How many hulls does a catamaran have?

Question

How many hulls does a catamaran have?

Answer 1

Short answer: 2.

Not so short answer: Any vessel with two parallel hulls is a catamaran, but not all vessels which are called catamarans actually have two separate hulls.

The US Coast Guard's definition of a catamaran, as relates to vessel tonnage:

"(A true catamaran) is a vessel having two hulls connected only with structure that is not part of the vessel's buoyant hull envelope, such as structural tubing or beams. If the connecting structure is part of the buoyant hull envelope, the vessel as a whole is treated as if it were a single hull (i.e., monohull) vessel."

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Two, not necessarily of the same size.

Answer 4

One.

Isn't this a trick question?