Catamarán (Catamaran)

Un catamarán es un tipo de embarcación o buque que consiste en dos cascos unidos por un marco. Pueden ser propulsados a vela o motor. La palabra catamarán viene del tamil kaṭṭumaram, donde kaṭṭu es paquete y maram árbol (Lit. «troncos unidos»). El pirata y aventurero británico William Dampier, fue el primero en describir catamaranes en 1697, que había visto en la región de Tamil Nadu (India), mientras navegaba por el golfo de Bengala. El catamarán era usado por los paravas, una comunidad de pescadores en la costa sur de Tamil Nadú, y la antigua dinastía tamil chola los empleaba desde el siglo V d. C. para trasportar sus tropas a conquistar regiones del Sudeste Asiático, como Birmania, Indonesia y Malasia. En épocas prehistóricas, hace 3 o 4 milenios, los navegantes austronesios utilizaron canoas de doble casco para colonizar la Polinesia y asentarse en el grupo de islas más extendido del planeta. Los catamaranes son diseños relativamente nuevos en lo que respecta a las embarcaciones modernas de ocio o trabajo, y tuvieron que enfrentarse con un gran escepticismo por parte de algunos marineros acostumbrados a diseños más «tradicionales». A partir del concepto que representa este tipo de buque surgieron nuevas propuestas, diseños y patentes, que han dado lugar a los conocidos como FOILCAT o los WAVE-PIERCING de dos cascos flotantes.


A catamaran ("cat" for short) is a multihulled vessel consisting of two parallel hulls of equal size. A catamaran is geometry-stabilized, that is, it derives its stability from its wide beam, rather than having a ballasted keel like a monohull. Being ballast-free and lighter than a monohull, a catamaran can have a very shallow draught. The two hulls will be much finer than a monohull's, the reduced drag allowing faster speeds. A sailing multihull will heel much less than a sailing monohull, so its sails spill less wind and are more efficient. The limited heeling means the ride may be more comfortable for passengers and crew, although catamarans can exhibit an unsettling "hobby-horse" motion. Unlike a self-righting monohull, if a gust causes a sailing catamaran to capsize, it may be impossible to right the multihull; but having no ballast, an upturned catamaran will be unlikely to sink. A catamaran's two hulls are joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas. More sophisticated catamarans combine accommodation into the bridging superstructure. Catamarans may be driven by sail and/or engine. Originally catamarans were small yachts, but now some ships and ferries have adopted this hull layout because it allows increased speed, stability and comfort. The catamaran concept is a relative newcomer for Western boat designers, although they have been used since time immemorial among the Dravidian people, in South India. Catamarans were developed independently in Oceania, where Polynesian catamarans and outrigger canoes allowed seafaring Polynesians to voyage to the remotest Pacific islands. In recreational sailing, catamarans and trimarans initially met some skepticism from Western sailors versed in traditional ballasted monohull designs.