Catamarans have gone from niche to mainstream in a single generation, and for charter and family cruising the reason is obvious: two hulls give you roughly the interior volume of a monohull several metres longer, on a platform that stays level at anchor.
They are not simply better boats, though — they are different boats with real trade-offs. Understanding where a catamaran wins and where it does not is the whole decision.
The beam of a catamaran is enormous by monohull standards, and that width translates directly into accommodation. A 45 ft catamaran typically offers three or four double cabins with en-suite heads, a saloon the full width of the boat, and a cockpit that flows into it with no steps or compromise.
The second hull is also where the catamaran's practical advantages concentrate: separate machinery space, more stowage, and far better access for maintenance than a monohull's cramped engine bay.
Modern cruising catamarans sail well downwind and on a reach, and poorly upwind compared with a fin-keel monohull — they need more apparent wind and make more leeway. In a short, steep chop they can also pitch uncomfortably because of their bridge-deck clearance and light displacement.
Under power, two engines and wide-set propellers make a catamaran exceptionally manoeuvrable. Twin-engine docking and the ability to pivot in place are genuinely useful, and a catamaran can often be handled by a couple without drama.
A draught of around a metre opens anchorages, lagoons and shallow channels that monohulls must skip. For tropical cruising this is transformative: you anchor closer to the beach, run further up rivers, and worry far less about uncharted coral heads.
The trade-off is windage. A catamaran at anchor or in a marina catches a great deal of wind on its bridge deck and superstructure, so anchoring technique and marina handling deserve attention.
Purchase price for a comparable length is usually higher for a catamaran, and so is berthing, since marinas charge by beam. Haul-out and travel-lift capacity for wide beam may also be limited in some yards, which is worth checking before you commit.
Power catamarans bring the same volume and stability advantages to motor cruising, with lower planing speeds but excellent fuel efficiency per passenger and a very comfortable ride. They suit coastal and island cruising where range rather than top speed is the priority.
For families and charter operators, the combination of shallow draught, level platform, huge deck space and economical running has made the power catamaran one of the fastest-growing segments in the market.
Catamarans have their own survey priorities, and a surveyor who works mainly on monohulls will miss them. Bridge-deck clearance and slamming history matter enormously: a cat that has been driven hard into a head sea can develop structural fatigue around the bridge deck and forward crossbeam, and repairs there are major work.
Check the daggerboards or mini-keels and their trunks for cracks and grounding damage, inspect both saildrive or outboard installations separately, and ask directly about the boat's loaded displacement. Catamarans are far more sensitive to overload than monohulls — a cruising cat loaded with water toys, spares and provisions can lose a surprising amount of performance and freeboard.
Finally, look at the trampoline attachment points, the chainplates if fitted, and every through-hull in both hulls. Duplicated systems mean duplicated opportunities for a failed seacock, and access in a hull is usually excellent — so there is no excuse for skipping the inspection.
Catamarans are very stable and do not heel, which reduces crew fatigue and makes life aboard easier, especially with children. They can, however, capsize in extreme conditions if overloaded or driven hard, and they are less comfortable in a short chop. Both hull types are safe when sailed within their design limits.
Not necessarily. Two engines and duplicated systems raise maintenance costs, and berthing is often more expensive because marinas charge by beam. Under sail alone, running costs are comparable.
Poorly compared with a modern fin-keel monohull. Cruising catamarans make more leeway and need more apparent wind, so passage plans usually involve more reaching and downwind work. Daggerboards improve upwind performance on performance-oriented designs.
Most cruising families settle between 40 and 50 ft, which typically provides three or four cabins with en-suite heads, generous stowage and a saloon that doubles as living and dining space. Larger cats add range and crew space but also raise berthing and handling demands.
They stay much more level than monohulls because stability comes from hull spacing rather than ballast. They do heel slightly under sail, and can become uncomfortable in a steep chop, but the extreme angle of a heeling monohull is absent.