why do catamarans cost more than monohulls?

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Lt.

I just don't get it?

Ahem - they cost more to build.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

You pay more for the inverted stability
I better run for cover now.

Good point. Even monohull shipwrecks are right-side-up.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

I would say that cats get a price premium today due to supply and demand. Many cruisers have figured out that the catamaran is more a home on the water than a mono and more sellable to the admiral as a place to live.

Yes, they are similar to houseboats. Leastwise, they remind me of them.

[David M]

More on a per foot basis? There is more boat per foot.

Also, as you start to get into the more exotic materials those materials with higher strength to weight ratios cost more money. Catamarans are are more sensitive to weight.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by David M

More on a per foot basis? There is more boat per foot.

Catamarans cheaper on LOA for sure - but not neccessarily on overall square footage.

Catamarans simply a more cost effective and convenient way of fitting the living space required into a boat than the equivalent in a monohull - 40 cat vs 65 foot monohull. (80 foot of hull length probably not a fair comparison!).

[smj]

They cost more to build and are in high demand.

[dirkdig]

Because they are so good

[Factor]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Yes, they are similar to houseboats. Leastwise, they remind me of them.

Hello Mr Archibald Pot - I would like to introduce you to my Good Friend Mr Arthur Kettle

[smj]

Originally Posted by Factor

Hello Mr Archibald Pot - I would like to introduce you to my Good Friend Mr Arthur Kettle

That was very nicely put. I was thinking of something to say but couldn't come up with anything subtle.

[Lagoon4us]

Spot on i scrubbed a response or two.....

[Sabbatical II]

I had an executive from Holden (GM Australia) explain to me that purchase price has nothing to do with cost to build, but rather what the customer expects to pay. The basic Holden Commodore costs approx $35,000. The top end Statesman caprice costs well over twice that despite the fact that in engineering terms the changes are only cosmetic. If the top of the range model was only $45,000 then the upwardly mobile executive would not derive enough status from his peers knowing that he was only driving a $45,000 car, so they charge $80,000 for it.

What has this got to do with catamarans? They cost more because everyone knows that they're the guys with the big bucks!

[Lagoon4us]

Theory sounds good but not quite correct, ask anyone who has built Mono's and Multi's the materials, volumes and surface areas are the killer....
Boatbuilding is a competitive albeit cut-throat business so many go broke trying simply because margins are small as is the "new market" it's very hard to compete with the effiencies of FP Sea-wind and Lagoon........ Just my opinion.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Lt.

I just don't get it?

so the owners can start getting used to the extra fees

[kaimusailing]

1/2 boat = 1/2 price

[barnakiel]

I believe it is the cost. If it were the margin, more boatyards would rush in and soon the margin would be uniform across the business.

b.