We could argue for the umpteenth time whether powercats are better than monohulls, and there have always been hardcore fans of powercats. Despite their small size, there is a dedicated group of powercat lovers who will never agree with monohullers. If we try to convince one of them to change their minds, it would be like locking Rush Limbaugh and Rachel Maddow in a room and telling them to leave.

It would be more interesting to debate what triggers such dedication in any particular catamaran design. Multihull boats are often lumped together as a whole by naysayers, which is one of their great judgmental errors. Monohulls are not all the same, yet powercats are often dismissed or embraced with a broad brush.

The ability of the designer to take advantage of the twin-hull platform is often the determining factor between a 40-foot center-console cat and an 80-foot cat cruiser with a Trumpy-like elegance.

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Amasea Yachts 84

This aluminum trideck powercat will be built by Amasea Yachts with a reinforced hull for cruising at high latitudes. MTU diesel engines will provide 1,920 horsepower. A projected cruise speed of 11 knots is expected. According to the builder, there is enough dry and cold storage to cruise nonstop for six weeks. In addition to its five levels of deck space, the Amasea 84 can accommodate 20 guests and crew members.

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Invincible 35

It is Invincible's third powercat, and the company is best known for its high-performance monohulls. A 37-footer and a 40-footer are also available. According to the builder, the semi-symmetric hull design helps the vessel lean into turns rather than out of them like many catamarans. Various outboard power options are available from the builder. Courtesy Invincible Boat Co.

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Horizon PC60

The Horizon PC60’s power is 705 hp Cummins QSM11 ­diesels. The PC60 we got aboard cruised at 18 knots, for a range of 540 nautical miles. At 9 knots, range is 1,500 nm. The PC60 can have an open bridge or a sky lounge. There are four staterooms, with a main-deck master. The boat has an infused solid-fiberglass hull bottom with Divinycell-cored sides. A collision bulkhead enhances safety. Courtesy Horizon Power Catamarans

Aspen Power Catamarans, which Graf designs and builds, are far more complex to design than monohulls, according to Graf, originally a designer of Glacier Bay powercats. You design a monohull from the centerline out, mirror it on the computer, and voila - you've got a full hull. Most monohulls can be completed within three to five days. Generally, cat hulls are asymmetrical, so the two halves of the hull are not the same. ”

A cat's story begins with its hull. Are interiors that fit into one hull easier to design than those that fit into two separate hulls with a deck above? There is no question that cats have a more complex interior.

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World Cat 400DC-X

Like a cheetah, this cat should run fast. The World Cat 400DC-X is expected to achieve a top hop of 40 knots with twin 425 hp outboards. This vessel has a single-level main deck, a cockpit (with a grill), a bridge deck, and a foredeck with 200 square feet of deck space. Cruising, fishing, and diving are all possible with the 400DC-X. On the portside of the hull, there is a berth that measures 74 inches by 46 inches. Courtesy World Cat

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Leopard 53

Powered by twin 370-horsepower Yanmar diesels, the Leopard 53 will reach a top speed of 25 knots. On a 562-gallon fuel capacity, the aircraft will cruise at 17.5 knots and have a range of 463 nautical miles. In an open floor plan, the galley is aft, and settees are forward to port and starboard. Three or four staterooms can be found belowdecks. There are three alfresco areas on the foredeck, flybridge, and cockpit. Courtesy Leopard

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Taking advantage of this privacy advantage requires more than just thin bulkheads, but rather entire hulls, or at least head compartments and companionways. Powercats are popular in charter markets due to this ability.

The Aquila 48 illustrates how privacy on a catamaran can be done right, according to MarineMax's Lex Raas, president of charter and special initiatives.

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Fountaine Pajot MY 40

A sliding door leads from the Fountaine Pajot MY 40's 134-square-foot cockpit's L-shaped seating to the salon's aft galley. A helm station is across from a settee and two chairs to port. Twin Volvo Penta IPS diesel engines produce 300 or 370 horsepower. An 86-square-foot foredeck lounge and a 183-square-foot flybridge with a helm, table, and seating for six create convivial alfresco areas. Courtesy Fountaine Pajot

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Corona 85

­The Corona 85's spacious master stateroom boasts a full beam (30 feet) and two foldout balconies. The yacht can accommodate 10 guests plus five crew members. The flybridge has room for a hot tub, a dining table for eight, two L-shaped lounges, and a helm on centerline under a louver-style hardtop. Four PWCs are housed in the garage, as well as a 26-foot tender. Bahamas-friendly, the 85's draft is 4 feet 6 inches. There is a transformer platform for accessing water at a beach club, and chaise lounges are available. There’s more tanning space on the foredeck. Courtesy Corona Yachts

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Silent-Yachts 55

Its ability to run on pure electric, diesel-electric or traditional diesel propulsion is one of its most appealing features. In total, 32 solar panels cover 527 square feet, generating 10 kW of power. Around 22 percent of the energy collected by the panels is converted into electricity. Recently, the builder updated the 55 with 250 kW e-motors and increased battery capacity by 90 kW to 210 kW. Courtesy Silent-Yachts

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The ability to have more staterooms that are more private is in large part a function of beam on a cat, designers say.

Many cats also have big advantages in terms of seakeeping, speed, and efficiency. Similarly, no two powercats are exactly alike, but analyzing specific models can shed light on what makes them unique. According to Yachting 's review of the Lagoon Seventy 8, the boat can cruise 4,000 nautical miles transatlantic at 10 knots -- a feat few engine-driven yachts of the same length can achieve. Fountaine Pajot's MY 44 can reportedly cruise more than 1,000 nautical miles between pit stops; smaller cats can also have extreme ranges for their size.

“Catamarans have always been characterized by speed, stability, and comfort,” Maurios says, “and we believe multihulls are ideal.”

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Aquila 70

There will be a 70-foot flagship for Aquila soon. Many cats have a linear appearance, so the yacht's sleek profile is impressive. A knife-shaped hullside glass and curved superstructure enhance the design. There is centerline access to the foredeck on the 70, and the flybridge can be open or enclosed. Three to six staterooms are available, as well as crew quarters. On the main deck, you will find the galley and the formal dining room. Courtesy Aquila

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Insetta 45

Flexibility is one of the benefits of the Insetta 45. Outboards range from 300 to 627 horsepower, and twin 370 horsepower Yanmar diesels are also available. With the diesel engines, the range is 1,000 nautical miles at a 30-knot cruise. Featuring cockpit seating at both corners, the 45 is a cruiser with livewells, outriggers, and a T-top with an upper helm. Also included in the air-conditioned cabin is a full berth and a head. Courtesy Insetta

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Lagoon Sixty 7

The layout of the Lagoon Sixty 7 is versatile. A formal dining area for eight or more is also available on the main deck when the galley is positioned to port. Two settees are located to starboard where additional guests can sit. It is also possible to place the galley in the center of the salon. There is a U-shaped seating arrangement to port in this setup. Have a large family? There are four to six staterooms available on the Sixty 7. There is a sunken foredeck lounge and chaise longues accessible through the salon. The main deck and flybridge are powered by twin 340 or 440 horsepower diesels. Nicolas Claris/Lagoon

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