Why Do Catamarans Motor Nearly 100%

[Kenomac]

Dockhead,

The Discovery 55 does all that you've described as your ideal boat. Oyster can also custom build an inside raised helm station for you.

You can probable trade up to the Discovery.

[Jon Eisberg]

Originally Posted by DotDun

You need to spend more time south of 40*N, your hatred of helm covers would disappear quickly, the further south the quicker.

I would venture to claim that one day of open cockpit sailing this time of year in the Bahamas and south would cause you to stay at anchor and seek shade on day 2.

Perhaps I wasn't clear, it's not the more simple cockpit/helm bimini I'm referring to... One of those was much appreciated on the boat I recently ran back north from Antigua...

As was the ability to fold it up against the backstay in less than a minute, for those many times when it was unnecessary, and simply in the way ;-)

What I'm talking about, are those massive oxygen tents that the boats so many East coast snowbirds are now sporting, suitable for nothing while underway beyond motoring down the ICW during daylight hours... ;-)

Seems illustrative how rarely full enclosures are seen in a place like Maine, where one might think they'd have some utility... But those Maineiacs don't seem to mind being outdoors, and they realize the only way to make navigating in the fog more difficult and dangerous, is to try to do it from inside a full cocoon of Sunbrella and Eisenglass...

;-)

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Dockhead,

The Discovery 55 does all that you've described as your ideal boat. Oyster can also custom build an inside raised helm station for you.

You can probable trade up to the Discovery.

Give enough money, you can trade up to anything........

[weavis]

It really surprises me how people are still buying monohulls.
But then you have to start somewhere.........

[sailorboy1]

so is the reason that cats motor due to dodger design, or is that some type of drift?

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by weavis

It really surprises me how people are still buying monohulls.
But then you have to start somewhere.........

When we were in Dockhead's cruising grounds a few years ago, I don't remember seeing many cruising type catamarans in Finland, Sweden, Russia, or Denmark. To say the boats up there were rugged and purpose built would be an understatement.

I don't mean to imply a catamaran can't sail up there, it just seems that buying and using one doesn't seem to be what's on the minds of the locals, unless they're headed to warmer climates.

[robert sailor]

There are very few Cats in the PNW, not sure why but maybe the lack of slips??

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

so is the reason that cats motor due to dodger design, or is that some type of drift?

Geez, on a catamaran, I suppose it's possible to motor and steer from the inside helm with the air conditioning or heat running full blast.

[rabbi]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I don't mean to imply a catamaran can't sail up there, it just seems that buying and using one doesn't seem to be what's on the minds of the locals, unless they're headed to warmer climates.

Sailing in these areas requires a good heating for most sailors. Heating catamarans is mostly not that easy (huge surface area, multiple zones, etc).

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Geez, on a catamaran, I suppose it's possible to motor and steer from the inside helm with the air conditioning or heat running full blast.

Of course it is. What other reason would you buy a multihull for?

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

so is the reason that cats motor due to dodger design, or is that some type of drift?

Or some kind of myth?

[weavis]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Or some kind of myth?

We have some huge Myths in Bristol UK........ Block the moon some of them.........

[Jon Eisberg]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Or some kind of myth?

Well, what is "thread drift" to some, may simply be 'conversation' to another :-)

Here is the post that I was initially responding to:

Originally Posted by carstenb

We've never met in person - here is one guy (and his wife) who love sailing overnight - night sailing is utterly fantastic and should be enjoyed to the max.

Nothing particular regarding multihulls, nor was my response, and subsequent posts. In fact, all the photos I used to illustrate my comments featured the cockpits of monohulls...

But of course, multihull sailors are still free to infer I have been singling them out, and dissing their choice of boat, in any event...

:-)

[Juho]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Yes, I'm writing this from Finland, so I certainly get all of that.

I do want a pilothouse, but not a heavy motor sailer like a Nauticat. I need a normal sailing cockpit but with an inside helm station for long passages in cold or rainy weather.

But that will be a different boat from the one I have now. Probably a custom built one. Meanwhile I have to make do. On this boat, I stand watch from under the sprayhood, often standing on the companionway a step or two down, when the weather is bad. Dress warmly and use a waterproof tablet to control the helm MFD using GoFree. But when it rains hard, I can't see anything, and have to stick my head out around the side, which is a total PITA. Bleh.

Nauticat 441 might be called a heavy motorsailer. But I think models 515 and 525 are quite sleek, not traditional motorsailers. But since you want a custom built pilothouse boat (assuming that the individually customized Nauticat models are not enough), I can recommend some other local manufacturers:
http://www.sy-anya.com
http://www.balticyachts.fi

Written in a warm pilothouse, boat safely tied to a pier, having nice views to the world around me.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Juho

Written in a warm pilothouse, boat safely tied to a pier, having nice views to the world around me.

This sentence won the argument.