I often reply to posts off list; because response may be taken out of contex, as has happened with this series of posts, snips and long copies. Passagemaking: In my opinion this is a vessel capable of crossing an ocean in any kind of weather: My response on suitablity of Cats was based on the ability to cross an ocean--or make a coastal passage of 1000 miles without stops in any weather. (U S sailing defines Passagemaking as a voyage of over 600 miles of which at least 250 miles has to be 50 miles from the nearest land). I agree 100% with Georgs that a person who is purchasing a boat for coastal, near coastal and inland use should have absolutely no concern about the difference in safety between a multihull and a monohull powerboat. The major risk of power boating are primarly collision with another boat or allision with a stationary object, not of capsize.. There might be a separate issue on running breaking bars--and I would appreciate any information on the cat's performance in these conditions. However this is a case of seamanship in any type of boat. The risks of foul weather, although present are equal in both types of boat. In inshore or coastal boating you have good weather forcasts and areas to find protection if a storm brews. The safety factor is the skill of the operator in both types of boats. Offshore or on passage, there may not be any where to hide from heavy weather. I have followed hundreds of cruising boats and racing boats over a peroid of over 40 years--with a special interest in loss and injury. As Georgs mentions there is very little information on power cats. High tech racing sail boats of both monohull and multihull are an entirely different issue and not related to this discussion. There have certainly been structural failures of multihulls as well as rigs and keels lost in monohulls. Our outlook on boating is influenced by our experiences. I was in a severe storm (40 foot breaking seas and sustained winds of over 65 knots while crossing the Atlantic). So my judgement of what is safe may be much different than a person who has spent his life on the ICW or in sheltered waters. During this storm several monohulls were lost (there were three of us close together in VHF radio contact (two 53 foot motorsailers and one 63 foot long range cruiser monohull). I question that many power boats or multihulls would have survived these seas. My boat took a 90 degree roll and recovered with minimal damage--even though we were running off (wind and seas behind us)--If the boat had been a Cat, I question if it would have kept upright. This is what my opinion is based on. There is another issue, which has not been emphasized in these discussions: that is the stress on the main beam or wing deck of a multihull in severe conditions. This can be a potential problem--and I don't think that there is enough information on this subject. I am aware of failures of this in sailing cats in heavy weather--and suspect that with time and experience this may be seen in power cats. I would have no reservation taking a 34 foot PDQ or 43 foot Lagoon out in weather I would take a 34 foot Mainship or a 43 foot Hatteras--however I would pick my weather in any of these boats. Nor would I have any question about taking any of these boats to the Caribbean from Florida, down the thorney path. To me the question is ultimate stability and the ability to recover from a severe roll in heavy weather. Regards, Bob Austin

>Bob Austin wrote: >Our outlook on boating is influenced by our experiences. I was in a severe >storm (40 foot breaking seas and sustained winds of over 65 knots while >crossing the Atlantic). How did you manage to find such bad weather? No reliable weather forecasts available? No shoreside help with routing? Wrong route at wrong time of the year? Act of God? --Georgs