Suggestions between 2 cat options

[danielamartindm]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

As a comparison we were in our 32ft cat our friends behind /next to us in a 42 Hunter, we had 20+ knots of wind behind us for the entire 72 mile hop. While they rolled, pitched, corkscrewed all over, we had a nice pleasant enjoyable sail. At the end we went out to eat and went swimming, they went to bed, so wore out they didnt leave the boat the next day. Having a heavy 50ft cruiser behind as we came Into Portugal, we watched them for 24 hours roll all over the place, I was glad to be in a cat even with its shorter waterline length.
Nothing wrong with a short cat, some of them are a blast to sail, and still more comfy at anchor then a much larger mono..

I agree. On the hook, the relative absence of rolling in even a short cat makes it a better experience than a monohull. Shorter cats do have a tendency to hobby horse underway more than longer ones- but the same could be said for monohulls, where longer hulls span more wave crests and so dampen their vertical effects.

[riki]

One more question about the Maldives: i've been talking with a broker and he informed that the height in the main salon is 1,70cm under the popup roof when closed and getting lower in the seating area, but he couldn't inform about height in the hulls, anybody has this information?
Cheers.

[cuffy]

I'm 6ft and didn't feel cramped.cant remember if it was full standing but think it was

[Rapanui]

I am 6ft 1" and had no problems in the hulls and we had the baot for 10 years spending 5-6 weeks aboard every year. In the main saloon/galley headroom is lower, lowest at the table seating, but you are sitting down there and just a bit too low for me at the galley with the pop top down, fine for my 5'3" wife. Too solve that problem and allow me to cook in comfort, we bought a cheap plastic stool and I cooked sitting down. Stowed the stool under the aft end of the table.
Strangely in about 6000 miles of sailing the English Channel and west coast of France the stool never moved, but we got through a few kettles which would shoot off the stove when the boat decelerated during fast sailing. Should have used the fiddles I suppose!

[riki]

Thanx guys, i think that height won't be a problem. Can't wait to see the boat this weekend.

[riki]

Hi folks, just a quick update.
Saw the Maldives in Italy an i am very happy about what i saw and even height, that was my main reason to be worried, it's not really a problem.
Will see another Maldives next week and finally decide wich on I'll get.
Happy new year to all readers.
Cheers

[riki]

Hello. For the record, since last week i am owner of a FP Maldives......so happy

[Piscis]

Concratulations!

Have fun with your Boat.

Post some pics pls....

[onavegador]

Congratulations!
Enjoy your fast sailing cat.
Where will you sailing once the sailing season begins?
Good luck and fair winds!
James

[cuffy]

congrats, enjoy

[riki]

Thanx guys!
I will be sailing in the mediterranean, initially 80% Greece.
Will post a few pics later.

[cueball]

Hi all.
Im on the hunt for a good Maldives as well, can anyone tell me what to look out for when viewing?

Thanks

[riki]

Originally Posted by cueball

Hi all.
Im on the hunt for a good Maldives as well, can anyone tell me what to look out for when viewing?

Thanks

Hi.
As premise i would suggest you as usual to get a surveyor unless you really know what you are doing.
That said, the Maldives is a very strongly built boat and very light so structural problems should be quite unlikely. There are a few points that normally suffer some stress cracks but are normal and don't affect the integrity of the vessel, one is the sides of the steps getting into the hulls and another is the lower side of the entrance (both sides).
Outboard engine, simple elctrics and plumbing make eventual fixes quite easy and cheap so overall i would not worry too much since everything is in good conditions.
Good luck.

[Rapanui]

Structurally, apart from slight stress cracking around the steps and in the wells of the doorways, the only other issue is that the hull at the aft end of the starboard keel (in line with the aft end of the navigation desk) flexes noticeably when taking the ground (the floorboards rock). Not an issue, ours put up with it for 10 years 2 times a day without damage, but easily fixed by overlaminating the area inside the hull and under the floorboards.
The most expensive problem is if the head lining/side lining glue has failed and glue bleed through. Its a big job to replace and you need to be skilled to make a good job of it.
The big wrap round saloon windows if they need replacing from crazing, cracking or uv damage (which they will after about 10 years) is a moderately big and expensive job.
The rudders can let in water and cause corrosion of the integral aluminium rudder stocks. The bearings also can wear, they are plain cylindrical delron sleeves over the aluminium stocks, bit of a bother to remove.
The standing rigging wires are pretty massive and hence more expensive to replace than your average 32ft mono.
Water tank is flexible bag with a finite life.

If the mainsail has not got roller/ball bearing batten cars/track you should budget to make it so.
Amiot deck gear (main sheet traveller and jib cars) is not great, breaks and sticks. If not already replaced/renovated budget to do so.

[cueball]

Thanks for your input. One other question, at 32ft great for coastal sailing and a cross channel trip, but would you consider a downwind crossing in one? is bridge-deck clearance much of an issue?

thanks