Why Catamarans Are No Longer “The Exception” in New England
For decades, catamarans in New England have been a rarity. Tight marinas, narrow travel lifts, and a sailing culture built around monohulls kept multi-hulls on the fringe. That reality is now starting to change.
In a recent industry discussion with Matt Leduc and Ryan Miller of Latitude Yacht Brokerage, we talked about how the catamaran market is growing, how marinas are investing in infrastructure to deal with that growth and how the cat boating experience is different.
On the infrastructure side, marinas have widened pits and upgraded lift capacities to handle boats with wider beams. There are now at least 3 boatyards in RI who can accommodate most catamarans. That number is expected to grow.
The Modern Catamaran Buyer: A Different Mindset
Buyers who once assumed “cats belong in the Caribbean” are now realizing they can fit into a Northeast cruising lifestyle
Many New England cat owners now follow a north-south rhythm. Summers in New England. Winters in Florida, the Bahamas, or the Virgin Islands. Instead of choosing one region, owners are building a lifestyle around mobility.
It’s also common to see clients owning two platforms: a local powerboat or monohull for weekend cruising in the northeast, and a catamaran positioned down south for extended winter escapes.
Another trend is treating the boat as a business asset. A majority of cat owners in the US place their vessels initially into charter programs. Done correctly, this approach can offset ownership costs, keep the boat professionally maintained, and give owners access to a managed base when they’re not onboard.
From a broker’s perspective, this changes the conversation. We’re not just discussing sail plans and layouts. We’re talking about income strategy, long-term value, depreciation, and how a boat fits into a client’s broader lifestyle.
Catamarans vs. Monohulls: What Buyers Are Really Choosing
When buyers ask us why catamarans are gaining traction, the answer comes down to three things: space, independence, and comfort.
Space and Layout
A 40-foot catamaran feels dramatically different from a 40-foot monohull. Separate hulls create privacy for couples, guests, or family members. People can spread out, enjoy different areas of the boat, and avoid the “everyone in one salon” feeling.
Self-Sufficiency
Modern catamarans carry larger battery banks, expanded tankage, and extensive solar arrays. In New England, where mooring fields are common, this independence from dock power is a huge advantage. A modern catamaran can spend all it’s time on a mooring without having to plug in all season in many cases.
Stability
Traditional sailors sometimes miss the heel of a monohull. Romping to windward, rail in the water, using the gimbals on the stove. But for families, guests, and first-time cruisers, stability wins every time. Catamarans don’t heel. Less motion often means more time enjoying the journey instead of managing discomfort.
Searching for a Catamaran: Think Beyond New England
One of the biggest adjustments for first-time cat buyers is geographic flexibility.
Unlike monohulls, which can often be sourced regionally, catamaran inventory tends to be spread across the Mid-Atlantic, the Caribbean, and even overseas. Buyers who limit their search to local listings risk missing the best opportunities.
We often remind clients that the right boat might be in St. Thomas, Panama, or France rather than Newport or Boston. The logistics can sound complex, but with the right brokerage guidance, delivery and commissioning become manageable parts of the process without adding a ton of expense.
New Builds and the Role of an Independent Advisor
Another shift we’re seeing is how buyers approach new construction catamarans.
Instead of simply walking into a dealership, many buyers now want an experienced broker acting as a buyer’s representative. That role includes helping clients evaluate equipment packages, make flagging decisions, charter options, and long-term ownership strategy while the transaction itself is completed through the authorized dealer network.
This model gives buyers an independent voice in a process that can feel overwhelming, especially when dealing with international builds and rapidly evolving technology.
We saw a need for this with our customer base in New England and our boaters in the Caribbean, so in 2025 we entered into a partnership with Lagoon’s East Coast Dealership, Signature Catamarans. Through Signature, Latitude serves as an authorized sales center for new Lagoon Catamarans. This provides us with a role as an independent advisor, helping buyers make the right decisions on equipment, outfitting, documentation, flagging, charter bases, income, and all those types of decisions that need to be made. This also effectively gives Lagoon an office and a presence in Newport RI with a brokerage that knows the area and has been in business in the Northeast for a long time.
For Buyers, Brokerage Cats can be a real opportunity
Used catamarans can be incredible values, but they require careful evaluation.
Many brokerage cats come out of Caribbean charter fleets. That means potential exposure to heavy UV, mold/moisture, and the occasional storm season. None of these factors automatically disqualify a boat, but they do make surveys and due diligence essential.
Here’s something that surprises a lot of buyers: charter boats are not always worse than private boats. In some cases, professional maintenance programs keep charter vessels in exceptional condition. The key is knowing which charter bases maintain their fleets well and which ones cut corners.
That’s where Latitude can offer real value, helping buyers separate perception from reality.
Selling a Catamaran in Today’s Market
For sellers, presentation and transparency matter more than ever. It’s really not much different than selling any used yacht.
Our advice is simple:- Disclose known issues upfront
- Stage and clean the boat thoroughly
- Address minor maintenance items before listing
One thing that is different with brokerage cats is to highlight regional advantages if the boat has lived in New England all its life. Boats that have spent winters hauled out in the Northeast often show less UV damage and wear and tear than their southern counterparts, which can be a strong selling point.
Layout also plays a major role. Three-cabin owner versions typically attract private buyers, while four-cabin configurations appeal to charter investors.
The Technology Wave Changing Everything
Because their owners tend to have longer term occupancy of their cats (as opposed to weekend monohull cruisers), new technology is emerging every year and being piloted on cats.
Solar systems are becoming more powerful. Lithium battery banks are extending off-grid capability. Electric propulsion is moving from experimental to practical, often paired with diesel generators for redundancy.
For buyers who dream of anchoring for days without plugging in, these advances are game-changers. They also align with a broader shift toward sustainable and low-maintenance cruising.
Power catamarans are also entering the conversation, especially in larger charter markets. While sailing cats still dominate New England growth, power cats are gaining visibility as layouts evolve and demand increases.
The Big Picture: A Market That’s Growing Smarter
If you asked me ten years ago whether catamarans would become a major part of the New England landscape, I might have hesitated.
Today, the answer feels obvious.
Infrastructure is catching up. Buyers are thinking globally. Technology is making boats more capable than ever before. And the lifestyle appeal of multi-hulls continues to expand beyond traditional sailing circles.
This isn’t about replacing monohulls. It’s about expanding the conversation and giving buyers more options than ever before.
For anyone considering entering the catamaran market, the key is understanding that success starts with the right guidance. The boats are evolving, the market is evolving, and the smartest buyers are evolving with it.