Chasing the Catamaran Dream: 2010

Thursday, May 6, 2010

HD Satellite TV on your Catamaran?

I saw an ad introducing the revolutionary KVH TracVision HD7 which allows you to watch HD DIRECTV from your boat. They say you can watch whatever you want whenever you want. They claim rock-solid performance, enhanced tracking algorithms and a stainless steel bearing construction. You can watch, record and replay with full DVR capability. Sounds too good to be true but if it really works wouldn't that be cool?

Once I saw the ad, the next question I had was "How Much?". One price I saw was almost $12,000. Wow! I did the math. The entire season 4 of Lost can by purchased new on Blue-Ray through Blockbuster for $60. There are 13 episodes. With tax it comes out to around $5 per episode, so for $12k you could purchase 2,400 blue ray dvd's. After watching them you could give them away as gifts to the locals when you travel from one tropical island to another.

I haven't included the monthly fee you have to pay DIRECTV. Currently I am paying close to $100.00 per month. I guess the TracVision is only for the very wealthy. I hope the prices come down by the time I am ready to put a dish on my Cat. Maybe I could win the Lottery. I guess you have to play to win though right?

I know what some of you are thinking. If you can afford the Cat, what is another $12k. When you put it that way maybe it is a small price to pay. I may be able to buy a Cat someday, but unless I hit it big in the stock market I may not be able to keep it for very long. Hopefully the KVH will hold it's value. Then again, I hope the price comes down between now and then.

Photo of a Sunreef Yacht with KVH domes:

Friday, April 2, 2010

Review of the Online version of Multihulls Magazine

I just finished reading the Online version of the Multihulls Magazine and I must say I am impressed. There is something to say about holding the paper version however I am not sure how they could do it any better.

If you haven’t tried reading a magazine online I think you might be impressed. I have seen some in the past that were slow and cumbersome. This one is fast and simple to use. A click here and a click there and you are turning pages, zooming in and out and panning up and down with an easy nudge of the mouse. One advantage the online version has is you can perform a keyword search. Can’t do that with the paper version. It is an excellent alternative to the hard copy.

This may be my 1st time reading the MultiHulls Magazine surprisingly. You don’t see it on the shelves to often where I am from. I felt it had a balanced mix of information, news, education, stories and product reviews. I was disappointed when I got to the end. You always want more ya know. I am looking forward to the next one.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Catamaran Surfing - Awesome

I came across this video posted on the Multihulls Magazine web site that I just had to share. This video shows a brave sailor taking on some big waves. Didn't know Catamarans could surf.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Little Time Out to Dream

Occasionally I find time to search the web for anything new in the Catamaran world. Since I am still not yet able to live the dream I settle for watching and researching more about the dreams others are already living. In my search today I came across some information that is new to me and I felt very unique and worth sharing.

The SMG Multihull company has done something that I have not yet seen on a Catamaran. When you watch the video, like I did, you might notice something is missing. Where is that dangerous boom that I am sure every sailor has been hit by at least once. Guess what? It doesn't have one. It has two roller furling jibs instead. Talk about keeping it simple and safe. My only question is, is there a hit on overall performance with this design. Other then that I think there are many advantages.

They are using what they call an A-mast which you can read more about on their website. Here is a summary of the Advantages according to them.

Advantages of the A-frame rig:

Easy sail reefing with roller furler - possible on any course!
Safety at all maneuvers in all weather conditions. Nobody has to watch out for the dangerous boom.
All the sailing operations can get done in the safe center cockpit.
Best approaching flow for main sail and jib on close hauled course.

I am no expert on the price of replacing a mainsail, but I suspect this would add savings over time when the sail has to be replaced. It should be real easy to stow the sails for extended periods to keep them out of the sun i would imagine.

I also like that this Cat is powered by a Hybrid Diesel Electric Engine. I figure the more that adopt newer and more efficient propulsion systems, the closer I'll be to enjoying fossil fuel free sailing. They also made this comment "Future orientated. In some years the diesel generator can be exchanged with the environment-friendly fuel cell". I like it!

Cat Statistics and Performance Ranking Table

Rank	Brand	Model	Aprox Price US	SA/D	D/L	BOA/ LWL	LWL ft	BOA ft	SA sq ft	Min Draft ft	Disp lbs	Bridge Clear-ance ft	Mast Height OWL ft	Payload lbs
2	NG Yacht Design	HIVA'OA 45		44.33	68.11	54.3%	46	25	1667.8	4	14850
2	Outremer	50 Light	$610,000	38.99	55.11	47.0%	50.00	23.50	1,505	4.2	15,432
4	Fusion Catamarans	40	$400,000	33.21	63.30	59.3%	40.00	23.70	900	4.2	9,075
5	Outremer	45	$525,000	34.13	78.56	52.3%	44.00	23.00	1,292	2	14,991		60
6	Outremer	50 Standard	$750,000	32.85	72.00	51.4%	50.00	25.70	1,515	4.2	20,160
8	Outremer	42	$550,000	30.56	80.98	53.3%	42	22.4	1076	1.9	13,440
10	Gunboat	48	$1,600,000	29.79	81.14	50.6%	48	24.3	1371	1.1	20,100
10	Switch Catamarans	51	$825,000	29.91	81.25	54.2%	48.00	26.00	1,378	4.2	20,128		79
13	Dolphin Catamarans	460	$480,000	27.61	91.60	52.7%	45.90	24.20	1,260	4.2	19,842	Good
16	Fountaine Pajot	Salina 48	$1,000,000	28.94	106.17	54.9%	46	25.25	1463.36	3.60	23,149	Good
17	Fountaine Pajot	Orana 44	$780,000	27.92	106.27	57.4%	42	24.11	1177.77	3.94	17,637
18	Knysna	440		33.11	118.24	59.4%	39.67	23.58	1338	3	16,535
18	Voyage Yachts	500 Standard	$630,000	26.48	96.82	57.5%	47.10	27.10	1,320	3.9	22,660	Good	68
18	Fountaine Pajot	Bahia 46	$469,500	27.31	105.67	53.9%	45.11	24.30	1,324	4.2	21,728
18	Fountaine Pajot	Mahe 36	$197,000	26.87	104.60	53.8%	36.10	19.41	829	3.62	11,023
19	PDQ Yachts	Antares 44i	$775	25.88	94.26	50.2%	43.6	21.9	1086	4	17,500
19	Robertson & Caine	Leopard 43	$385,000	27.90	109.89	53.8%	42.60	22.90	1,238	4.2	19,030
21	Aeroyacht Edel	H42		24.42	85.02	51.9%	42	21.8	888	3.00	14,110
22	Robertson & Caine	Leopard 46	$459,000	30.58	120.99	53.9%	44.70	24.10	1,593	4.5	24,206			13,271
22	Chantier Catana	43 Ocean	$750,000	39.49	130.60	56.6%	42.40	24.00	1,948	3.9	22,300	2.70
23	Lagoon	410S2	$350,000	25.67	105.47	57.2%	40.70	23.30	1,012	4.2	15,928
24	Alliaura Marine	Privilege 445	$635,000	27.09	116.97	55.0%	42.15	23.20	1,227	4.43	19,620		62
24	Alliaura Marine	Privilege 495		26.84	113.80	52.2%	46.06	24.05	1,425	4.43	24,910	Good*	65
25	Chantier Catana	47 Ocean	$884,000	33.51	132.55	55.8%	45.30	25.30	1,905	4.1	27,600	Good	64
25	Fountaine Pajot	Belize 43	$700,000	26.71	116.08	54.8%	42	23	1195	4.30	19,264
25	St. Francis Marine	50	$760,000	27.27	118.50	56.0%	47.00	26.30	1,549	4.2	27,558	2.80	71	9,500
26	Admiral Yacht Manufacturers	50	$595,000	24.20	105.44	55.0%	49.30	27.11	1,399	4.2	28,300
27	Gemini	105Mc		26.39	118.27	43.9%	31.9	14	690	1.5	8,600
28	Maine Cat	Cat 30	$174,000	24.30	106.49	61.4%	29.30	18.00	500	2	6,000	2.20	48	2,250
30	Admiral Yacht	38	$395,000	22.79	103.00	60.4%	38.10	23.00	775	4.2	12,760
31	Nautitech Catamarans	47	$592,500	23.75	111.96	56.3%	46.00	25.90	1,244	3.11	24,411	2.60
31	Broadblue Catamarans	385 Sport	$380,000	25.16	119.79	51.0%	38.60	19.70	971	3.5	15,432
32	Broadblue Catamarans	435	$570,000	23.33	110.43	50.5%	43.60	22.00	1,088	4.1	20,502
34	Fortuna Catamarans	Island Spirit 401	$310,000	24.71	122.19	57.2%	39.50	22.60	1,012	4.2	16,868
36	Chantier Catana	52 Ocean	$1,311,200	27.43	155.63	56.2%	50.20	28.20	2,131	4.5	44,100	Good	71
36	TomCat Boats	9.7	$150,000	19.52	103.54	50.0%	32.00	16.00	470	4.2	7,600
39	Robertson & Caine	Leopard 40	$309,000	25.20	141.26	53.5%	37.60	20.10	1,030	3.1	16,820		61	16,820
39	Voyage Yachts	440 Standard	$426,000	24.22	131.10	61.2%	41.00	25.10	1,120	3.5	20,240		62
39	Nautitech Catamarans	40	$355,000	23.37	124.69	54.9%	38.80	21.30	936	3.11	16,314	2.50
40	Maverick Yachts	380		25.73	147.50	69.2%	35.11	24.28	944	2.62	14,300	Good	49
40	Broadblue Catamarans	415		23.67	129.94	53.7%	41.00	22.00	1,088	4.1	20,061
41	Royal Cape Catamarans	50	$635,000	22.05	118.51	58.4%	49.30	28.80	1,378	4.2	31,808
42	Seawind USA	1160	$389,000	22.86	125.29	56.3%	38.00	21.40	881	4.2	15,400
42	Lagoon	440	$500,000	24.74	148.54	61.6%	41.1	25.3	1249	4.3	23,100
43	Broadblue Catamarans	385 aft	$371,000	21.71	119.79	51.0%	38.60	19.70	838	4.2	15,432
44	Maine Cat	Cat 41	$394,000	22.31	128.08	56.7%	40.60	23.00	996	2.6	19200	2.67	60	7,000
44	Alliaura Marine	Privilege 395	$476,000	21.88	122.29	55.1%	39.20	21.60	883	4.2	16,500
45	Lagoon	500	$710,000	23.30	137.71	53.2%	51.00	27.11	1,722	4.2	40,920
45	Seawind	1160		22.86	135.73	57.8%	37	21.4	881	3.90	15,400
45	Lagoon	500		23.73	142.82	57.1%	49	28	1659	4.7	37,639
47	Manta Catamarans	42 MkII	$389,950	20.64	123.23	53.7%	39.10	21.00	833	3.8	16,500	2.00	60
49	Fountaine Pajot	Lavezzi 40	$288,750	22.09	140.73	53.8%	39.00	21.00	969	3.5	18,700	Good
50	Nautitech Catamarans	44	$460,200	22.31	141.50	56.0%	40.00	22.40	1,033	3.11	20,286
50	Dean	441		23.10	160.59	55.8%	43	24	1345	4	28,600	High
50	Lagoon	380S2	$280,000	21.80	136.83	57.9%	37.11	21.50	850	4.2	15,664
51	Royal Cape Catamarans	45	$600,000	22.43	148.87	63.6%	45.30	28.80	1,378	4.2	31,000
57	Multihull Manufacturing Group	Jaguar 36	$230,000	21.28	179.33	63.6%	36	22.9	935	4.2	18,742
58	Lagoon	420 diesel	$380,000	20.01	166.82	61.1%	40.4	24.7	1055	4.2	24,640
58	Admiral Yacht Manufacturers	40	395000	18.30	163.82	64.7%	37.10	24.00	804	3.9	18,739
60	Lagoon	420KW		17.73	199.74	61.1%	40.4	24.7	1054	4.2	29,503
	Manta Catamarans		$389,950

SA/D= Sail Area / (Displacement/64)2/3 Higher is Better.
D/L=(Displacement in lbs/2240)/(0.01* LWL)3 Lower is Better.
Disp lbs=This # will vary and has a significant impact on the Ranking. Displacement empty VS loaded is not always avail.
SA=Total Sail area of the Main and Jib/Genoa
BOA=Beam Overall
BOC=Beam Over Centerline
LWL=Length at Water Level LWL is not always avail and as a result may be an estimate
OWL=Obove WaterLine
Formula Source=Catamarans, The Complete Guide for Cruising Sailors. Tarjan
The stats are subject to change and may not be 100% accurate. Report mistakes via email. Include a url to substantiate your findings.

Beaufort Wind Force Scale

Force	Name	Description
0	Calm
1	Light air.	Or just sufficient to give steerage way.
2	Light breeze	Or that in which a man-of-war, with all sail set, and clean full, would go in smooth water, from	1 to 2 knots
3	Gentle breeze		3 to 4 knots
4	Moderate breeze		5 to 6 knots
5	Fresh breeze	Or that to which a well-conditioned man-of-war could just carry in chase, full and by	Royals, etc.
6	Strong breeze		Single-reefed top-sails and top-gallant sails
7	Moderate gale		Double-reefed top-sails, jib, etc.
8	Fresh gale		Triple-reefed topsails, etc.
9	Strong gale		Close-reefed top-sails and courses
10	Whole gale	Or that which she could scarcely bear close-reefed main-topsail and reefed foresail.
11	Storm	Or that which would reduce her to storm stay-sails.
12	Hurricane	Or that which no canvas could withstand.

Resource:	http://www.sizes.com/natural/beaufort.htm

Chasing the Catamaran Dream

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Thursday, May 6, 2010

HD Satellite TV on your Catamaran?

Friday, April 2, 2010

Review of the Online version of Multihulls Magazine

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Catamaran Surfing - Awesome

Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Little Time Out to Dream

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Beaufort Wind Force Scale