Deciding between a catamaran and a monohull is a big decision and one worth considering well before taking the plunge.

Catamaran sailboat vs monohull. Squeezing into a marina can be nigh on impossible and expensive if you can get in. SpeedSailing Performance Cruising catamarans will typically be 25-30 faster than a cruising monohull of the same length. Catamarans Are Faster Than Monohull Boats.

Due to their keel monohulls can sail higher into the wind than most catamarans. However 95 of cruising cats ie. The only downside is that multihull vessels are only this fast if the load is relatively light.

Monohulls sail better upwind. If you are into SCUBA diving carrying tanks and all the assorted equipment is. This increases the chances that someone could fall off the boat or onto the deck in a monohull boat.

Monohulls are more maneuverable have lower costs and better when sailing upwind. Whether you look at the amount of fishing space seakeeping abilities or range youll find that this 235 boat feels and acts more like a 25- or 26-footer when compared to a monohull. A catamaran is faster than the average monohull.

Whatever your cruising goals are catamarans will usually move you about more quickly than a monohull. Having sailed on both and built then lived for 5 years on a catamaran in this post I want to share with you my impressions and thoughts on safety costs speed stability and other advantages and disadvantages of sailing and living aboard a catamaran compared to a keel. Some of the more exotic catamarans have daggerboards which serve the same purpose as a keel and therefore improve windward performance substantially.

Lets look at one catamaran example Tideline Boats. Catamarans are in most of the sailing conditions faster than monohulls because of their hulls which are less immersed in the water and have a smaller area in the water to create drag. Its less tiring to sail a catamaran than it is to sail a monohull.