Catarmaran or Monohull?

Hi,
Trying to organise our 1st family Caribbean sailing holiday for next July. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

We've chartered a yacht before in Greece, hubby has lots of sailing experience around UK but us family haven't much.

I'd personally love a cat, for the space and to try it out but he's unsure about sailing it. Is there a lot of difference we should consider? Does it cost more in mooring fees? (In the UK it certainly does, and they're not so available here or in Europe)

Thanks

Only slip fees are more expensive.

If you can sail a mono, you can sail a cat. A Cat will go you more room and more stability.

There are obviously some differences but they're easily learned, particularly by an experienced sailor who will undoubtedly have a list of good questions for the briefer. If you're still uncertain, do what I did and hire a skipper for the first day or so. Having someone to watch over my shoulder for my first time mooring, anchoring, docking, reefing, etc. was a great way to gain a lot of knowledge in a short time.

And trust me, the difference in room is worth it! The only time we cruise on monohulls now is if a cat is not available in the area.

The charter fee is more expensive as well...I know the OP didn't ask that, but it may not be obvious if they haven't done any research yet.

Many thanks indeed guys.

Yep I'd discovered the cat is about 1K more expensive but as our Son is now 6 ft 2" and 17 yrs (so possibly may get taller) I definitely think the space inside the main and sleeping cabins will be worth it.

I'll pass on your suggestion about hiring a skipper as that sounds like a great idea.

Back to the research it is then <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

My boyfriend is 6'3" and he has no trouble fitting in most mono hulls in the salon - not always in the berths though...

You can always ask for that as a criteria when inquiring about boats from any charter company - I do.

If that's your only criteria for picking a cat, I wouldn't do it...but that's just my $0.02

My $0.02 ...

2-4 People - go monohull
5-8 People - go cat

More than 8 - you're nutz!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Count me in as nutz then, we had 9 on a Moorings 4600 one trip. Really no worse than 8 was.

I also think you can do more on a mono, but you just need to go bigger. The 50-55' mono's can easily accomodate 8 people comfortably.

We don't really want a cat just for the height.

We've never sailed in the Caribbean before and I'd like a Cat (simply just "fancy" one) as it looks much more spacious everywhere, and in Europe isn't as available.

We're a family of 4 (+ girlfriend of 18 yrs) so could fit easily into a mono.

Hubby loves to sail (and race) I just love to holiday in the sunshine!! Children both enjoy sailing.

He wanted to know if the cats do sail ok or if you require lots of wind....he won't want to be turning on the motor if at all possible. He gets the final say as it's to celebrate his 50th b/day.

Cheers
Ju

Our preference is for a cat due to the fact that my wife does not like the heeling of a monohull. She preferes the more stable platform of a cat. The cats do not point to the wind as well as a monohull and do not tack quite a well as a monohull. Its just a little different from my perspective as the only sailor in the group.

Whichever you go with, you'll have a fun time.

I'd suggest looking at the available options and costs. Then determine what the trade-offs are with the options that meet your budget.

For instance, for the same cost, you might be able to get a Mono where everyone has their own cabin and head. But in a Cat for the same cost, you may have a shared head between cabins.

We've mostly chartered Cats up until our last trip on a 43 Mono. Every trip was great and I've enjoyed each boat. So it really won't matter what you choose, you'll have a fun time!

The motion on a cat in a seaway is quite different than a mono. I haven't been seasick in 30+ years but my first time making a passage on a cat I was queazy for the first 24 hours. You can't beat the room and if you are planning to charter in the BVI's or other sheltered waters it may be the way to go.

Crikey that's weird that you felt queezy on a cat, I didn't expect that!

Just showed photos of a cat to our Son and although he loved heeling on the boat he's impressed with the space available.

Thanks for your help and advice.

The motion on a catamaran can feel a bit more herky-jerky in a seaway because they aren't displacement hulls. You're riding more on top of the water. However, you aren't transiting at 15-20 degrees of heel either, and you can do things inside the boat (make lunch, play cards, etc) while underway that I would never consider doing in a monohull. The only time I really get quesy on a boat is when I stay below too long in a monohull. If you have non-sailors in your group, they will probably enjoy the cat better. Can't beat the space, especially at anchor. They also don't rock at anchor like monohulls do. Don't get me wrong, I love monohulls. Have owned and raced many. When it comes time to go cruisin' however, it will be on a cat, most definitely!!

Rob

"and you can do things inside the boat (make lunch, play cards, etc) while underway that I would never consider doing in a monohull."

really?

Absolutely! The motion of the monohull in a seaway heeling at 20 degrees with hatches closed to keep spray from getting below makes me ill.

I'm lucky in that, so far, being below while underway has never been a problem for me. I have a harder time cooking on a non-gimbaled stove in a Cat while underway than I do in a mono...

I think my issue is more about fresh air than motion. We find ways to leave hatches open in a cat that we can't seem to with a monohull.

Cat stoves gimble too (is that a word?). I've always seen a gimble bolt on them.

If I were chartering (not cruising) and it was just my wife and I, or two couples with a lot of sailing experience, we'd probably get a monohull. For cruising, in the future, we plan to live on a cat, just a personal preference I guess.

I agree it's personal preference. I can't afford to buy a cat, and since I want to retire on a boat I guess that's why I am a staunch mono-huller! ~grins~

I agree as well.

We prefer a Cat, but own a Monohull. We plan on cruising in 5 years. We'd prefer to do it on a Cat, but if selling our Mono and buying a Cat isn't in the finances, then we'll stick with our Mono.

Might even stick with it anyway since any money saved by sticking with it is money that we can use to extend our cruising time <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Having spent time on both - either are great for a vacation.

WOW Dawn, we finally agree. even if we won the lotto we would buy a beautiful well equipped mono, just not a big cat guy.

"heeling at 20 degrees with hatches closed to keep spray from getting below makes me ill." Don't know why, but as a sailor this quote amuses me. Who is sailing the boat? Plenty of wind on the deck.

Who is sailing the boat? spouse, friends on the charter with us. Not sure why that wouldn't be obvious.

Plenty of wind on deck - right, but when you're cruising, you can't spend all your time on deck. I was just saying I prefer being inside a moving catamaran to a moving monohull. Done plenty of mono daysailing and won a lot of races, just not interested in cruising in one.