| Multihull Advantages | | | | bow wave. The amount of wind at a certain point |
| Catamarans have been popular for many years in | | | | in time is what will limit your maximum speed |
| parts of the world such as Australia, France, and | | | | while sailing. Monohulls can only travel as fast as |
| South Africa but have not caught attention in | | | | their bow wave to stern speed. Catamarans are |
| North America until recently. Catamaran sales | | | | lighter for their length compared to monohulls. |
| have grown significantly in the past ten years in | | | | Cats usually have taller masts with bigger sails. |
| North America, and the subject of comparing cats | | | | Along with speed, cats are much more |
| and monohulls has become commonplace. | | | | maneuverable, especially when it comes to power |
| Catamarans have been the fastest growing | | | | cats. With the engines on each side of the boat |
| segment of the sailboat market. In the past | | | | you can move a cat around its central axis. |
| couple of years the growth of this market has | | | | Capsizing |
| been over 20% per year. | | | | The chances of capsizing on a cat are less |
| | | | probable than on a monohull. Of course, if your |
| Ocean Handling | | | | traveling at a high rate of speed you have to be |
| Cats have been noticed because of their many | | | | careful, but you still have a little more leeway to |
| benefits over monohulls. First and foremost is | | | | be reckless than on a monohull. The problem here |
| their greater stability in rough waters. When it | | | | is that when you actually capsize a catamaran it is |
| comes to sailing this advantage is definitely | | | | much more difficult to get the vessel back in its |
| noticed. Monohulls tilt to one side while sailing due | | | | proper position. |
| to their v-shaped hull. Passengers have to deal | | | | Spaciousness |
| with the fact that while the boat is sailing they | | | | Catamarans are wider than monohulls. Given this |
| have to tilt to one side the entire time. This | | | | fact a catamarans interior/deck is much more |
| creates discomfort when trying to move around | | | | spacious. A 50ft catamaran has the same room |
| the vessel. Catamarans stay consistently level | | | | as a 60ft catamaran. In other words, a monohull |
| while sailing, allowing for passengers to get around | | | | has the same volume as a 10ft shorter |
| without having to bend and contort to maintain | | | | catamaran. Cats give you the benefit of anchoring |
| balance. | | | | in shallow waters due to their small draft. This |
| The extra stability makes it safer for children to | | | | gives the option of having a larger list of areas to |
| run around and play on deck. The elderly can | | | | anchor in than monohulls. |
| have more of an enjoyable time, because of the | | | | Since a cat has more room it creates a home like |
| lack of physical strain involved in getting around | | | | feel. The interior layouts tend to be more private. |
| the boat. Catamarans make it easier for novice | | | | Heads and showers are separate. The dual hull |
| sailors to get a handle on maneuvering and sailing | | | | layout gives way to the advantage of having |
| the vessel. | | | | heads and showers in opposite corners. |
| Cats have excellent load-carrying abilities. This is | | | | Catamarans around the 40 foot range provide |
| why they are often used as ferries; they provide | | | | enough room for queen-sized rectangular beds. |
| a safe and stable platform. When there is added | | | | You don't have to deal with the discomfort of |
| stability and a lack of heeling the chances of | | | | pointy beds as you see in monohulls of the same |
| someone becoming sea sick is reduced. | | | | size. The greater surface area also creates more |
| Passengers will be more inclined to stay off land | | | | storage room, so passengers don't have to leave |
| for greater lengths of time when their comfort | | | | things behind. The added room can also mean you |
| levels are high. | | | | can pack for longer trips. |
| Catamarans have the ability of smothering rough | | | | The extra room around a cat gives someone the |
| water. The environment that is created by having | | | | freedom of being able to find a nice quiet spot |
| two parallel floats(hulls) causes for air to be | | | | away from other crew members. A larger |
| trapped between these two apparatuses | | | | foredeck and interior allows an escape for those |
| providing additional lift. This provides an invisible | | | | who like spending time away from other crew |
| cushion as the vessel passes over wakes and | | | | members. Most catamarans have larger than |
| waves. | | | | normal cockpits with panoramic views. One can sit |
| Speed | | | | and relax in the salon and still feel like their outside. |
| Catamarans will take you faster to where you | | | | The space between the two hulls has multiple |
| want to go over monohulls. It's not a question | | | | functions. This space allows for a net to be placed |
| about whether you're sailing or under power, | | | | between the hulls, this can provide an extra |
| catamaran designs are faster overall. The overall | | | | lounging area or creates a perfect spot for |
| speed of a cat compared to a monohull of the | | | | sunbathing. Also, a dinghy-davit can be placed at |
| same size is about 20% faster. Cats are being | | | | the transom, fitting without a problem between |
| designed with smaller keels this indeed improves | | | | the hulls. All of these benefits as compared to |
| closed-hull performance. Monohulls are limited by a | | | | monohulls is the reason why catamarans are have |
| maximum hull speed; this is not the case for | | | | also risen in popularity for sailing vacations. |
| multihulls. The elongated thin hulls of a cat limit a | | | | |