Monohull vs Catamaran
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Monohull vs. Catamaran! Which is best for you? Which should you buy? This video explores the pros and cons of monohulls and catamarans
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PUFFIN is a 19 meter, steel hulled Jongert ketch. We live aboard and we are living the dream. Currently slipped in Charleston, SC.
This was the clearest, most concise, and unbiased comparison I've ever seen. I came away a much wiser man. Thank you. Keep it up.
christdragon love your profile picture haha
Sailing Puffin, I have found a couple of your videos trying to educate myself on sailing. I want to compliment your style. If you were never a teacher you should have been. You always explain things with simple language and diagrams. You do a great job!
One of the clearest explanations on this topic I've ever seen. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Great presentation! I just watched "displacement vs planing", "hull speed" and now this. This is an awesome display of facts with no bias, which is super easy to follow and digest. Thanks!
I have to say this is one of the most thorough and least bias comparisons I have seen.
Awesome job!
Really good video. I'm laughing at some of the comments that call this a biased video because their choice is a different choice. I prefer both builds, depending on what I'm doing. I think this is one of the least "religious" comparative videos I've seen on monohulls and cats. Well done.
bdtrap, Thanks for watching! When I made the video, I was not fully aware of the rabid responses I would get from some of the viewers. Overwhelmingly, the viewers took the information as it was meant; without bias, and went on to use the information to their advantage, regardless of which hull type they had chosen. That said, there were a few that went as far as to refute physics. I had a troll or two... and I found myself feeling sorry for anyone who ventured out on a boat with them.
I agree resoundingly with you; there is no perfect all-round boat. Some boats are better for different activities, and the shopper should have a firm grip on their own style and sailing plans before ever approaching the boat market. That, and they have to recognize market hype when they see it.
@@sailingpuffin9441(& @bdtrap w/comments) Wonderful reading - never be amazed about people going up against physics and the most elementary "laws". I came here to remind the people that the Vikings used monohulls and made the crossing centuries before the Polynesians crossed, and another Viking made it back on some logs. I have come to that we change units easier in the metric system makes us confront physics differently: the wind is a force, with a velocity that can drive us around or forward through the sea.
@MTG Zombie Thanks for the vote of confidence! I equate it to religion; people get to where they will believe any outlandish thing, rationalizing away anything that does not agree with their chosen belief. I did 25 years as an Army officer, and commanded a battalion of 1300 Soldiers. Did 3 tours in the 'sandbox'. The amount of idiocy I witnessed was extreme, and I became somewhat immune to the morons. So, I am not too offended by folks that will not consider physical facts and statistics. I just smile, thankful that those folks are not people I have to deal with on a daily basis.
You really possess a strong talent for breaking down and communicating good information in a fair way!
Thank you for a truly excellent, unbiased, informative, and easy to understand explanation. This is by far the best comparison I have seen.
That was the clearest and least biased explanation that I have ever seen. Well Done and thank you.
Daniel, Thanks for watching!
Best 16 minutes and 12 seconds I've spent in awhile.
This is by far one of the most interesting and most informative explanation I’ve seen on this subject matter. Thank you for this excellent video 👍👍⛵️
This was supremely informative. I learned things I didn't even know I needed to know. Thank you very much!
Great video with 1st class content; builds his case through careful analysis and does declare his personal bias. Can't say fairer than that!
I've watched many video's of this nature, by far the best one...
My wife and I are just getting into sailing and plan to purchase our first blue water boat in the next year. I spend my days looking for the right boat and I enjoyed your explanation very much. For us it boils down to cost for comfort. We plan to live aboard the boat full time while we travel. I have found that I can buy a much larger monohull length wise for the money but not so much living space. So the quest continues.
MrCFerren, I read somewhere that the smallest practical livaboard for two was a 36 foot vessel. Not sure that was/is true, but it might help refine your search. Think they were referring to monohulls. Your choice of sailing location (depth, waves, etc) can help guide your choice. You also need to research the costs thoroughly before buying; nothing can suck out your retirement savings faster than a boat :). Either way you go, have fun with it. It is a fun lifestyle living at a marina or buddy boating to distant locations.
To me this lifestyle is currently just a dream, but this comparison video has got to be the best one on the subject I've seen so far. You good sir, earned another subscriber.
M Tieleman, Thanks for watching! Whichever you choose when you decide to grab your dream, you will enjoy it! At the end of the day, it is all about YOUR priorities, not mine or those of the boat broker. I dreamed for years about this and did a mountain of research; was a good 'happy place' to park my brain while attempting to sleep during tours in Iraq. Had to wait for retirement to realize the dream. Now I am finding it is fun to share. Fair winds!
What a GREAT explanation. Very clear, very well structured. Hard to come by people who just break things down so clearly. Thanks!
Julian, Thanks for watching!
Very thorough overview. You even mentioned some things I didn't know (and I've been sailing since I was a kid). Great job! It's refreshing to see an overview so good that someone considering a sailboat has some serious things to consider that might help them make an informed decision. Your production is a valuable asset for teh goal sailing community. Thanks from all of us!
Tetraskele, Thanks for watching! There are some great products out there in both hull types. The hardest thing to do is to determine what your 'normal' sailing is going to look like; that will drive your choices most of all.
Loved the straight and well thought out reasoning. Looking back through your videos I don't see a tour, or an image of your boat. I think I wouldn't be the only one who would love to see both. Cheers.
Warspire, Thanks for watching! There is a pretty cool interactive 3D tour through PUFFIN online. I am having difficulty with the link cut and pasted (it doesnt quite get you there) , but if you google up Ashley Yachts, then go to their 3D section..... (yes, as much as it pains me to write it, PUFFIN is up for sale!)
I've watched a few videos answering this question and this is the most comprehensive
I was still on the fence but no more. Your clear explanations re-affirm my choice. Steel (maybe aluminium) and mono hull. Thanks
Love the outtakes! And really enjoyed the breakdown of differences between a Cat and Monohull. I love being on a Cat when I'm in a bay anchored but I have to say that nothing beats a monohull when you're in big waves, windy conditions or a massive storm :) Keep these great videos coming :)
Could not have done this without the support and encouragement of some really cool neighbors!
hot dang!
SailingBritican: I'm no expert but from what I've learned I'd guess that, all other things being equal, a properly loaded cat should be much better at avoiding bad weather than a mono.
Hey Walter...I'd be interested to hear your experiences of what it feels like to be in a storm in a Cat versus a storm in a Monohull. I've only been in three Force 10 storms and they were all in our monohull. They were scary but I felt very safe in our boat.
All my Cat friend owners who have been in bad storms say that the swell/wave slap along the middle bridge area (not sure what it's called) makes a horrible noise and is extremely frightening. We have friends (now on a mono) that sold their Cat because it broke in half during a storm.
I think that Cats and Monohulls both have pros and cons. And when it comes to storms I'm sure it all depends on what kind of storm and how difficult the conditions are to sail in.
Ideally, none of us would ever go out in any boat in a massive storm! :)
We had a bad Biscay in our Wharram Tiki - BBC told us it was Storm 10 off Finisterre at the time . Our anemometer agreed. Massive seas.
So we decided to bear away and run for Brest.
In the ferocious seas we covered 135 NM in 10 hours, hit a peak speed on the conventional log of 22.2 Kts when coming down a big one, confirmed by GPS max recorded speed.
And then . . .
We popped out of the storm into calm sunlight and had to motor the final distance into Brest as the wind failed.
We had out-run the storm.
It was good to tie up to the quay and make for the bar.
When the storm eventually caught us up and hit Brest, there was severe house damage, and part of the cliff collapsed according to local news.
Would I willingly attempt it in another cat?
A Wharram, yes.
They are optimised for heavy weather rather than cocktail cabinets. Reserve buoyancy is massive, the deep vee hulls come off a big wave and land astoundingly softly without any sign of rooting.
The weather was terrifying, but the boat instilled massive confidence.
The good folk in the bar asked where we'd been - so I showed them the GPS data.
We didn't need to buy our own beer that evening.
Merci, mes amis!
This is the best overview of both types of hulls I've seen. Though I've been on neither Im thinking of buying a cat, of course the salon is nice......but the idea of flat sailing without much heeling is really attractive. Many of the seasoned monohull sailors I've watched say it takes a few days to get used to the constant rocking when first taking to the seas. Thanks for you video....; )
Well put ! Thanks for sharing and teaching. Have often listen to others trying to present the same debate. None were as clear and straightforward as yours
esr243, Thanks for watching!
Great information! Sailing isn't currently attainable for us, but one day we would love to do it! I just enjoy learning about it and this is the most straightforward, well thought out presentation. Thumbs up!
The most practical and usefull Cat vs. Mono discussion I have seen thus far. Well done Mate!
Thanks for watching! Fair winds!
The best comparison so far on the issue. Kudos to you Skipper...I have seen on youtube 2 cats lost ( Tanda Malaika & Long Reef ) because they couldn't deal quickly with a run aground issue. Both were lost because their shape & thin construction exacerbated their demise. I'm still looking for a project. But "heeling' more to an older mono hull at present. Going fast is not my issue nor interest. "It is not the destination - But the Journey" that I seek.....
Tyrone, Thanks for watching. Like you, I was more concerned with elasticity of the hull material in a possible (eventual?) collision than I was about speed... wanted both, but you don't find too many cats of this volume made of steel. That said, everyone is going to have their own preference. I do get frustrated at false claims and hype that surround some of today's vessel offerings. But then I guess if people don't show common sense or critical thought in the purchase of their vessel, then they 'own the mistake'. Cheers, and happy project/sailing regardless of what you pick!
Excellent presentation. I could not detect any bias in the comparison - a rare attribute in today's world. Nice dingy!
This was the best comparison talk I have seen. You just educated us on both while staying neutral to the discussion. Thanks for sharing a part of your life.
Rottingboards, Thanks for watching! I was surprised (by the responses) how polarized the boating community is on this particular issue. All boats are a compromise, and there is no perfect boat for all circumstances. Bottom line is to enjoy what you have.
Well presented info. When I started looking at boat choice I initially thought I would like to have a cat for the space and shallow water access. However like you I ended up getting a steelie, a custom 44ft Bruce Roberts design built by Topper Hermansson in 1989 in Fernandina Beach, FL. I only have about 600 sea miles so far, as I have had her only about a year, but am happy I chose to go with my steelie s/v Ravenwing. With the welder I carry aboard she can be repaired almost anywhere.
Ratwynd, Thanks for watching. Steel is the most elastic of the boat building materials, and it is a comfort knowing it is there.
Absolutely the best explanation and comparison between the two that i have seen. Thank you so much for putting this video together!!!
Chuck, Thanks for watching! At the end of the day, the choice is going to be based on your priorities. The best anyone can do to help you decide is to best describe the advantages/disadvantages in a non-emotional way.
If you sail the oceans, i think its best to get hatches that are watertight. That will ensure that you stay afloat when you are tipped over, or a big waves comes over the deck.
Thank you for the information!
Greetings,
Jeff
Can tell a lot of work went into this presentation. It shows in the detail and the precise wording. Thank you very much great work
Brother Bryan, Thanks for watching!
Yet another terrific video by Sailing Puffin. I would love to see a video covering the fluid dynamics of catamarans and monohulls!
Great job! I love how impartial your comparisons are even though you clearly chose to go with one over the other. Thank you.
Oceandrew, Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I did have my priorities clear when I went to buy. Looking back, not sure I am so convinced my priorities were that critical, but still am happy with my choice. Fair Winds!
the need for a srtonger hull priority?
zohaf, Yes, the strong hull was a big priority for me. ]90 miles from shore, darker than 10 feet up a bulls behind, and WHAM!. Big difference between 'Wonder what I just hit?' and 'Wonder if I am sinking?'] I put an ice breaker bow into Puffin, with a strike plate under the bow thruster. She is 5mm rolled steel throughout, with 9.5 mm bow plates ( 9.5mm braces, too) and the strike plate is twice as thick. Not sure why, but if there is a half sunken cargo container out there, or tree trunk, or uncharted reef, it will be sure to find me. So far, I have not challenged the steel hull in any way, but I am ready when it does happen!
Good point. Just can't build a CAT from steel... or has it been done?
The floating cargo containers and tree-trunks are a danger.
I did some research on power cats back about a decade ago, and found several metal (aluminum) cats at 65 foot. I interacted with the designer and builder and suggested Nabla shaped bow bulbs. He 'Poo-Poohed' my suggestion but came out with bulbous bow sections later that year. Apparently they did well in tank tests.
I also worked a little bit with the military High Speed Vessel, which is a very large cat hull (steel and aluminum). Military was not happy with it. It was intended to provide quick response force access to littoral environments... a decided speed advantage over the LSV and LCUs currently in use. 30 knots vs 12 to 14, and only one foot deeper draft. Problem was that as soon as you put on enough armored vehicles to make a difference, it drafted 11 feet and cruised at 10 to 11 knots - worse than the LSVs and LCUs it was intended to supersede. [You are usually better off putting a QRF in the area with helo or airborne deployment, then use an established port facility to bring in the heavy forces. You can use Joint Logistics Over The Shore (JLOTS) if there is no established port facility available]. The HSV still has uses, but was not the super cure we all were hoping for.
WOW! by far the best non biased comparison I have seen so far. Thank you for being fair to the CATs! I learned a lot!
Great video. One of the most thoughtful comparisons that I've seen.
Jim, thanks for the input!. I have been getting a lot of positive feedback. At the end of the day, as long as you have thought out your purchase, you win (regardless of your choice).
Hi Brad - really great video. If you were not a teacher, you should've been one! Great comparisons between monohull and catamaran. We chose catamaran and are happy with our decision overall, but there are times when we are not quite as happy - marina fees and lift out facilities, as you stated. Looking forward to the next video!
Julia, I do like to teach, but am a little self conscious doing so, especially in front of a camera. Very glad you like your choice; at the end of the day, your choices are unique to you and I am not the person to evaluate them..... you are! Fair Winds!
we are also choosing a catamaran, hopefully we will get it within a month time. she is narrow so she doesn't pay double of a monohull as some people say..
Julia, that is awesome! Be proud of your boat, and maximize the advantages that the cat can give you! Fair winds!
Sailing Soon: A narrow catamaran? Uhhhhhh.....................did you do any research on the ideal ratio of length to width on a cat?
You mean did we research extensively before we spent thousands of pounds on the most expensive thing we've ever owned - NOOoooo we would never do that Walter! Not even look at video comparing different types of boats.
Top notch, sir. Clear cut, VERY informative, no bullshit. Thank you!
Good topic. I've been a monohull guy for 40+ years and 2 yrs ago took my chances with a multi-hull. A large trimaran. I'm pretty happy with the boat. Flat sailing and solid as a rock at anchor. But I think monohulls have a softer ride (although on their sides) in big seas. And the marina's love to charge us double. Oh well, can't have it all.
captaingregger, thanks for the input! I have only been out on a trimaran once, but it was a smaller one; 32 I think. Glad you are happy with her, and wish you lots of fun!
Both of you said on your side but up to what size monohull does that? Would a 60 ft or 80 or 100 for example do that as well?
Thank you for the fine explanation, I will now go with MonoHull myself.
Few times I've learned so many in such short time. Thank you!
Daniel, thanks for watching!
Great vid. Probably the best and most objective description of the pros and cons of each design. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for a professional presentation.
Very comprehensive comparison ... Thanks to brought it up man ... Two thumbs up 👍👍
Great video! Well done... you explain in objective detail, the benefits and drawbacks without showing bias. You did make a choice, but you didn't push that choice. There are, of course, many other considerations and differences between the two that would take much longer to videotape, but you do give the ultimate advice to each individual - go out and see which one best suits you. You chose a monohull, but didn't say because it's definitely better, but were comparing the same size boats and what your particular needs were. Valuable information. Thanks!
Rabukan 58, Thanks for watching! I set about to do this vid partly because there was no middle of the road, objective look at the topic. There was only rabid (or thinly disguised rabid) diatribes, or eye candy in (and partially out of) small bikinis. So I skipped the sales pitch. Yes, I am slightly biased (we all are to some degree), and ended up choosing a monohull. That should not stop the viewer from having different cruising plans and a different outlook on what they want out of a boat. If they choose the cat option, I would applaud their choice - as long as the choice was made for valid reasons and not just a result of sales hype.
I have had a few trolls... invariably they are rabid cat owners who were insulted that I chose a monohull. Sigh.
Fair winds, regardless of your choice!
Hey mate, I really appreciate this video.
I'm pretty much sold on Catamarans, but you raised a few points I hadn't thought of which are worth taking into account as I choose WHICH catamaran, and I felt that this is one of the most balanced 'cat vs monohull' videos I've seen, where you clearly presented the reasons for your choice, but also the reasons why someone (like me) would make a different choice.
Great video, I'm going to check out the rest of your stuff. :)
TopherField, thanks for watching. As long as you are enjoying yourself out on the water, then you made the right choice. Fair winds!
love that it is an unbiased opinion. looking to buy a cat in the future. thank you for the video
Thanks for this. The technical info at the beginning regarding hulls was really useful. Lots of pros/cons for each. Those that have made the choice seem to really appreciate the pros of theirs, and the cons have little significance. One thing this helped me understand is why you typically don't see a cat under 40 feet out cruising long distance.
odc43054, Thanks for watching, and hope you find the right boat, regardless of how many hulls she has!
I would love a boat like Puffin . Great video mate. I chose the mono
The Best comparison of the two in TH-cam.
Balatoni vitorlás multamat tekintve emberfeletti teljesitménynek tartom a hajó megépitését nem utolsó sorban az óceáni atkelést! GRATULÁLOK Robi bácsi.
Thank you for the great explanation, comparison. I'll probably never get around to making my dream amphibious car, but I enjoy mulling it over in my mind. As an enjoyer of vehicles that are stable, reliable when in rough conditions - it seems the monohull is best for amphibious vehicles.
Thumbs up for wanting to be away from Mankind & Population! This is exactly why im watching this video, to decide what would suite me better. This is probably the best YT video Ive watched on Mono -vs- cat, the diagram took some time to do, It was extremely helpful, just wanted to say i appreciate it! Thanks & Subscribed!
Patriotpioneer, Thanks for watching! You should check out Sailing Britican, too. Kim does an awesome job of describing life (with a little girl, too!) away from the rat race.
I will, Thanks!
Great video!!! As I've been doing my research for future plans there's some great pros and cons I haven't thought of....thank you sir!
William, thanks for watching!
Great video. Super informative. We struggled between the two and just recently bought a monohull to start our own adventure. For us in boiled down to budget. Subscribed.
I was not expecting outtakes! Great video! Very informative.
Great Video!!! Thank You!! I have neither boat but am shopping. I am leaning toward a mono just for the simple reason that with my dadgummed luck....the worst storms on the planet will hit me at 10pm at night. In my meager experience with both designs.....I feel more secure in a properly battened down mono when I can hear the water but cannot see it in the dark.
Mr. Traumaboyy, All good reasons! Thanks for watching, and good luck with the boat hunt!
To afford to sail in any boat is quite a privilege so your luck is not that bad if you are shopping for one.
Nice video. I took sailing lessons as a kid now I'm wanting to sail so I'm trying to figure out what kinda boat I want and you definitely helped. We're going with a catamaran. Now I need to find the right one, thanks Brother!
I've owned three monohulls and a cat so am always interested in these comparison videos. Yours is one of the best I've watched. I think you cover the main differences well though I don't think you highlighted the larger interior volume of a cat at any given length.
As you point out, the best type of boat comes down to the owner's intended use, preferences and budget. For our family, water sports and relaxation at our destination are more important than an unhurried journey, so the extra speed of a cat means more time doing what we love. Also, we much prefer the light and views from an above deck salon in a cat than living areas below decks in a monohull.
Craybro, Thanks for watching! Good points. If I was constrained by time... week long vacations... I would recommend a cat as well. For me the volume difference isn't the 'total volume', although that is important; it is the volume in certain areas. Sleeping quarters and engine room are critical to my quality of sleep and my body when I do the maintenance gymnastics. Agreed that the salon is where you spend most of your boat time, but for me the salon space paled next to the other spaces.
craybro I'm of the old school. Mono is safer as in a knockdown, even a roll, she will ALWAYS come up. In a Cat once it turns turtle your stuffed and need to call for help and get a salvage crew for the cat....Image what that costs!!
Funnily enough I will still go for a large daggerboard cat (speed freak), (with daggerboard rudders if they exist), do most of the hull cleaning in shallow clear locations (I will go with heavy coats of antifouling paint)...easy job.
It is a shame you have to sell Puffin. Google Ozone therapy, you may be surprised.
Really excellent review of the differences between a mono vs cat sir. Some of my observations on the subject are, that while the cats salon seems bigger, and has a fantastic 360 degree view, the actual usability of the space is not better and in fact worse than a typical monohull. One C shaped settee, vs 2 long settees in many cases. Those long settees make for great sea berths. But he cockpit on a Cat is usually much better than a Mono. The ability of a cat to go farther on less fuel is great, but the available tankage on most Cats leaves much to be desired, and so they have to have jerry cans one the rails, which is not good for Cats. So my take is if your island hopping in the carib, the Cat is da bomb, assuming you can handle the motion which is different than a mono, as you pointed out.... But if your interested in far off places, esp high latitude sailing, for me, the Mono is king. No boat should live in a marina, but if you had to the mono is better too! Of course, the get the same same interior space you do need a big mono vs cat, but the narrow hulls of a cat my me feel closed in. So great up with a cat, but not so great down. And if you get a charter cat,... do you really need 4 staterooms and 4 heads? Who wants to clean that? LOL... So, I guess a monohull lover I will remain. Unless my wife says differently. Thanks for the video.
Bob, You make good points. At the end of the day, if Momma is happy, then EVERYone is happy!
Bob - in part you are right - but what seems to happen in practice -is that inexperienced owners tend to fill every space with stuff - that they might need and there by turn a borderline vessel into a overloaded slug. Note most of the production cats coming out of Europe - blood dreadful - for mine - work out what you will need as a bare minimum - to sail and travel (travel light) and stop adding junk to the catamaran
There’s also a big difference between visiting boats in boat shows, versus actually sailing them in different kinds of weather. The monohaul was just a better sailing boat all together than the catamaran for me.
Very interesting, and surprisingly 'even-handed'. Well done Sir.
Very balanced and thorough. Thanks Brad. I am building a cat, but it is going to be a bit heavier in the bottom of the hulls than most because I will use Cypress core for that part and so we will lose a bit of speed, but we will probably sleep better at night. One thing you did not mention is that the cat will slip sideways in a big wind as long as you don't have the keel boards down and that tends to mitigate the risk of capsize I think.
By far one of the best videos comparing the two, and definitely the most informative I've come across from a physics standpoint. I'm partial to monohulls as well; the only major concession for me being the inability to get into shallow waters, but that's what the dinghy's for, right?! Thanks very much for the lesson!! Looking forward to many more 😀
S/V Narayana, Thanks for the feedback. Like you, if I were to name the biggest drawback I have with PUFFIN, it is access to shallow water areas. I had to give that up to get a beefy bullet-proof hull. As long as you are enjoying your boat in your own way, then you win!
A monohull with swing or lifting keel have
I would still choose the catamaran. The wide enlarged living space and less healing over when sailing are big positives.
Scott, thanks for watching! No harm, no foul! You SHOULD choose what you want, regardless of other's opinions. One size does not fit all and these are purpose designed craft, so my advice (for what it is worth) is to pick the craft that best fits your intended purpose. Fair winds!
Really nice video to the age old argument of which is better ;) they both have their good and bad points, and truly, the best would be one that converted to the other at times..not realistic, but the truth is they are both better than a day sitting on the hard! Like many others. I started out on Mono's, first through smaller and then into larger vessels, and have spent time some time on Cats too, and again I'll say, at times wished I was on the other, but truly the right one is what is the right boat for you, what will get you to the places you want to go, and work for you when you get there.
niceguy217 I think you are describing a trimaran, the best of both faster than a mono yet as stable as a cat. The accommodations in the main hull is similar to a mono but with trampolines and storage in the outrigger hulls
No I am not, I know the difference between hulls, although have very little time on a Tri, which again in big open water does not ride the frequency of ways from any angle well, like a Cat.
As I said, there are differences and preferences, and for me, if your island hopping, the roomier Cat or Tri is best, but if your doing ocean crossings, put me in a large mono everytime!
Congratulations one of the best explanations,and your way of being is sensational
Thank you for the info, I'm just starting to think about getting a boat in the future and this has actually cleared up a few things.
David, that is good news! Enjoy yourself!
Clear, complete and to the point, this is a great presentation, thank you !
Thanks for watching!
Great job. You're a very good teacher...I wish you were my calculus teacher.
Pharaoh, Ha! I flunked calculus my first time through!
Didn't we all!
In terms of maneuverability, with the advent of pod drives for both cats and mono-hulls that is probably now equal for both. Joy stick is very easy to maneuver with and so are the hand held remote docking devices.
Ordering a 64' catamaran, thank you for the input. No sails thank God! It will be solar, electric motors, and have a kite sail system. Also not much fuel for weight, only desiel for the back up generator
kite only works with downdraft +/- 10-15 degrees. Why not have a sail just in case? Boat this size, gonna cost some bit, sail wont break your bank. Better safe than sorry. I suppose if you aren’t planning around the world trip it’s fine. But good luck and smooth sailing!
It was a good objective video. For people like me that know little about sailing it was very educational. Thanks a bunch.
Thank you, very nice simple comparisons. For sport boats I love Cats but for liveaboard and blue water sailing I will buy a monohull.
Jessica,
Thanks for watching. At the end of the day, the only bad answer is one that keeps your feet on dry land while you pine away.
Best demonstration on monohull vs catamaran. Thanks.
Thank you for this video! Wonderful points to ponder and really good starters for additional discussion!
Eric,
Thanks for watching!
That was excellent. As someone looking into boating for the future, you’ve given me much to consider. Thank you for that.
thanks for the explain, simply and concrete, impartial, the best video that i ever seen for make a comparison, thank you!
I know far more people switching to cats than going the other direction. That said it's also the hot new thing with a lot of new options being released. Other benefits of catamarans not mentioned is redundancy, much more surface area for solar panels, and cruisers typically spend a lot more time in the saloon than in their cabins. I am holding off for a few more years and my nest empties out a bit more but I'm really excited to see what new innovations are going to be coming out in the meantime. I'm not fully settled on what I'm getting but due to the power generation alone I'm leaning towards catamaran.
Great explanation! Thanks for your time!
At the Transpac this year, a maxi 70 hit and underwater object with their rudder, and it ripped the bottom of the hull open. They had to man the life rafts and it sunk pretty quickly. Lucky there was a racer close by to rescue them.
Maserati, MOD 70 Trimaran, hit an object in the water too, it ripped the left rudder off and some of the hull too. It carried on racing and still beat all the monohulls, even though they slowed down.
So much for one strong hull, having one hull and a big lead weight under it isnt always the smartest way to go. If u want speed and safety go for 3 hulls and 3 rudders - a trimaran.
Downside - less cabin space. Unless u go for an Ed Horstman trimaran, then u get tons of safety, tons of cabin space, but not very fast. But I'd recommend looking at one if thats what your looking for.
Thank you Brad, this is such a good overview.
My 2 cents
Getting knocked down in a monohull is fairly common and they are designed to right themselves on their own, without filling up with water.
Monohulls have a deeper draft so they are more likely to hit an underwater obstacle than with the shallow draft offered by a multihull.
For me the greatest advantage of a multihull (or swing keel monohull) is the ability to explore areas with shallow water.
Loved your boat and thanks for the video.
Freddy, Thanks for watching. My logic was that 'I am Brad, and Brad runs into things.' I was also worried about the knock down... figured it would be more survivable in a mono. That said, follow on research led me to believe that getting knocked down was far more rare than my fears suggested. I did, however, run into things. Not sure I would have been safer on a cat or a mono, but the steel hull sure paid for itself.
Brad, loved your logic and frankness, but don't worry - we ALL run into things - you are right steel bends on impact and this rarely results in a hole...
Looking forward to more videos about your adventures.
The most comprehensive
no bull shit analysis of the differences between the two
If one analyses in the same way and goes as deep as it done here.....
In my opinion monohull wins. You just have to go deeper than a nice salon above the water.
Not being able to go closed hauled as well plus no feel of what the vessel is doing really does it for me.
Some times people will live with certain things because one thing trumps everything else.
Some things were left out but nevertheless very good
Only two outtakes??? 😋
Thanks for this video. All of the physics and design particulars you included were exactly what I've been looking for.
Now I just need to find a video about the different techniques used whilst actually sailing.
Some good stuff there. I've found a cat design that suits me and my requirements. But tbh, if I had all the money in the world I think I'd probably go with a mono and a fancy long range tender. I don't, and so there are other considerations that lead me to my choice. Great coverage of the different fundamental design considerations. Cheers.
Hey great video! May I suggest that you should have followed the knockdown scenarios to the logical conclusion...When a monohull is knocked down so that it passes horizontal or becomes inverted, the weight of the keel will cause it to right itself, even if filling with water. No such luck with a catamaran. If it gets upside down, it will stay there and will not right itself after being inverted.
I agree with your point of view, and have replied to a number of folk asking about the same. As long as the center of gravity is closer to the keel than the center of buoyancy, and the vessel has the ability to shift through a rotation, the vessel will come upright. That said, a knockdown is rare, and I was trying not to discourage future cat owners..... trying to keep it as unbiased as possible.
Sailing Puffin, oops, that simply isn't true. Without any damage and all buttoned up this is true, in case of a severe storm the cat will float the mono doesn't. According to stats it is safer on a cat versus the mono. At the end of the day it comes down to, price, preference, perceived comfort, and looks. 😀
I love this guy. Makes so much sense.
Best video in this subject. Thanks!
This is great! Thank you, skipper, much appreciated!
Best comparison I watched
Thank you
Your vids are so interesting. It’s a shame you haven’t posted in 4 years. I hope you’re alright and I’d like to see more of your vids!
I would also add that, on a cat for pleasure cruising , proper rigging will snap and break the mast before there is enough wind only force to knock her over. Certainly you still have to be careful in big waves.
Nice summary and down to the point! We just made the step from Cat to Monohull.... really I think it is personal preference, they all come with plus and minus points, COST and SPACE being the main ones for me.... plus double the waterline to clean :D
Best, SY Independence
Thanks a lot for a such clear vid. Allow-me to ad maybe some things. The load on a catamaran as to be symetrical. And the the engine can be out of the hull as one the Wharram cats.
Hey Brad, outstanding video.
mechanically, unless completely rolled, most mono-hulls should keep the companion way above water-surface if knocked down to 90deg. (even puffin) and more importantly self-recover from 90deg. I suspect the lack of counter-weight on cat's will mean the mast-weight will pull the boat over probably already around 70-80 deg roll and not self-recover.
That said. these big boats all have a lot in common with RV's they are not ideal racers, and a Cat is probably a fantastic choice for the dancing floor space, and ability to have many cabins with individual privacy. (specially in the 60 feet range boats) you and I seems to be choosing mono-hull-keel-boats mostly for the same reason you every so often see a RV with 4x4 drive, its making some hard choices in terms of dance floor and and other things, because somewhere in the back of our mind is that thought that we will be checking out the atlantic in the middle of some future winter-storm.. and its also handy whenever circumnavigating Antarctica.. and having the "want" to go FAR off the map, probably suggest getting a keelboat. I think anyway.
Bo, Thanks for watching! I agree with your viewpoint. I have had some interesting replies, and have come to realize that everyone seems to have a unique reason for buying a boat, and a unique vision of how it will be used (and what conditions it will be used in). My solution won't fit everyone ( and shouldn't). It is interesting, though, that in some cases, the hype has superseded basic physics. That is dangerous, but Darwin will have his day.
In my sailing life I've had 3 monos, all unconfortable in bad weather then I bought a Wharram Tiki 38 cat, what a difference, best thing I ever did
Chris, Thanks for watching! Glad you found what works best for you. There are a lot of folk out there that prefer one over the other for comfort. One thing you can do in a mono that is impossible in a cat is to change the time it takes for the boat to roll by changing the center of gravity by lifting or lowering weight in the boat (make sure not to critically upset the righting arm!). I have read that humans prefer a roll time of 5.6 seconds, timed for a full roll and return. I know I did. With the wide stance on a cat, the roll time depends heavily on the distance between wave crests as the boat encounters them, so lifting or lowering weight has limited effect on the roll time. Again, I heavily support going with what makes you the most comfortable and gives you the best peace of mind.
Nice and fair, well presented and I learned a lot. Thanks for uploading this!
Demian, Thanks for watching!
I agree with Axel: Especially the "how much you can store" -- because there's more room "above" on a CAT -- especially the things you want nearby!