If you are searching for a cruising sailboat, you first have to decide whether or not you’re wanting a classic monohull sailboat or a catamaran design. Then you have many alternative key decisions, together with sailplan, cockpit location, interior layout plus keel depth. Here’s a guide to the main choices.
Decide whether or not you want a monohull sailboat or a catamaran design. A catamaran’s 2 main advantages are level sailing attitude and spaciousness. A monohull’s 2 main benefits are lower purchase plus operating fees plus a more temperate plus quieter interior that is partly below the waterline. Prepare to have to make many more choices if you decide on a monohull, for the reason that there are more design alternatives than for catamarans. Along with a catamaran you will virtually be assured of getting a sloop rig, an aft cockpit, very little or no teak on the topsides, plus a shallow draft. For a monohull, your next decision will be a center cockpit or aft cockpit layout. Select a center cockpit style monohull sailboat if you really want a better forward vision, or if you want a ketch rig with 2 masts. Select an aft cockpit design if you want a more spacious feeling layout with easier access to the water. Learn more about used sailboats here.
Next, determine if you need the easiest sailplan-a sloop rig with automatic furling, or a cutter rig with 2 headsails, or a ketch rig with mainsail and mizzen sail as well as headsail, or maybe a cutter-ketch rig if you’re actually into sails. Decide on the minimum length sailboat which you’ll be comfortable on for long-distance cruising. For monohulls, 35 feet overall length is about the minimum which most folk are comfortable with for long voyages. Catamarans have nearly twice the living space as the same length monohull, thus any sailing catamaran from 28 feet long and up will be roomy enough to cruise in. Attend 1 of the foremost sailboat shows if you can possibly manage, to get familiar with the kinds of styles plus layouts. If you are able’t get to a sailboat show, you may have to go to multiple brokerages to familiarize yourself with catamaran layouts plus all the monohull designs.
