What are the advantages and disadvantages of a catamaran?

Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of designing a ship with a catamaran hull versus a conventional monohull?

I am not concerned with sailboats using catamaran hulls, but rather, actual full-blown ships using the design (specifically warships).

Answer 1

cat - lack of storage - turn like a truck but can handle some serious rough water and very stable.

Answer 2

shallow draft and speed  and large deck space.

Answer 3

there ugly  not a chick magnet for sure

Answer 4

They have a limit on the amount of weight they can carry> An not stable in extreme weather>

Answer 5

The US Navy is all over this one. High speed jet catamarans are faster, more stable, and far more maneuverable than a monohull can possibly be, and can carry much more payload than a similarly sized monohull. They're also much more fuel efficient, and have much shallower drafts. For a warship, I can't honestly think of any down-sides.

Here are two photos of USS Sea Fighter (FSF 1), which is the prototype for a whole new concept of warship. I've seen her out on sea-trials here in Puget Sound; if I said any more I'd have to shoot me. But, wow.

http://www.nicholsboats.com/Images/x-cra...

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/imag...

Answer 6

Windage can be a problem with the high speed cats.  Also, the stresses on larger catamaran hulls are still not as fully understood as they might be, especially as hulls age and metal fatigue becomes a factor.

If you are talking about high speed cats, light draft relative to load carrying ability is a definite advantage.  

Interestingly enough, cats have proved most successful as fast ferries, which suggests they might make good assault ships/helicopter carriers - but to the best of my knowledge, none have been used in that role yet.