Hello everyone, I'm new to the board, but I have been reading posts for a while now. I've been sailing cats for two summers now and just can't seem to get enough of it!
Question: Myself and a group of friends sail catamarans in the west bay of grand traverse bay MI. We leave our cats moored all season in the bay. We have no desire to trailer our cats every time we use them. I've heard some talk that this may not be so good for the cats. The fact that it's a bay means they are somewhat protected from large waves. however, there is no protection from the sun. I would like to hear from others about this and maybe some tips to keeping our cats protected from the nasties of Motherr nature. (won't accept the word moth er)
TIA
Jim
Moorin is NOT a good idea...as far as the sun goes, cover it. sun will fade it....
Not a great idea but it is done. If you must, keep rigging tight and bungee anything that can move. If a dock, I used to use a three part mooring system to keep my boat from moving and bumpers. If on a bouy, I assume your cat can shift around to keep bows into the wind. You can use those blue tarps to cover the tramp.
Mooring beats the hell out of the boat so check her over frequently.
Other issue is crap that build up on hulls even in fresh water. I used to have to use Muriatic acid to get it off. On my lake it was algae and fuel residue. Salt is another story, my pal used anti fouling paint on his hulls
Not a good idea for more than a few days at most.
The constant heating and cooling effect INSIDE the hulls will lead to condensation / capillary action (water swelling the fibers) and can lead to soft spots, leaks, holes etc...
i believe i would try not to moor it if possible....but perhaps that is because several boats i had on a mooring over the years, got somehting stolen off them at one time or another... 🙁
pirates man, they make it hard on everybody...
if the water is shallow enough it is possible to build a set of racks for the cats. i store 2 hobie 16's and a 14 turbo on racks. it keeps the boats out of the water so they dont get the build up on the hulls and keeps them stable
2hullsarebetterthan1 wrote: if the water is shallow enough it is possible to build a set of racks for the cats. i store 2 hobie 16's and a 14 turbo on racks. it keeps the boats out of the water so they dont get the build up on the hulls and keeps them stable
Some cool stuff pops up in the classifieds. I'm trying to get more details, but here is a hydraulic lift for a Tornado.
ahhhh hydraulic ... i was wondering how he got the boat up there! 🙂
Hi E-trade : I have stored my cats( P-16,P-18 & P-19) on a float for over 15 years. I wish I had the set up that Damon L describes because that's the easiest & the best !
My float is made of 2x10 treated lumber & galvanized bolts & nails as fasteners to hold it together . For floatation, I installed under the hulls lumber, just enough pieces of marine grade styrofoam ( each 24"x48"x16")to keep the hulls out of the water when I am not standing on the float. Having the hulls close to but not in the water keeps them clean & easy to move on & off the float. I installed carpeting on the lumber under the hulls only , so when I step on the float it gets wet & makes the moving of the cat easier .I use heavy 1/2" galvanized Eye bolts & 1/2" Nylon lines spliced with thimbles to secure the float to my mooring & slip .
In the Winter, I store the cat on the float at a mooring without the mast,boom,rudders & sails. I cover the cat with a summer cover & a winter heavy plastic to protect it from the sun & seaguls . In the Summer I keep the float in a slip. I am 70 & when soloing, & don't want to waste energy pulling & pushing the cat on & off the float ,so I installed a manual winch to do the work .... If you are intersted in how it is done on the float, get back to me for the details. Bill
Hi Bilsails,
Sounds like a good system you have there. Unfortunately I can not put a permanent structure in the bay. I believe it is city property. I will keep it in mind for future reference.
Thanks, formerly etader