Trimaran vs Catamaran

A trimaran is a three hull vessel in contrast to a catamaran which is a two hull vessel. Both the trimaran and the catamaran have strengths and weaknesses that the prospective buyer should understand. Both Catamarans and Trimarans are built from a wide range of materials including fiberglass, steel, aluminum, and wood. A catamaran is essentially a mono-hull that has been split in two, and therefore has less space to be able to create the amenities that would be expected from a luxury mono-hull superyacht. A trimaran is a monohull with two amas, one ama on the port and one ama on the starboard side. Because the trimaran is essentially a monohull with two amas, The trimaran provides a large hull area for the creation of various amenities such as gym, sauna, jacuzzi, movie theater, and other more. The catamaran, in contrast to a trimaran, has limited hull area because of its reduced surface. The catamaran can achieve greater fuel efficiency than the trimaran because its hull takes up less surface space, allowing for the reduction of drag (water resistance). The trimaran can achieve a higher level of stability because of its larger draft but the catamaran can enter shallow waters and areas that a trimaran would have difficulty in navigating. The catamaran's higher fuel efficiency is from its reduced surface area in the water and can achieve higher speeds because of its smaller draft. The main advantage of the trimaran is the amount of space available for design and this is an important feature and benefit that is sought after by superyacht owners. Whether if choosing a trimaran or catamaran hull type, it is important to understand their differences and their benefits before purchasing a superyacht.