Catamarans vs Monohulls
01-03-03
Amel Super Maramu - One of the most robust production sailboats ever built - Pacific Ocean crossing
“Every object will remain at rest unless compelled to change its state by an unbalanced external force”
Production Catamarans and Monohull Sailboats - Which is Better for a Circumnavigation?
If you thought Trump or Brexit was a divisive topic, it's nothing compared to the catamarans vs monohull debate within the cruising community. Here, I will explain (as objectively as I can!) the reasons we chose a monohull for our circumnavigation, comparing it with the benefits and drawbacks of catamarans.
Comfort and Space
Catamarans: Catamarans offer more living space, making them ideal for families. With multiple cabins and a wide, flat deck, there’s plenty of room to mingle or find private space. The flat sailing of a catamaran is more comfortable, beneficial for activities like cooking or playing. Moreover, catamarans have shallower drafts, allowing them to anchor closer to shore away from heavier swell, especially useful in shallow regions like the Caribbean. Catamarans are also less susceptible to rolling at anchor, providing a more comfortable sundowner and a good night’s sleep.
Monohulls: There’s no denying it, monohulls have less living space but create a more cozy ‘boaty’ environment. Although kids are often the reason most families cite for choosing a catamaran, it is easier to supervise young kids in a monohull. They also tend to have deeper bilges for storage capacity.
Catamarans are less susceptible to rolling at anchor, providing a more comfortable sundowner and a good night’s sleep - Percy Island - Australia
Sailing Experience, Performance, and Handling
Catamarans: Catamarans are more stable and less likely to induce seasickness. However, their unusual motion can leave some monohull sailors feeling a little green around the gills. They also struggle with upwind performance and often rely on engines to motor sail when the wind is forward of the beam.
A high freeboard can create more windage and leeway, which also hinders upwind performance. Performance catamarans with daggerboards, such as Outremers and Catanas, perform better upwind but are far more expensive. Twin engines offer redundancy, but manoeuvring with a single engine can be challenging in confined spaces such as marinas and harbours where twin engines are a must.
There is also more reliance on instruments when under sail rather than feel and intuition. The bridge deck of catamarans can experience an uncomfortable slapping from waves, which can be unsettling and potentially damaging.
Monohulls: Monohulls excel at upwind sailing, offering better performance in various wind conditions. The heeling under sail provides immediate feedback to the helm, a tactile sense of wind and sea conditions allowing for more intuitive handling, especially valued by experienced sailors. Monohulls can also carry more weight without significantly impacting performance.
Performance catamarans with daggerboards/lifting keels, such as Outremers and Catanas, perform better upwind but are far more expensive.
Safety and Stability
Catamarans: Catamarans are stable and therefore less likely to flip over. However, if they do capsize, they stay capsized. That said, they don’t tend to sink due to the buoyancy of the twin hulls. They are less vulnerable below the waterline and some even have sacrificial keels.
Monohulls: Due to their heavy keels, monohulls can right themselves if they capsize, offering added security in heavy seas. Some monohulls, like our Amel Super Maramu, are known for their robust build and encapsulated keels, offering exceptional durability, especially below the waterline. Modern monohulls, however, tend to have weaker keels which are more vulnerable than their heavy cruiser counterparts.
Cost and Maintenance
Catamarans: Catamarans are generally more expensive to purchase and maintain. They incur higher marina fees due to their width and have higher maintenance costs due to two engines and larger surface area. On the other hand, some models can be ‘beached’ for routine hull maintenance, saving on haul-out fees.
Monohulls: Overall, monohulls are more affordable and have lower maintenance costs. They fit more easily into smaller spaces, reducing marina fees. The simpler design and single engine contribute to lower overall maintenance expenses.
Catamarans have shallower drafts, allowing them to anchor closer to shore away from heavier swell - - Manta-ray pass, Yasawas - Fiji
Build Quality
Catamarans: Many production catamarans are built for the charter market, which can compromise build quality. High-quality options are available but are much more expensive. Structural integrity can be a concern, especially regarding bulkheads that take significant loads from the twin hulls.
Monohulls: Monohulls offer much better build quality for an equivalent price. The market has a wide variety of monohulls designed for blue water cruising, providing more choices to suit different budgets.
Monohulls offer much better build quality for an equivalent price - Wajag, Indonesia
Personal Preference and Confidence
While there was no single reason we went with a monohull, the lower price tag and reduced maintenance costs were important factors. Another was aesthetics. It’s certainly not the most important thing on a list, but production catamarans tend to look like floating condos, whereas monohulls simply look more elegant. However, as catamarans become more ubiquitous, most families probably don't think twice about what their boat looks like.
In Europe, anchorages tend to be smaller and more crowded. Older harbours and ports tend to be designed for small fishing boats. If you stick a few bulky catamarans in there, the whole space is full. Marinas, too, charge more per length for a catamaran, and as we were spending our first few years in the Mediterranean and wintering in marinas, this was an important budgetary consideration.
Sailing performance also played an unexpected part in our decision. When we chartered and test sailed catamarans, we were surprised at how characterless the sailing felt. When the wind catches the sails of a monohull and the boat heels into its groove, it's a whole different feeling.
Monohulls simply look more elegant and when the wind catches the sails and the boat heels into its groove, it's a whole different sailing experience to a catamaran - Ithaca, Greece
So that was how we ended up with our 1997 Amel Super Maramu. We particularly liked the build quality, the hull and keel construction, the deep cockpit to keep the kids safe, and the access to the engine bay.
You need to be confident with the boat you’re entrusting your life and adventure to, and overall we just felt more secure with a monohull. Other people might have different considerations with different priorities, but that’s what won us over in the end. Yes, we sacrificed space, stability, and individual cabins, but as anyone who has ever owned a boat will tell you, every boat is a compromise.
That's is for this week!
“Every object will remain..”
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