I like the center cockpits of the Gunboats yachts and
the Chris White designs--with inside steering. Long
passages are wearing when you are in the sun, or
have to suit up in foul weather. Having everything where
you can reach it is nice. And it is easy enough to bear
off a bit before making a trim change if your decks are
awash.

I also like the Soloman Technologies electric propulsion.
Often big cats have to throttle back in heavier seas. It
makes sense to trade some of that speed for Amp-Hours.

Large banks of solar panels ease the burden on your
crew by allowing continuous use of autopilots--which
require less effort on a Catamaran than monohulls (which
tend to round up often). Power is also needed for
water makers--no need to carry the weight of all that
water when you can make it!

A combination of water driven generators, photo-voltaics,
and even multiple noisy wind generators, could make an
electrically driven wheels on a Catamarran not only feasible,
but a desirable option. Electric Wheels are only feasible on
light weight boats like Catamarrans. I have no doubt these
will be common in the future.

I believe it is possible to get entirely away from diesel gensets
with large banks of solar panels coupled with water and wind
generators.

That leads to my final choice in characteristics on Big Cats:
Carbon Fiber for light weight. This allows you to carry
extra equipment or provides for more speed. I'd opt for a bit
more weight and bring a clothes washer and dryer if I were
circumnavigating, and still have less weight than a fibgerglass
yacht.


"DSK" wrote

Fuel is a bigger issue than food IMHO, and cats are more sensitive to
weight load. Especially fast ones.

I'd have to do some research on solar panel charging, although I think a
diesel genset is still a very attractive option for a multi big enough to
circumnavigate.