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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
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 Multihulls ...		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1773 Posts
Initially Posted - 11/05/2005 :  15:18:20  Show Profile
Hi everyone,

I know a lot of y'all have experience with multihulls ... I don't. In fact, I've only been on a Hobie once, and that was a long time ago. I'm hoping some of you can explain a few things about them, especially the larger multihulls used for cruising.

First, why are they faster than a monohull? It is counterintuitive to me to put (what seems like) more surface in the water and end up with a faster boat.

Second, since they are so wide, do most of them end up on mooring balls instead of in slips?

Third, is it possible to get decent headroom in them, or do you always have that feeling of being confined to a tube?

Fourth, how hard are they to singlehand? Is there anything significantly different from our monohulls?

I was looking through the October issue of <i>Sail</i> magazine, and I ran across an ad for one of the strangest things I've ever seen in the sailboat world. It is called a "proa" ... here is a link: [url="http://www.harryproa.com/index.htm"]Proa[/url]

Instead of tacking like a normal sailboat does, this thing is steered by "shunting" ... here is a link to an animated explanation: [url="http://www.harryproa.com/shuntinganimated.htm"]Shunting a proa[/url] It doesn't get much weirder than that! The proa actually changes direction completely ... it even has two wheels so you can turn around and steer in the new direction

Frankly, this thing is so weird looking I don't know if I could captain the thing unless I wore a disguise. On the other hand, as ugly as it is, it does have some intriguing advantages. 'Any comments
Buzz Maring

~~Freya~~
C-25 SK/SR #68
Lake Dallas, TX
Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts
Response Posted - 11/05/2005 :  21:16:15  Show Profile
"why are they faster than a monohull"

The hydrodynamic 'rules' that give us built-in speed limits for displacement hulls don't apply to ultra-narrow hulls like those found on a typical multi-hull.

"do most of them end up on mooring balls instead of in slips"

Depends a lot on the marina. In my marina, they will usually end up on outside or end-ties.

"Third, is it possible to get decent headroom in them"

Modern cruising cats and tri's have most of their 'living space' designed into in the center cabin, which can be very open and spacious. Down in the proas, space is of course, much more limited and is often used for bunks and storage.

"Fourth, how hard are they to singlehand? Is there anything significantly different from our monohulls?"

Never single handed one. But Francis Joyon and Ellen McArthur didn't seem to have any big issues going around the world solo.

The big 'knocks' on ocean cats and tri's.
are that they don't go to windward as well as a mono. Large tacking angles.
In a 'catastrophic' sea, if you flip, you'll stay inverted indefinetly.
Edited by - on
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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts
Response Posted - 11/05/2005 :  22:35:27  Show Profile
You may be confusing a trimaran with a catamaran. I used to crew on a 50' Prout catamaran that had a 17' wide salon with nav station, galley, refrigerator, dining table,inside helm station and entertainment center. The forward hulls had king size berths with vanities and separate heads. The aft hulls had double berths. The foredeck had enough locker space to store the contents of a small house!
It was a joy to sail in rough weather because it rode in the top of the waves and didn't heel. (We brought it through a tropical storm with 16' waves and it never heeled more than 5 degrees). It was a bear to tack though - you had to bang it through the wind with speed or you stopped dead in irons !
Sure do miss her...
Derek
Edited by - Derek Crawford on 11/05/2005 22:36:35
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.