Catamarans have come a long way since their pioneering days back in the late-1950s and ’60s. Back then, only a small group of sailors, on what people thought was the lunatic fringe of design and construction, were experimenting with the possibilities that two hulls could provide. The boats were often home-built and suffered problems that come with learning as you go. As a result, cats had to shake the rap that they are dangerous machines with some nasty habits.

But that was then. These days, catamaran design is a serious field of naval architecture. Cats today are stronger, lighter, faster, safer, and more comfortable than ever before. You’ve probably seen a lot more cats around your marina or mooring field, and the trend is sure to continue. Cats now represent roughly 20 percent of charter fleets, with the highest concentrations in the Caribbean and South Pacific, and more and more cruisers are opting for their level sailing and spacious interiors. Bill Springer

Demo Daze
Herb McCormick talked with potential buyers of cruising cats at Multihull Demo Day, held after the Annapolis Boat Show last fall. Find out what’s drawing them to the breed.

Radical Cats
Bill Springer profiles the boats—small, big, and gigantic—that are pushing catamaran design and construction into new territory.

Cat Cruise
Dave Baldwin took his first catamaran cruise down the ICW and tells us the tale.

Cat School
Monohull sailor Ben Ellison went to catamaran school in the Bahamas to learn the ins and out of multihull cruising. Catch up with his comments on the boat and the learning process.

 

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