Solo sailing: Madeira to the Canaries - Prout Snowgoose 35 catamaran

[@debbiemccrossan3809]

Hi Carl just discovered your channel as I was looking for Prout catamarans that have crossed the Atlantic. I'm considering this type of boat for my liveaboard and have researched extensively, there are pros and cons from what I've read but it will be great to follow your journey to get your take on how your Prout fairs as a liveaboard bluewater cruiser and how you manage single handing as I will be also.

[@skulijakobsson5116]

Nicely done!

[@miketheripper777]

that belt looks loose shouldn`t it be tighter?

[@defylifeadventure]

Funny you should mention that. As I just tightened it up again now. The one in the video, I did re-check and tighten once I was in a marina after a couple of days at anchor. I also changed to a LiFePO4 battery bank, but that is another topic. Fair winds. ⛵️

[@AdventureVanLife]

Hey just started looking at your video very interesting do more. Regards Paul and Vicky UK

[@AMGOSUK]

OK -- so the obvious question is about watch-keeping while undertaking long solo-crossings -- we can all stay up for a day or so but 7-15-20 days no. I will look at your other vids, but am keen to understand what you did to prepare your vessel to allow you to sleep safely while on crossing AND to understand what your watch keeping plan/system was.

[@defylifeadventure]

If you are solo you have no choice but to sleep when you are tired. On shorter trips it can be in short bursts, on Altantic crossings if will be for however long you need. It helps to have and AIS transponder, with alarms set up, a radar with two different distance alarms set, alarms for wind speed and direction changes etc... There's not much more you can do.

[@PA96704]

Light up the deck and main sails with LED color lights radar deflectors. Sleep 2hrs on and off no problem for us@@defylifeadventure

[@markthomasson5077]

Better to sleep in the day, stay awake at night?

[@crest2471]

subscribed!

[@trustthedogsheneverlies644]

Hi, awesome video. I am looking at an elite to single hand a similar trip. How close can yours point to the wind?

[@defylifeadventure]

Terrible, and the elite I believe is worse. That being said, one of the reasons it was so bad on my boat was sail. I didn't have a flat cut sail, and my main was inmost furling. Even with the correct sails though, it wouldn't be pleasant. In short chop you get a lot of pounding. In Curacao is was bad enough that I broke two chain stays. When in calmer waters and going to wind though, it's pretty fun.

[@trustthedogsheneverlies644]

Thank you for your reply. I didn't realise it would be so bad. I am shocked to hear chai plate broke, was there a hidden defect or was it just ripped out somehow? The one I am looking at has the larger rig so hoping this might help it to wind... Would you recommend this boat for long or live aboard cruising? I ask at it pretty much the only cat I can afford. Maybe its better to go back to monohull options? Best of luck. :)

[@defylifeadventure]

@@trustthedogsheneverlies644 IMO it's a good liveabord cruiser, not as good a more modern cat (space wise) but for the price, there isn't much that comes close. In terms of the chain plate, it was just a bad design creating a stress point, and I was beating and slamming pretty hard. It didn't really cause me any issues and the rig was fine. I had a new one made up in Curacao.

[@trustthedogsheneverlies644]

Thank you for your response again!

[@maddogmaz1576]

How do you like the Prout 35? Do you think its the right size for a solo live aboard? Looking at one soon. Its between that and a Morgan 41

[@defylifeadventure]

I never wanted a Prout initially. In fact I look at the ad for mine and rejected it only to come back to it sometime later. I think for the price they are solid boats but super old technology. The 35 is a good size for a solo liveaboard has a best SA/D of the 31/35/37/Elite. But, it doesn't have any head height in the rear cabins, so not great when haven't company. Steering can be an issue on them (this was improved on the 37 onwards), and there isn't a single flat surface on the boat. Everything is a combination of complex curves making working on the boat or refitting it very difficult. I think a standard 37 would have been better for my use, but the 35 did well.

[@maddogmaz1576]

@@defylifeadventure Thanks

[@maddogmaz1576]

@@defylifeadventure Just got a Snowgoose 37. Hope to see you on the water

[@trustthedogsheneverlies644]

How are you finding it?

[@markthomasson5077]

They certainly are solid..and heavy. Does she slam under the bridge deck

[@joseGAlarcon]

When did you do this sail? Long time since the video about the Yanmar 3GM30...Where is the boat now? Sorry asking too much...

[@defylifeadventure]

This was in September. The boat is now in the Caribbean. That means there are some Atlantic crossing videos to be published fortunately with more stable camera work.

[@joseGAlarcon]

@@defylifeadventure congratulations for the crossing... Waiting for your videos and news about your experiencias there... Thanks

[@mjcooke2sailingmostly]

Good to find a new channel.Very true to what it's like.

[@iainfisher6557]

How come the Irish flag from the port side spreader?

[@billbogg3857]

It's a courtesy flag . It looks an Irish one with orange on the outside but it might just have faded !

[@darrenbradz]

Belt was way too lose lop

[@defylifeadventure]

Yeah. This was all sorted out in Lanzarote. I changed to Gates belts, installed a LiFePO4 bank, and used a Sterling B2B charger, so the alternator and belt were never stressed for the Atlantic crossing.

[@jimsmith9819]

why dont you install a wind generator?

[@defylifeadventure]

The previous owner had one. He said it was pretty useless. The general consensus amongst live-aboards also seems to be similar. Of course you do get a some people that love them. A tow/hydrogenerator might be better, but then a friend of mine that crossed about a month after me had a nightmare of a time with his. He couldn't leave in the water much more than 30 mins without sargassum seaweed getting tangled up it.

[@jimsmith9819]

@@defylifeadventure it looks like a tow one might cause enough drag to slow you down though