Boat types
What does Monohull mean?
A monohull is a boat with one main hull. In sailing, the term distinguishes it from catamarans and trimarans.
Why it matters when choosing a sailboat
Interior arrangement, heel, draft and handling vary widely across monohulls. Compare the actual boat rather than assuming every monohull is economical, fast or suited to ocean passages. Berthing needs are often narrower than those of a comparable-length cruising catamaran.
A practical example
A thirty-six-foot coastal cruiser and a fifty-foot passage-making yacht can both be monohulls while serving very different crews.
A question to ask before buying
Does this layout, draft and sail-handling arrangement suit my crew and intended cruising area?
Related sailboat terms
Put the term to work.
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