Multihull boating has moved decisively from the margins into the mainstream, and by early 2026 that transition is no longer a matter of debate. Across both sailing and power categories, catamarans and trimarans have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential segments of the global marine industry, reshaping expectations around space, efficiency, comfort, and purpose.
Monohulls still account for the largest share of total production, but that lead is narrowing. Industry analysts now suggest that, excluding dinghies (for example, Nacra), production of multihulls for liveaboard and cruising use could reach parity with monohulls within the next year. If that milestone is reached, it will signal a structural shift in the market rather than a passing cycle, reflecting sustained changes in buyer preference and where manufacturers are directing their investment.
The reasons behind this rise are well understood. Against a monohull of similar length, a multihull typically offers far greater usable deck and interior space, negligible heel underway, shallow draft suited to exploring anchorages, and strong manoeuvrability, including in tight marina environments. Families, charter operators, and long-range cruisers have all responded accordingly.
Technological innovation has kept pace with demand. Solar electric propulsion, hybrid drivetrains, lightweight composite structures, and performance hull forms are no longer experimental ideas appearing at the fringes of a boat show. They are now everyday design tools shaping new launches and award winners across both sail and power categories.
International boat shows and award programmes increasingly mirror this momentum. Multihull-only events have grown in scale and influence, with the International Multihull Show in La Grande Motte the clearest example, expanding steadily in boat numbers, exhibitor diversity, and global participation. Dedicated powercat marinas, innovation zones, and expanded on-water presentations underline that multihulls now justify purpose-built events rather than a shared corner within a general show.
The market itself has fractured into highly specialised sub-segments. Performance cruisers, eco-focused powercats, charter-optimised platforms, offshore speed machines, and electric day boats now coexist, each tuned to a distinct mission rather than any compromise-driven, catch-all design.
New Zealand's connection to multihull thinking runs deep. In the late 1970s, Auckland designer Malcolm Tennant was already developing small, high-speed catamarans, most notably the Great Barrier Express, conceived for efficient cruising in the Hauraki Gulf. At roughly the same time, Europe's Micromultihull class was pushing the boundaries of trailerable multihull design and generating real interest among local experimenters.
Although the Micromultihull rule never formally established itself in New Zealand, the design work, construction, and modification it inspired continued for decades. That accumulated knowledge fed directly into the creation of the 8.5 Class in 2004, built largely around the dimensions and evolution of the Great Barrier Express platform. The class gave formal shape to what had already been proven on the water: that compact multihulls could deliver speed, efficiency, and everyday practicality in equal measure.
That pattern of early experimentation followed by long-term refinement continues to define New Zealand's contribution to the multihull world.
Kiwi designers and builders have long operated ahead of broader market acceptance, contributing to multihull development well before the wider industry caught up. Most established New Zealand yards have, at some point, designed or built a catamaran, powercat, or multihull concept, even when commercial timing did not always reward the effort.
That timing has now arrived.
New Zealand Yachts has returned to the global stage with a wave-piercing multihull concept that finally aligns with contemporary superyacht demand. Its narrow demi-hull platform delivers exceptional stability, redundancy, and fuel efficiency, uniting multihull hydrodynamics with superyacht scale and presence. What felt radical two decades ago now fits a market seeking long-range capability, charter flexibility, and composed performance in demanding conditions.
The lineage behind the current Voodoo Yachts range traces back to earlier New Zealand experimentation. The foil-assisted powercat Souvenir marked a significant moment in multihull powerboat design, pairing high-speed planing hulls with a fixed foil to reduce drag and fuel burn. Designed by Roger Hill and built by Pachoud Yachts, it demonstrated how foil assistance could produce both efficiency and sustained performance at 30-knot cruising speeds.
That thinking has since evolved into larger, more ambitious platforms. The evolved Souvenir, Voodoo XF75 signals a step change in large multihull design, combining hydrofoil-assisted efficiency with sustained 50-knot performance. Developed in New Zealand, it delivers long-range capability, reduced fuel consumption, and interior volume that belongs to a far larger yacht, redefining what a high-speed multihull can realistically achieve. With a new model coming to market soon, the Voodoo space continues to attract considerable attention.
Roger Hill's design influence is visible across several distinct yards and programmes. The Valder Sprint 20S and the Nic de Mey Yachts Spaceship 60 both carry recognisable Hill characteristics, particularly in hull proportions, internal flow, and the considered relationship between helm position, living spaces, and propulsion geometry. Hill's long-standing focus on efficiency, balance, and practical real-world use has produced a coherent design language across multiple builders.
The Valder Sprint 20S itself is a strong example of the performance-luxury hybrid. Designed by Roger Hill and built by Scott Lane Builders, the 26-metre powercat combines offshore racing DNA with bespoke luxury execution, surface-piercing propulsion, and foiling technology to deliver high-speed efficiency alongside genuine superyacht comfort.
New Zealand's reach also extends into the emerging electric leisure space. The Vessev VS–9 Skye represents a shift toward simpler, people-centred day boating. Built on a lightweight catamaran platform with fully retractable foils and battery-electric propulsion, the Skye reframes hydrofoiling as a comfort tool rather than a performance statement, cutting noise, impact, and fatigue while encouraging longer, more relaxed time on the water.
At the custom end of the market, Tauranga-based Nic de Mey Yachts has been channelling race-bred carbon expertise into serious long-range multihulls. The Spaceship 60, drawn by Roger Hill, uses semi-displacement hulls and lightweight composite construction to achieve high cruising speeds with exceptional efficiency and range. It exemplifies how New Zealand's composite craftsmanship is shaping owner-driven, purpose-built catamarans for serious global passagemaking.
The New Zealand-designed and built Earthling E 40 offers another dimension to this story. Confirmed for the International Multihull Show 2026, this hybrid powercat integrates twin electric motors, solar generation, and low-consumption diesel charging within a lightweight multihull platform. Quiet electric coastal operation, efficient long-range cruising, and system redundancy take clear priority over outright speed, reflecting a growing buyer segment focused on energy management and operational simplicity.
The technical and commercial maturity of the sector is reinforced by recent award results. The 2025 International Multihull Show award programmes recognised a diverse spread of vessels across cruising, power, and performance categories.
In the Sail Cruising category, judges highlighted designs including the Leopard 46, New 41, and Lagoon 43, citing their balance of liveability, ease of handling, and genuine cruising practicality. The Multipower category reflected the rapid evolution of powercats, with awards going to platforms such as the 60 Sunreef Power Eco, Silent 62, and Aquila 50 Yacht, demonstrating how silent operation, extended range, and luxury can coexist without sacrificing efficiency. Sail Performance honours went to the Dragonfly 36, HH52, and Cure 55, all emphasising lightweight construction, advanced sail handling, and high average passage speeds rather than headline numbers.
These results illustrate how broad and sophisticated the multihull market has become, with clear differentiation between design intent, operating profile, and buyer expectation.
By early 2026, the market no longer produces a single benchmark boat. Clear leaders have emerged within tightly defined missions. Performance cruisers such as the Outremer 55 prioritise speed-to-comfort ratios and the ability to sail at or near wind speed in moderate conditions. Eco-luxury platforms like the 60 Sunreef Power Eco focus on energy autonomy and low-impact cruising. Performance-oriented sailing cats such as the HH44 offer a monohull-like helm feel combined with multihull speed and volume. Historical icons like the Lagoon 380 continue to shape the used market, while extreme offshore platforms such as the MOD 70 represent the outer edge of what the category can do.
This diversity reflects a healthy, mature market where buyers select boats based on genuine intended use rather than aspiration alone.
Momentum continues into 2026, with the International Multihull Show already confirming multiple world premieres. Among the most anticipated launches are the Whisper 50 electric catamaran, Simbad 55 sailing catamaran, Outremer 48 performance cruiser, and a new generation of powercats including the Aventura 37 Explorer, Aventura 56 MY, and the AY60 from Adventure Yachts. For the first time, more power multihulls than sailing multihulls are expected to debut at the show, reinforcing the accelerating shift toward efficient, multi-engine platforms for both long-range and coastal use.
The multihull story carries equal weight in the New Zealand second-hand market, where demand spans cruising, performance, and power designs. Listings range from expedition-capable powercats such as the Schionning Alaskan, through performance cruisers like the Nautitech Open 40, to mainstream family platforms including the Lagoon 40. Older designs such as the Kennex 380 and Ekman 40 continue to attract interest, while specialist platforms like the Multiplast 82 and Perry 43 draw experienced owners seeking proven offshore pedigree.
These listings confirm that multihulls are no longer the preserve of a single type of buyer. From family cruising to high-performance offshore passages, the sector now mirrors the depth and maturity of the wider boating market.
What was once considered an alternative choice has become an established one. Many modern multihull designs are readily sailed single-handed, broadening their appeal further still. They are defined by clarity of purpose, technological confidence, and a genuine alignment with how people actually use their boats on the water.
