Trimaran vs. Catamaran: Which is Better?

Published Aug 23, 2021

The majority of boat enthusiasts have experimented with various types of boats. There are so many options that it’s nearly hard to determine which is the “greatest” or “ultimate” boat. It’s entirely up to personal preference, weather conditions, and your objective. Now let’s find out which is better between trimaran vs catamaran.

Monohulls Are Out of Trend

If you want to improve your sailing skills fast, there is nothing better than sticking to a small monohull and learning everything it has to offer. Monohulls are conventional boats, the type that we are accustomed to in the Western world — a single long hull with a sail protruding from the center. While the majority of boats in Europe are monohulls, the popularity of multihulls has recently increased. 

There are various reasons for this, but the primary one is that modern people simply do not want to spend their time on the boat doing too much work. Why bother when you can simply lay back, relax, and allow the wind to take care of itself? Normal monohull sailing yachts are notoriously difficult to steer, and if something goes wrong, they fall to the bottom of the water, becoming nothing more than a fish apartment. Multihulls — trimarans and catamarans – are non-sinkable, making them extremely safe and easy to operate.

Trimaran

Trimarans, like catamarans, are multi-hulled watercraft. As the name implies, they have a second hull in comparison to catamarans. The trimaran’s three hulls make it entirely unsinkable. Thus, even in the worst inclement weather, the risk of capsizing is minimal. And even if the trimaran turns over, it will remain afloat, transforming it into an ideal life raft. This is quite useful information to have while out sailing, and it should be reassuring, to say the least. And if the worst-case scenario occurs, i.e., capsizes, the trimaran will be easily visible, particularly from a helicopter. Trimarans are also more enjoyable to sail since they have a large hull in the center and two small hulls on either side. Thus, they combine the advantages of a monohull with the stability of a catamaran, effectively combining the best of both worlds. 

Catamaran

You’ve almost certainly seen a catamaran or two in your life. They are uncomplicated vessels, yet they look great. Catamarans have two hulls rather than one, which is why they are referred to as multihulls. Numerous advantages accrue as a result of the greater stability indicated previously. The smaller vessels are enjoyable to sail and may hold between 2 and 10, 15, or even 20 people. Then there are the larger catamarans, which can carry up to thirty people. These may be seen all across the Mediterranean, as well as a few other locations, where they are used as tiny ferries.

(Related: Catamaran vs. Monohulls: Pros and Cons)