Editing Multihull (section)

==Sailing multihulls and workboats==
[[Image:Salem Ferry.JPG|thumb|right|A catamaran ferry in [[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]], [[Massachusetts]]]]
[[Image:Chalutier_rentrant_au_port_de_Palais_(56).jpg|thumb|right|A French catamaran trawler]]
The increasing popularity of catamaran since the 1960s is down to the added space, speed, shallow draft, and lack of heeling underway. The stability of a multihull makes sailing much less tiring for the crew, and is particularly suitable for families. Having no need for ballast for stability, multihulls are much lighter than monohull sailboats; but a multihull's fine hull sections mean that one must take care not to overload the vessel. Powerboats catamarans are increasingly used for racing, cruising and as workboats and fishing boats. Speed, the stable working platform, safety, and added space are the prime advantages for power cats.

"The weight of a multihull, of this length, is probably not much more than half the weight of a monohull of the same length and it can be sailed with less crew effort."<ref name=OffshoreHandbook>{{Cite book
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NB4uFQuUlnEC&q=catamaran+cruising+offshore&pg=PA37
|title= Handbook of offshore cruising: The Dream and Reality of Modern Ocean Cruising
|author= Jim Howard
|author2=Charles J. Doane
|isbn= 9781574090932
|year= 2000
|publisher= Sheridan House
}}</ref>

Racing catamarans and trimarans are popular in France, New Zealand and Australia. Cruising cats are commonest in the Caribbean and Mediterranean (where they form the bulk of the charter business) and Australia. Multihulls are less common in the US, perhaps because their increased beam require wider dock/slips. Smaller multihulls may be collapsible and trailerable, and thus suitable for daybooks and racers. Until the 1960s most multihull sailboats (except for beach cats) were built either by their owners or by boat builders; since then companies have been selling mass-produced boats, of which there are more than 150 models.<ref>"Sailor's Multihull Guide" - 3rd edition</ref>