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How Far Can a Catamaran Travel? (By Type)

Some people want to travel on a catamaran for a day to get the feel of it, some for a week, and then some for a long sail across multiple seas and oceans. 

Are you one of those wanting to rent one for a long-distance trip or buy one but want to know how far a full tank of fuel will take you? That’s the perfect question. After all, who wants to get stranded at sea? (Me, maybe, but we’re talking about normal people, right?)

Depending on the weather, vessel size, and if you’re using both sails and motor, you could get up to 150 miles/130 nautical miles daily from your cat. No exaggeration here. All the experts agree. That’s up to 35 more miles than the suggested miles. Sailing cats are ideal for long-distance travel.

Here are a few pointers to help you set sail with perfect self-assurance: keep reading!

what to wear on a catamaran

How Far Can a Catamaran Travel? 

Catamarans can travel almost the entire globe, of course, with many stops along the way. Consider how much fun it will be to sail off into the unknown on your catamaran for the day, the wind blowing in your hair. However, before you go sailing, you need to be aware of the catamaran’s limits and safety procedures. 

115 miles is the maximum distance that most sailboats and catamarans can cover in a single day. As long as the boat is going downwind and the engine is running, it can probably travel up to 150 miles in a day. The pace and length of the flight will vary depending on the wind’s intensity.

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Offshore vs. Inshore Catamarans for Distance Travel

An offshore-ready catamaran is required if you plan to sail around the world in it. Inshore boats will not be as well-equipped for open ocean weather and circumstances as their ocean-going counterparts.

Most inshore catamarans are too small to make a long voyage in them. Boats designed for fishing or recreational boating close to the coast are known as inshore boats. 

Additionally, offshore catamarans will be equipped with improved sails for open-water cruising and more comfortable living spaces. This type of boat is built to withstand the rigors of the ocean for long periods. 

They’ll be more durable and steady than an inshore boat, for example. There is no need to bolt down the furniture or be concerned about capsizing in a tempest on a well-built offshore catamaran.

Power Catamarans

A yacht can sail across both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Sailing or motor yachts can be used to cross the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. It’s ideal to have a fuel tank that can accommodate the volume of petrol you anticipate using. There are some yachts, though, that aren’t equipped to take these journeys.

Ocean trips on power catamarans are completely risk-free. Catamarans, on the other hand, are generally safer than monohulls when it comes to offshore sailing. The lack of ballast results in a higher level of comfort, exceptional stability, and speed, as well as a higher level of buoyancy.

1. Swath Catamaran

Boat in the shape of a catamaran: In today’s world, small-water plane-area dual hulls have become the sophisticated Catamaran. It’s a tough one that can float in the middle of the ocean. This boat is unaffected by the tides since it has two large hulls. For rough seas, its long bridge and sturdy hulls are sufficient. 

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As a result, SWATHs can be purchased in cat sizes ranging from medium to giant. It is possible to go at a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour in this type of vessel. There are places to sit and stand and take in the scenery.

SWATH is powered by a motor because of its enormous capacity. Travelers from all over the world board them as cruise ships. This boat can be found in popular tourist destinations all around the world. In Norway, Canada, Alaska, and Switzerland, you’ll find the most popular SWATH cruising boats. 

The accommodation onboard these SWATH cruise ships is extremely opulent. Many countries with coastlines employ SWATH as a fishing tool. With a delicate balance, anglers can fish from the bridge and the hull’s upper decks. It has a lot of space.

SWATH boats are used by the military and the navy to transport personnel and supplies. It’s a carrier, a rescue boat, and a coast guard boat. They have hulls that are larger than those of conventional cats.

2. Pontoon Catamaran Boat

It is a newer Catamaran that is utilized for fishing and recreational purposes. The wood bung catamaran is a good comparison. However, the boat’s components have evolved. Fiber and fiberglass are used to make them. To travel freshwater, rivers, waterways, lakes, and the shoreline, pontoon boat producers today produce small and medium-sized cats.

Pontoon cats run on motors. It is capable of a marine range of 45 miles. Single and twin motor versions are both readily available. However, the size and weight of the pontoons have a significant impact on the power of the motors. The mast and sails of a conventional catamaran are still used on modern pontoons. Because of their uniqueness, people prefer to travel in these vehicles.

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Two hulls are used to construct it. Up to 75% of both hulls are connected by an upper-hull bridge that connects them. On the bridge, there is a designated area for passengers or tourists to sit. The pontoon of the fisherman is used to store fish.

The use of pontoons is common in tourist areas near waterways. Water skaters and paragliders can be pulled along by it. Recreational lake and river fishing is another popular application. This boat is used by honeymooners, small families, and corporations for cruising.

3. Cruising Catamarans

A day’s journey on a cruising catamaran might be as much as 300 nautical miles (560 kilometers). Luxury catamarans and ferry catamarans are other names for these vessels. This is because these boats provide the most luxurious experience possible for their passengers. 

Adding engines has only increased the popularity of these ferries among the traveling public.

As a result of their increased speed, these ferries guarantee that customers will not have any delays in boarding their chosen cruise ship. It’s important to remember that luxury catamarans aren’t used for international travel, but rather for domestic use.

Sailing Catamarans

Racing Catamarans 

More than 400 nautical miles (460 miles; 740 kilometers) a day were achieved by the racing versions. These vessels can measure more than 100 feet in length.

When traveling at 45 knots, this catamaran is no slouch. Due to the money that sailors can make racing, a great deal is spent on studying and developing new models.

Sport Catamaran 

You can set off or dock a catamaran from the beach. They’re built for recreational and sports use and normally have a small crew. Trampolines and full-length battens are common features on most boats with rotating masts and bridge structures. 

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Trapezes are commonly used in performance versions to enable the team to walk out and mitigate capsize forces amid wind gusts on specific spots of sail.

Pre-preg carbon fiber is used almost exclusively in the construction of the new mega-cats to maximize strength while also reducing overall weight. 

These boats can reach speeds of up to 50 knots or 58 mph when fully loaded. At an average pace of 18 knots or 21 mph, the 33.50-meter-long Club Med catamaran sailed around the world in 62 days under the leadership of Grant Dalton.

For Long Voyages, What Makes Catamarans Ideal?

Catamarans have been built from the ground up to be capable of long-distance travel. Stability is improved due to the use of two separate boats rather than a single-hulled vessel. A reduced water resistance (drag) and less of a wake is also an advantage of multihulls. Consequently, even in rougher waves, they are far more difficult to capsize because of this.

Speedy and easy to control are two additional advantages of catamarans. If you’re sailing around the world, you’ll be stopping in a lot of ports. Having two engines makes port maneuvering easier. Because of their lightweight and little water resistance, they can travel at incredible speeds in the open ocean using only the wind.

Finding the Ideal Catamaran for Traveling

Catamarans are available in a wide range of sizes and can be used for a variety of sailing styles. Long-distance ocean-going ships, on the other hand, are built in a different way to accommodate charter vacations and short cruises near the coast. It’s not uncommon for the owner’s version to be smaller and have a unique layout.

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The size of your boat and the size of your crew should be in harmony. After a few weeks of sailing with a large company, a 30- or 40-foot ship may begin to feel cramped. Boats of greater size are also more secure when sailing on the open ocean.

The Right Size Catamaran to Cross the Pacific

How big of a boat do I need to traverse the Pacific? To cross the Pacific, you’ll need a boat that is at least 30 feet long, but a 40-footer is much better. A boat of this size is required for your journey since it must be seaworthy, have ample storage, and be comfortable for you to go onboard.

A 40 to 50-foot catamaran is ideal for circumnavigating the globe. Catamaran sizes range from 30 feet to 55 to 60 feet in length, and most marinas can accommodate catamaran sizes of this length.