power vs sailing catamaran

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Performance Catamaran Comparisons

Performance cruising cats are becoming more popular and mainstream. A lot more brands have become available on the market over the last 10 years. Some of the most popular and well known performance cat brands are Catana, Outremer, HH Catamarans, and Balance. These boats’ popularity is not only driven by their amazing sailing abilities but also by YouTube channels like Sailing La Vagabond with their Outremer 45 and Gone with the Wynns who recently bought an HH 50 OC.

We Joined the Performance Catamaran Enthusiasts!

Catamaran Guru acquired a Catana Ocean Class 50. We take possession of the boat in September 2022 at the Cannes Yachting Festival .  After a hiatus for a few years to focus on the Bali range, Catana released in 2022 their Catana OC 50 that has the industry abuzz including ourselves. Its new bulkhead helm station, the open plan design, the comfort, interior spaciousness, and the affordability convinced us to take the leap and buy one. Read our review here>>

Let’s Look at Some Fundamentals

Of course, before we bought the Catana OC 50, we did a little research on the most popular performance catamarans. We wanted to see how these boats compare in performance.  One of the big factors that determines performance is Power-to-Weight ratio (or sail area to displacement ratio). We calculated the Bruce number and SA/D for the Catana OC 50, HH 50 OC, HH 50 Performance, Balance 482, and Outremer 51 . This is not the be-all and end-all but one do get a good indication of performance for these boats in steady sea conditions.

But before we dive down into it, let’s heed this advice from two veterans in the industry. Measuring a multihull’s performance is a complex issue that we all tend to want to boil down to a simplistic solution, which it is not. In the words of Tony Grainger: “…as a species hard wired for optimism, we’re prone to magical thinking, especially in the hands of marketing pros and advocacy scientists delivering theoretical solutions to complex problems.” As he says, “Prediction of performance and actual Observation are two very different things”. Phillip Berman from Balance Catamarans concurs: “Even the most accurate input, polar performance numbers on cruising catamarans are seldom achieved”. So, take this for what it is, simply numbers on a spreadsheet.

Some definitions:

• Bruce Number – a power-to-weight ratio for relative speed potential for comparing boats. It takes into consideration the displacement and sail area of main and jib (100% fore triangle only), no overlapping sails. Light boats are more easily driven than heavy boats and more sail gives you more drive.
• SA/D (sail area / displacement ratio): indicates the power of the sail plan relative to the displacement of the boat, regardless of the length. 

We used the Bruce-SA/D calculator  to calculate the SA/D range of values:

• 16 to 18 Heavy offshore cruisers
• 18 to 22 Medium Cruisers
• 22 to 26 Inshore cruisers, racing boats
• 26 to 30 Extreme racing boats

Catamaran Measurements

Points of Consideration

• We used the published numbers on the manufacturers’ websites to do the calculations and some of those numbers may be slightly off. We tried to verify but have not received feedback. Any input is welcome! 
• We used only the mainsail and jib area on all the boats to get an apples to apples comparison.
• The “Lightship Displacement” quoted in each of the manufacturer’s specifications was used in the Bruce number calculation. Note there is an anomaly in that the Outremer, which is the biggest boat with the least carbon fiber, is quoted as being the lightest boat of the group. We think the lightship displacement quoted on the Outremer website might be inaccurate because it is unlikely that a predominantly E-Glass boat would be lighter than a full Carbon boat such as the Balance or HH performance. If anyone has reliable numbers for Outremer, we would love to hear from you! *We have received new information and have updated the weight of the Balance with new actual published numbers.

Some Observations and Conclusion

For performance cruisers there is a fine balance between speed and comfort and they are not for everyone. Speed does not always make for comfort. Operation of daggerboards, bigger and more powerful rigs and more complex running rigging require more skill, making them not suitable for the average cruising sailor. The conclusion we drew from this exercise is that all these boats are essentially very similar cruisers with very similar performance characteristics, except for the Balance, which stands out as the real performance boat. *Updated information shows that this boat is very similar now to the other boats. We believe that most of these boats are capable of good performance in light conditions, which is of course the beauty of a performance cat. These are our observations:

• The measurements for these boats are all very similar.
• Balance is the lightest boat (full carbon) at 25,353lbs 29321lbs  with a big sail plan at 1,432 sq ft. These boats are super light and fast and moves in very light air.  *We updated the Balance weight with new actual published numbers. 
• According to the SA/D numbers, the Balance is rated in the “extreme racing” category at 26.549 and a Bruce number of 1.292.   The Balance turns out to be very similar to the other boats SA/D “inshore cruisers / racing boats” category like the other boats
• The rest of the cats all fall into the SA/D “inshore cruisers / racing boats” category. So, these boats should all perform similarly and sail well even in light conditions.
• The Catana OC 50 (carbon deck and bulkheads) and the HH 50 Performance (full carbon), surprisingly are rated very similarly. The Catana is heavier but has a bigger sail plan and thus has similar performance to the HH.
• The HH 50 OC has mini keels rather than daggerboards and will likely not have the same performance to weather as the daggerboard boats.
• The Catana is the heaviest boat at 31,164lbs with the biggest sail area at 1469 sq ft.
• The Catana has the highest load carrying capacity of 10,723lbs – great for cruising and living onboard.
• The fuel tanks on both the HH catamarans are 4 times the size of the water tanks which is curious and nearly double the size of any of the other cats. That seems a little odd, but we could be wrong.
• Fuel capacities vary greatly between the boats, with Outremer having the least fuel capacity at 88 gal.
• Water capacity varies slightly, also. Catana and Balance carry around 210 gals while the others carry around 100 gals, which is a bit small for live aboard in our opinion.

We also concluded that while these stats are interesting data, they should not be the overriding factor when choosing a boat in the performance cruising category. Other factors to consider include quality, comfort, livability, equipment, safety, resale value, etc. Price is also a very big consideration. Balance (South Africa) and HH cats (China) are way more expensive than the French-built cats, Catana and Outremer, partly because the Balance and HH Performance are full carbon boats while the others have carbon infused deck and/or bulkheads. We believe that the Catana’s interior volume and comfort make it an extremely livable boat while still having the performance benefits of an express blue water cruiser and it is extremely affordable at around $1.5 million.

Having said all that, with the advancement of technology, more people will be able to sail these performance cats safely and will be able to afford them as more hulls are built and costs come down.

Here is another very interesting analysis Sailing into Freedom. The top 10 performance catamarans – Dazcat 1495, ORC 50, Odisea 48, Balance 526, Outremer 45, Outremer 51, Catana OC, HH 50, OC 50, Balance 482, HH44, Seawind 1370, Seawind 1600, Slyder 49, Privilege, Windelo 50. We would love for everyone to join the discussion. Let us know what you think in the comment box!

Learn how to sail a performance catamaran

Our sailing school facility in Fort Lauderdale will start training on the Catana OC 50 with certified RYA instructors in March 2023. Contact us for more information about our sailing school dates and pricing.

Wanda Anglin

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The Planing Power Catamaran: A Different Kind Of Cat

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Planing powercats deliver the high speeds dayboaters and weekend anglers crave — but without so much pounding in choppy seas.

The air cushion ­created between the two hulls dramatically reduces wave impact at running speeds. (Photo: World Cat)

Powercats are different beasts than sailing cats, and the powercats you're most likely to see on your local waters are those in the 20- to 40-foot range (like my 22-foot Glacier Bay). Unlike the big cruising powercats, which are more like cat trawlers with top ends maybe a little over 20 mph, smaller cats have planing hulls that perform much like today's modern powerboats.

Depending on the engine package, there are a few cats that top out in the lower 30s, lots in the lower 40s, some in the 50s, and a few that break 70 or even 80 mph.

While a similar length monohull may have a 40-mph cruising speed in a 2-foot chop, the monohull captain will pull back the throttles and cruise at 30 to avoid being beaten up. The cat guy, on the other hand, may be able to keep on doing 40 thanks to the smoother ride. But having two hulls underfoot does create some interesting similarities in how these different types of boats react to input from the helm. So you'll see a few of the tips here mirror those used for sailing or cruising catamarans. Whatever type of cat you may be captaining, remember the following:

• Center the wheel and use only the throttles to control the boat. Powercats have their engines exceptionally widely spaced apart, and are far more responsive than monohulls when steered via throttles. Generally speaking, turning the steering wheel will only serve to reduce the effectiveness of working the throttles. This, of course, is assuming you have two engines. There are a few rare cats with one engine.
• At identical rpm, the engine in forward will create more thrust than the engine in reverse. So even if the throttles are set evenly when opposed, the boat will likely slide forward a bit as opposed to spinning in its own length. As a result, when attempting to speed up the maneuver it's usually best to favor giving the reversed engine extra oomph as opposed to the one in forward (assuming you don't want to move forward while turning the boat).
• Check the speed and direction of the wind before docking , and remember that some cats, particularly those with low draft, can be blown around more easily than many monohulls as there may be less hull below the waterline.
• When docking in a new slip for the first time with lines that haven't been preset, bear in mind that once you're docked, securing the boat can be difficult in some situations because few powercats have centered cleats. Most will have a single cleat on either side, in some cases obstructed by a bow rail and/or pulpit, which can make crossing lines difficult.
• Never shut those engines down until all the lines are secured . Again, remember that many cats can get blown out of kilter faster than the average monohull, and if you don't have lines preset, it may take a moment to figure out how to best secure them. Many a captain has done a perfect docking job and then shut off the engines, only for a gust of wind to push the boat right back out of the slip before the lines can be tied. Keep those engines running until the boat is 100% secure so you can apply power, if necessary, to maintain position.

Why Two Hulls?

Like all boats, catamarans come with distinct advantages (smooth ride, draft), and areas of compromise (docking, turning). Regardless of design aesthetics, the first question is usually: Why two hulls?

Mike Myers, vice president of product development for World Cat explains: "Catamaran hulls experience little to no drag or resistance to get on plane, resulting in greater fuel economy. They have a steady rise in speed and fuel burn with little to no spikes in fuel consumption."Planing powercats have a unique trait — which many cat lovers consider the top advantage over monohulls — the impact-absorbing cushion of air created by a compression tunnel between hulls.

And when it comes to beam, catamarans' parallel hulls create reliable stability, which helps to avoid heeling and capsizing, and greatly reduces the vessel roll at rest and at trolling speeds.

"Many boats are primarily designed around comfort for the captain. This usually means anyone at the front or sides of the boat takes most of the jostling,"Myers says. "The catamaran-style hull delivers ride comfort, smoothness, load distribution, and stability."That stability draws anglers to powercats of typically 20 to 40 feet; and cruisers to sailing cats 40 to 60 feet and beyond.

— Rich Armstrong

Taming The Cat

When it comes to handling powercats in open waters, the most important thing to remember is that all boats are different. Just as you wouldn't lump the handling characteristics of all monohulls together, the same goes for powercats. But many have a few common traits to consider.

• Some powercats have relatively low buoyancy in the bow compared to monohulls, as many have very narrow hull entries . As a result, in some cases, idling into a sea can allow waves to break over the bow. Gaining some headway so the bow rises a bit and packs air into the tunnel can alleviate the issue.
• Some planing powercats will run smoother at faster speeds than slower speeds, as they compress air in the tunnel between the two hulls. In these cases, speeding up may actually provide a more comfortable ride in some sea states as compared to slowing down. Depending on your boat, its tunnel may result in other differences from the monohull that you may be familiar with. Learning about these will improve you experience.
• Some powercats display a "snap roll,"which is a very fast righting motion that can rock the boat uncomfortably, especially when drifting in a beam sea. In these cases, people who may want to drift often (such as anglers) will sometimes deploy a drift sock off the bow to reduce rocking and rolling.

Photo: World Cat

• In general, powercats are often more weight-sensitive than monohulls, especially when the bow is loaded down . It's always best to be aware of how you're loading your boat, and if the tunnel is slapping or the bow is digging into waves, consider shifting weight aft.
• Some powercats, particularly older models, lean out in a turn rather than banking in. There's no way to eliminate this phenomenon (although trimming up an outboard engine when initiating a turn may reduce it a bit), so it's important to give passengers a warning to hold on before making any aggressive maneuvers.
• "Sneezing,"or blowing a puff of mist out the front of the tunnel that the boat then runs through (getting everyone aboard damp), is a phenomenon associated with some powercats. In many cases, trimming the bow up a bit will significantly reduce or even eliminate sneezing.

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Introduction

The benefits and compromises of owning a power catamaran are usually obvious for different consumers, depending on their circumstances, boating ambitions and level of experience. However, a rapidly growing number of seasoned boaters are learning the joys of owning a catamaran and end up becoming firm catamaran supporters.

We have witnessed amazing changes to how families go boating together on a catamaran. For many families, the catamaran yacht has enabled their kids to join and bring their friends without overcrowding the boat. Guests do not have to be seasoned yachties to enjoy the day in the stable and protected cockpit. While entertaining can be done with style and without stress.

The most compelling argument of all must be this: seasoned monohull boaters are converting to catamarans by the truckload. Many converted former motor yacht owners are now passionate advocates of power catamarans. For experienced yachties demanding performance, the advantages are simply too great to ignore.  It is rare to hear of any catamaran owners ever going back to a monohull. Once you become a catamaran owner, you are hooked for life.

“Why should I buy a power catamaran instead of a similar sized motor yacht?”

We are regularly asked by buyers “why should I buy a power catamaran instead of a similar sized motor yacht”. Like everything, there are benefits and compromises to the power catamaran. Despite ourselves being firm Catamaran converts and lifetime believers, below we offer a balanced comparison of the pros and cons.

Advantages of Monohulls

A monohull, as the name implies, has just one hull. This is the most common type of hull design, but why? To produce a well balanced comparison lets start by investigating the benefits of monohulls:

Slow roll period

• Many brands and builders to choose from

More usable space below waterline

Familiar handling.

While monohulls roll back and forth far more than a catamaran, monohull fans will argue that the slow roll period of a monohull has a comforting effect.

There any many brands and builders to choose from as most builders still only produce monohulls. Whilst this trend is changing, 50+ years of composite boat building has been heavily monohull focused. This does mean that there is a far greater selection of vessels, designers and brands and builders to select from.

Whilst the monohull comparably has less interior space, the wide waterline beam (width) allows for greater use of the internal hull height. This either enables builders to mount tanks and storage below cabin floors or to actually expand the cabin below waterline. As a catamaran gains performance via its light displacement and narrow waterline beam, this is often not practical on a catamaran.

Jumping from one boat to another will feel extremely familiar as the differences in handling between brands is minimal, with the exception of planning hull vs displacement hull. Focusing on planning hulls, however you will quickly feel familiar jumping from one boat to another. On the contrary, the difference in handling from a monohull to a power catamaran are immediately apparent.

Disadvantages of Monohulls

Now that we have seen the advantages of a monohull, lets analyse some disadvantages one might encounter while boating on a typical V-bottomed or deep-V motoryacht.

Low stability

Bow steering, rolling at anchor, significant bowrise.

Due to the wide flat hull shape required to get the monohull more quickly into planning mode, it can produce a rather bumpy ride when motoring through waves. Performance through waves can be significantly improved or diminished depending on the hull shape. For instance, a deep V hull will be more comfortable through waves than a shallow V. However, both are significantly outperformed by even the worst power catamaran designs.

A monohulls heel angle is directly affected by weight placement. Moving too much weight to port or to stbd will cause the vessel to heel. This is significantly noticeable when at anchor however even underway an incorrectly loaded monohull can dangerously heel. This can be overcome underway by the use of trim tabs. However, is best overcome by conscious weight placement and management.

Bow steering usually occurs when motoring at speed in a following sea or when passing another vessels wake. If you are inexperienced and do not know what is happening it can be quite frightening. Basically, the boat will suddenly and often expectantly turn hard in one direction while rolling hard in the opposite direction, despite your efforts to steer straight. Bow steering can be prevented with the installation of trim tabs. They can enable you to raise the bow up and out of the water when in a following sea. Trim tabs are not needed on a catamaran due to the natural separation of hulls bow steering.

At times you will undoubtedly come across anchorages that aren’t completely flat. When this happens, monohulls, that rely on the weight of their COG (center of gravity) to be aligned below their COB (center of buoyancy) to keep them upright, will start to rock from side to side. Things roll around inside, plates go flying. It’s uncomfortable or sometimes impossible to cook, and only the hardiest of yachties will be getting any sleep. 

While all of this is going on, at the next mooring ball, the power catamaran owners are sitting in their cockpits sipping sun-downers, barely noticing the movement, quietly getting tipsy before a long night’s sleep.

The degree of bowrise varies with monohull designs. However, for those of you unfamiliar with this term, bowrise is the tendency of a boat to point its bows up in the air before it gets into planning mode and then settles somewhat. This puts passengers through an uncomfortable, and sometimes unnerving experience whilst also exposing the vessel to a decreased level of stability and safety.

POWER CATAMARAN

Advantages of power catamarans.

Whilst individual designs can vary by design and their usage, the benefits below are typically universal for most catamarans. In comparison to the equivalent length monohull a catamaran shall deliver the following advantages:

Superior ride comfort

Enhanced stability at anchor and underway, up-scaled cabins and interiors, larger single level cockpit and saloon, significantly improved fuel consumption.

• Drastically improved close-quarter maneuvering

Catamarans experience slower deceleration through wave impact. This significantly reduces slamming through waves. This has been measured with accelerometers in like for like tests to have a 25% reduction in G forces when riding over waves.

Due largely to their wider beam, catamarans have a remarkably higher righting moment compared to monohulls. This prevents them from rolling side-to-side when at anchor, and keeps them sitting level both underway and at rest . This is regardless of placement of people or luggage, this also eliminates the need for catamarans to use trim tabs.

More interior volume, especially in power catamarans that carry their beam all the way forward. Even applicable in the smallest cats that will usually have stand up headroom in each cabin, unlike smaller monohulls. As a result of this increased volume, a power catamaran will always feel over sized – more fairly compared to a monohull 15-20% longer in length. A 35ft power catamaran for instance is more fairly matched against a 43ft motor yacht.

Catamarans generally provide far more living space in the main salon and cockpit in comparison to similarly priced monohulls. The galley, main salon and cockpit are also all on one level, above the water line … making life aboard as well as your view much more enjoyable.

Due to their reduced displacement and wetted surface area power catamarans are impressively efficient. The wider monohull bows create a large bow wake and greater resistance, which require more HP to get onto plane. Not only does this burn more fuel, but also enables a catamaran to get onto plane under just one motor. This is a significant safety advantage, enabling a boat with only one working engine to return to shore before dark rather than limping home at below planning speeds. The ability to plane at lower RPM’s enables cruisers not wanting to travel at groundbreaking speeds to achieve highly efficient low speed planning. Vastly expanding their cruising ground while not breaking the bank nor taking all day to get to the next anchorage. Learn more about power catamaran fuel consumption HERE>>

Drastically improved close-quarter maneuvering: A large separation between the port and stbd engine drastically improves close-quarters maneuvering. This enables a power catamaran to literally rotate within its own waterline length by simply putting one engine in reverse, and one in forward. Add a joystick control and you’re in command of one of the easiest boats that you will ever dock.

Disadvantages of Power Catamarans

Despite the significant benefits gained by the power catamaran, there are also a few unusual traits associated with powercats:

Outward banking

Snaking at anchor, tunnel-slap, unusual appearance.

When making sharp turnsm a monohull will bank (roll) into the turn. A catamaran, on the other hand, due to its increased stability and righting moment will actually bank slightly outward. If coming from a monohull background, initially this sensation will feel unusual. However, If you have no prior expectations regarding the outward bank offers ,no benefits or disadvantage over the inward bank.

Due to the power catamarans wide beam and asymmetry, when at anchor a shifting breeze will cause the vessel to turn to port and stbd in a snakelike movement.  If the wind has some strength and continues to shift, this movement can become uncomfortable. We therefore recommend attaching an anchor bridle whenever anchoring which completely eradicates this effect.

In certain conditions, catamarans can experience tunnel slap. This is where a wave passing under the tunnel rises up and slaps the wingdeck surface causing a thud or slapping sound. This effects different catamaran designs in various ways depending on whether they are of displacement or planning type. A displacement catamaran requires a high wingdeck to overcome the wave crest heights in order to ride over the top of the waves. Planning catamarans, on the other hand, should have narrower and shallower tunnels. This forces a compressed air mixture through the tunnel, creating a cushioning and lifting effect lifting the catamaran above the surface of the water with intensity increasing as speed increases.

When asked, many monohull owners claim they do not like the unusual appearance of a power catamaran. Whilst styling preference is subjective, at Makai we have worked hard to design a power catamaran that delivers all of the benefits of a catamaran. Whilst doing so with attractive and unmistakable styling.

CONCLUSION : Power Catamaran or Monohull?

Whilst each have their own advantages and disadvantages the final choice is completely down to personal preference. Clearly, we are die hard catamaran believers, but we also believe that what is most important above all else is just getting outside and on the water, having fun and being safe. So, when you find the boat that does all of the right things for you, go for it!

Learn more about MAKAI Yachts HERE>>

Learn more about the MAKAI M37 HERE>>

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Catamaran vs Monohull: The Great Sailboat Debate

16th jun 2023 by john burnham.

Do you love the natural sounds of water sliding past the boat’s hull and a breeze blowing across your rigging and sails while gliding ahead powered only by the force of the wind? If yes, you are well-suited to spending plenty of time on a sailboat, like so many generations of boat people before you. 

But do you take your lead from the Egyptians who rigged sails on their boats built of reeds along the Nile River or follow the path of the Polynesians, who used an outrigger for extra stability and sailed from one Pacific island to the next in the earliest catamarans?

The question of which is better for sailing, one hull or two, has been a matter of debate over thousands of years. Today, let’s explore these two basic types of sailboat, and while we may not settle the argument once and for all, hopefully in the process you will begin to discover which option is better for you.

What Are the Differences Between Catamaran and Monohull Boats?

The monohull and the catamaran (often referred to as “cat”) are the two most common categories of sailboats, and of the two, the monohull far outnumbers the catamaran in popularity due to its simplicity and sturdiness. Advocates of the catamaran, however, are typically even more convinced than monohull sailors that their boats are best due to performance potential and overall spaciousness.  

What are catamaran-style boats?

Catamarans are easily identified by their two-hull design. Two hulls sit side by side with an interconnecting deck or structural beams across the bap in the middle. Catamarans have been around since Pacific Islanders and other Austronesian people sailed them centuries ago, and they continue to gain popularity in a wide range of designs both as high-performance racing boats and ocean-cruising designs.

Although not part of this debate, a third sailboat type comparable to a catamaran is a trimaran. Trimaran sailboats are constructed similarly to catamarans but have three parallel hulls rather than two. Collectively, catamarans and trimarans are referred to as multihulls, and sailors of both types often refer lightheartedly to monohulls as “monomarans.”

What are monohull-style boats?

Monohull sailboats are the most common boat type because they feature a single hull, typically with a single mast and two sails. Rather than maintaining stability with a second hull creating a wider beam, monohull boats usually carry lead or other heavy ballast in their keel, or are stabilized by human weight as their crews lean out to counter the force of the wind. Monohulls can also be excellent racers and cruisers, depending on their size, volume, sail area, and displacement or weight.

Where Catamarans and Monohulls Excel 

Each type of boat has its advantages, depending on what the owner wants in a boat. Here are the main advantages of each type.

Catamaran advantages

• More space .  Catamarans have greater beam for a given length, which provides more space for the crew on a daysailer and larger living quarters on cruising designs, which are often laid out with berths in each hull and living quarters across the bridgedeck between hulls.

• Faster hull . If they are light enough, the sleeker shape and reduced wetted surface of two narrow, shallow hulls can produce quicker straight-line sailing speed than a single, deeper and wider hull.

• Comfort and stability . Two hulls provide better initial stability and generally heel less than monohulls, especially in light- or medium-strength winds and waves.

Monohull advantages

• Upwind sailing . When sailing against the wind, monohulls often sail at a closer angle to the wind and arrive more quickly at their destination.

• Easier motion . Heavier monohulls often have a slower, gentler motion in waves than a lighter catamaran. 

• Load carrying capability . A monohull’s performance is reduced less than a catamaran’s when the boat is loaded heavily with cargo or crew.  

• Righting characteristics . Larger monohulls have weighted keels that provide increased resistance to a capsize when the boat is heeled far over by wind or a wave and if capsized will return the boat to an upright position.

Catamaran vs. Monohull Sailing Speed

There are several reasons why a catamaran is often faster than a monohull boat. These include the fact that most catamaran hulls have less water resistance than monohulls, they are often lighter, and they can be more easily driven by a relatively small sailplan. At similar lengths, a catamaran can be dramatically faster than a monohull under similar sea conditions. However, weight is the enemy of a catamaran’s speed; a heavy or heavily loaded catamaran may be much slower than a lightweight monohull.

Catamaran vs. monohull power

A monohull under auxiliary power may be faster than a catamaran in certain conditions, like powering against a strong wind. In other wind and wave conditions, the catamaran is often faster. Also, with an engines on each hull, the cat is often much more maneuverable in close quarters or at the marina. While it may seem counter-intuitive, turning and controlling the boat is often less challenging than when sailing a monohull boat with the typical single engine. Monohull boats require more finesse when in tight quarters like berthing in a marina.

Catamaran vs. Monohull Efficiency

A sleek monohull may sail against the wind super efficiently, pointing close to the wind and making an excellent speed. However, the power-to-weight ratio of the catamaran allows it to make good use of whatever wind it has. Some fast, light catamarans can travel at speeds equal to or faster than the wind, something very few monohulls can achieve. When the wave action increases and you start sailing into the wind, the catamaran may lose its advantage, and in strong winds, the greater windage of the wide catamaran may have a pronounced slow-down effect compared to the sleeker monohull.  

Catamaran vs. Monohull Stability

Despite not having a weighted keel, a catamaran design is able to avoid heeling over in strong winds or bad weather due to its greater width or beam. As a result, the multihull also tends to be more stable at anchor and any time in calmer seas. However, if the winds are strong and the waves are large, a monohull, with its keel weight and ability to sail against the wind while controlling the sails, is sometimes the steadier of the two types. While a monohull with weighted keel can be knocked down by strong gusts of wind, it will only capsize in extremely large waves. Likewise, a cruising catamaran can only capsize in large ocean waves, unless it is a fast, lightweight catamaran, that can more easily tip over in gusty winds and waves.

Catamaran vs. Monohull Safety

Power catamarans and power monohulls are relatively comparable in terms of safety. But depending on the size of the mast and sails, the weight of the boat, and the wind and wave conditions experienced, many sailors believe that a monohull configuration is safer than a catamaran for a sailboat. That’s mainly because while a monohull will initially heel over further in a strong gust of wind, the weight of its keel provides increasing stability as described above and if completely capsized, the keel typically helps the boat self rescue.

It should be clarified that many sailing catamaran designs are conservatively configured and difficult to capsize except in extreme ocean wave conditions—and the same can be said for larger power catamarans. 

In terms of ultimate safety in the event of a capsize, however, the catamaran is considered safer because even should it turn once upside down, even if damaged, the catamaran with its two hulls and minimal ballast typically remains buoyant and provides a safer configuration in which to await rescue. By contrast, if a monohull’s hatches and port windows suffer damage in a knockdown, the boat can more quickly take on water and, weighed down by its keel or other ballast, be more difficult to keep afloat in extreme conditions.

Photo credit: Fountaine Pajot

Monohull vs. Catamaran Maintenance

Depending on size, age, and type of hull construction, maintenance costs will vary, but when comparing two fiberglass sailboats of similar length, the catamaran typically costs more to maintain. That’s because there are two hulls to care for, two engines, connecting structures that align the two hulls, and an overall larger boat due to the catamaran’s greater beam. Hauling and launching a catamaran can be more expensive at many boatyards, as well.

However, smaller catamarans of about 20 feet in length or less are often more comparable and sometimes cheaper to maintain than a similar length monohull. That’s because cats are often lighter and suitable for keeping on a trailer rather than in a slip or on a mooring.

Catamaran vs. Monohull Cost

Compared to similar length monohulls, a catamaran will likely cost more than a monohull boat. That’s mainly because when you purchase a 40-foot catamaran, you are buying two hulls and two engines, but you are also buying a bigger boat that typically has much more volume. In the case of a 40-footer, you end up with a boat that has a large saloon and three or four private cabins, whereas in the monohull, the saloon is smaller and you’ll have three smaller sleeping cabins. Annual maintenance will also be greater, as described above.  

Among smaller catamarans and monohulls, pricing will vary, and a lightweight beach cat may be less expensive than a heavier monohull keelboat of similar length.

Catamaran vs. Monohull, Pros and Cons

Depending on a variety of factors, there are plenty of catamaran and monohull pros and cons. These are some to keep in mind when comparing the two boat types.

Catamaran pros

• Comfort . On a cruising designed catamaran, two hulls with a wide beam create a stable and comfortable living environment with open spaces and plenty of standing room.

• Speed . Smaller, lighter catamarans are speed champions, especially in a moderate wind and modest waves. Cruising cats are often fast when sailing at reaching angles.

• Maneuverability . When equipped with two engines, a catamaran is highly maneuverable under power.

Monohull pros

• Upwind sailing . Although catamarans are often faster when sailing in a straight line, monohulls typically perform better against the wind.

• Self-righting . Except for unballasted monohulls that rely on crew weight for stability, the ballasted keel of a monohull prevents capsizing in most circumstances and the keel makes the boat self-righting.

• Maneuvering under sail . Monohulls turn more easily due to their shape, maneuvering in close quarters or tacking when sailing against the wind.

Catamaran cons

• Lack of feel when steering . Except in lighter, more performance-oriented catamarans, the broad platform with two rudders and two hulls sometimes isolates the sailor and provides little feedback through the helm when under sail.

• Sailing against the wind . Upwind sailing is generally not a catamaran’s best point of sail, but its straight-line speed can be such that it may arrive quickly at its destination, even though you will have traveled much farther than in a monohull.

• Pricing . Catamarans are typically more expensive than monohull boats due to their two hulls and other required build components and complexity.

• Not self-righting . Thanks to its wide beam and two-hull design, a catamaran is more difficult to flip, but it is not designed to right itself except for small beach cats where the crew can use their weight to re-right the boat.

Monohull cons

• Weight . Most monohulls have thousands of pounds of weight in the keel for ballast that is vital to its stability but can degrade performance.

• Wave motions .   Monohull boats are much more susceptible to rolling wave motions.

• Cabin . With the monohull cruising design, you'll typically find a darker interior with smaller port windows and fewer space options.

• Heeling effect . Monohulls will heel over in a moderate wind, which is normal but often uncomfortable for newer sailors.

Written By: John Burnham

John Burnham is a marine ​editor and writer with ​decades of journalism experience as ​Chief Editor of​ boats.com,​ Sailing World, Cruising World, and ​other boating websites. As a competitive sailor, he has led teams to world and national titles in the International One-Design, Shields, and other classes. Based in Newport, Rhode Island, John is a​ PCC leadership coach, a member of the ​America’s Cup Hall of Fame Selection Committee​, and a ​past board member of Sail America and US Sailing. For more, see  johnsburnham.com .

More from: John Burnham

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Best catamaran and multihull: We sail the very best yachts on two and three hulls

• Toby Hodges
• March 20, 2024

Toby Hodges takes a look at all the nominees and the winner of the best catamaran and multihull category in the much-anticipated European Yacht of the Year Awards

There are many categories in the  European Yacht of the Year  awards, from the best  luxury yachts  and  performance yachts  to the  best yachts for families  and event a  best specialist yacht category. But with multihulls rapidly increasing in popularity, the best catamaran and multihull category was possibly the most hotly anticipated.

The small number of entrants in this category in no way reflects the rich range or huge demand for multihulls. Many new models were launched by the big yards in the preceding years and they’re struggling to keep up with bulging order books.

However, these three shortlisted represented a choice pick of the latest fast cruisers and each, in their own very different ways, are responding to this insatiable demand for high end space and pace cruising.

Best catamaran and multihull

Best catamaran and multihull winner 2024 – outremer 52.

My highlight test of 2023? Sailing this Outremer 52 for 200 miles over two days and nights! Quite how such a large vessel, one that is capable of doing laps of the planet in true comfort, is also capable of providing such enjoyable sailing is the secret sauce that helps scoop this prize.

And it was pushed hard for this award by the disruptive HH. But the Outremer is such a well rounded, measured and thought out yacht for bluewater cruising at a reliable speed – it’s the full package, a dream boat for family bluewater sailing and arguably the French yard’s best and most refined model to date.

Designer VPLP was tasked with replacing the popular and well proven 51 with more comfort and stowage, while maintaining the performance. It says it took the best of the 55 (which won this award two years ago), and the best of the 51’s deck plan to create this 52. The result means too many good features to point out here, from the variety of helm positions, including a completely protected position inboard using the swing pedestal, to the well conceived spaces. I’d therefore recommend reading our full test report online or in YW’s June 2023 issue!

Neel continues to enjoy its cruising trimaran niche, using the wow factor of bridgedeck accommodation combined with the type of sailing enjoyment and feedback monohull sailors appreciate.

The impressive lightwind performance and direct feel of a Neel I am used to. But I don’t think I’ve ever been so surprised by the amount of cabins or space as I was on this 52. It’s available with four to six cabins plus the option for two crew cabins aft! Some of this maze works well, other areas, such as the forward cabins in the main hull not quite so well. Horizon and rig sightlines and some finishing also leaves room for improvement.

The HH44 seemingly manages to achieve the space and pace balance in a compact 45ft package, while also being one of the most innovative and exciting new production yachts I have sailed. From its looks to layout, to practical on deck solutions such as swing pedestals, side gates through the bulwarks and transom gates that double as swim platforms and boost cockpit security, it’s packed with fresh thinking.

And on the subject of ‘fresh’, the natural ventilation encouraged into the yacht through those massive forward facing coachroof windows which open – a feat made possible thanks to a stiff carbon composite structure – negates any aircon requirements.

With its deep carbon boards and tall carbon rig the HH44 is a powerful, reactive animal to sail. However, it’s the incorporation of the first parallel hybrid electric drive units which really makes this high tech high performance cat stand out. The electric motors are attached to the aft end of conventional diesel engines, not only providing silent power, but renewable energy through regenerative drives while sailing.

Best catamaran and multihull 2023

Best catamaran winner – nautitech 44.

If the very best catamaran delivers the ideal comfort to performance compromise, here’s a catamaran that seems to strike the perfect balance.

For those who cite a lack of visibility and protection as reasons not to choose this aft helm route, try sailing this first – direct steering brings so much more helming pleasure that you get the enjoyable feeling and communication more associated with a monohull. The attention to keeping weight low and central, vacuum infused vinylester build and a low coachroof and boom all aid this performance. The fine entry Lombard-designed hulls allowed us to properly point upwind at 8 knots (in 13), but it was the hands-on steering sensation that really stayed with me.

While there’s no real inside/outside boundary – the saloon bridges both – the Chedal-Anglay interior design works well. It is not as voluminous as some, but is certainly enough to be smugly comfortable at anchor, finished to a good quality, with walnut Alpi trim as standard. The layout option for a ‘smart room’ office/laundry/bunk room or stowage cabin is indeed really smart.

Out of all the multihulls nominated or sailed last year, this cat impressed me the most under sail. It’s the ideal size to go distance sailing, with good performance, low draught and space for family and friends. It had me dreaming.

Balance 482

I was drawn to the Balance 482, thanks to the combination of good looking modern design, high average speeds and, chiefly, the profusion of clever thinking and practical ideas that it brings. The South African build uses a foam core with E-glass laminate and cored furniture for a light weight of 11.3 tonnes, but also with the ability to take a generous payload.

An electric furler option combined with screecher sail helps offer effortless handling and fun sailing, although the 482 prefers a breeze in the double figures. Smart options such as load cells on the rigging, a bowsprit camera to monitor the anchor chain, plus engine room and mast cams all help for maintaining vigilance. Other features we like include the solar panels properly installed on raised brackets, raincatchers built into the coachroof, and how all sheets and lines are led to the helm station. But the prize solution is the VersaHelm, which allows you to swing the wheel inboard, close off the helm station, and stand watch and steer from a fully protected position.

Catana Ocean Class

The Catana Ocean Class is a bulky model which is geared more towards creature comforts than the higher performance of its predecessors. That said, it uses carbon in the structure and roof, foam cored furniture, the tanks are mounted low in the hulls and it has daggerboards and fine entry bows. The weight savings help it offer a massive 5.5 tonne cruising payload, plus there’s capacious stowage and large tank, refrigeration and laundry capacity.

Positioned between Lagoon and Outremer, the Catana echoes a bit of its sister brand Bali’s concept with its internal cockpit-cum-saloon layout while providing good ventilation via large sliding doors and opening windows. We liked how it’s easy to handle solo from one helm station, including the electric remote control of the boards, plus the layout of the galley and navstation.

Those chasing speed and helming pleasure should perhaps look to the C-Cat 48, as it’s as close to helming a fast monohull as a cruising cat is likely to get and one of the rare times we enjoyed sailing upwind in light breezes on a multihull! This is largely thanks to a lightweight, stiff build – the Comar yard has managed to save 1.7 tonnes over the first boat (9.5 tonnes light) and increased the draught of the curved daggerboards to 2.95m.

A carbon roof and rig comes as standard, as well as an epoxy hull, full carbon deck, bulkheads and compression beam. It is a little quirky with comparatively small volumes, but this François Perus design will outperform most other performance cats and monohulls of a similar length.

The Excess 14 shares that direct sensation you get from aft helms and some of the performance of the C-Cat, but in a more balanced, voluminous layout for cruising. The Excess 14 benefits from the research of VPLP’s Vannes racing office, where attention was focused on weight reduction, with savings particularly in furniture, on improved stiffness (PET foam cored sandwich for main structural bulkheads), and the efficiency of deeper fixed keels.

The result is telling on the water, as it should be for any best catamaran contender, where you can log easy miles: we clocked late 7s upwind, reached in the late 8s and regularly averaged 9 knots with gennaker in 12-15 knots. Clear glass windows give acceptable visibility from the helms through the coachroof and the comparatively minimalist interior. In short it offers a good mix of volume, reasonable performance and enjoyable sailing – see our full review last month.

Sailing performance was another key facet in the battle of the big cats from the big cat yards, Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot. Both models offer luxurious amounts of space for home from home comfort, as watersports bases for long term cruising.

The decision to push the mast to the front of the coachroof to allow for a larger genoa than its recent preference for self-tacking jibs has paid off on the Lagoon 51. It helped us sail efficiently into the waves (albeit not pointing too high) before clocking double figures reaching with the code sail in 15 knots.

The Lagoon’s large flybridge with dual access is a USP at this size that will be a hit or miss deal breaker for many. The 51 offers unrivalled accommodation volume in three, four or six cabins, and relaxation zones, and good circulation through these big spaces. Once again the jury applauds Lagoon for thoroughly testing the prototype model during a six month tour. Over 100 have already sold.

We saw in our December issue how the experienced owners of the Fountaine Pajot test boat choose to live and work full time aboard their Aura 51. It’s a design that promotes space, enough to take friends, family and crucially for them, all the toys to enjoy at anchor. Its capability of averaging 8-10 knots also appeals, although the single side helm and hydraulic steering result in scant connection to the sailing in light winds (the same applies to the Lagoon).

The fact the yard already offers this in a hybrid version and has an electric and hydrogen model in the pipeline could sway some, but the decision between the FP and the Lagoon will likely come down to preference between a central flybridge or offset bulkhead helm together with interior design and layout.

If you enjoyed this….

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