The power of two hulls

08.08.2024

Catamarans have long been popular among “normal” water sports enthusiasts. For some time now, this trend has also reached the superyacht scene and with its owners who can and want to afford 40-, 50- or 60-metre-long boats. Catamarans are often faster, always more stable and more generously dimensioned than monohulls. Owners, guests and crew have larger cabins, salons and outside decks on them. This not only contributes to their feel-good character, but also means that more tenders and toys can be transported.

In addition to unparalleled stability, catamarans offer a shallower draft, allowing owners access to shallow atolls or the opportunity to anchor at a variety of stunning beaches around the world. A positive side effect of the catamaran design is its economy – the amount of fuel required is estimated to be 40 percent less than that of a comparable single-hulled yacht. Due to these convincing characteristics, more and more shipyards are currently trying to satisfy the demand – SilverCat, Lagoon, Sunreef and Ultimate Catamarans are some of the well-known brands.

The category between 26 and 30 metres in length offers a good entry point for new owners. These models already have several hundred square metres of living space and are compact enough to be easy to handle. One of the most popular models is the Sunreef 100, which is built in Gdansk, Poland. The 28.60-metre-long yacht is made of composite, has four cabins in the hulls and a deck above with the master suite and saloon. The 85 square metre flybridge on the Sunreef 100, which is also available as a (more expensive) eco version, is enthroned at the very top. We noticed a fairly new player on the market, which is pursuing a completely new approach to luxury with its innovative design with large areas, rooms and headroom and is also bringing numerous features from the superyacht segment of 80- to 100-metre-long yachts to the smaller catamarans. Ultimate Catamarans has already built up a model portfolio starting with the Spaceline 88, which is comparable to a Sunreef 100. Although two meters shorter than the Polish GRP model, the Spaceline 88 has 223 square metres of living space for owners and guests; a further 220 square metres can be used outside – these areas are almost on a par with those of a 45-metre motor yacht.

It is built from aluminium at the Croatian Iskra shipyard, which supplies its ships to Norway, among others, and stands for the highest quality standards. The frame spacing of the space construction is only 50 cm. This makes the hulls very strong and stable. In contrast to plastic, aluminium is more ecological, significantly improves the noise and vibration level for a more luxurious time on board and has a longer service life. In terms of technology, Ultimate Catamarans relies on a hybrid propulsion system that uses solar cells (80 square metres) and batteries (380 kW). The Spaceline can reach speeds of up to 15 knots and can travel a total of 2500 nautical miles non-stop at three knots less. At the same time, space has been reserved to retrofit fuel cells as soon as suitable systems are available. When comparing consumption, Ultimate claims a saving of 70 percent compared to a comparable monohull. Incidentally, the fact that all systems are installed at least twice gives owners and guests a good feeling. Should a component fail, this is not a problem even in remote areas without infrastructure.

What is particularly interesting about the Spaceline 88, however, is the layout – which can be barrier-free on request. The superyacht’s hulls contain ample storage space and very spacious crew quarters (11 square metres each), which are even larger than the MLC requirements. This ensures a permanently happy crew. All guests sleep on the main deck in VIP cabins with king-size beds and floor areas of between 25 and 27 square metres as well as their own balcony. This makes the cat with headroom of between 2.20 and 2.28 metres (!) very interesting for the charter business, for example, although the floor plan can be completely adapted to the client – as can many other details on the Spaceline 88. The three-deck configuration ensures plenty of privacy on board. The full-width helm station, including the captain’s cabin, has been moved to the upper deck, which is always installed in or in front of the guest area on two-deckers. The saloon behind the spaceline helm station could even be converted into an owner’s cabin with a magnificent view.

Ultimate Catamarans sees itself as a manufactory in which the owners can specify their wishes and not just choose a few details as is the case with many series manufacturers. “We build small superyachts and not large sports boats,” says Ultimate Catamarans. The high seaworthiness due to the bow, which is at least five meters high, also fits in with this. The price not only includes almost all extras, but also an interior design that is individually tailored to the client. Incidentally, an interesting aspect is that no down payment is required for the Spaceline 88, which can be completed in full against a bank guarantee and, like all models, is certified as a commercial yacht. This also sets this newcomer apart from almost all other providers.