Ten advantages of renting a catamaran

For a long time, sailing has been practiced almost exclusively on monohull sailboats. For purists, the true spirit of sailing can only be experienced aboard this type of vessel, where the skipper enjoys finding the perfect balance in sail trim, heel, course, and speed.

However, sailing is becoming more accessible, and there are increasingly more types of sailors and groups who make sailing their way of enjoying the sea. Therefore, beyond those sailors who seek maximum performance or even aesthetics, there are those who prioritize onboard comfort, the boat's livability and space, and the equipment that makes their time on board more pleasant.

For this type of sailors, multihulled boats or catamarans (two hulls) offer significant advantages over monohull sailboats. Below, we present ten reasons why renting a catamaran might be your best option.

The stability of a catamaran compared to a monohull

The stability of a catamaran is perhaps its greatest advantage. While life aboard a monohull sailboat can tilt several degrees to leeward, the catamaran offers a stability that no keel can achieve.

The reduced list translates to a lower risk of people and objects falling overboard, and greater ease of movement inside and on deck. Walking, relaxing, or enjoying the deck becomes safer.

Catamaran safety compared to the monohull

The two hulls of a catamaran not only provide stability but also increase safety on board. Sailing in strong winds becomes less risky due to the reduced heeling, and in these conditions, the crew is generally safer.

Catamarans also typically have twin engines, allowing them to continue sailing with one if the other fails. This double backup provides peace of mind for all crew members.

The design of catamarans usually offers more safety on board, since in single-hull sailboats the cockpit is usually smaller and more exposed than the cockpit of a catamaran, where sometimes the protection from spray and strong winds is better achieved than in single-hull sailboats and there is more space for the comfort of the crew.

Draft of a catamaran versus a monohull sailboat

The shallower draft of catamarans means there is less risk of grounding or even access to areas where a monohull has a higher risk of grounding.

This means more freedom to explore places close to the coast, less need to let out chain as you can anchor in shallower areas, which results in a shorter distance to reach land in a tender to enjoy beaches or beach bars.

Why are catamarans faster than monohulls?

On a sailboat, there is a physical limit called hull speed. When attempting to exceed it, the boat becomes "trapped" between its own bow and stern waves, requiring infinite power to climb that "hill" of water.

Catamarans use two very narrow, tapered hulls. This geometry allows water to flow around them with much less resistance, minimizing the energy lost in creating large waves. This allows them to easily exceed the theoretical hull speed of a monohull of the same length.

Monohulls, to prevent capsizing in strong winds, require a keel or centerboard with heavy lead or iron ballast at the bottom to counteract the force exerted by the sails, which threatens to tip the boat over. This ballast adds tons of weight that the boat must pull, resulting in reduced speed. Catamarans, however, do not need this ballast because they avoid capsizing thanks to the stability provided by their two hulls. Since they don't need heavy ballast, they are much lighter. Less weight means less water displacement and therefore faster sailing.

A sailboat's speed also depends on how much wind force its sails can withstand before the boat heels (tilts) too much and loses efficiency. In a monohull, much of the wind's energy is wasted tilting the boat, but in a catamaran, the separate hulls act like a giant lever, keeping the boat upright (flat). This allows the sails to work at an optimal angle almost all the time, converting more wind pressure into forward motion rather than tilting.

A catamaran tends to be better preserved than a sailboat from the same year.

The design and construction of catamarans allow them to better withstand the demands of daily use. The engines operate with less strain than in a monohull, and the overall structure experiences less stress, resulting in fewer problems and a longer lifespan.

A well-maintained catamaran ensures a safe and reliable experience, and it is normal for a catamaran manufactured in a given year to be in better condition than a monohull sailboat of the same year.

Adaptable for families, friends, and all types of sailors

The catamaran is a more user-friendly boat in terms of space distribution. If you're sailing with children, it's easier to create a space for them to play and have fun both on and off the boat, which is more difficult on a sailboat with a smaller cockpit. If you're sailing with older people, mobility on a catamaran is usually easier, with fewer stairs and greater stability. In short, it's a type of vessel that's more adaptable to those who aren't used to life at sea.

For young people or adults, a catamaran offers many options thanks to its spacious layout: from family celebrations to bachelor/bachelorette parties. Some even choose to celebrate their wedding on board . The great thing about a catamaran is that it usually has different areas, which even allows passengers to sometimes split up into smaller groups.

The habitability of the catamaran is far superior to that of the monohull.

The catamaran's generous dimensions, combined with its stability, allow for spacious and comfortable interiors. Cabins, lounges, and outdoor spaces are maximized, offering an experience close to the comforts of land, but on the open sea.

When renting a catamaran , it's a good idea to check the photos and features of the boat to make sure it meets your needs and expectations.

The visibility offered by the catamaran

The central cockpit of a catamaran offers an excellent panoramic view of the surroundings. This allows you to enjoy the scenery, navigate more intuitively, and choose your course more easily. Typically, the helm of a catamaran has better visibility than on a monohull, where the rigging, bimini, or sprayhood can significantly obstruct your view.

The feeling of spaciousness and connection with the sea for the entire crew is hard to match on a monohull. Catamarans of a certain length have more spacious areas aft, forward, and inside, with better visibility and easier movement between them. On monohulls, except for those of a certain length, moving from the cockpit to the bow sometimes requires passing through narrow passages.

There is an increasing availability and supply of catamarans

A few years ago, catamarans were scarce and expensive to maintain, but in recent years the situation has changed. There are more and more catamaran manufacturers and a greater availability of catamarans for charter in more destinations. Now, marinas and ports offer more berths for these types of vessels.

This means more catamaran options, and the trend is for catamarans to represent an increasingly larger share of the total available charter boat market. While monohulls remain the most popular choice in the Mediterranean, in the Caribbean there are destinations where catamarans have become almost the only option.

The trend is that the catamaran will be the preferred option in the future

All the advantages offered by catamarans, coupled with the entry into the market of sailors who prioritize comfort over the adrenaline rush of monohulls, have made catamarans increasingly popular, especially during peak season. More and more people are choosing this type of vessel to enjoy the sea in comfort, safety, and with fun.



If you want to rent a catamaran , Sailwiz offers the widest possible selection because we work with leading companies in the best destinations in the world.