This book takes a broad view of the multihull concept and its design. We go into
some depth on the hydrodynamics of such vessels while also aiming to give the
reader an appreciation of what it takes to create a multihull as a project, where the
underwater configuration is the starting point. A naval architect or marine engineer
will be sensitive to the need to strike a balance between the configuration selection
based on service requirement and the consequences of that choice of vessel geometric form for the structure, powering, motions, and total cost of ownership (TCO).1
This book has evolved a great deal from the early drafts of Profs. Yun and Rong
of MARIC. Initial papers were prepared in the early 2000s for the wave-making and
wake analysis based on the approach used at MARIC in the 1990s. The work was
updated in 2010 by Prof. Yun in preparation for this book with materials for an
introduction to concepts including SWATH, wave piercers and hybrids, resistance
and stability, seakeeping, and design development. Since that time, Alan Bliault has
completed additional chapters regarding propulsion, structural analysis, outfitting,
and project execution and updated the earlier material to incorporate the work of
researchers and engineers primarily in Australia and the UK so as to reflect, to the
extent possible, the global approach to catamaran and multihull design as it stands in
the current decade.
We have used a simplistic approach to analysis so as to encourage students to
experiment with minimal computational tools. Right now (2018) very sophisticated
software is available for line preparation, hydrostatics, and now also much of
hydrodynamic modeling. This book aims to provide an understanding of the analytical background of the concepts to be discussed, so that a student or engineer can
then use these tools with confidence, rather than treating them as a black box.