Why Catamarans (and Trimarans) Are Exploding in Popularity
Boat shows are pushing catamarans like never before, and that's just what consumers want.
If you grew up near any decent-size body of water, your first introduction to multihulls was probably the classic Hobie cat: a small, lightweight adrenaline-machine known for 1) hitting what felt like lightspeed, and 2) promptly capsizing, sending its thrillseekers into the water to turn it back over (arguably part of the fun).
But things have changed: the luxury yachting sector has grown to include a smörgåsbord of options for those who want adventure and convenience without the fuel costs of a motoryacht or the greater technical expertise (and immunity to motion-sickness) needed for a monohull sailboat — and on top of that, multihulls offer far shallower drafts, allowing navigation closer to beaches and lagoons, and more cabin space.
The yachting industry has taken notice. Market studies indicate that prospective yacht-buyers are on the lookout for fuel-efficiency, and that younger boaters — i.e., the luxury yacht-buyers of the future — have a greater interest in "adventure"-style yachting. New multihull builds are even more welcoming to new sailors, offering plenty of automatic systems. A multihulls' greater living space works in their favor, too, offering easy operation without a crew while still having enough room for amenities — a big advantage in individualist, DIY-minded North America, where the demand for catamarans is highest. According to a market report published this year, growth of the multihull sector is expected to hit at least 6.4%, becoming almost a $3.5 billion-dollar industry in under ten years. That means the time for research, expansion, and promotion is now, and shipyards are listening.
The recent Venice Boat Show featured an entire lineup of catamarans, including the debut of monohull-builder Wilder Yachts' very first multihull. September's Newport International Boat Show (Newport, RI), will not only host a multihull seminar, but also a catamaran-specific sailing school offering reduced prices to complement the many cats and trimarans on display.
A little farther south, October's Annapolis Sailboat Show (Annapolis, MD), which in recent years has consciously ramped up its multihull offerings, will premiere the Balance Catamaran 580, as well as Fountaine Pajot's New 44, which features up to 2000-watt solar panels for even more eco-friendly cruising.
Balance 580, courtesy of Balance Catamarans.
Fountaine Pajot's New 44, courtesy of Fountaine Pajot.
And speaking of eco-friendly, the French-built MODX 70 just debuted to impressed reactions all over the industry: the designers claim that not only does it produce zero-emissions and generate its own power, but the sails are fully-automated — perfect for the above-noted "new to yachting" segment of prospective buyers.
MODX 70, courtesy of MODX Catamarans.
As the confluence of eco-consciousness, comfort, luxury, and the desire for convenience drives interest in new yachts, it's a safe bet that the demand for catamarans and trimarans will make strong gains in market share and drive overall growth in the yachting sector throughout the next several years.
