Quote:
Originally Posted by sailingdog
I'd highly recommend you read the post I wrote a while back on multihulls as a starting point. It is located here.
Trimarans are typically less roomy than a monohull of equal LOA, while catamarans are typically more roomy. Trimarans tend to have better sailing performance and characteristics, provided they're not the old full wingdeck versions like the Pivers.
What size boat are you talking about??? A properly designed trimaran or catamaran will often be faster port to port, but doesn't require sacrificing comfort. Many will argue that a multihull would be more comfortable, rather than less, since there is no constant heeling at 15˚+...
I'd point out that many of the charter industry catamarans are extremely under-canvassed, have very high windage, and really poor sailing characteristics. These boats were designed to do what most charterers have come to want—move them from beach bar to beach bar with enough space that they and their friends can hang out, lounge and party without interfering with each other too much. These boats are sailboats in name only.
A cruising sized multihull is fully capable of dealing with adverse weather at least as well as a monohull. However, the tactics are going to be very different. Raising the boards on centerboard/daggerboard multihulls and lying ahull is an option that isn't really feasible on most monohulls. The best serious piece of heavy weather survival gear on any small sailing craft IMHO is the Jordan Series Drogue.
While slips are more difficult for a multihull to get into, moorage is often not a problem. The shallow draft of most multihulls allows them to use moorings or anchorages that other boats simply can not. I've been to many anchorages, where a monohull wouldn't find space to anchor due to the number of boats already there... and easily found a spot to anchor in... with a draft of 16", I can anchor in 4' of water pretty safely.
One couple I met this past season talked about how their average passage speeds were in the 12-17 knot range. Granted, they were in a pretty big catamaran...but a monohull with the accommodations of their 55' catamaran would be much, much larger....and slower than their boat. |
Just back from an island trip on a Chris White Atlantic 55.
She's the ultimate boat. Fast and functional. Short tacking up the channel to make Sopers Hole was ez with the self tending jib. No lines touched. We'd been at Anegada for a few days and left hours after the "fleet". Smoked cats/mono's, pointing higher than most, and they were motor sailing. For the most part I was seeing 10 knots+ in 16-19 knots of wind. Small jib and one reef (i think).
I've owned multi's, mostly cats and one tri. For the most part, if its a standard production boat, like a fountaine pajot, lagoon, or a privilege, they wont make it as a speed demon. Not sure about catana's or other board boats. You'll spend more for a slip and have to preplan where/when you'll be hauled. For the most part, when i needed a slip it was at the end of a pier head. When expecting weather, it was not a warm and fuzzy feeling that she'd ride well. The trade off for speed is NOT worth the cost and non availability of decent dockage (at a reasonable price). If the boat speed were there, then to me its a worth the energy and cash. The only way that happens is in a Chris White type boat. I'm talking about liveaboard, cruising multihulls, not camping. My F27 was a rocketship. Folded nicely allowing for decent dockage. Hard to liveaboard (for me).
Dragonfly seems to have something going in their 1200 series. Living space not so great but speed still there.
Having said all that, i'm heading back to a multi. Speed wins for me. White has the answer w/speed and comfort in the 55. Off to buy that lottery ticket.