Sailboat Types: Monohull or Catamaran?
You want your upcoming vacation to be a lot of things. Whether it is your honeymoon or family summer vacation, you want it to be fun! You also would like for it to be a way to get everyone outside, away from screens and into the fresh air. After all, Vitamin D is very healthy. You also want your trip to be safe. Is it possible for one activity to achieve all of these? Yes! When you book a chartered sailing trip, either mid-day or full-day, your vacation will be fun, healthy, and safe. The only question that remains is, which of the sailboat types is right for you?
What is a Sailboat?
Sailboats have been around for thousands of years. As the name suggests, sailboats rely on the power of the wind for propulsion. They use a large cloth or synthetic sail for this purpose. This simple definition is what all the sailboats around the world have in common because the classification is so vast. Sailboats can vary in occupancy from single-seater crafts for competition purposes to recreational vessels spanning hundreds of meters that can comfortably allow 30 people to sail.
Sailboats can be classified into several distinct types based on their primary hull design. These include monohulls and catamarans. Yes, a catamaran is one of the sailboat types; it isn’t its own distinct type of boat.
What is a Catamaran?
Monohulls are single-hulled structures, much like conventional vessels, that have a large hull beam (breadth) which provides stability while sailing. A catamaran is a boat with two hulls, whereas a traditional monohull sailboat has one. A catamaran is safer and smoother, plus offers much more deck space. Because the deck space is much larger, they are ideal for weddings, parties, and other events that take place on deck. You can book a DJ and have a dance party! You could have a Shiatsu massage while you eat ceviche. We want to make your day extra special so we can work with you to create a custom package that includes anything you want and needs. The fact that we’re on a wide, spacious catamaran makes nearly anything possible on deck.
If you’re not familiar with sailing, you may worry about the giant waves deep out at sea. Could a giant wave actually hit the boat and make it flip over? This is called capsizing, and not something of concern on a catamaran. Esmeralda Sailing’s large, modern catamaran boat has plenty of buoyancy and exceptional roll inertia. What does this mean exactly? Together, these make a capsize, or inversion, nearly impossible. A 30-foot breaking wave hitting a catamaran beam will simply make the boat surf sideways.
Catamarans are very stable and have natural buoyancy, making them unsinkable. Yes, they can capsize out in a hurricane, but we certainly won’t be sending you and your loved ones on your sailing tour during weather that bad. Remember, moving around on a flat deck is a breeze. You don’t need to worry about the waves making the floor beneath you unstable. Trips falls, or anything like that won’t be a problem at all.
Which of the Sailboat Types is a Better Sailing Experience?
When you book a sailing tour through Esmeralda Sailing, you are not booking a vacation on a sailboat but rather a catamaran. This makes a huge difference when it comes to safety and stability! By their nature, large catamarans, like the one we have, are exceptionally safe offshore.
That’s not all. Because you’ll feel so comfortable on a catamaran, you’ll have no problem spending many hours on board traveling to exotic and tropical destinations, like Playa Trébol, Isla Anciana, Playa Blanca, or Playa Brasilito.
Book a Charter Catamaran Through Esmeralda
Wouldn’t it be grand to spend some time out on the water? You can book your sailing tour with peace of mind, knowing that the trip will not only be fun but will also be safe. If you have any other questions or concerns, we welcome them. Reach out to us and ask! We will do our best to answer anything you would like to know.