Yacht Sales | Catamaran Guru (2024)

FAQs

What are the downsides of catamarans? ›

Catamaran Cons

The slapping can become annoying, but is easily resolved by reducing sail. Unfortunately, that means reducing speed as well. You won't get the same amount of feedback from the wheel of a cat as from a monohull. This means you must be vigilant in rough seas and high winds and know when to reduce sail.

Catamarans in the 35-40' size range will typically include 2 or 3 berths, for up to 4 people to live onboard comfortably, or perhaps 6 for shorter durations. As you move up into the 40-50' range that may increase to 3 or 4 berths, with one of them being a large master suite holding a queen sized bed.

Since water is more than 800 times as dense as air, using a cat's wing to generate lift, and reduce water area on the boat, improves life to drag ratios significantly as compared to a V-hull. This makes cats of similar size, weight and power faster than V-hulls.

With their dual hulls, catamaran sailboats provide more stability than monohull sailboats, making them less likely to tip over or heel in rough seas. Catamarans also have more interior and exterior space. Usually, they have more amenities, such as multiple cabins, bathrooms, and more spacious living areas.

Modern Catamarans: Built for Rough Seas

Over the years, catamaran design and construction have evolved. Modern catamarans are built with rough seas in mind, incorporating features that enhance their seaworthiness.

YOU WILL SUFFER LESS DEPRECIATION.

While there is no fast and hard depreciation scale – because some catamarans hold their value at lot better than others – it goes something as follows: Year 1: -10%, Year 2: -7%, Year 3: -5%, Year 4: -4%, then another -2 percent decline per year until the boat is 12 or so years old.

Although it is possible to undertake a long voyage with almost any size catamaran, the recommended minimum sized catamaran to embark on an around-the-world voyage is around 30 feet in length which includes just enough space for a cabin and storage space for long-term provisions.

What Size Yacht To Live On? As a rule of thumb generally we would recommend buying a yacht over 40 foot, with 50 foot being a sweet spot for liveaboards since they are still relatively easy to handle and operate. Yachts over 60 feet become more challenging to manage in marinas.

These technological advances have enabled catamarans to achieve previously unattainable performances, making them suitable for fast and safe ocean crossings.

Because of their extra stability and room, you can easily move around the boat. That is why catamaran boats are considered “easier” to sail. The main difference with a monohull is that a catamaran has TWO hulls, with two engines and two rudders.

Are catamarans good in storms? ›

A catamaran on the other hand, will not right itself. But the cat will generally stay afloat, offering a good place to survive while you wait out the storm or until help comes along. Well-designed modern catamarans are very hard to capsize though.

One of the primary disadvantages of power catamarans is their cost. They are generally more expensive to purchase and maintain than equivalent-length monohulls. The initial higher cost can be a significant barrier for some buyers.

Fountaine Pajot catamarans are known for their elegant designs, spacious interiors, and respectable sailing performance, making them suitable for long-term live-aboard living. Nautitech catamarans are appreciated for their modern design, performance-oriented features, and pleasant living spaces.

Just how much safety modern mass-produced manufacturers build into their catamarans can be seen from the fact that their rigs collapse at 40 to 50 per cent of the maximum righting moment. This means that even in rough seas, modern designs can hardly tip over.

Seasickness in a catamaran is much less common than in other vessels because the ride is much smoother.

A monohull could capsize in extreme weather or even roll in a storm, but they generally come back upright. A catamaran on the other hand, will not right itself. But the cat will generally stay afloat, offering a good place to survive while you wait out the storm or until help comes along.