Very little roll
Twin hulls damp the motion that makes people unwell. The single best argument for a catamaran in Komodo.
Two Hulls, Flatter Water
The obvious answer if anyone aboard is unsure about the sea. Wide beam, shallow draft, and more deck than any monohull of the same length.
Catamarans do charter in Komodo, though they are the rarest of the three hull types. Twin hulls cut roll, and the shallow draft reaches coves a deeper boat cannot.
- Typically 12 to 20 metres, with 3 to 6 cabins for 6 to 12 guests.
- A 15 m catamaran carries about 8 m of beam against 4–5 m on a phinisi.
- Over 100 m² of deck, against roughly 60–70 m² on a monohull the same length.
What the second hull buys you
Stability and deck space, mostly. Not speed, and not cabin size.
Shallow draft
Anchors closer in, which opens up coves and beaches a deeper monohull has to admire from a distance.
Deck you can use
Over 100 square metres on a 15 m boat. Trampolines forward, shaded cockpit aft, and room for everyone at once.
3 to 6 cabins
Usually doubles with en-suites, split between the hulls, which keeps couples genuinely separate.
Watermakers
Freshwater tanks of 1,000 to 2,000 litres with makers aboard, so multi-day trips do not run short.
Crew of four to five
Captain, chef and deck crew for eight guests, with dive guides on dive-equipped boats.
Where a shallow draft actually gets you
Komodo is full of sandbars and shelving reef that a deep keel has to stand off from. Taka Makassar is the obvious example — a curved spit of sand that appears and disappears with the tide. A catamaran anchors close enough to step off the tender in ankle-deep water.
- 12–20 m
- Typical length in Komodo
- 6–12
- Guests across 3 to 6 cabins
- 100 m²
- Deck space on a 15 m boat
- ~300 nm
- Bali to Labuan Bajo, if you sail it
You do not sail from Bali
Benoa to Labuan Bajo is roughly 300 nautical miles and two to three days of continuous passage — sea time you spend getting somewhere rather than being there. Almost nobody charters it that way. Fly instead: about 90 minutes from Denpasar, with more than ten departures a day in high season.
Catamarans, answered
Are there catamarans in Komodo?
Yes, but few. Phinisi dominate the Labuan Bajo fleet, so catamaran dates go early and the choice is narrow. Book further ahead than you would for a phinisi.
Is a catamaran more stable than a phinisi?
Under way, clearly twin hulls cut roll. At anchor the difference narrows, because a phinisi has a wide beam of its own and Komodo anchorages are sheltered.
How many guests fit?
Six to twelve, across three to six cabins. A 14 m boat is typically 4 cabins for 8; a 19 m boat can reach 6 cabins for 12.
What does a catamaran charter cost?
Rates are quoted per vessel, and pricing varies across the Komodo fleet depending on tier and cabin count. Catamarans are not priced as a separate bracket tier and cabin count decide the figure, not the number of hulls. Reach out for a quotation to get the exact per-night rate for the vessel and dates you have in mind.
Can I sail from Bali to Komodo?
Physically yes, practically no. It is roughly 300 nautical miles and two to three days each way. Fly to Labuan Bajo in about 90 minutes and start the charter there.
Ask about catamarans
There are few in the fleet, so dates matter more than usual. Send yours and we will tell you what is genuinely free.