Question about this Catamaran

larryw · Mar 9, 2009

Tried the link, the site wanted all kinds of registration info, so didn't see the cat you're talking about, but cats in general; good for protected water, like the Caribbean, great downwind, huge amounts of space for a given length, fast if not overloaded. Sure, there have been plenty of blue-water sailing done in a cat, don't start sending me links to success stories. Look at the unsuccessfull ones; flipped, piled on a reef and broke up in no time, etc. Like any vessel, cats are a compromise. Some people love 'em, others wouldn't sail across a pond on one. Educate yourself, talk to owners, then you decide.

sailingdog · Mar 9, 2009

The Catalacs aren't bad boats, considering their age and relatively old design. They were built fairly robustly from what I've seen.

IIRC, they were English built, and any that are here in the USA came across on their own hulls. The main problems with them is that they have relatively low bridgedeck clearance, which means they're subject to slamming or slapping due to wave action more so than more modern designs that have higher clearance. They also have a full bridgedeck and cabin, and a fair amount of windage because of it.

That said, if you're a monohull sailor, looking at catamarans, I'd highly recommend you get a couple of books to educate yourself with. The first book I'd recommend is Chris White's The Cruising Multihull. While a bit long in tooth, it is still a great book. I'd also recommend Mike Mullen's Multihull Seamanship, which talks a lot about some of the differences that are required when sailing a multihull compared to a monohull.

sailaway78 · Mar 9, 2009

Load carrying ability

Franklin,
My understanding of cats it that they are somewhat limited in their load carrying capacity, and when loaded heavy, as in a cruising boat, they loose any performance advantage they might have. Also, from what I have read, they don't go to windward well. This is all hearsay info. so it is worth exactly what it cost you to read it. Maybe some cat owners will chime in.

sailingdog · Mar 9, 2009

Yes, smaller catamarans are limited in that they can't carry as much payload as a monohull with similar space. This is less so with larger multihulls. Overloading any multihull is going to affect its performance to some degree. However, some designs deal with overloading better than others.

However, the idea that all catamarans or multihulls can't go to windward is crap as Dennis Conner proved two decades ago or so...

It really depends on the design.

Many good cruising multihulls, like the Chris White Atlantic series of Catamarans, and the Gunboats, go to weather quite nicely... and scream going on reach...That said, many of the charter-specific designs are effectively floating condos, with the sailing performance of such, and don't sail downwind or to weather all that well.

Nice N Easy said:
Franklin,
My understanding of cats it that they are somewhat limited in their load carrying capacity, and when loaded heavy, as in a cruising boat, they loose any performance advantage they might have. Also, from what I have read, they don't go to windward well. This is all hearsay info. so it is worth exactly what it cost you to read it. Maybe some cat owners will chime in.

sailingdog · Mar 9, 2009

That's kind of a very general question, and it depends on a lot of different factors. The size of the boat (LOA/BEAM), the purpose of the boat (coastal cruiser, bluewater cruiser), whether the solid bridgedeck is carried all the way forward or if it has nets for the forward section, etc.

Franklin said:
What is considered normal and high bridgedeck clearance these days?

I was asking one of my friends what he thought about the low clearance as I was thinking it would slap down on a wave. He didn't know. Now I know it doesn't slap, but slam

CalebD · Mar 9, 2009

Franklin,
I tried to see if you posted anything about why the insurance people are 'talking about totalling' your boat but could not find anything. I believe that your boat was also your home.
I know you weathered a hurricane on her but I don't recall reading about her getting that much damage. I guess I missed something. What happened to your boat?
If you don't want to talk about it that is ok too. I understand that it could be a sore point.

paulj · Mar 9, 2009

I spent two days on a 31' catamaran moving it 80 nm here in the PNW.
I kept anticipating the roll with the big waves but it didn't roll and it does not heal.
Nice boat but not my cup of tea sails to flat for me.

paulj :troll:

sailingdog · Mar 9, 2009

That 31' Lagoon is probably relatively beamier than the Catalac in the OP and will handle waves on the beam better for that reason.

The Catalac 41 is a bit narrow for a catamaran that size, having a beam of 17.5' or so, versus the 22-26' that a more typical catamaran design would have. Most larger catamarans will have a beam of about 50-60% of the LOA, with the narrower beam ratios being typically found in larger catamarans than smaller ones. There are some exceptions to this, like the Gemini, which is one of the narrower designs out there.

Steve Dion · Mar 9, 2009

They don't tack worth a shit, but they go fast enough that a quick tack is not much of a problem. We made a trip in a 40' cat from SF to the Faralon Islands (about 7-8 hrs. round trip). I must say that it was a fast trip especially considering the square waves (6 x 6) off the Northern California coast.

You need to sort of forget what you know about sailing a mono hull and start over (not really, but really different).

Hermit Scott · Mar 9, 2009

Franklin, what happened to your boat? And what is the model and year of the cat you are looking at? The link asked for registration, I'm too lazy.

sailingdog · Mar 10, 2009

HS—

It's a Catalac 41.

sailingdog · Mar 10, 2009

Steve Dion said:
They don't tack worth a shit, but they go fast enough that a quick tack is not much of a problem. We made a trip in a 40' cat from SF to the Faralon Islands (about 7-8 hrs. round trip). I must say that it was a fast trip especially considering the square waves (6 x 6) off the Northern California coast.

You need to sort of forget what you know about sailing a mono hull and start over (not really, but really different).

Depends on the boat. Some tack well, others don't. There are a quite a few things that you can do that are normal on a monohull but can get you into trouble in a multihull.

Hermit Scott · Mar 10, 2009

What kind of anchor were you using, and what were the bottom conditions? Did anything extraordinary happen that caused it to drag anchor?

Steve Dion · Mar 10, 2009

Franklin:

Not to mention they have 2 or 3 heads, two motors and on and on. If you have a big enough Cat, they are fine, but you need to find a place to moor it or berth it which is not always easy. To me it is like having two boats.

I agree, the 376 or a 40.5 would be a fine choice.

CalebD · Mar 10, 2009

I am so sorry to hear about this Franklin. You have my condolences.
I hope you resolve this to your satisfaction.

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