The 10 Biggest Mistakes When Purchasing a Used Catamaran and How to Avoid Them

Mistake #1: Searching for the largest, Cheapest Catamaran in your Budget
When shopping for a catamaran you should always buy the largest, most inexpensive boat, right? This is the very definition of a bargain, is it not?
Well, maybe not.
People tend to think bigger rather than smaller and feel confident that buying a lot more catamaran for a lot less money is smart.
It is generally wiser to get the smallest and newest catamaran to serve your needs and budget. Consider the fact that big, inexpensive catamarans often need a substantial refit and will always cost more to sustain, maintain, insure, move and slip. The older and cheaper a catamaran, the higher risk of a costly surprise lurking just around the corner, regardless of how professionally the catamaran was surveyed prior to purchase. Costs scale almost logarithmically with larger catamarans.

Mistake#2: Buying a catamaran that Does Not Bring You Real Pleasure.
If you are a sailor and truly enjoy sailing, then buy a catamaran that really sails. As the late Harry Chapin put it, “It’s got to be the goin’ not the getting there that’s good.” Sailing isn’t just about arriving at places; it’s about enjoying the time it takes to get to them. So you must both be proud of your catamaran and “connect with her” when you are sailing.
What brings you the most pleasure, however, should never be forgotten when you decide which catamaran to buy. A great many buyers regret settling for a catamaran that had a lot space and volume, but which they never truly enjoyed sailing. On the other hand, do not sacrifice too much comfort for the sake of speed. Finding Balance is absolutely vital if you want to remain happy with your purchase.

Mistake #3: Buying a catamaran that is Uncomfortable.
If you’re buying a catamaran to live aboard, make sure you find one you actually enjoy living aboard. This sounds simple, but remembers-the vessel must be a pleasure to cook on, to sleep on, or to simply sit upon while staring into the night sky.
Balance these concerns is at the heart of making a good catamaran purchase decision. Balancing interior volume vs. performance is critical. Complicating the matter is the fact that there are usually more than a single head and heart weighing in on this decision. If one partner, for instance, wants to turn the catamaran into a home away from home and the other wants to dash from port to port with full wind in the sail, then those battling visions have to be reconciled to meet the reality of the marketplace. And before you get discouraged, recognize that it is possible to find the right catamaran-it just requires lots of meaningful discussion between all interested parties.

Mistake #4: Getting the Wrong Catamaran for Your Voyaging Agenda.
There is no ideal catamaran they are all full of compromises but there are certainly catamarans that are far more suited to the voyages you have in mind. Once the voyage and use is decided, ask some hard questions: Is the payload sufficient for the gear I ...