Sailing flat has definite advantages.

Catamaran sailboat advantages and disadvantages. There are many aspects to safety where catamarans and trimarans shine. Catamarans are usually faster than monohulls particularly on downwind runs reaches and broad reaches. Today catamarans are a popular design for recreational and racing sailboats and are being used in efficient low-wake ferries.

Whether at anchor or under way a catamaran is always much more stable than a monohull. A catamarans seems like a fantastic choice so far but in the interest of fairness it is now time to touch on the disadvantages as well. If you just have to feel the heel then perhaps the monohull is still your best bet it all comes down to preferences and priorities.

In Why A Catamaran - Advantages Disadvantages we talk about the reasons why we decided to buy a catamaran vs a monohull and the advantages and disadvantage. Among the reasons to buy a catamaran stability is an important one. Whether the yacht is anchored or sailing catamarans rarely roll around and they do not heel under way.

Catamarans are typically 25. No monohull I know of can do that. Stability is also a good factor for elderly people andor first time sailors.

This stability makes catamarans the ideal yachts for first time sailors elderly people children and those prone to sea-sickness. On a catamaran the deck is high and you have a 360 degree view. However there is one advantage most monohulls have compared to catamarans and that is when underway is that they do not pound or slap.

Often overlooked is the safety margin introduced with level sailing see above. This can allow for greater privacy when chartering with friends or children as the two sleeping areas one in each hull are separated by the living area. So from a practical point of view here are our observations over the last 25 years of living aboard on the advantages and disadvantages of a catamaran.