10 Preconceived Ideas About Multihulls

True or false? Multihulls World has the Answers!

Although the concept of multihulls, i.e., boats with multiple hulls, is very old, the popularity of modern recreational catamarans and trimarans is fairly recent. This success has piqued the curiosity of some monohull enthusiasts while drawing criticism from others. Beyond the sterile controversy, if we start from the premise that no boat is perfect, it is legitimate to ask a number of questions. To validate certain factual observations but also to dispel a few persistent misconceptions, here is a look at 10 of the most common preconceived ideas about multihulls.

Published 01/08/2025

By Dominic Salander

Subscribers Only

Issue: 203

Published: oct. / nov. 2025

A multihull costs more to buy than a monohull

Yes and no

For the same length, a multihull is much more expensive than a monohull, whether new, used, or chartered. But with the same surface area, it’s another story....

This is probably the first comment you hear about multihulls. In fact, if you simply compare a monohull and a production multihull of the same size, the price difference is obvious. However, you have to compare like with like. For the same length, a multihull will offer much more living space. For example, a 40-foot multihull has the same living space as a 50 or 55-foot monohull. It therefore makes sense to compare a 40-foot multihull with a 50-foot monohull. The level of finish is also important, and here too, multihulls often come out on top. For example, a well-equipped Lagoon 43 sells for around €700,000, while a Dufour 54, offering comparable living space, costs around €850,000 for a fully equipped version.

Multihulls can’t sail upwind

Largely false

Many multihulls are now capable of sailing upwind at angles equivalent to those of monohulls.

All performance-oriented multihulls with daggerboards are capable of excellent upwind performance. The advent of models with long daggerboards – sometimes curved – and rotating masts now make it possible to achieve excellent performance. During our latest tests, we recorded a close-hauled angle of 30° to the apparent wind aboard the HH44 and even 24° for the Cure 55 featured in this issue. As for trimarans such as the Neel and Rapido, they perform very well when tacking upwind. Obviously, the standard keels are less efficient than the daggerboards – they should be compared to ballasted lifting keel configurations in monohulls. Large production catamarans are content to sail at 45 to 60° to the true wind. It should be noted that the least efficient boats are those that suffer from excessive windage (bimini flybridge in particular) and fixed propeller drag.

At the helm of a multihull, you don’t get any sensation

Yes and no

Even when flat, catamarans are fun to sail and can sometimes offer plenty of thrills if there is a breeze.

Many boaters associate the pleasure of sailing on a monohull with the sensations provided by a fiery helm – forgetting that the boat heels, much to the dismay of the crew. It is true that a relatively heavy catamaran that remains flat offers less interesting sensations and that, in light winds, the helm may be entrusted to the autopilot. But given the now much more flexible steering mechanisms and the possibility of downwind speed, it sometimes feels like you’re piloting a Formula 1 with spray at the bows... all with stability and comfort that you don’t find on monohulls. It should be noted that trimarans, thanks to their slight heel, manage to offer sensations very similar (at least upwind) to those provided by monohulls.

A multihull is not suitable for beginners

False

Many maneuvers are easier on a multihull thanks to their stability and lack of heel.

This old belief stems from images of offshore racing with catamarans or trimarans designed solely for performance and sailed by highly experienced sailors. When it comes to recreational multihulls, there are, of course, different kinds of vessels; you can certainly opt for very fast carbon fiber boats with highly sophisticated systems, but 95% of the market consists of smaller catamarans and trimarans that are less sporty and, above all, easy to maneuver by a short-handed or inexperienced crew.
The two main advantages of catamarans are the presence of two engines, which greatly simplify maneuvers in the marina, and the absence of heel, which facilitates access to the foredeck or the foot of the mast.
This is probably the best proof that multihulls are more accessible than monohulls? By the way, fifty percent of multihull buyers are beginners - a proportion that is halved for monohulls.

A multihull can capsize easily

Yes and No

It is primarily waves that cause a cruising boat to capsize.

Unfortunately, all boats are susceptible to capsizing; it all depends on the sea conditions and the boat in question. A breaking wave, 30 to 50% of the length of any boat, is enough to capsize it.
The safety criteria in heavy weather are therefore primarily length and then weight. So far, there is no difference between a multihull and a monohull. Let’s look at multihulls less than 50 feet and 10 tons; under normal conditions, due to their width and weight distribution, these “small and light” vessels are much more stable than monohulls of the same size, and capsizing due to (excessively) strong winds is extremely rare but can occur if the rigging doesn’t fail first. Once capsized, a multihull will not return to its normal position on its own, whereas a monohull has some chance of righting itself thanks to its ballast... which may well send it to the bottom. Aside from the issue of capsizing, it is also worth remembering the intrinsic safety advantages of multihulls: first of all, they rarely sink. As for catamarans, the fact that they are equipped with two rudders means that the boat can continue to be steered in the event of damage to one rudder. The same applies to motor sailing, where the presence of two engines is a guarantee of safety.

Multihulls are ugly...

Yes and No

Honestly, don’t you think the Gunboat 80 is beautiful?

And isn’t the Sunreef 55 Ultima more modern than many single-hulled boats?

This is a very subjective notion... Monohulls are often associated with older boats found in the Mediterranean or on the US East Coast. As a more recent design, multihulls naturally have a more modern look. However, there are two opposing camps: performance versus comfort – Bugatti versus camper van? As a result, some boats can be considered more functional than elegant, while others feature modern, sleek, even futuristic lines. Inside, the new models are every bit as good as a modern monohull, if not better. The spacious interiors, well-finished furniture, and flexible layout allow you to unleash your decorative skills. In conclusion, if you are attached to the “old sea dog” look, you may find that a multihull lacks a little character... but when compared to a modern monohull, the two are evenly matched, with a slight advantage for the newcomers with their more avant-garde lines. But as they say, tastes and colors vary.

You get seasick on a multihull

Largely False

When moored, a multihull boat is much less prone to rolling than a monohull boat

This is a statement that is still often heard, but it is far from true. In fact, seasickness is often caused by the large, gentle movements typical of ballasted monohulls and/or large vessels, whereas the smaller, more frequent movements on board multihulls are less likely to make people sick. In reality, seasickness is also caused by cold, hunger, fatigue, or fear; multihulls, with their stability, single-level layout, cockpit protection, and reassuring appearance, have significant advantages over monohulls in this regard.
This is even more obvious when at anchor: a monohull is likely to roll from side to side in certain conditions, whereas a multihull will remain flat.

Multihulls are very expensive at the marina

Mostly True

More and more marinas are adapting to accommodate multihulls while offering attractive rates.

It is undeniable that the price of a berth for a multihull is much higher than the rate charged for a monohull of the same length. Multihulls have only been popular for the last 20 or 30 years, and many marinas were designed before this period for monohulls. Forced to adapt, the authorities initially charged high rates before being tempted to redesign quays and docks – and so “multifriendly” ports were born! However, there are still some inequalities due to the environment; in Brittany (France) and Chesapeake Bay (USA), many marinas are located in inlets where space is limited. On the other hand, some ports, such as Castelldefels (Spain) and St. Petersburg (Florida), have completely changed their layout to accommodate more multihulls in good conditions.
There are other alternatives, starting with anchorages. Thanks to their excellent stability, multihulls are very comfortable to live in outside the marina. Anchoring or picking up a mooring ball in a sheltered bay also allows you to enjoy a light breeze, which is very pleasant in hot weather. This also gives you the opportunity to enjoy your favorite water activities, whether it’s swimming, kayaking, or paddleboarding.
Finally, it ensures greater privacy, and the dinghy is always ready to take you ashore. A final solution for those who sail on boats under 40 feet is the folding multihull. An ingenious idea that is easy to implement, allowing you to transport your multihull and, above all, guaranteeing you a traditional berth in the marina.

A multihull is more expensive to maintain

Somewhat True

Apart from the constraint of managing two engines instead of one (in the case of catamarans), the maintenance of a multihull does not cost much more than that of a monohull.

Some people assume that two hulls automatically mean twice as much maintenance as a single hull. This is a bit of a shortcut. In fact, the only maintenance that needs to be done twice is on the engines, with two oil changes or two oil filters, etc. However, in addition to the fact that two engines provide greater safety, having two propulsion systems means that they are used less and therefore last longer. If you opt for a trimaran, you obviously return to the single- engine monohull model. Apart from this mechanical item, the costs are very similar. This is true for the rigging, the sails, and all the boat’s systems. Then there is the antifouling, and here again, the two (or three) hulls together represent a slightly larger surface area than on a monohull, but if we assume that to obtain the habitability of a 50-foot monohull, we would opt for a 40 or 45-foot multihull, we end up with fairly similar surface areas. The situation is very similar when it comes to using a crane for a multihull or carrying out hull work. So yes, there is a difference, but it is not that significant

The payload of a multihull is limited

Largely False

Modern cruising multihulls are capable of carrying a significant payload.

Every vessel, whether it is a motorboat, a monohull sailboat or a multihull, has a payload specified by the manufacturer, which includes the weight of the crew, luggage, navigation equipment and supplies. Sometimes, the light displacement must be subtracted from the laden displacement to obtain this figure. In short, the payload is the total weight that you can carry on board, and it is essential not to exceed this limit, as safety could be compromised. As a guide, it is estimated that a couple on a cruise represents a payload of 200 to 220 kg (440 to 485 lbs).
Many boaters are convinced that the payload is more limited on a multihull than on a monohull – probably due to a “racing” view of the multihull world – when in fact the opposite is true. In fact, thanks to the presence of two or three hulls, weight distribution is much better and it is sometimes possible to load a multihull more, although this should be avoided in order to maintain good performance. For example, a Bavaria 50 Cruiser monohull has a payload of 2.6 tons, while the new Outremer 48 has a payload of 4 tons. However, things do not always work out the same way, because if we compare a Swan 54 and a Balance 526, the former can carry a payload of 7.2 tons, while the catamaran has to make do with 3.1 tons. Each model has its own payload!