Small Liveaboard Cat search

[pdqaltair]

The eternal compromise. In cats under about 40 feet it is tough to get both. The PDQ 32 and Maldives 32 get by having a sliding roof and hard bimini, but it does not work if the weather is cold. If the slider is closed, there is about 5'3" head room in both, I think. The PDQ 36, being larger, has headroom.

The Gemini solves the problem by lowering the bridge clearance to ~ 4"-6" when loaded. They can slap in harbors and at anchor. And some people love them, because they pack a lot of room in a small package for little $$.

Someone must have mentioned beam: go over ~16' and slips are not generally available.

Consider heating if you have a winter. Some multihulls are designed as though everyone lives in the tropics, or lays up 7 months a year. To live aboard, you need to be able to button-up. You need a real door, not an afterthought.

[djeeke]

Hi !

Anybody any info / ideas on the Hobart 900 Catamaran ?
I just saw one for sale in France on multisailing.com reference 26630

Thx !
Djeeke

[twinsdad]

I am seriously looking at a Seawind 1000XL for coastal cruising for my wife and I, and occasionally with our 8 year old twins. Will also do a lot of single handed sailing in Long Island Sound. My mooring space is constrained to 36 feet. Would love any input, both positive and negative on the boat. Thanks

[Selkirk]

Forgive me for being a purist and a fan of cat boats or "cats", but a catamaran is not a cat boat.
Calling a catamaran a cat is, to me, what calling San Fransisco, "Frisco", is to the residents of that city.

[chucklesR]

Selkirk, you're forgiven, now let us continue to be lazy and call our boats cat's.

Seawinds make excellent boats and liveaboards. I went with my Gemini for several reasons, all design related (vs cost).

Climbing out of the cockpit to go forward, I didn't like the SW, the Gem's more open.
Side decks are narrower on a SW.
I'm really opposed to the twin outboards in wells, they just don't make the amps, and require gas vs diesel.
Beam was too much to ever get a normal slip, and cat slips cost too much on a continuous basis.
The fridge is electric only, and in the master cabin.

Those were my notes from the tour at the boat show.

They (SW) are faster, and IMHO better built than the Gemini's.

BTW, my Gemini has never slapped in harbor - I have no idea where that comes from.

[sailingdog]

One other point about the Seawinds and other outboard powered catamarans: They will have less flexibility when it comes to re-charging the batteries, adding air conditioning/refrigeration, etc.

There are some other cats in this size range, like the TomCat 30 and MaineCat 30, but I'm not a particularly big fan of either. IMHO, they're fairly overpriced for what they give you and their design does not lend itself to singlehanding without some modification due to the cockpit layout.

[Selkirk]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

Selkirk, you're forgiven, now let us continue to be lazy and call our boats cat's....

Ok.
But before I go away (and I will) I just want to say that while you may call your catamarans "cats", you will be wrong while doing so.

You can't call a Brigantine a "Brig" because those are two different types of vessel. With similar names.

You can't call a Barquentine a "Barque" because those are two different types of vessel. Similar names.

And a catamaran ain't a cat.
This is a cat


Now I'm done......Hangs head. Shuffles off. Mumbles.

[bljones]

How about a Fisher? Ugly as sin, but a lot of space in a small package.

1978 Catfisher Sailing/Power Catamaran Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

[sailingdog]

Actually, that is a cat boat... not a cat. I've never heard them referred to as Cats, unless it was prefixed by a brand or make, like Beetle Cat...

If you say cat by itself, most people will assume catamaran, not cat boat.

Originally Posted by Selkirk

Ok.
But before I go away (and I will) I just want to say that while you may call your catamarans "cats", you will be wrong while doing so.

You can't call a Brigantine a "Brig" because those are two different types of vessel. With similar names.

You can't call a Barquentine a "Barque" because those are two different types of vessel. Similar names.

And a catamaran ain't a cat.
This is a cat


Now I'm done......Hangs head. Shuffles off. Mumbles.

[djeeke]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

If you say cat by itself, most people will assume catamaran, not cat boat.

ACK !

Anybody able to tell me something about the Prout Ranger series?

There is a 34 ft ranger for sale at a bargain price, This is what it looks like :

You guys know by now I am planning to see some Iroquois catamaran's, this is obviously a very different boat...
Where did Prout get the 34 ft in the Ranger series, bigger accommodation space ? (we plan to live long periods on the boat so additional space is welcome).

Or does the 34ft Ranger only have longer hulls as it seems the hulls extend far aft? (same as the Iroquois has two sizes, taller one having extended hull at the stern)

Any info you might have is appreciated, as always ;-)