More catamaran stories, suggestions or advice?

Question

Thanks for the responce so far CHAX and Robert R as well as Capt.J anyone else inclined to advice a neophyte sailor on Cat versus Keel?

Answer 1

hmmm, good question.

Answer 2

It really depends of where you live, where you're sailing, and what you're planning on doing with the boat. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages. Here in the Pacific Northwest, I would always choose a keelboat, but some people here still prefer catamarans. If I were in Florida I'd want a catamaran, but some people there prefer keelboats.

Size-wise, you can generally get a lot more monohull for the same money. Draft-wise, you can get a helluva lot more boat for the same draft in a catamaran. Keelboats sail much better to weather, catamarans sail much better downwind. Safety-wise, it takes a lot more effort to capsize a catamaran, but if it does capsize, you're not going to get it righted easily. For this reason, most cruising catamarans are built with escape hatches in the bottom of the hulls.

FWIW, I've sailed a lot of cruising catanarans,  and if money is no object I strongly recommend Fountaine Pajot. Way out of my price range, but they're excellent boats.

http://www.fountaine-pajot.com/