CENTRE CONSOLE
Mareva 32 Open
Open deck, for sport and family use. Maximum exterior living space.
Discover 32 OpenMotor catamaran: advantages, fuel consumption and how to choose yours.
The motor catamaran is currently the naval architecture that best resolves the compromise between stability, space and efficiency in a leisure craft. This guide explains how it works, how it differs from a monohull of the same length and which criteria really matter when choosing one. Written from the experience of a shipyard that designs and builds motor catamarans in Biscay.
FUNDAMENTALS
What a motor catamaran is.
A motor catamaran is a motor-propelled vessel whose buoyancy is distributed between two parallel hulls joined by a platform. This geometry completely changes its behaviour compared to a monohull: the entire beam is used as living deck space and the transverse stability no longer depends on ballast or the shape of the underwater hull, but on the separation between the hulls.
Unlike a sailing catamaran, here the entire architecture is optimised for motor cruising: slender hulls with low hydrodynamic resistance, a central tunnel calculated to avoid wave slamming, and two independent propulsion lines, one in each hull. The result is a platform that remains flat, both at anchor and underway.
This is the logic we apply to the Mareva 32: a single platform under 12 metres, with three different decks on the same hull.
COMPARISON
Motor catamaran versus monohull.
The differences are not stylistic: they are a direct consequence of distributing the buoyancy across two hulls instead of one.
| Criterion | Motor catamaran | Monohull |
|---|---|---|
| Stability at anchor | Virtually flat platform; minimal rolling | Noticeable rolling in a beam sea |
| Usable area | Usable beam from side to side | Deck constrained by the shape of the hull |
| Performance in heavy seas | Steady pace, less loss of speed | Loss of speed and frequent bursts of acceleration |
| Propulsion | Two independent lines: true redundancy | Redundancy only with twin engines |
| Harbour manoeuvring | High degree of control due to propeller separation | Depends on a bow thruster or twin engines |
| Draught | Shallow: access to coves and shallow anchorages | Deeper draught for the same length |
The monohull still makes sense for narrow berths and tighter entry-level budgets. The choice depends on the intended use, not on absolute superiority.
EFFICIENCY
Fuel consumption, range and cruising speed.
Resistance to forward motion
Two slender hulls generate less wake than a wide hull of the same length. At cruising speed, this means less power is needed to maintain the same speed.
Sustained consumption
The catamaran maintains a constant pace even when the sea is not calm, without the bursts of acceleration that drive up fuel usage. Smooth sailing, sustained consumption, greater real-world range.
Usable range
What is relevant is not the fuel consumption at a specific point, but the miles you can cover on a full tank in real coastal cruising conditions.
CRITERIA
How to choose a motor catamaran.
Length and berthing
Below 12 metres, berthing is more accessible and day-to-day management is simpler. Check the available beam at your home port: this is the real constraint of a catamaran, not its length.
Deck type
Centre console for sport and family use in the open air; pilot house if you sail out of season or in bad weather; charter version if you are going to use it commercially.
Motorisation
Two moderately powered engines usually perform better than a single large one: they distribute thrust, provide redundancy and improve harbour manoeuvring.
Construction and materials
Composites with a structural core reduce weight without losing rigidity, and weight is the biggest factor affecting fuel consumption. Always ask about the laminate and the applicable CE certification.
Intended use
Day trips, anchoring and swimming call for deck space and stability; passages require range and protection. Define the use before the model.
Shipyard and after-sales
A European shipyard with its own engineering department shortens lead times for spare parts and allows for customisation. This is a factor that becomes apparent after three years, not on the first day.
THE MAREVA RANGE
A motor catamaran under 12 metres, in three deck versions.
Most of the European motor catamaran offerings start above 40 feet. Mareva Yachts works just below that level: one common platform, three ways to use it.
PILOT HOUSE
Mareva 32 Cabin
Enclosed cabin for sailing in any season and any weather.
Discover 32 CabinCHARTER VERSION
Mareva 32 Charter
Configuration developed with professional charter operators.
Discover 32 CharterIf your use is professional, the Charter Co-Design Program allows you to participate in defining the 32 Charter with the shipyard.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About the motor catamaran.
- What is a motor catamaran?
- It is a motor vessel with two hulls joined by a platform or bridge. By distributing buoyancy between two separate hulls, it gains transverse stability and usable surface area compared to a monohull of the same length, without relying on a sail for propulsion.
- What are its advantages over a monohull?
- Mainly four: less heeling and rolling (both at anchor and underway), more usable deck space, a more consistent cruising speed in heavy seas, and mechanical redundancy by having two separate engines in each hull.
- Does a motor catamaran use more fuel?
- Not necessarily. At cruising speed, a well-designed catamaran maintains a steady speed without the bursts of acceleration that rough seas cause in a monohull, resulting in more consistent fuel consumption and greater real-world range. Fuel consumption depends mainly on the hull design and the chosen motorisation, not the number of hulls.
- Are there motor catamarans under 12 metres?
- It is a segment with little coverage in Europe: most of the offerings start above 40 feet. Mareva Yachts is specifically developing a motor catamaran platform under 12 metres, with three different decks on the same hull.
- Is it a good option for professional charter?
- Yes. The stability at anchor, deck space for passengers and engine redundancy reduce incidents and improve the customer experience. That is why there is a specific version, the Mareva 32 Charter, developed with charter operators.
- Do I need a different licence to helm a motor catamaran?
- No. In Spain, the licence required depends on the vessel's length and power, not its architecture. A motor catamaran under 12 metres is subject to the same requirements as an equivalent monohull.
Want to learn more? In the press room we collect technical analyses on motor catamarans published by international nautical media.