Size Matters

At 37 feet, Ti' Punch is on the small side of cruising catamarans. Even so, there are plenty of people out cruising on cats smaller than ours. Zero to Cruising is one of my favorite blogs, and they are out having a blast on a PDQ 32. Jamie and Seth on S/V Slapdash just finished their circumnavigation on a 34 foot Gemini and didn't seem to miss the extra space. The folks on S/V Ladybug, my original inspiration, circumnavigated on an Antigua 37 just like ours, and loved it.

There are advantages to being on the small side. Most marinas charge by the foot. A shorter waterline translates into a smaller bill. Haulouts are cheaper for smaller boats. Also, bigger boats require bigger, more expensive hardware. More boat means more boat to maintain. I know all of this. So, why do I spend so much time on Yachtworld lusting over bigger boats?

Outremer 5x - I want one!

 I guess it's only natural to dream big. Those big cats with their massive sail plans and cavernous cockpits leave me drooling all over my keyboard. These things are basically homes, complete with showers and tubs, that are in some cases capable of sailing faster than the actual wind speed. While it is fun to look, I need to keep my desire in check. Ti' Punch is plenty of boat for us. These big cats start out at 2.5 to 3 times the price we paid for our boat, and that's the low end. With just  a fraction of that money, we could turn our little cat into a pretty sweet cruising machine. Ti' Punch has been perfect for the type of coastal cruising we've been doing here in the Chesapeake Bay for the last 4 years. The S/V Ladybug folks proved that the Antigua is a capable bluewater boat as well, if our cruising ambitions grow in scope. 

I'm sure I will keep browsing Yachtworld and dreaming, but Ti' Punch is going to be the boat that keeps making our dreams come true for years to come.