Guide
Quick answer: winterizing a catamaran
Winterizing a catamaran means doing the usual lay-up tasks twice over — two engines, two sets of systems — and then supporting both hulls evenly on land across a wide footprint. The boat's weight is carried through both keels rather than one, so support is spread across two lines plus the beam between them, not concentrated as on a single-keel monohull.
The main differences from a monohull are the duplicated mechanical work, the wide beam that demands more ground area and careful support placement, and the need to keep the boat level and stable across two hulls. Get the support spacing wrong and a multihull can be unstable or locally overloaded; get it right and it sits very securely.
This guide covers the lay-up and the support. For the general sailing-boat routine, see winterize a sailboat; for how keel boats are supported, see the sailboat stands and keel support guide.
Guide
Laying up the systems — twice
The mechanical side of catamaran winterizing is essentially a monohull's, done for two of most things.
There are usually two engines (or two outboards) to flush, fog and lay up per the maker's procedure, two fuel systems to stabilise, and often duplicated freshwater, heads and bilge systems across the hulls to drain and protect from freezing. Larger cruising cats may add watermakers, generators and more tankage, each needing its own winterizing step. Work hull by hull so nothing is missed, and make sure no water is left to freeze in any cooling passage, tank or line in either hull.
Above deck, the rig, sails and trampoline get the same care as any sailing boat — dried, inspected and stored or protected. The duplication is the main trap: it is easy to complete one hull and overlook the equivalent task in the other. A simple per-hull checklist prevents that. The systems work is independent of how the boat is then supported ashore.
Guide
Supporting both hulls on land
Supporting a multihull is where the biggest difference from a monohull shows, and where getting it right matters most.
The load is carried through both keels, so each hull needs keel support along its length, with side stands steadying the outboard sides and the boat kept level across the beam. Because the footprint is wide, the supports must be placed to keep the whole structure stable — a catamaran is not simply two monohulls, as the bridgedeck and beam tie the hulls together and influence how load is best distributed. More, well-placed supports spreading the load are better than a few hard points.
The number, type and spacing of supports follow the boat's weight, length, beam and hull design. KIPAC manufactures CE-documented keel supports, cradles and stands with traceable capacity and broad protective pads, and can advise on a configuration for a specific multihull during quotation. The wide, even support a catamaran needs is exactly what a planned set of keel supports and stands provides.
Guide
Site, ground and cover for a wide boat
A catamaran's footprint affects where and how it can be stored as much as how it is supported.
Confirm the yard has the ground area and bearing for a wide, multi-line load — the supports concentrate weight at each keel line, so the surface beneath must take it without sinking or shifting. Allow access around and between the hulls for service and inspection. For covering, a wide multihull needs a cover system that sheds water and wind across a large area without trapping condensation against the decks and trampoline; ventilation under the cover matters as on any boat.
Through the season, inspect the supports after storms and temperature swings, checking that both hulls remain evenly loaded and level. The combination of correct support, adequate ground and a well-fitted cover keeps a multihull stable through winter. The support equipment is confirmed against the boat's data at quotation, with cost depending on the configuration rather than a fixed figure.
Guide
Common mistakes winterizing a catamaran
Multihull-specific mistakes cluster around duplication and support.
The first is completing the lay-up on one hull and overlooking the equivalent task — an engine, tank or line — in the other, risking freeze damage. The second is supporting the boat as if it were a monohull, with too few or poorly placed supports for a wide twin-keel structure. The third is ignoring ground bearing under a wide, multi-line load, so a support sinks or shifts. The fourth is leaving the boat unlevel across the beam, loading one hull more than the other.
The fifth is covering a large multihull in a way that traps condensation or cannot withstand winter wind across its area. Plan the support and the cover to the boat's actual beam and weight, and work the systems hull by hull. KIPAC supplies CE-documented keel supports, cradles and stands sized to the multihull at quotation; the engine and systems lay-up follows the relevant manufacturers' procedures.
Checklist
Catamaran winterization checklist
Use a per-hull checklist so each engine, tank and system is laid up in both hulls with nothing overlooked.
Confirm no water is left to freeze in any cooling passage, tank or line in either hull.
Dry and store or protect sails, rigging and the trampoline as on any sailing boat.
Carry the load through both keels with keel supports along each hull and side stands steadying the outboard sides.
Set supports so the boat sits level across the beam, loading both hulls evenly.
Confirm the surface can take a wide, multi-line load without sinking or shifting at any keel line.
Use a cover that sheds water and wind across the wide footprint while letting moisture escape.
Equipment
Related KIPAC equipment
Equipment for lifting and controlled boatyard handling.
View equipment →Technical keel support solutions for load transfer during storage.
View equipment →Adjustable support systems for motorboats in dry storage.
View equipment →Structured storage frames for stable boat support on land.
View equipment →FAQ
FAQ
A catamaran usually has two engines and duplicated systems to lay up, a much wider footprint, and weight carried through two keels rather than one. The mechanical work is essentially a monohull's done twice, while the land support must hold both hulls evenly across a wide beam. The main traps are overlooking a duplicated task in the second hull and supporting the boat as if it had a single keel.
Carry the load through both keels with keel supports along each hull, steady the outboard sides with side stands, and keep the boat level across the beam so both hulls are loaded evenly. Because the footprint is wide, supports must be placed to keep the whole structure stable. The number and spacing depend on the boat's weight, length, beam and hull design, confirmed during quotation.
The same families of equipment — keel supports and side stands — are used, but the configuration is different: two keel lines, wide spacing and even loading across the beam rather than a single-keel setup. A multihull is not simply two monohulls because the bridgedeck ties the hulls together. KIPAC configures keel supports, cradles and stands to the specific multihull's geometry during quotation.
Yes. A catamaran's wide beam needs more ground area than a comparable monohull, and the surface must take a wide, multi-line load without sinking or shifting at each keel line. Allow access around and between the hulls for service. Confirm the yard's space and ground bearing before haul-out, and plan the support layout to the boat's beam and weight.
Yes. KIPAC manufactures CE-documented keel supports, cradles and boat stands with traceable capacity and broad protective pads, which can be configured for a catamaran or other multihull to support both hulls evenly. The right layout depends on the boat's weight, length, beam and hull design and is confirmed with the KIPAC team during quotation.
