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Grazia · 04-01-2019, 03:04

Good day
I've been cruising for 6 years, but having a new 45' multihull built and looking for more adventure. Thinking of Magellan Strait or Beagle channel East to West. Is this advisable on a production cat? I have read several reports and blogs, and realize that this is a serious challenge. Any comments?

**boatman61** · 04-01-2019, 03:36

I dont see why not at the right time of year.. a young family did it in a 30ft plywood cat back in the 70's and cats have improved hugely since then.
Actually they were the first cat to round the Cape.. look up Rosie Swale Pope.
Welcome to CF..

**GordMay** · 04-01-2019, 03:56

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Grazia.

A serious challenge (in any boat), indeed.

**JPA Cate** · 04-01-2019, 11:28

Hello, Grazia,

Welcome aboard CF.

We have a member called El Pinguino, who keeps his boat in Chile, maybe he'll notice your thread and provide input. He has contributed to CruisingWiki relative to Chile.

Ann

El Pinguino · 04-01-2019, 12:29

Hola Grazia,
I can think of no reason you can't cruise the Beagle,Magallanes, and the Channels in a cat...

Hardest part is getting there....

50% of the yachts I encountered in over a thousand miles when going north to Montt last September/October were cats.... all one of her ...

Only a couple of minor issues that I can think of.....

Didn't get a good look at her as only got within a mile or so but she was of this style http://gallery.crobos.com/yachts/cat...n-52-4600.jpeg
How they were coping with condensation on those windows I don't know.... daytime temps at the time were not getting above 2*C .

Only other issue would be that some of the anchorages would be too tight but they would be in the minority... a big cat would still have plenty to choose from.... you would just have to be a little selective.

While in the minority cats do cruise the area...so it is quite achievable.

VA7KRC · 05-01-2019, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grazia

Good day

I've been cruising for 6 years, but having a new 45' multihull built and looking for more adventure. Thinking of Magellan Strait or Beagle channel East to West. Is this advisable on a production cat? I have read several reports and blogs, and realize that this is a serious challenge. Any comments?

There is a manufacturer of beautiful big cats in Valpairaso....... it is also a great place to winter.

El Pinguino · 05-01-2019, 16:22

That's www.alwoplast.cl in Valdivia....

A university town which a lot of cruisers like....

Wetter than Montt

Further to my previous ... there are about 4 or maybe 5 cats based in Montt... but I have never seen any of them much further south than Melinka.

Transiting cats? I've seen three in the last 15 years.... the mystery cat from last year, one out of the Atlantic the year before and a 'big' cat from the Ned. Antilles in about 2011.... so yes cats do it but not in big numbers...

VA7KRC · 05-01-2019, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

That's www.alwoplast.cl in Valdivia....

A university town which a lot of cruisers like....

Wetter than Montt

Further to my previous ... there are about 4 or maybe 5 cats based in Montt... but I have never seen any of them much further south than Melinka.

Transiting cats? I've seen three in the last 15 years.... the mystery cat from last year, one out of the Atlantic the year before and a 'big' cat from the Ned. Antilles in about 2011.... so yes cats do it but not in big numbers...

Thanks for adding the Alwoplast link. I toured their plant and it is very good quality production. I did a survey for the Chilean govt of out-of-country cruisers in 2010 and there were only about a dozen foreign boats per year. More now.

Anyone going to spend extended time cruising the Chilean Patagonia coastline should check out the “Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego Nautical Guide” by Mariolina Rolfe and Giorgio Ardrizza. It is an amazing 720 page tome of cruising info. Super expensive but worth it....