Cruising Catamaran or Monohull: How to Choose with Confidence - American Sailing

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  • Cruising Catamaran or Monohull: How to Choose with Confidence

    Posted by Diona on June 3, 2026 at 6:34 pm

    “Which is better: a catamaran or a monohull?”

    It’s one of the most common questions in cruising, but as Jeff & Jean of Two Can Sail explained during this class, the answer depends entirely on your goals, budget, and sailing style.

    Drawing on more than 45 years of sailing experience and time aboard over 260 different sailboat models, Jeff and Jean explored the real-world tradeoffs between these two popular cruising platforms. Topics included comfort, performance, maneuverability, maintenance, costs, offshore capabilities, and life aboard.

    One of the most important takeaways from the discussion was that there is no perfect boat. Every design involves compromises, and the “best” choice is the one that best supports your cruising plans.

    Some of the questions explored during the class included:

    • How do catamarans and monohulls differ in comfort at sea and at anchor?
    • What are the true ownership costs beyond the purchase price?
    • How important is upwind performance for most cruisers?
    • What maintenance challenges should prospective owners consider?
    • Why is chartering different boats before buying one of the smartest investments you can make?

    The replay is now available on demand for anyone considering a future cruising boat or simply curious about the differences between these two popular platforms.

    For those who have sailed both, we’d love to hear from you:

    What factor most influenced your preference for a catamaran or monohull?

    Watch now: https://learn.americansailing.com/p/cruising-catamaran-or-monohull

    • This discussion was modified 2 days, 23 hours ago by  Diona.
    Diona replied 4 days, 17 hours ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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