The catamaran (or “cat”) is a multihulled vessel consisting of two parallel hulls of equal size.
A catamaran derives its stability from its wide beam, rather than having a ballasted keel like a monohull. Being ballast-free and lighter than a monohull, a catamaran can have a very shallow draft. The two hulls will be much finer than a monohull’s, the reduced drag allowing faster speeds. A sailing multihull will heel much less than a sailing monohull, so its sails spill less wind and are more efficient. The limited heeling means the ride may be more comfortable for passengers and crew, although catamarans can exhibit an unsettling “hobby-horse” motion. Unlike a self-righting monohull, if a gust causes a sailing catamaran to capsize, it may be impossible to right the multihull; but having no ballast, an upturned catamaran will be unlikely to sink.
A catamaran with sails
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A catamaran’s two hulls are joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas. More sophisticated catamarans combine accommodation into the bridging superstructure. Catamarans may be driven by sail and/or engine. Originally catamarans were small yachts, but now some ships and ferries have adopted this hull layout because it allows increased speed, stability and comfort.
The catamaran concept is a relative newcomer for Western boat designers, although they have been used since time immemorial among the Dravidian people, in South India. Catamarans were developed independently in Oceania, where Polynesian catamarans and outrigger canoes allowed seafaring Polynesians to voyage to the remotest Pacific islands.
Catamaran builders like Catana, Oxygène, Fountaine Pajot, have been already featured on this site, and this will continue.
In some conditions, lightweight catamarans may have higher maximum speeds than monohull boats. Sometimes they can be slower, because of the added friction drag from the additional wetted surface area. In moderate winds and smooth seas they are usually faster, depending on the type of craft and its operating parameters, such as sail area and weight of stores.
Sailing catamarans are typically lighter for performance-oriented goals. They don’t rely on a low center of gravity as a monohull sailboat does, since righting moment is derived from the spacing between multiple hulls. Catamarans have a wider beam (the distance from one side of the boat to the other), which makes them more stable and therefore able to carry more sail area per unit of length than an equivalent monohull.
A catamaran reaches its maximum speed in moderate wind and in sheltered conditions. Wave action can be very detrimental to catamaran speed.
This whole article is based on wikipedia page of catamarans.
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