Best CATs - Offshore, Standing headroom?

[kulokoo]

I am just peering into the world of multihulls, and can see there is much to be interested in, but of course there are many considerations I am not aware of. So here's my inquiry:

What are the best used catamarans to look at that:

(1) can safely cross oceans
(2) have standing headroom in the center deck

For me, given these two requirements, I think shorter LOD is better, just enough boat rather than a freighter...

What catamarans would go on such a list?

[kulokoo]

I guess it is a short list? I suppose it is discussed in some other thread somewhere...

Only loosely related, but has any mfg tried to engineer a way to right a capsized catamaran of cruising size. It seems like if I were an engineer, I could design a way...

[goehner2]

Check out Chris White Designs. His Atlantic series looks very nice.

[MarkCK]

Blue water capable catamarans dont get discussed here much. It seems the monohull debate is endless when it comes to what is suitable for bluewater. You might look into builders based out of South Africa. For some reason a lot of well built catamarans come out of that country. I dont have any personal experience with any of them though.

[therapy23]

There are a bunch.
And like "which monohul for an ocean crossing" you will get multiple opinions.
How much money ya got? They cost more per foot.
There is a place that multi folks congregate ( I think against the rules to link you) but cats are a much smaller group in the sailing community.
Google is full of info..........

[sailingdog]

I'd second the Atlantic series by Chris White. The Atlantic series are really designed for cruising and sailing short-handed. The smallest model is the 42 IIRC.

I'd point out that many catamarans are built for the charter trade and not really suitable for bluewater passages, being more well suited for going from tiki bar to tiki bar, usually under power.

[TropicCat]

Originally Posted by kulokoo

What catamarans would go on such a list?

Almost all cruising cats made since 1980 will fit this general description. I think an important aspect is the price range as it's unspecified. Cruising Catamarans suitable for Blue Water can be as small as 26' (Heavenly Twin) or as large as a auto ferry.

I mention the smaller boats because one has to keep in mind that a Cruising Catamaran offers 50% more interior room than it's mono equal. A 30ft Cat = a 45ft mono for living space. A 40ft cat = 60' mono..and so on.. In addition the large cockpits in a catamaran become addition living space in the tropics.

The rule of thumb is that trade wind sailing (circumnavigation) or Caribbean sailing is perfect for a catamaran (no down wind rolling) where as high latitude sailing might be more comfortable in a heavy displacement monohull as you want to be in a totally enclosed area (wheel house). Few cats offer this option (the Chris White boats do)

At the low end of the price range are 10 meter and over Catalacs and Prouts all of which offer standing headroom through out the boat. Privileges have great headroom in the hulls but only 5' 6" on the salon. Any South African boat (Dean, Voyage, Robertson & Caine..etc..) or anything from France ..Lagoon, Fountaine Pagot. As for North American entries... PDQ, Maine Cat and Manta.

This is sort of like asking which car should I buy!!