Catamaran, << `kat` uh muh RAN, >> is a raftlike boat that has two hulls. In the United States, catamarans are used mainly as pleasure boats. Their light weight and two slim, shallow hulls allow catamarans to slip through the water with little resistance. The design was developed from outrigger boats used by the Polynesians and Malays for thousands of years.
Catamarans can be powered by sail or by motor. Most of the boats are less than 40 feet (12 meters) long. Some racing catamarans, designed for long ocean races, may be more than 70 feet (21 meters) long. They have sailing rigs that may drive them at speeds up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour.
