[TSOJOURNER]

25-30'''' catamarans

Looking for our first catamaran as a daysailor, weekender, coastal cruiser.
I''ve narrowed the search to 8m Catalacs,
Hirondelles, and I just found a 1980 27'' Proust Ranger. Obviously, money and size are our main considerations. I will gladly accept any and all comments from your experience.
Thanx, Tom

 

[TSOJOURNER]

25-30'''' catamarans

Check out this web page for info on cats...
www.sailingcatamarans.com

This guy designs them and safety is #1.

 

[Jeff_H]

25-30'''' catamarans

These tend to be very slow boats and next to useless in light air. Unless you live in an area with a lot of wind, I would suggest that you will spend a lot of time motoring so carefully check out the engines.

It is very difficult to make a cruising cat much below 30-32 feet in length with good sailing capabilities. Tris do much better in this range below 30 feet but they do not offer the space gains of a Cat.

Jeff

 

[TSOJOURNER]

25-30'''' catamarans

Thanks Jeff. We''re in Key Largo on the bay side so light air can be an issue. My criteria for wanting a boat that size are:
more daysailing than anything else
40'' canal to turn around in
singlehanding {my labs are lousy crew!)
and price.
Thanks for your help, Tom

 

[Jeff_H]

25-30'''' catamarans

I would look for a monohull and one that was not too heavy. It will have a bit less accomodations but it would be fine in those conditions. I had a 25 footer which I kept a Dinner Key in the 1970''s. Another choice might be a small trimarran like a 30 foot Condor or a performace cat like a 27 foot Stilletto.
Jeff

 

[TSOJOURNER]

25-30'''' catamarans

Jeff, I guess I left out a couple of things. We have a 23'' MacGregor now that''s just not comfortable enough. I talked my wife out of a trawler and into the catamaran instead so room and heeling are issues. Our 2 Labs go everywhere with us. If they saw us going down the canal in a boat without them the house might not be standing when we got back! And a shallow draft is very important in The Keys, especially Florida Bay and The Everglades. I think a catamaran is going to work out great for us it''s just a matter of what we can find and afford. A Stilletto would be awesome for me but not for the whole crew. I''m hoping this post will lead me to other cats I haven''t discovered and things to look for when I find one.
Thanks again for your input, I do appreciate it.
Tom