Conference unifix::sailing

1631.0. "Catamarans for Charter" by TALLIS::DOLL () Tue Nov 20 1990 08:16

The following are companies which advertise having cruising catamarans
available for bareboat charter.  Several other companies have boats 
available with crew. These can be found in Multihull magazine, located
in Quincy  Ma.

My definition of a cruising catamaran is as follows:  

They never heal more than five degrees, are designed not to raise a hull
except in extreme conditions.
The solid bridgedeck which has a saloon connects the hulls: ie you don't 
go outside to get to the other hull, except for the Edel.
They have the interior room of a monohull which is 4-6 ft. longer.
They also have a large deck surface for lounging.
A 32 ft. boat will usually have 2 double and 2 single berths.
A 34 or larger will have 4 doubles or queens.
All will usually have four separate cabins.


Performance:
The ratings I have given the boats are relative.  All are fast off the 
wind.  Some of the newer designs will also point close to the wind.


BOATS:

French boats are more modern and perform better than the English boats.

Fountaine Pajot 32, 37, 39, 44  French built
	Modern, sails extremely well on all points of sail.  Will pass
	most monos up wind. 
	I have a 32 and am slightly biased.

Privilege 39 & 48  French built
	Modern, sails good, traditional wood interior 

Edel	35	French built  		
	Sails extremely well, less room, saloon & galley are in a center
	pod which is separated from the hulls which isn't a problem in warm weather.

PDQ	34  Canadian built	Spacious and performs reasonably well.
	Traditional interior.

Gemini	32  Spacious, low performer, 25 year old English design
	Good boat for a lake or Chesapeake.

Prout	34, 37, 50   low to medium performer, English built



COMPANIES:

Biglet Service    Chesapeake    301-268-2414    	      PDQ & Gemini

Tropical Yacht Service  St. Martin, Antigua, Martinique       Fountaine Pajot
		1-590-90-84-52       May only speak french

Sun Yacht Charters	office in Maine, boats in Caribbean    Fountaine Pajot
			1-800-772-3500

L'ile Bleu		Meditariean   011-33-93-34-64-65      Fountaine Pajot
			I believe they speak English
			
Privilege Charters	Guadeloupe, St. Martin, Martinique    Privilege
			1-301-626-1757  Md. office

Bimini		1-800-444-3996   				Edel 

    
        For Christmas, my crew gave me a 1 day charter on a Formula 40
    called the White Bison located in Buzzards Bay, Mass. It can go out
    with 2 guests and it can take up to 7 guests.
    
        Details later this summer after I do it. Wonder if we can try
    and round a leeward mark on 1 hull (ie flying the windward hull over
    the top of the mark) ???    ;>)  ;>)
      
       john

I was aboard the Cuan Law 105' Trimaran, chartered by Trimarine on Tortola, BVI.
This was for a week, and I have to say it was the best vacation I've ever had,
a combination of sailing and diving.

Decadence.

Ray

    I just got a note from Dick Newick.. I had asked him about chartering a
    cruising cat in the North East (for an anual trip down Maine).  He
    didn't konw of any.  Anyone else know of any cruising cats for charter
    (bare) along the NE coast?

    Just out of interest, when I was in Tortola ( Feb 1990 ) 'Formula TAG',
    the 60ft ocean racing Catamaran was running day trips to Anegada.
    This boat holds ( or held ) the record for a 24hour run, which was
    about 450 miles. I think Mike Birch was the skipper when it was racing.
    
    Accomodation was virtually non-existant, but it sure looked fun for a
    day trip
    
    The charters were run out of Village Cay, Roadtown.
    
    Chris.