Tried and true, the traditional monohull sailing yacht has been a mainstay of chartering for over 40 years throughout the Caribbean where the charter industry established its roots. Certainly most common type of sailing yacht in charter fleets and most marinas around the world, monohulls offer a degree of comfort, stability, and ease through the water.

If you are considering bareboating, chances are that you have sailed at least one and likely many different types of monohull sailing yachts. Charter boats – in most scenarios – are optimized for pleasant cruising in terms of both overall layout and design as well as amenities that can help ensure your time is enjoyable.

A benefit of chartering a monohull is that it is likely a comfortable platform for you and your crew. This can be comforting when sailing in a location new to you where there are ample navigational situations you may be facing for the first time. Further, monohulls do offer a seakindlines in ocean swells as well as reduced windage while negotiating tight anchorages or approaching a mooring or dock.

Over the past 10 years, multihulls – almost exclusively catamarans – have become increasingly popular among charter groups due to their expansive and open living spaces, increased stateroom privacy, and crisp performance when hopping from location to location while following an ambitious charter itinerary. Further, chartering offers a great opportunity for existing yacht owners to step out  and try a catamaran to experience the great features it has to offer.

Catamarans offer a great platform from which to explore and provide more flexibility in terms of where they can anchor due to the  fact that they do no have a keel under their hulls that require increased draft or depth. In many cases, catamarans can anchor very closely to show and afford the crew more options for snorkeling and exploring shallow spots where monohulls are limited in their access due to their draft.

For families or crews new to sailing, catamarans also offer an advantage in that while under sail, they do not heel (lean while sailing) as much which can provide an increased degree of comfort and safety over a more traditional monohull. Further, trampoline netting stretched between the port and startboard hulls provides a fun way to watch the water rush by, not to mention great entertain for kids while at anchor or underway to the next anchorage.

On the other hand, catamarans do include some drawbacks that should be considered. Catamarans, due to their larger area or size above the water, present a larger profile to the wind. In windy areas or gusty harbors, this can make them a bit more challenging to control for the skipper. Further, although designers have improved visibility for catamarans over the years, this has continued to be an issue as many catamarans have a single steering station on either the port or starboard side of the vessel. Charter group skippers should keep both of these factors in mind and weigh them against the skill and involvement level they expect from their crew.

Finally, catamarans, while more stable, have a different feel while moving through the water. Because of their beam, they tend to straddle the waves and can create a shaking and jerking sensation as the two hulls travel the waves at different times and frequencies. While this is not typically a critical issue, it may be something to consider for people who like a monohull – particularly in areas where large chop or swell can be a factor.

Keep in mind that all yachts are not created alike. The price for two 50-foot monohulls can vary widely based upon their age and the actual yacht builder. This can translate directly to the rates for chartering these vessels.

So, when evaluating a charter company and the various boats available to you, remember that it can be difficult to compare one against the other. Research the vessels offered (most builders have excellent websites) to better understand how the build quality,  styling, and standard amenities may affect price and value for your charter.

If you are in the market for a new boat, it may be valuable to seek out a company that charters vessels you are interested in to get a better feel for the vessel and how it performs in a variety of conditions. While a test sail is helpful, spending a week or two on a boat similar to one you are considering is a great way to learn about it’s intricacies and experience how it performs with others that may be enjoying the vessel.

When selecting you boat, a few final considerations you should consider include:

• Number of staterooms  Depending upon how many are in your charter group, you’ll want to select a boat that “fits” everyone’s needs as well as the type of vacation they are expecting. While some groups are happy to jam four couples into a 35-ft yacht to save money, others might require a 50-ft yacht to meet their expectations for a more luxurious sailing experience with ample storage in spare staterooms and other amenities.
• Sailing conditions  Different destinations feature widely varying sailing conditions so it is wise to consider this when selecting a yacht. In more placid locations, a smaller yacht can be very comfortable as the seas may be small and predictable. In areas where there are open water passages or exposure to open ocean swells, nothing creates comfort like a larger, higher displacement yacht to dampen the rocking and rolling.
• Expected crew participation  For the skipper and crew, this is an important discussion to have. The ability to handle sails and safely anchor or approach docks and moorings will be directly affected by crew skill level and participation. In some cases, an experienced and enthusiastic crew of two can handle a 50-ft yacht. But, for a group of four couples that expect the skipper to do all of the work, this could be a handful and potentially unsafe.
• Vessel age and maintenance history  While not a pressing issue when chartering from the larger, global companies with extensive resources to maintain their yachts, this is something worth considering when chartering from smaller independent charter companies that have a wide range of privately-owned yachts in their charter fleet. In a harsh marine environment, a yacht that is chartered 100 days a year for 10 or more years is likely to experience breakdowns and mechanical issues. Ask probing questions about these boats, their age, maintenance and upgrade histories as well as the support policy offered by charter company for dealing with breakdowns during your charter.