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How do I choose a marina for a catamaran?

Cruising catamaran sailing beside an Australian coastal headland
Original editorial image created for TopMarinas. Illustrative only; it does not depict a ranked marina.

Short answer

Check beam clearance at every stage — berth, fairway and travel lift — because beam, not length, is what turns catamarans away. A 12-metre catamaran can need a berth priced and sized for an 18-metre monohull, may not fit between a standard travel lift's uprights at all, and takes up two hardstand spaces. Confirm all three in writing before you commit, and ask specifically whether the yard has a wide lift, a hydraulic trailer or a sealift for multihulls.

We do not yet hold verified maximum-beam figures for any of the marinas in our directory, so we cannot tell you which will take your catamaran. This is a gap we are working on, and until it closes the marina office is the only reliable source.

By Gabriel Machuret · Updated 2026-10-02

How to Choose a Marina for a Catamaran: practical steps

  1. Measure your true beamMaximum beam including rubbing strakes and any hull extensions, not the sales-brochure figure.
  2. Ask about berth type firstSome marinas berth multihulls only on hammerheads or end-ties, which are fewer and often more expensive. Ask how many such berths exist and how often they turn over.
  3. Confirm fairway width for turningA catamaran needs room to swing. The berth fitting is not the same as being able to get into it in a crosswind.
  4. Check how the yard lifts multihullsStandard travel lifts have a fixed distance between uprights. Ask whether they run a wide lift, a hydraulic sealift or a trailer suited to catamarans.
  5. Ask how hardstand is chargedMany yards charge multihulls on footprint or at a multiplier, since a catamaran occupies the space of two monohulls.
  6. Get the berth number, not a general yesConfirmation should name a specific berth with a stated width.

Questions to ask the marina

  • What is the maximum beam you can berth, and in which berths specifically?
  • What is the fairway width for turning into that berth?
  • How do you haul multihulls, and to what beam?
  • How is hardstand charged for a catamaran?

Related boat ownership guides

How do I choose a marina in Australia?

How do I get a marina berth in Australia?

How do I live aboard legally at an Australian marina?
Same length, different spaceMonohullMultihullAsk about the full beam,berth width and handling width.
Same length, different space

Concept illustration, not to scale. Boats of equal length can need different berth widths. Multihull handling also depends on equipment geometry and vessel weight—not only advertised lifting capacity.

TopMarinas explanatory illustration · not to scale

Listings to investigate

These alphabetical examples have a relevant published detail. They are not a ranking or a confirmation of suitability.

Coffs Harbour International MarinaThe published berth types include multihulls; confirm beam and the allocated berth.Hope Harbour MarinaThe published berth types include multihulls; confirm beam and the allocated berth.Marina Martha CoveThe published berth types include multihulls; confirm beam and the allocated berth.

Plan your next step

Choose a cruising regionNarrow the search geographically before comparing individual berths.GCCM vs The Boat WorksCompare two service-led marina options and the handling questions to ask.Prepare your enquirySend dimensions, dates and access requirements together.