CATAMARAN PROS
One of the major advantages of a catamaran versus a monohull is their inherent stability.
Stability is a big plus for families with young children or seniors who are not particularly steady on their feet. Because the boat is not as susceptible to the effects of wave action and does not heal the way a monohull does, it is much easier to walk around on deck and within the interior of the yacht while underway.
Anyone who may be prone to seasickness will feel the effects of motion much less aboard a cat than they might on a mono.
Catamarans generally provide far more living space in the main salon, galley and cockpit, than the space found aboard similarly priced monohulls. Their cabins are often more spacious too.
Because of the layout, there is usually more privacy on a cat than on a mono and if you have children aboard, there is greater separation from the main living space and the cabins, making it easier for the kids to fall asleep at a reasonable hour.
The shallow draft of a cat allows you to anchor in shallower water which means you can be closer to the beach than almost all monohulls.
The galley, main salon and cockpit are all on one level, above the water line … making life aboard as well as your view much more enjoyable.
Catamarans are usually faster than monohulls, particularly on downwind runs, reaches and broad reaches.
It’s less tiring to sail a catamaran than it is to sail a monohull. Sailing flat has definite advantages.
Catamarans have a trampoline for sunbathing or lounging in the moonlight, while stargazing …
CATAMARAN CONS
You won’t get the same amount of feedback from the wheel of a cat as from a monohull. Cruising catamarans don’t really heal, so the feeling of “sailing” is quite different from that aboard a monohull.
Cats can’t sail as close to the wind as a monohull… but, most sail faster than a monohull on a reach, so if you fall off a few degrees and sail fast, you can usually get to the same place at the same time and sometimes faster, even though you will have to cover more ground.
Catamarans with similar sleeping capacity and equipment are more expensive to charter than monohulls.
