Mar
04
2008
Performing proper maintenance on your Catamaran is one of the most important things you can do if you truly want to get the most out of your Catamaran year after year. There are basically 4 recommended steps in order to maintain your Catamaran.
Step 1:
First pull your Catamaran out of the water. Ideally, Sailing Catamarans should be pulled out of the water after they are used, this is especially true for saltier water. Smaller Catamarans can have the tendency to lie low in the water which make them more subsceptible to damage from choppy seas or corrosion. Taking the Catamaran out of the water will allow you too store it in a more stable, controlled environment and ultimately allow you to get the most out of it over time.
Step 2:
Wash the Catamaran thoroughly with clean, fresh water. Be sure to get every area and part as the salt and mineral buildup from the water can corrode sails and moving parts and cause jams in cleats and winches. You can use a hose to thoroughly rinse the Catamaran and also use a bucket and brush to get those hard to reach tough spots where the grime hides. Also, be sure to make sure you wash the sails if this is a Sailing Catamaran.
Step 3:
Thoroughly inspect the Catamaran’s hulls for any sign of damage. Since Catamarans tend to have a small draft the boats are easy to take into shallow waters. However, all of this sailing in shallow waters can add up to wear and tear. It’s really crucial to check every part of the hulls for damage as a small cracks or holes can form in the hull even from slight collisions.
Step 4:
Catamarans like most sailboats have a tendency to wear out there sails. If you have had the sails for several years then it is probably a good idea to have the sails replaced. While you are replacing the sails it is also a good time to have the rigging checked and serviced at the same time. Faulty rigging and warped sails can cause havoc on a Catamaran. When these worn parts are put under undue stress they can cause a chain reaction and begin to lead to deterioration in other parts of the boat. For maximum safety Catamaran owners should replace the sails and rigging every couple years.
Well now that you know how to take care of your Catamaran go out there and hit the high seas; just remember to do your maintenance and you’ll be sailing on happily for many more years.
Feb
25
2008
When buying a Catamaran you really need to do your homework if you want a Cruising Catamaran that will perform great out on the water. If you’re cruising the caribbean you don’t want to be lagging behind or even worse — breaking down. So if you are in the market for a Catamaran you really should look for the following performance factors to make sure the Catamaran will be in tip top cruising shape.
1) You have to find out how the sailboat handles. To test this you’ll need to raise the Catamaran’s sails and get into the upwind breeze. From here you need to really step back and see how the Catamaran handles from the helm station. You should be able to tell if the boat wanders off course or if it stays in line well. If you find you have to solely rely on the instruments instead of helm for feedback that can also be a warning sign. You should feel comfortable maneuvering the Catamaran and make sure you can see things without and overly obstructed view. You should also be able to easily tack at speed. If your tacking angle is not within 100 to 100 degrees then you should consider other Catamaran options.
2) When testing a Catamaran, try different points of sail from different wind angles. Take notes of your speed as well as how the Catamaran performs in each different wind situation and see how the situations effect all of the different parts of the sailboat. Also, take notes of the feel below deck and observe if it is smooth sailing or too much movement. You want to be comfortable not only at the helm but also below beck including at your navigation station. This is really the time to weigh the pros and cons and note what you like and dislike about the Catamaran.
3) Once you have the Catamaran be sure to try it at different speeds and different wind conditions. Take note of how the sailboat handles under these different conditions. If something seems off or doesn’t perform as you want it to then you might need to look at other Catamaran options.
4) Catamarans are known to be exceptionally fast sailboats (just ask Dennis Connor) because their frames are built on beams rather then the traditional sailboat ballast for stability. This allows Catamarans to be lighter and typically cruise along much faster than similarly sized mono-hull sailboats. However, the true test of a Catamaran is to fully load it and then see how it handles. Load the Cruising Catamaran with all of the possible gear you might have on a trip including all provisions, equipment (generator, batteries) or at least put some type of heavy items on the sailboat to simulate a full load. Now evaluate how the boat handles so you have a realistic idea of how it would perform on one of your cruising trips.Well those are the performance factors we would evaluate a Catamaran. If you’re ready to buy one right now then you should take a look at the following great Catamaran deals we’ve found:
