To choose the right boat for your cruise, you must start from your program and your desires, and not from your preconceived ideas. If it is often easy to decide between a sailboat and a motorboat, as much for sporting criteria as for economic or ecological ones, we sometimes make the mistake of arbitrating too quickly between a catamaran and a monohull, a 30 or a 40 footer. Here are some questions to ask yourself and some elements to answer them.
euros sailing or motorized
If in a certain number of countries, sailing does not require a license and offers a greater autonomy, it nevertheless requires a good practice and knowledge. Be careful with the engine of your dinghy. In France, if its power is higher than 4.5 kW, a license is required.
The motorboat, on the other hand, requires a license and a good calculation of distances to avoid breakdowns. It is important to find out about the different fuel stations on the route and the final fuel bill. Boats with little fuel autonomy could be limiting.
In a motorboat, you will prefer short distances and short stopovers and anchorages. On the contrary, when sailing, the automatic pilot allows you to sail for a long time, while keeping a constant watch. Noise is also a criterion for motorboats, since it is omnipresent during navigation. While sailing allows you to sail in the open air, this is often not the case with motor cruisers where you usually pilot in a cabin, although flysteers remedy these problems.
Crew
The size and composition of your crew will also determine the type of boat to rent for your vacation: size of the boat, number of cabins, number of berths, degree of privacy. If it seems obvious, it is good to think about who will be able to sleep where on the boat.
Comfort on board
On vacation, some people like to feel at home while others are more adept at minimalism. Depending on your destination and your program, choose a boat whose equipment corresponds to your needs. If you prefer to anchor and eat on board, you'll need a cooktop and certainly an oven. If you plan to sail a lot, make sure that the gas stove is marine, on gimbals, to cook even when sailing in rough seas or on a sailboat in the anchorage.
Refrigerator, freezer, air conditioning, heating, shower, etc. are elements of comfort that can be appreciated if you live independently on board, but are less essential if you spend your nights in the port and intend to use the sanitary facilities of the harbour master's office for example.
The same goes for the energy on board and the presence of a wind turbine or solar panels for example.
Personal and crew capabilities
Above all, do not overestimate your abilities! It's not after a quick sailing course or an occasional position as a crew member with friends that you will be able to become a skipper! In the same way, renting a RIB for a sunny afternoon will not make you the pilot of a 40-foot speedboat.
Also consider the size and width of your boat. Choose a reasonable model, in which you will feel comfortable. Think about the way you will sail, if you will be doing watches, if you are several licensed, if you can rely on other crew members
The experience and desire of the crew will also be a determining factor. If you are alone to maneuver, you may prefer a fully furling rig or a boat equipped with electric winches.
Monohull or multihull?
Once the specifications have been defined by the previous questions, it is time to think about the shape of the boat. The final size will generally depend on the number of cabins needed, and obviously on the budget, but it remains the question that too many people take first: multihull or monohull.
Multihulls are attracting more and more yachtsmen, because they offer many advantages, starting with the living space. With two hulls, or even three for trimarans, it offers a much larger surface area than monohulls of the same length. This type of boat is also preferred for chartering, thanks to the possibility of a large number of cabins and their private bathroom. The exterior space is also the key point of a multihull, with a link between the saloon and the cockpit that allows easy movement, and often on the same level. This natural ventilation is also appreciated when sailing in hot places, such as the Caribbean.
Stability is also a strong point of the catamaran. Unlike the monohull, it does not heel and can be more comfortable for people who are prone to seasickness, or who do not appreciate the sensations of the monohull. On the other hand, in rough seas, the catamaran can pitch and have more abrupt movements. It is therefore already a question of define its destination it is important to know what you are looking for during your cruise. Surfing and performance or a quiet and comfortable navigation? It is a question of appreciation.
Concerning performance, the catamaran is generally faster downwind, but the monohull is more comfortable upwind and goes upwind better. However, beware of over-equipped catamarans, to the detriment of performance.
Finally, the question of maneuverability is not to be overlooked. Once you have mastered the propeller pitch, a monohull has the advantage of being narrow enough to slip into a harbor or a cove. Wider, the catamaran can be more difficult to maneuver in small spaces or in harbors, although the dual engine has its advantages.
For the access to the sites, the draught must be checked. A catamaran often allows to limit the draught to get closer to the beaches, while a dinghy opens the door to groundings.
You will have to study your destination and decide whether to choose anchorages or ports according to your boat.
If everything is a matter of compromise, you now have some keys to make the best decision and enjoy your cruise!
