Glossary Term
Catamaran
A catamaran is a vessel with two separate hulls connected by a bridging structure. In yacht use, the term can apply to both sailing and motor designs. The twin-hull arrangement changes the yacht’s proportions, deck layout, and behavior on the water in ways that are very different from a monohull.
The configuration is known for wide beam, generous deck area, strong initial stability, and relatively shallow draft for the amount of onboard space it can provide. Those traits make catamarans popular for cruising, charter, and warm-water use where comfort at anchor, outdoor living space, and access to shallower areas are important.
Catamaran does not describe one single style of yacht. A performance sailing catamaran, cruising catamaran, power catamaran, and day-use multihull may all share the same basic hull arrangement while serving very different purposes. The key point is that catamaran refers to the structural configuration first, and the yacht’s role comes after that.