If you are in the market for a sailing catamaran, there are some useful tips to learn first. Learn everything you can about the different boat types and manufacturers and spend some quality time attending boat shows and asking questions. You will be very glad that you did later when you're out on your new catamaran enjoying the ocean breeze on your face!
One of the best experiences a person can have is being out on the ocean on a sturdy vessel and enjoying a beautiful day watching the birds and dolphins without a stress in the world! It’s really good at helping a person decompress and that’s one of the big reasons so many people are searching for the right boat to retire on and travel the world. Some people aren’t even looking to travel anywhere; they just want a live aboard boat that has enough room and luxury they can enjoy in the comfort of their local marina. A great choice for many people is a sailing catamaran, which can provide a wide beam and stable platform on the water.
There are many different types of sailing catamarans out there, and it’s suggested that you attend as many boat shows as possible to get a good feel for what is available. The larger boat shows such as the Miami International Boat Show will usually have the best selection to look at, and some will also have a specific area or show that specializes in luxury sailing catamarans like the Strictly Sail Boat Show. These boats will be shown at a marina where the boat show is located, and you’ll be able to actually board the different boats and check out every aspect and function of the vessel.
South African sailing catamarans are very popular and some of my personal favorites. They are usually much larger and roomier than other types of catamarans, and they tend to be more on the luxurious side. They have a nickname, called “Condo Cats” because of how roomy and big the salon, cabins, and galley are! They have arranged a “pavilion” of these South African Catamarans at the Miami International Boat Show in past years, and they sail recently completed vessels over for delivery to clients in the U.S. or the Caribbean. Before delivery, they will showcase them at major boat shows to try and bring in more buyers.
One South African company, Royal Cape Catamarans, is really the best of the show in my opinion. The hulls have so much living space down below that they actually bow out instead of having thinner, sleeker lines like other sailing catamarans. This only has a small reduction in overall speed, and you probably wouldn’t even know it. The catamaran can travel 200 miles or more per day, and is so stable that you can set a champagne glass on the table while at sea and it wouldn’t tip over! It is a 50 foot long boat with an optional extra 3 feet at the stern for fishing or diving, which is a most popular add on. The beam or width is almost 30 feet, which is huge! That means it’s going to extremely stable against rolling waves and side to side action. They say that the most stable position for a sailing catamaran is upside down on the surface of the water, but the most stable position for a mono-hull is at the bottom of the ocean! So you will feel much safer sailing across the ocean on a catamaran than on any other vessel.
Royal Cape Catamarans also can have up to 6 cabins, or one great option is having one whole hull converted into a “owner’s cabin”, where the owners can have a huge amount of personal living space for extra hanging closets and 2 heads. The sleeping area is a very nice and luxurious queen size bed, and there is even an option with a bathtub!
In the aft sitting area on deck, there is storage space for extra freezers, washers and dryers, and other necessities that a couple might want on a long voyage or live aboard. There’s plenty of room in the forward deck storage area for any water toys you might want to bring along. In my opinion, it’s really the best in class for the South African Sailing Catamarans that I saw at the show.
So if you are seriously thinking about selling your house when you retire and buying a live aboard boat, there are many really good options for you out there. Spend a year or two going to as many major boat shows as possible to get some ideas for exactly what you want and so that you can actually go on board the vessel and be able to touch it and picture yourself as owner. Make sure that it’s the right fit for you, and get all your questions answered before purchasing. Good luck!
DSDomination1
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Attending the Miami International Boat Show
Many people have thought about looking for and purchasing a boat of their own after seeing others out on the water having loads of fun on a hot summer day… Or maybe even a colder spring or fall day on the water fishing in some secluded cove, just enjoying the time. There are many different kinds of boats, some small, some large, some for sailing, and some for just driving fast! If you’ve ever thought of being out on the water, then you probably have a good idea of the type of boat you would be perfectly happy with and what you would like to do with it. Are you the adventuring type, and possibly want to do a circumnavigation of the world? Or maybe you just want to stay in the harbor driving or sailing along at a low speed? There are many uses and many choices available.
The best place to begin learning about all the different boats and vessels out there is a local boat show in your home town. They usually start convention center boat shows in the early part of the year, while there is still snow on the ground in a good part of the world… Usually January or February, or in Florida or other warmer states they may also take place in the late fall. A good boat show will usually last up to 5 days and you can find out a great deal about different brands and models and actually get to walk on board and inspect the boat in detail. Also, if you decide to purchase at the boat show, you will usually get a discount because the manufacturer does not want to tow the boat back to the plant because it would cost them more money. So instead, they try and reduce the price in order to sell it at the show. You’ll usually find the best boat prices available there, and take advantage of them if you can.
However, spend as much time as you need going to as many shows as possible to look at as many brands and models as they have before buying. Take your time. Probably the best boat show in the U.S. is the Miami International Boat Show which takes place around January or February of each year. It is really a big deal, and takes place in South Beach. Lately it has been at least a 5 location show, with a convention center stocked with smaller boats and models, and other associated companies that have a product targeted toward boaters. Another location has the much larger power boats which are located at a marina, and they can be upwards of 100 feet or more! A very popular venue is the Strictly Sail boats again located in a local marina. This is a big favorite due to all the marvelous lengths and beams of different monohulls and catamarans that you can tour, going from boat to boat. But be prepared to spend all day, and wear very comfortable shoes, as this is very time consuming. But at the end of the day you really feel like you’ve done something very useful and accumulated much knowledge for your boat choice.
You can literally get to the Miami International Boat Show when it opens on the first day and spend each and every day at different venues for the whole length of time the show runs and still probably not see everything available! The Strictly Sail show also has a great selection of free seminars for sailors concerning sailing in the Caribbean, going around the world, weather and what to do, electronic navigation, ship cooking, cleaning and keeping things shipshape on board, keeping pets aboard, best travel itineraries, and many, many other awesome subjects! In fact, you can spend all your time with these free seminars and lose out on your boat touring time, so make sure to budget your time wisely!
The Miami Boat Show will also usually have an in water power boat venue, where large and very large long range power monohulls and catamarans are showcased. Today they have expedition power catamarans that can travel around the world with their huge tanks of diesel, and can handle any type of weather condition. Prices do have a wide range from monohulls to catamarans, and from power to sail, so attending this boat show is really a requirement if you’re serious about doing the proper research. They are incredibly fun also, so don’t think of it as homework and drudgery. If you go into it with the right attitude, you will have a great time and really enjoy yourself! Just be sure to wear soft soled shoes and get yourself in shape before going, since it’s definitely a workout… Have fun!
The best place to begin learning about all the different boats and vessels out there is a local boat show in your home town. They usually start convention center boat shows in the early part of the year, while there is still snow on the ground in a good part of the world… Usually January or February, or in Florida or other warmer states they may also take place in the late fall. A good boat show will usually last up to 5 days and you can find out a great deal about different brands and models and actually get to walk on board and inspect the boat in detail. Also, if you decide to purchase at the boat show, you will usually get a discount because the manufacturer does not want to tow the boat back to the plant because it would cost them more money. So instead, they try and reduce the price in order to sell it at the show. You’ll usually find the best boat prices available there, and take advantage of them if you can.
However, spend as much time as you need going to as many shows as possible to look at as many brands and models as they have before buying. Take your time. Probably the best boat show in the U.S. is the Miami International Boat Show which takes place around January or February of each year. It is really a big deal, and takes place in South Beach. Lately it has been at least a 5 location show, with a convention center stocked with smaller boats and models, and other associated companies that have a product targeted toward boaters. Another location has the much larger power boats which are located at a marina, and they can be upwards of 100 feet or more! A very popular venue is the Strictly Sail boats again located in a local marina. This is a big favorite due to all the marvelous lengths and beams of different monohulls and catamarans that you can tour, going from boat to boat. But be prepared to spend all day, and wear very comfortable shoes, as this is very time consuming. But at the end of the day you really feel like you’ve done something very useful and accumulated much knowledge for your boat choice.
You can literally get to the Miami International Boat Show when it opens on the first day and spend each and every day at different venues for the whole length of time the show runs and still probably not see everything available! The Strictly Sail show also has a great selection of free seminars for sailors concerning sailing in the Caribbean, going around the world, weather and what to do, electronic navigation, ship cooking, cleaning and keeping things shipshape on board, keeping pets aboard, best travel itineraries, and many, many other awesome subjects! In fact, you can spend all your time with these free seminars and lose out on your boat touring time, so make sure to budget your time wisely!
The Miami Boat Show will also usually have an in water power boat venue, where large and very large long range power monohulls and catamarans are showcased. Today they have expedition power catamarans that can travel around the world with their huge tanks of diesel, and can handle any type of weather condition. Prices do have a wide range from monohulls to catamarans, and from power to sail, so attending this boat show is really a requirement if you’re serious about doing the proper research. They are incredibly fun also, so don’t think of it as homework and drudgery. If you go into it with the right attitude, you will have a great time and really enjoy yourself! Just be sure to wear soft soled shoes and get yourself in shape before going, since it’s definitely a workout… Have fun!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
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