The eclectic history of the Catamaran

The odd Catamaran dates back to the 15th century, where the first recorded history of it was in 1697, in the southeastern coast of India. He described it as “two light logs, that carry but one man, whose legs are always in the water.” This odd contraption sparked the interest of this particular Englishmen, but more widespread interest would not be prevalent until nearly 200 years later.

American Nathanael Herreshoff developed his own version of the Catamaran in 1877, his new boats showed increased performance and better sailing quality than any that had come before him. After winning several races, the boat was banned from racing until the 1970′s. This type of boat remained largely unpopular, being considered, largely a novelty boat. It wasn’t until the late 1950′s that the boat became more seriously looked at, and valued for it’s ease of use and stability. The mid 20th century became a boon for these boats, as they became extremely popular for their own specific brand of racing, gaining in popularity until they reached their present state today. They continue, however, to be more popular in Europe than they do in the United States of America. And for the future of Catamarans? Only time can tell.