Yep.... it's a great resource in many ways, love the joint effort between community and content creators, it resulted in a great list, interesting feedback on the go, some good tips on what to look out if you're interested in the ships in the list. It's not the kind of things you expect from the "top X" types of videos.
ha! I knew it that the Seawind would be the one. After seeing you talk about it I went down to San Diego and was Kindly invited by Kurt of Denison yachts to go out on a Seawind 1260 and even though it was the smaller version I loved it and the key selling points where for me the Helm station protected with the Electric window and also the Door to the Lounge area that can be winched up to the ceiling amazing. Well I think you have done a bang up job on this review with all of your followers and wish more people would do this. So I raise my glass to you both cheers
There are many points you two have covered that I didn't have a clue about.....so I have learned much more about catamarans though this series of episodes.....thanks to you two!!
Something that would be good to add (not as its own category just a part of an existing one) would be to talk about accessibility! Some have easy access with removable panels and velcro ceilings and such so you can get to your wiring and AC (and things), while other boat models you have to cut your way in if there is a problem. I am still very new to looking at boats - we have awhile before we are really in the market but this is something I find important. It would be nice to not have to cut my way in if there was an electrical issue. =] Loving this series and really looking forward to seeing more boats!
Thanks to that informative video - good summary in opposite to the individual reviews. I want to place some additional thoughts (sorry for being late) - Helm position: Any position at a side (i.e. those who offer two stations) may be a problem. When I was navigating the Nautitech 40 to the harbor, I commanded that nobody is allowed to stand in the area between the helm stations since I had to rush between those frequently - you hardly see anything on the opposite side. - Navigation place: There is nearly always the opportunity to have a almost complete view from out of the salon. So I can only recommend a nav station that faces forward and has a sturdy seating so you may sit there for a complete watch. Neither forward nor a sturdy seat was seen always. - Boom: I had driven a 56" sailboat - I think Dufour, mighty boat. I had an intensive climb to get on top of the boom to open the sail bag. I was simply between 2 and 4 meter above the ship. This was awful. At many production catamarans you find even more distance between boom and any deck - often due to the top helm station. For me it's a nightmare if you have to access the sail or it's mounting points (.. reefs?) at sea. In harbor you may request a ladder - but in rough weather??? - Engine room: (You gave us only very limited views of them). Very often you find engine rooms that are constructed by throwing everything in - it's good, if the hatch closes. For further reviews have a thought: how to access the gearbox, how to fix something at the side of the engine. That seems often to be a nightmare. At "my" Nautitech there seemed to be much space - but sadly everywhere there was something in your way to access. A simple task: Try to access the oil screw at the bottom or try to replace a hose clamp at the other side of the engine. Often you even have no easy access to the dipstick or the seawater filter. - Windows in the salon: One has to balance between nice hull and practicability. Therysa complaint about airflow in the cabins - well done! But also think about a bright very hot sunshine going down to the relative flat windows - I expect you may fry breakfast eggs below those windows even for breakfast. I don't like the view of that steep Lagoon windows - but the way with the hangover ahead makes a lot of sense.
I know nothjng about boats but soon realised the Seawind 1600 is MINDBLOWING! What a boat, the design, the layout, the price. U true engineering masterpiece
A very nice video - enjoyed watching this one. When it comes to choosing a cruising catamaran there are so many different aspects one needs to consider that this video has not yet covered but are important factors when considering ones purchase. We speak as folks who grew up with family owned monohulls and are now living permanently on our second catamaran, the first being a Catana 471 - our current catamaran being a Lagoon 440 which we purchased new and now sailing 10 years down the line. I’ve seen some of your comments / suggestions to others about then 440 Lagoon (no longer in production) but our experience has been very different mostly because we knew what we were buying and what was required to make / modify it to be the perfect cruising cat ‘for us’ . And this is key - but a cat you can eventually make into a cruising catamaran that satisfies your personal needs and preference. First off - I think one needs to place Catamarans into categories which would be according to length and price. To compare a 42 ft cat with a 51ft cat - well - it’s like comparing a sports car with a bus. 8ft on a sailing vessel is massive - they are worlds apart in every sense when it comes to sailing . The video although very helpful is a little misleading when it comes to voting mostly because there are so many variables in size, performance, comfort , price etc. It’s kinda like putting up a video on motor vehicles and saying ‘vote on this ‘ - we have a mini, a Toyota, a Volkswagen, a bus and a Ferrari. What is not covered in the video is what one wants to achieve for ones self, although specific mention is made - for cruising, but then the vital statistics for cruising is not mentioned - I.e. what load can a cat carry for the performance curves advertised. This is HUGE when considering a purchase of a cruising cat. In the video there is mention of a cat having a wide hull and therefore reduced performance, however, from personal experience a hull with more beam can carry more load (home comforts ) than a cat with narrow hulls and the cat with narrow hulls will reduce in performance far sooner than a cat with broader hulls, so this is extremely important for world cruising Catamarans and the choices one makes. We found that our previous catamaran although longer and supposedly faster according to the manufacturer performance curves, cannot match the performance with the loads (luxuries) we carry on our current cat. In fact, with dagger boards and all which is lacking in our current catamaran we find on our current model we are able to sail on a closer point of sail mostly due to something as simple as the Genoa track position on the coach roof and shorter spreader bars on the mast which enable one to bring the leech of the Genoa in closer. Another important fact is how the boat is set up for ease of sailing - lines coming back to one central station, being able to reef or hoist sails without turning the cat into the wind (dangerous in stormy conditions) etc. is HUGE as part of our ‘choice of catamaran’ when we consider buying. A cruising catamaran also needs to have a cruising set up. What one needs to compare with these boats is how the boat is set up for cruising the oceans of the world - for example - on Impi, we spent over time as much as we paid for our boat in the first place to have the perfect (for us) cruising catamaran. Folks are voting on what? They vote on things like ‘helm position’, woodwork finish etc. but there is so much more to consider when buying a catamaran - woodwork finish is probably the last thing that would bother me. When we purchased our second catamaran new, the first thing we did was to identify its weak points in design and build . We took the boat from France to South Africa and after some ‘fighting with the dealers’ we decided to make the boat a cruising boat by removing the paneling (carpenters) and strengthening the bulkheads. We’ve redesigned the sail profiles and set up ( over the years we’ve chopped and changed things) and we replaced the wiring by upgrading everything to cope with the demands we would require for comfortable world cruising . This is key to buying a catamaran today - is to understand that NO catamaran is built as a ‘buy and go’ cat for world cruising, unless you are the person who does not mind sailing with a basic lifestyle. When I say basic, let’s look at air conditioning for example. I’ve seen a number of videos where folks say air conditioning is not necessary for world cruising - but hey - here in Indonesia and Malaysia we are seeing so many desperate sailors suddenly installing air conditioning into their boats. Some are telling us in four letter words how they wished they had never listened to the ‘popular folks on YT saying one does not need an air conditioner’, and trust me - there are the die hard sailors here saying they don’t need it while the wives tell us a different story - lol. We like our home comforts and we love how the air conditioner not only keeps us cool through nights on ‘lithium batteries’ but also keeps the boat free of mould and humidity. We’ve been is some serious storms - the stern of a catamaran is probably the most important part of all because in heavy weather (which perhaps some will never encounter but on the off chance may), the stern is the part one wants to place to weather when deploying warps (a discussion in itself). So guys, we’ve also been visiting boat shows and we’ve turned away so many opportunities to ‘upgrade’ because ultimately one will be buying that new cat and doing so much much additional work to make it a proper cruising catamaran for world sailing that we felt we should mention it for those not quite aware - few to NO Catamarans are built for world cruising in mind. One needs to determine how the manufacturers arrive at their performance curves and how that performance drops when weight is added to the boat. It’s no rocket science that weight added to a boat with narrow hulls will cause it to loose performance sooner than weight added to a boat with broader hulls. Our previous catamaran with narrower hulls meant they had to lift the bed height to get enough bed width but we found we were sleeping close to the ceiling and with our bed closed on 3 sides. On our wider catamaran we have plenty of space above our bed and a lot of gap between the bed and ceiling and it’s a lot more comfortable. One needs to look at how the boat is set up - ie what gear is onboard and included in the price - this is HUGE for a world cruising cat. Well, I could go on and on but I thought it would be good to share this with those who otherwise may be in for a surprise looking at buying ‘the dream boat’ and suddenly realizing there is way much more to this than just buying something for its ‘helm position’ (in world cruising and today’s technology one is seldom at the helm anyway), wood work finish and other nice looking superficial eye pleasers . At the end of the day one is crossing oceans with a variety of sails - the manner in which the lines come aft, the number of jam cleats, rollers etc. and the ability to add to these as one upgrades are all important factors. We’ve seen a number of folks selling their ‘fast performance cats’ for beamier cats that carry more luxury on board over the years - we see it happening over and over again. I would say to folks looking at performance curves - DON’T BE FOOLED - as a cruising catamaran you will want to add weight - perhaps some will even add dive compressors (as we have done) etc. etc. Make sure to look at the weight of your boat out of the factory, look at what is onboard at that point, look at your future needs and make sure your boat can take the added weight to match those needs, and then, if performance is your thing, look at what the performance will be like with the added weight . In some discussions with manufacturers we were told their fast performing cruising cats would not be suitable for us given the added weight we would carry. We’ve sailed the oceans with many ‘performance’ cats and never been more than a day behind any of them but one thing is true - we arrive with all the home comforts onboard and most of our time is spent living comfortably off the islands. Passage making is only a small part of ones time when cruising the world and space, packing space, living space, ability to carry load trumps all else if one is doing this years on end. Keep up the good work guys Brent and Ana Cat Impi
Sailing Yacht Ruby Rose - love your videos and looking forward to seeing you guys out on the water. One thing I know for sure is that come time to choose your boat you will have done your homework. Im looking forward to seeing you guys splash ... Cheers fellow sailors
What a ton of work- THANK YOU!!! for all of the efforts! Funny, but- there really isn't a dawg in the bunch. Sure the fit & finish on the Neel & and the FP Astrea were not appreciated, they still have their good points and neither were terrible. Starting at 7th- the group was genuinely tight! Very difficult to pick 'n choose let alone prioritize what matters. Great job & much appreciated by all of us!!! Love the Seawinds 1370- what a grand solution!
Great overview. It would be good to see the same exercise done on second hand versions of these boats or their predecessors. That really does inform us on build quality and usability of the design features and actual performance. Many of us will be buying second hand and that also talks to availability of second hand and their retention of value.
Very pleased to see the Seawind come out on top. The viewers clearly have good tastes! Thanks for a terrific series. Glad to hear there will be more reviews to come. I’m looking forward to seeing how the Balance 526 compares to the 1600 (notwithstanding the price difference).
I really enjoy your reviews. It is also nice to get unsponsored opinions. I can't believe the Neel 47 is a Sail Magazine best boat nominee when it was literally falling apart at the show...makes your reviews that much more valuable as it is obvious advertising driven reviews are all unicorns and rainbows. Love the channel!
Neel are trying to do something very unique, and for that we applaud them. The concept is there- the execution needs work. Hopefully in time they'll move their focus to that.
Thank you for your so quick and as, always such nice reviews. I'm 60, and and you inspire me to be inland or inter-coastal, and that's the charm of your channel, thank you,... for sharing your adventure on blue.
Thank you and congratulations you are really balanced in your judgments and I consider them extremely useful. I would very much like to hear your opinion on Garcia's Explocat 52 Cat. I think the use of aluminum is extremely valuable on hulls over 50 feet. Living on the ocean it is very difficult to have major repairs done without resorting to an emergency team. Aluminum offers important qualities of resistance and repairability as well as offering significant performance qualities for those who live by exploring the world of water
Such a great video. Really a lot of work and energy went into this series I know. It is much appreciated. I hope in time you will get your dream catamaran. Stay well and happy.
Very well done, and I'm sure I speak for many that your obvious hard work at putting these vids together is very much appreciated. They're entertaining as hell, with the added bonus of the possibility of accidentally learning something. Carry on! (-:
I think you’ve done a very fine job with these review vids. I like your approach better than Cruising Off Duty’s approach to cat reviews, not that they’re bad - they’re not -, just yours are better IMHO. Well done!
Just curious as to know "how" these review videos are better? is it better video editing? Is it better "common sense approach to livability?"...Is it because they cover more topics in their videos than those by *Cruising Off Duty*?
I was pleased to see that you will visit and review the X5 from South Africa. All I have seen on this boat was very positive. Their customer service was exceptional and their buy back program was perfect. It put a smile on my face; perhaps, it will do the same for you two.
I love your reviews. I see a playlist for the top 10. Do you have a list of all that you reviewed. I'm not seeing the Lagoon 45 so i'm curious if it hasn't been reviewed or was reviewed and just didn't do well. Thanks again for putting this together for us!!
Great job Nick and Terysa. I’ve seen your videos with the Wynn’s and have since started to follow you from the start of your youtube channel. Love the wit and banter. You two are a couple of cards. Love the Cat reviews and this one especially. I will be at Annapolis on October and can’t wait to see the Xquisite5 X5. Then I hope to see the rest of your reviews on the custom Cats after that. Hope to see you at Annapolis.
Congratulations Seawind! Huge Win for the Aussie's! Let's see how it stacks up against the rest...Thanks so much Ruby Rose for putting this comparison together ..the first of its kind on the web...surely!? Huge job...well done. Clearly, everyone out there is critically minded like the two of you - and able to appreciate the more important things in life (not just a wide birth to sleep in). I personally have appreciated your thoughts from the ocean going sailing perspective. Good to have that input when choosing a 'Bluewater' craft. Accordingly, some of the very simple criticisms of some of the more 'exemplary' top brands/ craft should shame those manufacturers that place personal safety at risk in big seas! Of course I understand that all manufacturers have to be seen to be doing something different, but at the expense of safety and practicality? One would hope not!!! Love this series. Perhaps you could continue to do it every two years, even after buying your own Cat, you could use it as the bench mark, bringing others in to context...just saying! Love your work!!! cheers...GB..
Nice video guys well done really enjoyed it. As an experienced multihull sailor I’m not sure people that haven’t been onboard or sailed these boats on long offshore passages should be voting on them but your videos are informative and fun to watch! Many thanks 🙏
I'm with Rick on this one...Balance 451 and the new 482....should be in the running for up to 50'.....526 is Sweet...but a very well put together episode..Thanks for your time and consideration
Agreed!!! What a great job you two have done producing this valuable service to those of us trying to find a cat without going to all of those boat shows. Thanks a ton! Scott & Katheryn
I see that Seawind are using your review on their website now. Time to ask for a discount or some sponsorship Nick/Terysa.. Great video. Difficult choice to make going forward. For me, my favourite was definitely the Privelege which is just stunning and so well put together. Seawind second and Outremer a little further back due to the exposed helm.
First, thank you for putting all the effort and talent in compiling this extensive review. Completely fair and unbiased. Will be interested in Ruby Rose direction in the future. Great work! Disappointed the HH 50 didn't make the list....:)
I have learned so much about catamaran's. Of course living in New Mexico I don't know what I'll do with the knowledge but if any one asks I can say the Seawind is the best according to Ruby Rose. Haha
Love the reviews. Hoping you can review the Seawind 1260. Been in love with that cat the day I saw it. Love your channel! Keep going. You guys are fantastic.
I think any one of these cats, with the right owner modifications, would be great. Your diligence and enthusiasm for these reviews is pro..all the way. If I was Seawind I would think they would look into making a 1600 affordable(kind of a you know who deal) to you guys..simply for the exposure you have given to the audience out side of Australia. Regardless..I'm sure your decision will fit the parameters you have...and will be alot of fun!
If you have a opportunity to do a review on a Broadblue Rapier 550 much appreciated. I like that they put the helm on the inside of the boat and that alone would extend the sailing season up here in Canada on the Great Lakes. I am interested to hear your review if you can track one down.
Congratulations on your reviews - very nicely done. I am pretty biased however - I own 2 Seawind 1260's one here in the US (currently in the San Juan Islands) the other being delivered to Sydney later in October - which I will be chartering on Sydney Harbour. Many years ago I owned a Seawind 1000. In my opinion the thing Seawind have always got right is the layout and design on the helming stations on the 1260, 1160, 1000. You have great all round visibility, under cover - but can also sit outside and see exactly what's going on. I do not understand why other multihull vendors don't copy this. Most of us that own Seawinds - are looking forward to them building a 1500 (46') boat one day.
Great series guys. I’m not in the market for a cat but for the first time I went Board one at Southampton IBS on Monday. Nautitech and having looked round I could see the points you raised so I think you have done an amazing job with these reviews. Andy UK
Awesome video folks! Love the presentation and the fact that you used "our scores" vs your own! In regards to seeing/reviewing upcoming boats, I'm almost certain that The Antares will probably fall between the Lagoon & Nautitech, while the Xqusite X5 will give the Outremer & Seawind a run for their money... Can't wait for the updated version of this video to come out some months from now! :-)
I've really been enjoying these reviews. You guys are doing a great job. Fun AND informative (but Nick needs to learn not to steal your thunder ;-). Great work guys, and looking for the next round of reviews!
Great reviews guys. I think designers should start thinking a little differently about the exposed helms. Remote docking and handling systems like Dock Mate can now be used for all close quarters manoeuvring on many boats. If they could be adapted for use on a catamaran it would negate much of the need for those exposed helms.
Great series, very informative! Cats certainly have a lot of comfort compared to a mono hull, but the plus side of the mono hull is that provided it is sturdy and watertight, it can handle being knocked over in a hectic storm and righting itself because the COG is below the waterline, whereas with a cat, a hectic storm can be a hectic problem trying to stay the right way up!
Looks like an Outremer with a custom cockpit would be the trick. And they are clever enough to know the value of TH-cam and apparently make some accommodation for that.
It would be wonderful if you could review one of the newer Balance cats. The 526 has been around for a while, but the new 482 is really intriguing for the design brief you're considering.
Hi, congrats you guys, very helpful. Can you make a Review of the Aventura 44?? Looks good to me but I don't really had opportunity to on board on one.
GREAT VIDEO!!!!!! Well done to both Nick & Tyressa but also the viewers for their input as well. Nick, when you mention Price (Basic & Fully Spec'd) what exactly are you including in the Fully Spec'd price? I know this can be owner specific, but can you have a video that talks about being Fully Spec'd? Again, great video.
This series has been excellent, many thanks for the work you both put in. Looks to me like some manufacturers could spend a bit more time actually sailing their boats?
The video is Very well put together , knowledgeable, and well thought out. Score 7 out of 10 only due to he fact you have more cats to go. Seriously excellent job!
Great summary of part 1! I haven’t really looked at the Nautitech; will have to do that. Waiting for Sailing Sisu’s take on the Leopard 45 finishing 7th. Lol. I like that it has a stub keel protecting the sail drives and rudders. Looking forward to your reviews of the Antares, Balance 526, Maverick 440 and XQuisite X5
Be interesting to see how the list would change buying used over new. Suggestion for the next list, boats that would fit into your budget. Good work on the reviews btw. The viewer input is genius.
I would say yes and no because a boat that cost more should have a better finish, security and design than a boat that cost less. Seeing that boat with a higher cost are worse than boat cheaper is good for other people wanting to buy one...
This series has been fantastic! I have started to plan out a fantasy situation of building a Cat using all the best features of these cats, being built from Nida Core or similar for light weight, protected helm position, forward nav station with 360 views, galley with easy access/pass throughs to the cockpit, etc. I have been watching Onboard Lifestyle rebuilding their Featherlight Custom, and I like a lot of what Teal has done with changing the layout of that boat. Have you guys thought about getting a boat as a starting point and custom build everything you want? Other than money being an obviously big hurdle in that scenario.
Thank you so much for doing this. I’ve watched hundreds of boat videos and this was truly much more helpful. Appreciate everyone who took the time to vote. 👏🏻👍🏼🥰
It's always good to go to the boat shows just to browse- no need to wait until you're actively shopping. A lot of people take many years to make a decision (hey, look at us!), so I wouldn't put off the research stage until you're ready to buy. Plus- boat shows are fun! 😆
@@sailingrubyrose Of course boat shows are great fun. The problem is logistics. The local boat shows are mainly full of bass boats and ski boats. To get to a good sailing/cruising show I need to go to Annapolis (1,417 miles away). I guess I could make a motorcycle trip out of it. Get an IBA award. I could go to the Houston show in January. I'll look into it. Thx!
Excellent reviews. Very well done. I’ll say it again. Price is soon forgotten, quality remains forever. I’ll stick with Privilege, even if it has to be a used model. Just my 2 cents. 😎
Absolutely invaluable resource for anyone looking to get a catamaran. You guys really knocked this series out of the park! Thanks for sharing
Yep.... it's a great resource in many ways, love the joint effort between community and content creators, it resulted in a great list, interesting feedback on the go, some good tips on what to look out if you're interested in the ships in the list. It's not the kind of things you expect from the "top X" types of videos.
By far the best cat review I have seen. Thanks for all the great work on this. What a service for prospective buyers and dreamers alike!
ha! I knew it that the Seawind would be the one. After seeing you talk about it I went down to San Diego and was Kindly invited by Kurt of Denison yachts to go out on a Seawind 1260 and even though it was the smaller version I loved it and the key selling points where for me the Helm station protected with the Electric window and also the Door to the Lounge area that can be winched up to the ceiling amazing. Well I think you have done a bang up job on this review with all of your followers and wish more people would do this. So I raise my glass to you both cheers
Andy morris
Very cool opportunity for you, I like that one
Review the Balance 526 it is the best of both worlds in my option
There are many points you two have covered that I didn't have a clue about.....so I have learned much more about catamarans though this series of episodes.....thanks to you two!!
A pleasure mate
Best most comprehensive review ever. Thanks for sharing your journey! It is definitely making me seriously consider sailing in a catamaran
Something that would be good to add (not as its own category just a part of an existing one) would be to talk about accessibility! Some have easy access with removable panels and velcro ceilings and such so you can get to your wiring and AC (and things), while other boat models you have to cut your way in if there is a problem. I am still very new to looking at boats - we have awhile before we are really in the market but this is something I find important. It would be nice to not have to cut my way in if there was an electrical issue. =] Loving this series and really looking forward to seeing more boats!
Thanks to that informative video - good summary in opposite to the individual reviews.
I want to place some additional thoughts (sorry for being late)
- Helm position: Any position at a side (i.e. those who offer two stations) may be a problem. When I was navigating the Nautitech 40 to the harbor, I commanded that nobody is allowed to stand in the area between the helm stations since I had to rush between those frequently - you hardly see anything on the opposite side.
- Navigation place: There is nearly always the opportunity to have a almost complete view from out of the salon. So I can only recommend a nav station that faces forward and has a sturdy seating so you may sit there for a complete watch. Neither forward nor a sturdy seat was seen always.
- Boom: I had driven a 56" sailboat - I think Dufour, mighty boat. I had an intensive climb to get on top of the boom to open the sail bag. I was simply between 2 and 4 meter above the ship. This was awful. At many production catamarans you find even more distance between boom and any deck - often due to the top helm station. For me it's a nightmare if you have to access the sail or it's mounting points (.. reefs?) at sea. In harbor you may request a ladder - but in rough weather???
- Engine room: (You gave us only very limited views of them). Very often you find engine rooms that are constructed by throwing everything in - it's good, if the hatch closes.
For further reviews have a thought: how to access the gearbox, how to fix something at the side of the engine. That seems often to be a nightmare. At "my" Nautitech there seemed to be much space - but sadly everywhere there was something in your way to access. A simple task: Try to access the oil screw at the bottom or try to replace a hose clamp at the other side of the engine. Often you even have no easy access to the dipstick or the seawater filter.
- Windows in the salon: One has to balance between nice hull and practicability. Therysa complaint about airflow in the cabins - well done! But also think about a bright very hot sunshine going down to the relative flat windows - I expect you may fry breakfast eggs below those windows even for breakfast. I don't like the view of that steep Lagoon windows - but the way with the hangover ahead makes a lot of sense.
Thank you so much. Amazing comment mate. Keep them coming
I know nothjng about boats but soon realised the Seawind 1600 is MINDBLOWING! What a boat, the design, the layout, the price. U true engineering masterpiece
A very nice video - enjoyed watching this one.
When it comes to choosing a cruising catamaran there are so many different aspects one needs to consider that this video has not yet covered but are important factors when considering ones purchase.
We speak as folks who grew up with family owned monohulls and are now living permanently on our second catamaran, the first being a Catana 471 - our current catamaran being a Lagoon 440 which we purchased new and now sailing 10 years down the line. I’ve seen some of your comments / suggestions to others about then 440 Lagoon (no longer in production) but our experience has been very different mostly because we knew what we were buying and what was required to make / modify it to be the perfect cruising cat ‘for us’ . And this is key - but a cat you can eventually make into a cruising catamaran that satisfies your personal needs and preference.
First off - I think one needs to place Catamarans into categories which would be according to length and price.
To compare a 42 ft cat with a 51ft cat - well - it’s like comparing a sports car with a bus. 8ft on a sailing vessel is massive - they are worlds apart in every sense when it comes to sailing .
The video although very helpful is a little misleading when it comes to voting mostly because there are so many variables in size, performance, comfort , price etc.
It’s kinda like putting up a video on motor vehicles and saying ‘vote on this ‘ - we have a mini, a Toyota, a Volkswagen, a bus and a Ferrari.
What is not covered in the video is what one wants to achieve for ones self, although specific mention is made - for cruising, but then the vital statistics for cruising is not mentioned - I.e. what load can a cat carry for the performance curves advertised. This is HUGE when considering a purchase of a cruising cat.
In the video there is mention of a cat having a wide hull and therefore reduced performance, however, from personal experience a hull with more beam can carry more load (home comforts ) than a cat with narrow hulls and the cat with narrow hulls will reduce in performance far sooner than a cat with broader hulls, so this is extremely important for world cruising Catamarans and the choices one makes.
We found that our previous catamaran although longer and supposedly faster according to the manufacturer performance curves, cannot match the performance with the loads (luxuries) we carry on our current cat. In fact, with dagger boards and all which is lacking in our current catamaran we find on our current model we are able to sail on a closer point of sail mostly due to something as simple as the Genoa track position on the coach roof and shorter spreader bars on the mast which enable one to bring the leech of the Genoa in closer.
Another important fact is how the boat is set up for ease of sailing - lines coming back to one central station, being able to reef or hoist sails without turning the cat into the wind (dangerous in stormy conditions) etc. is HUGE as part of our ‘choice of catamaran’ when we consider buying.
A cruising catamaran also needs to have a cruising set up. What one needs to compare with these boats is how the boat is set up for cruising the oceans of the world - for example - on Impi, we spent over time as much as we paid for our boat in the first place to have the perfect (for us) cruising catamaran.
Folks are voting on what? They vote on things like ‘helm position’, woodwork finish etc. but there is so much more to consider when buying a catamaran - woodwork finish is probably the last thing that would bother me.
When we purchased our second catamaran new, the first thing we did was to identify its weak points in design and build . We took the boat from France to South Africa and after some ‘fighting with the dealers’ we decided to make the boat a cruising boat by removing the paneling (carpenters) and strengthening the bulkheads. We’ve redesigned the sail profiles and set up ( over the years we’ve chopped and changed things) and we replaced the wiring by upgrading everything to cope with the demands we would require for comfortable world cruising .
This is key to buying a catamaran today - is to understand that NO catamaran is built as a ‘buy and go’ cat for world cruising, unless you are the person who does not mind sailing with a basic lifestyle.
When I say basic, let’s look at air conditioning for example. I’ve seen a number of videos where folks say air conditioning is not necessary for world cruising - but hey - here in Indonesia and Malaysia we are seeing so many desperate sailors suddenly installing air conditioning into their boats.
Some are telling us in four letter words how they wished they had never listened to the ‘popular folks on YT saying one does not need an air conditioner’, and trust me - there are the die hard sailors here saying they don’t need it while the wives tell us a different story - lol. We like our home comforts and we love how the air conditioner not only keeps us cool through nights on ‘lithium batteries’ but also keeps the boat free of mould and humidity.
We’ve been is some serious storms - the stern of a catamaran is probably the most important part of all because in heavy weather (which perhaps some will never encounter but on the off chance may), the stern is the part one wants to place to weather when deploying warps (a discussion in itself).
So guys, we’ve also been visiting boat shows and we’ve turned away so many opportunities to ‘upgrade’ because ultimately one will be buying that new cat and doing so much much additional work to make it a proper cruising catamaran for world sailing that we felt we should mention it for those not quite aware - few to NO Catamarans are built for world cruising in mind.
One needs to determine how the manufacturers arrive at their performance curves and how that performance drops when weight is added to the boat. It’s no rocket science that weight added to a boat with narrow hulls will cause it to loose performance sooner than weight added to a boat with broader hulls.
Our previous catamaran with narrower hulls meant they had to lift the bed height to get enough bed width but we found we were sleeping close to the ceiling and with our bed closed on 3 sides. On our wider catamaran we have plenty of space above our bed and a lot of gap between the bed and ceiling and it’s a lot more comfortable.
One needs to look at how the boat is set up - ie what gear is onboard and included in the price - this is HUGE for a world cruising cat.
Well, I could go on and on but I thought it would be good to share this with those who otherwise may be in for a surprise looking at buying ‘the dream boat’ and suddenly realizing there is way much more to this than just buying something for its ‘helm position’ (in world cruising and today’s technology one is seldom at the helm anyway), wood work finish and other nice looking superficial eye pleasers .
At the end of the day one is crossing oceans with a variety of sails - the manner in which the lines come aft, the number of jam cleats, rollers etc. and the ability to add to these as one upgrades are all important factors.
We’ve seen a number of folks selling their ‘fast performance cats’ for beamier cats that carry more luxury on board over the years - we see it happening over and over again.
I would say to folks looking at performance curves - DON’T BE FOOLED - as a cruising catamaran you will want to add weight - perhaps some will even add dive compressors (as we have done) etc. etc.
Make sure to look at the weight of your boat out of the factory, look at what is onboard at that point, look at your future needs and make sure your boat can take the added weight to match those needs, and then, if performance is your thing, look at what the performance will be like with the added weight .
In some discussions with manufacturers we were told their fast performing cruising cats would not be suitable for us given the added weight we would carry. We’ve sailed the oceans with many ‘performance’ cats and never been more than a day behind any of them but one thing is true - we arrive with all the home comforts onboard and most of our time is spent living comfortably off the islands. Passage making is only a small part of ones time when cruising the world and space, packing space, living space, ability to carry load trumps all else if one is doing this years on end.
Keep up the good work guys
Brent and Ana
Cat Impi
Thank for the extensive and thoughtful comments. All valid points
Sailing Yacht Ruby Rose - love your videos and looking forward to seeing you guys out on the water. One thing I know for sure is that come time to choose your boat you will have done your homework. Im looking forward to seeing you guys splash ...
Cheers fellow sailors
What a ton of work- THANK YOU!!! for all of the efforts! Funny, but- there really isn't a dawg in the bunch. Sure the fit & finish on the Neel & and the FP Astrea were not appreciated, they still have their good points and neither were terrible. Starting at 7th- the group was genuinely tight! Very difficult to pick 'n choose let alone prioritize what matters. Great job & much appreciated by all of us!!! Love the Seawinds 1370- what a grand solution!
Great overview. It would be good to see the same exercise done on second hand versions of these boats or their predecessors. That really does inform us on build quality and usability of the design features and actual performance. Many of us will be buying second hand and that also talks to availability of second hand and their retention of value.
I think you guys have found your calling, really appreciate your series on review of Catamarans
Awww, thanks mate.
Xquisite X50? I'm looking forward to owning a used one in about 5-7 years. ;-)
Love that SeaWind 1600!! Looking forward to hopefully running into you at the Annapolis Boat show!
The Privilege was my favorite it’s not fast but it sure looked comfortable!
Very pleased to see the Seawind come out on top. The viewers clearly have good tastes!
Thanks for a terrific series. Glad to hear there will be more reviews to come. I’m looking forward to seeing how the Balance 526 compares to the 1600 (notwithstanding the price difference).
I really enjoy your reviews. It is also nice to get unsponsored opinions. I can't believe the Neel 47 is a Sail Magazine best boat nominee when it was literally falling apart at the show...makes your reviews that much more valuable as it is obvious advertising driven reviews are all unicorns and rainbows. Love the channel!
Neel are trying to do something very unique, and for that we applaud them. The concept is there- the execution needs work. Hopefully in time they'll move their focus to that.
Hats off to you guys. The best "mini Series" Like this on any sailing channel. Cheers.
Thank you so much mate. It means a lot
Thank you for your so quick and as, always such nice reviews. I'm 60, and and you inspire me to be inland or inter-coastal, and that's the charm of your channel, thank you,... for sharing your adventure on blue.
You are so welcome!
Thank you and congratulations you are really balanced in your judgments and I consider them extremely useful.
I would very much like to hear your opinion on Garcia's Explocat 52 Cat. I think the use of aluminum is extremely valuable on hulls over 50 feet. Living on the ocean it is very difficult to have major repairs done without resorting to an emergency team. Aluminum offers important qualities of resistance and repairability as well as offering significant performance qualities for those who live by exploring the world of water
Such a great video. Really a lot of work and energy went into this series I know. It is much appreciated. I hope in time you will get your dream catamaran. Stay well and happy.
Very well done, and I'm sure I speak for many that your obvious hard work at putting these vids together is very much appreciated. They're entertaining as hell, with the added bonus of the possibility of accidentally learning something. Carry on! (-:
I think you’ve done a very fine job with these review vids. I like your approach better than Cruising Off Duty’s approach to cat reviews, not that they’re bad - they’re not -, just yours are better IMHO. Well done!
Just curious as to know "how" these review videos are better? is it better video editing? Is it better "common sense approach to livability?"...Is it because they cover more topics in their videos than those by *Cruising Off Duty*?
Very cool. I'm super excited to check out some Seawinds in Annapolis. I'd love to see you guys do a review of the Aventura 44.
I was pleased to see that you will visit and review the X5 from South Africa. All I have seen on this boat was very positive. Their customer service was exceptional and their buy back program was perfect. It put a smile on my face; perhaps, it will do the same for you two.
I love your reviews. I see a playlist for the top 10. Do you have a list of all that you reviewed. I'm not seeing the Lagoon 45 so i'm curious if it hasn't been reviewed or was reviewed and just didn't do well. Thanks again for putting this together for us!!
Great job Nick and Terysa. I’ve seen your videos with the Wynn’s and have since started to follow you from the start of your youtube channel. Love the wit and banter. You two are a couple of cards. Love the Cat reviews and this one especially. I will be at Annapolis on October and can’t wait to see the Xquisite5 X5. Then I hope to see the rest of your reviews on the custom Cats after that. Hope to see you at Annapolis.
Thanks mate !
Really looking forward to your review of the Maverick 400/440, when you get the chance. Thanks also for taking the time to compile all this!
Congratulations Seawind! Huge Win for the Aussie's! Let's see how it stacks up against the rest...Thanks so much Ruby Rose for putting this comparison together ..the first of its kind on the web...surely!? Huge job...well done. Clearly, everyone out there is critically minded like the two of you - and able to appreciate the more important things in life (not just a wide birth to sleep in). I personally have appreciated your thoughts from the ocean going sailing perspective. Good to have that input when choosing a 'Bluewater' craft. Accordingly, some of the very simple criticisms of some of the more 'exemplary' top brands/ craft should shame those manufacturers that place personal safety at risk in big seas! Of course I understand that all manufacturers have to be seen to be doing something different, but at the expense of safety and practicality? One would hope not!!! Love this series. Perhaps you could continue to do it every two years, even after buying your own Cat, you could use it as the bench mark, bringing others in to context...just saying! Love your work!!! cheers...GB..
Nice video guys well done really enjoyed it. As an experienced multihull sailor I’m not sure people that haven’t been onboard or sailed these boats on long offshore passages should be voting on them but your videos are informative and fun to watch! Many thanks 🙏
I can’t wait for the Seawind 1260 review!! She is our current top contender for our first cruising cat purchase.
Great job analyzing so many different Catamarans! Can't wait to see the results after the boat show!
Have you considered an F50? Not much on accommodations or finishes, but 50 knots downwind, 27 knots upwind is _sparkling performance_ .
/s
Yea Guys, I started watching a few weeks back and feel like I already know you two. Very informative and interesting videos. Thanks for all you do!
A pleasure mate. Welcome to our channel
What about the Sunreef?
That quasi 3rd hull floating in the air seems quite interesting for storms, not boxy, large interior, cover for helm etc.
I'm with Rick on this one...Balance 451 and the new 482....should be in the running for up to 50'.....526 is Sweet...but a very well put together episode..Thanks for your time and consideration
Thanks guys for this great compilation. I hope to see your assessment of the Antares soon.
Looking forward to the xquisite. They look beautiful and seem to tick a lot of your boxes.
Thanks for the recap of your reviews and all of the contributed scores. Very good and helpful information. Can’t wait to see more.
Agreed!!! What a great job you two have done producing this valuable service to those of us trying to find a cat without going to all of those boat shows. Thanks a ton! Scott & Katheryn
I see that Seawind are using your review on their website now. Time to ask for a discount or some sponsorship Nick/Terysa.. Great video. Difficult choice to make going forward. For me, my favourite was definitely the Privelege which is just stunning and so well put together. Seawind second and Outremer a little further back due to the exposed helm.
Hats off guys for an epic production. Love your videos.
Very well done! One of the best catamaran reviews I've seen! Thanks
This has been a great series. The interactive ranking tool was brilliant. This ending wrap-up episode is just the cherry on top.
First, thank you for putting all the effort and talent in compiling this extensive review. Completely fair and unbiased. Will be interested in Ruby Rose direction in the future. Great work! Disappointed the HH 50 didn't make the list....:)
I have learned so much about catamaran's. Of course living in New Mexico I don't know what I'll do with the knowledge but if any one asks I can say the Seawind is the best according to Ruby Rose. Haha
Excellent roundup.
Love the reviews. Hoping you can review the Seawind 1260. Been in love with that cat the day I saw it. Love your channel! Keep going. You guys are fantastic.
Seeing a 1260 real soon
Suggestion- film older Cats that you would consider actually purchasing. Really enjoyed this series. Lots of work.
I’d definitely watch that series.
Another great video guys... really enjoying this series a lot. Looking forward to the rest of your reviews - and your return to the States!
Thank you for summarizing the group. Loved it! Vicariously live through your channel with the fantasy of.... one day!
Excellent job, very thorough, your consideration of the most important aspects of bluewater catamaran sailing was spot on ✅
I think any one of these cats, with the right owner modifications, would be great. Your diligence and enthusiasm for these reviews is pro..all the way. If I was Seawind I would think they would look into making a 1600 affordable(kind of a you know who deal) to you guys..simply for the exposure you have given to the audience out side of Australia. Regardless..I'm sure your decision will fit the parameters you have...and will be alot of fun!
This continues to be a fun series to watch, and this episode is a great wrap-up of what you've seen so far. Keep 'em coming!
Very well done. Thanks for putting in so much work on this great video.
Thank you guys for taking us on this journey with you - great information and practical opinions!
If you have a opportunity to do a review on a Broadblue Rapier 550 much appreciated. I like that they put the helm on the inside of the boat and that alone would extend the sailing season up here in Canada on the Great Lakes. I am interested to hear your review if you can track one down.
Congratulations on your reviews - very nicely done. I am pretty biased however - I own 2 Seawind 1260's one here in the US (currently in the San Juan Islands) the other being delivered to Sydney later in October - which I will be chartering on Sydney Harbour. Many years ago I owned a Seawind 1000. In my opinion the thing Seawind have always got right is the layout and design on the helming stations on the 1260, 1160, 1000. You have great all round visibility, under cover - but can also sit outside and see exactly what's going on. I do not understand why other multihull vendors don't copy this. Most of us that own Seawinds - are looking forward to them building a 1500 (46') boat one day.
A 46 foot Seawind would be awesome!! We hope that happens one day. We're looking forward to seeing the 1260 though!
Thank you so much for all your hard work, this is really great information for newbies like me.
I'm looking forward to seeing a Seawind ad in a sailing rag with a "Ranked Top Catamaran by Ruby Rose" banner.
Let's see how the 1260 stacks up. Maybe they can order one and get the bonus TH-cam vloggers upgrade to the 1600!
Riiiight!! A worthy study for sure.
Great series guys. I’m not in the market for a cat but for the first time I went Board one at Southampton IBS on Monday. Nautitech and having looked round I could see the points you raised so I think you have done an amazing job with these reviews. Andy UK
Awesome video folks! Love the presentation and the fact that you used "our scores" vs your own!
In regards to seeing/reviewing upcoming boats, I'm almost certain that The Antares will probably fall between the Lagoon & Nautitech, while the Xqusite X5 will give the Outremer & Seawind a run for their money...
Can't wait for the updated version of this video to come out some months from now! :-)
I think this program was your best......and I agree that the Seawind is the best...even the 1260 is great
Excellent report. Please do a similar survey of catamarans below 40 feet. They are ideal for a couple or small family.
I've really been enjoying these reviews. You guys are doing a great job. Fun AND informative (but Nick needs to learn not to steal your thunder ;-). Great work guys, and looking for the next round of reviews!
Thanks for posting and sharing. Very interesting to get to see the catamarans.
Great work and attention to details, is an understatement. I am learning! Cheers..!
I'm very much enjoying your cat reviews and looking forward to more. At the moment these are the most interesting cruising related videos I watch.
Very helpful review, if you should get a chance, please review the balance 526, thanks
great way to get your viewers involved! nice job and look forward to more videos from you all. Keep up the good work!
Great reviews guys. I think designers should start thinking a little differently about the exposed helms. Remote docking and handling systems like Dock Mate can now be used for all close quarters manoeuvring on many boats. If they could be adapted for use on a catamaran it would negate much of the need for those exposed helms.
Thanks for your work on this. I look forward to more reviews.
Great work better than any journalism
Great series, very informative! Cats certainly have a lot of comfort compared to a mono hull, but the plus side of the mono hull is that provided it is sturdy and watertight, it can handle being knocked over in a hectic storm and righting itself because the COG is below the waterline, whereas with a cat, a hectic storm can be a hectic problem trying to stay the right way up!
Looks like an Outremer with a custom cockpit would be the trick. And they are clever enough to know the value of TH-cam and apparently make some accommodation for that.
It would be wonderful if you could review one of the newer Balance cats. The 526 has been around for a while, but the new 482 is really intriguing for the design brief you're considering.
Hi, congrats you guys, very helpful. Can you make a Review of the Aventura 44?? Looks good to me but I don't really had opportunity to on board on one.
GREAT VIDEO!!!!!! Well done to both Nick & Tyressa but also the viewers for their input as well. Nick, when you mention Price (Basic & Fully Spec'd) what exactly are you including in the Fully Spec'd price? I know this can be owner specific, but can you have a video that talks about being Fully Spec'd? Again, great video.
This series has been excellent, many thanks for the work you both put in. Looks to me like some manufacturers could spend a bit more time actually sailing their boats?
The video is Very well put together , knowledgeable, and well thought out. Score 7 out of 10 only due to he fact you have more cats to go. Seriously excellent job!
Great summary of part 1! I haven’t really looked at the Nautitech; will have to do that. Waiting for Sailing Sisu’s take on the Leopard 45 finishing 7th. Lol. I like that it has a stub keel protecting the sail drives and rudders.
Looking forward to your reviews of the Antares, Balance 526, Maverick 440 and XQuisite X5
Be interesting to see how the list would change buying used over new. Suggestion for the next list, boats that would fit into your budget. Good work on the reviews btw. The viewer input is genius.
I would say yes and no because a boat that cost more should have a better finish, security and design than a boat that cost less. Seeing that boat with a higher cost are worse than boat cheaper is good for other people wanting to buy one...
This series has been fantastic! I have started to plan out a fantasy situation of building a Cat using all the best features of these cats, being built from Nida Core or similar for light weight, protected helm position, forward nav station with 360 views, galley with easy access/pass throughs to the cockpit, etc.
I have been watching Onboard Lifestyle rebuilding their Featherlight Custom, and I like a lot of what Teal has done with changing the layout of that boat. Have you guys thought about getting a boat as a starting point and custom build everything you want? Other than money being an obviously big hurdle in that scenario.
Sensational clip and thank you for sharing the amount of work gone into this. Well done 😊👍🏼
That first place is truly deserved and it will be interesting to see if it holds up. As always thank you for the very interesting content.
Great video insightful helpful just well thought out keep up the great work can’t wait to see the next batch of reviews
thanks mate
Seawind 1260? Looking forward to your view.
I hope that future adjudications will include the Aquila 44 & 48. Good episode!
Great review, very useful. Looking forward to the next installment
Wonderful video! Can't wait for more!
Thank you so much for doing this. I’ve watched hundreds of boat videos and this was truly much more helpful. Appreciate everyone who took the time to vote. 👏🏻👍🏼🥰
Missing Seawind 1260 and Maverick 440. Thanks for the video.
Great video. Thank you so much for all the hard work that you put into these reviews.
Great video. I love seeing these reviews. I'd like to go to these boat shows, but I'll wait until I'm firmly in the market.
It's always good to go to the boat shows just to browse- no need to wait until you're actively shopping. A lot of people take many years to make a decision (hey, look at us!), so I wouldn't put off the research stage until you're ready to buy. Plus- boat shows are fun! 😆
@@sailingrubyrose Of course boat shows are great fun. The problem is logistics. The local boat shows are mainly full of bass boats and ski boats. To get to a good sailing/cruising show I need to go to Annapolis (1,417 miles away). I guess I could make a motorcycle trip out of it. Get an IBA award. I could go to the Houston show in January. I'll look into it. Thx!
@@dahveed284 Gotcha. 😃
Have really enjoyed this series! Thank you for doing the homework for the rest of us!
Gotta love coming to work from a boat show to see a new Yacht Ruby Rose video 👍👍
You have done such a great job of the reviews. I look forward to the next batch.
another great video that has me thinking more and more about the possibilities of a cat over a mono hull
Excellent reviews. Very well done. I’ll say it again. Price is soon forgotten, quality remains forever. I’ll stick with Privilege, even if it has to be a used model. Just my 2 cents. 😎