Everything you've been wondering about catamaran ownership, financing, marinas, and maintenance — answered.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
A catamaran has two hulls connected by a bridgedeck, giving it exceptional stability, more living space, and shallower draft than a comparable monohull. Cats don't heel while sailing the way monohulls do, making them far more comfortable for families and first-timers. The tradeoffs: they're wider, require larger (and more expensive) slips, and can be harder to dock. But for the Kemah/Galveston Bay area, the sailing is relaxed and cats are perfect.
Use ¼ cup of unscented household bleach per 16 gallons of tank capacity — always dilute in a bucket first, never pour bleach directly in the tank. Bypass your water heater, fill the tank, run every faucet until you smell bleach, then let it sit 4–12 hours (overnight is best). Drain and flush completely with fresh water until the bleach smell is gone, then replace your inline water filter. Do this when you first take possession, after the boat sits unused for 4+ weeks, or if the water tastes or smells off. Annually at minimum.
Yes — both TowBoatUS and Sea Tow offer unlimited towing memberships that pay for themselves the first time you need a tow. On Galveston Bay and the Gulf Coast, a single tow can cost $500–$2,000+ without membership. TowBoatUS covers 85 miles offshore, Sea Tow's Gold Card also includes marina discounts. Chris recommends having one active before any offshore passage. TowBoatUS: 1-800-391-4869. Sea Tow: 1-800-473-2869.
Both cover unlimited towing with no per-incident fees. TowBoatUS (~$149/yr) has the larger network — 600+ ports — and is part of BoatUS which also offers boat insurance, discounts, and a fuel card. Sea Tow (~$185/yr) Gold Card membership includes marina and fuel partner discounts. Both are worthwhile; many cat owners carry both. The key is to sign up before you need it — you can't call from the water to enroll.
Beyond purchase price, budget roughly 5–10% of the boat's value annually for maintenance, insurance, and slip fees. In Kemah, catamaran slips run $875–$1,000/month for a 42' cat on annual contract. Marine insurance typically runs $3,000–$8,000/year depending on your sailing résumé and coverage area. Tremate helps you track and budget ongoing maintenance costs so nothing sneaks up on you.
Not necessarily, but insurers require a minimum level of documented experience for bluewater coverage. For coastal sailing around Galveston Bay, experience requirements are more relaxed. We recommend building your résumé through Yachtcations charters, Captain Roy's sailing school, and day sailing with experienced crew before going offshore. The more experience you document, the lower your insurance premium.
For day sailing and weekends, a 36–40 footer works well and keeps slip costs manageable. For extended cruising, liveaboard use, or chartering, most serious sailors end up in the 44–50 foot range — enough room for 4–6 people comfortably. Remember: catamaran slips are sized by width (beam), not just length, so a 45' cat with a 26' beam may cost more than a 50' slender monohull.
The most popular production catamarans are Lagoon (French, very common, good resale), Fountaine Pajot (FP — premium French build quality), Leopard (South African, sportier feel, popular in charter fleets), and Bali (newer brand, very modern interiors). For power catamarans, Leopard and Fountaine Pajot both make excellent options. Brand choice often comes down to your intended use — charter, liveaboard, or bluewater cruising.
Usually yes — most used catamarans come with a tender as part of the deal. However, new owners frequently upgrade the dinghy after purchase. Chris recommends GoDu Adventure (goduadventure.com) and Highfield aluminum RIBs as top-quality replacement options. A good inflatable RIB with a 15–25HP outboard is essential for anchoring out and getting to shore.
Marine lending is different from auto loans — lenders want a solid survey, clean title, and often require the boat to be insured before funding. For W2/regular income buyers, Julie Gaines at boatloan.com is our recommended lender. For complex income, assets, or business owners, Shayna Van Epern at azurefunding.com specializes in non-traditional marine financing. Always mention Catamaran Plan or Chris Block when reaching out for referral credit.
You'll need an agreed-value marine policy that covers hull, equipment, and liability. Most marinas require at minimum $300,000 in liability coverage (Kemah Boardwalk requires this). Catamaran insurance requires a sailing résumé — insurers want to see documented offshore passages, certifications, and charter experience. Our recommended agent is Tyler Landry at State Farm in League City, TX. Insurance should be in place before your survey and closing.
Cat slips are in high demand. Kemah Boardwalk Marina has dedicated catamaran slips (42'–65', up to 35' beam) at $875/mo annual. Houston Yacht Club has cat-specific floating slips at $11.25/ft. Waterford, South Shore, and Watergate also have multihull-friendly slips but require 73' bridge clearance — verify your mast height. Contact us — Chris knows the marina managers personally and can help you get on waitlists.
The MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) is a 9-digit number assigned to your boat's VHF radio and AIS transponder — it's how the Coast Guard identifies you in an emergency. When you buy a used boat, the MMSI must be transferred to your name. Register at catamaranplan.com, create an account, and search 'post purchase activity' for our step-by-step MMSI transfer guide. Don't skip this — it's a critical safety step.
Your post-purchase checklist: (1) Transfer MMSI number to your name, (2) Update vessel documentation or state registration, (3) Get a safety inspection and update all required safety equipment, (4) Set up Tremate for maintenance tracking, (5) Transfer electronics and nav system logins, (6) Get a Vessel Audit & Digitalization from Catamaran Plan — we come aboard, photograph every system, and build your digital boat profile. (7) Consider your dinghy situation — most owners upgrade within the first year.
Kima Coach is our recommended graphics partner in the Kemah area — they specialize in vinyl graphics, boat names, and decals for catamarans. This is part of the 'Make It Your Own' step after purchase. You can also use the Make It Your Own section of the site to find registration guidance, name changes, and safety inspection resources.
Tremate is a marine maintenance management platform that digitizes your boat's service history, sets automated maintenance reminders, stores manuals and parts lists, and gives you a complete picture of your vessel's health. It's the foundation of our Bronze, Silver, and Gold service packages. Tremate itself is powerful, but we bundle it with hands-on service and vendor coordination to make it truly valuable. Contact us to get set up — we handle the onboarding.
Rule of thumb: 5–10% of boat value per year for a well-maintained cat. Major items: bottom paint ($1,500–$3,000/yr), engine service (Yanmar oil change, filters, belts — $500–$1,500/yr per engine, and cats have two engines), standing rigging inspection every 5–7 years ($3,000–$8,000), sails ($8,000–$25,000 when replacement time comes). Our Tremate-based packages help you plan ahead so nothing blindsides you.
Most production catamarans come with a Simrad or B&G chartplotter system (B&G is a Simrad sub-brand focused on sailing). You'll want to confirm: VHF radio with DSC/MMSI, AIS transponder, chartplotter (Simrad/B&G), autopilot, depth sounder, and wind instruments. For advanced monitoring, Chris recommends adding a Victron Cerbo GX for battery and energy management — especially important if you plan to anchor out or go solar.
We cover the full ownership journey: (1) Brokerage — buying and selling through The Multihull Company, (2) Try Before You Buy charters through Yachtcations, (3) Financing and insurance referrals, (4) Survey and closing support, (5) Post-purchase Vessel Audit & Digitalization ($1,000), (6) Ongoing maintenance management via Bronze/Silver/Gold packages powered by Tremate, (7) Vendor referrals for graphics, electronics, engine service, trampolines, and more.
Yes — and it has real financial benefits. Putting your boat in a charter program through Yachtcations can offset ownership costs significantly, and in Texas, it also removes state sales restrictions that would otherwise limit who you can sell to. Charter income can help cover your slip, insurance, and maintenance. Talk to Chris about whether your boat qualifies and what the program looks like.
Use the contact form on this page, email support@catamaranplan.com, or reach the team directly: Capt. Chris Block — 954-300-6411 (cell) or 281-408-4545 (office), Chris@yachtcations.com. Emily Shelton (The Multihull Company) — 713-789-7778, emily@multihullcompany.com. Ted Spradley (Yachtcations / Try Before You Buy) — 409-682-7745, ted@yachtcations.com. We're based in the Kemah/Clear Lake area of Texas.