Catamaran vs monohull after 1.5yrs on catamaran

After logging almost 10,000 miles across a year and a half of cruising, Sam Holmes Sailing creator Sam Holmes and Alene broadcast live from Micronesia aboard their catamaran, Catfish. Broadcasting from one of the few visiting yachts in the region, the duo breaks down the real-world performance, systems, and maintenance realities of transitioning from a small monohull to a multi-hulled vessel. “We’re like one of the only yachts in Micronesia at all,” Sam notes while panning the camera across the anchorage.

Catamaran Living and Bridge Deck Slamming

Navigating the Pacific aboard a catamaran brings stark contrasts in comfort compared to monohulls. While the lack of heeling makes daily life drastically easier—allowing them to move about, work on computers, and cook without being pinned—the vessel introduces distinct mechanical challenges. Sam points out that bridge deck slamming remains a persistent issue, with the catamaran offering no immunity against steep waves. When a wave strikes underneath, the floor and table shudder with a force resembling a gunshot. “It’s like b it’s like a loud like a gunshot sometimes. It’s like bang shakes everything,” Sam explains.

Despite the jarring motion, the catamaran proved itself during severe weather. Recounting a passage through a gale where wind instruments climbed steadily past 30, 35, 38, 40, and 42 knots, Sam noted how the boat handled the heavy blow. Alene admitted she was terrified and swore off sailing entirely during the peak of the squall, though she returned for subsequent passages. As Alene recalled, “Alene said she was never going to sail again, but she did do a couple more passages after that.”

Bureaucracy, Water Catchment, and Island Life

Cruising through Micronesia has presented severe administrative hurdles alongside remote island exploration. Sam and Alene detailed being confined to their boat for four days in Yap while dealing with bureaucratic check-in delays, during which local officials attempted to slap them with a $1000 fine over a missed form. Contrastingly, Pohnpei offered immense rainfall, allowing them to completely fill their water tanks via simple rain catchment systems. As Sam remarked about the local precipitation, “We get really good. We’re in like one of the rainiest places on earth, I guess.”

On land, adventure turned tense when Alene was bitten on the leg by a stray dog during a hike, though fortunately, her thick trousers prevented skin breakage.

Engines, Kiwi Feathering Propellers, and System Complexity

System redundancy is also a factor on a catamaran. Catfish is equipped with twin 30-horsepower engines, though Sam primarily runs a single engine burning 3 liters of fuel per hour at 4 knots due to cooling system leaks and propeller complications. The boat relies on complex Kiwi feathering propellers designed to minimize drag while sailing, but their intricate hub rollers and twisting mechanisms have proven maintenance-heavy, leading Sam to remark, “The most complicated piece of propeller machinery you could ever imagine.” Also, a lost reverse gear severely complicates dock departures and maneuvers.

Sam notes they also fixed the washing machine by replacing its power cord. Fishing is another topic discussed, noting they don’t really fish much but love eating poke every day. They also discuss anchorages and dinghy docking experiences across different islands and marinas.

Downwind Sailing and Parasailer Mishaps

Running downwind offered expansive space for flying specialized sails, but pushed limits during a gale-force test. Testing the parasailer in 30 knots of gusty wind resulted in a violent deployment failure where the sail overloaded and blew out, turning into a massive drag anchor that required heavy electric winches and exhaustive physical effort to retrieve. Sam also notes how heavy it is getting the sail out of the water when it catches water.

Future Route and Haul-Out Plans

Looking ahead, Sam and Alene plan a seven-day passage to Kiribati, followed by stops in Fiji before heading south to New Zealand before the cyclone season. Once in New Zealand, they intend to haul out for three months to overhaul broken systems, service the Kiwi propellers, fix leaking escape hatches, and repair damaged daggerboards, acknowledging the constant reality that “It’s like there’s no way everything could possibly be working ever or not.”

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