Insights, news, and stories from the world of multihulls
Buying your catamaran should be a pleasurable experience — and it will be, nine times out of ten. Broker Graham Stimson breaks down why you should never skip a pre-purchase survey, who pays for what between buyer, seller, broker and surveyor, how to spot a "tick-box" surveyor from a real one, and the war stories (sacrificial keels, burned cooker knobs, and a boom that parted company with the mast) that prove why it matters.
Before you hand your catamaran over to a stranger's charter management program, Graham Stimson breaks down how these deals actually work — the tax perks, the inflated "projected income" numbers many operators dangle, and the built-in margins builders make before a single charter happens. He explains how Worldwide Catamarans, working with Samuel Hayek of TrueYacht, structures charter management transparently (yard pricing, real projections, proper oversight), and why VOYAGE 510s and 590s make particularly good charter-management candidates.
VOYAGE YACHTS celebrates 32 years of building sailing catamarans with a new Montague Gardens facility and a shift to vacuum infusion construction.
Graham tackles the "are cats unsinkable?" myth head-on: no, but they're much safer than a monohull (no keel to drag them down, skin fittings sit above the waterline). He walks through the real failure points — escape hatches failing in heavy weather, capsize (rare on cruising cats), pitch-poling (and his worry that modern "Condo Cat" designs with bigger bridgedecks are eroding that trampoline safety margin), hitting submerged objects/whales/orcas, and fire (extinguisher placement, lithium battery risk, gas isolation). Closes with a rant on weight creep — jet skis on davits, hydraulic platforms, oversized outboards — and how overloading a cat not designed for it turns it into "a submarine."
A humorous "practical guide" to sailing with dogs and cats on a catamaran — deck hygiene and poo/pee logistics, safety gear (nets, life jackets, GPS trackers, MOB drills, dog crates), food and water management, heat/cold care, vaccinations and pet passport rules for crossing borders, why cats generally handle boat life better than dogs, plus a run of Graham's real-world anecdotes (a runaway catamaran rescued with a dog aboard, a buyer bitten during a viewing). Wraps with a tongue-in-cheek shopping list and reasons a dog earns its keep on board.
Broker Graham Stimson explains why Worldwide Catamarans took on VOYAGE Yachts as a new-build dealership — from selling secondhand VOYAGE 440s out of Palma to the story of a charter guest's boat getting "stolen" by its own owner. A look at what makes the VOYAGE 510 and 590 stand out on build quality and value, plus dates for the yard's upcoming open factory days.
Diesel bug — the bacterial sludge that breeds in a fuel tank left sitting too long — isn't just a nuisance that clogs your filters. Graham Stimson explains how it forms, how to spot it early, and why he takes it personally: he lost a good friend and three crew in a storm off Morocco, in an accident he believes fuel contamination helped cause. Practical advice on prevention, "polishing" fuel, and why a busy fuel dock still isn't a guarantee.
Orcas have been targeting catamaran rudders from Portugal to Galicia for years, and the attacks are getting worse. Graham shares first-hand accounts from marina owners, plus a fresh update after last week's Daily Express report on a sunk yacht.
Catamaran or trimaran? Graham weighs comfort against speed, and introduces the new wave of builders — Blue Coast Yachts, Neel and Leen — blurring the line between the two.
Chasing the same catamaran across three continents can cost more in flights, car hire and wasted time than the boat itself. Graham breaks down why patience — and a good broker — beats endless viewings every time.
Buying a used catamaran is about much more than finding the lowest price. Graham Stimson shares practical advice from decades of experience helping buyers avoid costly mistakes, explains how to compare boats the right way, and introduces the new AI-powered Buyers Hub that helps you find your perfect catamaran before someone else does.
Graham shares the story of first spotting a stunning Blue Coast Yacht catamaran anchored off the coast of Spain and being so impressed that he immediately contacted its designer, renowned naval architect Jean-Jacques Coste. The article highlights Coste’s impressive portfolio, including some of the world’s largest trimarans, and introduces Blue Coast Yachts as fully custom-built luxury catamarans ranging from 82 to 200 feet. Graham now works with the team in Riga, Latvia, helping prospective owners explore these exclusive yachts. Built in limited numbers with no compromise on performance, design, or craftsmanship, Blue Coast Yachts are presented as the ultimate choice for ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking a truly exceptional sailing catamaran.
This article explores what makes a good cruising catamaran and how buyers can cut through the marketing hype. Graham discusses the differences between charter-focused “condo cats” and performance catamarans, the importance of weight, build quality, size, materials, and intended use. He explains key performance features such as daggerboards, carbon construction, rotating masts, and lightweight equipment, while emphasizing that the best catamaran ultimately depends on your cruising plans, budget, and family needs. For most cruising couples and families, Graham believes a well-designed 45-55ft catamaran offers the ideal balance of comfort, safety, performance, and practicality.
Catamaran trampolines (nets) are much more than places to relax or play - they are an important safety feature. Originally designed to help disperse large amounts of water from the bow area, they reduce the risk of burying the bows in heavy seas and improve buoyancy when conditions get rough. Graham highlights concerns that some modern cruising catamarans are reducing trampoline space in favor of larger solid decks, potentially compromising safety. Performance bluewater catamarans such as Outremer and Gunboat continue to rely on large trampolines for this reason. Owners should regularly inspect their nets for wear, UV damage, and proper tension, replacing them when necessary. Worn or damaged nets have contributed to serious accidents in the past. New trampolines not only improve safety but can also enhance the appearance and comfort of the boat.
Standing rigging is one of the most critical safety systems on any catamaran, yet it’s often overlooked until it’s too late. In this post, Graham explains why rigging failures happen, what insurance companies now expect, how often rigging should be inspected or replaced, and what buyers should verify before purchasing a boat. A valuable reminder that a rigging failure can be far more costly than preventative maintenance.
With more and more websites allowing private sellers to publish ads - and social media platforms like our Facebook Group Catamarans For Sale growing fast - how is the poor old yacht broker coping?
Graham Stimson's report from the International Multihull Show in La Grande Motte — how far catamarans have come since the days of Catalac and Prout, and why the South Africans and Chinese builders are coming for the French.
Our desire to escape the “rat race” has never been stronger. But whether you’re young or old, we all need something to look forward to. Something that excites us. Something that makes us feel alive.
Getting your catamaran ready for sale is about more than just setting a price. From location and presentation to photography, documentation, and realistic valuation, small details can make a six-figure difference. Learn how to prepare your boat properly, attract serious buyers, and maximise your selling price in today’s competitive multihull market.
Choosing the right tender is critical for safety, reliability, and ease of handling when accessing your catamaran in all conditions. While traditional inflatables and petrol-powered RIBs have clear drawbacks such as weight, maintenance, UV degradation, fuel handling, and propeller safety risks, modern electric solutions remove many of these compromises. The SPARK electric carbon-fibre tender combines low weight, high stability, zero propeller risk, shallow draft, and effortless reliability, making it a premium but future-proof choice for catamaran owners.
First-time catamaran buyers often make the same costly mistakes, from buying with emotion instead of a plan to underestimating running costs, skipping proper surveys, and mishandling paperwork. This practical guide breaks down the ten most common errors new buyers make and explains how working with a specialist catamaran broker can help you avoid expensive surprises and choose the right boat with confidence.
Catamarans are often accused of being unsafe offshore, prone to capsizing, slamming, and poor windward performance. This article cuts through the myths and examines how modern cruising catamarans really behave in storms, heavy seas, and bluewater passages. Drawing on real-world experience, it explains capsize risk, redundancy, comfort, and handling, and why many sailors now consider well-designed catamarans to be at least as safe as monohulls offshore, and in many cases safer.
Planning to buy a family catamaran in 2026? This practical guide walks you through choosing the right size, layout, budget, and safety features for Mediterranean cruising with kids, with an eye toward future Atlantic crossings. Learn how to balance comfort, seaworthiness, and running costs to create a safe, manageable floating home for real family life.
Selling a boat successfully takes more than listing it online. This practical, experience-based guide explains how proper preparation, paperwork, presentation, and broker support can help you sell faster, avoid costly mistakes, and achieve a better final price when selling your boat through Worldwide Catamarans.
Sailing as a couple can be one of life’s greatest adventures – or a fast track to selling your boat. Drawing on years of real-world experience, this candid and humorous article explores why many couples struggle aboard, how traditional “captain” roles cause conflict, and what it really takes to sail together happily without sinking your relationship.
Selling a yacht privately can seem appealing, but the true cost often shows up in time, stress, lost buyers, and price reductions. This article explains why paying a yacht broker’s commission can actually save you money, how professional brokers add real value through negotiation, global exposure, and paperwork expertise, and why experienced sellers often achieve faster sales and better final prices by working with a specialist brokerage.
Catamarans have become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional monohull yachts, offering greater stability, more living space, shallow draught access, and excellent performance under both sail and power. Modern cruising catamarans are safer, easier to handle, and more economical to run than many monohulls, making them ideal for couples, families, liveaboards, and charter use. With no heeling, twin-engine redundancy, and spacious layouts, catamarans deliver a more comfortable and enjoyable cruising experience, which is why most sailors who switch to a catamaran rarely return to a monohull. At Worldwide Catamarans, we prefer experience over folklore. After sailing, living aboard, selling, and brokering multihulls around the world, one thing has become very clear: once people switch to a catamaran, very few ever go back. Let’s look at why – and address the myths head-on.
