It is so easy (albeit a bit expensive) to get a catamaran anywhere in the world almost anytime of the year!
Winter where you are? Try the Bahamas, or the Virgin Islands or Greece, or South Pacific!
Just do a search - find the best deals and the best airfare and go for it!
Showing posts with label liveaboard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label liveaboard. Show all posts
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Monday, November 5, 2007
Charter catamarans to buy catamarans
If you are looking to buy a catamaran, I recommend you charter a catamaran first. If you think you are going to spend $150K up to own one shouldn't you be sure the one you buy actually works the way you think it does - or it says in the brochure?
If you are truly serious about living or traveling aboard a catamaran, then for sure take the time and invest the funds to charter a catamaran so you get the experience on the boat.
If you are truly serious about living or traveling aboard a catamaran, then for sure take the time and invest the funds to charter a catamaran so you get the experience on the boat.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Charter Catamaran Advantages
Why charter a catamaran vs a mono-hull?
Lots of reasons! Here are just a few!
* The small draft of a catamaran allows you to anchor in shallow bays or very close to the beach, which leads to more privacy and more options to drop anchor. In some places you can step off the boat and walk to shore!
* Minimum heeling and more stability can help to avoid seasickness. Of course the only cure for seasickness is 10 minutes under an oak tree - but we sure can minimize it on a cat!
* More room foot for foot. A catamaran has about the volume of a 10' longer monohull i.e. a 42' catamaran has about the space of a 52' monohull. So, more room on deck and inside with wrap around windows. A charter catamaran is the right party boat but especially the elderly will benefit of the stable and spacious deck with no steps between inside and outside. (Our younger crowd doesn't mind it either!)
* Easier to handle and steer. The autopilot steers very well, because the hulls as well as the two rudders give good tracking, and having an engine in each hull provides for turning the boat in it's own length plus the safety backup of having two engines.
* Somewhat faster as long as you are not overloaded, not sailing close hauled, and when sailing with enough wind.
* More privacy, since the sleeping accommodations, heads and showers are totally separate, located in each hull and in opposite corners.
* Handy storage of the dinghy pulled into the davits aft between the hulls.
Cool huh? Tomorrow let's look at disadvantages.
Lots of reasons! Here are just a few!
* The small draft of a catamaran allows you to anchor in shallow bays or very close to the beach, which leads to more privacy and more options to drop anchor. In some places you can step off the boat and walk to shore!
* Minimum heeling and more stability can help to avoid seasickness. Of course the only cure for seasickness is 10 minutes under an oak tree - but we sure can minimize it on a cat!
* More room foot for foot. A catamaran has about the volume of a 10' longer monohull i.e. a 42' catamaran has about the space of a 52' monohull. So, more room on deck and inside with wrap around windows. A charter catamaran is the right party boat but especially the elderly will benefit of the stable and spacious deck with no steps between inside and outside. (Our younger crowd doesn't mind it either!)
* Easier to handle and steer. The autopilot steers very well, because the hulls as well as the two rudders give good tracking, and having an engine in each hull provides for turning the boat in it's own length plus the safety backup of having two engines.
* Somewhat faster as long as you are not overloaded, not sailing close hauled, and when sailing with enough wind.
* More privacy, since the sleeping accommodations, heads and showers are totally separate, located in each hull and in opposite corners.
* Handy storage of the dinghy pulled into the davits aft between the hulls.
Cool huh? Tomorrow let's look at disadvantages.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
What do you need to know to charter a catamaran?
Literally not a thing.
The cool part is many catamarans are captained. You are paying for someone who can guide you in where to do, when to go, the best places to see and things to do.
A captain is also responsible for safety on the catamaran and will allow you to do as little or as much a you like.
Want to sail? Great. Want to lay in the hammock and read books? Great!
They normally will stock the boat before you get there based on your preferences for food and drink, and pre-plan any special events like diving, snorkeling, windsurfing or visits to special places.
Fly or dive in - get on the boat and go. How easy can that be?
The cool part is many catamarans are captained. You are paying for someone who can guide you in where to do, when to go, the best places to see and things to do.
A captain is also responsible for safety on the catamaran and will allow you to do as little or as much a you like.
Want to sail? Great. Want to lay in the hammock and read books? Great!
They normally will stock the boat before you get there based on your preferences for food and drink, and pre-plan any special events like diving, snorkeling, windsurfing or visits to special places.
Fly or dive in - get on the boat and go. How easy can that be?
Monday, October 29, 2007
Charter to Purchase a Catamaran
One of the truly great reasons to charter a catamaran is to try it out before you buy!
The cost of chartering makes it relatively simple to visit some very cool vacation spots and make sure the boat you are looking at works for you 'in the field(ocean)'!
With so many catamaran to charter and so many places to sail, there is no reason not to charter first.
Except money of course!
The cost of chartering makes it relatively simple to visit some very cool vacation spots and make sure the boat you are looking at works for you 'in the field(ocean)'!
With so many catamaran to charter and so many places to sail, there is no reason not to charter first.
Except money of course!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Where to charter a catamaran?
Where do you go to charter a catamaran?
Almost any where there is water! Great Lakes, East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, Caribbean, Down Island, Australia, Indonesia - anywhere!
Just look online and type in catamaran charter to start planning!
Almost any where there is water! Great Lakes, East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, Caribbean, Down Island, Australia, Indonesia - anywhere!
Just look online and type in catamaran charter to start planning!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Catamaran charter - anyone can do it!
Before you charter a catamaran, there are some misconceptions to clear up. Catamarans are not like monohulls.
There is a huge difference! Catamarans are stable, (they don't rock in the swell), they are very spacious with the two hulls offering 4 or 5 separate sleeping quarters, they are very easy to sail even for beginners, they are fast!, and because catamarans usually have two engines they are very easy to maneuver when docking.
Back in the days when we lived on our boat, the concern about catamarans was th perception they would flip over and you couldn't flip them back up!
Today however, the engineering has the catamarans actually safer than monohulls- all in all a very stable and comfortable platform for glorious sailing in the balmy beach breezes of your favorite destination.
Belize anyone?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Catamaran chartering
So you want to charter a catamaran!
Well me too!
I have built a lived aboard a 36 foot aluminum cutter rigged sailboat for 6 years. In fact my first son was born when we had to pull over into Tortola BVI!
Now 16 years later we want to go back to the cruising life and a catamaran is where I want to be.
What better way to get there than to write about it? I will tell all. Where to look. What is good and what is not. What is the difference and how do you know?
And to start with - how the heck do you charter a catamaran sailboat?
Well me too!
I have built a lived aboard a 36 foot aluminum cutter rigged sailboat for 6 years. In fact my first son was born when we had to pull over into Tortola BVI!
Now 16 years later we want to go back to the cruising life and a catamaran is where I want to be.
What better way to get there than to write about it? I will tell all. Where to look. What is good and what is not. What is the difference and how do you know?
And to start with - how the heck do you charter a catamaran sailboat?
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