Making a Decision on Buying our Floating Home
Placing a down payment on a new 45-foot Seawind catamaran marks a significant milestone in our journey toward living aboard a boat. While it’s true that we haven’t had the chance to see this specific model yet, our decision is based on extensive research and trust in the builder’s reputation. The prospect of extra headroom, ample space, a galley-up design, and a forward-facing navigation station aligns perfectly with our vision of a comfortable and functional home on the water.
Of course, the biggest drawback is the wait time. A five-year timeline feels like an eternity, but our broker has provided assurance that production will ramp up, potentially shaving off a year from the original estimate. If all goes as planned, we could expect our new home to be ready by the end of 2024 or November 2025 at the latest.
Our initial plan to test sail a Seawind 1260 at the Annapolis boat show was interrupted by the whole global Covid-19 pandemic mess. Not to be deterred, we contacted a local Seawind dealer, Wright Yachts in Seattle, and fortunately had the opportunity to spend a day sailing a 42-foot Seawind 1260.
Blessed with perfect weather, we enjoyed a gorgeous Pacific Northwest fall evening with the perfect wind for what most sailors would call “champagne sailing.” With a little encouragement from Scott, our broker, I took the helm and maneuvered her away from the dock and into the waters of the Puget Sound with ease. The twin engines made maneuvering a piece of cake. We found the feel and responsiveness of the helm incredible and the self-tacking jib honestly felt like cheating. Back at the marina dock, Tyler skillfully and gently eased the boat into place, affirming my confidence in the decision to get a catamaran. The experience of the test sail met and exceeded our expectations, fueling our excitement and desire to move forward with a Seawind catamaran.
We’re making the most of the 5 year wait by creating lists of the pros and cons of each optional piece of equipment to ensure we identify only those essential for our safety or comfort. We will also continue to further our knowledge and skills necessary to travel the world on water. A big step will be to charter a Seawind catamaran within the next year to gain insight and experience before our boat is ready for us to take the helm.
The key considerations that swayed our decision to choose a Seawind 1370 catamaran
Selecting the ideal boat is a highly individual endeavor, as there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Anyone who has ever purchased a boat understands it’s a nuanced dance of compromises, and involves navigating a series of trade-offs and concessions, often driven by personal preferences and priorities. The abundance of different cruising catamarans available only adds to the complexity. In a world of endless options, finding the “perfect” vessel becomes a quest, a voyage of discovery of sorts, reflecting our aspirations and dreams.
As buyers, we delved into our search, immersing ourselves in a wealth of information, meticulously comparing specifications, poring over reviews, and seeking advice from seasoned sailors. From size and layout to performance and seaworthiness, every factor plays a crucial role in finding the perfect vessel suited to our needs and desires. Comfort features such as cabin layout, amenities, and storage space intertwine with practical considerations like sailing performance, stability, and maintenance requirements. Additionally, factors such as budget, resale value, and brand reputation add layers of complexity to the decision-making process.
By meticulously evaluating these considerations and organizing them into lists/spreadsheets, we embark on a journey of exploration, navigating toward the catamaran that best resonates with our vision of the ultimate floating home.
Here’s a rundown of our key considerations that swayed our decision in favor of Seawind.
1. Comfort for long term live aboard
- Large glass forward opening windows in the saloon to allow ample ventilation
- Adequate 7′ headroom throughout the boat to comfortably accommodate Tyler’s 6’2″ height (including adequate headroom above the owner’s cabin bed)
- Galley-up to ensure the chef of the hour is not isolated from the rest of the crew.
- The unique trifold door design allows for spacious indoor/outdoor entertainment
- Large windows in the owner and guest cabins allow ample light
- Separate shower in each hull with large windows and ventilation-no more wet head
- The built-in flat Australian-style grill for outdoor cooking.
- Fish cleaning area in the cockpit with seawater/freshwater flush to ease clean-up
- Forward lounge area integrated into the trampoline area increases the living space
2. Builder with a reputation for quality and delivering a seaworthy product
- Seawind has been designing and manufacturing catamarans for 40 years and has an excellent reputation within the sailing community.
3. Safety Standards
- Life raft stern mount for quick easy access in the event of an emergency
- Designed to sail in the notoriously tough Australian waters and cross oceans
- Can be managed easily by a couple in their 60’s
- Helm positions are deck level to allow for easy communication with crew and protection from the elements
- All lines led back to the cockpit including reefing lines to minimize the need to leave the cockpit in rough weather
4. Boat Performance
- Designed to be easily sailed or motored through rough seas with excessive hobby horsing
- Adequate bridgedeck clearance to reduce the slamming of waves against the underside of the boat between the hulls
- Capable of achieving greater than 200 nm per day
- Designed for ocean crossing load-carrying capacity while still maintaining good speed
5. Appearance and overall design
- Forward facing navigation station in the main saloon with visibility of both bows
- The position of the dual helms is on the main deck creating a lower profile
- A full hard cockpit/helm coachroof provides protection from the elements while helming
- Dual Helms to make for easier docking
- Area for a workshop and storage for tools and maintenance equipment
- Clean lines and minimalist styling
- The cabin layout is designed for a cruising couple, featuring generous storage options, including a walk-in wardrobe within the owner’s cabin.
- Use of carbon fiber incorporated in key areas of the structure to provide strength while keeping the boat light
6. Budget
- Fully equipped between $650,000 USD and $950,000 USD
Conclusion
Several different catamarans in the 42-47 foot range came close to matching our criteria for the ideal live aboard. At the time of our final decision, we had narrowed our search to the Balance 440 and the Seawind 1370. The scale tipped in favor of Seawind due to the company’s responsiveness to our inquiry about their boat in addition to our overall design preferences.
Please leave us your thoughts in the comment section below.
