Pros and Cons of a Sunrise?

[docbick]

I thought I would like put down my perception of pro’s & con’s of a Solaris when compared with, say, a Prout (for argument’s sake an Event 34).

Like many views of mine in life, some may be contradictory and unreasonable!  For example, one of the big attractions of the Solaris to me is the narrow beam (for a cat) such that I reckon one could get along most French Canals.  However, then I am a bit concerned about the low beam:length ratio!  I’m just putting all these thoughts down in the hope they will attract comment and preferable correction.

NB  I am writing this with no actual experience of sailing either a Prout or a Sunrise (!)  I will of course get sea trials before taking this much further, once our newest child gets a little bit more settled.  I do have experience of sailing another cat, though, a Beneteau Blue II, so similar length but broader of beam.  I might add that I’ve not found a charter company that has either still it’s fleet (Google comes up with Aegean Charters for an Event, but they’ve not replied to my emails/calls, so I presume it’s an old link).


Solaris – the Pros?

1) Two engines.  Better manoevrability which is good for the narrow ditches and creeks around the Wash/North Norfolk where I would like to take one.  Also for marinas.

2) Build quality looks great and finish looks more modern/clean that most Events with all that wood (some people’s preference, I acknowledge, but not mine!).

3) Smoother looking profile between the hulls.

4) Narrow enough to get through European Canals (like Prouts too, except for the very most recent, I think) – I’m assuming please disabuse me if I’m wrong.


Solaris – the Cons?

1) Very low beam:length ratio for a cat (16ft/36ft = 44%?).  I realise this is true for a Prout too, but with their more overhanging bows, the ratio using LWL is much closer to 50% which some authors recommend for a cat.

Given the relatively narrow beam, do you find there is still quite a lot of heel for a cat?  Has one ever ‘turned turtle’?


2) Small cockpit.  From pictures it looks like the cockpit of a Solaris is perhaps not even the size of a similar length monohull.  Is this true and if so, an inconvenience?


3) Smaller marque – may be more difficult to get advice/parts – although I realise the existence of this forum goes against this point!

Phew!  A lot of points/questions, I realise – take your time,

[Roger]

Your pros:
1) Yes, she also dries nicely on the stub keels
2) I agree, 20 years old and she still turns heads

Cons:
1) There is a lot of talk of ratios, but bear in mind the Solaris (and the Prouts) are heavyweight crusing cats, not lightweight racing machines. I'd be very surprised if wind alone turned one over, I think you would lose the rig first with the stresses involved. Waves of course are a different issue. I have no ocean journeys planned so hopefully in my coastal dashes I won't get caught in anything too big!  There are an awful lot of Prouts about, it would be interesting to know how many of them have been lost and in what circumstances and compare that to similar monohulls. My guess would be the majority would be lost by fire!
2) Small? Not for me coming from monohulls. Its wide and of course you can sit on either side or across the back 'cos its not tipped up like a mono!
3) Yes, and the home completion tends to mean they are fitted out with different equipment. My problem seems to be manufacturers that no longer exist or equipment which is discontinued but that could be true of any boat.

[docbick]

Cheers, Rog!

Re: the Prouts and tipping - I've seen it written in several places that "one has never tipped", but not from authoritative sources.  Certainly, I don't have stories of it happenning in my awareness, unlike for the Iroquois, for example.

I recall a Quest 31 being lost on a Transat about a year ago, but think it was holed.

I also remembered reading that several Snowgooses (Snowgeese?) sat out the Fastnet '79 without too many difficulties.

For cats in general there are some scare stats from the US/Caribbean about them being several multiples more likely to be totalled, but I think the interpretation that bareboat charters with inexperienced skippers inflate these stats.

I expect you're aware of all this already, but there might be other cat newbies out there like me chewing over such cud.