We thought sailing a catamaran would be a fun way to see the world. We were on a catamaran, sunset cruise in Hawaii when we decided this and we had no idea where to begin. We followed these guidlines and now we are happily sailing on our 36 foot Solaris Sunstar. Now, choosing which make or model to buy is the next most important step. Picking the right boat for your needs is paramount to ensure you get maximum enjoyment out of the experience.
Start with a boat show and check out every catamaran to see what you like and then start checkling off the list.
IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS
What you intend to use your new vessel for?
Do you want to live aboard long-term, just to get away for the weekend from time to time or to enjoy some coastal cruising. Whatever your intention, your needs will dictate the type and size of the catamaran, as well as the level of equipment required.
SET YOUR BUDGET
Ensure that you have a realistic budget, as this will set the parameters for the style and size of the catamarans you can purchase. Don’t forget to budget for additional costs to cover registration, insurance, marina fees, maintenance, upgrades and any unexpected upgrades or repairs. I only used Yacht World to find catamarans.
SET YOUR TIMEFRAME
Decide on a desired time frame for your purchase process. This will govern when and where you need to look for your dream catamaran. This will also give you extra time for boat shows, interviewing brokers, insurance companies and marinas. Now this does not always go as planned. We had a goal of ten years and we bought a catamaran 7 months after we took the catamaran sailing course. That's why she's called Yinsanity.
TAKE A CATAMARAN SAILING COURSE
If you have never sailed a catamaran, I suggest you take a catamaran sailing course. We took the Cruising Catamaran sailing course that was a weeklong live-aboard course. The sailing course combines the Basic Sailing (ASA 101), Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA103), Bareboat Chartering (ASA 104), and Cruising Catamaran (ASA 114) levels of the ASA curriculum. There are several school that offer similar courses but we used Blue Water Sailing School.
PAYLOAD
Another important aspect to contemplate is the payload of each catamaran. That is, how much gear can you take on board? All catamarans are weight sensitive, however, some are far more so than others. Usually, a fast cruising multihull will be less forgiving than the usual production cat. Decide what you want on the catamaran and then go from there.
PRODUCTION CAT VS CUSTOM
One of the easier choices you will face is whether you want a production catamaran or a custom design. Generally, a production catamaran produced by a major brand will be backed by years of experience, proven designs, reliable construction and solid warranties. These types of catamarans are usually easier to service and also easier to source parts and diagrams. Production catamarans tend to hold their value and will be easier to resell when the time comes to replace your catamaran. While custom boats can be fantastic for tailoring to your exact needs, they can be harder to maintain and service due to lack of availability of parts and construction knowledge.
BRIDGEDECK CLEARANCE
Bridgedeck clearance is the space between the hulls from the waterline to the underside of the main saloon of your catamaran. The higher the bridgedeck, the less noise and slapping from wave action hitting the bottom of your boat making for a quieter and smoother ride.
INSPECTION
Ensure that you thoroughly inspect the boat yourself. Be sure to hire the services of an independent marine surveyor to give you a report on the condition of the vessel you are looking to buy. While scheduling the inspection make sure there is a sea trial, as this will allow the surveyor to check all systems, such as engines, winches, windlass and sails. Our surveyor suggested an engine inspection and we were able to negotiate and saved us thousands of dollars that we had to put into the engines.
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