[PCW] Convert sail cat to power part 2 - was hulls

[gram rupert]

Wise words.
Many thanks,
Rupert.

On 13 Mar 2008, at 16:21, Candy Chapman and Gary Bell wrote:

> gram rupert wrote:
>
>> Are you looking at all the mid forty foot sailing catamarans just  
>> now  coming out of charter service?
>>
>> Something like that, yes, as it seems to be a sensible way  
>> forward. I  have heard that there are also quite a few on offer at  
>> the moment.
>> Thanks,
>> Cheers,
>> Rupert.
>
> I suppose that the great surge in availability and acceptance of  
> these fine boats in charter service must have been from three to  
> five years ago, as there seems to be a real surge of them on the  
> used boat market just now.   In pricing them don't forget to factor  
> in the cost of compensating for the hard use they have had, and be  
> very selective about only buying boats from the few charter  
> companies with high maintenance and repair standards.
> I likewise feel that these ex-charter type sail cats are better  
> suited to long distance cruising than pottering about in one's home  
> waters of a weekend, because they lack the power catamaran's turn  
> of speed under power.  The power catamaran probably also has an  
> edge in interior space and creature comforts.  If you look  
> carefully you can find the occasional PDQ 34 on the used market,  
> and whereas the initial price is higher than the ex-charter sail  
> cat, that gap will close considerably if major systems need to be  
> restored or upgraded.
> It is caveat emptor for both, with the charter boat bearing the  
> largest risks.
> Again, cheers
> Gary