Monohull or catamaran – which is better?

If you look at the list of charter offers, you can easily note that catamarans are more often offered in island areas or shallow waters like the Seychelles or the Caribbean islands, where the shallow draft allows them to anchor really close to the shoreline.

Anchorage in such areas is a common thing, because as a rule there are not many marinas. However, there are plenty of beautiful bays, where it is pleasant to spend time on your own or with a minimal number of neighbours. Monohulls, especially the sailing ones, just won’t be able to come so close to the shore because of the draft, and in case there is no marina they will have to anchor much further from the shore, which is not always convenient.

You can charter a catamaran for the Mediterranean, too, but if you are going to stay in the marina for some time, that might be a problem. Marinas are packed in summer season here, it will be really hard to find space for a catamaran, which is twice as large as a monohull, and it will be a lot more expensive, too. So opt for a catamaran only in case you are planning mainly anchorage. By the way, that’s the choice many people make on holidays in order to spend as little time in the crowds as possible.

There is a lot more space on board catamarans than on monohulls of the same length, which is really important for many people. Catamarans can boast really spacious saloons, aft cockpits and huge flybridges, and one can put a net in the bow part between the hulls right over the water, which is especially popular with kids.  

On large and especially motor catamarans there can be a whole beach club between the hulls instead of the net. 

Catamarans tend to roll less, but some people do feel it anyway and think it is even less comfortable than on monohulls. In fact, it is all very individual, so you just have to try it out and make your own conclusions.