I think one thing you forgot to look into when it comes to the St Francis is resale value. I compared a lot of multihulls over the years what they cost new vs what you get for them over the years in 2nd hand value. For some reason the St Francis is among the top score here which is also in the end money.
Great review! You did not mention the amazing tankage of this boat. One does not need to fill these tanks to keep weight low but it is great to have the option. Tankage I believe is 232 gallons fuel, 360 gallons water plus rain catchment system, and 146 gallons holding tank in keels. So if you are in an anchorage or no discharge zone where you cannot/do not dump waste, a couple or a family can live on the boat for a while without needing a pump out every few days.
There was another St.Franc. 50 right around the corner from this one at the boat show that was incredible. It was finished in wood and I think covered all your complaints. I really thought it was the nicest cat at the boat show. Breathtaking!
That was Paradigm Shift. Teak/Holly/Bamboo high gloss interior. Granite counters. Flexiteak cockpit and stern. Here is an older video - th-cam.com/video/kmZ2Woo_MjY/w-d-xo.html
I would say this is my favourite out of your list, as of recently the Balance 44 looks to be on the cards as a good contender but you have obviously gone to the Seawind now which looks great too!
I'm writing this after the reviews are complete. The XSqusite X5 has a dedicated tool cabinet. I saw a St Francis 50 that had the same feature, next to the stairs from the salon in the port hull. The counter material was Corian if I recall, and it was drilled out for a vise. This area also had cabinets above the work area. For circumnavigation, to have a dedicated area for tool storage and a work space I consider paramount. It may have been a factory tour by another TH-cam sailing couple. The shelving in the St Francis is glassed in, adding to the rigidity of the structure and hopefully eliminating the squeaks and groans of age.
Overall, I really liked this boat. It seems to have a solid liveaboard layout, and I really liked the protection afforded the cockpit for passagemaking. A hard dodger/windscreen is tough to beat when sailing to weather and a welcome respite when sailing 40 degrees + or - above the equator. Having spent most of my life sailing at 45deg North or higher. The South African builds are looking really good, and I am happy that they have found a niche in the manufacturing world where they really shine. As with you, I had nothing but nit pick complaints, hardly enough to swing away from it being a great candidate. I said to my wife watching this video, I would really love to see what they could do with a 42-45footer, as I think that is where the market really is. Just my 2C, love your reviews.
As non-native English speaker, I do appreciate you guy's English talking very much. You know what? Very fast but with great clarity! Are you linguistic pro? No? Well, you have the potential😂
I know that you guys are probably back to sailing, but I'd like for you to do this kind of series whenever you guys really start shopping with 2nd hand offerings mixed in, you could provide footage of test sails and such then as well.
Absolutely spot on comment at the end of this video. We want a cat in the 40-45 foot range and it's difficult to find something nice outside of the production cat models. I can see why cats like the Lagoon 42 are such big sellers to private buyers
I haven’t watched all the series videos yet, and out the ones I have is this cat is the nicest. I am drawn to this one so far. Keep up the great videos and the great reviews.
Greeting from Norway, Love the search for the perfect cat. One item that should go into the review is “hull clearance”, this to understand amount of slamming you can expect. I have been told that nothing ruins a passage like loads of slamming and should have high focus when looking for a blue water cat.
Sailing Yacht Ruby Rose maybe make a description on your website you can link to. I’ve watched a bunch of videos, probably heard you deal with the question, but I can’t remember what you said. If it’s a FAQ then you can just link people to the answer.
Fantastic review. It is very nice to see a proper nav station on a cat. Helm position is good. Life raft can be moved. St. Francis really do have an epic cat here. Thanks to you both. Be happy, be safe. OH......stop making beds, it causes anxiety.
You don't have to make the bed in the normal sense, but changing a fitted sheet for washing still has to happen every so often. And it's pretty hard if the boat is moving around and you can't easily reach the corners of the mattress.
Thanks guys for this review - if I were ever to go for a cat it would be from SFM and probably the 50. I really appreciate the review and the effort that goes into the videos.
I like the comment that a person needing handle for the bed might have a few problems. You young bucks may not need such handles, but there are some of us who will appreciate them. My appreciation for such assistance is rather sudden and new. You can use your imagination for additional handle uses, for example, a great support item for fuzzy handcuffs, if you're into that sort of thing. ;) For us older folks, those ideally placed handes may mean getting into and out of bed without injury or delay, especially important when nature calls. Love the cat series. Very well done. Love this boat as well. Good job, both. Muchos gracias, mates, as they might say in South-East Coober Pedy.
Nick, Terysa, I completely concur. We are after a liveaboard for our family so we are after 4 cabins (3 young boys) but don't necessarily want 4 sets of heads/showers. We also want it sailable by only 2 adults and 1 in extremis- a mid 40's cat would be ideal for us but there is a paucity in that size range.I must say though, I think this is my favourite so far. Just need to find one to have a nose around!
St Francis 50, Banana, had 2 heads and showers for their family of 6. The extra space was used for storage and desks in the aft cabins. They wrote a book about their circumnavigation. Where are you located? Perhaps I can connect you with an owner in that area. We are in USVI until the end of March. Then the new owner is taking her north to Annapolis, East Coast, and into Great Lakes, USA.
@@livingiolaire5390 Hull #20 is in Italy. It is a blue hulled beauty. The owner is a solo sailor with frequent guests. Cool Guy. If you are indeed interested in purchasing an SF50, I would be happy to connect you.
Tony & Susan here, This yacht seams extra large, and the 50 size it would seam you will be spending the majority of your time keeping it ship shape. We know you are reviewing what is at the show but really I believe smaller may be less of a chore.
Love these reviews very good to see options and what you want in a boat even if its a mono hull. Good job!! Look forward to seeing the results and what you chose.
I was impressed with the safety features of this boat. Your right it didn't look the part of Millionaire's toy with fancy hardwoods, granite counter tops, etc but what I saw was form and function. The price does seem rich, but the surfaces looked easy to clean, the handrails everywhere were wonderful it did not look like a condo on the water, it looked like a boat! The beds were a little weird and I think Islands would make them more practical, but visibility looked good, and yes rounded corners to prevent boat bites, yea!
This one, the St Francis looks as robust as they get. I agree with you about size too... I'm solo so 50 foot is just too much. Side profile looks really fast. Low profile saloon, just love it...
OK, so I'm out of sequence... Need to find my way back to episode 50ish, I think. Just a small point, but going forward, would you please be able to cover security in your boat reviews? I realise that this may be a small issue, but keep wondering how secure they are - how confident you could be when leaving them moored up or at anchor (thought arose when you went spear fishing). Also, do you guys ever run into Off Duty Sailing? It's just that your review of the same boat (literally same owner's boat) came up just after I watched their review. I'm not advocating, but you guys are my favourite!
Your reviews of catamarans are outstanding. Very good that you apply your own experiences as sailors moving over from a monohull to Cat Very practical reviews and good emphasis on safety thanks
The lack of island berths in the aft is, I'd think, a consequence of engine placement. If you were to have an island berth, it would seriously cut into the room in the engine bay.
I think Nick has it right. Boats out of South Africa will be taking over the market in the next decade. I see it in other markets, too. Price is less important than service and selection. Those that can give the market what they want, tailored to how they want it, will survive. The big box store mentality will (hopefully) soon fall away.
You guys should review the Outremer cats. They have options in the 45' range that will sail circles around the models you have mentioned. The price doesn't come down, but the performance goes way up - w/o compromising the level of quality.
Nice video guys !! Good point of view,regarding a 43-45 foot cat !! And what about Schionning,this is a good alternative,especially if you want a fast 45 or 50 foot with half of a budget !?
Guys. I love your reviews and ratings. The one boat which is being built in South Africa, is the Balance 526 and the 482, owned by Phil Berman. I love these two products.The 526 does have dagger boars and the 482 does not however I believe that the 486 is going to be about $700,00.00 us and the 526 about 1.7 with all the bells and whistles. Again keep up the good work. They may be at the Miami boat show this year. However I don’t think the 482 will be ready. They also make a 45 which from what I had seen I wasn’t really impressed. Perhaps the 2020 version will be much better..., to me that is.
Hey, I have just watched through most of your reviews and thought: Wouldn't it be great to have a comparison video with a graphic chart showing boat length vs price and perhaps a list showing all scores. You could summarise personal favs or categorise boats and link to individual reviews. Just an idea... =)
Was this a sail drive or shaft drive version? I’m not a fan of the sail and the only other one seems to be the Antares. Also, what else was in the owners hull? Thanks.
Can we have more sailing content soon, please and thank you! You do a great job on the reviews, but I am not in the market for a catamaran at the moment! Don't get me wrong though, love your channel and you two are the most adorable little f'ing yacht gerbils evur!!! ;)
Is a Hobb a brand name? I heard the cook top reference this way from British and Australian before just wondering. Another informative and enjoyable episode.
"A very, very safe space to work". Right. Did you really just say that? Work!! What has the world come too. 😉🎈 Looking forward to the reveal of what CAT you guys have bought. I switched on the bell so maybe do it live ... somewhere nice? Somewhere fitting? 😉 Cheerio. 💖🎈
Another wonderful review - spot on. Can’t wait to see what you end up with ....... because I get the feeling your close to our thoughts and mentality .......
Great review, great boat. It's very nearly there, but I would want dagger boards and a slightly bigger bias towards sailing performance, island berths notwithstanding. As for build, the joint at 3.56 as mentioned below is a bit surprising.
That is a lifted bead of calk. Not a crack. I still should have fixed it for the show. However, I do think that we had the most miles within the last year out of any boat at the show. It still showed very nicely. Darn caulk. A lot of folks have commented on it and I am bummed to have overlooked it.
What there is a crying need for is the Toyota Corolla of catamarans. An entry level cat for couples who want to see the world. A South African built 40" or smaller with owner cabin, lots of ventilation, designed for sailors, and built at a reasonable price would sell like hotcakes. Especially if adding things like solar, water makers, generators and such are planned for in the design stage to make install easy.
@@fgreen411 I don't know if $250.000.00 is considered Toyota Corolla territory. What I did notice was they almost all were for sale at cruising destinations, not where you would return to after coming home. Wonder why?
Nice Catamaran,,,Nice review as always from you guys :-) Few weeks ago you said you were going to tell us which one you bought in a couple of weeks...Still not heard what you have decided ??
Another great review! But, 2 comments on performance: 1) the displacement number you cited is the light displacement (i.e., bare hull and spars, basic engine and electronics), not the sail-away real-world displacement, which comes in over 22 tons. 2) Anecdotal comments from other St. Francis owners in rallies and buddy--sails indicates the St. Francis does not sail as well as some of the competition. OTOH, the author Hugh Howey lives aboard his St. Francis, Wayfinder, and has done a massive solar installation and claims to be able to run all his AC, water-maker, and all his appliances at will with no generator or alternator.
Hey Doug. I remember meeting you. We are headed out for a sail around April 1 from San Juan to Provo, T&C. Come for a ride. 22 tons? Some boats are faster. Some are slower. Speed is important. Comfort is important. How much of each do you want?
Rorke Miller sorry, just found your reply (a few days late). Thank you for the invitation! Unfortunately, I will not be medically fit to fly until late April, but would be happy to take you up on your offer in the future. I completely concur with your comments regarding the trade-off between performance and comfort. I still love the boat!
Very nice boat wish I had the money I would buy this boat now I like everything about this boat very safety wise on deck and inside I have a question can the company make island beds when you order it did you ask them I dont like makeing beds too
@@CaptainRorke No problem, I asked a question as to why you bought a SF instead of a Leopard (I'll be buying a new or used cat at the end of the year) then I deleted the question because I noticed that you work for them.
I wonder what kind of new monohulls I can get for the same money? What I can see is a development of larger volume hulls and cat features, with clean flush decks and button control. Cats are for sure nice in the tropics as a house boat but crossing oceans I'd want something more solid. The best cats that are seaworthy are made of carbon fiber, which is very expensive.
@@walterwinn2842 Yeah, that is on me. Haha. My brother and I were on clean up detail. It is caulk. Happened on the other side too. Shrunk under UV exposure
Thank you for this review. I have been waiting for your review of the St. Francis 50 and while I don't agree with the comments about island berths, much of what you say confirms my thoughts. Were I able to afford a boat in this price rage and size, this boat would be my choice.
Did something stupid... went to Dűsseldorf and looked longingly at the Amel 60. Yes, a mono but that is one hell of a boat. Maybe questioning what type I really want... dang.
I have 2 malibu surfboards...check!, and am trying too figure out where the kayak and pushies will go. Hold that forward locker! Don't you guys mess with it, please. I've just found my new boat, notwithstanding your "secret" in South Aussie!
Love the channel and the reviews of different catamarans however, you guys are going to be too old to sail the one you finally choose to buy! Pick one already, and get back to the fun stuff of sailing around the world before "life" hits you and the party is over. As Nike says: "Just Do It". That said, you guys do a really, really great job filming your video's! I live in the interior of Alaska and use your channel as an escape from the bitter cold in the winter, Love it....Keep em coming!!
Excellent review. No nonsense look at the St Francis. Like Nick said we buy with our heart. I like the features of this boat but the WOW still sits Xquisite 1. Knysna 2 St Francis 3 for me. Thanks again N&T. Cheers Doug in Vancouver.
In review of the gunboat I think personally that it is way out of class. They are a high performance /cruising catamarans that starts over 2 million dollars because it’s a carbon fiber boat. Truth be told as an arm chair sailor, that was my dream boat, but after doing further research I realized it’s not for me.They are a bad ass line of boats..., from 48’to 55, 57, 60, 62, 66, 78’ as well as a 90’footer. Most if not all carbon fiber. No disrespect but if you have to ask for a review on such a vessel, more than likely it’s not for you. If you’ve never sailed or seen a catamaran up close, compared to a monohull..., they are freakin HUGE!!! Not to say you couldn’t handle it but they’re really built for very experienced sailors. I personally do not fit that category. And I might add that the one that I loved first was the Outremer 45’, then I said to myself if I am gonna dream go big so then it was the 55’ and I kept reviewing through the eyes of TH-camrs and some personal research and ended up loving the Balance 526 and 482, a 52’ and 48’ leaning towards the 48.
ive been binge watching your videos , awesome job both of you , totally off topic but didnt she have a ring on her finger ? wish you both the best an thank you for letting me live your life style through your videos , maybe one day i will get out on the blue , take care an be safe out there
Just watched Ran’s review of the Garcia monohull this weekend, also. I hear you Nick about build quality of non-Euro yards, but I was extremely impressed by the quality of the Garcia. Nick, is this a bit of your anti-EU Brit perspective on the world peeking through? Kidding aside, I trust your assessments, and can only imagine it was “Wow” quality if it exceeds the Garcia, Outremer and Discovery builds.
I’m not anti Brit or European build my friend. I’ve visited Outremer and the boats are superbly built. The fact is however that European costs of living are higher than SA and therefore the wages and costs of boats are higher in Europe.
Your still looking very clean Mr Meldrew, This cat was up there , less mega levels making it look like a 60s block of flats, I bet it sits better at anchor Not so much dancing about, I know you go on about island beds , but you can fall out of those, with these tight fitting beds you don't need Leigh cloths, and the beds forward, you sleep in one up wind in a big sea, you hit the ceiling, The galley fiddles , not good enough on worktop , try and serve up for 4 people , The other winch to port , a bit of a bugger to work from, I know you can operate the winch from the other side, but I drought it puts the line around it for you, Non self tacking awesome, Awesome galley and your correct about cooker beside the stairs, Reminded me of the early lagoon 57 . The basic price plus ad ons, what are the ad ons extras, what can you take of that doesn't keep the boat sailing or safe,
There is a cabinet that is powered, plumbed, and vented for the Splendide 1200. It is midship in the starboard hull. Works great. Previous hulls have put it in either bow. However, that is a lot of weight up there.
Great review guys, hardly any of these on the open market available second hand. So unless a lottery win, likely out of yours an my budget. Also totally with you on the size thing, so many are wanting to get into cruising before retirement, but cost is an issue (me included) These boutique builders, if they did 42' to that standard, they would take many orders away from Lagoon, Leopard & FP. My thoughts on the boat, at least the owners bed should be semi walk around. As your 'home', I don't want to climbing in every day from foot of bed. OK for guests for a week or so. Engines: seriously don't understand why they are under the beds. Does not matter what insulation or sound proofing is installed, I have never been on a boat with that configuration without noise, vibration and faint smells/fumes entering the cabin. I take the points ref easier to work on engine in high seas, but many installing the engine compartment hatch the safe way now, preventing slippages & drops off the sugar scoops) Like the galley & storage, however, would want all lines to helm & all main winches at helm. Not much point controlling the winch from the helm if you have to leave it to release quick or change the sheet. Looking forward to verdict on target boats. Fair winds.
From a performance standpoint, engines are best mounted as far forward as possible. There is zero smell, after one year anyway. Until a magazine conducts a decibel test, I do not have much to go on about engine noise other than my experience. I can say that an engine under you is not much louder than an engine 2 feet aft of you. Same sound insulation used. I insist on having sail controls positioned where I can see the sails I am trimming. On boats that have one single trim station, adjustments have to be made blind. Not a huge deal, but there is still a bit of racer in me. Note: reversible winches have been installed on St Francis 50's for sailors who would rather stay seated.
She's "banging on" about the lack of island berths, which I do appreciate how awkward they can be for the inhabitants and room service personnel, but hey, what about the performance trade-off?
Magnetic knife holders seem to be quite popular on boats. In the unlikely event of having "guests" on board, who are less harmless than desirable, I would prefere not to present them deadly blades for spontanous use.
![Is This the PERFECT BLUEWATER Cruising Catamaran? [Full Tour] Learning the Lines](/img/n.gif)
I think one thing you forgot to look into when it comes to the St Francis is resale value. I compared a lot of multihulls over the years what they cost new vs what you get for them over the years in 2nd hand value. For some reason the St Francis is among the top score here which is also in the end money.
Great review! You did not mention the amazing tankage of this boat. One does not need to fill these tanks to keep weight low but it is great to have the option. Tankage I believe is 232 gallons fuel, 360 gallons water plus rain catchment system, and 146 gallons holding tank in keels. So if you are in an anchorage or no discharge zone where you cannot/do not dump waste, a couple or a family can live on the boat for a while without needing a pump out every few days.
Biggest tanks on any cat in her size. I like it. Some people think they are oversized.
Rorke Miller It’s a a huge positive fid this cat and that they never consider it sats a lot about their lack of experience.
The two of you do a super job in presenting these Cats!
Great review again. I like your view on the 45 foot market and agree with you
There was another St.Franc. 50 right around the corner from this one at the boat show that was incredible. It was finished in wood and I think covered all your complaints. I really thought it was the nicest cat at the boat show. Breathtaking!
That was Paradigm Shift. Teak/Holly/Bamboo high gloss interior. Granite counters. Flexiteak cockpit and stern. Here is an older video - th-cam.com/video/kmZ2Woo_MjY/w-d-xo.html
They are amazing boats
I would say this is my favourite out of your list, as of recently the Balance 44 looks to be on the cards as a good contender but you have obviously gone to the Seawind now which looks great too!
I'm writing this after the reviews are complete. The XSqusite X5 has a dedicated tool cabinet. I saw a St Francis 50 that had the same feature, next to the stairs from the salon in the port hull. The counter material was Corian if I recall, and it was drilled out for a vise. This area also had cabinets above the work area. For circumnavigation, to have a dedicated area for tool storage and a work space I consider paramount. It may have been a factory tour by another TH-cam sailing couple.
The shelving in the St Francis is glassed in, adding to the rigidity of the structure and hopefully eliminating the squeaks and groans of age.
Another excellent review. You guys stand atop the heap when it comes to honest and thorough reviews. Extremely helpful. Thank you.
thank you so much mate.
Overall, I really liked this boat. It seems to have a solid liveaboard layout, and I really liked the protection afforded the cockpit for passagemaking. A hard dodger/windscreen is tough to beat when sailing to weather and a welcome respite when sailing 40 degrees + or - above the equator. Having spent most of my life sailing at 45deg North or higher. The South African builds are looking really good, and I am happy that they have found a niche in the manufacturing world where they really shine. As with you, I had nothing but nit pick complaints, hardly enough to swing away from it being a great candidate. I said to my wife watching this video, I would really love to see what they could do with a 42-45footer, as I think that is where the market really is. Just my 2C, love your reviews.
👍 Wow you guy sure did tons of effort into the cat review series really enjoyed them. 👍
As non-native English speaker, I do appreciate you guy's English talking very much. You know what? Very fast but with great clarity! Are you linguistic pro? No? Well, you have the potential😂
Which one are you honing in on? I’m guessing the Seawind.
I know that you guys are probably back to sailing, but I'd like for you to do this kind of series whenever you guys really start shopping with 2nd hand offerings mixed in, you could provide footage of test sails and such then as well.
Absolutely spot on comment at the end of this video. We want a cat in the 40-45 foot range and it's difficult to find something nice outside of the production cat models. I can see why cats like the Lagoon 42 are such big sellers to private buyers
I haven’t watched all the series videos yet, and out the ones I have is this cat is the nicest. I am drawn to this one so far. Keep up the great videos and the great reviews.
Greeting from Norway, Love the search for the perfect cat. One item that should go into the review is “hull clearance”, this to understand amount of slamming you can expect. I have been told that nothing ruins a passage like loads of slamming and should have high focus when looking for a blue water cat.
We have dealt with this question many times and why we don’t talk hull clearance
Sailing Yacht Ruby Rose maybe make a description on your website you can link to. I’ve watched a bunch of videos, probably heard you deal with the question, but I can’t remember what you said. If it’s a FAQ then you can just link people to the answer.
Top 3 for sure. I would say compared to other 50+ foot catamarans value for the money is a 9.
Fantastic review. It is very nice to see a proper nav station on a cat. Helm position is good. Life raft can be moved. St. Francis really do have an epic cat here. Thanks to you both. Be happy, be safe. OH......stop making beds, it causes anxiety.
You don't have to make the bed in the normal sense, but changing a fitted sheet for washing still has to happen every so often. And it's pretty hard if the boat is moving around and you can't easily reach the corners of the mattress.
Thanks guys for this review - if I were ever to go for a cat it would be from SFM and probably the 50. I really appreciate the review and the effort that goes into the videos.
What are your thoughts on these newer solar powered cats with back up diesel motors?
Well done, your a good team, very enjoyable also. Thank you.
I like the comment that a person needing handle for the bed might have a few problems. You young bucks may not need such handles, but there are some of us who will appreciate them. My appreciation for such assistance is rather sudden and new. You can use your imagination for additional handle uses, for example, a great support item for fuzzy handcuffs, if you're into that sort of thing. ;) For us older folks, those ideally placed handes may mean getting into and out of bed without injury or delay, especially important when nature calls. Love the cat series. Very well done. Love this boat as well. Good job, both. Muchos gracias, mates, as they might say in South-East Coober Pedy.
By sail drive did you mean like Oceanvolt? And then would that entail having a diesel generator, or would solar and hydro-generation be sufficient?
Nick, Terysa, I completely concur. We are after a liveaboard for our family so we are after 4 cabins (3 young boys) but don't necessarily want 4 sets of heads/showers. We also want it sailable by only 2 adults and 1 in extremis- a mid 40's cat would be ideal for us but there is a paucity in that size range.I must say though, I think this is my favourite so far. Just need to find one to have a nose around!
Awesome my friends. I think they are showing at Annapolis. We’ll also be doing some Patron meet ups if you’re available 😉
St Francis 50, Banana, had 2 heads and showers for their family of 6. The extra space was used for storage and desks in the aft cabins. They wrote a book about their circumnavigation.
Where are you located? Perhaps I can connect you with an owner in that area. We are in USVI until the end of March. Then the new owner is taking her north to Annapolis, East Coast, and into Great Lakes, USA.
Rorke Miller that would be great. Naples, Italy at the moment but head to Gibraltar in the summer.
@@livingiolaire5390 Hull #20 is in Italy. It is a blue hulled beauty. The owner is a solo sailor with frequent guests. Cool Guy.
If you are indeed interested in purchasing an SF50, I would be happy to connect you.
Tony & Susan here, This yacht seams extra large, and the 50 size it would seam you will be spending the majority of your time keeping it ship shape. We know you are reviewing what is at the show but really I believe smaller may be less of a chore.
Fantastic reviews guys!
Without the handrails, where would the handcuffs attach? 😉
ooooh a kink! i like it
I actually hope and think by doing these video series you have influence and that some manufacturers will listen too!
We hope so mate
Love these reviews very good to see options and what you want in a boat even if its a mono hull. Good job!! Look forward to seeing the results and what you chose.
Cheers
Great review as always, you do the review total justice, thank you
Thank you
Love the woodwork and overall interior styling
I was impressed with the safety features of this boat. Your right it didn't look the part of Millionaire's toy with fancy hardwoods, granite counter tops, etc but what I saw was form and function. The price does seem rich, but the surfaces looked easy to clean, the handrails everywhere were wonderful it did not look like a condo on the water, it looked like a boat! The beds were a little weird and I think Islands would make them more practical, but visibility looked good, and yes rounded corners to prevent boat bites, yea!
Glad you agree mate
Good info. Thank you for all the "homework" you do
Pleasure mate.
I was impressed with the YT videos by Hugh Howey on the build of his St Francis 50. I think it was his idea to have the sailboard stowage.
This one, the St Francis looks as robust as they get. I agree with you about size too... I'm solo so 50 foot is just too much. Side profile looks really fast. Low profile saloon, just love it...
OK, so I'm out of sequence... Need to find my way back to episode 50ish, I think. Just a small point, but going forward, would you please be able to cover security in your boat reviews? I realise that this may be a small issue, but keep wondering how secure they are - how confident you could be when leaving them moored up or at anchor (thought arose when you went spear fishing). Also, do you guys ever run into Off Duty Sailing? It's just that your review of the same boat (literally same owner's boat) came up just after I watched their review. I'm not advocating, but you guys are my favourite!
Ah cheers mate.
Yes we met them at Annapolis and reviews the same boats on different days
@@sailingrubyrose Security?
Your reviews of catamarans are outstanding.
Very good that you apply your own experiences as sailors moving over from a monohull to Cat
Very practical reviews and good emphasis on safety thanks
cheers mate. thanks for the lovely comment
The lack of island berths in the aft is, I'd think, a consequence of engine placement. If you were to have an island berth, it would seriously cut into the room in the engine bay.
I think Nick has it right. Boats out of South Africa will be taking over the market in the next decade. I see it in other markets, too. Price is less important than service and selection. Those that can give the market what they want, tailored to how they want it, will survive. The big box store mentality will (hopefully) soon fall away.
Only time will tell
Well done, really enjoying these review videos.
Thanks you
Another great review! I look forward to seeing which cat you finally decide to purchase.
The choice is coming.
Very honest review!!!
You guys should review the Outremer cats. They have options in the 45' range that will sail circles around the models you have mentioned. The price doesn't come down, but the performance goes way up - w/o compromising the level of quality.
We reviewed the outremer 51 my friend
Great vid guys,and you are correct once again.Thanks.
Cheers mate
17:43 you liked the sail to weight ratio then gave it only a 6 without saying why you nicked it 4 points.
Probably for not having Daggerboards and not being performance oriented (light displacement, narrower hulls)
Nice video guys !!
Good point of view,regarding a 43-45 foot cat !!
And what about Schionning,this is a good alternative,especially if you want a fast 45 or 50 foot with half of a budget !?
Best Boat Ever.. Great Video!!
(Hahaha, homely vs homey). Great review of an impressive boat!
Hey, don’t misunderestimate the value of a handle to get in bed. What I really want though is one to grab to get up out of bed!
I want one on the ceiling above the bed for her to hang on.
Guys. I love your reviews and ratings. The one boat which is being built in South Africa, is the Balance 526 and the 482, owned by Phil Berman. I love these two products.The 526 does have dagger boars and the 482 does not however I believe that the 486 is going to be about $700,00.00 us and the 526 about 1.7 with all the bells and whistles. Again keep up the good work. They may be at the Miami boat show this year. However I don’t think the 482 will be ready. They also make a 45 which from what I had seen I wasn’t really impressed. Perhaps the 2020 version will be much better..., to me that is.
Nick, What do you think the engine noise level will be while trying to sleep in those berths? Is it worth the trade off for good access?
Hey, I have just watched through most of your reviews and thought: Wouldn't it be great to have a comparison video with a graphic chart showing boat length vs price and perhaps a list showing all scores. You could summarise personal favs or categorise boats and link to individual reviews. Just an idea... =)
Brilliant minds think alike mate. The top ten will be out soon.
Was this a sail drive or shaft drive version? I’m not a fan of the sail and the only other one seems to be the Antares. Also, what else was in the owners hull? Thanks.
Love these reviews!
Nick for that Nav station all you need is a seat/chair that goes up and down. Really is a nice boat. : ) peace
Can we have more sailing content soon, please and thank you! You do a great job on the reviews, but I am not in the market for a catamaran at the moment! Don't get me wrong though, love your channel and you two are the most adorable little f'ing yacht gerbils evur!!! ;)
Another informative review, thanks!
How is it that the older Terysa gets the more beautiful she gets??? Lucky Nik😉
Is a Hobb a brand name? I heard the cook top reference this way from British and Australian before just wondering. Another informative and enjoyable episode.
"A very, very safe space to work". Right. Did you really just say that? Work!! What has the world come too. 😉🎈 Looking forward to the reveal of what CAT you guys have bought. I switched on the bell so maybe do it live ... somewhere nice? Somewhere fitting? 😉
Cheerio. 💖🎈
About the handrails in the sleeping compartment: I will be 90 years old when I can afford this boat - so I will need those handrails.
😂
Another wonderful review - spot on.
Can’t wait to see what you end up with ....... because I get the feeling your close to our thoughts and mentality .......
cheers mate. we are almost there.
Great review, great boat. It's very nearly there, but I would want dagger boards and a slightly bigger bias towards sailing performance, island berths notwithstanding. As for build, the joint at 3.56 as mentioned below is a bit surprising.
Yeah, have to agree there
That is a lifted bead of calk. Not a crack. I still should have fixed it for the show. However, I do think that we had the most miles within the last year out of any boat at the show. It still showed very nicely.
Darn caulk. A lot of folks have commented on it and I am bummed to have overlooked it.
Great review! Rewatched the Xquisite X5 review and I'm now on my way to buy a lottery ticket! I got this!
Buy one for me too mate
What there is a crying need for is the Toyota Corolla of catamarans. An entry level cat for couples who want to see the world. A South African built 40" or smaller with owner cabin, lots of ventilation, designed for sailors, and built at a reasonable price would sell like hotcakes. Especially if adding things like solar, water makers, generators and such are planned for in the design stage to make install easy.
I think the Seawind 1260/1160 fits that bill. Main trade off is the lack of storage.
You might want to look into a used owners version(3 cabin) Leopard 39
@@fgreen411 I don't know if $250.000.00 is considered Toyota Corolla territory. What I did notice was they almost all were for sale at cruising destinations, not where you would return to after coming home. Wonder why?
Nice Catamaran,,,Nice review as always from you guys :-) Few weeks ago you said you were going to tell us which one you bought in a couple of weeks...Still not heard what you have decided ??
Another great review! But, 2 comments on performance: 1) the displacement number you cited is the light displacement (i.e., bare hull and spars, basic engine and electronics), not the sail-away real-world displacement, which comes in over 22 tons. 2) Anecdotal comments from other St. Francis owners in rallies and buddy--sails indicates the St. Francis does not sail as well as some of the competition. OTOH, the author Hugh Howey lives aboard his St. Francis, Wayfinder, and has done a massive solar installation and claims to be able to run all his AC, water-maker, and all his appliances at will with no generator or alternator.
Hey Doug. I remember meeting you. We are headed out for a sail around April 1 from San Juan to Provo, T&C. Come for a ride.
22 tons?
Some boats are faster. Some are slower.
Speed is important. Comfort is important. How much of each do you want?
Rorke Miller sorry, just found your reply (a few days late). Thank you for the invitation! Unfortunately, I will not be medically fit to fly until late April, but would be happy to take you up on your offer in the future. I completely concur with your comments regarding the trade-off between performance and comfort. I still love the boat!
We can’t wait till you guys purchase RR2.0 and start sailing again 💚😎
Nice review guys, honest we believe 👍👍
Very nice boat wish I had the money I would buy this boat now I like everything about this boat very safety wise on deck and inside I have a question can the company make island beds when you order it did you ask them I dont like makeing beds too
Congratulations both of you.
Cheers
St. Francis Catamarans are the best in the world !
Great review, thanks
Is that a view of Annapolis Md harbour ?
Yes my friend. Filmed in Annapolis
Is that fiberglass cracked at 3:56 ?? Or just silicone peeling away?
That caulk has shrunk a bit there. SFM switched caulks for the next hull.
@@CaptainRorke Asked why I would buy this instead of a Leopard, read further down the comments and realized you work for them. haha
@@tombobtail7706 Yes, I am the SF sales agent. I am not trying to be subversive.
@@CaptainRorke No problem, I asked a question as to why you bought a SF instead of a Leopard (I'll be buying a new or used cat at the end of the year) then I deleted the question because I noticed that you work for them.
Very nice boat. Maybe the bed handles are for handccuffs? That would be very thoughtful. 😆
Handcuffs, ropes, safety teathers. The possibilities are endless
@@sailingrubyrose I never knew there were so many kinky sailors! I guess if you need to pratie your ropes and knots, it makes sense!
I wonder what kind of new monohulls I can get for the same money? What I can see is a development of larger volume hulls and cat features, with clean flush decks and button control. Cats are for sure nice in the tropics as a house boat but crossing oceans I'd want something more solid. The best cats that are seaworthy are made of carbon fiber, which is very expensive.
Hmm... I don't like that massive crack at 3:56..
But all-in-all a very nice boat with lots of tequilla-rails.. :oD
That caulk has shrunk a bit there. SFM switched caulks for the next hull.
Wow but I don't think that is caulk. They should have done a better job in covering that up for the boat show.
@@walterwinn2842 Play the video at .25 and you will see it is caulk and there is also a crack in the caulk on the rear of the same joint.
@@walterwinn2842 Yeah, that is on me. Haha. My brother and I were on clean up detail.
It is caulk. Happened on the other side too. Shrunk under UV exposure
Thank you for this review. I have been waiting for your review of the St. Francis 50 and while I don't agree with the comments about island berths, much of what you say confirms my thoughts. Were I able to afford a boat in this price rage and size, this boat would be my choice.
Did something stupid... went to Dűsseldorf and looked longingly at the Amel 60. Yes, a mono but that is one hell of a boat. Maybe questioning what type I really want... dang.
The AMEL 60 is EPIC! The design and cleaver execution makes the Amel 60 and 50 a class unto themselves.
Dazcat or Schionning is perfect IMO 😋
I think what you were trying to say in a diplomatic way was that this boat is not competitively priced - if so, I agree.
Well put mate
I have 2 malibu surfboards...check!, and am trying too figure out where the kayak and pushies will go.
Hold that forward locker! Don't you guys mess with it, please. I've just found my new boat, notwithstanding your "secret" in South Aussie!
FYI, the score showing on your website for this one is 36 instead of 38.
Love the channel and the reviews of different catamarans however, you guys are going to be too old to sail the one you finally choose to buy! Pick one already, and get back to the fun stuff of sailing around the world before "life" hits you and the party is over. As Nike says: "Just Do It". That said, you guys do a really, really great job filming your video's! I live in the interior of Alaska and use your channel as an escape from the bitter cold in the winter, Love it....Keep em coming!!
How do you remove the engine from the boat if required?…
From this review I feel that the most important thing on the boat is the bed made on the side ..
Excellent review. No nonsense look at the St Francis. Like Nick said we buy with our heart. I like the features of this boat but the WOW still sits Xquisite 1. Knysna 2 St Francis 3 for me. Thanks again N&T. Cheers Doug in Vancouver.
Would love to see you review a Gunboat :)
Us too. @gunboat? Where are you?
@@sailingrubyrose ... Northern Minnesota Super Cold and icy
In review of the gunboat I think personally that it is way out of class. They are a high performance /cruising catamarans that starts over 2 million dollars because it’s a carbon fiber boat. Truth be told as an arm chair sailor, that was my dream boat, but after doing further research I realized it’s not for me.They are a bad ass line of boats..., from 48’to 55, 57, 60, 62, 66, 78’ as well as a 90’footer. Most if not all carbon fiber.
No disrespect but if you have to ask for a review on such a vessel, more than likely it’s not for you. If you’ve never sailed or seen a catamaran up close, compared to a monohull..., they are freakin HUGE!!! Not to say you couldn’t handle it but they’re really built for very experienced sailors. I personally do not fit that category. And I might add that the one that I loved first was the Outremer 45’, then I said to myself if I am gonna dream go big so then it was the 55’ and I kept reviewing through the eyes of TH-camrs and some personal research and ended up loving the Balance 526 and 482, a 52’ and 48’ leaning towards the 48.
ive been binge watching your videos , awesome job both of you , totally off topic but didnt she have a ring on her finger ? wish you both the best an thank you for letting me live your life style through your videos , maybe one day i will get out on the blue , take care an be safe out there
Cheers mate.
@@sailingrubyrose if you ever make it to Noosa , QLD , Australia let me know an i will buy you a beer
When are you guys gonna make a choice? I love your reviews but would really like to see you cruising the world in a new cat!
Just watched Ran’s review of the Garcia monohull this weekend, also. I hear you Nick about build quality of non-Euro yards, but I was extremely impressed by the quality of the Garcia. Nick, is this a bit of your anti-EU Brit perspective on the world peeking through? Kidding aside, I trust your assessments, and can only imagine it was “Wow” quality if it exceeds the Garcia, Outremer and Discovery builds.
I’m not anti Brit or European build my friend. I’ve visited Outremer and the boats are superbly built. The fact is however that European costs of living are higher than SA and therefore the wages and costs of boats are higher in Europe.
Have you thought of a mathematical formula for performance so the cats can be compared objectively? Weight vs sail area etc?
Your still looking very clean Mr Meldrew,
This cat was up there , less mega levels making it look like a 60s block of flats, I bet it sits better at anchor
Not so much dancing about,
I know you go on about island beds , but you can fall out of those, with these tight fitting beds you don't need Leigh cloths, and the beds forward, you sleep in one up wind in a big sea, you hit the ceiling,
The galley fiddles , not good enough on worktop , try and serve up for 4 people ,
The other winch to port , a bit of a bugger to work from, I know you can operate the winch from the other side, but I drought it puts the line around it for you,
Non self tacking awesome,
Awesome galley and your correct about cooker beside the stairs,
Reminded me of the early lagoon 57 .
The basic price plus ad ons, what are the ad ons extras, what can you take of that doesn't keep the boat sailing or safe,
Washer & Dryer? Missed that one
There is a cabinet that is powered, plumbed, and vented for the Splendide 1200. It is midship in the starboard hull. Works great.
Previous hulls have put it in either bow. However, that is a lot of weight up there.
Great review guys, hardly any of these on the open market available second hand. So unless a lottery win, likely out of yours an my budget. Also totally with you on the size thing, so many are wanting to get into cruising before retirement, but cost is an issue (me included) These boutique builders, if they did 42' to that standard, they would take many orders away from Lagoon, Leopard & FP. My thoughts on the boat, at least the owners bed should be semi walk around. As your 'home', I don't want to climbing in every day from foot of bed. OK for guests for a week or so. Engines: seriously don't understand why they are under the beds. Does not matter what insulation or sound proofing is installed, I have never been on a boat with that configuration without noise, vibration and faint smells/fumes entering the cabin. I take the points ref easier to work on engine in high seas, but many installing the engine compartment hatch the safe way now, preventing slippages & drops off the sugar scoops) Like the galley & storage, however, would want all lines to helm & all main winches at helm. Not much point controlling the winch from the helm if you have to leave it to release quick or change the sheet. Looking forward to verdict on target boats. Fair winds.
From a performance standpoint, engines are best mounted as far forward as possible.
There is zero smell, after one year anyway.
Until a magazine conducts a decibel test, I do not have much to go on about engine noise other than my experience. I can say that an engine under you is not much louder than an engine 2 feet aft of you. Same sound insulation used.
I insist on having sail controls positioned where I can see the sails I am trimming. On boats that have one single trim station, adjustments have to be made blind. Not a huge deal, but there is still a bit of racer in me. Note: reversible winches have been installed on St Francis 50's for sailors who would rather stay seated.
She's "banging on" about the lack of island berths, which I do appreciate how awkward they can be for the inhabitants and room service personnel, but hey, what about the performance trade-off?
Very beautiful 😍👍
Thanks for the St Francis 50 review guys, a beautiful vessel indeed! Fair winds and following seas Ruby Rose!
Cheers mate
Thanks for the review but I only liked half of it. Nice cat BTW!
Magnetic knife holders seem to be quite popular on boats. In the unlikely event of having "guests" on board, who are less harmless than desirable, I would prefere not to present them deadly blades for spontanous use.