Richard, I’ve never chartered a sailboat but I’ve worked at a bazillion boat shows and the vast majority of new boat buyers are looking more towards interior space rather than sail ability. Perhaps the perception of owning a sailboat that doesn’t heel over is a confidence builder. I guess to the uninitiated they appear to be less “claustrophobic” with wide open spaces everywhere on the boat (ok, the berths can be rather tight on the smaller models, but no less so than a quarter berth on a C&C 35). Looking too at how the cats are laid out, there’s push button EVERYTHING from sail trim to halyards, hydraulic steering with no feedback. Basically it’s a powerboat with a stick in the middle and a large living room. The further south you go, the greater the percentage of Catamarans at the show, probably because it is hard to find slips up north that are wide enough to accommodate a cat.
One of the best stories I have regarding folks checking out a catamaran at the boat show went as follows: I was down below in one of the staterooms when a couple looking at the boat came across one of the round escape ports on the inboard side of one of the hulls. If you haven’t seen one, they’re designed so if the boat capsizes and overturns while you’re in the hull, you can get out through one of these waterproof hatches. So the lady looking at the boat asked her husband what the round window with the handles was for and the yacht broker’s response was “It’s the washing machine…”.. That about says it all. Chuck Gilchrest S/V Half Magic 1983 35 Landfall Padnaram, MA From: Richard Bush via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Monday, January 4, 2021 3:17 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Richard Bush <bushma...@aol.com> Subject: Stus-List Re: Question for the group; I'll start with an apology; it's not specifically C&C related; and I have no wish to start a general debate; my question...I see lots and lots of catamaran ads and apparently Sail Magazine thinks monohulls have been mothballed...: what is the appeal of these boats ....I recognize their added space as appealing to first-time group charter types; but heard that these boats are difficult sail; hard to get them moving and even more difficult to tack; perhaps not an issue in crossing a big lake or ocean, but could be a deal breaker in close quarters; When I look at the boats featured in the ads all see is a big 1970s Station wagon...(how's that for a frame of reference); So, someone enlighten me on this; why are they so popular even with prices of half a million? (I have not sailed on one and not planning on getting one-it's winter and I'm just curious) Many thanks...; PS: I understand that C&C actually did make a few Cats in the 790s...so it is C&C related after all....! Richard s/v Bushmark4: 1985 C&C 37 CB; Ohio River, Mile 596; Richard N. Bush Law Offices 2950 Breckenridge Lane, Suite Nine Louisville, Kentucky 40220-1462 502-584-7255 Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- <https://www.paypal.me/stumurray> https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
