The Truth About Catamarans
We have often heard a lot of myths and rumours around catamarans, most of them quite funny to those of us who have spent time in and around catamarans. As with a lot of things that are slightly different from mainstream, people often believe these rumours, as they have no source of information directing them to the correct answers. Often, opposition dealers and people who claim to be knowledgeable keep these rumours going because it helps sell their own products or simply through lack of knowledge.
The most absurd example is that catamarans drive around in circles on one engine. Needless to say that when a customer drove a catamaran and it planed and tracked beautifully on only one engine, he quickly understood the falseness of this information.
Below are some of the other myths that we have come across. We hope this will help “clear the waters” by providing more accurate information.
Catamaran Most Common Myths
1Catamarans don’t track well in a following sea.
A lot of boaters worry that driving a cat boat isn’t relaxing, because they think they’ll have to constantly watch the sea and where they’re going. This just isn’t true. A catamaran is much better than a mono-hull, especially in a following sea, as a mono will plow into the front wave as they come down, and then are susceptible to broaching down the face of the wave. Cats, on the other hand, are more buoyant in the bow, almost removing this worry. Furthermore, since they don’t have a V to roll on, they are more sure-footed than their mono-hull counterparts.
2Power catamarans don’t look like a traditional boat.
Every sailor is aware that catamarans are different. Very common in countries like Great Britain, Australia, New Zeland, and South Africa, they are not quite so in North America. In fact, there are four times more power catamarans in Australia and New Zealand per capita than in the rest of the world. They know that the smoothness of the ride, especially in rough water, is superior to that of any mono-hulls. That’s why in those countries, the catamaran is the first choice.
3Catamarans are awkward to drive and hard to get used to.
Some customers believe that it’s too difficult to learn how to drive a power catamaran, and they worry that they’ll never get used to the awkwardness. The truth is cats are incredibly simple to operate: once you learn the basics of keeping a proper trim you’ll be 90% of the way to being an expert. Experienced boaters will tell you that learning to drive a catamaran was easy…and that they’ll never go back to a mono-hull. Take the time to experience a Pro Cat sea trial and you will understand how easy it really is.
4Cats always turn outward and can throw you from the boat.
One of the worst falsehoods that catamarans buyers hear about power catamarans is that they will get thrown from the boat, especially if they need to turn sharply at high speeds. While it’s true that at slow speeds and slow turns, our boats do tend to lean slightly outward, the effect is so minor that no one is in any danger of ending up in the water. Catamaran owners often comment about how they feel odd when they get smacked in a mono hull and it banks inwards. The mono hull bends in curves like a motorcycle, while the catamaran turns straight like a four wheeler. Thanks to its tunnel effect, the catamaran doesn’t go sideways on sharp curves At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer; it just comes down to what you are used to and what you are comfortable with.
5Cats have trouble drifting in beam seas and can tip.
Many boaters believe that because catamarans have two hulls close together, the boats have a violent rock when drifting, and are even in danger of tipping. In fact, it’s just the opposite: the twin-hull design allows for a smoother drift in beam seas, one that settles much faster than a mono-hull as they do not suffer from the pendulum effect that a mono hull can experience, as it has an opposing edge for every movement.
6Cats can’t handle rough seas.
Some customers have the impression that cats are fine in some sea conditions but not in others. It is said that cats are great in a bay but not in rough seas.
We’re not sure where this myth got started – but it’s just flat out wrong: catamarans are superior in every way in rough seas. For years, fishermen have trusted the twin hull design to get them through rough seas. In fact it is in rough seas that catamarans show their true superiority.
Some working catamarans have a low bow which puts them at a disadvantage in heavy seas, while the Pro Cat’s high bow was designed for the very difficult conditions of the North Sea.
We’re not sure where this myth got started – but it’s just flat out wrong: catamarans are superior in every way in rough seas. For years, fishermen have trusted the twin hull design to get them through rough seas. In fact it is in rough seas that catamarans show their true superiority.
Some working catamarans have a low bow which puts them at a disadvantage in heavy seas, while the Pro Cat’s high bow was designed for the very difficult conditions of the North Sea.
7Experienced boaters prefer mono-hulls.
Customers are often told that when it comes to experienced boaters, mono-hulls are preferred over catamarans. However, the truth is that boaters experienced with both kinds of crafts almost always prefer cats. In Australia, a country that knows its boats, catamarans make up a high percentage of the offshore fishing market. The customer base is made up of experienced boaters who understand the advantages of a catamaran: 76% of them have owned three or more boats, and they choose a power catamaran as their ultimate boat.
8Cats angle or pitch for no reason.
Boaters are often told that the main weakness of the twin hull design is that the two hulls fight each other for dominance, each one pulling in opposite directions. In fact, some claim that you can’t even hold a coffee cup on a catamaran because you’re so busy fighting the wheel. The truth is quite the opposite. Though catamarans are different boats from mono-hulls, with a unique handling all their own, learning to drive a catamaran is much easier than driving a conventional boat.
9Cats are bad in a head sea.
It is often said that catamarans have a history of bad performance in a head sea, making the ride uncomfortable or even dangerous. But in fact, thanks to the twin-hull design, and the performance of their tunnel, catamarans actually perform better in head seas compared to mono-hulls. The secret is in the tunnel. The air is trapped in between the tunnel and the water creating a cushion of air for the boat to ride on, thus giving you the best ride around. The water going through the tunnel creates a motion similar to a train track, increasing the comfort and safety of the ride.
10Cat boats are weak and can break in half.
Of all the myths you hear about cat boats, this one is the most outrageous. There are rumors that, because of the twin hull design, cat boats are weak and prone to breaking in half. This simply isn’t true…no one we’ve worked with or have talked to has ever heard of a catamaran breaking in half.
The engineering applied on the hull concept of a catamaran like the Pro Cat is superior to the one used on a mono hull in terms of torsions and structure resistance , in addition to the hydrodynamic concept of the hulls.
The engineering applied on the hull concept of a catamaran like the Pro Cat is superior to the one used on a mono hull in terms of torsions and structure resistance , in addition to the hydrodynamic concept of the hulls.
11There’s no resale value and no market for used cat boats.
Another myth that needs to be debunked is the idea that there is no resale value for catamarans.
Though it’s true that you rarely see a used power catamaran for sale, that’s only because owners love their boats so much they never want to sell them! Of all the power catamarans sold in the world in the last 10 years, only 4% are available for resale. With so few used boats on the market, the resale value of these boats is actually quite high. We have actually seen 10 – 15 year-old catamarans sell for more than they sold for when they were new.
Though it’s true that you rarely see a used power catamaran for sale, that’s only because owners love their boats so much they never want to sell them! Of all the power catamarans sold in the world in the last 10 years, only 4% are available for resale. With so few used boats on the market, the resale value of these boats is actually quite high. We have actually seen 10 – 15 year-old catamarans sell for more than they sold for when they were new.
