Mono vs Cat. Glad to be back.

[Gunni]

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.

A true challenge. I actually sail singlehand MUCH more now on a 41' keelboat than I ever did in my one-design dinghy (Mobjack). Finding a trapeze monkey was always a chore. You either need a keel, or you need a detuned rig (and a wetsuit). My pick would be an affordable used J-70 with an electric outboard. The lifting keel would open up lots of Bay water, and a boom tent makes overnights possible in that monster cockpit.

 

[thinwater]

I'm actually thinking much smaller. Something mono-rig, though a trap would be fun; it is righting that worries me, not physical sailing or ballance.

 

[Gunni]

...the Tiwal 3.2 - and you don't even need a trailer.

 

[Rick D]

Since the thread is tired, I'll divert it. This reminded me of a time maybe 30 years ago when a woman and her daughter purchased an older ply/glass narrow cat to live on. She had no experience besides living with a guy on a Chris for a while. She walked over and asked me to help her figure out where the water was coming from inside. She had tried to empty it but it kept filling back up. I went to look. She lifted the cabin floor hatch and, sure enough, there was water. She told me she had worked for hours with bucket after bucket but couldn't get it lower. Of course since it was a cat, it was only the space between the hulls and she had been trying to empty the ocean.
Anyhow, this gal lived aboard for over ten years with her daughter. She was poor and every dime she made went to help her daughter who went off to college(and grew up to be a true beauty). I know she graduated, and I know the mom sold the boat and moved ashore but we lost track of them. I hope they have both had a good life; they deserve it.

 

[samiamtx]

I have found that when tacking a mono or a multi-hull speed is everything.
Looking forward to sailing a Dragonfly someday!!

 

[Hugthecruzer]

Options

A number of years ago, I got a ride on a Megregor 36 (?) cat. It was good sailing day. We only had the main up and just 'blew' by a mono running main and genoa. I have owned a Hobie 16 which I loved for it's speed, but not for a solo boat when it tips. We just lifted a hull on the Megregor and I got nervous, but it was fun. I sail a Catalina 25 now and like the way it handles. I feel fine soloing it. {It's for sale btw} When I am sailing the St. Clair River, and moving 5-7 knots, I feel more comfortable when the 3' {cruiser} waves hit me 20 deg. abeam. {With out having to adjust sails.} If on a cat I would worry about a flip and have to let sheets loose, or change heading.
Just get me on the water.

 

[Piratenorm]

Mono vs. Cat.

My wife and I got married on a 46 foot cat charter in the BVI's, on Jost Van Dyke. I thought she was a sailing gal but lo, not to be. Fine on a cat, not on a mono. I wanted to retire on a nice big mono-hull, she wanted a big-ass house that wasn't a sailboat, much less a catamaran. So that's what she got, and I got a much smaller boat. I found out that when the mono-hull heels she goes catatonic, (see the pun, cat-atonic, as opposed to catamaran...) totally bat-**** paranoid, hanging on the high side for dear life, scared out of her wits and not copos mentis enough to listen as I try to reason with her; relax, let gravity work, sit down in the pocket of the cockpit and enjoy a nicely designed boat with far more weight below than there is above as she cuts a fine arc through the waves. The Krackin is not going to reach out and snag you as we pass it by! She cannot grasp the logic of a sailboat. Ergo, she cannot conquer her fear. I no longer even try. But you know what, that's OK. So she has her toy, a new Mustang convertible and I have a nicely turned out Catalina 30 which I sail happily all over Georgian Bay by myself, or with a few select friends. When life serves you lemons, make margaritas!

 

[Kestle]

My wife and I got married on a 46 foot cat charter in the BVI's, on Jost Van Dyke. I thought she was a sailing gal but lo, not to be. Fine on a cat, not on a mono. I wanted to retire on a nice big mono-hull, she wanted a big-ass house that wasn't a sailboat, much less a catamaran. So that's what she got, and I got a much smaller boat. I found out that when the mono-hull heels she goes catatonic, (see the pun, cat-atonic, as opposed to catamaran...) totally bat-**** paranoid, hanging on the high side for dear life, scared out of her wits and not copos mentis enough to listen as I try to reason with her; relax, let gravity work, sit down in the pocket of the cockpit and enjoy a nicely designed boat with far more weight below than there is above as she cuts a fine arc through the waves. The Krackin is not going to reach out and snag you as we pass it by! She cannot grasp the logic of a sailboat. Ergo, she cannot conquer her fear. I no longer even try. But you know what, that's OK. So she has her toy, a new Mustang convertible and I have a nicely turned out Catalina 30 which I sail happily all over Georgian Bay by myself, or with a few select friends. When life serves you lemons, make margaritas!

Seriously, get her an instructor for a week, and just leave the boat and them alone.

It's a control thing.

Jeff