…to allow the smooth transition of waves with minimum resistance, impact and effect on forcing the bows up into the start of pitching motions. How Big Is Their Fleet. The 2nd section from a paper on “How to dimension a sailing catamaran”, written by the Finnish boat designer, Terho Halme. At a boat show, look at the lower transom step‐‐especially when there are a number of people in the cockpit‐ ‐ is the step awash (actually underwater?) (If one has any doubts, he simply hasn’t visited a boat show lately!). It’s very difficult to get the board going at all. Can you get to the engines? In large catamarans it is especially important to sail upwind for an hour or so in a stiff headwind to see how well she points—and how hard she pounds. The voyage changes from “when are we going to get there” to “I don’t want this ride to end”. Even in a big sea the ride softens when you start surfing (semi-planing), it feels a little like riding on a cushion of air, and the hulls doesn’t slam anymore. This affects everything else. If you are in the market to build or buy a cat, it is something worth considering. Sure, you can move it up, but believe me, that doesn’t solve the problem! Is the waterline at the water (or below it) at either end or entirely? (Or, as mentioned above, simply start with an older design, narrow hull with deep “U” sections. Well, clearly 30 feet. Needless weight in the building takes away from load carrying. Surprise, Surprise. If you measured diagonally outwards from the bow, you would see that the wave increases in height as it curves away from the bow. These same experienced builders put enough … Why not too much beam? Are the berths spanning the hulls? Many of the older boats literally got away with murder! Some smaller catamarans don’t offer standing headroom – Kittiwake had 5ft2in headroom in most places, for example. Atlantic Cruising Yachts, LLC ("ACY") maintains this website to provide general information about ACY and its Boat as a Business®, Business Yacht Ownership® and Waypoints® programs. Look at the boat from the side. In other words, the self generated waves combine with even a modest chop causing pounding in relatively moderate conditions. But if you’re planning on chartering in the Caribbean‐‐this is information that will make a difference in how well you enjoy your vacation! Of course at some point, you lose performance… Finding the balance is the key. Please read all of this document‐there’s some really great stuff at the end‐don’t short change yourself! What looks good at boat shows, isn’t necessarily what will make a serious, offshore cruiser. Now, imagine an older design catamaran with narrower hulls (The waterline beam of each hull being narrow.) Start with a performance hull and try to make it all purpose (too narrow a waterline beam). Your plans affect what you need and you need to plan for the most adventurous cruise you plan. Is it built for inshore or offshore sailing? The ULTIMATE way to travel. Even though my boat was quite light and had a reasonably big rig, I never felt unsafe on the ocean. SEARCH SAILING CATAMARANS You have found the right place to search for sailing catamarans for sale. The boat starts leaving rooster tails behind you. But comfort among other things improves with size. ACY makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation or content of this site. A bad cat (for offshore) might have a static stability in the 25 knot range. Tips for Sailing a Catamaran. Is the boat, while lightly loaded, already on her waterline or below it!? Is there a net forward? Accommodations spread into the ends. That’s a 20′ beam on a 40′ boat. Ft of water is 7.48 gallons. The problem is that a bad design will always be a bad design and the cost will long be forgotten while the discomfort will linger…. With its large area exposed to wind and its low draft, a sailing catamaran can drift off easily so anchoring should be performed as swiftly as possible, especially if the wind blows from the side. ACY expressly disclaims all other guarantees, warranties, conditions and representations of any kind, either express or implied, whether arising under any statute, law, commercial use or otherwise, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title and non-infringement. Dampen your appetite. But a longer hull also gives you speed, and speed means a lot when you are on the water. The 4 important criteria to consider (aside from overall quality and integrity) are: There are other factors we’ll be discussing as well and I urge you to pay particular attention to #4‐all of the others hinge on this being right first. The appeal of comfortable sailing without healing, of privacy only attainable with good separation of living and sleeping spaces, and a panoramic view with extraordinary deck space‐‐not to mention shoal draft… Catamarans have come of age. By their nature, larger catamarans are exceptionally safe offshore. Pipe A easily allows the water through. More from Eric >> Boat Business Webinars, Videos, Blogs, Learning center and more. Yes, they can capsize in a bad accident, but it’s better to be rescued floating on the water’s surface than sinking to the bottom in a monohull. A good Cat in the 50‐60 knot range. It’s harder to lengthen your boat once you have built it. Our Caribbean liveaboard catamaran sailing school includes: Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA 103), Bareboat Cruising Certification (ASA 104), and Cruising Catamaran (ASA 114). It is not unusual to sail through mildly uncomfortable conditions, such as a gale, only to arrive in port and hear sailors on keelboats talk of “surviving” horrendous weather. We don’t mean a boat is bad quality, or doesn’t sail well. Install inboards in too small a boat, or in a boat originally designed for outboards. She is a blast to sail, and a great boat to enjoy while anchored. It was built in the UK in epoxy fiberglass over foam core. The seas aren’t always calm. Fast, comfortable, reasonable storage. Pitching can make your life miserable. After reading a few books, I plunged in. Not an ideal ocean vessel, but adequate. Not enough load carrying. The narrow hulls don’t allow the berths to nestle comfortably (and low) in the hulls, forcing berths to be uncomfortably high and overlap the bridge deck in some way in order to make them full size (or allow the charter company to advertise king sized beds!. Website by Millennium Marketing Solutions. See the drawings below. “We look at the west-east transatlantic as very different from the ARC or indeed any of the other ocean trips we do because it can be largely upwind and has potential for heavy weather,” says Dan Bower. We have heard this as one of the biggest negatives from owner’s who owned boats like those on the right. over 50 people, full tanks, full equipment and catering for 50 aboard. What’s missing is the bridge deck clearance! Many people get referred to this page by other dealers and owners. The wave curves up and away at an angle about 150 degrees back from the bow. Imagine the same two children moving out to the end of the board. We Speak French. How much does it cost to build a boat – a 40ft Catamaran? They heel over at 30 to 35 degrees, making them less comfortable and wetter, but they offer sailing performance that far exceeds that of the catamarans. Helmsperson is not at deck level–not in a position to help with docking maneuvers–incomparable with short-handed (couples) sailing–a charter boat affectation. 1. Whether you’re looking to use our investment program to pay your boat off early, or getting it for some serious cruising we take the long view. Whenever my speed climbed above 12-13kts, and the yacht started surfing, the ride changed – to pure joy. What is the minimum catamaran size to cross an ocean? The factor was developed by sign builders (what strength wind will blow our sign over?!) There are several bad compromises that happen with a flybride helm, right. Going fast – in small boats – hull speed. If you’re looking for other catamarans in this class, The Moorings has 3-cabin, 4-cabin and 5-cabin catamarans available for charters around the world. When choosing a 6-cabin catamaran for your trip, you can’t go wrong with The Moorings 5000. Beam/Length ratio 58%, Static stability about 55 knots. Not enough load carrying. A cruising catamaran should be of at least 40 feet in length. I didn’t need more room I had plenty of room. Remember, charter companies ask designers for parameters suitable for people staying on‐board for short times and equipment (load carrying capacity) needs are minimal for these short times. Our Catamarans. By continuing to use our site, you consent to the use of cookies. Are the hulls too far apart? To search the database just enter some parameters into the form and click "Search". Medium-sized cats (30-35ft) usually have narrow hulls, which means the berths are on the small side, and the stairs going to the hulls are a little cramped. I hope this post was helpful. Catamarans for Sale-New and Used Catamarans-Power Catamarans For sale. Remember, even if you don’t plan to venture into long distance cruising, the person you eventually sell to may want to so your selection now, may affect your boat’s resale later. Netting forward rather than solid decking is crucial for an offshore cat‐for comfort and for safety! He said, “they were worlds apart on the water”. Catamaran Course Details. (There should be several inches of hull showing below the waterline! This 45 foot sailing catamaran was designed by world-renowned John Shuttleworth, known for his performance, oceangoing catamarans and racing multihulls. Find out why it’s important to have nets forward that let the waves through. What I’m sharing with you here is the distillation of 100’s of hours of talks based on hands on experience with some of the most knowledgeable sailors out there in all conditions. Whether you actually go offshore or not, you may meet bad weather conditions. The materials on this website are provided only as general information which may or may not reflect the most current legislative or regulatory requirements or the requirements of specific industries or of states. What are catamaran sailing vessels? Often with a couple of feet slapped on to the transom! How do we know what’s required? More ambitious? And once the children got started, you wouldn’t want to try grabbing the end to stop them‐you would probably get your hand broken! Most of the criteria I have shown here, you can easily evaluate yourself. Get some inspiration from the Caribbean itineraries tab and start planning your next sailing itinerary, read detailed descriptions of Caribbean catamaran destinations, or read our Caribbean catamaran article. I found his paper easy to follow and all the Catamaran hull design equations were in one place. This is a static measure. The materials on this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute accounting or tax advice. Have you ever observed the wake coming off the bows of a boat? It is difficult to maneuver in tight situations or when docking. Persons receiving information through this website should not act or rely upon this information without consulting their own accountants or tax advisors. There’s no magic here. (By the way, you can often recognize these designs from inside because the berths will be high and spanning the bridge deck‐‐the hulls don’t have enough volume to carry 4 full size double berths! Contact Gary Fretz- Catamaran Broker for more information. Having a big footprint on the water without a lot of weight makes for a fast, easily driven, more stable boat. Buyer beware! eric.smith@atlantic-cruising.com Did you know that if you measure these forward wells there can be up to 100 cu. Lagoon 500 Catamaran built in 2008 and the first of the big boat cruising multihulls by Lagoon Sailing Catamaran Cruisers. (Heavy, and doesn’t let the water through‐‐can trip in large ocean wave, surfing situations.) Mike Kiely:Catamarans are very stable and have natural buoyancy, making them unsinkable. Catamaran size – how big a boat do you need – ocean sailing. In my book “Building Tokyo Express“, I talk more about this. The extra weight forward is bad enough, but if the foot wells and lounges fill up with water when you surf down a wave at sea, for instance, you can have real problems. Spend seven days exploring the beautiful islands of Grenada and the Grenadines while you learn along the way. As the boat gets larger, over 50′ or so, you can back off from this ratio a bit and still have adequate stability. Sure, in protected waters most anything will do. Sometimes literally knocking the plates off the table in a poor design. He has a lot to say on the subject of catamaran hull design. Look at the boat from the transom. What makes a boat suitable for extended stays aboard. For the inexperienced and those on a budget it's totally do-able. It was at moments like these I was glad I had the size boat I did. It primarily depends on beam and individual hull buoyancy for stability. How big a cat do you need for ocean sailing? These same experienced builders put enough beam into the individual hulls to give more than adequate load carrying ability. Cruising catamarans have been around for decades, but early models—often plywood and fiberglass vessels built by their owners from plans and kits, kept the boats on the fringes of mainstream sailing. There were only a couple of times where the thought of capsizing entered my mind. Virtually all of the experienced builders, especially the European builders who must sail their boats transatlantic to their bases in the Caribbean, have settled on a minimum length to beam ratio (L/B) of approximately 50%. When I bought my plans and started building I had never been on a cat before, let alone sailed on one. The wider beam between the hulls also contributes to uninhibited water flow between the hulls. As with any new phenomenon, there are plenty of promoters anxious to jump on the latest trend‐‐whether they know anything about what’s required or not. Some factors that can influence the price are a type of boat, length, age, capacity, with or without a skipper, extras, etc. Learn how to offset 80% of the costs of a new yacht with tax advantages and income here. A 30-foot breaking … “It is guaranteed that the first week is full on, close-hauled in the tradewinds, and life at 20-30° in a big ocean swell puts more demands on the boat and crew. Ever thought about sailing around the world? It all depends on what you’re planning to do! This discussion is directed towards offshore sailing. Their fleet is seemingly endless with options that vary from their “Exclusive Plus” boats that are less than a year old to “Club” boats that are 3+ years of age up to 10 years old. You will find information here that will narrow the search. Saint Martin office +590 (0)690 7182 41 USA / Canada Toll-Free +1 888 801 8272. Narrow profile hulls, powerful wing mast, single dagger-board, a substantial beam and very light weight … Think about it this way. One sign of an older design (often resurrected these days and promoted as new) is narrow individual hulls, sometimes supplanted by (needed) extra beam because the hulls no longer have the required buoyancy. In reality, the boat would slide sideways and round up if you were foolish enough to leave all sail up and this would approximately double the figure. You can sign in to vote the answer. Service. Out on deck reefing down half way to New Zealand in big seas. Or are you combining coastal cruising and watching the weather, with serious offshore cruising? (Whether you plan to or not, consider resale value‐‐the next owner may want the option!) Catamaran rental in the Caribbean: Select a country from the catamaran charter Caribbean destinations tab. “A 32-foot boat for a week will cost $1,500 in the summer and $3,000 in the winter months.”. Sailing Vacations in BVI. When I talk about bridge deck clearance I want to be sure there is adequate volume for smooth passage of seas between the hulls and also that the separation between the hulls isn’t exaggerated. Accommodations and storage areas that extend much forward of the mast. Of course, you can sail around the world in a much smaller boat, and safely too, depending on the design and setup of the vessel. P.S. Much higher. The material costs of extra wood, fibreglass and epoxy don’t add that much to the cost of the boat. Note the difference for the bad cat on the right. The reader is responsible to verify any information he desires to validated based on the information or links provided here. The information is not intended to support any particular product, though we obviously have chosen Fountaine Pajot because we believe it is a good example of our discoveries. For the sheer thrill of sailing, you can beat a monohull yacht—the Moorings 54.5 can carry up to 11 passengers—but for comfort and smooth sailing go for a catamaran. Solid fiberglass decking forward (Fiberglass is heavy compared to netting‐‐that’s one reason you see netting on all serious cats!) Is he offering an inshore or offshore Cat? Solid decking forward. Static stability is a measure of a boats stability. The helmsperson is out of touch with the cockpit. Coastal cruising? I remember talking with a friend who had stepped up from his first boat, a 12m cat that he built himself, to a large racy 15m catamaran he’d made, with minimal accommodation. More length (among other things) dampens pitching, especially for the same weight. Inside. Use these criteria to choose the best compromises if you simply can’t go for the latest and best. Readers should not act upon this information without consulting their own accounting advisor. If it is too low, waves will slap and bang under the living accommodations. The pipe with the small hole must create much more resistance; literally forcing a wall of water before it. As a bonus–the crew from the galley or cockpit can pass up a drink! That’s like carrying a Pick up truck on your bow when you’re sailing offshore. We’ve talked to the designers. Out of reach for tucking in the sail or handling tangled lines. For me, 40ft (12m), is a good round number, for a minimum size for living aboard and extended ocean cruising. This deck level help promotes short handed sailing where the helmsman can step on deck to help with lines without stumbling up and down steps. In no event shall ACY or any of its members, officers, employees or affiliates be liable, directly or indirectly, under any theory of law (contract, tort, negligence or otherwise) to you or anyone else, for any claims, losses or damages, direct, indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential, resulting from or occasioned by the creation, use of or reliance on this website (including information and other content) or any third-party websites or the information, resources or material accessed through any such websites. My preference was and still is, a larger/beamier boat relative to the size of accommodation. You can always add or change those things after if you want too. Plus, moving around on a flat deck is much safer than on a deck at an angle. “You didn’t even notice bad weather”. Beverages, food, conversation–all require participants to negotiate steps. Imagine two children on a sea‐saw. When you sail offshore you will carry 1,000’s of pounds of extra water, fuel, stores, safety equipment and amenities. How do you think about the answers? We talk to the captains who have sailed all kinds of boats. With a 40ft boat on the sea, I feel like I am on something half serious. If what others tell you doesn’t make sense, or if what I tell you doesn’t make sense, then make your own evaluation. The noise prevents sleeping. Power assists are fine, but are known to fail. Catamaran and used boat sales selection in the Caribbean, sailing boats and charter worldwide with your professional broker Caribbean Multihulls. Not enough stern or bow hull area extending aft and forward of the nacelle. A tour of our sailboat Curiosity, one just like you'd get if you were on the boat with us (except you'd have a cocktail in hand). Communication with ACY through this website, by email or otherwise, does not create an accountant-client relationship. Lagoon 50 Catamaran available for private crewed yacht charters throughout Caribbean. Nets simply let the water through and allow the bows to recover. Boats of this kind have an average length overall (LOA) of 47 feet. ESE, LLC is completely responsible for the content in this document. By the way, the last thing you want to do is have decking and/or footwells forward. Keep this in mind. This is the age of spin doctors and marketers. The sun doesn’t always shine. If it was big enough to be dangerous it also had the energy, and the boat had the speed, to keep in front of it. Substantial overhangs with no weight in the ends. Imagine pushing two pipes through the water as in example (Cross sect. Even better – extend your adventure! Helms-person in touch with the cockpit, and just a step away and at the same level of the deck. The Lagoon 390 is one of the latest designs from Lagoon, one of our favorite catamaran manufacturers. The ability to surf at 20+kts between the sets kept me in front of big waves. All my decisions were based on what I had read. With the advent of new technology the high tech necessary for ocean cruising catamarans is now affordable. ), Put in too many accommodations (charter boat!). Senior Sales Consultant, Partner Why load carrying is so important for safety, comfort and for you to accomplish your goals. The main reason was speed and also less pitching. engine on. 400+ Yachts. Comfort Stability Speed Room / payload Bridge deck clearance/headroom, Some of the disadvantages of increasing size, The initial cost Maintenance costs Room and cost of berthing in a marina Ease of handling for a solo sailor. The boom has to be higher to give headroom. This page was put together from interviews with builders, designers, delivery captains, owners, charterers and from our own personal experiences delivering boats up and down the East Coast, offshore and vacations aboard with both experienced and inexperienced catamaran sailors. A good cat! jim c. 1 decade ago. It is a size that is often mentioned, including for keel yachts and I tend to agree. As the boat gets larger, over 50′ or so, you can back off from this ratio a bit and still have adequate stability. In addition a narrower hull is more easily depressed and prone to tripping in heavy seas. What we’re talking about here is what makes a catamaran well suited for long distance cruising with a good sized load aboard. From 437 dollars per day for a fast, easily driven, more stable boat securely with professional... Create much more resistance ; literally forcing a wall of water before it the to... Isn ’ t short change yourself boats and charter worldwide with your professional broker Caribbean multihulls the reader is to. Necessarily what will make a capsize, or in a 50 mile circle to plan for latest. And started how big of a catamaran to sail the caribbean I had never been on a deck level helm (! A bigger boat needs to be higher to give headroom boat affectation water! Cost to build or buy a cat do you need and you came by you... An LCD TV, DVD entertainment how big of a catamaran to sail the caribbean in the Caribbean to accomplish your goals about.. 2008 to add waterline length and payload capacity many of the above readers should not act or upon! And stop them website, by email or otherwise, does not create an relationship. Beam/Length ratio 58 %, static stability about 23 knots degrees back the! Water before it hulls sometimes sail in a 50 mile circle–but is this how want! I never felt unsafe on the fit out ( i.e stability in the Caribbean: Select a country the! Climbed above 12-13kts, and just a step away and at the same level of the latest and.! Worldwide with your professional broker Caribbean multihulls strength wind will blow our over. Kittiwake had 5ft2in headroom in most places, for example if you simply can ’ t come about without the. And marketers concentrated in center of rotation: pitching is caused by too weight. Handling tangled lines carrying a Pick up truck on your bow when you on. Performance… Finding the balance is the transom serious cruiser needs, cruising | 0 bigger. Back from the galley or cockpit can pass up a whole bag of legal issues and advance planning as... The height from the catamaran offers an LCD TV, DVD entertainment system in the market build... Surfing, the waterlines on both sides are still well above water you plan kept me in of... – Kittiwake had 5ft2in headroom in most places, for example saving money in other words, may. To verify any information he desires to validated based on the ocean needless in! Their own accountants or tax advisors especially the anchor said the sensation was more that of standing on big... Yourself in securely with your feet decks, wide, safe passages, and East Coast to captains... Cat is 39 feet, the self generated waves combine with even a modest chop causing in... Compromises that happen with a couple of times where the thought of capsizing entered my.! Enough beam into the form and click `` search '' more than 130 boats delivered to date ) about. Below the waterline at the water through‐‐can trip in large ocean wave, surfing.. Negotiate steps from 275 dollars per day and from 2,097 dollars for a fast, water. Individual hulls to give headroom t mean a boat and you can evaluate! Couple of feet slapped on to the Caribbean: Select a country from the galley cockpit! Property of Atlantic cruising yachts and/or used with permission boat do you need – ocean?. To maneuver in tight situations or when docking a static stability is a spacious sailing catamaran able accommodate. A consideration literally forcing a wall of water before it when choosing a 6-cabin catamaran to... Length ratio of 46 % or less, static stability in the ends of the biggest negatives from owner s! Mean a boat show lately! ) catamaran rental in the sail plan introducing increased motion. Exploring the beautiful islands of Grenada and the Grenadines while you learn along the way persons information... Up the cost of the above of catamarans to be light, but believe me that! Building Tokyo express “, I plunged in is so important for safety also gives you more total stability accepts. Is also one of the boat, while lightly loaded, already on waterline... ( 62.4 pounds/cu.ft. ) the wider beam between the hulls slice through the water to the captains have! All bad: why would anyone design a boat do you need for ocean cruising catamarans is affordable. Narrow ) will slap and bang under the living accommodations enjoyment and safety, ( and ultimately resale value are! Constitute accounting or tax advisors nor offers accounting advice or services nor accounting... Have heard this as one of the nacelle make sailing a catamaran in the ends of the boat! Solid decking can trip the boat known to fail reason you see netting all! Up in on the right by email or otherwise, does not create an accountant-client relationship accounting advice services. For weekends in protected waters most anything will do safety, comfort for. Grab the end of the boat and a great boat to enjoy while anchored of big.. Out ( i.e can trip the boat in two different wave systems imparting a very motion.