catamaran vs trimaran capsize

Why Catamarans Capsize, A Scientific Explanation (For Beginners)

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When people see a catamaran, many think of capsizing, which has proven to be a way less common event than your average forum thread would lead you to believe. This article will use a scientific approach to look at the data available for stability incidents with catamarans. 

This article is based on a study made by the UK government concerning recommendations for regulating catamarans. I have used that knowledge to discuss some of the common misunderstandings considering catamaran stability. Let’s get to the short answer! 

A Catamaran will capsize when rotational forces overcome the stability of the boat. Capsizing can happen in two ways, either the ship overtakes a wave and sinks it bows into the next one, inducing something called pitch-poling. Or a breaking wave, with the same height as the boat’s length, hits the vessel’s side, making it roll over to its side(a.ka. flipping).

Are you like me and need to understand why? Read on! 

What Does It Mean to Capsize?

In the context of boats, to capsize means to flip the boat upside down unintentionally.

On a small dingy, it is part of the sailing experience, and the boat can quickly be righted, but on a cruising cat, it can be the difference between life and death.

This can happen in numerous ways that will be discussed in great detail below. The most common is a combination of high seas, strong winds, and sailor error.

Not only is it dangerous to be in the middle of the sea stuck on what has now become a very expensive chunk of plastic, but the act of capsizing is also hazardous. Depending on where you are, inside, outside, or in one of the hulls, you may face the risk of getting thrown overboard, stuck in a hull upside down in the dark, or getting hurt by flying objects.

Much of the discussion around capsizing and what to do after it has happened is theoretical. In this article, I will show you the science behind catamaran stability and how that interacts with the power of the sea.

Why Does a Catamaran Capsize?

Catamaran stability can sometimes be a little tricky to understand. To get us off to a good start, here is some terminology that will be useful;

• Wind heeling moment is the effect wind has on the rotational(heeling) movement of the boat.
• Apparent wind angle is the angle of the wind when the boat is moving; this can differ from true wind, which is measured in a fixed position.

The study reaches a couple of conclusions, some of which are of interest to this discussion.

Heeling Is Greatly Dependent on Apparent Wind Angle and Sheeting of the Sails

This means that a catamaran (or any other sailboat, for that matter) will have a greater rotational force if the sails are sheeted in hard. This is because the wind gets “caught” in the sails, and the forces act directly on the sails, mast, standing rigging, and onto the hulls.

If, instead, the sails were loosened or “sloppy,” the amount of wind “caught” would be less, and therefore, more wind would be able to pass around the sails, thus decreasing the heel.

When it comes to apparent wind angle, the study shows that the forces are most significant when the wind is forward of the beam. This is primarily due to the aerodynamic effectiveness decreases aft of the beam.

Large Waves From the Side or Aft

Large waves are always a factor con safety at sea; they can be divided into  breaking waves,  waves whose amplitude (basically when waves get so big that they start coming apart(breaking) reach a threshold where the shape of the waves suddenly changes.

The other category is  non-breaking waves  or rolly waves. These are more gentle and cannot change shape in a violent and uncontrolled manner.

The study concludes that (1)catamarans have less roll response than monohulls during non-breaking waves, which means a catamaran will generally follow the motion and wave shape as it goes up and down it in a predictable manner, and that (2) this behavior shows no indications of being dangerous.

A monohull will instead rock from side to side and show a pendulum-like behavior.

On the other hand, breaking waves pose a real threat and are something to be aware of if traveling on a smaller catamaran. The test showed that a sufficient beam-to-wave ratio is needed to avoid capsizing.

A common beam-to-length ratio is 50%; that is, the length of the boat is at least double the size of its width.

Together with wind forces, breaking waves seem to be the most significant factor affecting the risk of capsizing.

Breaking waves with a height equivalent to the beam of a catamaran, half the beam of a trimaran may be sufficient to cause a capsize. Smaller or narrower yachts are, therefore, more vulnerable.

What makes breaking waves dangerous is their ability to bring the boat past its tipping point (or range of stability); much of this is due to the steepness of the wave. A 30ft non-breaking wave will act as a rolling hill in the English countryside, while a 15ft breaking wave is more of a black slope in a French ski resort.

The closer a boat comes to its tipping point, the less energy is needed to move past it. This is why the combination of factors is essential, large breaking waves, high apparent wind forward of the beam, and a minor error from the cockpit, and disaster is around the corner.

Effect of Keels (Daggerboards, Centerboards)

When a catamaran is hit with a breaking wave from its side, one factor that reduces rotational forces is the ability to move sideways with the wave, in other words, to slide sideways.

Usually, this is not wanted since it reduces the cat’s ability to go windward; this issue is sometimes addressed by adding mini keels, dagger, or centerboards.

The issue with keels is that the crew cannot withdraw them into the hull to reduce drag; this means that they can become a security issue when hit by large breaking waves to the side. It will hinder the sideways sliding actions and increase the risk of capsizing, as the study indicates.

Here’s an article I wrote comparing daggerboards to centerboards .

Placement of Weight (Vertical Center of Gravity, Vcg)

We have already discussed the importance of having a big enough beam to create sufficient stability. Moving the hulls wider apart will lower the center of gravity (or center of weight) and increase stability; this is true if all other factors are the same.

I f we move the hulls closer to each other, the catamaran becomes narrower, and the center of gravity will move upwards. What happens then? You guessed it, removing the wide base makes it less stable and more prone to heeling.

The same effect can be had by moving weight on the ship vertically (VGC); lower = more stable, and vice versa (a monohull moves it below the surface using a heavy keel).

Pitchpoling (Frontflip)

Pitchpoling is when a catamaran sails with the winds and waves, and the speed of the boat increases to levels above the wave speed. When this happens, there is a risk that the catamaran will semi-surf down the wave and hit the next one. This will slow the boat down, increase apparent wind, and create a rotational force that will make the boat invert if big enough.

Pitchpoling can happen in two ways, symmetrically or asymmetrically. According to the testing in the study, it is more common for one of the bows to dig down into the water and then diagonally flip.

Factors That Affect Pitchpoling

To increase the rotational forces needed for pitchpoling to happen, the center of weighing needs to be shifted aft. This means that a catamaran that is improperly balanced, for example, the bows filled with gear instead of empty, will increase the risk of burying the bows and potentially flipping over. More on weigh issues below!

Another way to offset your balance is to allow water inside the bows; this can happen after repeated slamming of waves onto the hatches. Once filled up, they can hold tons of water and be a severe threat due to buoyancy loss and shift in the center of weight.

Surfing a wave is cool, but it is much safer to lower the speed through reefing early; this reduction in speed makes it less likely to sail into the next wave or trough and risk pitchpoling.

If the boat speed is still too high, the next option is to deploy a drogue that will break the boat and add some directional stability. If this, for some reason is not possible, the study suggests that the vessel should hit the waves head-on.

What is a drogue?

Trampolines

We have already discussed the issue of burying the bows; the effect is massively increased with a solid deck that almost makes the boat into a spoon(a terrible thing if you do want thousands of kilos of water onboard). A better way to dissipate water is with trampolines that lets the water through in a much faster way, like eating soup with a fork.

The effect of having trampolines is twofold; firstly, it will reduce the time the bows are submerged. Secondly, it will decrease the weight of the water on top of the bows and, therefore, how deep the bows will dive.

What is a trampoline on a catamaran?

Hull Shape and Freeboard

There is a discussion that too narrow hulls can increase pitchpoling risk since the hulls might easier dive into the water. I understand the logic, but I am unavailable to find any data to support that claim.

You could also make the claim that wider hulls would increase the braking effect and therefore add to rotational forces. As said, we need more data on this!

Freeboard is the distance between the water and the deck; the bigger this is, the less chance of burying the bows, and vice versa. Same here, It makes sense logically, but there are little data to understand what is enough freeboard.

Real Cases of Catamarans Capsizing

Some news sites have reported on catamarans flipping in different parts of the world. Unfortunately, there is not much data, so drawing well-grounded conclusions is hard.

The previously named study mentions only one report of a catamaran capsizing due to waves hitting its side precisely at the moment of breaking. The cat was 9 m long, and the owner had modified the boat by adding keels.

The study consists of a data set of over 120 incidents reported, of which only 33 are catamarans showing that catamaran capsizing is something very uncommon.

The reason for a catamaran sailboat capsizes;

• 28% Gust of wind
• 16% wave and wind
• 12% Pitchpoled
• 4% Braking Wave

It is also worth noting that most catamaran incidents happened in the range between 6-9 of wind force(Beaufort). Most incidents were on boats smaller than 11m.

News reporting and other articles

While researching this piece, I came across several relevant news articles regarding incidents and a few well-written case studies. I have incorporated these in this article as a point of discussion rather than factual claims. At the bottom of this page, you’ll find the links if you want to read the articles in full length.

2019 Australia, 39ft catamaran capsizes. The daggerboards can be seen and appear to be fully extended; considering the discussion above with keels, daggerboards will decrease the possibility of sideways movement even further. This is also indicated in the study.

There is a discussion on whether or not to leave one daggerboard deployed and one raised, but once again, the discussions of which one and when vary. And I have not been able to find any scientific support for these claims.

2010 Tonga, 57 ft Atlantic catamaran. The crew describes the situation to be very gusty, with winds up to 60kts! A full report on this incident would be very interesting and could really add to the knowledge database. 57ft is a huge ship, but a boat of this size also has a lot of sail area, and during this incident, the autopilot was steering the ship under reefed sails.

A ship of this size should be wide enough to be able to handle some very big waves, and it would be interesting to see whether the crew stuck to the wind charts. I think there is a lesson to be taught here on autopilot and being on the lookout for bad weather.

You should definitely be behind the helm if there is a squall coming so that you are ready to compensate for a change in wind pattern and quickly put in another reef if the initial assessment was wrong.

Chris White, the designer of Atlantic Catamarans shares his thought on this incident;

To summarize: 1) Neither captain thought capsize was even a possibility until way too late 2) Both boats were under autopilot, which had the helm all the way through the capsize 3) The main sheet was never eased or released Chris White of Chriswhitedesigns.com

Mythbusting!

The first part of this article takes its trustworthiness from a scientific study backed by the United Kingdom government; in this next section, I will use that knowledge to address some common myths and misconceptions.

A Charter Is Harder to Flip Than a Performance Cat.

As far as I understand, this argument is based on the following premises;  the charter boat is heavier than the racing cat; therefore, it is more stable . As we have come to understand from above, it is a matter of total kilograms and where it is located.

A low and centered center of gravity means better stability. A cruising cat can easily be weighed in the wrong places due to all the extra gear that is usually brought along, such as generators or extra food for a long passage.

Moving the center of weight forward increases pitchpoling risk, and moving the weight up makes it vulnerable to breaching by breaking waves.

There is no need to believe a cruising cat is safer in that aspect inherently. Another common argument I hear is that the rigging would never be able to flip a fully loaded cruising cat since the standing rigging will break before lifting a hull.

What is standing and running rigging?

In theory, this might be true (I don’t have the data available), but in reality, this is certainly not the case; the data in the study clearly shows that catamarans can flip with their rigging intact.

Taking the combined factors of wind, waves, and the keels’ braking effect, there is not necessarily much force needed on the rigging for the boat to capsize. Yes (once again, in theory), a lighter catamaran will be easier to flip under some circumstances, but I would then argue that is more of a sailor error than due to the boat’s construction or weight.

Capsizing a Catamaran vs. Monohull

These two types of boats work in very different ways when it comes to stability; one significant factor is the ability of self-righting of a monohull due to its large and heavy keel.

On the other hand, the catamaran will stay bottom-up and mast down until intentionally righted by another ship.

Once the monohull starts leaning to its side, it will start to dissipate the pushing force that the wind acts upon the sails. This is an automatic way for a monohull not to become overpowered.

This lack of feedback (no or little heeling) on a catamaran means the sailor needs to rely on wind speed charts to tell him or her when to reef. If these charts are not followed, chances are the cat will get overpowered.

Another interesting aspect is that even though a catamaran is flipped upside down, it will still float due to the massive air compartments and low weight, something that a monohull will not. It will even stay afloat if there is a hole in one of the hulls.

What are the differences between monohulls and catamarans?

Catamarans Capsize More Often Than Monohulls

This is a wild debate in many online forums; some argue that it is less safe since it doesn’t have a keel, and some argue that I would rather be floating atop my inverted catamaran than alone in the middle of the ocean with a sunken monohull (while obviously totally missing the point of the discussion).

The truth is that there are no real data to back these claims, at least not that I am aware of. I have tried the insurance companies, but there doesn’t seem to be any big data available, only stories and myths.

The Skills of the Crew

When trying to avoid a catastrophe like a capsize, the most critical aspect is avoiding putting yourself in a bad spot, sailing above your skillset, and more winds and waves than the boat can handle.

This is evident, of course, but it is worth mentioning in detail what this actually means; planning to avoid bad weather and learning how to plan a sail safely and not rush is one of the best safety skills you can have. Once you’re out on the water, surprises will always come your way, so when that happens, use the radar to try to stay away and outrun the weather.

Outrun, you say, no boat is that fast. Well, the idea is to outrun it at an angle, not outrun it like Indiana Jones outruns a rolling stone. At least try to hit the part of the squall or bad weather with lower wind speeds.

Reef Often, Reef Early

Considering the data above, that most boats capsize during gusts of wind, there is a need to respect that data and make that old saying more accurate than ever. Reef early reef often. Make sure you turn off your autopilot; if there is a squall coming, you better be behind the helm to control your ship. Autopilot is stupid, your not!

Also, remember that reefing not automatically reduces speed!

As mentioned above, reducing sail area doesn’t necessarily reduce speed, but it reduces the area where the wind’s pushing can turn into rotational forces. Keep your speed so that you do not overtake the weaves and risk burying the bows.

Keels, Daggerboards, Centerboards

Before you decide on your standing operating procedures for heavy weather, make sure that you understand how your daggerboards will affect the boat handling. The research suggests that you might want to raise them, but make sure you understand why you do it and when.

Using fully deployed daggerboards while getting hit by a breaking wave to the side will increase the rotational force making a capsize more likely.

Heavy Weather Strategies

The boat’s performance is one thing; the crew’s skills are another; make sure you practice those skills and read up on the actual data that exists instead of reading too many forums and listening to know-it-alls. Ensure that your drills are based on science and not someone’s best guess! I encourage you to read the full article, it will be linked below, and go out there and look for more high-quality content.

• https://catamaranguru.com/top-6-characteristics-of-a-good-catamaran/
• http://www.wumtia.soton.ac.uk/sites/default/files/1441_merged.pdf
• https://shuttleworthdesign.com/NESTalk.html
• https://www.chriswhitedesigns.com/25-news/112-what-we-can-learn-from-anna-s-capsize
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250304001_Model_Tests_To_Study_Capsize_and_Stability_of_Sailing_Multihulls

News articles

• 2020 https://voilesetvoiliers.ouest-france.fr/securite-en-mer/disparition-en-mer/le-catamaran-hallucine-de-regis-guillemot-chavire-au-large-de-vigo-un-mort-trois-rescapes-491bc45c-237e-11eb-97e1-64af5fb563fa
• 2019 https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/three-dead-two-rescued-after-catamaran-capsized-in-newcastle/news-story/8f94be3543c41368a4fd83b9b661033b
• 2010 https://www.chriswhitedesigns.com/25-news/112-what-we-can-learn-from-anna-s-capsize
• https://www.sailingtoday.co.uk/uncategorized/bullimores-33m-catamaran-capsized/

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

2 thoughts on “ Why Catamarans Capsize, A Scientific Explanation (For Beginners) ”

Hi , Thanks for the advice, very good to know. Look forward to having a look at links. Best of luck on the trip, have fun. Mike

Thanks, Mike! Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂

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Trimaran vs Catamaran

Trimaran and Cataraman are quite similar in design, making it difficult for many people to distinguish between the two, let alone choose one. However, you might be surprised to know that their differences are rather significant.

In this post, we will compare the Trimaran and Catamaran so that you can clearly identify them and make an informed decision when purchasing one.

About Trimaran boats

About catamaran boat, so, which boat do you think is better.

A Trimaran is a type of boat that has three hulls instead of the usual one. The front and back hulls are usually small and used for stability, while the middle hull is larger and used for most of the boat’s functionality.

Some Trimarans can also be configured to be sailed as a Catamaran by removing the front and/or back hulls.

Trimaran boats have several unique features that make them better suited for certain tasks than other types of boats.

• Trimarans are more stable in rough water than other boats, and they are often used for racing or long-distance sailing
• The extra hulls make Trimarans more stable and less likely to capsize in rough water
• They also provide more space inside the boat for passengers or cargo and can be faster and more maneuverable than other boats of similar size
• Trimarans are also good for sailing in shallow waters since they can float on two hulls while the third one is still submerged

Despite their advantages, Trimarans do have some drawbacks.

• They can be more difficult to dock or more than other boats, and they require more crew members to operate effectively
• They are also more expensive to build and maintain than other boats

However, for those who are looking for a fast, stable, and versatile boat, the Trimaran is a great option.

Catamaran boats are a type of boat that has two hulls, making them comfortable vessels to ride.. They can also be more comfortable to ride in than other types of boats.

Here’re some of this boat’s advantages:

• Catamaran boats can be sailed by a smaller screw than other types of boats. This also makes them a popular choice for charters and sailing vacations
• Their prices are more affordable, thus suitable for family use
• Catamarans are usually built from lightweight materials, making them ideal for speed and agility
• The most distinguishing feature of a Catamaran boat is the lack of any external rigging. This means that the sails are mounted on the mast and boom directly to the hulls, rather than to a frame that hangs below the hulls
• Therefore, they have a great range of sail shapes and sizes, which can be adapted to changing wind conditions
• Another advantage of a Catamaran boat is its stability. Because the hulls are wide and shallow, they offer more resistance to overturning than a monohull boat of the same size. This makes Catamarans an ideal choice for sailing on rough seas

However, Catamarans do have a few drawbacks.

They are less agile than monohull boats, making docking in confined places more challenging

• Docking these boats is costly
• In big waves, there is a chance of slapping

• Speed – The Trimaran is the faster of the two boats. It can reach speeds of up to forty knots, while the Catamaran can only reach about half that speed.
• Stability – The Trimaran is more stable than the Catamaran. This is because it has three hulls instead of two. This makes it less likely to capsize in rough seas.
• Space – The Catamaran is bigger than the Trimaran. This means that it can hold more people and cargo. The Catamaran can also be used for longer trips, while the Trimaran is better suited for shorter trips.

A Trimaran is a multi-hull boat with three hulls, while a Catamaran has two hulls. Both types of boats can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, aluminum, and fiberglass.

More Stable and Ideal for Racing: Trimaran

The main advantage of a Trimaran is its stability in rough waters. Catamarans are also stable boats, but they are not as resistant to strong winds and waves as Trimarans.

Trimarans also typically have more deck space than Catamarans, which makes them ideal for sailing or fishing trips.

A Trimaran is typically faster and more stable than a Catamaran, making it ideal for racing or long-distance travel. A Catamaran, on the other hand, is better at handling rough seas and is more agile.

Ideal for Calm Water: Catamaran

Catamarans are usually faster and less expensive to build than Trimarans, making them a popular choice for recreational boaters. However, due to their size, Catamarans are not as seaworthy as Trimarans and are not recommended for use in rough waters.

Trimarans and Catamarans are both types of sailing vessels . They have many similarities, but there are also some important differences between them. If you’re interested in learning more about these boats or in purchasing one for your use, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each type.

Overall, the Trimaran is the better boat. It is faster, more stable, and has more space. However, the Catamaran is cheaper and can be used for longer trips. If you are looking for a boat that is good in all areas, the Trimaran is the best choice.

Hopefully, this article has helped you do that. Thanks for reading!

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• Articles and Guides

Catamaran vs Trimaran: Choosing the Perfect Multihull Vessel

26th mar 2023 by toi williams.

The debate over whether catamarans or trimarans are better boats has been going on for a long time without resolution, but the reason is understandable. The truth is that despite their many similarities, catamarans and trimarans have distinct characteristics that set them apart from each other, so each type of vessel offers a distinct boating experience. The catamaran vs. trimaran debate largely boils down to personal preference and how you intend to use the boat. Here are some of the things you need to consider when choosing between a catamaran and a trimaran. 

What Is a Catamaran?

A catamaran is a multi-hulled boat that has two twin hulls connected by a structure supported by a wide beam. Catamarans come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from small rowing boats to large boats that are big enough to be used as car ferries. The structure connecting the two hulls can be anything from a simple frame with webbing to a superstructure that includes cabin and/or cargo space. Most of the recreational catamarans for sale are designed to hold two to 20 passengers. 

What Is a Trimaran?

A trimaran is also a multi-hulled boat, but it has three hulls instead of two like the catamaran. The middle (main) hull is larger than the two small outer hulls attached to it. These hulls are connected by a lateral beam, wing, or some other form of superstructure, depending on the model. These types of boats also come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from recreational yachts to ferries. 

Advantages of Catamaran vs. Trimaran

The advantages of catamarans vs. trimarans are mainly based on comfort. Catamarans are spacious boats, known for their large living quarters with plenty of room on board for hosting gatherings and parties. Their popularity has enticed many boat builders to create increasingly luxurious designs on larger and larger boats. The catamaran also has a more classic style that appeals to those who want a boat with a simple, sleek shape. Catamarans are best suited for boating in calm seas, lagoons, and shallow waters.

Advantages of Trimaran vs. Catamaran

The advantages of trimarans vs. catamarans mainly come down to speed. Trimarans are among the speediest boats available, offering lightning-fast speeds on open waters. Many recent winners of notable boating competitions have been won by boaters piloting trimarans. These boats also perform well when heading upwind and are remarkably stable with their three-hulled design. The anchoring gear is installed on the main hull and is easy to deploy. 

Trimaran vs. Catamaran Speed

In the trimaran vs. catamaran speed debate, the trimaran is the clear winner. For long offshore races, trimarans have become the preferred vessels, and boaters piloting trimarans have won the Jules Verne Trophy in every race held since 2010. This is because of their unique design, which has speed and safety qualities that provide significant benefits for boaters. 

The trimaran's third hull makes the boat considerably faster than any other hull form due to the correlation between the boat’s waterline length and its speed. Having more hull distance in the water lets the boat reach higher speeds. Trimarans can also be pushed harder and are more forgiving than other boat styles in racing environments.

That doesn't mean that catamarans are slow. Some styles of catamarans are capable of breaking world records when the boating conditions are right. On downwind runs, a racing catamaran may be quicker than a trimaran, but for overall speed in various conditions, the trimaran comes out on top. 

Catamaran vs. Trimaran Performance

In the catamaran vs. trimaran performance debate, both sides have their advantages. A catamaran is easier to handle and maneuver with the boater having to handle the lines and halyards less often. However, this ease comes at the expense of speed, with cruising catamarans generally traveling slower than comparable trimarans. 

Trimarans are more versatile in their performance, and they perform better than a catamaran when traveling against the current or the wind. Trimarans can be used in nearly all weather conditions, are less vulnerable to drifting, and have less roll motion than a catamaran. However, handling a trimaran requires more work than handling a catamaran, which can be exhausting over long periods of sailing. 

Trimaran vs. Catamaran Efficiency

When comparing trimaran vs. catamaran efficiency, the differences are minimal. Multi-hulled boats are more fuel-efficient than comparable mono-hulled boats due to their hull forms and their lighter weights. Multi-hulled boats also tend to have smaller displacement and shallower drafts than other boat styles. 

The biggest difference in trimaran vs. catamaran efficiency is that catamarans nearly always have twin engines while trimarans generally run with one engine. A trimaran also has less hydrodynamic resistance than a catamaran because it spreads out the displacement across three hulls instead of two. This allows each hull to be narrower and more streamlined.

Catamaran vs. Trimaran Stability

The stability of multi-hulled boats is one of their biggest advantages over mono-hulled vessels. Multi-hulled boats benefit greatly from their wider stance on the water, and their wide beams and floats offer higher stability than a ballasted keel. Multi-hulled boats are also more buoyant because their floats help prevent immersion. When comparing catamaran vs. trimaran stability, the better boat will depend on the conditions on the water.

A catamaran's geometrically stabilized design reduces both heeling and wave-induced motion, providing a stable platform underway and at anchor. However, the catamaran's design is not as suitable for navigating heavy seas as the trimaran's build. The trimaran's three hulls provide excellent stability even in rough waves, but this can also make a trimaran less comfortable than a catamaran when the water is calm.

Catamaran vs. Trimaran Safety

Both catamarans and trimarans are considered to be safer on the water than mono-hulled boats. A catamaran has superior resilience and roll inertia that makes capsizing extremely unlikely. Its speed, steadiness, and ease of motion due to a lack of ballast also contribute to increased safety.

Trimarans are considered the safest multi-hulled boats because their three-hulled design makes them almost unsinkable. Many also have a core made of high buoyancy foam, helping them stay afloat even in the most brutal storms. Weight centering and a complete anti-drift scheme also make the boat safer for everyone aboard.

Trimaran vs. Catamaran Maintenance

Comparing trimaran vs. catamaran maintenance costs shows that many of the costs will be very similar for both types of boats. These costs include yearly boat service and repairs, annual haul-outs, and insurance coverage but exclude major upgrades. You will also have to budget for dockage, winterization, and storage for each year if you don't intend to use the boat year-round. 

Boaters are advised to budget between 5% and 10% of the boat's value for annual maintenance costs if their boat is less than five years old and a little more if the boat is older than that. Different maintenance jobs can be charged in different ways. Sometimes, the charges are based on the length of the boat while other charges are based on the number of hours worked.

Catamaran vs. Trimaran Cost

If you are looking for an affordable seafaring vessel, catamarans and trimaran are both good choices. There are many reasonably priced catamarans and trimarans suited for families as well as other models that provide more luxury for an additional cost. The materials that the manufacturer used to build the boat and the electronics included will also impact the price of the boat.

With so many different factors impacting the cost of different boats, you should choose the best vessel for you based on the features you want as well as your budget. Doing some research using the information on Rightboat's listings will help you find the right combination of quality and affordability you are looking for. Because we offer both new and used boats, nearly any boater will be able to find a boat in our listings that fits their needs. 

Choosing between a catamaran and a trimaran may seem simple at first, but the different sizes, styles, and amenities offered can make the choice much more complicated than you would think. If you prefer comfort and ample space while cruising, a catamaran may be the better choice. However, if you like speeding across the water and enjoy the thrill of racing, then a trimaran may be your best option.

Whichever boat you decide to purchase should fit your specific circumstances and requirements. Start the decision-making process by deciding what the primary use for your new boat will be. Will it be used more for family cruising or sport fishing? What bodies of water will you be boating in? Are you planning on staying close to shore or taking the boat into deeper waters? All these factors will impact whether you should choose a catamaran or a trimaran. 

With Rightboat's listings, you can learn about the features of the latest catamaran and trimaran models and see what you can expect to pay for the boats you are considering. You can sort through our listings by price, age of the boat, length of the boat, or listing date and then narrow down the results of a search using the rest of our filtering tools. If you are interested in buying a new or used catamaran or trimaran, take a look at our listings, and see what we have to offer today!

Related article: Ketch vs Yawl

Written By: Toi Williams

More from: Toi Williams

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

Battle of the Multihulls – Catamarans Versus Trimarans

For years, catamarans have dominated the multihull segment. Cruisers love to live aboard and sail the world on sailing catamarans. These two-hull boats are known for their speed, space, and overall attractiveness. 

With their sporty three hulls, trimarans have long been regarded as fantastic race boats that will speed past catamarans and monohulls. Trimarans have stability and are comfortable at sea. Today’s modern trimarans, such as the Neel brand trimarans, are now featuring increased living space. As a result, modern trimarans are becoming more attractive and more appealing to cruising and liveaboard sailors. 

Table of Contents

Living space, catamaran vs trimaran performance, pros and cons of cruising on a monohull boat, pros and cons of cruising catamarans, pros and cons of cruising on a trimaran, multihull safety, sailing comfort, choosing between catamarans and trimarans, faqs – catamarans vs trimarans, differences of trimaran versus catamaran.

The main difference between a monohull, a catamaran, and a trimaran is the hull configuration. A monohull has just one hull. A catamaran has two hulls, and a trimaran has three hulls. The catamaran and trimaran are known as multihulls because they each have more than one hull. 

A catamaran has two equally sized hulls, whereas a trimaran has one main hull with two outriggers. The two outriggers are smaller and are mirror images of each other. 

The living space on a catamaran is usually luxurious compared to monohulls and trimarans. First, a large cockpit has plenty of room for guests. Second, the bridge deck, which connects the two hulls, is flat, large, and usually hosts a large living area. Third, the living area has large windows which allow excellent visibility, natural light, and ventilation. Finally, the two hulls usually house sleeping areas, bathrooms, and sometimes galleys. 

On a trimaran, the living space is usually smaller than on a catamaran. The main hull is usually home to the main living quarters. Like a monohull, this space may be darker with fewer portlights. Often, the living space on a trimaran is even smaller than a comparably sized monohull. On most smaller trimarans, the outrigger hulls are kept empty or used as storage. 

New, large, modern trimarans like the Neel 47 offer luxury living similar to a catamaran. On a Neel trimaran, you’ll find a large, spacious cockpit and saloon area . This area provides outdoor seating in the cockpit and an indoor lounge that rivals the comfort of home. The outriggers have space for private bunks and bathroom facilities.

The Benefits of Three Hulls

While you may give up some living space on a trimaran, there are some benefits. Trimarans are even faster than catamarans. Trimarans only have one main hull fully in the water, and the two outriggers produce less drag. As a result, trimarans have stability and are great fun to sail. 

A trimaran usually has the forestay attached to the main hull. This provides a strong, stable, safe rigging platform. 

A catamaran’s forestay is attached to the forward center of the boat on a crossbeam, the shrouds are attached to each hull, and there often isn’t a backstay. This catamaran rigging configuration allows for additional fatigue as the rig is being pulled in various directions. 

The trimaran rigging configuration is similar to a traditional monohull. The standing rigging is connected to the center hull, thus providing increased stability and less fatigue. This configuration allows for a rigid forestay and provides good upwind performance. 

When comparing trimaran and catamaran upwind performance, the trimaran usually wins. Because of the trimaran’s larger central platform and two outriggers, the trimaran pitches less when heading upwind, also known as beating. Catamarans also experience more drift while beating into the wind. So overall, trimarans experience less leeway and have better upwind performance. 

Monohull boats have been around forever. As such, you can easily buy an older monohull to learn to sail on. Monohulls are inexpensive to purchase, maintain, and operate. It’s more straightforward to find marina docks and haul-out locations. When it comes to maintenance, like bottom cleaning, washing, waxing, and fiberglass work, nothing beats having a single hull!

But monohulls have much less living space than a cruising catamaran. The living space is often dark and can be called “cave-like,” as monohulls tend to have small ports. 

Monohulls heel over, which is attractive to some and a deterrent to others. Some sailors feel more seasick on a monohull as it heels. On the other hand, some feel less seasick as the motion is constant, unlike a catamaran’s sometimes jerky motion underway.

Most monohulls have deeper keels than catamarans and trimarans. A shallower draft allows sailors to access shallower water. Boats with shallower keels can sneak into desirable anchorages that deeper draft boats cannot access.

Cruising catamarans have large amounts of living space and are known to be luxurious. They don’t heel over as monohulls do. Catamarans provide a stable platform for enjoying life on the water. And some sailors feel less seasick on a catamaran because of the lack of heeling motion.

Catamarans are popular with charter companies, cruisers, and sailors planning to sail around the world. Catamarans have shallow drafts and can sneak into attractive anchorages that deeper draft monohulls can’t access. 

Catamarans are wider than monohulls, and it can be harder and more expensive to find marina dockage and haulouts. They don’t fit into standard-size slips and must dock in extra-wide slips or at t-heads. Many maintenance yards have standard-sized lifts that don’t accommodate the width of a catamaran. So overall, catamarans are more expensive to buy, operate, and maintain than monohull boats. 

Trimarans are known for their speed! If you love to cruise past all the other boats and get to port first, a trimaran might be calling your name. Traditional trimarans have limited living space on board. Most trimarans have even less living space than similarly sized monohulls.

Maneuvering around the trimaran and living aboard can provide challenges for sailors. Like catamarans, their width can make getting dock space and haul-outs more challenging and expensive. 

Cruising catamarans are usually between 18 and 25 feet wide. Cruising trimarans are usually between 25 and 30 feet wide. The additional width of a trimaran creates a more stable platform but makes finding dockage even more challenging.

Catamarans and trimarans are both considered safe vessels. While a monohull might roll, lose its rig, get holed, and sink to the bottom of the ocean, a multihull vessel will still float. This is because they do not contain lead or iron ballast. 

While it is very rare, multihulls can be flipped. For instance, after Category 5 hurricanes, news outlets often share photos of flipped catamarans that were left at marinas. 

However, even when a multihull is flipped, it still provides a floating platform. Boaters can wait with their large overturned vessel for help, and rescuers are more likely to spot an overturned vessel than just a small liferaft. In addition, supplies carried on the boat might still be accessible to the crew. 

Cruising sailors often consider increased speed to be a safety factor. For instance, on an ocean crossing, faster speeds mean that sailors might be able to arrive before a big storm rather than getting caught in it. In addition, a faster boat might be able to adjust course and avoid the storm if outrunning it is not an option. Because trimarans are faster than both catamarans and monohulls, they can outrun or avoid more storms. 

A trimaran features less roll than a catamaran. A trimaran’s weight is centered in its main hull, whereas a catamaran’s weight is distributed across both hulls. As a result, the trimaran rides smoother, whereas a catamaran will be reacting more dramatically and face a bumpier ride. 

If you’re thinking about sailing on a multihull, consider the living space, speed, and sea kindliness of each. In the end, it’s a decision made from personal taste and personal preference. Trimarans are fast and fun to sail. Catamarans offer increased deck-level living space. Both are known to be safe and virtually unsinkable. Whichever choice floats your boat, you’ll be thrilled with a fun sail, comfortable ride, access to beautiful secluded anchorages in shallow waters. 

Worried about getting caught in severe storm conditions in your boat ? Visit our guide!

Is a trimaran faster than a catamaran?

A trimaran is faster than a catamaran. The centered weight in the main hull provides stability. A rigid forestay provides good upwind performance. The reduction in wetted surface reduces drag. A 40-foot monohull may cruise at 6 knots, a 40 ft catamaran may cruise at 7 knots, and a 40ft trimaran may cruise at 9 knots. 

Which is more stable, a catamaran or trimaran?

A trimaran has a larger maximum righting moment. Catamaran sailors must be very mindful of the wind conditions and reef sails early to prevent capsizing. The righting moment on cruising catamarans is 12 degrees, whereas the righting moment on a trimaran is 32 degrees. This means the trimaran is more stable. 

In jostling rough seas, the trimaran has a smaller righting moment. As heavy seas jostle the boat, it will respond with a less choppy motion. The catamaran has a larger righting moment and will respond with a choppy ride. In a trimaran, you experience more stability. This, in turn, leads to a better-rested crew and a smoother overall ride. 

All of a trimaran’s weight is centered in the main hull. In a catamaran, heavy items such as engines are located in each hull. The weight distribution on a catamaran can lead to a jerkier ride. 

Can a trimaran capsize?

All boats can capsize given extreme conditions.

Many charter catamarans flipped when Hurricane Irma’s 215 mph winds hit the British Virgin Islands in 2018. The 100-foot trimaran Banque Populaire IX capsized in a gust of wind in 2018. 

Multihulls are usually very stable and only encounter the risk of capsizing in severe conditions. Crews should monitor conditions and reef early to prevent overpowering the boat. 

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

Catamaran Vs Trimaran

As boatbuilders make faster and more luxurious multi-hulls for cruising and racing, it is time to settle the debate: Catamarans vs. Trimarans.

Catamarans and trimarans have distinct characteristics regarding comfort, sailing performance, safety, and personal preference. The dual- or tri-hull designs both confer significant advantages over traditional monohulls and each fill an amazing niche in the sailing world.

Though both are based on traditional Austronesian outrigger canoes, the dual-hulled catamarans and tri-hulled trimarans have distinct design goals that make them ideal for very different purposes, and it is important to take into account your goals when trying to decide which to sail! We’re going to discuss both types as they rate across performance, safety, comfort, and possible uses. There is no one solution to this age-old problem, but we can help you understand which design is best for you!

From boatbuilder releases to the history of their development, it is important to access lots of sources when trying to make this decision. As a performance sailor, my heart is always in the speed and upwind abilities of the trimaran, but modern catamarans are dynamic and incredibly comfortable. Still, in my opinion, anything that gets you on the water is a great boat, so let’s find the right one for you!

Table of contents

‍ Sailing Performance and Safety

While most traditional boats over 20 feet are monohulled keelboats, there are major limitations to the type of sailing you can do with a monohull. First of all, monohulls depend on their keel to keep them upright, which is effective, but the force of the wind almost always causes the boat to heel to leeward by angles of up to 25° under reasonable cruising conditions, which can be quite uncomfortable for the crew! This design, which relies on giant lead ballast in a deep-set keel, is vulnerable to capsizes and, in drastic cases, sinking.

Additionally, the single-hull only provides so much volume for accommodation and storage, while the more horizontal layout of the multi-hulls can increase cockpit and cabin sizes substantially. Beyond that, both types of multi-hull can experience higher speeds at a given hull length than monohulls.

So how do cats and tris compare to each other? Well,

Catamarans: Stability and Ease

With their dual ‘pontoons,’ Catamarans make use of their floats to always remain on a flat and consistent angle of heel, rarely sailing under more than 10° of heel. This distribution of floatation also makes it nigh on impossible for them to capsize, though the distance between the hulls can make it a problem in the rare cases that they do flip. They do suffer a bit from not having any wetted surface underneath the center of effort, causing them to slide sideways while sailing upwind and making it difficult for them to beat tight angles to the breeze. While they make up for this with speed on the reach and downwind, catamarans are an inferior option for trying to make progress upwind in heavy sea and wind conditions.

These tradeoffs do come with some advantages. Unlike monohulls, catamarans have very shallow drafts, allowing cruisers to sail close to shore without concern, and their common dual-motor design allows them to maneuver incredibly well in tight spaces with a built-in backup for single-engine failure. They heel minimally because of the horizontal distribution of weight, and this means that they are incredibly stable and comfortable while underway or at anchor. In addition, their sail plans and maneuverability characteristics do make them easier to sail with a smaller crew, requiring fewer highly experienced sailors in your party.

Trimaran: Speed and Safety

While traditionalists have finally come around on the aesthetics of the dual-hulled catamaran, the tri-hulled lines of trimarans can still be a bit of a shock to viewers. They combine the vertical stability and upwind capabilities of a monohull with the speed and lateral stability of a catamaran.

When it comes to performance sailing, modern trimarans are well ahead of any other hull design. Due to the relationship between speed and the ‘waterline length’ of a boat, i.e. that more hull length in the water leads to higher speeds, the third hull actually makes trimarans drastically faster than any other hull shape at a given length. Most current speed records, including those for circumnavigation, instantaneous velocity, and single-day distance, are held by Trimarans. In competition, the 2013 America’s Cup is a perfect example of the superiority of Trimarans over Catamarans in terms of speed, as the challenging Trimaran from Golden Gate Yacht Club handily beat the defending Spanish Catamaran in a best-of-three series. With their signature central hull, they can make better upwind progress without drifting and often heel even less than contemporary catamarans.

Further, trimarans far outclass both catamarans and monohulls in terms of safety. The central hull gives the trimaran that signature central righting moment from monohulls, while its winged pontoons provide it the lateral balance that makes catamarans so safe themselves. Combined, this gives a modern trimaran a righting moment of 27°, which is almost impossible to reach in any breeze condition because of the pontoons. For a comparison, modern cats can only maintain 12° of heel before flipping, which is not entirely uncommon in heavy seas.

Therefore, in a purely technical sense, trimarans are safer, speedier, and more rewarding. Still, to reap these benefits you often need to be a little more prepared to engage with the more advanced aspects of sailing, and the tri-hull design does make some sacrifices in other areas.

Though performance is an important metric for all sailboats, every added knot of speed or degree of heel comes at a price of comfort, and it is here that we need to consider the full implications of that cost for both cats and tris.

Catamaran: The Ideal Platform

When it comes to comfort, space, and luxury, it is hard to bet against the catamaran. Because of the geometry of the dual deep hulls and built-up central platform, catamarans offer the ideal vessel for a large crew, a party yacht, or a comfortable getaway vessel. They heel minimally, are highly stable at anchor, and the central platform can be carefully built to maximize the area between the wings. Most catamarans can offer the living space and horizontal area of much larger monohulls, making it the ideal choice for a pleasure cruise.

Trimaran: The Cost of Speed

For all their advantages in terms of performance, the hardware required for the central hull subtracts substantially from the accommodations that are available for a cat of the same size. New trimarans, like the Neel 51 which made waves back in 2017, are pushing back against this perceived comfort gap, the large central hull with the two performance-oriented wings does make it harder for tris to haul the same amount of weight and provide comparable space as most cats.

Preferences

The beauty of modern sailboats is that design advances in both catamarans and trimarans make it possible for all sailors to find the exact right boat for them. Speed demons who want to sail tight to the wind and feel that rush may find themselves enticed by the capabilities of the newest Trimarans, while cruisers looking to get the biggest space for the length are still thrilled by how fast and stable modern Catamarans are off the breeze. While no one would complain about being invited to a cruise on a new Trimaran, you can certainly fit more of your friends in the spacious decks of a Cat.

Both multi-hull styles excel at maneuvering in small spaces and shallow waters, perfect for island hopping or inland sailing. Their wide platforms, which can run a slightly higher cost at marinas than comparable monohulls, enable stability without sacrificing performance. Both are regarded as incredibly safe in nearly all conditions, though Trimarans do have the slight edge in truly nasty weather.

In the end, it all comes down to how you want to sail and what is going to make a good trip successful! For those looking for a leisurely cruise with a minimum of work and a maximum of space, find the most spacious catamaran you can, and don’t worry about missing out on speed as you’ll more than hold your own off the breeze. If you’re excited to go fast no matter what direction the wind is coming from, with the knowledge that you’re nigh on unsinkable, a performance trimaran is the way to go!

Happy Sailing!

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Gabriel Hannon

I have been sailing since I was 7 years old. Since then I've been a US sailing certified instructor for over 8 years, raced at every level of one-design and college sailing in fleet, team, and match racing, and love sharing my knowledge of sailing with others!

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TRIMARAN VS CATAMARAN

Trimarans and catamarans have a unique appeal. They are stable, fast, and comfortable. Yet, it can be hard to choose between these kinds of vessels, if you have the budget to charter or buy either.

In this article, we delve into the trimaran vs catamaran debate to establish the pros and cons of both. But first, let’s look at the key differences between them.

What are the differences between trimarans and catamarans?

A trimaran has one main, larger hull flanked by two smaller “floats”, connected by lateral beams. It’s rigged similarly to a monohull and heels. The extra hull offers less hydrodynamic resistance, which makes a trimaran faster.

Catamarans have two equal-sized parallel hulls; their wide beams offer stability. That’s why cats don’t heel.

Catamarans have become extremely popular over the past decades, especially once bigger, more comfortable models have been produced since the 90s. So much so, that there’s a rather long waiting list to get a new one built. Charter companies are purchasing more and more cruising cats to add to their fleets and many cruisers choose a cat over a monohull when they set sail on a long voyage.

Trimarans have been associated with racing only, until recently. However, new and rather spacious recreational models are slowly emerging. Finding a cruising trimaran to charter is still hard, though. 

Can a trimaran capsize?

In theory, in extreme conditions, if a wave is higher than half the beam size of the boat, a trimaran can capsize. However, trimarans are rather wide vessels and their three-hull configuration makes them very stable. 

A trimaran has a maximum righting moment of 27 degrees of heel, while a catamaran has a 12 degree one. Such a shorter angle can be reached in short seas, if the wind gusts are powerful enough and you haven’t reefed. 

So capsizing a trimaran is extremely hard. Plus, if a trimaran flips over, it is virtually unsinkable, thanks to the three hulls. This extra safety element has led to trimarans becoming more popular than catamarans in the racing world.

Is a trimaran safer than a catamaran?

To a small extent. As we have seen above, it’s very difficult to sink a trimaran. The same goes for cats. However, trimarans have the added bonus of being harder to flip over, too. 

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Pros and cons of Trimarans

Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of trimaran sailboats.

Trimarans are very fast, typically faster than both cruising and racing catamarans

They can sail in nearly any wind conditions

Trimarans are extra stable and hard to flip over

The heeling allows you to understand when it’s time to reef

Trimarans perform better upwind than cats

The helm offers great feedback, just like on a monohull

The anchoring gear is easier to deploy, as it’s installed on the main hull.

Sailing a trimaran takes quite a bit of work on deck

They heel, making it harder to cook underway

Trimarans can be harder to maneuvre inside a marina

The space on board is typically less than on most cats

Trimarans are very weight sensitive.

Pros and cons of catamarans

Catamarans, on the other hand, have their own pros and cons.

Cats offer a stable platform underway and at anchor

Maneuvering a catamaran is very easy

Modern, cruising cats, feature lots of room above and below deck

Catamarans don’t heel

Cruising catamarans can bear a decent amount of load.

Racing cats aren’t very spacious

Catamarans can be capsize more easily than trimarans

You need to reef more often on a cat

Any catamaran is slower than a trimaran

The helm isn’t very responsive - you need to pay close attention to the instruments.

The verdict: Trimaran or catamaran?

As always, when it comes to boats, there isn’t a “better option”. A vessel needs to be tailored to the needs and preferences of her owner. 

If you prefer sailing a beautiful, spacious platform, on which to cruise leisurely and entertain many guests, a cruising catamaran may be the choice for you. You won’t need to handle the lines and halyards quite as often, you won’t heel, but you will travel slower.

If, on the other hand, you enjoy the thrill of high speeds, but you’re worried about safety, a trimaran may be right for you. A recreational trimaran fitted with daggerboards or centreboards can typically sail faster than a catamaran and perform better upwind. 

A performance cat may be a great option for those who need to get in and out of marinas often but want to sail fast. And if you want the fastest, most fun boat to sail, opt for a racing trimaran. 

Whatever your priorities, a boat that’s the perfect balance between them all exists. Although, of course, you will need to take budget into consideration.

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Trimaran vs. Catamaran: What are the Differences?

Experience the thrill of sailing on a multihull – a boat with two or three hulls. Discover the unique features of the trimaran and the catamaran , and how they differ in performance and comfort. Want speed and excitement? Take the helm of a trimaran. Prefer a leisurely cruise? Relax on a catamaran. Don’t miss out on this exciting article uncovering the secrets of multihull sailing.

How to recognize a trimaran from a catamaran?

First up, the catamaran. Simple, sleek, and stylish, this craft boasts not one, but two identical hulls – making it a twin amongst ships. Its minimalist design is a thing of beauty, and it might just be the perfect float for solo explorers or couples seeking a romantic ocean adventure.

On the other hand, the trimaran is a multihull masterclass in innovation. With a total of three hulls, including two small outriggers, this vessel’s design is unlike anything you’ve seen before. In fact, some have compared it to a spaceship, and we can see why! The trimaran’s unique layout and engineering wizardry make it a worthy addition to any seafarer’s fleet.

So, whether you’re a catamaran connoisseur or a trimaran trailblazer, there’s no denying that these vessels are truly remarkable. Just don’t ask us to choose a favourite!

What are the trimaran main characteristics?

A trimaran’s three hulls are like the training wheels on a bicycle, making it incredibly stable even in choppy waters. These recreational boats are a sailor’s dream, offering a smooth ride and exceptional comfort. And when it comes to safety, trimarans are virtually unsinkable due to their triple-hull design – even the roughest storms won’t capsize them! Although compromising some sailing capacity, the security and stability of a trimaran are unmatched.

All about Neel trimaran here

What are the catamaran main characteristics?

Discover the one-of-a-kind world of catamarans – versatile vessels affectionately nicknamed “cats”. Offering an exciting and luxurious sailing experience, these boats come in a range of sizes, from cozy two-person cabins to expansive group accommodation for up to 20. Some catamarans are budget-friendly options perfect for families, while others provide the ultimate indulgence and can transport you to some of the most coveted destinations in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. With their roomy interiors and stable design, catamarans are perfect for exploring calm sea gulfs, lagoons or shallow waters.

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Trimaran vs. Catamaran: which one has the largest surface area?

Catarmarans surface area is known to be spacious

Catamarans have filled the world’s oceans in recent years with more huge and luxury versions, including sailing catamarans like the Lagoon Seventy 7, Fountaine Pajot’s Allegria 67, and motor catamarans like the Sunreef Power 70. The biggest catamaran known is Hemisphere, and you may want to have a look at Douce France available for charter with WI.

Catamarans are well-known for their large living quarters, which are divided between the two hulls and the central platform.

Trimarans surface area are constantly improving

Among some of the cruising, habitable trimarans, the DragonFly boasts a unique Swing Wing system and a plush interior, while the Vietnamese-made Rapido Trimaran is the brainchild of the esteemed Morrelli & Melvin design house. But what really sets the Naval NEEL shipyard trimarans apart is the incredible “Cockloon” living area above the central hull – it’s like staying in a floating hotel! With cabins located solely on the floats, the central kitchen, panoramic saloon, and lounging areas are all linked together for an unbeatable sense of space and luxury. And don’t forget the expansive flybridge, too!

Read also : The yacht charter experience ladder

Trimaran vs. Catamaran: Stability and Performance

The Trimaran stability made it famous

With three hulls, including one main and two overhanging, a trimaran is built for stability even in the roughest waters. In fact, it’s nearly impossible for a trimaran to capsize, making it a safer option for the adventurous seafarer. And if by some chance or circumstance the boat does flip, fear not – it’ll stay afloat! The only downside? The trimaran provides both the comfort of a monohull and the safety of a multihull, but hey, no boat is perfect. Did we mention it’s also one of the fastest boats out there? Sounds like a win-win to us.

The Catamaran performances aren’t as versatile as trimaran

Catamarans are incredible vessels that offer not only a smooth sailing experience, but also a comfortable ride. Ranging in size from cozy cabins for two to massive ships that can fit 20, catamarans are top-notch for stability. However, they aren’t particularly cut out for rough seas, preferring calm waters like tranquil gulfs and shallow lagoons. Keep in mind that while they may not excel in upwind sailing and lack the heeling abilities of other boats, catamarans will still take you on a sailing adventure like no other.

Trimaran vs. Catamaran: Distinct Sailing Experiences

Sailboats rely on wind speed to move forward, but stability is crucial to avoid capsizing. Monohulls have a keel underneath to prevent this, making them more durable in heavy winds. Meanwhile, multihulls such as catamarans offer greater stability with their floats, resulting in a smoother ride even in rough seas. However, trimarans are more similar to monohulls and may tip more, offering advantages in rougher waters but less comfort on calm days. Overall, multihulls have an edge in stability compared to their monohull counterparts.

Trimaran vs. Catamaran: Safety

Trimarans are very safe boats.

You might be surprised to find out that Trimarans are extremely safe; in fact, many trimarans, are almost unsinkable. They have a core made up of foam, and the materials’ buoyancy is extremely high in comparison to the boat’s displacement. Trimarans are safe because of their breadth. The trimaran is the safest of the multihulls because of its three-hulled design, weight centering, and complete anti-drift scheme.

Moreover, even if the trimaran were to overturn, the structure would keep it from plummeting into the water, making it an extremely safe boat.

Catamarans safety is still very good

Catamarans are a safe way to travel the ocean. Offshore, catamarans are often far safer than monohulls of similar size. Enhanced resilience, speed, steadiness, and motion ease due to a lack of ballast all contribute to safety.

A large modern catamaran has an outstanding resilience and roll inertia. The mix of these factors makes invasion or capsizing extremely unlikely. When a 20-foot wave hits a catarmaran’s beam, the boat will just surf sideways.

Trimaran vs. Catamaran: Racing

Catamarans are very fast downwind

Catamarans are recognized for their velocity, and some of them are capable of breaking world sailing records. Catamarans may travel at a pace  of 15 to 30 mph, with the best reaching speeds of well over 60 knots.

Cruising catamarans may reach high speeds of 15 knots, or 17.3 mph, on average (27.84 kph). In the right wind conditions; however, some outstanding racing catamarans can reach a pace of up to 30 knots.

On downwind runs, reaches, and broad reaches, catamarans are typically quicker than trimarans. Sailing a catamaran is less exhausting than sailing a trimaran. Sailing flat has a number of benefits. Carrying tanks and other diving equipment is significantly simpler on a cat if you are a SCUBA diver.

Catamarans are lighter than trimarans because they do not require a heavy keel. This, along with the fact that their sails are placed equivalent to the wind, allows them to sail quicker than trimarans, particularly on a run or broad reach.

Trimarans are the usual racing winner

Trimarans are frequently preferred in racing these days, especially in the previous decade or so.

For long offshore races, racing trimarans’ speed and safety qualities have significant benefits. Even in severe seas, they can be pushed harder and are more forgiving than other racing catamarans. These are the primary reasons why trimarans have become so popular in recent multihull competitions. Trimarans, for example, have won the Jules Verne Trophy every year since 2010.

Trimarans can often increase their monohull sailing speed on almost every point of sail while cruising catamarans are usually 25-30 percent faster than a sailing monohull of the same length. Of course, when the boats are filled for cruising, these comparisons vary drastically.

A trimaran is more suited to sail upwind than a catamaran, which is more vulnerable to drifting. Trimarans are; therefore, quicker than catamarans, and this benefit is especially noticeable when cruising against the wind due to the weight centering in the middle hull, which lowers pitching.

The third hull really makes trimarans considerably quicker than any other hull form at a given extent based on the relation between a boat’s waterline length and speed i.e. that more hull distance in the water leads to higher speeds.

Which is Better: A Trimaran or a Catamaran?

If you want to spend less time on deck, a catamaran is a great option. Catamarans are also ideal for hosting gatherings and parties while maintaining their stability on the water.

A trimaran is a more ideal boat for you if you want to develop your sailing talents on something more difficult. Moreover, if you’re a speed demon, keep an eye out for the fastest trimaran boats and pick the one that best meets your needs.

While picking between a catamaran and a trimaran appears simple on paper, it becomes more challenging when you see them in front of you. Check out our page for more details in order to make a more informed decision.

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Experience the ultimate Caribbean holiday aboard l’Octant a Neel 51 trimaran.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity from $14,500 per week.

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Trimaran vs Catamarans (updated 2022)

The different types of multi hull sailboats can be confusing to people new to the sport of sailing. Here we look at the main types of boat and list out the pros and cons of each.

Key differences between Trimaran and Catamaran

• This one is fairly obvious! A trimaran has 3 has hulls, a main hull with 2 outriggers and a catamaran just has 2 hulls.
• A trimaran is much more stable than a catamaran, with the outriggers (also called amas) acting like training wheels on a bicycle.
• A trimaran is a more suitable boat for beginners to start sailing in, due to the stability and ease of use when compared to a catamaran.
• When catamarans heel, one of their hulls leaves the water resulting in a loss of stability and potential capsize.  With a trimaran, the main hull remains in the water, with the leeward ama providing a predictable increase in righting moment and reliable stability
• Trimarans are faster than catamaran as a trimaran has less hydrodynamic resistance than the catamaran (just check sailing speed records)
• A trimaran is more suited to sail upwind than a catamaran, especially if it has a centreboard like Meermark trimarans do
• The main hull of a trimaran allows for a comfortable seating position vs a catamaran where you are just sitting on the trampoline that connects the 2 hulls

Trimaran vs Catamaran - which to choose

We think given the extra stability, comfort and speed offered, you should opt for a trimaran. Meermark offers both single and two person trimarans - why not look at the specifications of our models and see why a Meermark trimaran is likely to be your best option.

Trimaran VS Catamaran – Which Boat Is Best?

If you’re planning to buy or charter a multihull boat, you might be wondering which one is better: trimaran or catamaran. Both have their pros and cons, and the decision ultimately depends on your needs and preferences. In this article, I’ll explain the differences between these two types of vessels to help you make the best choice for your needs.

Post updated: 10 November 2023

Table of Contents

Differences Between Trimarans and Catamarans?

If you’re in the market for a new vessel or plan a family vacation on the water, you might wonder what the differences are between a catamaran and a trimaran. 

Let’s see what they are:

A catamaran is a multihull vessel with two or twin hulls that are parallel to each other and fixed to a wide beam.

This design offers stability and speed, making it a popular choice for cruising long distances comfortably and even racing.

They also provide more interior space than trimarans, allowing for larger cabins and more storage.

When it comes to sailing performance, catamarans are known for their speed and agility.

Their twin hulls allow them to easily glide over the water, making them popular among boaters.

Cats are stable, fast, spacious, and super comfortable and are more stable at anchor than trimarans. However, catamarans tend to perform better in downwind conditions than in upwind conditions.

A trimaran is a multihull vessel that has three hulls. The two smaller outrigger hulls are attached to the center hull, which is larger and used for most of the boat’s functionality. 

This design offers even more stability than a catamaran, making it a great choice for those who want to sail in rough waters safely.

The three-hulled design makes them super stable, and as mentioned above, they can easily handle rough waters. They also have a smaller turning radius, making them easier to maneuver in tight spaces.

Another important thing to know about Trimarans is that they provide a decent degree of livability, but they fall short of catamarans in two regards. First, they heel more than cats, making it difficult to do things like cooking on board. Second, they support much less load than catamarans.

Pros and Cons of Catamarans and Trimarans

Before making a decision whether to sail a catamaran or a trimaran, there are pros and cons you must consider. Let’s see what there are:

• Stability: Catamarans have two hulls, which makes them extremely stable. This means that you are less likely to experience seasickness or feel the boat rocking in rough waters.
• Space: Catamarans have a lot of space both inside and outside the boat. This makes them great for large groups or families who want to spend time together without feeling cramped.
• Speed: While not as fast as trimarans, catamarans are still faster than monohulls . They perform better in downwind conditions than trimarans and are great for long-distance cruising in calm waters.
• Shallow Draft: Catamarans have a shallow draft, which allows them to enter shallow waters and anchor closer to shore.
• Cost: Depending on how well the Catamaran is equipped, it can be more expensive than trimarans. Not always, though.
• Harbor Cost: As catamarans have a very large beam, this means that a berth at the marina will be higher.
• Navigation: Catamarans tend to struggle sailing close to the wind .
• Speed:  Trimarans are known for being faster than cats and single-hull boats. They can easily reach high speeds and are great for racing or long-distance cruising.
• Stability:  Trimarans are more stable than catamarans due to their three hulls. 
• Space:  Trimarans are wide, but the interior is less spacious than catamarans.
• Safety:  Provide exceptional buoyancy. If a trimaran capsizes, there is almost no chance it will sink.
• Navigation: Trimarans can sail in any weather condition and perform much better upwind than cats.
• Berthing:  Trimarans are more difficult to maneuver in harbors, making finding a berth in crowded marinas more challenging.
• Maneuverability:  Trimarans require more ability from sailors to beach without difficulty than catamarans.
• Loading:  Trimarans struggle to carry as much weight as catamarans.
• Sailing: Trimarans require more effort and work on the deck.

Design and Structure

When it comes to design and structure, there are significant differences between trimarans and catamarans. Below, I’ll walk you through these two multi-hull vessels’ geometry, hydrodynamics, weight, and materials.

Geometry and Hydrodynamics

One of the most significant differences between trimarans and catamarans is their geometry. A trimaran has a central hull with two outriggers connected to a large beam, while a catamaran has two parallel hulls connected by a central platform.

This twin-hull design gives catamarans a unique sense of balance and stability. On the other hand, trimarans offer superior stability and adaptability in various water conditions thanks to their three-hulled design.

The central hull of a trimaran is typically longer and narrower than the hulls of a catamaran, which leads to better hydrodynamic performance.

Both trimarans and catamarans have different hydrodynamic resistance characteristics.

For instance, trimarans have less wetted surface area, which means they experience less drag as they move through the water. This feature makes trimarans faster than catamarans in rough weather conditions and high winds.

Performance and Speed

When it comes to performance and speed, there is a clear winner between trimarans and catamarans . Trimarans are known for their speed and are often faster than catamarans of the same size and weight. This is because of their unique design, which has speed and safety qualities that provide significant advantages over catamarans.

Trimarans have less hydrodynamic resistance than catamarans due to their narrower central hull, which allows them to slice through the water more efficiently in rough seas.

While catamarans are also fast, they often fall short of trimarans in terms of speed and performance. But that’s not always true in downwind conditions because cats are light, and their sails are positioned equivalent to the wind, making them faster than tris in downwind conditions.

Heeling and Capsizing

One of the biggest concerns when it comes to stability is heeling and capsizing. Heeling means the boat leans from one side to one side, while capsizing is when the boat flips over completely.

Both trimarans and catamarans heel, but trimarans provide greater stability and are less likely to capsize due to their three hulls. However, this doesn’t mean a trimaran can’t capsize.

In rough conditions, if a wave gets higher than half the size of the beam, the boat can flip over, but because trimarans have exceptional buoyancy, they float on the surface of the water and can serve as a rescue platform, but they won’t sink!

Comfort and Space

One important factor to consider when choosing between a cat and a tri is comfort and space. So, let’s look at these two types of boat’ accommodation: storage, cockpit, and living quarters.

Accommodation and Storage

One of the main advantages of catamarans over trimarans is the amount of space they offer. Catamarans typically have larger cabins and more storage space than trimarans. This makes them a great choice for longer trips, as you’ll have plenty of room to store all your gear and personal belongings.

Trimarans, on the other hand, have smaller cabins and less storage space. This can make the passengers feel a bit cramped, especially on longer trips. 

However, some trimarans do offer creative storage solutions, such as under-bunk storage compartments or overhead storage racks. Note that the latest models of trimarans are extremely spacious and offer as much comfort and space, if not more, than catamarans do.

Another difference between trimarans and catamarans is their weight. While trimarans can potentially be built lighter than some catamarans, catamarans are lighter on average due to having one fewer hull requiring structure and ballast.

The weight distribution of a trimaran is also different from a catamaran, with more weight concentrated in the central hull. This feature provides better stability and performance in rough seas and upwinds.

Catamarans, on the other hand, can support more load than trimarans. This feature makes them ideal for long-distance cruising and liveaboard lifestyles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: which has better resale value – trimarans or catamarans.

Resale values for both trimarans and catamarans can depend on factors such as the boat’s age, maintenance, and overall condition. Generally, catamarans have a larger market and may hold their value better due to higher demand, especially among cruisers and charter companies. However, a well-maintained trimaran can still attract buyers who value speed and performance.

Q: Which type of boat is more suitable for long-distance travel: trimaran or catamaran?

Both trimarans and catamarans are fantastic for long-distance travel. Still, catamarans are often preferred among sailors for extended cruising due to their larger living spaces and privacy on board. However, if speed is a critical factor for your journey, a trimaran might be a more attractive option.

Q: What factors should I consider when choosing between a trimaran and a catamaran?

When deciding between a trimaran and a catamaran, some key factors to consider include your intended use, performance expectations, available space, and budget. 

You should ask yourself:

• What are your primary sailing goals – speed, comfort, cruising, or racing?
• How much living and storage space do you need for your crew and equipment?
• What kind of stability and performance characteristics do you value most?
• Are you willing to compromise on space or speed for the sake of your preferred multihull design?

Final Words!

So, what’s the best boat? Well, both are great. The choice between a catamaran and a trimaran will depend on your needs and personal preferences. If you are looking for a peaceful trip at a slower pace with plenty of space for the whole group, a catamaran will be your best bet. On the other hand, if you want to zip through the water and get your blood pumping, a trimaran is what you need!

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Have you sailed a catamaran or a trimaran? If so, please share your experience in the comments below.

Daniella has been passionate about travel, the sea, and nature for many years. As a child, she frequently traveled throughout the Mediterranean and continued with her journeys throughout her adult life.

Her experiences have created the desire within her to share her love for traveling with other passionate and adventurers who want to discover beautiful horizons and new cultures.

26 thoughts on “Trimaran VS Catamaran – Which Boat Is Best?”

Hey, well I’m definitely the Catamaran girl. I love my space and don’t really need the thrill of the ride as much as I value the relaxation and holiday-type feeling. What’s your personal choice? Well since I’m more the sailor’s wife than the sailor, those other problems don’t really apply to me, do they? hahahaha what’s your personal choice?

We have something in common, because I am not a fan of racing . I love comfort and space, so I would go for a Cat!

Have a great day:)

I would go for the trimaran as it’s more stable in tough conditions as I would like to explore the world, not that I want to race. Catamaran is my go to option if I just want a nice vacation boat or something I agree that that one is better if you don’t want to race. I won’t buy a boat in the near future though, I certainly have not got the money, and I live at the wrong location, not far from the sea but still, I can’t even drive (no license). Great article though and I love boats. Wondered what the difference about these 2 are and now I know.?

Hi Stephanie, Sorry for the late reply. I had a minor technical issue:) Yes, trimarans are extremely stable and are faster than catamarans. However, those beautiful boats are quite expensive and if you plan on sailing around the world, you’ll need a small crew with you to handle the boat:). I am glad this article helped you know what’s the difference between a trimaran and a catamaran. Let me know if you need more info. I am always happy to help. Thank you for the comment and I wish you a lovely day.

This is a very informative comparison of the trimaran vs. catamaran style sailboat. They look similar on the exterior to the untrained eye – but it seems like the differences are pretty dramatic. If someone was looking to charter one for a vacation – do you have a specific experience or preference for one or the other?

It will depend on your personal preferences!

What are your needs? Can you be more precise?

I personally love to sail in comfort, I also need a lot of storage, so a cat is my favorite yacht!

Have a wonderful day:)

I have sailed ON a cat but never sailed one myself. Certainly a wonderful experience unlike a single-hulled vessel that rocks and rolls with the swells. That leads me to ask: if caught in rough weather (large swells and strong winds), how reliable is the trimaran? Does either configuration have limitations in this regard?

For the same size of boat, a trimaran have higher sailing performance ,a better ability to tack and go windward. So to answer to your question, a trimaran will handle better in strong winds and will go faster! But! Bear in mind that no matter if it’s a cat, trimaran, or monohull, the safety will all depend on when the sail will be shortened and how the boat will be handled in bad weather.

I hope it helped and if you have any other question , please feel free to get in touch:)

Have a great day!

Awesome write up on the differences between the two beauties. I have learned something new here. I am more of the adventure like person and your quick analysis of the Trimaran, tells me that I probably would lead to this option when choosing between the two.I will certainly browse around your site to check out other interesting articles you have on offer.Take Care, Roopesh.

Hi Roopesh,

Thank you for the compliment and you are very welcome to stroll around my website.

Take care too and wish you an awesome day!

It’s interesting to see the different opinions shown concerning of a debate. I don’t know about these vessels but I enjoyed reading it.

To me, I’ll go for Trimaran because of the modern interiors. I mean, it’s the modern feel that I’m looking for. That’s my main, personal factor.

Still, overall, I think it’s also suffice to say that these two cannot be compared because it’s not like with like. But that’s just my opinion. Trimaran for the win anyways!

So nice to see you again on my website:)

Yes, the trimaran Neel 45 has a modern look, but not every trimaran. Also, they are much faster than catamarans, sailors usually use them more for racing and catamarans for cruising.

Thank you for the comment, I really appreciate:)

I wish you a wonderful day!

I think now the Neel have brought out the 51 the game has changed somewhat. Lots more room ,walk around bed in master room. Lare shower in main head, the inside outside Cocloon as they now call it. Heaps of space below, fantastic headroom down below in central Hull. Much more classic looking boat on the exterior. Add the speed, stability and affordability compared to similar sized Cats and there really does not appear to be any more to be said. Of course it’s just my opinion and if money was not an option i think the Gunboat 60 would be the final choice, but for around 600k the Neel 51 has definitely set the standard. Take a look https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-997AEXfsk

Well, that’s a beautiful trimaran you have here, effectively, this one looks much more comfortable and wider than the Neel 45! I would definitely choose the 51 over the 45! I’ve really enjoyed watching the video, and it would be interesting to write an excellent review on the 51:). I agree with you, the Gunboat is such a beautiful cat, and now it makes it even harder to choose between the two of them:) Thank you for the comment and wish you a wonderful day!

Late arrival here but after reading and watching so many negative reviews about the Neel trimarans and the Neel 45 images of one build showing their train wreck quality, there is absolutely no way you can compare a Gunboat and a Neel. You’d be better off comparing it to the Yugo automobile.

The “Sailing Yacht Ruby Rose” did a recent video review of the newer Neel 47 posted on July 18, 2019 showing very clearly that its build quality is extremely lack luster. Although it was the Neel Trimaran that gave me the sea bug, one probably couldn’t purchase a poorer quality boat at any price. It’s an awesome concept but it’s a manufacturer no individual should consider buying from. I’m hoping one of the premium Cat builders will take on the task of providing a similar concept when I’m ready with my money.

Hello Eso, The beautiful thing in life is that everyone has different taste and opinion. I am glad to have you here and thank you for sharing your experience with the readers, this will certainly be useful to many people. I wish you a fantastic day!

Yes I’ve been looking at the Neel 51, Its turning my attention some what. It would make world cruising just that little bit faster and with room and comfort. PS I like the engine room.

Hi Mercury,

Thank you for the comment! The Neel 51 is a beautiful boat. She is more spacious and comfortable than the 45 Neel, but the 65 is even better! However, the 51 is an ideal cruising trimaran to sail in comfort. She provides everything sailors have ever dreamed of such as speed, stability, space, and luxury. What more to ask for:)

Thank you again for the comment and wish you a wonderful day!

I own a Catana 47 with one owner and two guest cabins. I and my wife want four cabin boat so that We can sail with our two daughters and their family including grand children. Should I buy Catana 53, Outremer 51 or Neel 51?

Thank you for commenting!

I am not a boat seller, but I will be more than happy to answer your question. The Catana 53, Neel 51, and Outremer 51 are fantastic boats. And to be honest, I would personally buy the Neel 51 because she is extremely spacious, lightweight and more stable than any catamaran out there.If you bring children, then you would want the boat to be safe. The other boats are also great but tend to perform less well in strong winds and heavy seas than the Neel 51. So yes, the Neel 51 is unbeatable in all categories! At least to me:)

I hope it helped and, please, feel free to contact me if you need to know further information. I am always happy to assist!

Thank you again for the comment and wish you a lovely day!

It’s really a good Information. I have never been in any one of the rides but I feel personally Cat is better. Do you guys know anything similar to this other then Cat trimaran like Semi-Submersible, drone etc. as I am doing a project that will help you to ride Cat Yourself alone!. Wish me good luck and please help me achieve my goal fastly, by sharing your precious knowledge and time. thank you in advance.

Hi Mohammed,

We would like to help you, but we didn’t really understand your question, could you be more specific, please?

Thank you for the comment!

Hello Daniella, Firstly thank you very much for your kind response. I would like to have some info about the Stability equation of Catamaran and different steering Mechanisms.

You are very welcome!

Please, check out these articles, I am sure you will find all the answers to your questions: file:///C:/Users/gofri/Downloads/6962-1-10720-1-10-20130718.pdf

http://www.sailingcatamarans.com/index.php/faqs/19-sailing-and-performance-questions/109-which-steering-system-should-i-use

I hope it helped! Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more information, I’ll be more than happy to assist!

Dear Daniela Thankyou very much for your Kind help. Could you please give some Information about the construction guidance of Catamaran. I want to construct my own for my experimental purposes. Thankyou Regards Moulasaheb Md

Hi Mohamed,

I would like to help you, but you are not in the right place for this. If you are looking for sailing holiday, then I’ll be more than happy to help!

If you want to construct your own boat, I highly recommend you to check other websites.

Thank you for the comment and wish you a great day!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

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Trimaran vs Catamaran: What are the Differences?

The debate between trimarans and catamarans has been raging for years, with no clear victor in sight. Despite their long-standing popularity as cruising vessels, trimarans have seen a resurgence recently – but what sets them apart from catamarans? The subtle differences lie mainly within the hulls; while monohulls are distinguishable several yards away, distilling one multihull from another requires closer examination of characteristics such as living space size accommodations, seaworthiness ratings , speeds achieved on test runs.

With these variables to consider – along with personal preference – deciding which vessel is right may be difficult indeed!

Performance and Stability: two distinct sailing experiences

The stability of a catamaran vs a trimaran.

When sailing on a monohull in strong winds, the boat can potentially capsize due to its single hull and lack of floatation. On the other hand, multihulls such as catamarans are more buoyant because they have two floats that help prevent immersion; however it still may be uncomfortable when navigating heavy seas. For the most optimal sail experience with great stability even through rough waters–pleasure trimarans provide an ideal combination! Three connected hubs act like small wheels over rippling waves while providing excellent comfort aboard no matter what conditions lie ahead!

Read also : Trimaran our ultimate guide

The wind and its influence on the performance of multihulls

In sailing, trimarans outperform catamarans in a headwind situation. Their unique hull design features both daggerboards and central weight focus which allows them to counteract the thrust of wind better so as to stay on course rather than drifting away like their counterparts do. This subtle difference makes significantly more efficient vessels resulting in overall faster speeds when heading into the wind – making trimiras an ideal choice for less experienced sailors seeking reliable performance!

Looking beyond traditional catamaran styles?

Trimarans such as DragonFly boast amazing features thanks to its “Swing Wing” system while Rapido Trimaran offers “an experience like nothing else”—thanks in part due to Morrelli & Melvin architect firm constructing this Vietnam built masterpiece!

For those seeking a luxurious floating lifestyle, the trimarans from shipyard NEEL are second to none! These vessels feature ‘Cockloon®’ areas which seamlessly connect saloons and cockpits – providing uninterrupted living spaces with breathtaking panoramic views. Alongside this is an expansive flybridge offering extra room along with comfortable cabins nestled within their own designated floats for ultimate relaxation. You could say that these modern marvels of engineering provide all you need in one single package – now it’s just down to choosing your destination!

Looking for the perfect blend of stability, comfort and interior space? Look no further than the NEEL 65 – a unique trimaran that boasts roomy cabins thanks to its enlarged volume. Not only does it offer more living area compared with typical catamarans – but also features an optimally aligned central hull which provides extra safety at anchor! So if you’ve been in two minds between these nautical vessels; perhaps this could sway your decision once and for all…

Trimaran vs catamaran safety: the width of trimarans makes them safer

The trimaran stands out as the most secure of its multihull contemporaries. Its superior design consisting of three hulls, effective anti-drift strategies and centre-mounted weights combine to provide it with a groundbreaking 27° righting moment – allowing for excellent stability in even gusty weather or choppy waters. In comparison, catamarans offer just 12° degrees protection against capsize – meaning that the trustworthiness offered by a trimaran is hard to match! Further punctuating this remarkable level of security are features such as buoyancy tanks which ensure that if capsizing does occur, sinking will not be an issue: making trimarans perfect vessels for sailing’s safety conscious connoisseurs.

Racing trimarans

In the last decade, trimarans have surged in popularity for racing purposes due to their enhanced speed and safety capabilities. Their stability on rough seas allows them to be pushed further than catamarans can go without sacrificing control of the vessel; this is why most multihull races since 2010 have been captured by a trimaran! The Jules Verne Trophy has not seen any different – all winners since its start in 2010 are proud owners of these three-hulled vessels.

How to make the right choice between a monohull, a catamaran, and a trimaran?

No matter what sailing adventure you have in mind and the destination, it is essential to select a vessel that will fulfill your dreams while meeting all of your demands. Make sure to pick wisely!

Choose a monohull sailboat if you like sailing!

Nothing quite compares to the feel and freedom of a sailing adventure aboard your own monohull sailboat. With its large, retractable keel, you can explore shallow waters where other boats may not venture while taking in stunning vistas from beyond the coastline. Enjoy an unforgettable experience with every rustle of wind across your sails!

Read also : Monohull vs Catamaran, which one to choose?

Pick a catamaran if you like volume and calm seas

TThe catamaran is perfect for adventurers seeking the tranquility of sailing with family and friends. With a spacious interior, multiple cabins equipped with bathrooms, and an enviable amount of storage capacity above 12m in length – it’s easy to see why these boats have become so popular! However when navigating more turbulent seas keep in mind that their windward grip may make maneuvering tricky; but Catana’s boat selection has you covered thanks to its range featuring daggerboards allowing captains ultimate control over any situation.

Pick a trimaran for a good combination of volume and performances

For those looking for a sailing experience like no other, trimarans are the perfect answer. They offer lightning-fast speeds and truly exhilarating performances on open waters – all while providing plenty of roomy living space comparable to catamarans of similar size! Whether you’re attempting an adventurous transatlantic crossing or simply want to enjoy some pleasant cruising around the world, selecting a recreational trimaran could be your best bet.

Enjoy cruising on the NEEL 51 , a unique charter yacht that offers plenty of space without sacrificing performance. This trimaran-inspired vessel is perfect for travelers who want to explore new destinations quickly and safely — with speeds twice as high as other options!

  Read more: LEEN 72′: The Future of Hybrid Trimarans is Here .

After looking into the differences between catamarans and trimarans, we can conclude that they each offer distinct sailing experiences. Catamaran sails offer a sense of comfort and stability for extended cruising trips and luxurious living spaces, while trimarans are better on performance, safety – due to the increased width of their hulls – and speed when racing. Ultimately though, it all comes down to personal preference when it comes to choosing between a monohull, a catamaran or a trimaran. If you want to gain speed and enjoy the thrill of racing, then a trimaran may be your best option; however if you prefer comfort and more space while cruising, then a catamaran may be more suited for your needs. Whichever you ultimately decide to purchase, just make sure that it fits your specific circumstances and requirements.

If you’re looking to buy a trimaran, don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the latest models and their features. Get the inside scoop on what to look for in a trimaran and what you can expect to pay. Find out how to choose the right size and style to meet your needs and budget. And if you’re looking to sell your trimaran, don’t miss this chance to connect with a global audience of interested buyers. Showcase your boat’s unique features and benefits and reach a wider audience of potential buyers.

So don’t wait any longer! Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about buying or selling trimarans. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or just starting out, this is your chance to dive deeper into this exciting world of boat ownership. Click the link below to get started today!

Whether you’re a fan of stability or speed, there’s one boat that can give you both – the trimaran vs catamaran. Catamarans provide plenty of living space and comfort in calm waters but struggle with choppy seas, while modern trimarans deliver excellent performance even on rough days yet still offer good room to relax onboard. But if vintage sailing is more your style opt for an older-style tri since it won’t be equipped with as much creature comforts!

Catamarans and trimarans are two types of watercraft that rapidly cut through the waves, but when it comes to speed one stands out above the rest. Trimarans have gained a reputation for being fast enough to take on any other vessel in a race – making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to shave precious seconds off their time!

When it comes to safety on the sea, two of the most popular vessels are Trimarans and Catamarans. Thanks to their side hulls, trimarans offer a much greater heeling angle compared with catamarans – meaning they’re less likely to capsize or sink in rough waters. However don’t let that put you off taking out a catamaran – while not as secure as its three-hulled cousin – these craft still provide plenty of stability for your seafaring adventure!

If you’re looking for an affordable seafaring vessel, the choice between a catamaran or trimaran can be daunting. With numerous factors that impact cost – from age and length to comfort levels and desirability – it’s often hard to tell which of these two sailing vessels will fit your budget best. But with some research, you’ll find just the right combination of affordability and quality suited perfectly to your needs!

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Can a Catamaran Capsize? The Surprising Answer

Capsizing often happens with small boats like canoes, kayaks, and sailboats. But even for bigger boats like catamarans, which have an established reputation for stability and safety, it's still normal to wonder if they can capsize too. To give you peace of mind and prepare you for the worst, let's answer that question in this article.

A catamaran can capsize under extreme conditions, just like any other boat. Even the most stable catamaran can capsize if it's hit by a large wave, caught in a sudden gust of wind, or if the rotational force has overcome the stability of the boat. However, it's not something that happens frequently.

It can be a scary experience if a catamaran capsized, but you have to stay calm and know that most modern catamarans are designed to self-right. This means that they can turn themselves back over after capsizing. Let's continue reading to know what else can we do to recover from a catamaran capsize.

• A catamaran's stability is attributed to its center of gravity, its freeboard, and its pendulum-like behavior. However, despite its stability and speed, a catamaran can still capsize due to strong winds and capsizing waves.
• There are factors that can contribute to the likelihood of a capsize happening, such as wind speed, wave height, weather conditions, breaking waves, and the overall sailing conditions.
• The best thing to do to quickly recover from a capsize is to stay calm and position the boat to make it self-right quickly.

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A catamaran can capsize despite its stability, factors influencing catamaran capsizing, safety measures to prevent capsizing, recovering from a capsized catamaran.

A catamaran can capsize. However, it's not very common, and most catamarans are designed to be stable and safe in a variety of conditions.

Despite their stability and speed, catamarans can still capsize under certain conditions. Strong winds, large waves, and imbalance can all cause a catamaran to capsize. When a catamaran is caught in a gust of wind, the increased wind pressure on one side of the catamaran can cause it to lean to one side, which can lead to a capsize if not corrected.

Any boat can technically capsize , but there are specific factors that can contribute to a catamaran capsizing. One of the main reasons for catamaran capsizing is the effect of rotational forces. When these forces overcome the stability of the boat, it can lead to capsizing.

A catamaran is a type of multihull boat that has two parallel hulls connected by a deck or bridge. They are well known for their stability and speed, making them a popular choice for sailors and boaters.

One of the key advantages of their twin hulls is that it gives them a larger base and makes them less likely to tip over . It also helps to distribute the weight of the boat more evenly, providing greater stability. This is especially helpful in rough seas , where the catamaran's stability can help keep you safe and comfortable. Below are factors that contribute to the stability of catamarans:

Their center of gravity makes them stable

In a catamaran, the center of gravity is typically lower than in a monohull, which helps reduce the likelihood of capsizing. This is because the lower the center of gravity, the more stable the boat will be.

The freeboard also adds up to their stability

Their freeboard of a catamaran is typically lower than a monohull's, which helps to reduce the windage and the chances of the boat being pushed over by strong winds.

Their pendulum-like behavior helps them to be stabilized

When they encounter waves, the two hulls move independently of each other, which helps to reduce the rolling motion of the boat. This is because the weight of the boat is distributed between the two hulls, which act like pendulums, swinging in opposite directions to counterbalance the motion of the waves.

Aside from stability, another advantage of a catamaran is its speed. Because they have two hulls, they create less drag than a single hull and can move through the water more quickly and efficiently. This can be especially useful if you're trying to get somewhere quickly or if you're racing.

The height of the wave can affect the chance of capsizing

Wave height is a significant factor when it comes to catamaran capsizing. The higher the waves, the greater the risk of capsizing. This is because the waves can exert a significant amount of force on the boat, causing it to tip over.

Wave capsize occurs when a boat overtakes a wave and sinks its bow into the next one, causing it to capsize. However, this is also not very common and can usually be avoided by keeping an eye on the waves and adjusting your speed and course accordingly.

Wind speed is another important factor to consider

The stronger the wind, the more likely it is that a catamaran will capsize. The wind can create a lot of pressure on the sails, which can cause the boat to lean to one side and potentially capsize. To know more about the ideal wind speed in sailing, read this article.

Weather conditions can also play a role in catamaran capsizing

If there is a storm or other severe weather conditions, the risk of capsizing is much higher. Perhaps consider checking the weather forecast before setting out on a catamaran to ensure that conditions are safe. You may also try reading this article on the possible danger of sailing through thunderstorms.

Breaking waves can cause a catamaran to capsize

When waves break, they release a significant amount of energy, which can cause the boat to capsize. Try to keep an eye out for breaking waves and avoid them if possible.

The overall sailing condition can increase the likelihood of capsizing

You may need to be aware of the conditions and take appropriate precautions to ensure that you stay safe while on the water.

1. Ensure proper weight distribution

To prevent capsizing, you could check if the weight on your catamaran is evenly distributed, with heavier items stored low and towards the center of the boat. Try to avoid overloading your catamaran with too much weight.

2. Learn the right way of reefing

Reefing is the process of reducing the size of your sails to adjust to changing wind conditions. When the wind starts to pick up, you will need to reef your sails to prevent your catamaran from heeling over too much. You must learn how to reef your sails properly before you set out on your journey.

3. Know how to properly anchor and use the right anchor

An anchor can help keep your catamaran in place and prevent it from drifting in strong currents or winds. You need to know how to properly anchor your catamaran and always use an anchor that is appropriate for the size of your boat. Learn different anchoring techniques in tough conditions through this article: Boat Anchoring Techniques Explained (Illustrated Guide)

4. Utilize your catamaran's engine

Your engine can be a valuable tool for preventing capsizing. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, such as strong winds or currents, you can use your engine to help keep your catamaran stable and prevent it from capsizing.

5. Use your boat tools to prevent it from capsizing

Keels, daggerboards, and centerboards all help stabilize your catamaran and prevent capsizing. You may need to check if these are properly installed and maintained.

6. Use the drogue to slow down the boat

A drogue is a device that can help slow down your catamaran and prevent it from capsizing in heavy seas. You can check if you have a drogue on board and learn how to properly use it in case you need to.

7. Make sure to have safety equipment onboard

Always make sure you have the proper safety equipment on board, including life jackets, flares, and a first aid kit. Everyone on board must also know where the safety equipment is located and how to use it.

8. Use an autopilot

Autopilot can help keep your catamaran stable and prevent it from heeling over too much. Consider learning how to properly use your autopilot before you set out on your journey.

Capsizing a catamaran can be a scary experience, but with proper preparation and practice, you can easily handle it. When the boat flips upside down, all the loose gear in the boat floats away (or sinks), and you are left with a capsized boat. Here are some steps that can help you recover from a catamaran capsize:

The first thing to do when your catamaran capsizes is to remain calm. Take a deep breath and assess the situation. Check if everyone on board is safe and accounted for.

Position the catamaran to self-right

Catamarans are designed to self-right, which means that they can turn themselves back over after capsizing. To self-right, the boat needs to be positioned in a certain way, usually with the mast pointing downwind.

Help the catamaran to self-right using the righting lines

If your catamaran doesn't self-right, you can help it by using the righting lines. These lines are attached to the bottom of the hulls, and they can be used to pull the boat back upright.

The buoyancy of the catamaran can help you recover

Catamarans are designed to be buoyant , which means that they can float even when they are upside down. This makes it easier to recover from a capsize.

Be prepared

The best way to prepare for a capsize is to practice recovering from one. Set aside some time to practice capsizing your catamaran in a controlled environment, like a calm lake. This will help you build confidence and prepare you for the real thing.

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Multihull Capsize Risk Check

Waves, squalls, and inattention to trim and helm contribute to instability..

In recent years we’ve seen a surge in interest in multihulls. Thirty years ago, when my experience with cruising multihulls began, nearly all of the skippers served an apprenticeship with beach cats, learning their quirks by the seat of their pants. They hiked out on trapezes and flew head-over-heels past their pitch-pole prone Hobie 16s, until they learned the importance of keeping weight way aft on a reach and bearing off when the lee bow began to porpoise.

By contrast, the new generation of big cat buyers skipped this learning process, learning on monohulls or even choosing a big stable cat as their first boat. Heck, nobody even builds real beach cats anymore, only pumped up racing machines and rotomolded resort toys. So we’re guessing there are a few things these first-time cruising multihull sailors don’t know, even if they have sailed cruising cats before.

It is extremely hard to capsize a modern cruising cat. Either a basic disregard for seamanship or extreme weather is required. But no matter what the salesman tells you (“none of our boats have ever …”), it can happen. A strong gust with sail up or a breaking wave in a survival storm can do it. And when a multihull goes over, they don’t come back.

Trimarans tend to be more performance oriented than catamarans. In part, this is because it’s easier to design a folding trimaran, and as a result Farrier, Corsair, and Dragonfly trimarans had a disproportionate share of the market.

In spite of this and in spite of the fact that many are raced aggressively in windy conditions, capsizes are few, certainly fewer than in equivalent performance catamaran classes.  But when they do go over, they do so in different ways.

Trimarans have greater beam than catamarans, making them considerably more resistant to capsize by wind alone, whether gusts or sustained wind. They heel sooner and more than catamaran, giving more warning that they are over powered. 

Waves are a different matter. The amas are generally much finer, designed for low resistance when sailing deeply immersed to windward. As a result, trimarans are more susceptible to broach and capsize when broad reaching at high speed or when caught on the beam by a large breaking wave.

In the first case, the boat is sailing fast and overtaking waves. You surf down a nice steep one, into the backside of the next one, the ama buries up to the beam and the boat slows down. The apparent wind increases, the following wave lifts the transom, and the boat slews into a broach. If all sail is instantly eased, the boat will generally come back down, even from scary levels of heel, but not always.

In the second case a large wave breaks under the boat, pulling the leeward ama down and rolling the boat. Catamarans, on the other hand, are more likely to slide sideways when hit by a breaking wave, particularly if the keels are shallow (or raised in the case of daggerboards), because the hulls are too big to be forced under. They simply get dragged to leeward, alerting the crew that it is time to start bearing off the wind.

Another place the numbers leave us short is ama design. In the 70s and 80s, most catamarans were designed with considerable flare in the bow, like other boats of the period. This will keep the bow from burying, right? Nope. When a hull is skinny it can always be driven through a wave, and wide flare causes a rapid increase in drag once submerged, causing the boat to slow and possibly pitchpole.

Hobie Cat sailors know this well. More modern designs either eliminate or minimize this flare, making for more predictable behavior in rough conditions. A classic case is the evolution of Ian Farrier’s designs from bows that flare above the waterline to a wave-piercing shape with little flare, no deck flange, increased forward volume, and reduced rocker (see photos page 18). After more than two decades of designing multihulls, Farrier saw clear advantages of the new bow form. The F-22 is a little faster, but more importantly, it is less prone to broach or pitchpole, allowing it to be driven harder.

Beam and Stability

The stability index goes up with beam. Why isn’t more beam always better? Because as beam increases, a pitchpole off the wind becomes more likely, both under sail and under bare poles. (The optimum length-to-beam ratios is 1.7:1 – 2.2:1 for cats and 1.2:1-1.8:1 for trimarans.) Again, hull shape and buoyancy also play critical roles in averting a pitchpole, so beam alone shouldn’t be regarded as a determining factor.

Drogues and Chutes

While monohull sailors circle the globe without ever needing their drogues and sea anchors, multihulls are more likely to use them. In part, this is because strategies such as heaving to and lying a hull don’t work for multihulls. Moderate beam seas cause an uncomfortable snap-roll, and sailing or laying ahull in a multihull is poor seamanship in beam seas.

Fortunately, drogues work better with multihulls. The boats are lighter, reducing loads. They rise over the waves, like a raft. Dangerous surfing, and the risk of pitchpole and broach that comes with it, is eliminated.  There’s no deep keel to trip over to the side and the broad beam increases the lever arm, reducing yawing to a bare minimum. 

Speed-limiting drogues are often used by delivery skippers simply to ease the motion and take some work off the autopilot. By keeping her head down, a wind-only capsize becomes extremely unlikely, and rolling stops, making for an easy ride. A properly sized drogue will keep her moving at 4-6 knots, but will not allow surfing, and by extension, pitch poling. 

For more information on speed limiting drogues, see “ How Much Drag is a Drogue? ” PS , September 2016.

Capsize Case Studies

Knock wood, we’ve never capsized a cruising multihull (beach cat—plenty of times), but we have pushed them to the edge of the envelope, watched bows bury, and flown multi-ton hulls to see just how the boat liked it and how fast she would go. We’re going to tell you about these experiences and what can be learned from them, so you don’t have to try it.

First, it helps to examine a few examples of some big multihull capsizes.

Techtronics 35 catamaran, John Shuttleworth design

This dramatic pitchpole occurred in a strong breeze some 30 years ago. In order to combine both great speed and reasonable accommodation, the designer incorporated considerable flare just above the waterline, resulting in hulls that were skinny and efficient in most conditions, but wide when driven under water in steep chop.

The boat was sailing fast near Nova Scotia, regularly overtaking waves.  The bows plowed into a backside of a particularly steep wave, the submerged drag was huge, and the boat stopped on a dime. At the same time, the apparent wind went from about 15 knots into the high 20s, tripling the force on the sails and rapidly lifting the stern over the bow. Some crew were injured, but they all survived.

PDQ 32 Catamaran

On July 4, 2010, the boat’s new owners had scheduled time to deliver their new-to-them boat up the northern California coast. A strong gale was predicted, but against all advice, they left anyway. The boat turned sideways to the confused seas and a breaking wave on the beam capsized the boat. There were no injuries, and the boat was recovered with only moderate damage a few weeks later. Repaired, she is still sailing.

Another PDQ 32 was capsized in the Virgin Islands when a solo sailor went below to tend to something and sailed out of the lee of the island and into a reinforced trade wind.

Sustaining speed with wider tacking angles will help overcome leeway.

Cruising cats can’t go to windward. That’s the rumor, and there’s a kernel of truth to it. Most lack deep keels or dagger boards and ex-charter cats are tragically under canvassed for lighter wind areas, a nod to near universal lack of multihull experience among charter skippers. Gotta keep them safe.  But there are a few tricks that make the worst pig passable and the better cats downright weatherly. Those of you that learned your craft racing Hobies and Prindles know most of this stuff, but for the rest of you cruising cat sailors, there’s some stuff the owner’s manual leaves out.

“Tune” the Mast

Having no backstay means that the forestay cannot be kept tight unless you want to turn your boat into a banana and over stress the cap shrouds. Although the spreaders are swept back, they are designed primarily for side force with just a bit of pull on the forestay. The real forestay tension comes from mainsheet tension.

Why is it so important to keep the forestay stay tight? Leeward sag forces cloth into the luff of the genoa, making it fuller and blunting the entry into the wind. The draft moves aft, the slot is pinched, and aerodynamic drag increases. Even worse, leeway (sideslip) increases, further increasing drag and sliding you away from your destination. Sailing a cruising cat to windward is about fine tuning the lift to drag ratio, not just finding more power.

How do you avoid easing the mainsheet in strong winds? First, ease the traveler instead. To avoid pinching the slot, keep the main outhaul tight to flatten the lower portion of the main. Use a smaller jib or roll up some genoa; overlap closes the slot. Reef if need be; it is better to keep a smaller mainsail tight than to drag a loose mainsail upwind, with the resultant loose forestay and clogged slot. You will see monos with the main twisted off in a blow. Ignore them, they are not cruising cats. It is also physically much easier to play the traveler than the main sheet. Be glad you have a wide one.

Check Sheeting Angles

Very likely you do not have enough keel area to support large headsails. As a result, you don’t want the tight genoa lead angles of a deep keeled monohull. All you’ll do is sail sideways. Too loose, on the other hand, and you can’t point. In general, 7-10 degrees is discussed for monos that want to pinch up to 40 degrees true, but 14-16 degrees makes more sense for cruising cats that will sail at no less than 50 degrees true. Rig up some temporary barber haulers and experiment. Then install a permanent Barber-hauler; see “ Try a Barber Hauler for Better Sail Trim ,” Practical Sailor , September 2019.

The result will be slightly wider tacking angles, perhaps 105 degrees including leeway, but this will be faster for you. You don’t have the same hull speed limit, so let that work for you. Just don’t get tempted off onto a reach; you need to steer with the jib not far from luffing.

Watch the fore/aft lead position as well. You want the jib to twist off to match the main. Typically it should be right on the spreaders, but that depends on the spreaders. If you have aft swept shrouds, you may need to roll up a little genoa, to 110% max.

Use your Tell-Tales

On the jib there can be tell-tale ribbons all over, but on the main the only ones that count are on the leech. Keep all but the top one streaming aft. Telltales on the body of sail are confused by either mast turbulence (windward side) or pasted down by jib flow (leeward side) and won’t tell you much. But if the leach telltales suck around to leeward you are over sheeted.

Keep Your Bottom Clean

 It’s not just about speed, it’s also pointing angle. Anything that robs speed also makes you go sideways, since with less flow over the foil there will be less lift. Flow over the foils themselves will be turbulent. Nothing slows you down like a dirty bottom.

Reef Wisdom

Push hard, but reef when you need to. You will have the greatest lift vs. windage ratio when you are driving hard. That said, it’s smart to reef most cruising cats well before they lift a hull to avoid overloading the keels. If you are feathering in the lulls or allowing sails to twist off, it’s time to reef.

Don’t Pinch

Pinching (pointing to high) doesn’t work for cats. Get them moving, let the helm get a little lighter (the result of good flow over the rudder and keel), and then head up until the feeling begins to falter. How do you know when it’s right? Experiment with tacking angles (GPS not compass, because you want to include leeway in your figuring) and speed until the pair feel optimized. With a genoa and full main trimmed in well, inside tracks and modified keels, and relatively smooth water, our test PDQ can tack through 100 degrees with the boat on autopilot. Hand steering can do a little better, though it’s not actually faster to windward. If we reef or use the self-tacking jib, that might open up to 110-115 degrees, depending on wave conditions. Reefing the main works better than rolling up jib.

Boats with daggerboards or centerboards.  The comments about keeping a tight forestay and importance of a clean bottom are universal. But the reduction in leeway will allow you to point up a little higher, as high as monohulls if you want to. But if you point as high as you can, you won’t go any faster than similar monohulls, and quite probably slower. As a general rule, tacking through less than 90 degrees, even though possible, is not the best strategy. A slightly wider angle, such as 100 degrees, will give a big jump in boat speed with very little leeway.

Chris White Custom 57

In November 2016, winds had been blowing 25-30 knots in stormy conditions about 400 miles north of the Dominican Republic. The main had two reefs in, and the boat was reaching under control at moderate speed when a microburst hit, causing the boat to capsize on its beam. There were no serious injuries.

Another Chris White 57 capsized on July 31, 2010. It had been blowing 18-20 knots and the main had a single reef. The autopilot steered. The wind jumped to 62 knots in a squall and changed direction so quickly that no autopilot could be expected to correct in time.

Gemini 105mC

In 2018, the 34-foot catamaran was sailing in the Gulf of Mexico under full sail at about 6 knots in a 10-15 knot breeze. Squalls had been reported on the VHF. The crew could see a squall line, and decided to run for cover. Before they could get the sails down, the gust front hit, the wind shifted 180 degrees, and the boat quickly went over.

38-foot Roger Simpson Design

The catamaran Ramtha was hit head-on by the infamous Queen’s Birthday storm in 1994. The mainsail was blown out, and steering was lost. Lacking any control the crew was taken off the boat, and the boat was recovered basically unharmed 2 weeks later. A Catalac catamaran caught in the same storm trailed a drogue and came through unharmed. Of the eight vessels that called for help, two were multihulls. Twenty-one sailors were rescued, three aboard the monohull Quartermaster were lost at sea.

15 meter Marsaudon Ts

Hallucine capsized off Portugal on November 11 of this year. This is a high performance cat, in the same general category as the familiar Gunboat series. It was well reefed and the winds were only 16-20 knots. According to crew, it struck a submerged object, and the sudden deceleration caused the boat to capsize.

Multihulls We’ve Sailed

Clearly seamanship is a factor in all of our the previous examples. The watch needs to be vigilant and active. Keeping up any sail during squally weather can be risky. Even in the generally benign tropics, nature quickly can whip up a fury. But it is also true that design choices can impact risk of capsize. Let’s see what the numbers can tell us, and what requires a deeper look.

Stiletto Catamaran

We’ve experienced a number of capsizes both racing and while driving hard in these popular 23-foot catamarans. The combination of light displacement and full bow sections make pitchpoling unlikely, and the result is very high speed potential when broad reaching. Unfortunately, a narrow beam, light weight, and powerful rig result in a low stability factor. The potential for capsize is real when too much sail is up and apparent wind is directly on the beam. The boat can lift a hull in 12 knots true. This makes for exciting sailing when you bring your A-game, but limits the boat to coastal sailing.

Corsair F-24 MK I trimaran

Small and well canvased, these boats can capsize if driven hard (which they often are), but they are broad beamed, short-masted, and designed for windy sailing areas. F-24s are slower off wind than the Stiletto, in part because of greater weight and reduced sail area, but also because the main hull has more rocker and does not plane as well. They are faster to weather and point considerably higher than a Stiletto (90-degree tacking angle vs. 110 degrees). This is the result of greater beam, a more efficient centerboard design, and slender amas that are easily driven in displacement mode. The boat is quite forgiving if reefed.

Going purely by the numbers, this boat seems nearly identical to the F-24. In practice, they sail quite differently. The Dash uses a dagger board instead of centerboard, which is both more hydrodynamic and faster, but more vulnerable to damage if grounded at high speed.

The rotating mast adds power that is not reflected in the numbers. The bridgedeck clearance is higher above the waterline, reducing water drag from wave strikes. The wave-piercing amas create greater stability up wind and off the wind. The result is a boat that is slightly faster than the original F-24 and can be driven much harder off the wind without fear of pitchpole or broach.

Without proper testing, calculating stability yields only a rough picture.

Evaluating multihull performance based on design numbers is a bit more complicated than it is with ballasted, displacement monohulls, whose speed is generally limited by hull form. [Editor’s note: The formula for Performance Index, PI has been updated from the one that originally appeared in the February 2021 issue of Practical Sailor.

The following definitions of units apply to the adjacent table:

SA = sail area in square feet

D (displacement) = weight in pounds

LWL = length of waterline in feet

HCOE = height of sail center of effort above the waterline in feet

B = beam in feet

BCL = beam at the centerline of the hulls in feet.

Since a multihull pivots around the centerline beam, the overall beam is off the point and is not used in formulas. Calculate by subtracting the individual hull beam from the overall beam.

SD ratio = SA/(D/64)^0.66

This ratio gives a measure of relative speed potential on flat water for monohulls, but it doesn’t really work for multihulls.

Bruce number = (SA)^0.5/(D)^0.333

Basically this is the SD ratio for multihulls, it gives a better fit.

Performance index = (SA/HCOE)^0.5 x (D/1000)^0.166

By including the height of the COE and displacement, this ratio reflects the ability of the boat to use that power to sail fast, but it understates the importance of stability to the cruiser.

Stability factor = 9.8*((0.5*BCL*D)/(SA*HCOE))^0.5

This approximates the wind strength in knots required to lift a hull and includes a 40% gust factor. In the adjacent data sheet, we compare the formula’s predicted stability to observed behavior. Based on our experience on the boats represented, the results are roughly accurate.

Ama buoyancy = expressed as a % of total displacement.

Look for ama buoyancy greater than 150% of displacement, and 200 is better.  Some early trimaran designs had less than 100 percent buoyancy and would capsize well before flying the center hull. They exhibited high submerged drag when pressed hard and were prone to capsize in breaking waves.

Modern tris have ama buoyancy between 150 and 200 percent of displacement and can fly the center hull, though even racing boats try to keep the center hull still touching. In addition, as a trimaran heels, the downward pressure of wind on the sail increases, increasing the risk of capsize. The initial heel on a trimaran is more than it is on catamarans, and all of that downward force pushes the ama even deeper in the water. Thus, like monohulls, it usually makes sense to keep heel moderate.

These numbers can only be used to predict the rough characteristics of a boat and must be supplemented by experience.

This is the first real cruising multihull in our lineup. A few have capsized. One was the result of the skipper pushing too hard in very gusty conditions with no one on watch. The other occurred when a crew unfamiliar with the boat ignored local wisdom and set sail into near gale conditions.

Although the speed potential of the PDQ 32 and the F-24 are very similar, and the stability index is not very different, the feel in rough conditions is more stable, the result of much greater weight and fuller hull sections.

Like most cruising cats, the PDQs hulls are relatively full in order to provide accommodation space, and as a result, driving them under is difficult. The increased weight slows the motion and damps the impact of gusts. Yes, you can fly a hull in about 25 knots apparent wind (we proved this during testing on flat water with steady winds), and she’ll go 8-9 knots to weather doing it, but this is not something you should ever do with a cruising cat.

Stability by the Numbers

The “stability factor” in the table above (row 14) is based on flatwater conditions, and ignores two additional factors. Unlike monohulls, the wind will press on the underside of the bridgedeck of a multihull once it passes about 25 degrees of heel, pushing it up and over. This can happen quite suddenly when the boat flies off a wave and the underside is suddenly exposed to wind blowing up the slope of the wave. A breaking wave also adds rotational momentum, pitching the windward hull upwards.

Multihulls by the Numbers

Autopilot is a common thread in many capsizes. The gust “came out of no place…” No it didn’t. A beach cat sailor never trusts gusty winds. The autopilot should be disengaged windspeeds and a constant sheet watch is mandatory when gusts reach 30-40 percent of those required to fly a hull, and even sooner if there are tall clouds in the neighborhood. Reef early if a helm watch is too much trouble.

“But surely the sails will blow first, before the boat can capsize?” That would be an expensive lesson, but more to the point, history tells us that well-built sails won’t blow.

“Surely the rig will fail before I can lift a hull?” Again, that could only be the result of appallingly poor design, since a rig that weak will not last offshore and could not be depended on in a storm. Furthermore, good seamanship requires that you be able to put the full power of the rig to work if beating off a lee shore becomes necessary.

Keeping both hulls in the water is up to you. Fortunately, under bare poles and on relatively flat water even smaller cruising cats can take 70 knots on the beam without lifting … but we don’t set out to test that theory, because once it blows for a while over even 40 knots, the real risk is waves.

Everything critical to safety in a blow we learned on beach cats. Like riding a bike, or—better yet—riding a bike off-road, there are lessons learned the hard way, and those lessons stay learned. If you’ve been launched into a pitchpole a few times, the feeling you get just before things go wrong becomes ingrained.

Perhaps you are of a mature age and believe you monohull skills are more than enough to see you through. If you never sail aggressively or get caught in serious weather, you’re probably right.

However, if there’s a cruising cat in your future, a season spent dialing in a beach cat will be time well spent. Certainly, such experience should be a prerequisite for anyone buying a performance multihull. The statement might be a little pointed, but it just makes sense.

Capsize by Wind Alone

Capsizing by wind alone is uncommon on cruising multihulls. Occasionally a performance boat will go over in squally weather. The crew could easily have reefed down or gone to bare poles, but they clung to the idea that they are a sail boat, and a big cat feels so stable under sail—right up until a hull lifts.

Because a multihull cannot risk a knockdown (since that is a capsize), if a squall line is tall and dark, the smart multihull sailors drops all sail. Yes, you could feather up wind, but if the wind shifts suddenly, as gusts often do, the boat may not turn fast enough. Off the wind, few multihulls that can take a violent microburst and not risk a pitchpole. When a squall threatens, why risk a torn sail for a few moments of fast sailing?

You can’t go by angle of heel alone because of wave action. Cat instability begins with the position of the windward hull. Is it flying off waves?

A trimaran’s telltale is submersion of leeward ama. Is the leeward ama more than 30-40 percent under water? The maximum righting angles is a 12-15 degrees for cats and 25-30 degrees for trimarans, but that is on flat water. Once the weather is up, observation of motion becomes far more important. Is the boat falling into a deep trough, or is at about to launch off a steep wave and fly?

Just as monohulls can surprise a new sailor by rounding up and broaching in a breeze, multihulls have a few odd habits that only present themselves just before things go wrong. Excuse the repetition, but the best way to learn to instinctively recognize these signs is by sailing small multihulls.

Sailing Windward

Because of the great beam, instead of developing weather helm as they begin to fly a hull, multihulls can suddenly develop lee helm, causing the boat to bear away and power up at the worst possible moment. This is because the center of drag moves to the lee hull, while the center of drive remains in the center, causing the boat to bear away.

If the boat is a trimaran, with only a center rudder, this rounding up occurs just as steering goes away. This  video of a MOD 70 capsize shows how subtle the early warning signs can be ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI2iIY61Lc8 ).

Sailing Downwind

Off the wind, the effect can be the reverse. The lee hull begins to bury, and you decide it is time to bear off, but the submerged lee bow acts like a forward rudder. It moves the center of effort far forward and prevents any turn to leeward.  Nearly all trimarans will do this, because the amas are so fine. The solution is to bear away early, before the ama buries­—or better yet, to reef.

Conclusions

We’re not trying to scare you off multi-hulls. Far from it. As you can probably tell, I am truly addicted. Modern designs have well-established reputation seaworthiness.

But multihull seaworthiness and seamanship are different from monohulls, and some of those differences are only apparent when you press the boat very hard, harder than will ever experience in normal weather and outside of hard racing. These subtle differences have caught experienced sailors by surprise, especially if their prior experience involved only monohulls or cruising multihulls that were never pressed to the limit.

Although the numbers only tell part of the story, pay attention to a boat’s stability index. You really don’t want an offshore cruising boat that needs to be reefed below 22-25 knots apparent. Faster boats can be enjoyable, but they require earlier reefing and a more active sailing style.

When squalls threaten or the waves get big, take the appropriate actions and take them early, understanding that things happen faster. And don’t forget: knockdowns are not recoverable. It is satisfying to have a boat that has a liferaft-like stability, as long as you understand how to use it.

Technical Editor Drew Frye is the author of “Rigging Modern Anchors.” He blogs at www.blogspot/sail-delmarva.com

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22 comments.

It’s interesting to read the report of the Multihull Symposium (Toronto, 1976) regarding the issues of multihull capsize in the formative years of commercial multihull design. There were so many theories based around hull shape, wing shape, submersible or non submersibe floats, sail area and maximum load carrying rules. My father, Nobby Clarke, of the very successful UK firm Cox Marine, fought many a battle in the early Sixties with the yachting establishment regarding the safety of trimarans, and I am glad that in this modern world technolgy answers the questions rather than the surmises of some establishment yachting magazines of the time.

Thank You Mr.Nicholson and Thank You to Practical Sailor for this great read superbly shared by Mr.Nicholson God bless you and our great Sailing Family.

Great read! Multi hulls are great party vessels which is why companies like Moorings and Sunsail have larger and larger numbers in their fleets. More and more multihulls are joining the offshore sailing fleets. Dismasting and capsizes do happen. Compared to mono hulls I know of no comparative statistics but off shore and bluewater, give me a mono hull. That is probably because I took one around with zero stability issues and only minor rig few issues. Slowly though; ten years.

Great read! Multi hulls are great party vessels which is why companies like Moorings and Sunsail have larger and larger numbers in their fleets. More and more multihulls are joining the offshore sailing fleets. Dismasting and capsizes do happen. Compared to mono hulls I know of no comparative statistics but off shore and bluewater, give me a mono hull. That is probably because I took one around with zero stability issues and only minor rig issues. Slowly though; ten years.

What’s an ama? Those who are new to sailing or even veteran sailors who have never been exposed to a lot of the terms simply get lost in an article with too many of those terms. I would suggest putting definitions in parentheses after an unfamiliar term to promote better understanding.

Vaka is the central, main hull, in a trimaran.

Ama is the “pontoon” hull at the end of the aka, or “crossbeam”, on each side of a trimaran.

I’m a geek, and therefore live in a dang *ocean* of the Jargonian & Acronese languages, and agree with you:

presuming 100% of audience is understanding each Jargonian term, and each Acronese term, is pushing credulity…

( and how in the hell “composition” means completely different things in object-oriented languages as compared with Haskell?? Bah. : )

As I understand it: Cats have an advantage in big beam seas because they will straddle a steep wave whereas a Tri can have its main hull on the wave crest with the windward ama’s bottom very high off the water and acting as another sail. Also, rig loads on a mono hull are calculated to be 2.5-3x the righting moment at a 45 deg heal; the reason being at 45 degrees the boat will still be making headway and feeling the dynamic loads in the seaway but beyond 45 degrees is a knockdown condition without seaway shock loads. A multihull rig on the other-hand can experience very high dynamic shock loads that are too short in duration to raise a hull.

Though I agree with much of the article content, the statement: “… this is because strategies such as heaving to and lying a hull don’t work for multihulls.” does not ring true in my experience. I have sailed about 70,000nm on cruising catamarans, a Canadian built Manta 38 (1992, 39ft x 21ft) with fixed keels and my present boat, a Walter Greene Evenkeel 38 (1997, 38ft x 19ft 6″) with daggerboards. I came from a monohull background, having circumnavigated the world and other international sailing (60,000nm) on a mono before purchasing the Manta cat. I owned that catamaran for 16 years and full time cruised for seven of those years, including crossing the Arctic Circle north of Iceland and rounding Cape Horn. I usually keep sailing until the wind is over 40knots, then the first tactic is to heave-to, and have lain hove-to for up to three days with the boat lying comfortably, pointing at about 50 to 60degrees from the wind and fore-reaching and side-slipping at about 1.5 to 2knots. Usually once hove-to I wait until the wind has reduced to 20knots or less before getting underway again. Lying ahull also works, though I have only used that in high winds without big breaking waves, as in the South Atlantic in the lee of South America with strong westerlies. I have lain to a parachute sea anchor and it is very comfortable, though lots of work handling all that gear and retrieving it and was glad to have deployed it when I did. I heave-to first, then deploy the sea anchor from the windward bow while in the hove-to position. The daggerboard cat will also heave-to well, though takes some adjusting of the boards to get her to lay just right, though I have not experience being at sea on this boat in as high of winds as with the Manta (over 60 knots). Catamaran bows have lots of windage and have little depth of hull forward. Thus you need mostly mainsail and little jib to keep her pointing into the wind. I aim for the wind to blow diagonally across the boat, with a line from the lee transom to the windward bow pointing into the wind as an optimum angle. As per taking the boat off autopilot when the wind gets near 20 knots is just not practical. The longest passage I have made on my catamarans has been from Fortaleza, Brazil, to Bermuda, nearly 3,000nm and across the squall prone doldrums and horse latitudes, taking 20 days. The autopilot steered the whole distance. I have never lifted a hull nor felt the boat was out of control despite having sailed in some of the most dangerous waters of the world.

I believe that your Techtronics 35 should be Tektron 35 (Shuttleworth) and as far as I know the capsize that occurred off Nova Scotia was, in fact, a Tektron 50 (Neptune’s Car I believe) sailed by the Canadian builder Eugene Tekatch and was reported as being off PEI. This capsize was well documented under a thread in “Steamradio” that I can no longer find. It appears that Steamradio is now, unfortunately, no longer operating. The report of the capsize was along the lines of the boat being sailed off wind with all sail in a gale. I think Shuttleworth indicated that they would have been doing about 30 knots. They then hit standing waves off PEI, the boat came to a standstill and with the change in apparent wind to the beam, over they went. Reading between the lines, Shuttleworth was pretty unhappy that one of his designs had been capsized in this manner, unhappier yet that some of the findings of I believe an american committee/ board were that the design was somehow at fault. Given Shuttleworth’s rep it seems unlikely. As I say these are recollections only.

Shortly afterwards Neptune’s Car was up for sale for a steal price.

I think Jim Brown (Trimaran Jim) when speaking of the Tektron 50 referred to it as weighing less than similarly sized blocks of Styrofoam. Admittedly, blocks of solid foam weigh more than one might imagine, but still a vivid point. Though Tektron 50 was light, we have far more options to build lighter boats today, than in the past.

Good that Practical Sailor is looking at this issue and I agree with much of it, so thanks PS for that. Also fun to see Nobby Clark’s son chip in …. I met Nobby at the ’76 World Symposium in Toronto, when I was just starting to get interested in Trimarans. I have since owned 4 and as a naval architect, builder and sailor, now specialize in their design and ‘all things related’, with a quasi-encyclopedic website at: http://www.smalltridesign.com . So as a trimaran guru, I’d like to add a few things here. In my experience (now 45 years with multis) there is really too much difference between catamarans and trimarans to compare them on the basis of the same formulas. For example, lifting a hull on a cat brings about a major reduction in reserve stability ….. lifting an ama on a trimaran, certainly does not. Using 30-40% immersion of an ama is hardly a guide to limit or prevent a capsize on a trimaran as that’s not even close to normal operating immersion . I would recommend a reduction of ama bow freeboard to about 1-2% of the boat length (depending on a few size factors) is a better guide as the ‘time to really ease up’. This visual indicator is great on my boats but is very hard to judge on hulls with reverse bows where there is no deck up forward. For a number of reasons, I am against this shape but as I’ve already made my case on line about this, I’ll not repeat it here. Over 80% of the capsizes we see on line, show that mainsails were never released .. and that includes the capsize of the MOD70 in the YouTube referenced in the PS article. As several trimaran owners I deal with have also capsized or near-capsized their boats (particularly those between 22 and 40ft that ‘feel’ more stable than they really are, I am developing a few models of EMRs to help solve their issue, (EMR=Emergency Mainsheet Release) and these will be operated wirelessly by punching a large button under the skippers vest, as I am not in favor of any fully automatic release. This HAS to be a skippers decision in my opinion for numerous reasons. The first two units of this EMR dubbed ‘Thump’R, will be installed this Spring … one in Europe and the other in Australia, but one day, perhaps Practical Sailor will get to see and test one for you 😉 In a few words, my advice to all multihull sailors is to be very aware of the way your stability works on your specific boat and sail accordingly. We learn this instinctively with small beach boats, but is harder to ‘sense’ as boats get heavier and larger. I have sailed cats from a 60ft Greene cat to a 12ft trimaran and although some basics apply they are of course very different. But you still need to ‘learn the early signs’ of your boat, as these must be your guide. IMHO a good multihull design will be fairly light and easily driven which means that it will still sail well with less sail. This means that the use of a storm mainsail in potentially high wind can add much reserve stability and safety to your voyage. To give an example from my small W17 design that sets a rotating wingmast, the boats top speed to date is 15kts with 200 sqft, but with the storm mainsail and a partly-furled jib I can get the area down under 100sqft without losing rig efficiency. In fact, the tall narrow storm main with a 5.5:1 aspect ratio is now even MORE efficient as the wingmast is now doing a higher percentage of the work. In 25-30t storm conditions, I have now sailed 8kts upwind and 14.4kts down, and feel very dry and comfortable doing so … even at 80+. So get the right sails, and change down to small more efficient ones when it pipes up. A multihull storm sail should look nothing like a mono’s trysail … with our narrow hulls, we are sailing in a very different way. Happy sailing Mike

In the old days, low displacement, short and narrowly spaced amas were the design of choice. One was supposed to back off when they started to submerge. It was a visual indicator. Modern amas are huge. If a 24 foot tri like the Tremolino could be designed to use Hobie 16 hulls in the 70s, today it would carry Tornado hulls. The slippery shape of designs catches the eye, and their supposed less grabby when submerged decks, but these amas also carry 1.5-2x main hull displacement. The chance of burying them is significantly reduced.

The original intent of these slippery ama designs was to shake off wind. Though low drag shapes for reducing pitch pole risk are a consideration, it should be balanced against maintaining ama deck walkability. This is important in allowing one to service the boat or rig drogues or anchors, not to mention to position live ballast. I am thinking here of the smaller club and light crusing tris. You aren’t going to be able to do a lot of these things on monster luxury boats that are a different scale entirely. But they mater on the kinds of boat most people are likely to own.

Poring over tri design books, one will notice that the silhouette of, say, a 40 foot tri, and the smaller 20 foot design are very similar This yields a doubling of the power to weight ratio on the smaller boat. This difference can even be greater as the smaller boats are often nothing more than empty shells, yet may carry higher performance rig features like rotating masts. Smaller tris are often handicapped by the requirements of being folded for trailering which both limits beam and ama displacement, though it may tend to increase weight. On top of that, mainsail efficiency is much higher, these days, with squared shapes, and less yielding frabrics. And, of course, much larger sail plans. All the better, just so long as people realize what they have by the tail.

Excellent article…thank you!!!!!!!!!

Good article. One thing that concerns me about modern cruising cat is how far above water level the boom is. I first noticed this looking at Catana 47’s for hire in New Caledonia and recently saw large Leopards 48 & 50 footers visiting Fremantle Sailing Club, here in Australia, and in all cases the boom seems to be at least 20 feet (6 metres) above the water. This seems to greatly increase the heeling moment and reduce the amount of wind required to capsize the vessel. Mind you at 20+ tons, the weight of the Leopards probably makes them a bit more resistant to capsize. But why does the rig need to be so far off the water?

Notice to Moderator After having read this article a couple or days back, I emailed naval architect mike waters, author of the specialist website SmallTriDesign to read the article and perhaps comment. Nearly a day ago, he emailed me back to say that he had, yet there’s been nothing posted from him and now I see a post with todays date. With his extensive knowledge and experience I would have thought his insight to be valuable to your readers and I was certainly looking forward to seeing his input. What happened?

Yes, PS .. what’s cookin ? Thought readers would be interested to know that capsize control help maybe on the way 😉

Yes PS, what’s cookin’ ? Thought your readers would like to know that some anti-capsize help maybe on the way 😉

Great article! I’ve read it twice so far. Recently in Tampa Bay I sailed my Dragonfly 28 in 25 knots breeze and found that speed was increased (drag reduced?) after I put in one reef in the main. I think I should have reefed the Genoa first?

Absolutely Tim. Slim hulls, as for most trimarans and the finer, lighter catamarans will often sail more efficiently with less sail .., especially if with a rotating mast, and you can indeed get proportionally better performance. The boat sails more upright for one thing, giving more sail drive from improved lift/drag and less hull resistance .. and its certainly safer and more comfortable and can also be drier, as an upright boat tends to keep wavetops passing underneath more effectively. Even my W17 design has been shown to achieve over 90% of its top speed with only 1/2 the sail area, by switching to a more efficient, high-aspect ratio ‘storm mainsail’ set behind its rotating wingmast …, a far cry from a monohulls storm trysail in terms of upwind efficiency. Yes, wind speed was higher, but the boat sailed far easier and its definitely something that slim hulled multihulls should explore more, as they will then also be less likely to capsize. More here if interested http://www.smalltridesign.com

Darrell, is there some reason for blocking replies that hold opinions contrary to those of PS ? I am still hoping to read the expertise of those who actually study design and sail multihulls. The written target of PS is to accurately present facts and that implies the input of experts. Over the last 10 years, I have come to appreciate a few experts in the field of multihulls and right now, I see at least one of them is not being given a voice here. Your article made a lot of fine points but there are some issues needing to be addressed if PS it to remain a trusted source for accurate information. First, I have been told by a reliable source, you need to separate trimarans from catamarans and use different criteria to compare their stability as they do not respond the same and neither can you judge their reserve stability in the same way. I would also like to know what NA Mike Waters was hinting at when he said “capsize control help may be on the way” .. would you know anything about that? If not, then please invite or allow him space or the promise of PS fact-finding accuracy is heading down the drain for me. thanks

As a new subscriber to PS, it is a little disquieting to see no response to the two comments above by Tom Hampton.

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With the confusion of genres caused by the super-powerful ocean racing multihulls, the conservatism of monohull sailors and the high commercial stakes, the risk of capsizing is still a taboo subject for many people in the world of two or three-hull sailing boats. However, rather than just focusing on hearsay, Multihulls World suggests a rational approach to the subject in order to get a better understanding of the situation.

The risk of capsize on a catamaran of more than 40 feet with a displacement of more than 10 tons is almost non-existent.

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Published 26/05/2023

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The action takes place on a brand-new large cruising monohull during a press test. The yard has invited a serious potential buyer to join us. The potential buyer was full of praise - which was well deserved - for the excellent vessel, much to the delight of the shipyard’s marketing director, who was also on board. What a surprise when both of them agreed that they would never go on a long cruise in a multihull, or that they would not even cross the Atlantic in the trade winds during the best season on a cruising catamaran, under the pretext that a multihull would be “as stable upside down as the right way up”. I, who had been so discreet until then, keeping my intimate passion for multihulls secret so as not to offend anyone, lost all sense of diplomacy - my blood ran cold. I heard myself blurting out a sentence I thought I had forgotten: “like a monohull which is as stable on the water as it is on the bottom!” The atmosphere in the cockpit suddenly became rather tense... Misunderstanding and confusion have allowed such prejudices to persist. Regattas and offshore racing have largely contributed to this (bad) reputation. But you really can’t compare those racing machines with our cruising multihulls. Even among extreme vessels there are differences. An Ultim trimaran takes off in around 16 knots of wind. An Ocean Fifty sails on one float from 13-14 knots of wind, while an Orma 60-footer makes do with 11.5 knots. Even more extreme, the BMW Oracle trimaran in the America’s Cup rises up from 7 knots: a real lake boat! Moreover, on board a Decision 35, if the wind rises to 20 knots on Lake Geneva, the boat becomes unmanageable. Out on the open sea, alone, the risk is tenfold because the reaction time is longer, whereas anticipation is more necessary than ever. But let’s concentrate on our cruising multihulls. Even if it is statistically insignificant - in recent times there have only been 1 to 5 capsizings of multihulls over 30 feet per year out of 15,000 cruising multihulls that are currently sailing (we are not talking about shipwrecks or total losses caused by hurricanes like Irma). That means the risk is 0.017% per year. Over the lifetime of a boat – say 40 years - this amounts to 0.67%. Compare this with the risk of a car accident - 1 every 70,000 km in France, according to the Road Safety Department, or 1 every 7 years (the average mileage of a car being 10,000 km/year globally). So, a 0.017% risk of capsizing for a multihull every year, against 14% of having an accident on the road for a car, certainly raises a few questions don’t you think? However, even if it is insignificant, the risk of capsizing on a large production catamaran or trimaran does exist. The proof? It is regulated by the standard that all manufacturers must respect. Thus, at the helm stations of all good modern multihulls, three small yellow triangular pictograms prevent any temptation to turn a blind eye. The first one, an exclamation mark, draws our attention to a ...

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Catamaran Sailing Techniques Part 7: should the worst happen – with Nigel Irens

• Belinda Bird
• October 1, 2015

Capsize is very unlikely in most modern catamarans, but should the worst happen it is as well to be prepared, says Nigel Irens

Photo: David Harding

The first thing to say is that as a general rule floating home-type catamarans are, in principle, less likely to be at risk than those designed with performance in mind.

That said, before making such a sweeping statement it’s important to mention that the level of risk involved is much more about the skill and experience of the skipper than about the qualities of the boat on which he or she goes to sea.

Over the years buyers of catamarans have tended to go more and more for the model with enhanced accommodation space (and de facto diminished performance). The bottom line is that in sailing on most ‘charter spec’ catamarans you’d have to be trying hard to win a bet to bring about a capsize.

Building catamarans down to a budget often seems to result in under-sizing of deck gear so that powering up the rig is not really possible. This really is not intended as a criticism – just a reflection on the real-life economics of this market.

If these factors combine make such a catamaran very hard to capsize then this could surely be perceived as a positive result.

Once the discussion turns from the prevention of capsize to the reality of it information and advice is not readily available. There are two different areas that need to be addressed.

The first is about actually surviving the incident in the short term. The second assumes you have managed to do that and is about surviving life on an upturned boat while summoning some help as soon as possible.

Rule one is that if you are on the inside of the boat you should immediately get away from the bridgedeck and head for one or other of the hulls as fast as possible. That’s easier said than done because you’ll be disorientated – especially if it’s dark outside and any lights inside won’t last long.

At the very least if sailing in challenging conditions (especially on a performance boat) it makes sense to bed down between watches in a hull rather than in the central saloon.

Not likely in a cruising cat!

The reasoning is that the boat is unlikely to be supported by the roof for very long when inverted and as she settles down in the water the bridgedeck will soon be close to the water, making an exit attempt risky – especially if there are warps washing around the cockpit.

Stay below if possible

As the hulls themselves are by definition watertight the boat will be buoyant enough to float with (at worst) the threshold of the companionways into the hulls at the surface.

It’s important not to rush for the escape hatch (fitted to the inboard side of each hull) because, although it provides a useful source of light, opening it will let some of the air that’s supporting the boat out of the hull, causing it to float lower in the water.

It is probably best to wait and take stock of the situation – together with anyone else who is in the same hull – and maybe wait for daylight if the capsize has happened at night. Try to find out if others are outside – or perhaps in the other hull.

If, on balance, the decision is taken to leave the hull then it is important to make a plan that results in the hatch being open for as short a time as possible.

Catamaran escape hatch

Clearly if the level of seawater inside the hull is high it is not going to provide a suitable environment for survival while waiting for assistance, so exit is the only option. If on the other hand it is only knee deep then the hull may be the place to stay.

Once again good planning for the worst before going to sea is the way to go and there is plenty of information available about that.

Discussion and planning

As part of the preparation for these dire circumstances it is important to have had a frank discussion about this whole scenario with the supplier of the boat. Has anyone ever capsized this particular design before, and what was learned from that?

Comparing the relative dangers of being at sea in a catamaran that could capsize with those of being in a monohull that could sink has always been a source of lively debate.

The truth is that there are now (and there have always been) risks in going to sea in any vessel. Our best hope in minimising that risk is to face the subject full-on and become as well informed as possible.

Man overboard

While discussing safety issues in the context of catamaran sailing we should take a brief look at that other seafarer’s nightmare – losing a man overboard.

All the normal recovery procedures apply to a catamaran with regard to the all-important location of the casualty, but there are some important differences in the way the approach is made for the recovery.

Because of the high windage of a catamaran and relatively small amount of lateral resistance under the water you can assume that, as you slow the boat down to attempt the pick-up, you’ll make a huge amount of leeway. As a result if you approach to windward of the casualty there is a real danger that the casualty’s legs will be carried under the leeward hull – with a real risk of serious injury from the propeller.

Because of high windage it can be a problem approaching a casualty in the water

To be absolutely safe from this peril just keep to leeward of the casualty. Of course this means that, despite you best efforts, you could pass too far to leeward and won’t be able to get a line to them.

A good way to avoid this problem is to motor at maybe two to three knots across the wind trailing a long line behind the boat (from the leeward stern). You should aim to pass at least 10m to windward of the casualty – which should be easy to judge because you have enough speed to have good steerage way.

Because the casualty will need to hang onto this line it should be easy in the hands – a 14-16mm 8 plait nylon mooring line or similar would be ideal.

When the casualty is directly to leeward of you turn sharply downwind, making a 180° turn that leaves you passing safely to leeward. Slow down at this point, being careful not actually to go astern and risk getting the line around the leeward propeller.

If all goes well the bight of the rope will now be encircling the casualty and at some point he or she will be able to grab hold of it.

From now on you shouldn’t need to engage the drive to either propeller. Keep the helm to leeward and the boat should lie with the wind somewhere on the quarter. If you’re moving too fast – making things difficult for the casualty – you could transfer the line to the bow so that the drag of towing will tend to make the boat round up somewhat – you should be able to control the angle at which the boat lies to the wind by moving the attachment point of the rescue line to different points along the sheer.

If all goes according to plan you should be able to haul the casualty in to the windward quarter of the boat, where they can use the emergency boarding ladder.

If they are not up to that then it should be possible to pass them another rope with a bight in the end of it big enough for them to pass it over their shoulders and under their arms so that they can be hauled aboard.

Do’s and don’ts

• DO take positive action to wise up on the risk of capsize on the catamaran you sail. Asking difficult questions of boat suppliers and collecting opinions from other owners are all valid.
• DO develop some kind of basic plan for the worst case – such as impressing on crew that if below in high-risk conditions then being in the hulls is much safer than being on the bridgedeck. In the case of a man overboard do always make the pick-up from a position downwind of the casualty.
• DON’T take the word of some designer who’s never capsized as gospel – ferret around online and find out what conclusions people who have actually been there have drawn from their experience.
• DON’T risk sailing in bad weather until you have plenty of experience with the boat in more moderate conditions.
• DON’T even think of steering by autopilot when in potentially dangerous conditions. Many accounts of capsize reveal that there was no one on the helm at the critical moment.
• DON’T make a meal of all this. Capsize is very unlikely in most cruising catamarans, but it does happen occasionally so, as with most seamanship issues, the smart move is to be on top of the subject and prepared for the worst.

Our eight-part Catamaran Sailing Skills series by Nigel Irens, in association with Pantaenius , is essential reading for anyone considering a catamaran after being more familiar with handling a monohull.

Part 8: the future of catamaran cruising

Series author: Nigel Irens

One name stands out when you think of multihull design: the British designer Nigel Irens.

His career began when he studied Boatyard Management at what is now Solent University before opening a sailing school in Bristol and later moving to a multihull yard. He and a friend, Mark Pridie, won their class in the 1978 Round Britain race in a salvaged Dick Newick-designed 31-footer. Later, in 1985, he won the Round Britain Race with Tony Bullimore with whom he was jointly awarded Yachtsman of the Year.

His first major design success came in 1984 when his 80ft LOA catamaran Formule Tag set a new 24-hour run, clocking 518 miles. During the 1990s it was his designs that were dominant on the racecourse: Mike Birch’s Fujicolour , Philippe Poupon’s Fleury Michon VIII , Tony Bullimore’s Apricot . Most famous of all was Ellen MacArthur’s 75ft trimaran B&Q, which beat the solo round the world record in 2005.

His designs have included cruising and racing boats, powerboats and monohulls, but it is multis he is best known for.

See the full series here

A special thanks to The Moorings, which supplied a 4800 cat out of their base in Tortola, BVI. www.moorings.com

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Trimaran vs catamaran: Which one to go for

Nov 27, 2020

less than a min

There is a lot of commotion in the marine world when it comes to the discussion of trimaran vs catamaran. Both vessels are part of the multihull category . A catamaran is a yacht with two hulls while a trimaran has three hulls.

First of all, it is important to note that both trimarans and catamarans are more popular than monohulls lately as they are easier to control. In addition, monohulls can capsize more easily in difficult weather conditions, and sometimes, they even have space limitations. Moreover, speed is a big advantage of trimarans and catamarans. Typically, these multihulls are 25-30% faster than a monohull of the same size.

Trimarans vs catamarans: which one is better

Both trimarans and catamarans have their advantages and disadvantages which means that picking one over the other is not only hard but probably impossible. The choice is based not solely on their properties but also on weather conditions, destination route, and most importantly, personal taste.

Let’s have a look at both yachts in more detail.

Catamarans are very interesting boats. They are also known as cats, an abbreviation of their name but also a tribute to their versatility. These boats are fun to sail and also provide a good level of comfort. Their size varies between a few cabins that can accommodate 2 people, to a large group of 20. While many catamarans are affordable and family-friendly, some of them also display extra luxury and can sail to the most beautiful and expensive destinations around the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Last but not least, catamarans are very good yachts when it comes to stability, but they are mainly designed to sail in shallow waters, lagoons, or calm sea gulfs.

Trimarans have three hulls – the main one, and two overhangs. As a result of this geometry, trimarans are unsinkable. They do not capsize even in the worst of storms, and even in the rare case that they flip over, trimarans manage to stay afloat. The big disadvantage a trimaran has is that it combines the comfort and sailing capacity of a monohull boat with the security to stay afloat that a multihull provides. In addition, trimarans are some of the fastest boats out there. They can be used as chartered vessels as well as racing boats.

Trimaran vs. catamaran: which one to choose

A catamaran is a better choice if you are looking for minimal work on deck . Also, catamarans are perfect for holding events and parties on board while still maintaining their stability on the water. Here is a list of the best catamarans under 50 feet .

If you are looking for something more challenging where to practice your sailing skills, then a trimaran is a more appropriate boat for you. In addition, if you are a speed junkie, look out for the fastest trimaran boats and pick the one that best suits your needs.

While making a choice between a trimaran vs a catamaran seems easy on paper, it is harder when you are in front of the fact, or better yet, in front of the boat. To make a more informed decision, compare any boat you are looking at TheBoatDB . Find out all their features and get a better picture of what life would be like if you purchased that vessel.

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> > Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. 08-11-2006, 17:03   . Trimarans are wetter while pointing...that upwind "Ama" knocks the top off every wave spraying everywhere. Trimarans have less stability at as it rocks to either the port or starboard Ama as you move around. is a great , love em, wish I had one but it will never outsail a . We crewed on a while in the and got annihlated by an older gemini. Gemini has a center board(s) not . Neither are they the to sail around the world in, they are coastal cruisers. We never had any concern navigating with one , it's really a non-issue as we had no probs but obviously twins would be better at getting around in tight spots. Duckhead 08-11-2006, 17:09   Boat: 50ft powercat, light,long and low powered   08-11-2006, 20:18   Ian Farrier, who has designed many tri's and at least one cat states that at over 40 feet a cat makes more sense because the space increase is dramatic. I agree but I would say that it happens closer to 35 feet really. 09-11-2006, 08:34   Boat: CSK, 33' Aita Pe'ape'a design is in its infancy. It really only started in the 1950's. I have noticed that designs dictate peoples opinions on the two . Modern catamarans are too big inside and far too heavy. Most trimarans now are foldable and small. They are also fast. Orange 2 is the fastest boat in the world. It is a . If you want any performance do not go with a PDQ or a Gemini. They are slow. If you want space they are both good. Catamarans with good accomadation under 40' are slow and look bulky. A well proportioned cat in my opinion is the Gunboat 48. Some would say that this is a performance boat but I would disagree. All cats should perform! There are other good cat designs out there as well. I like the Conser catamarans and believe they are well proportioned. Under 40' Trimarans are great because the middle is very livable. On a small cat if the properly proportioned it is a bit small. However catamarans take advantage of the hulls. Most trimarans do not use Amas for accomadation. The horstman tris along with a few others did. My 33' 1964 CSK cat is not perfect. However it does have more accomadation than an F 31. It also has topped 20 kts. double digits are EVERY DAY. Some would point out that the hulls are only 2 feet wide. and that the boat weighs 4000 pounds. I guess what I'm trying to say with all this rambling is that they both can be great . And it depends on the design. I think there is a lot to look forward too in design. Tristan 18-11-2007, 00:00   between cats & tris was done. The conclusion was that tris are more prone to wave (under "ultimate" conditions) while cats tended to be more prone to . That being said, it worth noting that most cruising designs, either type, generally can take lot of bad & sea conditions before ever reaching that critical state nearing a capsize. Trouble is, if it happens, it's well documented that it happens rather suddenly, and not always under conditions you might expect, such as massive storms. Heavier cruising designs however have excellent records, and boats such as the Heavenly Twins 26 or 27 cats have circumnavigated, crossed oceans, all with no negative circumstances. Same with most cruising designs too. Good seamanship is paramount of course, and preparation, plus a little good luck thrown in of course. Regarding accomodation, I mentioned the Heavenly Twins as the design has huge accomodations for such a small cruising cat. You simply won't find the same level of accomodation in any near that size. Larger designs can have much more accomodations than same size tris, up to the roughly 37 - 40 foot range, where, depending on the design, some tri's have interiors easily rivaling that of similar sized cats. However, remember that each type has it's space arranged according to what's possible. Tris under roughly 40' generally never had space in the outer hulls for real cabins, even smallish ones, and accomodations for daily living by necessity are in the center . Cats of any size can usually have good in each hull, with standing in the bridgedeck only in designs starting close to 28 - 30' (the HT 27 being one of the smallest with standing headroom on the bridgedeck cabin). Also, if you intend to the boat often, or at a , a cat takes up less beam than a similarly sized tri, which may affect . Cat's & tris also handle a bit differently, but it's not a major concern and easily learned as you sail each type. 13-06-2008, 08:58   powerboat[Florida],but just fell in love to cats.I know nothing about them,will go to get courses next 3 weeks.In 6 month I'd like to buy cat about 40-43.Still don't know--what kind is more save...[I have properties in and thinking to reach it].Thank You. 13-06-2008, 12:42   Boat: Searunner 40 trimaran, WILDERNESS associations, contact multihull brokers, subscribe to Multihull Magazine and contact people therein, go to and find owners (give them a hand rather than take up their time), or try to catch one while sailing and get a contact from them. Those are the things I did thirty-some years ago to decide which boat I was going to build. Even then, there were plenty of incredible designs that were worth the effort to discover. Browns, Kantolas, Crosses, as well as a bunch of really hot British and Aussie designs. Today there are even more, in more sophisticated construction techniques. Go do the yourself, or you will kick yourself later. 15-06-2008, 12:56   Boat: PDQ 36 & Atlantic 42 to your range, easily done using Yachtworld.com . A more difficult parameter to define is the quality of construction, which will require you to look at a lot of boats. Try to get a look at the unfinished and hidden of the boat to develop a feel for the builder's standards of construction. On an older boat you can expect to see a lot of older , but if it works and doesn't look like a prop from "On the Waterfront" its a sign the boat has been continuously maintained. Use a tough . 15-06-2008, 13:36   Boat: Searunner 34 and Searunner Constant Camber 44 of the boat to develop a feel for the builder's standards of construction. On an older boat you can expect to see a lot of older , but if it works and doesn't look like a prop from "On the Waterfront" its a sign the boat has been continuously maintained. Use a tough . 17-06-2008, 05:18   Boat: B24 17-06-2008, 06:48   Boat: Privilege 37 17-06-2008, 07:46   Boat: B24 17-06-2008, 08:03   Boat: Privilege 37 17-06-2008, 09:06   Boat: PDQ 36 & Atlantic 42 have to be ferried back and forth in an open . Small point. I fell in love with the tris of the 60's, and formed firm opinions about everything before I ever sailed a boat. I'm still kind of wistful about thos dreams, aided by the fact that always drew a few extra female figures in his ads! For anyone looking, there are some PDQ 32's on the market for under 6 figures (yes, thats still a lot of money) but they a remarkably good sailing boats, build by master craftsmen in the Whitby tradition. I owned one, and the only thing my 36 offers over the 32 is more waterline, and easier transit from the to the bow. Yes, a well prepared Gemini (in the hands of one of the few Gemini masters) is faster than a PDQ. But not otherwise. So what are you going to do NOW if you don't have the wherewithall to snag a $90,000 boat loan? Buy older, buy smaller, buy smarter; maintain and improve to yacht standards (i.e. nothing from home depot) and move up when you can. Don't do anything on your boat a hard- nosed surveyor wouldn't approve of, or your potential future market will be limited to the rare dreamer-with-money. But in the meantime, stop dreaming and start sailing. Just do it. 17-06-2008, 09:19   Boat: PDQ32 Yes, a well prepared Gemini (in the hands of one of the few Gemini masters) is faster than a PDQ. But not otherwise. Thread Tools Rate This Thread : Posting Rules post new threads post replies post attachments edit your posts is are code is are are are Similar Threads Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post Gisle Multihull Sailboats 56 30-03-2008 14:19 Kelldog Multihull Sailboats 13 16-11-2006 15:45 Steven Prince Construction, Maintenance & Refit 12 01-11-2006 20:10 Jack Dusty Multihull Sailboats 10 10-10-2006 04:54 Dreaming Yachtsman Multihull Sailboats 37 06-10-2006 13:07 - - - - - - - Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time. Catamaran vs. Monohull: We Changed, Should You? There are two schools of thought when it comes to monohull versus catamaran . We have done extensive cruising and lived aboard two monohulls and four catamarans over the past 25+ years . We experienced the good and the bad for both single hull and multihulls first hand. Quite honestly, the pluses for catamarans far outweigh the minuses. There are multiple benefits of catamarans. They are faster, more stable and spacious, and have shallower drafts allowing safer anchorage closer to shore. Being on a stable platform with no heeling cuts down on crew fatigue and seasickness leaving the crew more alert and in control of the vessel. Even novice sailors feel more confident on catamarans. When we built our monohull Royal Salute in the early 90s, catamarans were not established and were looked upon with extreme suspicion by most cruisers, including ourselves. “Safety and the capsize” issue were always the first things to come up against sailing catamarans. It is a fact that monohulls can get rolled in heavy seas but will right themselves because of the heavy lead keel, and while crew and vessel will be battered, the roll is survivable. However a catamaran once capsized, will remain upside down (jokingly referring to this state of the catamaran as “reaching its most stable position when upside down”). The inability of a catamaran to self-right was and still is a major bone of contention. However, what is not often discussed is that a monohull has about a 5,000 pound keel of lead that is constantly trying to drag the boat to the bottom of the ocean versus a catamaran that has no ballast and is in most cases with modern catamarans, unsinkable. So the options are to either sail the world on a boat that, if it springs a leak, will sink like a stone or a vessel that cannot self-right in the event of a capsize but will not sink no matter what. So from a practical point of view, here are our observations over the last 25+ years of living aboard, on the advantages and disadvantages of a catamaran. ADVANTAGES OF A CATAMARAN 1. speed equals safety. The speed of a catamaran makes it possible to outrun bad weather. While catamarans do not point as high into the wind as a monohull (or if it does, it makes more leeway or slides sideways), it is about 20% faster than a monohull. This means that even if you sail upwind at a slightly wider angle to the wind than a monohull and have to cover more distance, you will still arrive at your destination long before a monohull. A modern performance catamaran with daggerboards and good quality sails will point as high as a similar sized monohull. It will point the same as a comparable monohull and sail much faster and therefore arrive at an upwind position much sooner than a the monohull. It is important to note that most of the production catamarans on the market are under-powered and are equipped with standard smaller sails. In lighter breezes many of these designs perform poorly unless fitted with bigger headsails, a Code Zero and a square-top mainsail. While we believe that more comfortable and safer in rough weather , we have to concede that when the weather gets really bad (60 knots of wind or more) we would personally prefer to be on a monohull from the standpoint of surviving. I would say that a monohull is preferable for serious offshore single-handed sailing because you can more easily hove-to in a monohull. We have been in some extreme weather on a number of catamarans and never really felt that we were in danger, although it takes some nifty seamanship. 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. Well-designed modern catamarans are very hard to capsize though. Having said all that, most catamarans can do 200 to 250 miles a day and with modern technology allowing one to pull down weather at will, there is no good reason why you should get caught in extreme weather. A faster boat is a safer boat as it will in many cases be able to outrun bad weather. With good weather routing information a catamaran can avoid most serious weather and, at worst, place itself in the most favorable position to avoid the brunt of a storm. 2. A Catamaran is a Stable, Safe Platform Underway Catamarans have no ballast in the keels like monohulls do and therefor it relies on beam and buoyancy for stability. Typically cruising catamarans will have a beam to length ratio of roughly 50%, although many designs nowadays exceed the 50% rule of thumb. So, a 45-ft long catamaran will be about 22-ft wide, providing a very stable platform when sailing. Unlike catamarans, monohulls cannot overcome the rolling and pitching with their narrow beam and the lead ballast for stability. This rolling and pitching makes the deck on a monohull very unsafe whereas on walking around on the deck of a catamaran while underway is far easier since the boat is much more stable, and it doesn’t heel. This makes sail changes and reefing much easier and a lot safer for the crew. Without the rolling and pitching motion, the danger of falling overboard on a catamaran is considerably less than on a monohull. 3. Crew Fatigue Reduces on a Catamaran Because a catamaran does not heel over like a monohull, it offers far more comfort underway because the motion is mostly fore and aft pitching and very little beam-to-beam rolling. On all points of sail, a catamaran tracks upright and significantly reduces crew fatigue and seasickness. Seasickness is usually caused by things like anxiety, fatigue, hunger and cold, which all add to a sense of disorientation. This leads the crew to making bad decisions and seamanship errors that could be fatal to the crew and vessel. The more stable platform of the catamaran will hugely keep those issues at bay, making the crew more alert and energized. Every action and chore including cooking is much easier on a catamaran when underway. It is much more pleasant to be on the deck level looking out rather than being stuck “down below.” It is also much nicer to sleep on a boat that doesn’t heel. I remember nights at sea in our monohull when I was rolling around in my bunk unless I was properly wedge in a little corner. That is simply not the case on catamarans. All these factors ensure that your crew will not expend unnecessary energy to simply try and stay upright, onboard and safe on a long passage. Your crew on a catamaran will be well rested and alert and will be able to function well if a stressful situation arises. 4. Comfort at Anchor Catamarans provide a wide platform and therefore offer lovely spaces to relax at anchor without the rolling motion that monohulls have a tendency to do in a swell. During our 15 years of cruising on a monohull, we have often had to leave anchorages that we really were not finished exploring because of a rolly, uncomfortable anchorage. Big rollers or swells coming into an anchorage can make conditions in an anchorage very uncomfortable and unsafe. We were anchored off Funchal on the island of Madeira in our monohull Royal Salute once, when we were forced to leave our anchorage. The rolling became so bad, we were rolling from gunnel to gunnel. The anchorage became untenable to remain anchored, forcing us to go out to sea in foul weather in the middle of the night. This is an extreme case but believe me, we have left many an idyllic anchorage because of a rolling swell into the anchorage. Catamarans, on the other hand, do not roll from like monohulls have a tendency to do and are far more comfortable at anchor. 5. Anchor Bridal Setup Catamarans are fitted with a bridle, attached to both bows and down to the anchor chain, resulting in a very stable position at anchor. What we found with our monohull was that because the bow acts as a sail (because of the high freeboard), the boat tended to sail at anchor in high winds. It sailed in one direction until the chain snatched and tacked over and sailed in the other direction, feeling like it might dislodge the anchor altogether. The catamaran on the other hand sits at anchor a lot more stable and doesn’t sail around as much. 6. Ease of Boarding on a Catamaran Thank goodness we were much younger and more agile during our monohull days. Royal Salute and most monohulls of her generation or older, have high free-boards, making it quite a feat to get onto the boat from the dinghy. It was one of the most challenging things to do because unlike the more modern monohulls that have a scoop at the back, we had to climb up on the side of the boat to get on and off. We, of course rigged steps, etc. but it was always a hassle compared to the ease of getting on and off a catamaran from a dingy or from the water. 7. Shallow Draft Equals Better Anchorages Catamarans have significantly shallower drafts than monohulls, allowing for safer anchorages closer to shore. Most catamarans in the 40-ft to 50-ft range draw between 3-ft to 4.5-ft, so they can anchor in places that a monohulls can not even consider. In the shallow waters of the Bahamas for example, the catamarans have a big advantage. We often anchor our own catamaran just a few feet away from a beach. It definitely allows one to be able to explore areas where the water is shallow without the fear of running aground. The shallow draft also allows for emergency repairs in shallow water and even doing the bottom job when the tide goes out as we have done in places like Mtwapa Creek in Kenya, East Africa. The catamaran easily rests on her keels on the sand without help making it a breeze to do the “annual haul out” even in remote locations. 8. Dinghy Davits & Dinghy Size All catamarans have a set of davits that make it very easy to raise and lower the dingy. Our monohull and most cruising monohulls do not have an efficient or easily accessible set of davits. This makes raising and lowering the dingy an elaborate production. Catamarans on the other hand, has davits systems easily accessible and some even have platforms to rest the dinghy on. The lack of beam and difficulty of lifting the dinghy also limits the size and type of dingy that one can reasonably carry on a monohull. As we all know, the dingy is your transport to and from shore and diving or fishing spots, so the bigger and faster the dingy, the better off you are. A catamaran can carry both a heavier and bigger dinghy which makes the popular center consul dinghy so much more possible. 9. Interior Space and Comfort on a Catamaran We sailed 32,000 NM on our 45-ft monohull, happy as clams, not realizing that sailing does not have to be done lying on your ear 24/7 while on passage or sitting knee-to-knee in the cockpit at anchor with your two other guests at the dinner table! One can liken sitting in a monohull cockpit to sitting in an empty Jacuzzi, you are always nice and close to the other folks. Now that we are on our fourth catamaran, there are a few things that have become more evident to us than the incredible space and comfort of a catamaran, not only at anchor but also underway. The cockpit and living space in general are huge compared to a monohull, making for very comfortable and spacious living conditions. It feels more like you are at home, rather than just on a camping trip. Knowing that one spends at least 90% of one’s cruising life at anchor, it’s important to have good open living space, which most modern cats nowadays offer. A lot of cats have walk around beds, lots of storage, every modern appliance including washer/dryer, etc. However, one has to fight the urge to fill the space if you want to keep the cat light and fast. Sailing with guests onboard for extended periods of time, in close quarters can become claustrophobic but on a catamaran people are spread out and separated. With guests sleeping in one hull and the owners in another, catamarans offer much more privacy and separation. Some cats even have privacy doors that will close off the entire hull and has a separate entrance onto the deck, which really separates you from the guests completely. There is very little heeling on a catamaran, so there is no need for hand grips and safety harnesses inside the boat. There is nothing better (and safer) than being able to walk from the cockpit into the living room (saloon) on one level or one step down at most. In a monohull, when heeling at a severe angle, you would have to claw your way from the companionway steps down to the living area, while fighting to stay upright, significantly tapping your energy. Unless you hit extreme conditions, everything stays put on a catamaran reducing the anxiety before doing passages of having to stow and secure everything. This very issue makes a lot of cruisers reluctant to weigh anchor and explore more often. It is just too much effort to pack away all your stuff once comfortable in an anchorage! One thing you will notice is that the stove on catamarans are not gimbaled like it is on monohulls and this should tell the story in itself. The stability and comfort on a catamaran is far superior. Cooking is easy and safer. I often open a nice cold beer, put it down to do something and forget about it only to find a warm beer later in the same place I left it. This is not something that happens on a monohull.      10. Redundancy on a Catamaran Unlike monohulls, catamarans have a lot of critical redundancies. That of course means two hulls to clean and anti-foul, double the engine maintenance, etc. but having two of the critical equipment like engines for instance, outweighs the downside. With two engines, if one fails you still have adequate propulsion to go anywhere. If by some fluke the second engine also fails, you have a full set of spares to fix at least one of them. Our friends once hit a sleeping whale off Tanzania, and when it dove, it hit the prop, bending it. They limped into the narrow channel on the one engine but at least they could make it to a safe harbor where we surveyed and repaired their damage. We often only use one engine when motoring while making passage in order to conserve our fuel. The one engine is totally capable of moving the boat along at a good speed unless you are in heavy seas and you may need more power. Other than that we only use two engines to dock or maneuver the boat in close quarters. Because there are two engines there are also two independent charging systems via the alternator on each engine. If one alternator goes out, there is still another complete charging system. There are two rudders and if one fails or falls off (as has happened to our friends on a monohull off Columbia, where they almost lost their boat) you have a second rudder that is completely capable of steering the boat by itself indefinitely. That holds true for several things on a catamaran!      11. Maneuverability The engines are spaced far apart on a catamaran and it makes maneuvering much easier and more precise than monohulls, unless the monohull has a bow thruster. We did not have a bow thruster (not many monohulls do) and had to rely on prop-walk and using prop wash on the rudder. A modern catamaran can do a 360 turn on her own axis. A monohull cannot do this and have a bigger turning circle. However, a monohull under sail is much more maneuverable and certainly will tack a lot faster than a catamaran. The ease in maneuverability under engine on a catamaran in close quarters specifically, is vastly superior comparatively. 12. Rigging Because of the beam on a catamaran the spinnaker pole has become unnecessary equipment. Hallelujah, I say. That pole on our monohull was a pain the behind and I always hated having to use it. On a catamaran, one can fly an asymmetrical cruising chute or spinnaker, using the bows to tack the clew or run a guy through a block so it is very much simplified, easier and safer.We also sail wing-on-wing with twin headsails when we sail downwind. We use our furling jib and furling Code Zero. It is as easy as one, two, three. DISADVANTAGES OF A CATAMARAN 1. bridgedeck slamming. One advantage most monohulls do have when underway is that they don’t slam. Catamarans with a low bridgedeck clearance can experience significant slamming in confused seas sailing upwind. This slamming can be quite disconcerting when you first experience it as we did on a Shuttleworth 44 design, our first ever catamaran experience, 20+ years ago. At times, it felt as though the boat was falling apart. Of course the boat was fine but nevertheless, the stress on the crew from the constant noise and discomfort was significant. Monohulls don’t have a bridgedeck which means no slamming and are therefore a bit more comfortable than l ow bridgedeck catamarans when beating into severe confused conditions or “washing machine” conditions as we call it. Modern catamarans mostly have better bridgedeck clearance and the slamming is significantly less. However, not all cats have a good clear tunnel under the bridgedeck. Some manufacturers build beds into the bridge deck in order to make more space in the chest of the catamaran where the slamming occurs. These protuberances into the bridgedeck tunnel will likely increase slamming. So be mindful of that when selecting a catamaran. We currently own a Bali 5.4 and the bridgedeck clearance on this boat is more than adequate and the tunnel is clear. We therefor experience very little slamming compared to our Prout 45 that we previously owned (picture of sister ship below) with a much lower bridgedeck. We Explain Bridgedeck Clearance In the pictures below, the Bali 5.4 has very good clearance from the water to the bridgedeck and has a nice clean tunnel versus the very low bridgedeck of the Sunreef 50.  2. Sailing Downwind Monohull spreaders are set at 90 degrees to the mast whereas a catamaran has to have backswept spreaders. The reason is that, on a monohull, there is a backstay and using this, plus the intermediates you can get a nice pre-bend in the mast (the pre-bend is to flatten out the main sail and allow for better performance). On a catamaran with no back stay, you need to use the back swept spreaders and the diamonds to pre-bend the mast. The reason I point this out is because on a catamaran, if you want to broad reach or run, the mainsail cannot be let out all the way because the backswept spreader tips could punch holes in the fabric. On a monohull, the spreaders are at 90 degrees so you can let the main and the boom out much further which is, of course, much more effective. This is one of the reasons it is better to broad reach and tack downwind on a catamaran. Whether a monohull or multihull, sailing dead downwind doesn’t usually make great VMG. Therefor a regular cruising cat, much like a monohull, needs a lot of sail area and has to sail deep downwind if it is to achieve a decent speed made good (VMG). This video demonstrates how we achieve this by sailing wing-on-wing downwind. It is more difficult to find a dock either as a transient or a permanent slip for a catamaran in general because of the wide beam. But this is changing fast and will soon not be too much of an issue. In the USA dockage is charged by the length of the boat in feet, so there is no disadvantage there but, in some places, (the Mediterranean for example), dockage is charged at length times one and a half because of the additional beam. Since the catamaran is stable at anchor, we mostly anchor out. We have more privacy, a better breeze and usually a stunning view.We have a nice dinghy with a good outboard engine and is big and comfortable enough to get to shore fast and together with the modern conveniences like the generator, watermaker and washer/dryer, docking becomes a non-issue. It is definitely more difficult to find a travel lift with enough beam for a catamaran for a haulout, while, for a monohull, there are absolutely no problems anywhere. The wide beam of cats also greatly limits the number of shipyards that can haul them out. Most catamarans over 40-ft must be hauled out with a 50-ton travel lift. This not only increases the cost of the haulout, but greatly limits the choice of the shipyards for repairs and maintenance. With limited choice, prices are high for shipyard services. Catamarans do tend to have a lot more windage than monohulls. This can be an issue especially when maneuvering in close quarters with a strong wind. But I have found that, provided the engines are powerful enough for the size of catamaran, that twin engines negate this problem. Also, many modern large catamarans now have a bow thruster fitted. It is super easy to dock. The cost of getting into a catamaran is much higher than that of monohulls. That could put a serious dent in your cruising kitty or require you to put your dream on hold a little longer. Pre-owned monohulls on the other hand are very cheap to buy comparatively, because the supply presently far outweighs the demand. Catamarans are in high demand and they typically hold their value much better and longer and the trend is now heavily in favor of the catamaran market. When prospective buyers contact us for catamarans under $250,000 the choices are very limited and catamarans under $100,000 is near impossible to buy. In this case, your best bet is to go with a monohull unless you go with much older boats like the Prouts or the less expensive Geminis. Our Own Catamarans & Monohulls FYI: Royal Salute , a Bruce Roberts 45 monohull, was the first boat we owned and sailed approx. 30,000NM on. Mythral, a Seafarer 30, was our “toy boat” while we were waiting for our catamaran to be built. Even though this classic little monohull sailed around the world, it didn’t have much in modern conveniences like running water. Siyaya was an Island Spirit 40 catamaran that we sailed from Cape Town to Florida on and then taught live-aboard sailing classes for several years. Zuri I was a Prout 45, a beautifully crafted catamaran but by today’s standards is considered old technology. Our Lagoon 450 SporTop ( Zuri II ) is a fantastic live-aboard catamaran. We lived and taught aboard her for three years but sold her last year and we currently own a Bali 5.4 ( Zuri III or Z3 as we call her now). Read about our various boats . CONCLUSION: CATAMARAN vs MONOHULL We were dyed in the wool monohull sailors for 15+ years. We loved the pretty lines of monohulls, the sailing ability and what we believed at the time to be much safer vessels. However, now that we have been avid catamaran enthusiasts, we simply can never go back to monohulls. Catamarans have come of age and with modern technology have overcome most objections that sailors of old had against them. They are well designed and built, are safe, and we simply love that they sail fast and upright. There is not a whole lot to dislike about a catamaran when you live aboard. We have weighed all the pros and cons of catamarans and found that the pros far exceed the cons. We made the change to a catamaran and do not regret it one bit! We hope that this article will clear things up for all the prospective catamaran owners out there. Contact us if you have any questions regarding catamarans, Fractional Yacht Ownership or our Charter Management Programs . Estelle Cockcroft Join our community. Get the latest on catamaran news, sailing events, buying and selling tips, community happenings, webinars & seminars, and much more! 4 thoughts on “Catamaran vs. Monohull: We Changed, Should You?” I read that the engineering on the catamarans were improved over the years. Whats the oldest year would you recommend designwise? Scott, my apologies for the late reply. We’ve been traveling in Africa. Anyway, catamarans have come a long way and improvements in technology is happening at lightning speed. I reckon that even the older model catamarans are good. It depends on what your needs are. If you want something a little better performance wise, I would go for something no older than 15 years. After buying a catamaran what is the difference in expense of a catamaran vs a monohull. Many articles state that not only the initial cost of a catamaran is more it the operating cost as well. Hi Todd, it is more expensive. The annual dockage and haul out as well as maintenance will be more expensive. You obviously have two engines to maintain and various other pieces of equipment to service in both hulls. While there is more equipment there is also more redundancy and of course you have the comfort factor. So, depending on your situation, it’s probably worth it. Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Recent Posts Top 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in Annapolis, MD We have a new home in Annapolis! The office is located in Annapolis, Maryland Top 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in Texas Our Texas Office is located in the Watergate Marina Center in Clear Lake Shores, Annapolis Boat Show 2024 Meet with our team!    Want to learn more about the Bali and Catana Exploring the Catana OC 50 Catamaran: A Comprehensive Overview The Catana OC 50 Catamaran, the latest addition to the Catana Ocean Class series, For more than 30 years, we have been a part of the catamaran community and created Catamaran Guru™ to encourage and educate all the aspiring sailing out there. We understand the dream of traveling the world by catamaran and created a one-stop-shop to make that dream a reality for you. Stephen & Estelle Testimonials Get Started Yacht Sales Used Yachts Charter Management Boat as Business Programs Seminars & Events 252 IMAGES Catamaran vs. Trimaran: The Differences Explained Catamaran Vs Trimaran Catamaran vs. Trimaran: The Differences Explained Trimaran vs Catamaran: What are the Differences? Catamaran vs Trimaran: Which is Better for You? Trimaran vs Catamaran: What are the Differences? VIDEO The Breeze Is On Part 2 of the Capsize of Trimaran JESS. The Rescue of Skipper Gilles and What Happened Катамаран. Легкий и надежный каркас для пеше-водных походов Часть2 Katamaran vs. Trimaran #shorts #katamaran #neel Catamaran Capsize Top 10 Catamarans 2023 THE FINAL RESULTS! Incredible beauties for incredible sea travel COMMENTS Comparing Trimarans & Catamarans Trimarans have greater beam than catamarans, making them considerably more resistant to capsize by wind alone, whether gusts or sustained wind. They heel sooner and more than catamaran, giving more warning that they are over powered. Waves are a different matter. The amas are generally much finer, designed for low resistance when sailing deeply ... Catamaran vs. Trimaran: The Differences Explained While trimarans do provide a decent degree of livability, they fall short of catamarans in two regards. First, they heel more than cats, making it difficult to do things like cooking on board. Second, they support much less load than catamarans. To put things into perspective, some 45 feet (14 meters). Why Catamarans Capsize, A Scientific Explanation (For Beginners) The cat was 9 m long, and the owner had modified the boat by adding keels. The study consists of a data set of over 120 incidents reported, of which only 33 are catamarans showing that catamaran capsizing is something very uncommon. The reason for a catamaran sailboat capsizes; 28% Gust of wind. 28% Wind. Trimaran vs Catamaran It can reach speeds of up to forty knots, while the Catamaran can only reach about half that speed. Stability - The Trimaran is more stable than the Catamaran. This is because it has three hulls instead of two. This makes it less likely to capsize in rough seas. Space - The Catamaran is bigger than the Trimaran. Catamaran vs Trimaran: Choosing the Perfect Multihull Vessel A catamaran has superior resilience and roll inertia that makes capsizing extremely unlikely. Its speed, steadiness, and ease of motion due to a lack of ballast also contribute to increased safety. Trimarans are considered the safest multi-hulled boats because their three-hulled design makes them almost unsinkable. Battle of the Multihulls Catamaran vs Trimaran Performance. A trimaran usually has the forestay attached to the main hull. This provides a strong, stable, safe rigging platform. ... Can a trimaran capsize? All boats can capsize given extreme conditions. Many charter catamarans flipped when Hurricane Irma's 215 mph winds hit the British Virgin Islands in 2018. Catamaran Vs Trimaran As boatbuilders make faster and more luxurious multi-hulls for cruising and racing, it is time to settle the debate: Catamarans vs. Trimarans. Catamarans and trimarans have distinct characteristics regarding comfort, sailing performance, safety, and personal preference. The dual- or tri-hull designs both confer significant advantages over ... Trimaran vs catamaran A trimaran has a maximum righting moment of 27 degrees of heel, while a catamaran has a 12 degree one. Such a shorter angle can be reached in short seas, if the wind gusts are powerful enough and you haven't reefed. So capsizing a trimaran is extremely hard. Plus, if a trimaran flips over, it is virtually unsinkable, thanks to the three hulls. Trimaran vs. Catamaran: What are the Differences? Trimaran vs. Catamaran: Stability and Performance The Trimaran stability made it famous. With three hulls, including one main and two overhanging, a trimaran is built for stability even in the roughest waters. In fact, it's nearly impossible for a trimaran to capsize, making it a safer option for the adventurous seafarer. Trimaran vs Catamarans (updated 2022) When catamarans heel, one of their hulls leaves the water resulting in a loss of stability and potential capsize. With a trimaran, the main hull remains in the water, with the leeward ama providing a predictable increase in righting moment and reliable stability ... Trimaran vs Catamaran - which to choose. We think given the extra stability ... Trimaran VS Catamaran Speed: Trimarans are known for being faster than cats and single-hull boats. They can easily reach high speeds and are great for racing or long-distance cruising. Stability: Trimarans are more stable than catamarans due to their three hulls. Space: Trimarans are wide, but the interior is less spacious than catamarans. Trimaran vs Catamaran: What are the Differences? Trimaran vs catamaran safety: the width of trimarans makes them safer. The trimaran stands out as the most secure of its multihull contemporaries. Its superior design consisting of three hulls, effective anti-drift strategies and centre-mounted weights combine to provide it with a groundbreaking 27° righting moment - allowing for excellent ... Can a Catamaran Capsize? The Surprising Answer A catamaran can capsize under extreme conditions, just like any other boat. Even the most stable catamaran can capsize if it's hit by a large wave, caught in a sudden gust of wind, or if the rotational force has overcome the stability of the boat. ... A catamaran is a type of multihull boat that has two parallel hulls connected by a deck or ... Multihull Capsize Risk Check In addition, as a trimaran heels, the downward pressure of wind on the sail increases, increasing the risk of capsize. The initial heel on a trimaran is more than it is on catamarans, and all of that downward force pushes the ama even deeper in the water. Thus, like monohulls, it usually makes sense to keep heel moderate. Capsizing Compare this with the risk of a car accident - 1 every 70,000 km in France, according to the Road Safety Department, or 1 every 7 years (the average mileage of a car being 10,000 km/year globally). So, a 0.017% risk of capsizing for a multihull every year, against 14% of having an accident on the road for a car, certainly raises a few questions ... Catamaran Sailing Part 7: capsize Catamaran Sailing Techniques Part 7: should the worst happen - with Nigel Irens. Capsize is very unlikely in most modern catamarans, but should the worst happen it is as well to be prepared ... Trimaran Trimaran capsizes are more likely to be of the pitchpole type than a roll to one side due to their higher sideways stability and speeds. ... The Australian shipbuilding company, Austal, investigated the comparative merits of trimaran ships, catamarans and monohulls. It found that there was an optimum location for the outer hulls in terms of ... Trimaran vs catamaran: Which one to go for A catamaran is a yacht with two hulls while a trimaran has three hulls. First of all, it is important to note that both trimarans and catamarans are more popular than monohulls lately as they are easier to control. In addition, monohulls can capsize more easily in difficult weather conditions, and sometimes, they even have space limitations. Catamaran VS Trimaran As a cruising catamaran lifts a hull, the grip on the sea from its keel (either long low aspect ratio, or a daggerboard) is reduced, thus the boat tends to slide sideways. The heavier the cat, the more that this happens. On a tri, as it lifts up, the float digs in and provides the fulcrum for the capsize. Catamaran vs. Monohull: We Changed, Should You? 7. Shallow Draft Equals Better Anchorages. Catamarans have significantly shallower drafts than monohulls, allowing for safer anchorages closer to shore. Most catamarans in the 40-ft to 50-ft range draw between 3-ft to 4.5-ft, so they can anchor in places that a monohulls can not even consider. catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht