derk
regular
Reged: 29/03/2005
Posts: 11
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My wife and I hope to live on a catamaran in Turkey. However I have been informed that catamarans are not always welcome in some Med marina's. I would be grateful for any comment you may have as we would not wish to buy a cat only to be 'blacklisted' . Thanks for listening
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snowleopard
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 10567
Loc: Cornwall
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The short answer is that cats are by far the best choice for living aboard but if you plan to spend most of your time in marinas forget it. A few will turn you away and some will charge 50% or 100% extra (whether you take up more space or not).
If you plan to spend most of your time at anchor and use marinas once in a while a cat is good.
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One hull good, two hulls better.
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Talbot
regular
Reged: 23/08/2003
Posts: 12441
Loc: Stavanger, Norway
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Agreeing totally with snow leopard, if you dont stay at a marina, then the option is normally to anchor, and again a cat is by far the best boat to be in when anchored.
advantages:
spacious cockpit
stable at anchor
saloon with good windows which allows you to see around outside
decent well ventilated cabins
space
more space
lots of sunbathing areas
disadvantages
Marinas can be very mercenary (now thats a surprise!)
older cat designs are not brilliant to windward
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"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors - and miss."
Robert A Heinlein
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MichaelE
regular
Reged: 19/08/2004
Posts: 2699
Loc: La Rochelle France 17000
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Quote:
older cat designs are not brilliant to windward
Actually I was pleasantly surprised by my Prout 33 of late 80's vintage.. On passage from Eastbourne to Dieppe I lost the engine and ended up having to sail into Dieppe in about a F5-6 (land breeze enhancing the wind) I had problems identifying the entrance -never been there before and was beating up and down with some reefs in and she went very well to windward.. I have to say I was surprised!
Probably a Cat is the perfect boat from the Caribbean onwards - in the med as others have stated.. but the shallow draft means you can creep into some well protected anchorages other 'deeper' boats cant reach!
Michael
Michael
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The books
'French Canal Routes to the Mediterranean',
'Living Aboard Around the World', Blue Water Cruising DVDs and a Prout 33cs For Sale.
http://www.michaelbriant.com
along with The Prout Owners Association
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Talbot
regular
Reged: 23/08/2003
Posts: 12441
Loc: Stavanger, Norway
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didnt say that they wont work to windward, even my old catalac will go to windward - just not very quickly. Newer designs work better.
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"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors - and miss."
Robert A Heinlein
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Stingo
regular
Reged: 17/10/2001
Posts: 6491
Loc: Durban
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If it's not a cat, it's a dog.
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Cruising and Sailing Wiki By Cruisers
Anecdotes From Stingo
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DaCostaLot
regular
Reged: 25/01/2006
Posts: 392
Loc: Hampshire, Wickham
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Also, not all Cats are sailing, perhaps a motor Cat would do?? The new designs are very spacious and offer loadsa headroom and stuff
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Have a Look!! www.ribcats.com or www.sailroom.co.uk
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boatmike
regular
Reged: 30/06/2002
Posts: 4399
Loc: Solent
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I agree too, but the point is that with a cat you don't have to go into marinas. Watch most monohulls at anchor in any kind of swell and they roll like a pig driving owners into marinas. Cats don't. No need for flopper stoppers on a cat! Also depends where you go, and what you call a marina. Many ports welcome cats and don't surcharge. you can usually find a nice quiet bay to anchor in that deep keeled boats don't go. Fit a watermaker and solar panels and all you need is to go ashore for food and diesel. Welcome to the antisocial world of cat ownership!
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derk
regular
Reged: 29/03/2005
Posts: 11
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Many thanks for your replies. Yes we had intended to do a lot of anchoring in bays and only go into marinas for fuel and water.
There will of course be times when we will have lo leave the boat for essential trips back to the uk and possibly for some time over the winter. Next thing is to choose the right cat.
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Stingo
regular
Reged: 17/10/2001
Posts: 6491
Loc: Durban
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Quote:
... Next thing is to choose the right cat.
Now that could be a long thread.
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Cruising and Sailing Wiki By Cruisers
Anecdotes From Stingo
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