Managing a catamaran is different from managing a monohull, as they have twin screws set 20 feet apart, offering better control even at slow speeds. However, choosing between a catamaran and a monohull sailboat depends on individual preferences, intended use, and priorities. 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 and 4 feet.
Catamarans are considered one of the safest types of boats due to their inherent stability and natural buoyancy. They can pitchpole or capsize with shallower drafts, making them safer for blue water sailing. Monohulls are safer for people who aren’t very experienced, but fans are a great alternative.
Catamarans are much more stable than monohulls, making them less likely to fall overboard. They are larger, and while they can capsize, being rescued from an upside-down, still-floating multihull is preferable to sinking to the bottom in a monohull. Catamarans also have enhanced ability to sail upwind and close-hauled, making it easier to walk around and enjoy the yacht while in motion.
In conclusion, choosing between a catamaran and a monohull sailboat depends on individual preferences, intended use, and priorities. Catamarans offer more stability, safety, and versatility, making them ideal for cruising and other activities.
📹 Sailboat Showdown: Monohull Versus Catamaran. Which Is Best for You?
It’s the age old question. Monohull or Catamaran. Which is best? Crazy About Boats has gone “Crazy” and here I will answer the …
📹 Catamaran vs Monohull – A comprehensive review from owners of both
A debate as old as time itself! Which is better, a catamaran or a monohull? I’ll give away the answer here: like all boats, both are a …
I’m a 26-year-old sailor and i have always enjoyed the look of the catamarans they just look nice. I have a 33 foot custom-built mono that is designed for nasty waters and the cape horn. It’s slower than most however i feel safe inside it and would give up speed for safety any day. I would love to sail a catamaran one day
Very honest and straight forward comparison. I’m glad you both opened and closed the article by reiterating how you should go now with the boat you can afford. We did 4 seasons in the Caribbean on an Albin Vega 27 and were usually (but not always) the smallest boat in the anchorage. We met many other young people cruising on shoestring budgets. If you’re new to sailing, I think it make sense to start with a cheaper boat and figure out if you even like the sailing lifestyle- because many realize that they don’t! It also gives you a chance to break and fix things with less on the line. Our next boat will be a bit bigger so we can carry more stores and fit a second solar panel- probably in the 32′-36′ range :). But I’m very glad to have started out with a boat that was so manageable. See you out there!
I think it would be interesting to compare mono and cats not by their lenght but by the money you spend to get it. This means in general you will get a much longer monohull for the same money. With that said a lot of things like storage and living space will change, as well as speed and handling or maintenance cost.
Great review! I’ve sailed both cats and monos and I agree with your comparison! You nailed it. For me however, the feeling that I got as a child so many years ago was the start of a very powerful addiction that is very difficult to explain to someone that hasn’t sailed before. The first time at the age of 6 when I felt my Optimist do what a mono does in response to the wind is what still defines sailing for me as a whole so many years later. The responsiveness and the smooth dynamics is something that outweighs any other aspect of sailing for me (even as a liveaboard). I just love sailing too much, it’s an artform and heeling over is part of the communication between human and machine. I have not been able to reproduce this relationship on a catamaran. The fine balance of the force of the sail area interacting with the immense counterweight of the keel below is something that makes sense to me. In my opinion this harmony cannot be acheived on a multihull. Just my 2 cents… SV Huldra
Addendum: I realized there are some aspects of the comparison we missed covering, but are worth mentioning. These have either been covered thoroughly by other articles or they just aren’t important in our opinion. RISK OF CAPSIZE…just not a big concern on modern cruising cats, or no more so than on a monohull. People make way too big a deal about this and it is the crew that keeps a boat upright. Performance cats are different…they need more attention.. SPEED: yep, our cat and most cats are faster than similar sized (and type) monohulls. That’s really nice.. REDUNDANCY: yes this is a major benefit of a catamaran. Two rudders, two engines, two alternators, two water heaters…, etc. I am sure there are other things we missed. We just didn’t want to go over the same old ground that a lot of other comparison articles have.
I have listened to this article several times. I learn things each time. I love the depth of analysis that is clear. You clearly show that you get each configuration. Thus for a “Week-long vacation sailing” experience the money involved clearly tips the scale to the monohull. While you focus on the on-boat experience, if you sail to a camping place then many of the downsides of the monohull disappear because you are camping on the “uninhabited island.” What that means in a practical sense is that you have privacy in your camping area. That tips the balance even more to the monohull for sailing relatively short distances a week or so between camping spots. One more positive item I noticed is that you said being and staying organized on ship board is a challenge no matter which one you pick. That is excellent knowledge for me. I may change my mind about sailing completely because organization is not what I do. That point of light from the two of you is wonderful and deeply appreciated.
Just discovered this article tonight, so enjoyed your point of view. My hubby and I own a cat power boat we use for overnight fishing and the parallel with your view of the sail cat and our time on the power cat is uncannily similar. Truth is we love both hulls, but for this season and time in our lives we are loving our cat in our australian waters. Thanks for the time and effort you put into this presentation, enjoyed very much.
Love this comprehensive conversation. You are so right in regards to being qualified to comment. We would love a sailboat at some point on our nautical journey but need a whole lot more education first. Your comment about just doing it and not waiting really resonates – we will eventually end up in a sailboat, but with 4 kids, dogs and 2 cockatiels and no boat experience AT ALL it was so much easy to buy an older trawler style motor vessel just to lessen the learning curve. We are a lot closer to a yacht now that we have sea time under our belt. We are so lucky that we summoned the courage to just do it to just get into the lifestyle, we absolutely love it! Love your articles, been perusal for a while. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Best wishes, David.
Hey! That 3 masted Gaff rigged 160′ schooner at 6:00 is/was the “Tole More”. I worked on her as a counselor for the youth that were on her. The youth were all juvenile inmates from Pennsylvania in a special program. A wild experience, lots of stories. I boarded in Erie PA, sailed throughout the great lakes appearing as the flagship in tall ship festivals at the biggest ports in Canada and the US, down the Atlantic coast, through the canal, to the Galapagos and onto Hawaii. She was originally a floating Hospital for the Marshall Islands. All aluminum with teak. Incredibly well fitted. Comfortable. I remember us doing 13 knots coming through the St Lawrence Seaway. Treated like rock stars when coming to any port. All manual rigging. Only an anchor winch.
Great article Guys!!! Very informative and well thought out! You guys are definitely a huge resource for people who are armchair sailors looking for advice on getting into a boat. You are uniquely subject matter expert in the Mono V. Cat debate; most people haven’t had your experiences in one hull let alone four. Looking forward to your next vid! ( Would love to have Nick do a weather tutorial for sailors of all skill levels)
I sailed a 36′ Wharrum cat from Key West to Isla Mujares and back. 3 months. Loved the deck space and for diving it wins hands down. The price point on these is super low if you can find someone willing to sell. $15k for a good one. Build it yourself or have it built will cost more. 2k estimated man hours or less if you have it done by builders. I’m at present gutting the interior of a 1979 Morgan 45′ IRC design 11′ on the beam 6′ draft, 1/2″ solid FG, 6 tons of lead ballast. Built for heavy weather. Big rudder mounted on a full keel. Beautiful mahagony trim which will be reused. Termites have eaten the marine plywood so I’m pulling everything and going back with Coosa board and a completely new layout. I’ve sailed multiple tall ships and love it but that’s big money and a young man’s game. Nothing but full time maintenance. Although you can’t beat the beauty and the sailing is top notch, you’re going to spend every day on repairs. This article is wonderful pros and cons and you two did an excellent job. It’s all down to personal choice. And what’s best for your dog. Big thumbs up and a new subscriber.
Great article, I’ve never sailed a cat (other than a Hobie cat!) and find this informative, if mostly intuitive. One exception I take though is your comment about not sailing up wind 95% of the time. I’ve sailed monohulls in the Vancouver BC area for almost 40 years, not long term cruising but coastal gunkholing for a few days to a few weeks at a time. In my experience, being close hauled is the most common point of sail, followed by broad reaching. Here the prevailing winds tend to align with the waterways so the winds are generally either with you or against you. And I’d say on average, more “against” than “for” !
This….(and Part 2 of the same discussion) represents one of the best discussions of this topic I’ve come across in 30+ years of being exposed to this debate! Though my wife is fully ‘on board’ with the idea… I’ve just purchased Nick’s audible book “Get Her On Board” as a token of appreciation of all the great info this couple shares!
Yes you guys are a LOT more qualified to talk about the pros and cons of both types of boats, but I think where your article shines the brightest is in your concise and real world experiences and you hit all the high points in a timely manner. Another outstanding article on a well covered subject that you guys have managed to make quite entertaining !
Ex cat now mono owner here. We moved to mono as our one year old cat started developing cracks at load points in the hull after first trip out in a F4. Had them fixed, then next F4 and they came back. We then met another owner with the same boat a few years older, and he has similar problems with the forward windows leaking again due to cracks at the edges. This the slamming and the hull creaking was too scary so we went mono, no regrets after seeing the websites on thr 450 hulls.
Well done. This was a great article. Informative and entertaining. Your conversational descriptions and experiences were articulated quite nicely in combination with the images and article clips. perusal this was well worth my time, even though I only own a greatly modified (by myself) 1977 (boat and trailer) 20ft Bayliner Buccaneer monohull, it’s nice getting an honest perspective on different boats. You tend to pick up little bits here and there that can help make the boat you own, or plan to own, that much better. So, thank you.
Excellent breakdown and thanks for the extra insights! Yup the key hurdle is affordability, though it seems any boat could easily be a money pit. So far I haven’t been a boat owner, but am developing an itch for wanting to sail around the world. Maybe it’s just the pandemic driving the urge to go somewhere…meanwhile I will continue to get smarter about the sailing life through helpful websites like yours.
What a splendid and relevant discussion. I have been a powerboat fellow this far but if time increases sail is the way. My wife is not keen on the sail approach but doesn’t mind a cat. I really fancy the sleek mono. We will watch this article together and surely come to a compromise:-) Thank you. Paul (UK)
This is by far the best article I have ever seen on this topic. This is such a well thought, thorough, well organized list of things to consider! I am new to sailing and definitely looking at the CAT since I will be living aboard full time. This article has given me a tremendous outlook on the pros and cons of owning one. Thanks for the article. Consider me subscribed!
Great article. I’m getting a mono hull for financial reasons but I am saving up for a cat. However I agree with mono hulls having a great look especially the older Formosa and cheoy lee sail boats. If I found a really nice 70s Formosa i may choose that over a cat. I’m in San Diego and hope to see you on the water!
AWESOME…! Retire early and escape is going to be hard enough on a cheap(er) keel boat. Was contemplating bottom-end cat and this maybe saved me a lot of monetary grief. The money is issue #1 for me. BTW for me I love my 23′ Columbia’s heeling on a good beam reach, makes for a nice place to lay down in the cockpit.
Absolutely spot on, cats are very expensive, for people like myself who are looking for a blue water capable boat with a budget of only 30K$ there is no choice, monohull, and there are hundreds of great cruising boats around the 36’to 38′ range available in that price range, I’m talking Oysters, Lavranos L36′ Amel, Halberg Rassy, Endeavor 37′. Amongst so many others, no cats available at all. Yes all are older boats, and need updating and work, no big deal. If I had the money I’d go cat no question, but I don’t and I want to do it now, actually I am doing it now, my house is for sale and I’ve already had a boat surveyed, a Stan Huntingford designed modified full keel cutter, double airex hull up in Oregon. I’m probably a bit biased towards monohulls because I’ve sailed on more of them, including open 60 type ocean racers (Cape to Rio) 64′ actually, twin interlinking coffee grinders, 13 self tailing cockpit winches, Monohulls are more fun to sail, more exciting, more manageable and responsive in most conditions, and if you set up your reefing lines and halyards specifically to your preference you never need to leave the cockpit. There are way more cruising monohulls out there than cats, and that largely comes down to money.. And you’ll find that a high percentage of those monohulls are under 40′ most are 36′ to 38′ for two obvious reasons, they are live aboard solo sailors or couples and want to be able to handle the boat comfortably two up, and that’s a good manageable size for 1 man 1 woman, also there are a lot of not very wealthy cruisers, the majority don’t have big bank balances, so smaller is cheaper, in EVERY ASPECT, haulout, marina slips, litres of anti-foul, standing rigging diameter and fitting sizes, sails, sheets, halyards, lines, fenders, docking lines, parts.
Good article and comments. I suspect (although, I don’t know, I am just a traveling land lubber) you are correct when you say, if the choice is sailing now, on a Mono; or waiting 5 or 10 years to afford to buy a Cat; do it now. is very sound advice. That was the advice I was given about traveling to Europe. Do it now, and experience it, or wait till later, when you might better afford it. I choose, do it now, and have never regretted it. I’ve seen London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Cinque Terra, Umbria, Tuscany, Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, Toledo, Cadiz, Rondo, Frankfort, Munich, Warsaw, Krakow, Tallin, Helsinki, St Petersberg, and Prague. I can tell you I loved every minute of it and would not have traded it for anything. To experience life, instead of observing it!
Great comparison. Kind of what I’d sussed as a noob. I’m just starting out in UK and plan a trailerable 23ft mono learn the ropes coastal sailing. Will switch do some larger 38ft+ charters for deep water learning, but 5yr plan is to remortgage house as a rental then set off in a cat for several years. The key point your review shows… if you are day sailing or weekending a mono is best for the actual sailing. Go home and sleep in a comfy bed. But full time, you want stability and space. And can live with slightly worse handling the other 5% of time.
Great article, I would not argue with any of the points. A lot comes down to the value you place on each point. For me, the sailing ability and feel would totally overrule everything. I have sailed on a cat and did not like it at all, felt like a floating hotel room.When I go on a sailing trip, whether it be for a day or a month, I want to go sailing, feel the wind on the sails, the feedback on the rudder. That said, if I was going to live on a boat… the cat wins hands down. One point you didn’t make, I could be very comfortable on a much smaller cat than a mono.
When my parents purchased their retirement sailboat, I begged them to get a catamaran because we capsized in a monohull on a small lake when I was 12. It was terrifying. Cats are more stable. That said, when the engines both died on a trip (and I was with them), I had the pleasure of using my painting skills to paint their two hulls over my teacher spring break. Good news, if I need another career, boatyard painter is it! Your cat is beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Gosh do not agree on many points personally.. Have sailed now for 50+ years. Have owned jeanneu 45 monohull + raced many other monohulls as crew (still miss her) Currently own a 45 ft Cat which we have been sailing through the bahamas and Carib of the past 6 years, we do not liveaboard. As an X racer I have had the joy of trimming exquisitely designed large yachts. I find the comparison re sailing ability with a well founded monohull is far superior, however if cruising and anchoring in bahamas and carib which was the reason we switched, the cat wins hands down. We found we can visit 90% more area and anchor in big winds comfortably (and usually alone) She is much safer off lee shores and reefs with the 2 engines. Easy for me to handle and dock etc. Can stay closer to the islands and enjoy the scenery. Cats can be dangerous in high winds and in big seas on deck, easy to be thrown off (from elevated cockpits) And unless on a high performance Cat with daggerboards (very expensive Cats) they do not sail well to weather. Period! Cats are NOT more comfortable in big seas, even though she is a strong well founded Cat, she pounds and slams in big waves and weather. This is a common complaint. Monohulls have a smoother motion, sitting deep in the water with a heavy keel countered by ideally trimmed sails. That Jerky hull to hull motion of a cat is not pretty. I could even say it does not feel like “sailing”. Having said all this I would never go back to a monohull, the martini on the terrace of the massive stern deck with our 13ft dink and 50 hp OB to race to the bar 1 mile away + room for my plethora of toys ( kiteboards, foil boards, efoil, kayaks, shall I continue?
catamaran or mono hull, parents own a 45 foot ketch, sailed from Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef (about a 10 year trip, they did for memory ) it had so much head room in the cabin, dad was over 6 foot tall and could just stand everywhere, also I think it is where you are sailing, here on the east coast of Australia, your not just island or marina hoping, it can be a long haul between ports and you will get caught out in bad weather, the idea of a cat seems nice for the harbour but cruising around here, i go mono hull
Good job, you two, although you basically fell in the same old trap. When comparing Cat and Monos, and to be completely fair, one must go on the basis of livable space or area or volume and not just on the basis length alone. When you go about it that way, you’ll find yourself comparing a 45 ft cat against a 55 ft mono, and then the comparison results turn out a lot different, especially when you consider how beamy the new monos are. I am designing a 16.5 m aluminium fast cruiser, with a beam of 5.15m and this allows to fit two engines in this mono, instead of the traditional single engine.
Very clear and honest assessment. Thanks. One point of clarification for those sailing around the world. You will get caught in nasty weather (very nasty). I don’t see mono-hauls flipped upside down with their crew perched on the underside and being saved, which you do see from time to time with cats. Also, cats (most cats) are under powered in terms of sail area, or over weighted, both leading to less sailing performance. So, you need to buy a cat that is more geared toward sailing, not comfort, if you plan longer voyages. Lastly, with the same money, you can purchase a larger mono, and size matters in terms of speed and safety off shore.
Thank you for being so informative in coverings areas that’s not covered by on social media. also, not being biased on your judgement, experience and understanding of both. information well said and explained. this howevet put me in a better position in finding the right boat for the experience I would love to explore soon. Again much thanks for the info and your experience. God bless…
Thank you! While I own a 26′ Glacier Bay Caterman Power boat, I’ve always thought escaping to the Caribbean on a 40+ Cat would be for me…. Life threw us a curveball (in the form of our son (11 years behind his sister), and now we are homeowners with a boat, on the water, and about to be empty nesters again. Don’t see this happening for us (since wife just opened two new business’s), but the article was great. Really enjoyed all the comparisons….. keep living the dream!
Awesome stuff new to everything here just lookin around dreamin…… am I the only one tho that thinks the dude is a news anchor or maybe radio guy or something he’s ridiculous good at speaking. All I’m doin is point out talent no hatin. No script to read off no ummms no stutters. Was a long article an I didn’t even notice ok. Bravo
This is an incredibly comprehensive, thorough, apparently honest look at the real world advantages and disadvantages of the catamaran. Concerning aquatic antics, I’m seldom if ever awed by anything I find on RubeTube. But this vid is an eye opener. It should be required reading for anyone and everyone considering going to sea. Well done!
Great comparison and wide range of categories but some are much more important/ tedious than others. Not every win bares the same weight. We get an insight of that when you mention sailing upwind (percentage). Also, great effort for staying as unbiased as possible (we are all different). Much appreciated.
This vid was such GREAT TIMING ! I’ve only had a mono so far, for about 18 years, until this past summer, when friends gave me their needs-a-lot-of-work Kelsall 36 Suncat….and I’ve been really worried making the transition….particularly sailability,…I find mono hulls so easy and intuitive to sail! BUT I also have a 93lb Lab and a Yorkie that are coming along, so I think they may be the deciding factor, particularly the Lab, then just get used to it, deal wth it…. …but I agree, I prefer the mono….and the former owners even mentioned they wished they had my Newport 27 mono so they’d go out more….they hardly left the dock with their cat….it’s like having a ship while the mono’s agility is like driving a sports car.
Hello lovely couple! Just started the subscription and loved the way you did this comparing the two types. I am a norwegian living in the Philippines but still working abroad in the offshore industry.I didn´t need this article to decide which type to choose for my last boat project as for my usage its a no brainer. I selfbuilt a 40 feet Colin Archer when I was young and lived on board afterwards for 5 years. Now my retirement dream is to tour around in the Philippines with more than 7000 islands and no deep sea sailing. And yes sailing is also not my plan anymore as I am hooked on solar and electrical propultion. So my catamaran will be much different than a sailing one but I learn so much looking at your and other catamaran live aboard articles and experiences. Doing full electric with about 10kw solar cells on top with only a generator as backup takes away a lot of maintenance for any diesel engines ( not forgetting the generator) Another thing in the Philippines there are not many marinas and most of the time we will be at anchorage and also many sandy beaches to enjoy. Will start my building project next year and hope to finnish when retiring end of 2023. Enjoying your articles. Keep it coming.!!
This article is several years old but just popped up in my YouTube. Very interesting but totally geared to sails. I can see getting a boat, but without sails. That changes some of your arguments, like one engine vs two or maneuverability. With bow and aft thrusters with a joy stick, a mono can spin on a dime. Also the keeling on a mono with no sails I don’t think is an issue. I would lead towards a cat from what I’ve seen, but there are some nice monos out there as well. Thanks.
This was a really great article for people at the beginning of the sail boat journey, and really great advice! Something to consider would be to start with a small mono, 27- 30 ft that you can easily handle alone, depending on your size. A lot of people look down on anything less than 30′ but there is a definite advantage to having a 26-27′ because of cost, maintenance, maneuverability, rigging costs, etc., although you have to really manage your space. The type of boat makes a big difference as well, and since I come from the old teak boat tradition in Sweden, having a classic boat in top condition is like having your own symphony orchestra, they sing when you sail, and your boat will be the place where your neighbors want to congregate for a cool beverage.. Having said that, if you are planning to go cruising for extended periods, years, get your sailor legs on a mono and then switch to a cat when you leave for the big one, as suggested here by the O’Kelly’s. Todays cats are extremely well designed and access to your engine and electrical system will be an issue at some point so prep for problems and hope for the best.. And if you ever have the time, charter a boat for a summer and cruise the archipelagos of Scotland or Sweden where you find thousands of islands with free anchorage and great food..and serious sailors!
Having owned both I agree with most of what you said. You’ve been very fair and covered most points. I disagree slightly with sail management. A monohull that has all lines leading to the cockpit and in-mast furling has easier sail management than most cats. Cats also have oversized mainsails compared to monos and can be hard to reef without electric winches. It can also be more of a problem on a cat when you get caught out going downwind with too much sail up. As for comfort at sea, I’ve known people who get more seasick on a catamaran due to its more bouncy and jerky motion. With manoeuvrability again it depends: bow thrusters on larger monos make a big difference and cats will get pushed sideways more in strong winds due to high freeboard and shallow draft. As for liveability, the newer monohulls alleviate some (but not all) of the relative disadvantages. Things like ventilation, cockpit space and engine access can be pretty good on some of them. One last points: monos are generally better in cold/cool climates as they will be a lot easier to heat and you’ll be spending most of your time down below.
I did not know much about cat, so this information was very helpful. However, I am not sure if you had in mind the excellent monohulls, for instance aluminium fishing boat with outboard engines. The noise is less, there is no motorroom, the maneuvering is much easier. And of course it is easy to store on land, even indoors with all the advantages of easy maintainance.
Young fella forced to start fresh after a giant mess in my home state im debating going to work offshore drilling saving up for a live aboard sailboat then just doing whatever it takes to make it work I think I’m with you towards the catamaran simply because buying a home is out of the question for me at this point in my life
Great article! Very thorough and impartial review. Thanks for taking the time to do it. Although I don’t agree 100% on all your points, you have confirmed as many points in my mind. Besides, some points are subjective and down to circumstance and budget. I presently sail a mono and yearn for a trimaran for performance: not just for racing but covering sea miles when cruising. The faster you go, the more you get to see when you get there! No room for creature comforts but I have 20 years or more left to work before I can go full time! Fair winds guys, you are an inspiration to many. J
Excellent article, and a class above most of the other ‘comparison’ efforts I’ve watched, a lot of which are made by yacht brokers trying to sell catamarans, and who frankly have not a clue about the requirements of a cruising boat. I own a Grainger G430, a 43′ composite catamaran designed by Tony Grainger, an Australian designer with a very good reputation, so I feel I am in a position to add some commentary. Of course it comes down to money, and a lot of the comparisons in the article are of the apples v oranges type. The most significant dimension in any yacht for cruising is LOA, and the fact is for the money you will need to buy a 45′ cat, you will most likely be able to get into a 55 – 60 ft and that makes all the difference. I’ve sailed SE Asia in my boat for the last 8 years, and I can say that a trip I made as crew on a 54′ Hylass monohull made up my mind about this. The motion underway is chalk and cheese, the inertia of a large mono means you have none of the fatigue imparted to you from the ‘walking’ motion of a cat especially in larger seas. There is more volume in a larger monohull, and in my opinion they are safer in heavy seas. A catamaran quickly becomes a surfboard, in storm conditions. A catamaran is fast, but I would contend a large mono is no slouch, particularly in downwind conditions. One of the biggest problems a cat has for cruising, is weight. When I bought my boat it was bare bones, and I could do 12k in 16k of wind. I only see that performance in my dreams now.
Thanks guys for a comprehensive and very well thought-out breakdown of the monohull vs cat debate. Certainly where I live it’s a whole lot easier to go through narrow websites with lots of closely moored boats with a monohull than it is with a cat. There is another aspect which needs to be considered – berths (by which I mean beds). I like a berth which can be accessed on at least one side, but most cats have the berths in the hulls, where width is very restricted, and access is via the foot of the berth only. For this reason, my vote goes to monohulls – provided they are not too small.
Thank you for a very informative article. I would love to purchase a boat but my wife has MS. Thankfully, she handles it well however with her balance is an issue. I would say a cat would be the smarter choice. I hadn’t thought of that until I watched this comparison. Thanks again. Enjoy your beautiful boat. Fair winds…
Another great article! I think you are right on. For living aboard, I would take a Cat because it’s basically an apartment with sails. A monohull less than 60′ is mostly a boat. Some are more comfortable, and some of the larger production boats can be pretty wide, but they still heel, and roll like a boat. But for circumnavigation, I would take a monohull, even though most 40’+ Cats today can be blue water vessels as well. I’m talking about an Amel, Oyster, and other bluewater monohulls of that quality. They are just made to be out at sea, where you feel the water and wind through your fingertips.
Excellent breakdown of pros and cons. I currently have a 38′ monohull with a fin keel. It isn’t really suited for blue water and I’m trying to decide between an Island Packet (or something similar) and a catamaran. The speed of the catamaran is also a big selling point, but I understand catamarans lose much of that advantage when heavily loaded.
hi O’Kellys, yup I’ve watched this series of yours, a few times. lots of great information for people who are trying to decide i.e. cat vs monohull. for us it comes down to initial cost of purchase. and right now, at this particular moment in time, by far and away, the best deals can be found on monohulls. frankly, i think both of us, me and my wife, would prefer a cat. but in our case we’ve discovered that when “want” bumps up against “wallet” it’s the wallet that usually wins. we’re getting older and no longer want to take on as much debt as we were willing to back in the day. to be honest, if i had my druthers, i think i would like to buy one of those DazCats, made in the UK. they are incredible performance cats. they might not be as comfortable as some; but the DazCat makes up for it in pure performance. anyway, keep up the good work. you guys have a great website.
Being out in the middle of the ocean Terrifies Me! So I will most likely never own a boat. But is this the 4th article I have binged of your website…yes it is. The two of you seem very knowledgeable and are very relaxing to watch. As soon as you said in a previous article that you were a meteorologist I was like yup that makes sense. Now everytime you talk I can’t help but picture you in front of a green screen, clicker in hand pointing out the next storm front. lol.. anyway happy sailing. I’ll stick to camping.😉
Hi there my name is Layne. Im a very experienced mono hull sailor and cruiser captain from the west coast.I have my 65 ft angel cruiser on the market and i think im going to a cat in st pete florida to travel the Caribbean. I have no cat experience but your article is by far the best ive seen for helping the decision in all aspects.I completely agree with you on the mono hull side so im sure your right on the cat side. thanks again.
Wow, you guys did a great job with this. On a side note – I feel I’ve got the best of all worlds with our Dragonfly 1200 trimaran. Great space for stuff in the hulls, dinghy stored on the net, shallow draft with pop-up centerboard and rudder to avoid getting stuck on lobster pots, super engine access, points better than most monohulls and a few knots faster! Did I mention that it folds up to 14′ wide for haul-out and winter storage? A great coastal cruiser.
Youre right, its so individual. Visitors, i can completely ignore that, im only interested in sailing alone, and that reminded me of sail management, easier on cata. Noise is another area where im the odd one out, i like the water sounds coming through the hull. As for motions, when i slept in a sailboat i never ever woke up from the motions but i think that is because it was in France and every evening ended with just a bit too much red vine. I cant afford a catamaran anyway, just want to know more about them.
for skittering around the bahamas i think Cats are great, and the liveability is great….but…i follow lots of you tube Cats and Monohulls…it seems that if you want to sail across oceans then its gotta be monohulls…i have watched time and time again as Catamarans Motor for day after day on Ocean passages… i am certainly no expert…its just what i have observed…Thanks for another great article from the 2 best communicators on you tube…
I can’t believe this. I don’t know anything about boats and you have just now introduced this hotly debated topic to me in this article, but HOW could you POSSIBLY think a Catamaran is- Lol. This isn’t really my thing, but I found it very interesting getting a peak into your world and seeing a bit of what you have going on.
I spent the first 17 minutes of the article wondering why the guy seemed so familiar, then it dawned on my he could be the brother of Kyle MacLachlan. I really love this article, I aspire to liveaboard one day and always debated what my first ship would be. Still not conclusive but this is by far the most informative article on the subject. I almost want to go with the Monohull just to capture the experience, then at some point upgrade. One day…
hi guys, i very much appreciate your way to explain the huge things regarding sailing and especially your professionalism and objectivity when you do compairisons. my name is Karim and i live in south of Italy and since 2014 i’m sailing with my small sailing 4.70 meter boat with my wife. in the last two years i’ve taken the nautical drive licence and made some cruising holidays with friends. I’d like so much to buy a small monohaul sailing boat and your advices are really very good for biginners such i am. for the time being i’ll be on other guy’s sailing boat in order to have more experience and because i’m working near Rome but my family lives in Lecce, so i cannot efford to have a sailing boat in such condtion … it would be a real pitty. may bein the future. i wish “VENTO IN POPPA” and may be see you some where … by
From my experience, a catamaran performs better in storms than monohull. A ferry operator in the area where I live has over 35 ferries/ ships that sail on around 15 routes. They have 34 monohulls and 1 catamaran, a storm came along and all the other ferry routes with monohulls were cancelled due to dangerous weather, but the only ferry route in the whole country that was not cancelled was the route that is served by a catamaran, that managed to cope with 51mph winds and stayed mostly upright due to the wide beam and shorter length. If the beam is more than the height then it’s impossible to tip over and you don’t require ballast If the height is more than the beam then its so so easy to tip over and you will have to have ballast
Thank you Guys. You have so much common sense, honesty and intelligence. I’ve had a lot to do with yachts and everything you said made a lot of sense. A article definitely worth perusal for anyone involved with sailing boats. One point I would make is that one would need a much longer monohull to provide the same accommodation as a cat of a certain length. Also you didn’t mention speed off the wind…
I would say for value resale/depreciation should be taken into account which might push the Cat ahead in the value category. Also, for the price you get A LOT more square footage on a Cat than you do on a monohull. You can say “a 50 foot monohull is less expensive than a 50 foot catamaran” but in reality to get the same usable square footage you’d need a much bigger monohull to get the same usable space, especially inside. For comparison we can look at production yachts which have a streamlined building processes creating a more even comparison. For example a Lagoon 50 has much more square footage and a much more comfortable interior than a Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 or even a 55.1. For that reason, I think value per dollar per square foot of boat you’re actually getting the Cat should win in the value category. Great article, and really helpful. I never took into account the living “in the water” aspect of a monohull.
I’m too old to go sailing and truthfully, even when I was younger I probably would not have done it. Reason, get seasickness, but my brother and his wife have “sailed” on motor yachts for two decades, first a 19 foot inboard/outboard, then a 30 footer and finally a 40 footer. They still have it but really need to sell it has they have health issues AND have had to accommodate their son and his children, and sadly a challenged child. Instead of retiring into their 80’s, they are having to help raise their son’s children as well.
Great job guys! My wife and I are just getting into boating (yes, sorry, I didn’t say sailing) but boating. And this question of monohull vs. catamaran has been on our minds lately as we ponder which direction we’re going to go. (I can only imagine the thought of a PowerCat is a definite show-stopper for the wine and cheese crowd of the sailing world, ha.) Nonetheless, this has been very informative. Smooth sailing O’Kelly’s!
That was the best comparison of catamarans and monohulls I have heard. It was concise and to the point, was not loaded with nonsense gibberish. I am sure the prices will abate on the cats with the infusion of newer models. The Roberts Spray kinda fills the void between a catamaran and the monohull, it is beamy, shallower draft and a little more stable allowing for easier single handed operation. It may not have all the amenities of a cat but it does not have the cost, but I am of the same thought as you, a catamaran is so much friendlier. Damn! Decision, Decisions, Decisions. What should I do? Blonde, Brunette, Red Head or Raven Black. So many choices and not enough time. LOL
When it comes to aesthetics…the best looking boats will always be out of my price range. From the cats, you have the absolutely sublime gunboat line. Inside and out they are works of art. From the monohulls you can turn to the timeless style of the J class. Just shows that a 100 year old design doesn’t just hold its own, but decimates many modern designs when it come to pleasing the eye. Maybe I can get a painting of them to hang in the galley, cause I won’t be able to come close to either unless Bill Gates is some how my long lost Uncle.
I had a Hunter tall 30 I kept on the coast and a pontoon used on a nearby lake (not live aboard obviously) and based on my limited experience I think your review is right on the mark. The one other thing I’ve got to give to the mono-hull is open water safety if you’re not able to outrun the weather. I say this because with the sails fully reefed and secured the mono-hull will right itself if God forbid your rolled where as at this point the multi hulls won’t. Thanks for your reviews btw 😉
I am mid-60s and just retired. Trying to figure out what I want to do when I get older – after many, many moons of working, kids, mortgages etc. Have not sailed any boats since I was a teenager on our family 16 foot monohulls, and catamarans. The concept of living on a boat is beyond the scope of sanity to my dear sweet wonderful land-loving wife – thus limiting the size. Looking now for a day boat, but want to go electric for puttering around lakes- and still looking at monohull or catamaran. Even given Electric vs Sail, and much smaller size – and hopefully ability to be trailered, many of your points give me pause to reconsider my trades & options. – Thank you.
I have never lived on a boat … I have paddled my canoes all over the place but .. obviously you can’t live in a 17 foot canoe … ! a cat is a definite step up ..! but I’m too old for that now …78 … and aleing .. but I can play the what if game and I do ..! you have given me things to consider … I recall when cats were just getting popular the advocates of mono would point out that a catamaran once capsized would not self right and this was their argument against a multihull … who ever heard of a cat flipping completely over …? other than a pure performance boat maybe thanks for the great article …!
This was very helpful! I am currently planning to moving my life at sea, so this kind of information is really valuable. I would be very much interested in a breakdown of cost and your opinions on what kinds of boats one could consider to buy for living aboard (like what is the minimum you should spend, how much space doe two peaple need at least, what is comfortable, etc). I am looking for a durable boat that can accomadate two people with the capability to circumvent the world. It is hard to get good information. I am basically perusal and reading everything I can get.
Excellent summary. You also could have added another category: solo sailor vs. couple sailors. For a couple living together, a cat makes a lot of sense. For a solo sailor who has to do everything himself, maybe the mono is the better choice because you don’t really need the space. Thanks for going through all that.
Brian Eiland’s Running Tide mast-aft sailing rig design eliminates many of the cons of cats vs monohulls, making a catamaran even more of an appealing option for ocean-going adventures. It’s a much more elegant design for a cat, too. Worth checking out. If I’m ever lucky enough to spec my dream boat, that’s what it’ll be.
Soon to be 50 and just started thinking about boating. I have a feat of the ocean and wanted to start small(fishing boat/canoe etc) and building up to travel the world. Your presentation was absolutely fantastic, thank you for taking the time to cover this topic. Are there any cities you would recomend living in, say on the coast or something, that are “boating friendly”.
The most in-depth comparison on the internet – good work. Since catamarans are 2.5 times as expensive, should you, ideally, compare a cat to a much BIGGER mono-hull boat? A 46′ cat is equal, in price, to a, what, 60′ mono-hull? That’s just a guess. If so, then maybe the deck-space issues would be much more equal?
Really it comes down to intended use. Many boats around here are marina queens… spending most of their lives docked up. Owners go down for the weekends if that… but many times they just leave their boat docked for days or even weeks on end. In that the narrow, and “short” mono’s are much cheaper… especially those 30′ and shorter. Deck space/party boat. This tends to go to cats and tri’s. they have wide top decks…. wide views… etc. with lots of people on board there isn’t the feelign you are running into each other. Counter that that is “privacy and living space”. Blow deck galley, berths, laundry, etc…gives you a level of privacy, you don’t have to worry as much about drawing all the curtains because every other person can see inside. As well in colder weathers, the open floor plan of cat, and massive windows tend to bleed heat a lot more then that in a monohull. Many monohulls have their hulls insulated so when your up in the colder waters, you aren’t spending as much fuel trying to stay warm. also works the other way too.. AC often works better on mono-hulls because they don’t heat up as much, where as all the “space” of a cat can tend to… warm up.
I couldn’t drag my wife onboard a monohull for a long cruise. The rolling is the deal killer. She would be hanging with her head overboard puking most of the time. She hates the deep cockpit with not much light and view, not to mention the lack of ventilation and everything getting moldy and damp… 🤢 The cat is more comfortable and she doesn’t give a flying fart about speed. If you’re cruising, you’re waiting for the right weather anyway before going anywhere. Cruising is about comfort and ease of use and living. Cat wins 10/10 in my book…❤❤❤
Taking donations now for my ICW/Caribbean Mono?Cat? lol -) As much as I loved day sailing on an old 19′ Oday back in my youth, it would take me about 98 years to my goal $$. After my transit S to N in the Gulf of Maine (MA to ME) back in the 90s (3 crew), I was enthralled at the beauty and majesty of the sea. Life at sea is work much of the time. But a sublime type of feeling and emotion you cannot find on land. works on you while you are at sea, and BAM, you are hooked. Cheers!
Been sailing all my life. For Blue Water, in a storm, FULL KEEL MONO all the way. Cats can flip. A full keel mono will right itself. Especially in a pitch pole or knockdown scenario. My Dad sailed a cat from Block Island to Miami, and hit a storm off cape hatteras. He said it was the most scared he ever was in his life, trying to keep the cat from flipping. This from a man who survived multiple bombing runs over Nazi Germany in world war 2. My favorite cruising yacht is a Pearson Triton. Small, but VERY safe, Built like a TANK, and easy to single hand.
Thank you both for sharing your experiences and thus shedding some light on these two types of vessels. It is helpful and, in my opinion, more credible to listen to the opinions of people like yourselves who have nothing to gain rather than some schmuck who is trying to sell me something that is probably not tight for me. Cheers guys, much appreciated 🙂
The closest thing I’ve ever gotten to either of these boats is my jet ski. I was pumped to get my captain’s license, though. I’m not a big fan of small boats on large bodies of water. Props to those who really get into this lifestyle. It’s a ton of work with a huge risk and reward dynamic. Respect to you guys and those like you.