Why wouldn't you want a catamaran?

[sailusvi]

I know the majority of sailors here are mono hull guys but I was wondering "if" you could take off for a couple of years, spend 400K cash on a lightly used Fountaine Pajot Belize 43' and hang out in the BVI, USVI, and points further south, why would you not want to do it in a cat? We are a family of 5....... plus some guests now and then.
After bareboating a 44 lagoon out of Tortola my wife is hooked on cats. What say you?

[Giulietta]

Go for it...your choice....your taste...

[lbdavis]

What would I say if I had an extra $400K lying around and a cat would make the family want to go cruising in the Carib?

ME-friggin'-OW!

[TrueBlue]

my wife is hooked on cats.

Sounds like 51% of the vote has already been cast.

[PBzeer]

For the Islands, where you anchor out most of the time, not making long passages, and want a good platform to play in the water, cats are great. But for that same 400K, I could buy a bigger monohull, and have a bunch left over, to stay longer.

[sailusvi]

BTW, I'm in my early 50's and have sailed mono hull's since the late 70's.

Come on Giulietta, thats all ya got?

[Cruisingdad]

I do not have an issue with Cats. I really like the Lagoons personally. But my decision to buy one really would be based off of where I was going to go. If I was going to the carib and slippage for wide boats like that was easily available (or mooring balls), I would highly consider it. You will be cruising, so that is a different lifestyle. But if I was going to be going to other parts of the US, namely S Florida, it would almost be completely off my list. The draw would be great, but finding a slip with that beam will be difficult and VERY pricey.

But like Giu said, go for it. If that is your area of interest and what you plan to do with it, I think it would make a great boat.

- CD

[sailingdog]

If I had $400,000 laying around...I'd buy smaller than a 40' trimaran, and have a lot more money in the cruising kitty and stay out as long as possible.

[kwaltersmi]

Fair question. Given your scenario, the only personal reasons I can give are:

1) Catamaran prices (both initial cost and upkeep seem higher than a mono)

2) Aesthetics/taste - While there are many cats that are very desirable to me, there is also a part of me that likes the salty look/feel of a more traditional monohull.

[teshannon]

Having you wife hooked on cats kind of settles it for you. However, CD's comment about finding a slip or mooring for one is a valid one and really limits your options about where to park the boat. I'm sure dockage is a tad more expensive because of that.