Catamaran Sail Boats

Many years ago I started racing Hobie Cat Catamaran Sail Boats. They were fun and fast. I fell in love with them the first time I was ever on one.

Years went by and I began living on boats full time and naturally I gravitated toward larger catamaran sail boats. They still are fast and far more stable under sail than monohulls. They also provide a wide platform and plenty of living space below, along with a lot of storage area which is a must if you live aboard.

The primary downside to a catamaran sail boat is the width of the slip you need if you can't find a tee dock or other suitable dock open on one side. They have so much beam you have to get a much longer slip, typically, than the length overall to accomodate the vessel. I purposely got a smaller catamaran sail boat of thirty feet for that very reason. With just under fifteen feet of beam, I can usually find something in most marinas without much trouble and don't have to pay the larger slip fees.

Most catamaran sail boats have an engine in each hull but that is not always the case. The two engines make manuvering the vessle in tight quarters very easy and bring confidence to most captains.

Sailing a catamaran sail boat, even the bigs ones it simply a blast. They don't go to weather particularly well, although their architecture is getting better, but that's okay because they make up for it on most points of sail. On a reach they simply fly. You must be a bit careful on windy days because sometimes it just doesn't feel like you're overpowering her when you are. Since they don't heel like a monohull putting a rail in the water is disaster. Once you start sailing a catamaran sail boat regularly you will get of sense for depowering, which is normally done by bleeding air off the main by sheeting it out some or taking tension off the traveler. Most people will work with the traveler first and if needed sheet out the main.

About the only thing I don't like about the catamaran sail boat is a thing called hull slap. With the main part of the structure riding between the two hulls the body of the vessel in between takes in on the chin so to speak in choppy seas. The water runs between the hulls and makes a loud popping sound as it strikes the waves. This can be very annoying until you get used to it, but it becomes akin to living next to railroad tracks and you just don't hear it anymore.

Lastly, there is some controversy about how to tack a catamaran sail boat. Some captains just leave the engine running if there is going to be a lot tacking because sometimes you can't get them to come through the wind. Others backwind the main to do so. I have found though falling off a little and gaining speed will normally take you right over.

If you're thinking about buying a boat, check out the catamaran sail boat. Charter one and you'll probably agree.