Don’t Buy a Catamaran Until You Read This (Especially If You’re Dreaming of Living Aboard)

So you’ve watched a few YouTube sailing channels. Now you’re fantasizing about sailing off into the sunset with your spouse, your kids, and maybe a golden retriever named “Salty.” But before you sign papers on that big, beautiful catamaran… pump the brakes.

Because living aboard a catamaran in the U.S. or Canada is not just floating cocktails and dolphin selfies.

Let’s talk real talk: the good, the bad, and the bilge-pump ugly.

🏡 Catamarans Feel Like Floating Beach Houses

Let’s get this out of the way: cats are awesome.

If you’ve ever stepped onto a 45-foot catamaran, you know the space is ridiculous—in the best way. Wide salon, big galley, cabins for the kids and guests, and a cockpit the size of your first apartment.

No heel = No spills. Cats sail flat. That means cooking without your soup sliding off the stove.
Room to breathe. Want to read while someone’s gaming and someone else is napping? There’s a space for everyone.
Shallow draft. Most cats draw only 3–4.5 feet, so you can tuck into shallow coves and drop anchor where deeper boats can’t.
Redundancy galore. Two hulls, two engines, two rudders. If one breaks? You limp along on the other. It’s the Swiss Army knife of boats.

Plus, kids love the trampoline on the bow. You’ll love that they’re outside while you enjoy a cold drink under the bimini.

😬 Twice the Hull, Twice the Headaches

But with great beam comes great responsibility.

Owning a catamaran is like adopting twins. You’ll double the joy and double the maintenance.

Two engines to service. That’s two oil changes, two sets of belts, two impellers… you get the idea.
Twice the bottom to clean. More square footage = more barnacles.
More plumbing, wiring, and through-hulls. And all in places your knees will hate.

Cat owners often joke that the only thing worse than one diesel engine is… two diesel engines. You’ll quickly learn that redundancy is code for “more stuff to break.”

Oh, and did we mention haul-outs? You’ll need a yard with a very wide travel lift—and they’re not as common (or cheap) as you’d think.

💰 Sticker Shock Is Real

Here’s the part where your dream gets punched in the wallet.

Used catamarans cost more. A decent liveaboard-ready monohull might run $80K–$150K. A comparable cat? Try $250K–$500K.
Insurance is pricier. Expect 1–3% of the boat’s value per year.
Docking doubles up. You’re paying for two slips’ worth of beam—many marinas charge 1.5–2× the rate of monohulls.

In places like Florida, California, or British Columbia, good luck even finding a slip. Cat slips often have years-long waitlists. That means anchoring out, paying for moorings, or constantly moving.

⚓ Docking Ain’t a Breeze, Captain

Let’s talk about marinas.

Too wide for most slips. Many cats are 24+ feet across. That’s like trying to park a Hummer in a Smart Car spot.
Crosswinds are tricky. Those tall coachroofs act like sails. Without twin engines or a bow thruster, docking in breeze becomes a two-person job (and a three-swear-word minimum).

Bonus: other boaters will stare at you like you’re a unicorn—usually with envy, sometimes with concern. Be ready to impress or entertain.

💨 The Sailing Dream… With Some Wrinkles

Catamarans are fast and flat, but they sail differently.

Downwind? Use an asymmetrical chute. Most cats don’t point as high as monohulls and don’t love sailing dead downwind without special sails.
Maneuverability under power? Amazing. Twin engines let you spin like a Roomba.
In heavy weather? Be smart. A cat won’t self-right if it flips. But modern designs are stable and can outrun a lot of trouble… if you plan ahead.

And here’s a weird reality: some liveaboard couples feel disconnected from the motion of the ocean. With less heeling and more lounging, the boat can feel more like a condo than a sailing vessel.

Some love that. Others miss the romance of a heeling hull and creaking cabin doors.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Couples & Kids: Fantasy vs. Reality

Catamarans are billed as perfect for couples or young families. And they can be—if you’re ready for teamwork.

Everything is farther apart. From bow to transom is a hike. Port engine dead? Port-side head clogged? That’s a lot of stair climbing.
Line handling can be intense. Raising sails, reefing, docking—it’s all bigger, heavier, and sometimes requires both of you.
Kids love the space. Teens especially appreciate privacy in their own hull. Toddlers? Maybe not so much. It’s easy to lose sight of little ones across two hulls.

One long-time cruising couple summed it up: “More boat equals more boat to manage.” And at 45 feet wide, “together time” becomes optional.

🧽 Maintenance, the Not-So-Glamorous Side

Even if you’re handy, boat work never ends. Multiply that by two, and you’re always fixing something.

Engines, plumbing, wiring. On a cat, they’re often in different hulls. Bonus steps every time.
Parts cost more. Dual systems mean you’re buying spares in twos: impellers, alternators, water pumps, filters.
Marina workspaces can be awkward. Need to fix the port rudder? Hope you packed knee pads and patience.

A cat may feel like a floating condo, but you’re also the superintendent, janitor, and mechanic.

🌀 Weather, Windage, and Wide-Load Worries

Catamarans offer smooth sailing—until they don’t.

Big surface area = big windage. On a breezy day, docking becomes a game of tug and throttle.
In storms, cats don’t self-right. They stay upside down if capsized. But they also float and give you good survival odds.

That said, most owners avoid storms altogether or have the speed to outrun them. And for coastal cruising or island hopping? They’re rockstars.

🧭 Location Matters: U.S. & Canada Considerations

Sailing the coasts of the U.S. and Canada is epic—but catamarans face a few regional quirks.

Marina scarcity. In New England, the Pacific Northwest, and major cities like San Diego or Miami, slips are full. Wide cats? Even tougher.
Haul-out facilities are limited. You might have to travel for your annual bottom job.
Weather windows are narrow. The Great Lakes freeze, the ICW can get skinny, and hurricane season is no joke.

Pro tip: check local marina availability before buying. A cat is only fun if you can park it.

📝 So… Should You Buy One?

If comfort, space, and stability top your list, a catamaran might be the perfect floating home. But don’t expect it to be simple, cheap, or hands-off.

Here’s our final advice:

Charter before you buy. Spend a week (or month!) on a catamaran to see if the vibe fits.
Budget realistically. Set aside 5–10% of the boat’s value annually for upkeep.
Have a docking plan. Especially in high-demand U.S. locations.
Start smaller. Consider a monohull if you’re unsure—it’s easier to learn, cheaper to own, and more forgiving for newbies.

🎣 Final Thought: Living the Dream… With a Toolbox

Living aboard a catamaran can be magical. Sunrise coffee in the cockpit, starlit anchorages, the satisfying slap of the water on the hull. But it’s also diesel filters, clogged heads, and slipping in the bilge with a wrench in your teeth.

If you’re ready to embrace both sides of the coin, a catamaran could become the best bad decision you ever made.

Fair winds—and may your holding tanks always behave. ⛵