A sailboat vacation allows you to navigate the sea freely, exploring coasts and islands while sharing unique moments with family and friends. Let's look at the characteristics of catamarans and monohulls to help you determine which is the right choice for you!
What a Catamaran offers:
Stability: One of the advantages is stability. Thanks to its shape, a catamaran is less affected by the sea's roll. It particularly excels at anchor, where the roll is almost nonexistent compared to a monohull, offering total comfort.
Space and usability: In terms of space and usability of outdoor areas, the catamaran wins hands down. The daytime spaces are flat and elevated above the sea, providing more light, ventilation, and visibility. Windows, sofas, tables, chairs, kitchen, and bathroom appliances are similar to those in a beautiful seaside apartment. The spacious living area, kitchen, and cabins located in the lateral hulls offer exceptional livability and a degree of privacy. Larger catamarans even feature a flying bridge with a helm station and a sunbathing area. You don’t “go below deck” on a catamaran, and the spaces are bright due to the ribbon windows in the central area.
Dual systems: Catamarans have almost everything "double", so in terms of safety, having two engines is definitely a plus.
Ease of handling: Many novice skippers find catamarans easier and calmer to pilot for various reasons. The helm station on catamarans is in a privileged visibility position, everything is under control, and you always stay dry. The reduced heeling doesn’t require athletic abilities from any crew member, making maneuvers easier.
Maneuverability: In tight spaces, thanks to the two engines, the catamaran maneuvers with enviable ease, even compared to monohulls equipped with bow thrusters. On a monohull, you need to master the engine, rudder, propeller thrust, and the effect of the bow thruster. On a catamaran, you can even forget about the rudder and maneuver simply with a hand on the levers of the two engines, playing only with forward and reverse gear.
Shallow draft: Another advantage is the shallow draft and absence of keels, allowing the catamaran to approach the coast much more safely.
Upwind sailing: Sailing upwind is quite challenging. In newer models, it is achievable but generally does not exceed a 55° angle to the wind. Additionally, almost all catamarans feature a self-tacking jib, making onboard operations significantly less complicated and more suitable for a reduced and less experienced crew.
Costs: The costs of a catamaran are slightly higher in all aspects compared to a monohull: purchase, rental, maintenance, hauling, permanent berth, and transient berth. However, it should be noted that it would be more appropriate to compare the two solutions based on the comfort offered and not just the size. There’s no doubt that a 40-foot catamaran can be easily compared to a 50-foot monohull; perhaps at that point, the comparison would be more accurate and might even reveal some surprises.
What a Monohull offers:
Seaworthiness: The monohull is slower but more “seaworthy”, better at sailing close to the wind, and teaches guests the art of sailing. The skipper's experience in maneuvering the boat is unique. Sail adjustments are more delicate, and accelerations are more noticeable. Monohull yachts are the epitome of sailing.
Versatility: The monohull is much more versatile. It can be used for both cruising and racing because it offers a more sporting sailing experience. On a monohull, the heeling force of the wind is countered by the buoyancy of the leeward hull section and the weight of the keel or centerboard with or without a bulb. Generally, the ballast weight is equal to 30% of the boat's overall weight. Thus, the greater the heeling angle, the greater the righting moment. Single hulls always right themselves.
Lower costs: Costs are lower than those of a catamaran, both for purchase and rental.
Berthing: Finding a berth in a marina (even in smaller ones) is easier with a monohull. You just need to pay attention to the draft.
A monohull’s shape naturally adapts to wave troughs, making those on board feel safe and giving the helmsman a 360° experience.
Dual helms: Modern monohulls often have dual wheel helms, offering two main advantages: space and visibility. With two wheel helms (one to port and one to starboard), there is much more space in the center of the cockpit. This provides more room for movement when boarding and disembarking the monohull and for getting into the water when not sailing. Additionally, for visibility, two wheel helms allow better control of the sails and the water body in upwind conditions.
Stability: One of its disadvantages is definitely stability. A sailboat is more exposed to rolling, which, for the more adventurous, can be an advantage.
Space: In a monohull, the spaces are relatively less "comfortable" compared to a catamaran of the same size, designed to emphasize the sporting spirit. However, recently, shipyards have been designing hulls that combine both the sporting spirit and the comfort of a vacation very well.
Sailing on a boat, whether a monohull or catamaran, is an unforgettable and wonderful experience that allows you to fully enjoy the beauty of the sea and the surrounding nature. Choosing between a catamaran or a monohull is a very subjective factor and depends on the level of comfort and type of experience you want to have.