Pandora 8.50

Picture: http://www.pandora-marine.com

An all new catamaran to start explore multihullsailing. Designed to be safe yet fast.

Links: http://www.pandora-marine.com

Resale value

Picture: Marstrom 90 in Vastervik Sweden

If you build a new catamaran today it´s two sizes that can give some resale value the day you want to sell it; Multi 50 and Ultime.


If you decide to build a Multi 50 there is a class rule to take into account. If you do so it is possible to compete with the boat in for exammple Route du Rhum La Banque Postale.


An Ultime is only specified as Overall length ≥ 60 feet without size limitation (at RtRLBP). A length of 70-75 foot would give it a fair chance to compete with the older ORMA 60:s and a fair change to sail it solo.


The material chooise is free but it would be wise not to use nomex/carbon in the hulls. You can build a large multihull more expensive or cheaper but before you decide think of the example of Joyon with Idec II and Coville with Sodebo. Joyon did choose a cheaper bulding process at Marsaudon in France and Coville the more expensive at Boat Speed in Australia. Until today it seems that Joyons choise was the smartest...


Links: http://www.routedurhum-labanquepostale.com/fr/s01_home/s01p01_home.php

Living inside

Picture: http://www.john-shuttleworth.com/Dogstar50-article.html

Inside need not be large or luxurious. Nor do I think that the airconditioning or TV is necessary. The boat is supposed to be sailed and navigated. Then it's food or sleep concerning.

Minimum requirements are two good sea berths, a kitchen with a two burner stove, a navigationsarea and a toilet. The toilet may well have a sink that is large enough so I can wash clothes in it.

How the interior layout will look like depends largely on the choice of the space only in the hulls (type MV 50), or space in a central pod (type Avocet 50) or if there is a bridge deck salon (TS 50).

Dogstar 50 has a fourth version where there is a small cuddy on each hull, so that there is a protected navigation area with views in front of both steering positions.

In addition to the minimum requirements I would like another 4-5 berths to be able to take guests sailing in home waters.

Links: Dogstar 50

To small - but interesting

Picture: http://www.designcatamaran.com/page.asp?lg=en&pg=presentation

Toro 34 is to small for an extended adventure but still interesting. All new and they are working on the moulds i Canada.

How would a Toro 50 look like?

Links: http://www.designcatamaran.com/page.asp?lg=en&pg=presentation

How large should it be?

Picture of MV 50 from: http://www.class-multi50.org/bateaux/mv50.html

The size depends on how many you have to be on board and how far one should sail at a stretch.

With water makers and dried food, the weight you need to bring are radically reduced. Earlier may be counted by 4 liters of water per person per day and 2 kg of food. Now, the weight reduction down to about one-third and one has still a safety margin.

The smallest ocean-going catamaran, I expect to fifteen meters long. Multi-class 50 gives a good indication of a successful blend of performance, safety and cost already in the class rules. So it becomes the basis to start from. Holding to the Multi 50 so is also some resale value secured. It is possible to increase the volume of the boat slightly without the difference in performance is especially great for an amateur sailor.

I have found five boats that competed in the Atlantic sailings except pure cruising boats. It is, Avocet 50, Delirium, Victorinox, Freydis 50 and Outremer 50. There are new MV50 to be launched this year and Haro 50 and Dogstar 50 that exist only on paper so far. Links to information about the most interesting boats are on the right side of this page.

The beam of a Multi 50 catamaran is a bit different. Freydis and Outremer has been slightly modified production craft and the beam is about 7.5 meters. The others is usually a little over 10 meters wide. A wider boat must be built heavier to withstand the forces from the rig and the designers seem to have stopped at 10 meters as a good compromise.

Link: MV 50

45 questions before...

Picture of an Hughes 49 cat from: http://multihulldesigns.com/designs_other/49cruisingcat.htm

Kurt Hughes has a blog about multihull building and sailing. There is a list of issues important to consider before building a new boat. The list is too long to copy here so you can read for yourself.

Links: Hughes list

Size of the rig?

Picture of TS50 from http://www.xlcatamarans.com/

A racing sailing boat with full crew can have lots of sails both to the area and the numbers. Short- or solo sailor must choose carefully. It should be easy to reduce sail so we really do what is necessary.


To get good performance even in light winds the rig must be big enough. Then it should be easy to reef the mainsail and switch to a smaller foresail. A mainsail with three reefs are almost standard on all multihulls these days and foresail on a roll.

I've thought of a 110% solent as standard sail on a fixed forestay with roller. Aft of it to hoist a heavy weather jib on a roller a bit behind of the fixed forestay and if the wind increases switch to the next roller furler with the storm jib.

In front of the fixed forestay should be a couple of attachment points for a Code Zero and gennakers. Overall, it will be six sails to handle.

The rig will be pretty similar to the image of TS50 above. The height of the mast may be about 85% of a racer to become manageable solo.

Links: TS 50