A catamaran is a multi-hulled watercraft featuring two parallel hulls of equal size. It is a geometry-stabilized craft, deriving its stability from its wide beam, rather than from a ballasted keel as with a monohull boat. Catamarans typically have less hull volume, smaller displacement, and shallower draft than monohulls of comparable length.
Catamarans range in size from small (sailing or rowing vessels) to large (naval ships and roll-on/roll-off car ferries). The structure connecting a catamaran’s two hulls ranges from a simple frame strung with webbing to support the crew to a bridging superstructure incorporating extensive cabin and/or cargo space.
If you are thinking of buying a catamaran, make sure to do your research as there are many different styles of sailing cats available. Explore the different types of catamarans available to ensure that a catamaran is the right choice for you.
Whether this is your first sailing cat boat, or you have owned one before it is important to understand how you want the boat to work for you, both in terms of sailing, as well as how you want to live on board in order to make the most of its features.
Knowing its purpose will assist you in choosing the right boat for you.
Catamarans can vary wildly in price. The price will differ depending on style, size, age and condition.
As you narrow down your search for your catamaran you can expect to find manufacturers offering similar boats at seemingly quite different prices. Make sure you are comparing like for like in terms of spec and equipment levels etc. And remember there is always some room for negotiation on price.
The first place to go when looking to buy a catamaran is the internet; you will find a wide variety of boats on sale either through private sellers, dealers or brokers. Using a good brokerage company when buying a boat can have many advantages. Reputable brokers will have a great deal of experience in buying catamarans for customers, enabling them to detect a good deal when they see one. They will also have a variety of boats in one location and they can help to make the buying process as stress free as possible. Find a good broker either through by checking their advertisements or through recommendation from previous customers.
Alternatively, you can buy through a private seller or dealer. You will always get more accurate information on the true nature and quirks of a boat from the owner themselves and they can often be more flexible. Avoid private sellers and dealers that do not have a credible reputation.
It is advisable to take the time to visit a few showrooms, take a tour through a marina and look around as many boats as possible in order to have a better picture on what sailing boats are for sale.
Buying a catamaran is not just about the money you pay for it. It is important to include the running costs of a boat in your budget. Additional costs can include:
Surveys
Mooring Fees
Maintenance
Fuel and Heating
Insurance
Working out the average running costs of owning a catamaran and how you plan to use it is especially important.
You will also need to find a place to keep your catamaran. Some marinas may not have available berths etc and mooring fees will vary considerably. Maintenance costs for new catamarans are relatively low during the first three years but, as a rule, major machinery will require significant repairs or replacement within 5 to 7 years. So, before anything, include these costs in your budget.
When buying a second-hand boat, it is highly recommended that you conduct a professional survey on the boat. This should be done by a qualified marine surveyor and will show any potential maintenance issues, faults on the hull and with the boat’s internal systems and will highlight any issues the boat may have so you have peace of mind that you know exactly what you are buying. It can also help you to negotiate the price and will be useful with insurance companies, some of whom will not insure a catamaran without understanding its condition.
Having the correct paperwork in place when you buy your catamaran is important.
Check all the documents and the sailing boat’s VAT status. You should receive the original VAT paid invoice, which is essential if you want to sell the sailing boat in the future. Once the survey has been concluded and the negotiations settled, you should receive the proof of ownership, Bills of Sale for the last 5 years at minimum, Certificate of Registry, if any, and proof of VAT status. Keep all these documents in a safe place since they are not easy to replace. Make sure you have all of these in place when you buy.
