I have a 28 Grady that I am more than happy with, but I’m getting more into diving and it seems as though all the dive boats are cats. I am looking to sell the boat and possibly buy a catamaran. ANy input is welcome. It seems as though the consensus is that they suck in seas abeam, but absolutely destroy anything head on or angled. Help!?
“Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance”
Grady-White 283 Release
225 Yamaha x2
This won’t be real popular to the cat guys but I will say it anyway.
If you can not get a Freeman stick with your mono hull.
Personally not a cat fan.
That being said Billy Freeman makes the BEST riding center console on the market and it happens to be a cat.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freeman-Boatworks/289963931032105
I would trade any mono hull cc I have been on for his boats ride and performance. Not all cats are created equal so if you don’t get one of Billy’s boats. Look hard at Contender, yellowfin, regulator, sea vee.
Set the trap boys, we going to pass through them again!!
I thought Scootin was a engineer not a politicain!
best thing to do is to take a test ride in a newer model one. Yes the first ones out were slow, wet etc etc etc. I’ve had mine for 7 years have owned gradys, hydro sport and many others I wont go back, abeam seas never a problem with. You need to see for yourself, people that own cats love them and the ones that don’t hate them
26’ Twinvee Cat
Twin Suzuki 175’s
www.creeksidemetalworks.com
I’m on my second catamaran looking at a 3rd one… I didn’t even want to look at them at first and then I was forced to ride on one against my will… I think that I made the decision to buy one on that same day… Bottom line… Don’t listen to anyone’s opinion. Get your ass on both boats and compare the ride…
Most people’s “sea trial” consists of putting money down on a boat that they have their heart set on, and then riding around the harbor for 15 minutes before the dealer hands you the keys. That’s pretty rediculous if you are going to drop that kind of cash. Do your research. There are hundreds of people around with any boat you are considering to buying. Have them take you fishing, chip in for gas and spend a FULL DAY on the boat in 3-4’ seas… I guarantee you that it will be EASY to make up your mind…
I have had six catamarans and currently have two and I love them. The Vee hulls that I had were tearing my knees and back up when I went offshore. The Twin Vee catamarans have given me a few more years on the ocean. Like any thing else, there are good ones and bad ones. From my experience, Twin Vee, World Cat and Freeman are the best riding with Twin Vee having the best value for the money . I currently have a 19’ Twin Vee for inshore and near shore and a 32’ Twin Vee for offshore fishing. I am selling the 32’ for a bigger catamaran and would not be doing so if catamarans were not great boats and great on fuel. Let me know if I can help you any further.
BillL
Test ride em’ in the ocean…short chop 3-4 seconds apart and then make your decision. I have a TwinVee 26 and love the boat. It does not beat the crap out of you…it is different in a following sea and can get a bit squirrely…but so do mono hulls. If money was not an issue I would buy a Freeman 33…have fished in that boat many times and it is hands down the best riding center console you will ever experience…but it is out of my price range…for now.
If you want to go for a ride sometime in my TV 26 just let me know.