Mono vs Cat. Glad to be back.

LANCE ON CLOUD NINE · Jun 28, 2014

I had almost the exact same feeling, after chartering a Lagoon 44 and then returning to sail my lowly O'Day 23!

Windborne · Jun 29, 2014

I am a mono-hull sailor but to give the devil his due, there is a 32' Iroquois Cat that I see on the water on occasion and she leaves me behind every time on my 30 footer like I'm standing still. Sometimes I wish I could go as fast.

capejt · Jun 29, 2014

Ahh, this takes me back about fifteen years or so when I was a charter captain in Puerto Rico and the Virgins. I was living aboard a Jeanneau 50 in PR. Most of the charter gigs I got were on cats. While cats can be fast, stable, and roomy below, there's nothing like a monohull for that "real" feeling of sailing. I would always head out for a quick romp on the 50 after a charter job on a cat just to get that feeling back. Cats have their place, but to me, true sailing is a monohull thing.
As for your tacking problems, that's just one of those things you get used to on a cat. I learned that a long time ago when sailing and racing Hobie Cats. Monos tend to "pivot" on the keel where cats have to "turn" through the tack. This requires the jib to sort of pull the bow around. It can be a pain to us "purists", but like I said, you get used to it.

Sprega · Jun 29, 2014

Back in the 70s I had the pleasure of skippering a 47ft 1923 Herreshoff Q boat from the north end of Vancouver Is. To the Seattle area. While beating up the channel to Friday harbor, we could see a 16 ft Hobie ahead of us that was sailing circles around the boat ahead of us ( literally ). As we passed by they gave chase with the intension of doing the same thing to us. They did get close enough to our stern to yell at us that we had a "fast boat". What a great day on the water that was. Although some monos are dogs, given the right monohull, I will chose that every time.

thinwater · Jun 29, 2014

Oh no! A cat/mono thread.

I'm guessing they simply have a miscalibrated sense of feel. Everyboat has feel, you just have to listen.

And if the Hobie guys had a 47-foot cat? And if they had a 16' Potter?

Sillyness. I like em' all. I'm just going sailing.

LANCE ON CLOUD NINE · Jun 29, 2014

thinwater, I should have done a better job with my comment above. I too love them all! I see some kind of beauty in almost every design afloat. It was just nice to be reminded how much pleasure per pound a small simple boat can deliver, regardless of number of hulls.

dbecker68 · Jun 30, 2014

We have chartered twice in the BVI's, both times on a mono-hull, which is what we own here on Mobile Bay. While I appreciate the speed and roominess of a cat, I also prefer the feel and the "lean" of a mono-hull.
Besides, with just the two of us, all that extra space would be wasted.
We have tried both trips to make it out to Anegada, and both times we got turned back by rough seas. Friends have told us the trip is easier and smoother on a catamaran. I just say that we have to keep trying on a mono-hull. It's a great excuse to go back again and again and again . . .

capnrick · Jun 30, 2014

I had a neighbor at one of my former marinas who bought himself a 38 foot cat (forget the make) and I went out with him a couple of times. You have to love all that space, the trampoline, etc., but I was not too fond of the handling. In a straight line it was stable and very fast through the water - very exciting until it was time to change our heading. I will always prefer the responsiveness and thrill of a monohull in a good wind.

maccauley123 · Jun 30, 2014

I just had the exact same experience. Just 2 days ago returned from an awesome week on a Leopard 44 cat in the Abacos. Fabulous platform to explore on with a group of 9 but she sailed like a pig. Not responsive at all, at times could not complete a tack unless sails were just right. No fun to sail but perfect for what we needed. Can't wait to get out on my Beneteau 361 and actually sail!

thinwater · Jun 30, 2014

LANCE ON CLOUD NINE said:
thinwater, I should have done a better job with my comment above. I too love them all! I see some kind of beauty in almost every design afloat. It was just nice to be reminded how much pleasure per pound a small simple boat can deliver, regardless of number of hulls.

I was just playin' with the group, nothing more. My opologies.

Bad Obsession · Jun 30, 2014

I agree with Thinwater.....I like them all.

Heck....I would love to try a 60 foot Gunboat. Those look like they would be fun!

As it is, mono-hauls seem much more affordable to me.

jwing · Jun 30, 2014

Different tools for different jobs.

I drove nails with a hammer last week; the hammer was an awesome nail-pounder.

But I can't wait to get back to my wrench. It turns bolts way better than a hammer does.

Philbert · Jun 30, 2014

I agree that the mono is the best sailing experience, (for guys that is) however on a BVI sailing trip with four couples you can't beat a cat. Just got back from the BVI and it was a seriously rainy trip. First time ever that it rained 24 hours straight. The Moorings 4800 was perfect with its hard top Bimini, affording us the ability to actually sail without needing the foul weather gear. However that said last year we did a guys trip there on a Moorings 50.5 and it was better than any of the previous Cat trips. Sailed up Sir Francis Drake from Norman and needed only two tacks to turn up toward the Dogs. Best BVI trip from a sailing standpoint, but either way, you just can't beat the sailing grounds and that island hopping experience!!

SteveSam · Jun 30, 2014

Comment on multihulls

rfrye1 said:
I just got back from a revisit to BVI for 9 great days on the water. I haven't been there for 11 yrs. we bareboated a 46' from Sunsail with 4 couples and honestly had a gas. Stress free sailing, great weather, food, painkillers, etc. Of course w 8 adults the Cat was great. But what a Truck to sail. With just the mainsail up, the boat wouldn't turn. Too much effort aft. But the ride was flat, anchorage was awesome.

Today, back in San Diego, out for the day on my 38' Hunter. OMG, it's so funny, after driving that Cat, my Monohull felt like a F1 race car! Glad to be back on my Monohull. And yes, I think sailboats should lean over....... .

Cheers. Bob

Hey just a quick comment on the multi. There are many great things about sailing number one is the friends you can make and another is the continual learning about this sport that can occur over a life time. Perhaps another is the fact that you can sail well into old age, not many activities in life offer that ability. But as the owner of a Corsair F 28 R I would like to say that it is a fact that it can turn on a dime, easily sail backwards, sail continous circles without touching the sails, easily do 11-12 knots with just main and sail and flat enough not to scare the admiral. It does not feel like an F1 race car it is one. I thought that I would miss the leaning on my Oday 25 but when I sit out on the ama with the tiller extension in hand and look at the stern and see the rooster tail and see the water covered in a couple of hours. So with a big grin on my face I wanted to say that no boat or platform is perfect but I wanted to give my experience with a multi.

Steve
Corsair F-28 R
"Wicked Woman"

ceolwynn · Jun 30, 2014

wow,,, a lot of people unfamiliar with a cat,
having an unhappy first experience trying to
sail one like a mono... you guys sound silly...

ride on a cat with an experienced pilot in some
brisk winds, watch how they sail it NOTHING
like a mono, and note how their ride and
performance differed from yours...
just sayin...

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Jun 30, 2014

Stevesam- Lived aboard and cruised for 3 years on a 35 foot trimaran We commonly outsailed any monos in our size range, and that was as a loaded up cruising boat with two dinghies aboard. Our full time home. You and I seem to be the only Tri sailors here

Came down the Chesapeake once, running DDW, logged 14 knoits steady for over 3 hours. Turned in to Mill Creek, came onto a reach and watched the speedo lock at 19 for five miles.

And it was stable in a an anchorage.

Of course, I now sail a small monohull-- can't afford a GOOD multi.

jacktheflyer · Jun 30, 2014

I am not as experienced as others on this list but am a catamaran driver and have no knowledge of large monos. I maintain that its not just what you do but also who you do it with. For me, my wife and grandkids come on the Cat and I get to enjoy sailing so I think i have it all.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Jun 30, 2014

Wife, grandkids, sailing- Yep

thinwater · Jul 1, 2014

ceolwynn said:
... watch how they sail it NOTHING
like a mono, and note how their ride and
performance differed from yours...
just sayin...

That is a true statement. I rally have to switch gears everytime I sail a mono; the rules of aerodynamics don't change, but how they apply does. Combined with the way the de-tune charter cats, a false impression results.

That said, I'm sectretly looking for a small mono dingy; beach cats are physically more than I need these days, and I want a smaller toy to play with.

Mono vs Cat. Glad to be back.

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