Are Catamarans less likely to survive a hurricane than monohull?
Posted by DJAlaskaAndrew@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 10 comments
I currently have a 1986 Hunter 31 on a hurricane mooring with multiple oversized anchors on 100ft of chain.
I'm curious whether you guys think a comparably sized small catamaran like a Gemini 105m would be more likely to be damaged in a hurricane? Does anyone have experience with both?
Hijak69@reddit
I’d rather sit on the shore or paddle in the shallows than sail the oceans in a Catamaran or a cruise ship... The ocean 🌊 is unpredictable and treacherous ... Your yacht capsizes and you’re eaten by sharks 🚢
Hijak69@reddit
Yes... I was surprised to read about Catamarans being safer. I was extremely adventurous when I was younger ... perhaps naively so... Sometimes I marvel I’m still alive. I love the ocean... so much so that I bought my first home in Blairgowrie Victoria close to the ‘Ocean Reserve’ In Hilltop Ave. I’d fall asleep to the sound of gigantic waves thundering their way across the reeves to the shore. ♥️💐
Hijak69@reddit
I’ve traveled by sea quite a few times ... and encountered severe terrifying treacherous storms every time. It caused me to wonder if this is normal ... The ocean is dangerously and unpredictable. I’d rather fly to reach various destinations than travel by sea. I’ll never do it again . The idea that a cruise is romantic and pleasurable is mostly an illusion... I’ll always fly to wherever I want to go ✈️
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
If you want REAL data you'll have to ask an insurance company, or the manager of a large charter site, like Moorings in Tortola. They will have real data... Pretty much ALL the answers you get here will people guessing, making stuff up that sounds good, or talking the tribal line, and there is no bigger tribal split in the sailing world than mono vs. cat!
Some observations, that do not all apply to the exact question you ask, but will give you an idea about why it is so hard to give a specific answer:
Catamarans are much more likely to be dragging anchor. NOT because of anything intrinsic to the design, but because the mass market builders supply a standard anchor that is criminally too small, and most of the first time buyers are not sophisticated enough to understand that a 45 lb anchor is NOT suitable for a 45 foot, three deck high, catamaran (Yes, I'm talking to YOU Lagoon!)
In a truly violent storm, (Cat 4 or 5) light weight catamarans are susceptible to actually having the wind pick them up and flipped or blown away. See photos from St Martin after the last big storm there. That's a risk that monohulls do not have. BUT on the other hand, in a storm like that, VERY few boats survive.
Monohulls will typically swing back and forth on a bow anchor point. This puts a very high loading on the ground tackle and attachment points. It can be mitigated, but frequently is not.
I would suggest that the difference in survivability in a serious storm has more to do with the owner and the level of care taken to prepare than the number of hulls the boat has.
Has it been properly stripped of EVERYTHING that wind might catch? Sails? Dinghies? Paddleboards? solar panels? canvas? etc... etc.. Proper chafe gear installed? Adequate ground tackle? Sufficient stretch and strength in the anchor rode? Are other boats nearby going to break free and crash into it? Are the deck fittings truly up to the job of holding the boat in extremis? In my experience very few boats in the size range you are talking about have properly fitted deck cleats (and Hunter and Gemini would be Exhibit "A" and "B" for this case.)
whitemalewithdick@reddit
Their photos of 3 lagoons one on top of another the fibreglass charter style boats are terrible for dangerous situations if your facing terrible weather or cross ocean sailing you need a metal hull to do it safely
SailingSpark@reddit
I can see three arguments against the Cat.
1: Windage. Most cats have a lot of superstructure compared to an equivalent length monohull. They also have two hulls and a "wind tunnel" between them.
2: Monohulls can be rolled or laid on her ends and come back up unless poorly ballasted or not completely buttoned up. Cats have great initial stability, but once they are past that point, are going over and not coming up again.
3: Most cats have a lot of "glass" and large companionways that are usually door like. Not very secure against flying objects or crashing waves. Aside from motor sailors, most monohulls have small ports and companionways that are sealed with solid sheets of wood, plastic, or even thick plexi. Crashing waves would roll over these boats with minimal damage.
RoninRaffiki@reddit
I would like to point out here that there ARE cats designed to handle storms and long ocean crossings. See James Wharram’s designs. They are directly inspired by Polynesian craft: they have open decks with very low windage, small companionway/hatches, smart sail plans that are easy to reef while running with the wind, and an incredible safety record of over 50 years.
Elder_sender@reddit
I owned a Tangaroa 38 and lived aboard through 8 named storms in a single year. I would never want to attempt to weather a storm at sea in this boat.
dotherandymarsh@reddit
I thought wharrams were supposed to be very sea worthy. please enlighten me because im very fond of the idea of getting or building a wharram.
Elder_sender@reddit
The boat can’t point and has no protected helm. Our auxiliary was an outboard engine that would come out of the water in heavy seas. We very nearly lost her because of that. Saved by anchoring and waiting. We got lucky that there was one more feeder band where things lightened up and we were able to get to shelter.
I mean no disrespect. I will guess that you have never been offshore, your opinion is based on what you have read and the opinions you have read have all been Wharram enthusiasts?