Catamaran vs. Monohull: We Changed, Should You?

There are two schools of thought when it comes to monohull versus catamaran. We have done extensive cruising and lived aboard two monohulls and four catamarans over the past 25+ years. We have experienced the good and the bad for both single hull and multihulls first hand. Quite honestly, the plusses for catamarans far outweigh the minuses. There are multiple benefits of catamarans. They are faster, more stable and spacious, and have shallower drafts allowing safer anchorage closer to shore. Being on a stable platform with no heeling cuts down on crew fatigue and seasickness leaving the crew more alert and in control of the vessel. Even novice sailors feel more confident on catamarans.

When we built our monohull "Royal Salute" in the early 90s, catamarans were not established and were looked upon with extreme suspicion by most cruisers, including ourselves. "Safety and the capsize" issue were always the first things to come up against sailing catamarans. It is a fact that monohulls can get rolled in heavy seas but will right themselves because of the heavy lead keel, and while crew and vessel will be battered, the roll is survivable.