## The Two Dominant Vessel Types in Modern Charter
The charter industry has seen a significant shift over the past decade. While monohull motor yachts remain the classic choice for crewed charters, motor catamarans — particularly power cats in the 15–25 metre range — have gained substantial market share. Both vessel types have genuine strengths, and the right choice depends on your group dynamics, cruising preferences, and priorities.
## Hull Design: The Fundamental Difference
A motor yacht has a single hull (monohull) that cuts through the water. This V-shaped hull provides a deep, stable ride in open seas and allows for multiple deck levels in a compact footprint. The trade-off is rolling motion at anchor when beam seas hit the hull broadside.
A motor catamaran has two parallel hulls connected by a bridge deck. This twin-hull design creates a wide, stable platform with minimal rolling at anchor. The hulls themselves house cabins, while the bridge deck provides expansive living and dining space. The trade-off is a wider beam that limits marina berth options and a different motion profile in certain sea conditions.
## Space and Layout
**Motor catamarans** win decisively on living space per metre of length. A 20-metre power catamaran offers approximately 30–40 percent more interior volume than a 20-metre motor yacht, plus substantially more outdoor deck space. The wide beam (typically 8–10 metres for a 20-metre cat) creates a main salon and cockpit area that feels more like a waterfront apartment than a traditional boat interior.
Cabin layout in catamarans places guest accommodation in the two hulls, with the port hull typically housing two cabins and the starboard hull another two. The master cabin can be positioned either in a hull (with hull-side windows at water level — a unique experience) or on the bridge deck forward. Each hull cabin has its own en-suite bathroom.
**Motor yachts** offer a more vertical layout across two or three decks. The lower deck houses guest cabins, the main deck contains the salon and dining area, and the flybridge provides outdoor lounging and often a second helm station. While individual rooms may be slightly smaller than catamaran equivalents, the multi-deck arrangement creates distinct zones for different activities — something that single-level catamarans struggle to replicate.
For groups that value communal socialising, the catamaran’s open-plan layout excels. For groups that value privacy and distinct entertaining spaces, the motor yacht’s multi-deck design is superior.
## Comfort and Stability
**At anchor:** Catamarans are significantly more stable. The wide beam and twin-hull design resist rolling motion that affects monohulls in beam swells. For guests prone to seasickness or those who simply prefer a steady platform, this is a meaningful advantage. Sleeping at anchor on a catamaran is generally more peaceful.
**Underway in calm seas:** Both vessel types perform well. Motor yachts may feel slightly more connected to the water due to the monohull’s deeper draft and responsive handling. Catamarans feel like stable, smooth platforms — less nautical in character but more comfortable for non-sailors.
**Underway in rough seas:** This is where motor yachts hold an advantage. A well-designed monohull with stabilisers handles head seas and quartering seas more predictably than a catamaran. Catamarans can experience uncomfortable pitching and slamming in steep head seas when the bridge deck impacts wave crests. In the sheltered waters of the Adriatic or Ionian, this is rarely an issue. In exposed Aegean crossings or offshore Mediterranean passages, it matters more.
## Performance and Range
Motor yachts generally offer higher top speeds (25–35 knots for a 24-metre yacht vs 18–25 knots for an equivalent catamaran) and greater range due to deeper fuel tanks and more efficient hull forms at speed. If your itinerary involves longer passages — such as a Split to Dubrovnik run (approximately 100 nautical miles) — a motor yacht will complete the transit faster and more comfortably.
Motor catamarans are more fuel-efficient at lower cruising speeds (8–12 knots) due to their slender hulls and reduced displacement. For island-hopping itineraries with short distances between stops, this efficiency advantage reduces fuel costs within the APA.
## Water Access and Toys
Catamarans offer superior water access from multiple points: the aft platform spans the full beam (up to 10 metres wide on larger cats), the transoms of each hull provide additional entry points, and the trampolines or forward deck create sunbathing and diving platforms. For families with children, this multi-point water access is a genuine advantage.
Motor yachts typically concentrate water access at the stern swim platform and occasionally via side boarding gates. While the swim platform on a well-designed motor yacht is perfectly functional, it is narrower than a catamaran’s full-beam equivalent.
Both vessel types can carry tenders, jet skis, paddleboards, and snorkelling equipment. Larger motor yachts (30 m+) often house toys in dedicated garages below the swim platform, while catamarans store them on the aft platform or in hull compartments.
## Charter Costs
At equivalent lengths, motor catamarans are often priced 10–20 percent lower than motor yachts for charter. This reflects both the lower capital cost of most production catamarans and the reduced crewing requirements (catamarans sometimes require one fewer crew member due to simpler handling characteristics).
However, the charter market for crewed motor catamarans above 20 metres is smaller than for motor yachts, which means less choice at the premium end. If you want a 30-metre-plus vessel with full crew and luxury appointments, the motor yacht market offers far more options.
## Which Should You Choose?
**Choose a motor catamaran if:** Your group prioritises stability at anchor, you have young children, your itinerary involves short island-hops in sheltered waters, you value open-plan communal living space, or you want maximum deck area for sunbathing and socialising.
**Choose a motor yacht if:** You want higher speeds and longer range, your itinerary includes exposed passages, you value privacy with distinct deck zones, you prefer a deeper nautical aesthetic, or you want access to the widest selection of crewed charter vessels.
**The Splendid Yachting fleet includes both motor yachts and motor catamarans** across the 17–86 metre range. Contact our team with your group size, itinerary preferences, and priorities, and we will recommend the ideal vessel type and specific yacht for your charter.
