The History and Development of the Catamaran

Peter Heintzelman, an experienced CFO who now serves as CEO and president of Cobb EMC in Georgia, likes to sail in his free time. One of Peter Heintzelman’s preferred types of boats is the catamaran, a hull type with a history that goes back centuries.

While the name of the catamaran originates in India, the type of boat it describes was first seen in the South Pacific. The first catamaran boats were made out of two separate hollowed out logs, and were used to get from island to island. The core concept of a boat set upon two thin parallel hulls made its way back to the West in the 1800s. American boat manufacturer Nathanael Herreshoff began to create permutations on the catamaran design, which ultimately led to the popular boat style of today.

The modern catamaran owes its popularity to its combination of size and stability. The two hulls and the distance between them provide considerable space above and below decks, making the design a good fit for vacationers and those seeking substantial storage space. The two hulls also keep the boat level most of the time, making it easier for the boat to resist the sometimes perilous pull of gravity. A catamaran can also sail in shallower waters than its single-hulled counterparts, and won’t roll around when anchored.