Cats versus dogs, sweet versus savory, live bait versus artificial lures; there are certainly more than enough topics to be divided on, and catamarans (cats) versus monohull vessels is yet another worth adding to your list. As a boater, the waters you travel, and the purposes for which you do so, play heavily into your choice of vessel. Hopefully, we can shed a bit of light on the differences, pros and cons on these vessel varieties in order to ensure that you buy the right boat for the job.

Catamarans

The Pros:

• Cats are, generally, much more stable than monohulls due to the weight displacement offered by multiple hulls.
• The cabin space in cats are often much wider and situated above the waterline, providing added comfort for cruising or enjoying a day on the water and sunshine.
• Cats, even capsized, very rarely sink, due to high buoyancy.

The Cons:

• Historically, cats are notorious for the risk of capsizing, though modern designs have greatly improved their safety.
• Due to these vessels being wider than many monohulls, they may be a bit trickier to dock.

Monohulls

The Pros:

• The price of monohulls is often lower than comparably sized cats.
• Monohulls provide a traditional “feel” while boating, which many prefer to the flatter plane provided in a cat.
• Though cats are more stable, monohulls don’t slap the water as much when cruising at higher speeds.

The Cons:

• Monohulls are far less stable that cats while on the water.
• The risk of sinking is much higher in a monohull, whether from a leak or after capsizing.
• Due to the fact that most of the main living space in a monohull is below the waterline, these spaces can often feel claustrophobic.

Like so much in boating (and life), the decision really comes down to personal preference. We recommend taking a trip on both varieties in order to see which vessel best fits the feel that you’re looking for while on the water. Just remember: no matter whether you choose to team with catamarans or monohulls, Hi-Tide has the perfect boat lift for the job.

You have a great new boat, decked out in top-of-the-line options and are ready to hit the water — or so you think. Many boaters, even experienced ones, can sometimes forget that one little thing that they need to properly secure their vessel. That is why we offer a full list of accessories that can add up to a big difference for you when storing your boat. We’ll examine three of the top boating accessories, just in case you’re missing that one last finishing touch to keep your vessel safely stored and ready for your next trip on the water.

Top Boating Accessories

Lift Accessories

With a plethora of options to choose from when docking your boat, you may want to do a bit of homework before shopping. At Hi-Tide, you can expect to find every odd and end to fit your boat’s exact needs, including brackets, bunking, winder covers, flare guides and cradle stabilizers that are perfect for your vessel’s specific needs. We’re especially proud of our electronics offerings, which include our patented Riches Switch, as well as flexshaft limit switches, remote controls and more, all of which are designed, built and tested in house.

Floating Docks

Whether your needs are large or small, floating docks are an incredibly easy solution for boaters looking for a dock that is versatile and dependable, rising and lowering with water levels. For this reason, floating docks easily rank among our top boating accessories, with standard 18-inch pontoons, high-density polyethylene build and welded aluminum sub-frame. If dependability is what you’re looking for, you’ve found it in our floating docks.

Davits

Featuring the most streamlined, yet still secure, boat lift design on the market, davits are equal parts sleek and reliable. Our davits are outfitted with Hi-Tide Gear Drive® winches to ensure that performance is no question when taking on your next boating adventure. If you ever do have issues, our one-year comprehensive, two-year motor and five-year gearbox warranties have you covered.

Though there are many accessory options to choose from, a Hi-Tide expert would be happy to discuss what works best for your boat, yacht or boat house today.