Cat Versus Mono - Single Handling

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by smj

He wrote a book but obviously doesn't know the difference between a catamaran and trimaran.

Lol no doubt , hope all ius well, leaving Bermuda for the Azores shortly.

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[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Foolish

I did touch on this topic briefly in my singlehanded tips book. The question for you is this: are you speaking of a real catamaran that will lift up with one hull flying? Or are you talking about a cruising catamaran that is in reality a raft with two hulls, and won't tilt more than 5 degrees no matter how strong the wind?

If you are thinking of a real cat, then only an expert can singlehand it, and even experts get flipped over in the middle of the ocean. If you are talking about a cruising cat, then go ahead - you won't even spill your drink in a blow.

Folks that aren't experts singlehand real catamarans that fly the hull quite often or used to in the early 2000's.

The only tricky part was getting the spinnaker in at the downwind mark since you had to have your helm set for neutral or a very slight weather helm with proper mast and rudder rake

You would sometimes be coming into this mark at 15-20 knots very close to other boats....so boat setup was very important

[smj]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

Lol no doubt , hope all ius well, leaving Bermuda for the Azores shortly.

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Lucky devil! Have a safe trip.


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[boatman61]

Apart from learning how to Tack a catamaran singlehanding at sea is pretty much the same as on a mono.. learn its limitations and stay within them and reef down your main at night to minimise possible deck work.. I'd rather lose a knot than have to clamber around messing with a main on a dark moonless night.
In harbour is where its an advantage if you've 2 engines.. park on a dime.
With both you'll need to organise and have the ability to plan and prep ahead..

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Foolish

If you are thinking of a real cat, then only an expert can singlehand it, and even experts get flipped over in the middle of the ocean. If you are talking about a cruising cat, then go ahead - you won't even spill your drink in a blow.

Utterly silly thing to say.

[daletournier]

You can set most boats up to single hand easily. I think the question of motion plays a role from the perspective of tiredness and making mistakes. I just did the first 370nm leg of a 1600nm passage. It was downwind, but light wind with a slightly starboard quarter swell, we rolled for 75 hours as the wind was light, we sailed the whole way but sails would flap as we rolled. It effects everything from eating well to trying to sleep. As I was trying to sleep I was thinking about how my 31foot wharram tiki 10 years back would of sailed on this trip? I think it would have been quite comfortable! I also had to gybe regularly, in a previous thread I said I can handle everthing from the cockpit, this isnt so, setting up a preventer each time I gybed on a wobbly deck while very tired is just dangerous!
I've been thinking of cats all day.

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[ALAIN97133]

Originally Posted by In Training

I know the cat versus mono thing is old and worn out, but I used the search engine and didn't find any reference between the two for single handling. OK, it is probably there ten times, but I couldn't get anything to come up. Will only buy 1 boat when we retire, not gradually work up. We dive and have basic sailing (initial certifications and small lake sailing). The question is -- can you sail by yourself, alone, on the small catamarans. If one of us should pass, we wouldn't want a boat that the one remaining could not handle by themselves. That way they would have a choice to stay on the boat or get off, whatever they wanted to do -- not be forced to sell. Aside from all the other discussions of cats vs. mono's, strickly on being able to sail single handed once they are set up for that, will it make much difference?

Hi ! I've been sailing the Atlantic & the Pacific since 1976 after 2 years training on a 27 footer on lake Ontario. IF I had enough money I would have got myself a good 40' cat, but with the kind of money I had, the best I could get was a fresh water 34' Ericson monohull that I sailed alone from NY/NY to the West Indies. Tell us what kind of budget you have so we can give you better advice... A good 40' cat will go for $150K & up, while you can find a good offshore monohull for $50K

[In Training]

Thank you everyone for your responses. Sounds like it doesn't matter, either choice, if small enough and set up well, can be handled by one person. We are just tentatively starting to look at 37-40 ft. cats, 42-46 ft. mono's.


Our budget will be to stay under $200,000 complete. Haven't decided yet if we really want to spend that much, but that is what we will have earmarked for a boat, as our absolute most. Hate to tie up too much in it.
Just wanted to make sure it didn't matter which we ended up with in the event something happened to one of us. Hate to start looking down the road, get excited and then realize choices had to be narrowed. Will not purchase for 2 years yet, just trying to learn costs, narrow the choices and compare boats for now.

[reed1v]

Cats do demand more attention than a mono. Quicker in motion. A lot of folks seem to ignore the heeling motion, but when one hull lifts(and they do) out of the water you better be on the helm.

[smj]

Originally Posted by reed1v

Cats do demand more attention than a mono. Quicker in motion. A lot of folks seem to ignore the heeling motion, but when one hull lifts(and they do) out of the water you better be on the helm.

The chances of lifting a hull in a cruising catamaran is so small it's hardly worth mentioning.


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[reed1v]

Originally Posted by smj

The chances of lifting a hull in a cruising catamaran is so small it's hardly worth mentioning.


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Truly famous last words. Perhaps if you only cruise in 20 knot winds or less.

[smj]

Originally Posted by reed1v

Truly famous last words. Perhaps if you only cruise in 20 knot winds or less.

And how many times have you flown a hull on a cruising cat?


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[In Training]

We will be very conservative with our sailing adventure when the time comes. If either of us is in doubt, weather wise, we will stay put. Not that short notice storms or squals or whatever don't come up, but we will try to never put ourselves in a position where we have to move on regardless of the weather.

[Manos1955]

I have the experience of sailing a mono Dufour Atol 43 and the same time a Fountain Pajot 47 cat
Both single handed with a big family on board

The 47 cat by far easier to sail and Moore single handed compared to the Atol

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by smj

And how many times have you flown a hull on a cruising cat?


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Long time ago on a 42 foot cat in Kwaj lagoon on a blustery day. Did the one hull stand. Impressive. The rudders actually chattered. Speed well past 20 knots.