allowing for extra size as it will be tacked to the bow pole) and sheets very tight, <8* from centreline. That’s our next sail - useful for upwind and close reaching to 14 knots AWS.

But of course, as with any upgrades and modifications, live and sail your boat for a year before making any decisions. What you’ve selected is a very good starter sail package.

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by Ratel

We made a final choice on our sail package. Main sail, self tacking jib and asymmetric spinnaker. Should be good for a start.

I am not a big fan of self tacking jibs for cruising. As fxykty pointed out you willl be underpowered upwind. It will also be a pain off wind in average wind conditions when it will often be in the wind shadow of the main.



I much prefer a 110% or 115% working headsail, it is fractional anyway so not that big.


Have you sailed a cat with self tacking headsail? If not maybe try it before committing.


Just my opinion.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

I am not a big fan of self tacking jibs for cruising. As fxykty pointed out you willl be underpowered upwind. It will also be a pain off wind in average wind conditions when it will often be in the wind shadow of the main.



I much prefer a 110% or 115% working headsail, it is fractional anyway so not that big.


Have you sailed a cat with self tacking headsail? If not maybe try it before committing.


Just my opinion.

Only underpowered in light airs when sailing close hauled. That’s such a small proportion of time that it’s generally not worth worrying about. A light wind screecher can take care of that with a specialist sail that isn’t heavier and stiffer than it needs to be.

The drawback of the self tacking jib is far outweighed by the simplicity. We can short tack all day without touching a sheet other than for trimming. This makes single handed sailing easy and safe. And an easily driven boat like the OP’s doesn’t need a lot of power. YMMV

Your comment about off wind and the main blanketing the jib doesn’t make sense - a larger jib will also be blanketed. And as a performance cat the OP won’t be spending much time broad reaching with jib - that’s what the asymmetric is for.

[Sand crab]

It is interesting that almost all the production high performance cats have self tacking jibs. Even some moderate cruisers like the Seawinds have it. It must not suck.

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

It is interesting that almost all the production high performance cats have self tacking jibs. Even some moderate cruisers like the Seawinds have it. It must not suck.

I did say "for cruising". I totally agree with what has been said if you are coast hoping or sailing out of a home port. But there are holes requiring additional sails that usually require an extra person who is likely asleep when passage making. It does depends on your usage.


You can certainly short tack with a non self tacking jib and yes it is better with two people who are more likely to be on deck in such conditions anyway. The number of times I have needed to do this while cruising has been few few. Being powered up on one tack for several days with working sails on the other hand has been quite common.


My suggestion to the OP was to try sailing a few boats with self tacking jibs and see if it suits his cruising plans.

[donradcliffe]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

It is interesting that almost all the production high performance cats have self tacking jibs. Even some moderate cruisers like the Seawinds have it. It must not suck.

It all depends on what you want to do with the boat. Self tacking jibs are fine if you want to day sail. If you want to cross oceans, you want a way for one person to quickly and easily increase/decrease sail area. Ease of tacking is lower priority.

[Matt Johnson]

Keep in mind that this is an electric only boat - being able to short tack may mean the difference between ending on the rocks or not.

[Joli]

The problem with self tracking jibs is lead position. Once you ease a jib the leach opens, lifts and flaps. The lead needs to move forward and outboard but there may not be a lead position to move to. How many times have we seen boats close reaching with the back half of the sail flapping. I'm not advocating going back to rail road tracks but multiple leads positions forward and outboard for reaching really are needed. Possibly talk with your sail maker about lead positions and easily attached lazy sheets when cracked?

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Joli

The problem with self tracking jibs is lead position. Once you ease a jib the leach opens, lifts and flaps. The lead needs to move forward and outboard but there may not be a lead position to move to. How many times have we seen boats close reaching with the back half of the sail flapping. I'm not advocating going back to rail road tracks but multiple leads positions forward and outboard for reaching really are needed. Possibly talk with your sail maker about lead positions and easily attached lazy sheets when cracked?

I think you mean the top half of the sail flapping due to the lead being too far back. The back half of the lower portion of the sail would usually the last part to start flapping, at which point the whole sail would be flogging.

As a forward and outboard lead for our self tacking jib, we use a LFR on a long sling (120cm) on each side. They are about 2m forward of the jib’s athwartships traveller and on the very outside of the deck (the sling is luggage tagged to our hull deck joint aluminium rail).

With the regular sheeting traveller is at the far outboard end of the athwartships traveller we are at 80* AWA. Only if we go deeper is a forward lead needed.

Despite our track being straight (much better would be matching the radius of the foot) the lead isn’t all that bad. The cut of the jib (slightly higher clew) helps to reduce the need to adjust the lead when easing the sheet

[Joli]

Originally Posted by fxykty

I think you mean the top half of the sail flapping due to the lead being too far back. The back half of the lower portion of the sail would usually the last part to start flapping, at which point the whole sail would be flogging.

As a forward and outboard lead for our self tacking jib, we use a LFR on a long sling (120cm) on each side. They are about 2m forward of the jib’s athwartships traveller and on the very outside of the deck (the sling is luggage tagged to our hull deck joint aluminium rail).

With the regular sheeting traveller is at the far outboard end of the athwartships traveller we are at 80* AWA. Only if we go deeper is a forward lead needed.

Despite our track being straight (much better would be matching the radius of the foot) the lead isn’t all that bad. The cut of the jib (slightly higher clew) helps to reduce the need to adjust the lead when easing the sheet

Any high aspect jib will open up when eased. Our #3 is almost 4 to 1 so any easing opens the leach quickly. We use twings to control the twist when reaching.

I mention this just as a consideration that could be discussed with the sail maker and builder.

[Ratel]

Just a quick update. Out of the mold with all carbon stringers infused on the bridge deck. Can't wait for the roof structure to be fitted. Starting to take shape now!