Catana 53 Catamaran Review 2019 | Our Search For The Perfect Catamaran.
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- This is the review of the Catana 53 catamaran. The Catana range are renowned for being good offshore performance catamarans. But would this be the perfect catamaran for us? As you may know, we are reviewing and touring catamarans with the view to purchasing one ourselves. Feel free to add your scores to our review system over at
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1. Offers superior sailing experience for a race or short cruise.
2. Never stayed dry in a storm or completely sun protected on our 36' monohull, and very much enjoy it.
3. Never climing up in or down from a raised helm when in heavy seas. Safety.
4. Offers the smoothest location on the boat to control the boat. Safety.
5. Protection from spray and sun will often be offered on one side or the other, but not always.
6. Far better visibility under the head sail. Flexibility to always be windward of the sails. Safety.
7. Lower boom for easier, safer access and better looks and performance.
I lean this way, but it sounds like you are definitely the other way and are more experienced so it gives me pause. There are just so many positives to this helm ignoring the rest of the boat, but could add the cockpit areas are usually opened up since you don't have to make room for the perch.
I keep getting tempted to buy a Nautitech for the cheap money, but keep holding out for want of daggerboards.
Good points.
Greetings, Thank you very much for this review. Very informative. My wife and I sailed our 43 foot Farrier performance cat about 20,000 miles over the course of 7 years. We sailed from California to Thailand and sold her 2 years ago. Since then have been on a search for our next cat. Taking what we learned from our first voyage, we checked out every boat we could find online. We looked at Nautitech, Xquisite, St. Francis, Catana, Outremere, Fontaine Pujout, Leapard, Lagoon, Schionning, Seawind and a few others. One thing we have learned is that to really know if a boat was the right boat for us we had to sail it. For that reason we chartered the Nautitech 46, sailed the Nautitech 54, sailed 4,000 miles on the Xquisite from Cape Town to Brazil, and day sailed the Catana 53 twice. Prior to our test sails we had completely ruled out the Nautitech and the Catana because of the outboard helm stations. The results of our search? We have ordered hull number 9 of the Catana 53. Why? Sailing characteristics, sail controls and winch positions, visibility, and everything is on one level. I thought I would love the bridge deck enclosed steering stations for so many reasons; all the lines coming to one place, and complete protection from sun, rain, and wind. What I did not expect was the radically different feeling sailing from the bridge deck is when compared to the outboard helms, plus the limited visibility because of the sails blocking your view. On our Catana test sail I was meant to be checking out all of the systems and looking in all the various compartments and bulges, but I never got there. I couldn't stop sailing. It was so darn fun to sail that boat! The visibility of the sails and forward through the large windows is amazing and by far the best of any catamaran I have seen, (you can actually keep watch from that back bench in the cockpit which is out of the elements). Also, it may seem like a small thing, but having everything on one level is extremely cool. On my voyage aboard the Xquisite, (which is a great boat), I realized that climbing even one or two stairs every 10 or 20 minutes to keep a proper watch is fatiguing at sea. Lastly, I love love love the sail handling on the Catana. The winch positions are at waste level so that you can stand and perform any maneuvers comfortably and with plenty of room. Choosing a boat is a big decision and there are so many things to consider. One thing I suggest to anyone shopping for their dream boat is to charter or day sail as many of the candidates as you can. It completely changed our minds and we are super excited about our choice.
Any news of your catana? I fear it's noisy.
Interesting take. It's good to hear from an owner
Backup auto-pilot, fly-by-wire engine controls inside & out, forward sonar, do passages at the forward nav station...Bob’s your uncle. I like this boat. It’s designed for world passage making. In particular, I like the high freeboard/bridgedeck for less slamming.
Love my older Catana 431. The outboard helms ON a 431/471 is high up...as in mounted on the deck. Great for docking, day sails and great view of the sails and forward looking. Offshore, autopilots x2 sail the boat and a great night watch seat.
I could never imagine sitting high up on the roof top or at gutter edge and being swung around like a drunken parrot from the boats movements.
Happy Catana owner and still the most beautiful cat out there, even being a 20 year old design. It's a true around the world cruising boat with some pace.
As for deck hatches...why would you want to turn your boat into a solarium? Catana has great ventilation with their large Hull mounted moonlight hatches.
My dad has an older Catana. We love the helm position. The visibility is fantastic. I look at other cats and wonder how they see anything at all! Anyway, all a matter of preference I suppose.
This is my favorite owner's cabin I've seen so far. I think because I value only two things: an island berth (because I know how hard it is to make the bed when the bed is full to the walls), and ventilation, and the Catana has the best ventilation I think we've seen so far.
I've also been thinking a lot about something Terysa said on a previous review. It was (paraphrased) if you're going to do the minimalist thing, you have to do it excellently or it looks cheap. I had never thought of modern design this way. The Catana seems to pull that off (with the exception of the weirdly mitred corners) but I may be responding to the fact that it's a 53, and has amazing light.
I would probably have been convinced by the owner's assurance that the open helm wasn't an issue, if I didn't know and trust your judgment. I know you care about safety, and I'm so glad you do, and I know that you wouldn't be concerned about it if it were nothing. I'm starting to suspect that most of these boats are made for people who spend the weekend on their boats or the occasional vacation, not necessarily people who live aboard and circumnavigate the globe.
With all the options and tradeoffs, my head would explode 🤯 if I had to make the choice. 😁Daggerboards vs fixed keels seems like a big one that would help narrow the choices. Follow that up with the helm station position and build quality and that will lop off another bunch. Factor in budget and safety, and maybe you only have a few to choose from but it would still be a difficult choice. I am not even in the market for a boat but I have enjoyed this series a lot! 🙌🏼
I’m not gonna steal your thunder. 😂😂So funny. Excellent job
We are really looking forward (hoping) to see some smaller cats! More in the 40-47 range, while the 50+ are beautiful and fun to dream about they are too expensive and more space than we will need! It will be quite some time before we are really going to be seriously looking but we love learning and seeing what is out there now! I (I show my husband when it is one I think would interest him) have been loving watching this series!
For me Sailing was always to do with the being at the helm, but I’m going back to my sailing days on my Hunter 32’ in the early 80’s. Feeling the wind and spray on your face, open to the elements that was a great feeling being in control.
Nick, I think you've called the overall market right. I think it's a question of 'first' priority. It will either be, price, performance, or comfort. If you're lucky enough to care most about performance and not much about price and want to sail shorthanded it's custom carbon - Gunboat, HH, MCConaghy, maybe Balance depending on your biases. If you care most about comfort, it's Privilege, Lagoon, FP et al. If you care most about cost, then it's the used market where Catana makes an excellent showing along with Outremer, again depending on your biases. In my case (staring down early retirement) the problem comes from me wanting performance and her wanting comfort. You can fix some of that by adding boat length (and price), but obviously I'd prefer not.
All good but the helm positions rule this boat out for me. I think of it this way. Hours or days at sea sitting at the helm. Minutes docking.
jdonalds2001 And with a boat that big you will always have crew to help you spot when docking.
There is another issue with the helm position and that is the height of eye of the skipper. From these outboard positions your view forward is compromised by being low compared to the loftier position of the offset and raised wheel on the Outremer, Leopard 45, Lagoon 42 and Fontaine Pajot 42. Thus you risk not even seeing the crab pot etc which you want to avoid until too late. That said I am not a fan of the full on flybridge because then you are separated from the rest of people on the boat in the cockpit/saloon plus the motion becomes excessive.
Yeah. Ofc you’re spending more time sailing than docking but you’re allso spending more time sailing than you are using the inboard engine. With your reasoning you shouldnt intall a big heavy motor. I mean, how often would you use it compared to having its weight slow your sailing down. 🙄
Matter of personal preference, which in most cases you could stipulate!
Most boating mishaps happen when in close quarters though. Much more likely to put a hole where there shouldn't be one in a marina than when you are lounging inside under autopilot on a long passage.
I'm surprised by all of the comment about "exposed helms". Most of the time that I have seen shots of you at the wheel have been where you are approaching an entrance or involved with a dock.
The longer you spend at sea, the less time that you spend at the helm. We usually see you two keeping watch for'd of the wheel and with the chart plotter turned so that you can see it. I fail to see how , from such a position, you can alter course more quickly than on the auto-helm.
This is one of the few cats where the helm is not "up on the roof" and subject to the exaggerated sway. At least the helm here is in the cockpit and not up out of it.
Hello, loved your review! Very well done! Would like to comment on your point of view on the outer helms: they are actually my favorite feature on Catanas... I think it depends on what is your type of sailing. For me, passages are out of question. I don t have the time nor the desire for these kind of adventures. My kind of sailing is island bare boat chartering. My ultimate rush is sailing over 12 knots between two islands steering from the side, nose in the wind :). ( than anchor in a cove and enjoy beaches and snorkeling). I charted Moorings and Lagoon, and while they are more spacious, I find them very boring to sail. I hate the upper deck helms where I literally feel like a “trucker”. If you grew up on monohulls and love the true up -wind sailing sensations, Catanas are amazing. I feel like sailing a racing cat from the 1980s with today’s modern luxury and comfort. Cheers everyone!
On the leeward side you are able to peep under your foresail. No other helm position offeres that, but they all force the boom hence the center of effort up, as long we are not talking about forward cockpits.
... and it's perfect sailing to the luff.
What is wrong with social media... can’t believe you two haven’t surpassed the 100k subscriber mark ages ago.
I know right? Slowly chugging away my friend. Hope to get there some day
You advise the Katana 50 doesnt sqeek, but whilst you were filming the sleeping area all you could hear was creaking, and that was sitting in dock!!! Ive never heared any noises from any other Cat's you have filmed and done a evaluation upon. Great vids though, ta x
Those were the lines ...a little bit of water on the dry lines would stop it...it wasn't the boat.
I know I’m talking too much here...☺️
The Seawind 1600 looks amazing but I thought the living area seemed small and a bit disconnected from the cockpit
The Antares was very interesting with galley down giving more living space, very safe but kind of slow and very expensive
Then I found the Seawind 1260? Galley down and open living space to cockpit but it looks like it might check many of your boxes for 1/2 the price
Looking forward to your future reviews. The Balance 526 looks very interesting.
Quit saying yep please and she has beautiful eyes
3 added advantages to the rear helm.
1. Lowers boom height
Over coach roof, allowing for a lower centre of gravity.
2. Allows for a larger sail area as a result, adding performance.
3. Increases the size of the covered aft deck by eliminating raised helm station.
Another outstanding review guys. And I am biased, but agree. We looked at both the Catana and Outremer and agree with what you said. The Outremer have indeed leap frogged over Catana in terms of interior fit and finish. They've "lost their crown" indeed! :)
Cant wait to see the Maverick full review. These in-depth unbiased reviews are absolutely amazing! Keep it up you two, I don't miss a show :D
Not that I'm going to spend 1.3 mill right now..but ya'll are spot on about the helmet stations..long passages manning the helm should be protected ..that bench seat ..no back rest and a open sugar scoop 2 feet behind you is a no....also each bedroom/cabin needs a hatch for ventilation and emergency egress
Apreciate your franck speaking without a second tought ! I like the older Catanas (47, 471, 472, 63) but the new once seems like cuting edges on costs. You are partialy right: French labour is costly because of a stupid 35h per week working hours and on top of it government tales another 57% or son of charges.
Catana should move to Tunisia or Morocco like few others French cat builder did, why ont to Thailand, in order to reduce labour cost and increase the interiours quality.
You are right about the nav stations. One elevated on port or starbord plus a repeater station on the oposite side would be preferable.
Sorry to see Catana being overtaken....
Thanks for the comment mate. This boat sur didn’t match the old 471
I appreciate the comment on collision avoidance based on your experience.
Really enjoy and appreciate your indepth reviews. Would be very interested to see your take on the Exquisite.
Really enjoy your channel and the videos are well thought out and beautifully edited. Helm stations are so personal but "on passage" no one stands watch at the helm. 99% auto-pilot and a back-up solve the risk. Yes, you are being a lug on this subject.
Then again, sailing in the Caribbean or South Pacific, one is rarely docking. Typically you're at anchor or on a mooring ball, and only docking every month or two at the fuel dock. So the benefits of the helm stations are less. If you're in marinas a lot, doing a lot of med mooring, they would show more value. As they talk about in the cat vs mono videos with the Wynns, part of the decision is buying the boat that has the best trade-offs for where you want to sail.
@@Mounta1nKing Agreed, to your point sailing the Caribbean or South Pacific helming is short distances in generally nice weather.
I've listened at great length over many videos to what you consider vital and ideal features and agree with all your safety driven requirements. I have concluded you have described in detail the design philosophy and spec for the Balance 526! This was reviewed by another couple at Annapolis. Their conclusion was that it was a better option than the Outremer 51. I really hope you can get the chance to review a Balance 526 soon.
I am building a 40 foot cat that has an internal steering station as well as twin wheels in the cockpit, So when cruising the colder latitudes we will be helming inside with the heater on. Also in stormy weather you can be reefed down and be at the helm out of the elements but still in control.
Nicely done you guys. Speaking to the cabinetry/millwork, if weight savings is the primary goal, I'm guessing they are using a sandwich structural panel (Nida-Core, etc.) with a wood veneer, so it is not going to look as handsome as a solid wood construction, but from your vid it looks far better than IKEA, as a poster below suggested. Plus far more difficult to achieve than gluing a paper-thin veneer (or faux veneer) to particle board. I agree with you that though the mitered corners may have been a purely aesthetic choice, and not a cost cutting choice, they wouldn't be my choice.
I think you are bang on on the helm position and primary is at the wheel.
I tried to count the number of times Terysa said ''YEAH'' while interviewing the owner lady but...I failed. Could not calculate fast enough. LOL
And the owner was not fluent enough in English to realize it was the "yeah" that meant: "I disagree with you completely"
Yeah, first rule of recording an interview is never talk over the person you're interviewing. I real life it's shows active listening but on tape it's gobbledegook.
Ha! Didn't even notice that. 🤣
@@jg1708 I meant English as spoken in Angloterre. LOL.
You all do really good job. However one hint, quiet when others speak,curb the urge to say yes at others comments.
Beautiful boat!! 28' beam?!? $1.3 million 😶 I would have to pick up some kiteboard lessons again.. Can't wait to see you guys in Annapolis!!
For shame! A gentleman does not steal his lady's thunder. Great video.
Not a water lover, but enjoy that you two are, and share your real world opinions. Still enjoy your travels.
I am learning so much from you two
But let the poor lady talk!!
It is so important to have a lady,s perspective to help me understand what my mate may be wanting
Sorry mate, I know I talk too much
You guys are a joy to watch as a couple!
Balance also has dagerboards and are performance oriented, such as Outramer, Catana and Seawind. Its a must see. Do not forget to review St Francis. A great boat from South Africa. Kind of old design but with a lot of history behind it. Safe winds
This time, i couldnt be more agree with your review. Good and informative, Thank you👍
Thank you, I always enjoy your videos. Keep having fun and smooth sailing.
Totally agree. Not a full time live aboard boat. 510 still worth the xtra few quid.
good looking boat - I think I prefer the Outremer.
Don’t even have a boat yet and your reviews already have my wife wanting to get a catamaran. 👍👍
After the helm position rant, now I understand T’s need for ventilation :) Love you guys reviews.
No galley extractor fan... Coocking and frying fumes goes everywhere coating everything...
so many boats are like that, monos too. really strange to me
Didn't even think of this- but we don't have a galley extractor fan either and haven't noticed them on other boats. I think a hatch above the galley is probably the best you can hope for?
@@sailingrubyrose The amount of humidity it produces in an already humid and condensation problem area is crazy
@@sailingrubyrose it makes a huge difference... best thing I did to my boat...
We have gone down this exact same track as you are going now , it’s great to see a couple in the same dilemma, we bought a 60’ Schionning.
Performance , dagger boards , huge space.
The steering position makes it a sailors boat, IMO. You have a more direct feeling of the rudder with the steering system in the aft, than you have from a helm mounted on the cabin top.
Lol don’t take that comment to heart, it was tongue in cheek
You are both amazing
I love learning from both of you
I can’t believe you had time to answer that last comment ☺️
I’m presently watching your French canal videos
Some serious team work there
My mate and I would have killed each other 1/2 way through
Thank you so much for doing these vids
You two are the best,
And I mean that, I have watched others
These reviews are great. I'm enjoying them very much, and look forward to the next boat, and the next, and the next. I'm thinking I'll miss these boat reviews when you finally select and buy one which will stop the review process!
for 1.3 mil. you could get the xquisite x5
Great job you guys. It's refreshing to have someone doing reviews that are not a big sellout to the manufacturer.
We delivered a Catana from the factory to Tortola. The open, unprotected helm stations are brutal at sea.
Did I miss it? Did you guys mention the reverse bows? I expect these will go away on ocean boats. In the remote possibility of hitting a container or other object floating at the surface, these would be a disaster.
Catana has the absolute best reefing system of any boat we've delivered. Ours had all the jammers leading to one horizontal winch on that back rail. Standing on that back rail, operating the buttons with your toes while looking up at the sail was easy and awesome. And the two blocks for the mainsheet is way smarter than a track. We would sheet tight into one block, unclip the other and walk it forward to use as preventer. You could completely control the end of the boom for perfect sail trim every time.
I'm sure Catana has solved the issue but the factory made a mistake with the hydraulic steering system, it bled fluid from the reservoirs when we healed. Often one of the helm stations wouldn't operate until we topped up the hydraulic fluid. Toward the end of the crossing we had to filter and reuse the old fluid we were collecting. The system was mostly replaced in the Caribbean.
The dagger boards are fun.
The boat wasn't super fast in normal conditions. It averaged 1 knot more than a similar length mono on the crossing. We did have too much sail up when leaving France and hit 24 knots careening downwind. There was close to 40 knots of wind coming off the side of a mountain. But no one cruises like that ;).
Did the hulls have any roof hatches? There didn't appear to be any which begs the question of how do you escape if there was a fire in the galley or saloon?
Simon Robinson I believe the lack of opening roof hatches (as seems to be the case) would make this a hard no.
No they didn't. Biiiig hatches in the saloon though, and there would be an escape hatch in the hulls in case the boat capsized. But nothing in the roof, no. (On the upside, lack of windows in the roof would probably keep it cooler in the hulls)
I think with the recent dive boat fire in California the lack of hull topside hatches certainly takes on a greater concern- at least for me.
Try and imagine yourself at the helm in the North Sea rather than the Bahamas - helps decision making ;-)
If you could choose between a Leopard 45 or a Outremer of equivalent size which one would you pick?
@@chefevilee9566 Definitely a Leopard
TST1998 That’s what I’m thinking also thank you
I'd go for the leopard and save the extra cost of the Outremer for cruising.
Sasquatch yeah I’m tracking toward the L45 too. Except you won’t be able to get it with a clean top much longer. Fly lounge will be the only option
I would be uncomfortable with somebody who depends entirely on electronics to sail the boat. SV Delos has a few episodes where they lost their electronic station keeping and had to actually steer the boat across the Atlantic. Having the helm in a protected area was a big plus for that task. Those outboard helm stations would bring back the old days of standing watch on an open deck.
Again' Very Enjoyable Reviews' video's' - Nick & Tyresa' - 'we really get excited watching your very detailed & 'attention to Major 'Sailing' Reality' concerns' on the different models' available with consideration to Prices' & Value-for-Money' against most Importantly' 'Functionality' > Thanks for ALL' your Effort & Remember 'we' have A lot of catching up to do in the Sailing' Boat' Markets' >
I have just discovered the 22 part documentary put out by Aeroyacht. Very informative and they are talking about many of the things in your reviews which I am really enjoying even though I will probably never afford to have any of these new boats. Keep it up.
You are spot on with your concerns of the helm station, people need to remember the difference between the wheel/tiller and the auto pilot controls. A wheel tiller gives you the ability to react quickly and turn the rudder directly or nearly directly . With autopilots you make request to the autopilot CPU to turn, it has to process it and then send the commands to the hydraulic ram also depending on how good the engineers are in designing the interface it is either easy and intuitive to make those changes or mind numbingly overly complicated or worse buried in a menu system to engage it. Autopilots are great don't get me wrong , but they are great for alleviating crew fatigue for those long times when all you have to do is maintain a heading, they are not for making rapid changes of course to avoid collisions.
Personally, I like the overall look of the mitred edges. It is a modern take on rounded corners. If I was able to inspect them in person as you were, I may have a different opinion of them. Those exposed helms aren't meant for ocean crossings! Can anyone say "weather fatigue"? In case of auto pilot failure in a storm, hand steering would be miserable. They also seemed awful close to the stern for me.
One advantage is that with those performance specs, those crossing would pass quickly!
The cabins were nice and bright. A deck hatch or two in each hull would be nice.
As full time cruisers. I don't think this one is for you, not with ocean passages in your plans.
(Loved to Top Gun reference at the end Nick)
I think the Old style of Catana like the 471 were better but like you I am not a fan of the outboard helm stations. However I can tell you that there is no delay in our autopilot if I hit the 10 degree button twice for instance on our Schionning 46 but must admit can’t beat manual steering when there is a heap of pots around.
So you don't know me from Adam but, lol....unless I missed it, you MUST check out Balance Catamarans....They are made in South Africa I believe & blow most of what you've reviewed away so far...[dunno I haven't watched ALL your vids] at least check em out on RUclips...know what I mean? Keep up the search, it's a huge investment & I know you two will make a good choice... Balance leans on performance, & a little pricey[similar to Catana] if I remember but they definitely deserve a look!!!!! I forget what your hot buttons are? Balance are customizable & have carbon options galore and this AMAZING dual type helm station....
Helm stations built for docking are for day sailors returning to the dock every day.......there are no hatches to deck in the hulls....
The Lady owner I think would not be comfortable in a big sea.and imagine getting slammed by a side wave out of nowhere happens now and again.
@@patrickcoleman3 the 'lady owner' is far more resilient in big seas than the 'male owner' so maybe check your preconceptions?
@@sailingrubyrose That's a bit difficult when he was not to be seen , also it was fairly obvious by the way you filmed the episode that my preconceptions were correct.
@@patrickcoleman3 ...must be a terribly slow day for you to be this crabby....make a sailing channel and show us all how it's done
@@mattf49006 not at all crabby as you say, I was only saying that the lady owner likes to take her watches inside and be safe from rouge waves.
hmmm. I think its all personal preference, and coming from a monohull that's an interesting opinion. I look at cats and think I really like to be on the windward side of the boat - it just feels natural. And it also feels like you are actually sailing. I want to feel the wind in my face if i'm driving. We came from building and sailing some REALLY small wet boats on multi day passages (Mini Transats), so the concern about being wet and cold? Not seeing that as a problem. :) We are in the process of rebuilding a small cat that has a single helm station on the bulkhead and I am imagining it feeling strange for a long time! Also, as mentioned, with the improvement in autopilot reliability and backup options, who would be out there anyway? As far as pilot brands go for sailing performance there are really only two - nke & B&G. The others are not even in the same category. Take a look at basically every mini, figaro, classe 40, open 60, etc. Those are the only brands they trust. It's interesting to me that most cruisers only compare the prices and not the functionality when choosing something as important as an autopilot. You should do an episode on that!
Did I miss Nick mention the lifeboat on the Catana? That's like Terysa not mentioning ventilation... And speaking of ventilation, that boat had nice ventilation in the cabins, but not good cross ventilation. I don't think I'd be happy without crosswind vents. I hope you are ahead of posting time because there is a hurricane headed toward the states that could make for some rough sailing. Be safe and I can't wait for more reviews!
This message is for the upcoming boat show Reviews. When you check out the Maverick 400 hybrid or the Majestic yachts can you see if they provide a modern decor or an updated style. Thanks Chris
A french skipper in Martinique once told me that the aft helms are 'for real sailors who catch fish in their teeth'.
I like them, and a particular fan of the Dufour 395. That being said, I own a Leopard and love the raised helm and hardtop setup - but I get soaked too as I dont have any other protection. I do want to fabricate a long tiller handle to fit in the emergency tiller position though! If you have not sailed with a tiller you are missing out!
It continues to stun me that so many persons are so blasé about the open helms, I can only assume they are stuck on a vision of casual day sailing in the Carib or Med.
Or they just enjoy sailing and don't believe it's an indoor sport. I for one don't really understand being "protected from the elements" while sailing - personally I need to feel the wind on my face to be able to proper sail trimming. IMO this sort of twin open helm offers much better visibility and control. Now I understand why someone cruising, and especially shorthanded, with little to no interest in optimizing sail or helm performance, would value other things. But the main reason people prefer these helms isn't because they're keen on lazy day sailing - there's a reason why more performance oriented boats have them; they simply value the advantages in terms of visibility and control.
On a lot of new power boats (and obviously the big mega yachts) they have a wing station or joystick control. I'm slightly surprised these big cats don't do something similar. Protected helm station with an exposed (either joystick controlled saildrive or some kind of removable/foldaway wheel) station to manage docking, tight maneuvering/gorgeous day sails etc.
The way that Catana helm is set up it could definitely be fold away if it was 'steer by wire' rather than cable - at a million bucks a joystick system or electronic wheel isn't going to move the price needle much.
I agree with your exposed helm position, position.. but either their market research is wrong or (we) are in the minority for their target market.
Ian White look into the Balance 526...does exactly this. Protected helm for passages and a open top on nice days. That and the sea wind 1600 are my final two to check out this year in Annapolis.
Ian White heck $70k 24’ Yamahas have full digital joystick control. It’s pretty lame how the base navigation package on a $500k boat has less than the 12” Conext system on a Yamaha 242S Limited.
Balance 526 comes with dager boards and a helm to die for nice to see you finally mention balance.
A protected helm position seems to be a brighter and brighter red line for you guys. In an ideal monohull,then, would you prioritize a pilot house or deck salon?
Alan Abrams
It was a red line from the start.
I really appreciate your reviews...good job!
Again, cant wait for your review of the Antares. I think you guys will give it high marks for the protected helm. Although think you will give it lower scores regarding performance. I feel it is one of the safest boats when it comes to a blue water live aboard. Loving your reviews keep up the great work!
Paul W I’m not sure how it will come out in the scoring chart but we are very happy with the performance of our Antares. She is a lightweight build and we often outperform both cats and monos of similar size on the water 😊
Any plans to review the new Catania OC? (Have any been launched yet?)
I am very curious if the new helm position changes your overall impression. Are you going to take credit for some of the changes brought into this mode? Ha.
Have you checked out the maverick 440 yet? I saw a video of it and I was very impressed quality and $$ great video
We're hoping to see one at Annapolis
You guys might want to check out a Moody 54.......big and roomy like a cat, but still a mono hull.....tons of space and storage...also check out the new Hylas 48...that’s also a very roomy mono hull
Also.. you see mitred corners as you say, but see the indoor helm station and sofa edges down to cabins. No mitred mitred corners. It not sems consistent tru out. I like the litte head window... just it could be tempting use it so save a flush.. thats maybe why the door... 🤪
Another fantastic review, thank you. One thing I am wondering is about prices on the used market. I wonder if there is a cat that tends to lose value in the used market - weather it be poor marketing, people tending to buy them new, etc. - Thoughts?
I am following your cat seeking adventures with interest. Bud as an ocean dwelling sailor I disagree with your point about the helm position. I did crossings in mine monohull (Bavaria 42) with a sprayhood and I've got wet several times, especially on the North sea (also your area I believe) and the Golf of Biskaje. No problems because you can wear good clothing. During passages I sail 99% of the time on autopilot so you can choose your place on the boat. (A dry one if you wish) In the trade winds you will have backstay winds so if it is bad weather the cockpit will not be dry.
That said, the most time behind the helm is to check your gauges and not using the wheel. The time you really have to use the wheel is when you have to ancher or to dock. And as a single and short handed sailer I love to be close to the clamps so i can do it all by myself and without running stairs down.
At this moment I am looking for a cat as well, so thank you for all the info the two of you provide. It is very useful, but mine preferences is a boat with a helm position like the Catana. So I don't see it as a disadvantage. This said, keep up the good work and enjoy your search.
Doesn’t fall into the category of “the perfect catamaran” but I hope you will do a review of the Dragonfly trimarans.
How about the Royal Cape Majestic 530. I really would like to hear your opinion of that boat.
If they're at Annapolis, we'll go and have a look. We're definitely not looking for over 50ft, but are happy to review it!
@@sailingrubyrose Thank you, I know that over 50ft. is outside your specs, but I do respect your opinion and I can't make it to Annapolis this year.
I was watching this video with the auto captions turned on. It did a good job for the most part, but somethings just came out so wrong. Funny stuff.
i hope you can do a review on a Gozzard sailboat when you are in annapolis. i know they are mono hulled and therefore not in your purview, but they are built here in Ontatio and i would personally like an un-biased review of one of them. just in-case i win the lottery :-) and except for the biggest, they are a lot cheaper than that cat' and custom built.
I understand its not on the "possible purchase list" but I quite like your reviews. Would you consider doing a review on the Gunboats and HH's and similar? Balance 526?
Miguel M they said they will look at the balance 526 this year in a previous video. Can't wait. I am beyond excited to check it out this year.
And I thought the Outremer had the crappiest helm position for a live aboard. But I do like the way they hid the dagger boards compared to the Outremer, which seemed an after thought, and the layout and accommodations are much better for live aboard.
Look forward to your commentary on the Balance 52. I was super impressed when I saw it a couple of years ago in Annapolis. It's a very well thought out design. I would also include the HH50 and HH55 - though more expensive. Don't spend any more time on the charter brands/ high volume production brands, there is plenty of information already out there on those boats. Harder to add to the discussion - I would imagine a large part of your audience watching boat reviews are kind of boat dorks
I thought Jessica put up a reasonable arguement for the helm position . Galley was great, master cabin great.
Whilst I liked it , it did seem to creak a hell of a lot considering it was at anchor. If you have a hatch in the head,
you might as well shit through that and save the flush pump. So , so far , your favourite is Seawind ? Or Outremer ?
The slow Auto-pilot comment is strange, but never experienced a Garmin. Raymarine is instant depending on configuration setting and it's easy to steer a whole passage using the control. Docking, although a small percentage of the time spent on the boat is pivotal. Scarring a boat on a dock will not make your day or passage. That said, the first thing any passage maker looks at is helm protection and a second autopilot would be essential. You pay your money.... Performance is also a key issue and not emphasized enough in my opinion. Surely it's the main reason for choosing a cat?
It’s huge! No deck hatches...exposed helms are deal breaker. Catana need to refresh their 47...
I agree the 47 is due for a refresh. As is the 42.
fantastic breakdown of this beautiful boat...
For that kind of money hope you get to see the xquisite x5 what a boat.
It looks very impressive, we're looking forward to seeing it at Annapolis
I don't remember if you guys have really laid out what you are looking for exactly, Price, Performance, Size, etc.. Do you have a short list of features & price that you are looking for?
Thanks for sharing!
SV Delos lost their ability to charge their batteries except for a small charger. They couldn't generate enough power to run the autopilot and had to hand steer in the Indian Ocean for more than a week. That boat would be hell in that situation.
Imagine hand steering in this.... ruclips.net/video/nWhmLkOYDZM/видео.html
Sorry, but here's the short version and synopsis: ruclips.net/video/nWhmLkOYDZM/видео.html
Another great review. I found the stovetop a bit concerning. I would think you would want the cooking surface to extend all the way across for safety, for safety with the movement of the cat. I would hate to see a pot sliding off that stovetop, as it not a continuous grated surface.
I prefer open bridge deck or “pod” design cats. They’re lighter, faster, bigger sail plans less maintenance.
The problem (for me) with most of these new cats is they’re heavy, cumbersome, and expensive.
A slow boat is going to get stuck in weather. If you get stuck in 5-8 knots of wind which can be much of the time, you’ll be motoring.
Listen to the boat squeak (7:50, 8:00, 8:54, 9:04 - 9:20)! High winds outside but at anchor and now significant loading on the rigging. I'm concerned that most catamarans lack sufficient rigidity and will begin weakening (flexing) starting from the first time they are lifted for their first "splash".
Spooky.
Love that boat but I can’t sail from the sugar scoops!
@ 7:48 you’re in the master berth and you can hear just how heavy the boat creaks.
And 'La Vagabond ' seems to be absolutely amazing!
Dont forget the Slyder 49. It also fits into the 50 ft performanca cat segment. Maybe not on display at LGR this year ?
It was and we saw it at Barcelona. Lovely boat. They were too busy to see us at LGM