a few points ...
"Chris Newport" wrote in message
news:1354160.I1mvThbil2@callisto...

Ocean going cats are more stable than monohulls, but you
get less space for your money because the accomodation is
crammed into 2 narrow hulls.

I've heard this said a few times, but haven't seen a boat that fits this
description, except maybe the Atlantic 42. Certainly one can say they prefer a
"low windage" design, but Prouts have made hundreds of passages without the
compromise you speak of. And, of course, the OP doesn't really want a "Blue
Water Passagemaker," in spite of what he says.


Marinas will hit you with
heavy surcharges.

In 5 years I've only once paid a "catamaran premium" - it was $5. I have had to
pay for an oversize slip a few times, but given that my 36 foot cat has the
space of a 45 foot monohull I'm usually ahead. The biggest problem can be a
"home port" since many marinas simply don't have a proper space. However, I've
always been able to find a face dock, and never paid a premium.

That said, whenever I feel envious of the larger cats (Manta 42, PDQ 44, etc.) I
remind myself that while I can always find a place for my 18 foot beam, if it
were 22 feet, it would be a lot harder.

If you are buying a new boat take a look at the new
motor sailer at http://www.nordhavn.com/ this one
really impresses me, it is truly a global cruiser in
a small package.

I didn't find any motorsailers there - do you mean the Masons?