----- Original Message ----- From: Pat Reischmann<mailto:preischmann@msn.com> To: power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com<mailto:power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com> Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 11:51 AM Subject: catamarans v. monohulls While I am for anything pro-catamaran, I have believed for a long time when you hear someone drawing large generalizations with boats and design they usually don't know what they are talking about. I have to say this essay is fraught with generalizations and inaccuracy, and was evidently written by someone more oriented to sales, than design. As professionals in the industry we have a responsibility to the consumer not to distort the truth and blow things out of proportion, as with most things there are pluses and minuses and while I believe the catamaran design is superior for the way most people cruise, monohulls have advantages too. Below are listed some corrections of these generalizations: 1. All monohulls don't have a V shape bottom, some are considerably more stable than others because of this 2. Cats are more weight sensitive than monohulls and generally cant carry as much payload without affecting performance, and the ability to carry payload can vary a lot from design to design, depending on hull form etc. 3. Air cushion under the bridgedeck is only a factor at high (planning speeds) 4. Cats can be faster that comparable sized monohulls but generally reaching, and not most of the time upwind, anyway this can vary a lot from design to design, (A J44 will beat a lot of cruising catamarans on various points of sail and wind velocities, an Island Packet 44 less so) 5. Displacement sailing cats have a hull speed too, though higher because of their lighter displacement and fine hulls. Planning powercat designs have a higher potential top end speed than "displaning" or semi displacement powercat designs., 5. While sailing cats are lighter than comparable sized monohulls because they don't require ballast, power cats generally weigh the same or more because of the increased square footage. A high efficiency power cat may weigh less because of narrower hulls and smaller engines required. 6. Cats generally have smaller rigs than monohulls because of their light displacement and desire to have a safety margin for cruising. 7. Power cats usually are not as maneuverable at speed than monohulls, but more so when docking if they have twin engines 8. Cats have more storage potential, but because of their weight sensitivity if you don't want to loose performance you shouldn't use it all. 9. Cats have may have more square feet below, but fitting a centerline walk around bed in cats under 50 ft. usually requires a performance compromise Pat Reischmann Manta Catamarans ______________________________________________ Power-Catamaran Mailing List End of Power-Catamaran Digest, Vol 11, Issue 6 **********************************************