A very rare small cruising catamaran | Broadblue 346 tour | Yachting Monthly

[@kbbarton1]

I never ever thought I would say this about a catamaran: I think I like it!

[@bcdoak2525]

Perfectly said

[@ianscott3180]

As a monohull sailor I have always been anti catamarans. As a Contessa sailor, I am so envious of the space. This has at least twice the internal volumn of my boat. I hope you get to test sail her soon! Good video, I enjoyed it 👍.

[@emeticart]

Do you want to sail or live in it?

[@wolfgangsaller5843]

Well thought out with some clever solutions!

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Loads of carefully thought out features in a tidy package. Ive seen these with a rigid Bimini .. good for Solar... and flexible sides best of both worlds especially in temperate climbs you can also take shelter from 🦟 and the Midges given the right cockpit enclosure.

[@FXPL9277]

Agree: Hardtop is a must for this very nice package.

[@ChristianCrue]

That little cat is absolutely marvelous. I love it. I want one.

[@gatecrasher1970]

that boat is the best small cat i have ever seen especially with twin headsails and love the name pompey lass haha as i am in pompey and currently trying to do up a snapdragon 24 foot yacht as a project but struggling to find anyone to help me with engine problem

[@Muratshayev]

A very interesting boat. Thanks for the review.

[@das564]

Nice little boat. There were clearly a few corners cut in the interior (no shower partition, no drawers in the cabins, exposed screwheads around the fridge and the vent in the galley), but if that's reflected in the price, it's nothing that can't be lived with. I think it would be really awkward to crank the manual winch with the angle it's mounted at. I'd think they could have mounted them them so the axis is vertical and used some turning blocks to get the lines to them.

[@LeoSavantt]

I had the opportunity to crew on this boat, I found the winches more than perfect, it is really easy to crank the non-electric one. It is set at 45' and when standing that means you don't have to bend, very ergonomic, in fact the position of the winches is the best I ever have used. The BB sail station concept works superbly (until a clutch fails). As for showering, the compartment is large, large enough not to need a curtain. Draws in the cabins aren't really that desirable, a draw uses up storage space and adds weight. This is a very short boat, not much room for deep draws, but with surprising performance. It does look a bit strange, but not from onboard. The boat I sailed on is a liveaboard in the Mediterranean for a retired couple, works well for them. One caveat, beating upwind in a seaway is a bone jarring experience, although progress can be made. All sailing can be genuinely done from the cockpit by one person (coloured sails excluded). The smaller main set aft is a very good solution for this type of cruising boat, smaller sails offer not only more choice but also ease of handling. A parasailer (for the wealthy only!) works really well on this boat, large foredeck to rig it and fast steady cruising off the wind. In conclusion, the boat sails well, accommodation is excellent, the cockpit is a very good working area, doubles nicely at anchor too. The new 425 improves on this design (strange cockpit entrance to the saloon though) in the BB tradition, slightly unusual, good performance and well built boats, but at 150K more (fully equipped). Could this boat circumnavigate? Certainly, many solid foredeck catamarans have done so (Heavenly Twins, Prouts etc.). But it is as an extended coastal/Mediterranean cruiser that this boat excels. Short, therefore inexpensive in the marina, narrow enough for the French canals, large enough to sleep six or as a long term liveaboard for a couple. A fully equipped almost new 346 is about 250K, in the world of well built catamarans that is good value. (In my own world it is very expensive, 10 times more than I paid for my boat, but also nearly 100 years newer!).

[@williamSailingWindDragon]

We have a 1986 Catalac 10M built in the UK, sold in the US. This is a very interesting Cat, Very well laid out. The only new cat that I would consider even looking at, Nice work Broadblue :-)

[@trollking6111]

Nice, I also like the Aventura 34 in this class catamaran.

[@TorstenSeelinger]

A nice little catamaran, but the price of almost £ 300000,- is too expensive compared to others in this class!

[@emeticart]

💯

[@peterhehn9511]

Gems are always small and this one fits the moniker well! ❤

[@UUBrahman]

The overall length is the same as a Gemini 105, which I think I prefer as I prefer galley down.

[@DefaultUser61]

I just saw Toby Hodges on a Lagoon 60. Kinda wished I had watched this one first

[@hectormalagon4968]

Who is the manufacturer? Which is the brand and model?

[@Bruce-f9l]

You did not show engine access or anything about the engines. If the boat inverted you will neef to swim to excape the yacht. Which would be very difficult with all the water coming in.other than thoes two points she looks good.

[@Bruce-f9l]

You would not be able to open the hatch as you would need to push against the water. impossible to do

[@TheGrundigg]

You would obviously not sail in such extreme conditions to turn over a 5 ton catamaran, and if you did, obviously the tent would not be up like it is...

[@GrahamPearce-ib9om]

And how well does it sail?

[@alanbutterworth4219]

Great review, well done.

[@RobYoung74]

absolutely love it!

[@mattberning13]

The mast is stowable and can be operated like that in canals? Does anyone have a picture/reference for this?

[@Dave-ox8vw]

No notes on the engines or walk through of engine room

[@pezpengy9308]

cool! a euro gemini!

[@MistaEmPe]

Quite Interesting!

[@Jim-jh9bd]

Nice boat but the Chess board if you are sitting across from each other the board is not turned the correct way. The white Sq should be on the players right

[@hman0007]

Test sail needed.

[@TheAegisClaw]

Its a mini Gunboat!

[@videotosse]

Except the speed of the Gunboats. But it's nice, no doubt.

[@hterrebrood]

You correctly referenced the hulls (two) in plural. However, you previously pointed to the head and incorrectly call it, not them, “heads.” I’ve noticed this incorrect reference cropping up more often over the past decade. As it makes absolutely zero sense, I wonder, why the glaring gaff?

[@arthurturner3080]

Literally who cares

[@hterrebrood]

@@arthurturner3080 Evidently, not the ignorant. I love today's snowflakes: if it's wrong, just let it go. Grammar, drugs, it is extending to just about everything.

[@Bruce-f9l]

You could not usr those excape hatches if the cat inverted. The water pressure would be too strong

[@pccalcio]

At £295,000 you're better off with a 2019 Lagoon 40, or a 2019 Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40, or a 2020 Leopard 40... Better boats, and they look WAY better inside..

[@johnmosesbrowning1855]

They put the chessboard in 90 degree wrong. Like this you have to play over the length of the table 😢

[@oblitafier]

This is a great design for its size, but the price is a bit high.

[@emeticart]

Don't be mad at me, but the prices for such boats are now completely unrealistic. The boat can probably be sailed like a Victorian wall unit ...

[@frozencanuck6764]

The prices are mad. Only the very wealthiest can afford them.

[@animapulcra9205]

498 cm wide + 30 cm fenders on each side give 558 cm and no Houdini trick in the world could find that magic wiggle room in a french canal lock. I like the ship but not Theo Stokers sale pitch where it is possible take this nice vessel.

[@hrvojebartulovic7870]

They did the chessboard wrong; when facing it, the lower right corner field must be white!!!!😂😂😂

[@jonny-dn]

Shhh, don't tell everyone how good they are. It's a secret!

[@Lehua_808]

So this is basically just an updated version of the Bobcat catamaran from the 1960s or the Catalac 10m catamaran and the Gemini catamarans from the 1970s & 1980s.

[@moonhand8311]

No it isn't. This BB 346 sails much better and it's interior is superior by far. It's go no connection with the boats you mention.

[@Lehua_808]

​@@moonhand8311 Maybe I should have said "modern" instead of "updated". Don't get me wrong it's very nice and spacious in comparison to the other vessels I've said previously, but any person can see where the naval architect got most of his/her inspiration from. I wouldn't expect a Mercedes Benz from the 1960s, 70s, or 80s to be built the exact same way now in 2024. Just "Modernized"!!!

[@haldepet12]

The main reason to buy a sailing catamaran instead of monohull is performance. So it is unfortunate that you have not tested it. I am afraid that this boat has performance deficit. The tunnel is too small and therefore there is too much drag. Unfortunately that comes with the combination of too much weight at the front, where buyoncy is critical, that will cause the tendency to leaning forward of the ship. And this comes together with a deep draft and a small sails. Unfortunately creativity in a catamaran often comes with lack of performance, because the important factors are disobeyed. It is not a good idea to tour around before knowing about the performance. And if you choose a cat, then please dont opt for a houseboat furnishing and dont opt for minimizing size. For me it is a clear missconception.l

[@hterrebrood]

Space and livability more so than performance.

[@emeticart]

What are you thinking, sir? Who sails in a condo?

[@hterrebrood]

@emeticart Most people that spent years sailing a cave and wish for comfort. Fact.

[@hterrebrood]

@@emeticartHowever, I don't think this vessel offers comfort or performance. My statement was the apparent goal of the manufacturer of this specific baby cat.

[@Chris-bg8mk]

A bit plain for the price.

[@lauriebloggs8391]

....."little cruiser"?

[@ArazQizilbash]

A product that does not live up to its British-made name, it looks like third-rate Chinese workmanship.

[@lightning9279]

I had no idea that most production cats are made in Poland. It's a secret that is only now being admitted.

[@emeticart]

The joints, ledges and gaps are frightening. After 5-10 years at sea, I want to see this glued together boat again...

[@valerieb.4912]

Too bad it is a sail drive.

[@hennievanderwesthuizen1223]

Every second word is "uhm", becomes very irritating after a while. Please pause in the sentence without saying "uhm"

[@gatecrasher1970]

and aft lol

[@SimonCurrey]

Good review thank you. It's a unique boat size and climate wise. It would be great to see a sea trial. I am ex Gemini owner. Some of the comments are not helpful. E.g. Exposed screws do not affect sailing performance. However they may reduce costs and weight. I like the thoughtful presenter. His style is authentic and knowledgeable

[@marknaylor2080]

​@@SimonCurrey😂