Thinking about multihull... newbie question.

[SiXeVeN]

I have been increasingly intrigued with getting a multihull (gunkholing and speed) but I have to admit I know almost nothing about the various manufacturers or models that exist.
I have found info on the larger cruisers and the small Hobie cats but nothing inbetween???

Here are my particulars... Can anyone suggest a boat that fits the need?

-- Length... maybe 20-30'
-- Enough cabin for possible overnight and room for a small porta-pottie.
-- Reasonable to solo sail
-- Cockpit area reasonably comfortable for wife/occational neighbor types. (i.e. dry... no hanging off the hull or sitting on a tramp inches off the water)
-- Shallow to moderate draft ( max 4' fixed or retracting keelboards)
-- Robust enough to handle occational coastal Gulf surprise weather (5-6' swells with 25-30 knot winds)

In short, a multihull that I (solo) can get up and MOVE with, yet could still take some neighbors and wife out for casual sunset cruise in reasonable comfort. A small cabin that could provide overnight capability and a place to take a s**t if necessary

Does such a boat exist??? A sort of a weekend sailing cat?

Thank you for any advice!!!

[kd3pc]

Gemini

Old or new, would be a fine match to your particulars. Perhaps a MaineCat. NOt really too much between Hobie (wet sailing) and the thirty footers that meet your needs.

all the best

dave

[JohnRPollard]

Yeah, definitely take a look at the Geminis (catamaran)/Telstars (trimarans) by Performance Cruising Inc. They're built in Annapolis, Md on Back Creek.

Some other smaller/mid-size catamaran designs are by Prout and Catalac, there are others (Stiletto?) but names are escaping me.

Also, in trimarans, you can look at the Corsairs (F-24, F-27, F-31, etc), other Ian Farrier designs, Condors, etc.

[sailingdog]

While catamarans like the Gemini, Maine Cat, TomCat, Iroquois, Heavenly Twins, and Catalac 8m/9m are all possibilities, I'd recommend a small trailerable trimaran instead. Most of these catamarans are longer than 30', and most will be difficult to keep in a small slip due to their beam.

A Telstar 26, Telstar 28, Quorning Dragonfly 800, or Farrier design like a Corsair 24, 28, or 31 would make more sense. Almost all of these are regularly available, and would make more sense IMHO for what you're trying to do.

The Telstars and Dragonflies are centerboard designs, where the Corsairs are daggerboard boats. Centerboard boats are a better choice for gunkholing, since the board will kick up generally if you go into areas too shallow for it. Daggerboards will generally stop the boat dead, and if you're moving fast enough may damage the daggerboard trunk.

Of these, the one I'd recommend the most is the Telstar 28, because it is far drier a design than the Corsairs, and less expensive than the Quornings generally. It also has a real galley and head, unlike the Corsair 24/28, and almost as much cabin space as the Corsair 31. One other reaason to recommend the Telstar 28—it can be folded to store in a normal width 30' slip—which the Corsairs can't do.

Here are two videos of my boat out in conditions worse than what you're describing.






If you want more information on the Telstar 28, you might want to read my blog.

[SiXeVeN]

The Maine cat looks quite interesting. A large open cockpit with a reasonable cabin. Unfortunately rather large... might be a handful solo sailed? Not to mention painful to the wallet It comes VERY close to what I am looking for. I wish it were just a touch more compact.

I was aware of the Gemini and Telstar. Both nice vessels. I can't say i'm a huge fan of the helm position on the Gemini but it may be more comfortable than the pictures look.

Anyone know if Prout ever made a smaller model than their 40... Something in the 26' range?

Sailingdog,
Is there storage or accessable space in the Telstar outrigger hulls?

Mike

[sailingdog]

There's quite a bit of storage in the ama hulls...but it should be used for relatively light items that are not affected by wet conditions.

BTW, the only catamarans that are pretty reasonable for what you want are the Heavenly Twins 26 and the Catalac 8M....both of which are less than 30' LOA. The MaineCat, TomCat and Gemini are all over 30' IIRC. The older Geminis were a bit smaller than the Gemini 105 series... getting a bit longer with each revision... 3000 (30'), 3200 (32'), 3400 (34').

IIRC, the MaineCat is 18' wide, so generally needs either an end slip or a mooring.

I would highly recommend going aboard any of these boats before deciding, mainly because what looks workable often isn't. The helm position on some of the catamarans makes singlehanding them close to impossible.

Originally Posted by SiXeVeN

The Maine cat looks quite interesting. A large open cockpit with a reasonable cabin. Unfortunately rather large... might be a handful solo sailed? Not to mention painful to the wallet It comes VERY close to what I am looking for. I wish it were just a touch more compact.

I was aware of the Gemini and Telstar. Both nice vessels. I can't say i'm a huge fan of the helm position on the Gemini but it may be more comfortable than the pictures look.

Anyone know if Prout ever made a smaller model than their 40... Something in the 26' range?

Sailingdog,
Is there storage or accessable space in the Telstar outrigger hulls?

Mike

[craigtoo]

Awesome vids Dan!

Smokin..'!

[sailingdog]

Thanks Craig.

Those were both SCA days... nice cause all the powerboats got scared off the bay. The second one was taken on a day where three boats were blown off their moorings in Newport harbor IIRC, not too far to the west from where we were sailing.

[WaterView]

Very cool videos Dog.

[SiXeVeN]

The helm position on some of the catamarans makes singlehanding them close to impossible.

Exactly! A lot of the bigger cats are similar to floating patios with a captain's chair perched off to one side.

It seems a lot of Cats are built primarly as cruisers with little thought to active sailing. A kind of houseboat with sails. Or, considering some of the prices... a mansion with sails... $799,000.00!!! Ouch!

Anyway, you guys have given me a few other boat models to explore. I'll have to do some googling.

Sailingdog, there is a guy with a Telstar near me... maybe I should go introduce myself and invite my way on to his boat It might be the right mix of shallow draft-speed without causing me to feel like I am simply a passenger on a large floating square.