Because of its curious aspect for western sailors, catamarans have imposed themselves with difficulty. Marc Pajot's record of crossing the Atlantic in 1981 on board a catamaran helped overcome this skepticism. After having made a general description of this boat, this article will dwell on these motorized and trawler versions.
Catamaran in general
Technology Description A catamaran is a boat with two hulls. These hulls are usually placed side by side with a framework. It is part of the family of multihull boats as well as trimarans or pentamarans. Thanks to the fineness of its hulls, the catamaran can move at high speed. In addition, its stability is much better than that of monohulls and its wider deck area. The catamaran can be propelled by the force of the wind (sailing catamaran) or by an engine. Applications The catamaran can be used for: - Fishing; - Pleasure craft and sporting competitions (especially with sailing catamarans); - Passenger transport.
The trawler catamaran
Technologically speaking, the trawler catamaran is quite close to the trawler in its appearance. However, it is much more used for boating than fishing. To this end, it has numerous and attractive amenities. Due to its large useful volume, this trawler can accommodate: - Shower and toilet cabins; - A lounge and a kitchen; - Passageways. This list is far from exhaustive. These elements are generally located in the hull sections and on the deck deck deck. Powered by two engines, the trawler catamaran achieves appreciable efficiency in terms of fuel consumption. The Fountaine Pajot shipyard is one of the main manufacturers of this type of catamaran in France.
The motor catamaran
The power catamaran is the result of a recent evolution. The motorisation of the yachts was added to achieve a higher travel speed. As a result, this type of catamaran combines the advantages of motor yachts and multihulls. The engine catamaran can be equipped with two engines while a monohull will only take one. Moreover, medium and large vessels have two engines. Very often lacking a sailing device, it equips a good number of charter fleets in the Mediterranean and Caribbean regions. While most engines use fuel oil, the Tûranor PlanetSolar uses solar energy. Launched in 2010, this Swiss flagged vessel is the largest of its kind.