A cameraman is the best of worlds for a live-aboard boat. It is comfortable, fuel efficient, and stable. AND EXPENSIVE.
I ran some numbers the other day. Which by the way is an excellent idea for figuring out your potential expenses. More about that in another episode.
What we did was select a boat and run its numbers. A few of the books I have talk about how to estimate your expenses. It includes things like periodic and unexpected repairs, fuel costs, docking and registration fees, etc.
Well with Cat specs looking like the data below and monohulls like previous specs I have provided, one might think a Cat would surely balance out. And potentially, how do you estimate comforatablity (I guess its a lot like drinkability, LOL - you cant).
So, Cats are lighter and as a result use less gas with smaller engines. And gas is a huge deal, when most boats are getting only 1mi/gallon (if you are lucky and then only at bicycle speeds -15mph). The Cat can ride to the rescue at 22mph and 3mpg while doing it. Gas of 6000 mi goes from costing $10k/yr for a mono hull to $6k/yr for a Cat.
Average cat specs for a 37-48ft, 2004-2008, Cat:
- beam: 16-22
- LOA: 36-47
- engines: 250-300 twin diesels
- water: 200 gal
- gas: 400 gal
- draft 2-3ft
- top: 28-29
- cruising: 17 22kn
- weight: 22,000-29,000
So, the fuel really is a big deal. BUT, the CAT is a large boat. So large in fact, that it might need special slips at some harbors. And of course, you will be charged for the privileges. The figures I have seen say 1.5x cost of fees for a monohull in the same class. Additionally, the Cats cost more. So your principal payment is more.
What this boils down to in my spreadsheet was an extra $400 per month due mostly to the extra slip and mortgage that was not then offset by the savings in gas. Too bad, I like the Cats. Even if modern taste doesn’t seem to have impacted this particular class of boats. But even bad taste doesn’t impact comfortablity. At least I don’t think so. 
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