Feb 25 2008
You need to look at these four performance factors when buying a Cruising Catamaran
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:
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Hobie Cat 16, Catamaran Sailboat, Ready to sail US $430.00 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 9:43:40 PDT Add to watch list |
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1977 HOBIE Catamaran 16' NO RESEVER STK #186108 US $75.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 13:00:00 PDT Add to watch list |
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40 Foot 2003 Catamaran US $57,950.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 13:41:19 PDT Add to watch list |
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1982 5Meter GCAT catamaran US $1,000.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 15:53:28 PDT Add to watch list |
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1976 Hobie Cat Catamaran with Trailer US $249.00 (5 Bids) End Date: Tuesday Aug-03-2010 8:04:35 PDT Add to watch list |
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1988 Fountain Pajot Catamaran Casamance Sailboat US $214,900.00 End Date: Friday Aug-06-2010 8:35:56 PDT Add to watch list |
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Hobie 18 Catamaran Hulls US $275.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-08-2010 15:43:44 PDT Add to watch list |