Editing Multihull (section)

===Catamaran (twin-hull)===
{{Main|Catamaran}}
A catamaran is a vessel with twin hulls. Commercial catamarans began in 17th century England. Separate attempts at steam-powered catamarans were carried out by the middle of the 20th century. However, success required better materials and more developed hydrodynamic technologies. During the second half of the 20th century catamaran designs flourished. Catamaran configurations are used for racing, sailing, tourist and fishing boats.

The hulls of a catamaran are typically connected by a bridgedeck, although some simpler cruising catamarans<ref>Such as some [[James Wharram|Wharram]] designs</ref> simply have a trampoline stretched between the crossbeams (or "akas").<ref name="dubrovsky2001">Dubrovsky, V, Laykhovitsky, A (2001) Multi Hull Ships. Backbone Publishing Co. {{ISBN|97809644311-2-6}}</ref> Small beachable catamarans, such as the [[Hobie Cat]], also have only a trampoline between the hulls.

Catamarans derive stability from the distance between the hulls—transverse clearance—the greater this distance, the greater the stability.<ref name=Garrett>{{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Ross | title = The Symmetry of Sailing: The Physics of Sailing for Yachtsmen | publisher = Sheridan House, Inc. | date = January 1, 1996  | page = 133 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0VLXORumEF4C&q=catamaran&pg=PA133 | isbn = 9781574090000}}</ref> Typically, catamaran hulls are slim, although they may  flare above the waterline to give reserve buoyancy.<ref>As in all the [[Catalac catamarans|Catalac]] designs</ref> The vertical clearance between the design waterplane and the bottom of the bridge deck determines the likelihood of contact with waves. Increased vertical clearance diminishes such contact and increases [[seaworthiness]], within limits.<ref>{{Citation
 | last1 = Tuck
 | first1 = E. O.
 | last2 = Lazauskas
 | first2 = L.
 | title = Optimum Hull Spacing of a Family of Multihulls
 | journal = Applied Mathematics Department
 | publisher = The University of Adelaide
 | pages = 38
 | date = June 11, 1998
 | url = http://academic.amc.edu.au/~psahoo/Research/tl98.pdf
 | access-date = 2016-01-15
 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The twin-hull (catamaran) design is effective in enhancing the [https://wavewalk.com/blog/fishing-kayak-stability/ stability of very small, lightweight and narrow personal boats] designed for paddling and powering with portable outboard motors. The 100 lbs (45 kg), 38 inches (96 cm) wide [https://wavewalk.com/blog/boat-skiff/ Wavewalk S4 Microskiff] catamaran is sufficiently stable to allow for three adult anglers to stand in it and fish in full confidence, and it allows for three adults to stand in it and paddle in full confidence.