What Is a Catamaran? Features, Capacity and Price

What is a catamaran?

A catamaran is a type of boat made up of two hulls joined by a deck or bridge. While a monohull boat relies on a single keel to carry its entire weight, a catamaran distributes the load across two separate hulls. This is why the boat sits flat on the water instead of heeling to one side. The name comes from the Tamil word "kattumaram," meaning "tied logs."

A catamaran isn't a form of propulsion — it's a hull shape. There are sailing catamarans as well as power catamarans. Both share the same core traits: a wide platform, shallow draft, and a heel-free ride. In yacht charter, these three factors, along with the privacy that comes from having cabins spread across two hulls, are usually what make a catamaran the preferred choice.

What are the features of a catamaran?

Two hulls, a level ride

The most distinctive feature of a catamaran is that it doesn't heel. A monohull sailboat leans to one side when sailing in the wind; a catamaran, thanks to the wide gap between its two hulls, stays largely level. That makes it easier to walk on deck, eat at the table, and sleep. This is the main reason catamarans stand out for guests who are wary of seasickness.

Spacious living area

Compared to a monohull yacht of the same length, a catamaran offers far more deck space. The bridge deck between the two hulls is used for the saloon and cockpit, while the netting (trampoline) stretched between the bows creates a separate sunbathing area. Because the cabins are split across two hulls, groups can stay aboard without disturbing one another.

Shallow draft

Catamarans draw less water than a keeled sailboat of comparable length. This makes it possible to anchor closer to shallow bays and to come alongside a jetty more easily. In the small coves of the Aegean and Mediterranean, this is a practical advantage.

Limits of a catamaran

A catamaran isn't superior in every situation. Because it's wide, it pays higher mooring fees in marinas than a monohull yacht, and finding a berth is harder during peak season. Sailing catamarans can't point as close to the wind as keeled sailboats. In choppy seas, their motion is sharper and quicker.

Catamaran or sailboat?

This question comes up often, but the two aren't really alternatives to each other. "Sailboat" describes the propulsion, "catamaran" describes the hull. The proper comparison is between a monohull sailboat and a sailing catamaran.

• Sailing catamaran: sails under wind power, stays level, and offers spacious cabins. A popular choice for family and friend groups.
• Power catamaran: has no sails, combining the stability and space of two hulls with engine speed. A sensible choice when the route is long or time is limited.
• Monohull sailboat (gulet, sailing yacht): a classic sailing feel, a narrower marina footprint, and sailing with some heel.

All three types are available in the Barbaros Yachting fleet; on the catamaran charter page, sailing and power catamarans can be compared side by side in the same listing.

How many people does a catamaran hold?

Catamarans offered for charter typically hold 6 to 12 guests and have 3 to 5 cabins. Their length mostly ranges from 15 to 24 metres. Cabin count and guest capacity don't always scale together: some catamarans used for day tours host larger groups with fewer cabins.

When deciding, it's worth checking the number of cabins, the bathroom-to-cabin ratio, and whether the crew has a separate cabin. Boats such as the Athens-based Lady M sailing catamaran, for example, host eight guests in a four-cabin layout.

How much does chartering a catamaran cost?

Catamaran prices aren't fixed; the same boat is priced differently from week to week. The main factors that determine the cost are:

• Season: July–August is the peak, while May and October are noticeably more affordable.
• Boat age and length: newer builds and longer boats cost more.
• Region: price levels differ between Turkey, Greece and Croatia.
• Crew and extras: charters with a skipper or cook, plus fuel, marina fees and provisioning, are usually not included in the charter rate.

For up-to-date, date-based pricing, check the regional pages: Turkey catamaran charter, Greek Islands catamaran charter, Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris and Göcek.

Small catamarans and catamaran sailing sport

The word "catamaran" doesn't only bring liveaboard yachts to mind. Small, twin-hulled, one- or two-person sport catamarans used in sailing sport form a separate category. Crewed by sitting on the trampoline, these boats carry no cabins; their light weight lets them reach high speeds, and they can be launched straight from the beach. They have nothing to do with catamaran charter for holidays, but the two often turn up together in search results.

Buying a catamaran or chartering one?

Most people browsing used catamaran listings actually plan to be at sea for only a few weeks a year. At that frequency of use, the purchase price plus winterizing, maintenance, insurance and crew costs rarely pay for themselves. Chartering hands off the boat's upkeep and regulatory burden, so you only pay for the week you actually use. Boat ownership only becomes cost-effective with heavy use throughout the season.

Frequently asked questions

What are the features of a catamaran?

It has two hulls, sails without heeling, offers more deck and living space than a monohull boat of the same length, and draws less water.

Catamaran or sailboat?

The two terms describe different things. A catamaran is a hull type, with both sailing and power catamaran models. The real comparison should be made between a monohull sailboat and a sailing catamaran.

How many people does a catamaran hold?

Charter catamarans mostly host 6–12 guests across 3–5 cabins. Catamarans used for day tours can have higher capacity.

How much does a catamaran cost?

It varies by season, region, the boat's age and the crew arrangement. Fuel, marina fees and provisioning are usually not included in the charter rate; for an exact figure, select your dates and check pricing on the regional pages.

Why doesn't a catamaran heel?

Because the weight is spread across two hulls set far apart, the boat rests on a wide base. This wide base resists the wind's sideways tipping force and keeps the boat largely level.