Sailing Catamaran or Power Catamaran for a Day in the Andaman Sea?

If you are choosing a catamaran for a private day out from Phuket, the sailing-or-power question is less dramatic than it sounds. Both are two-hulled boats with wide, level decks. The difference is mainly in how the boat moves between stops, what the deck looks like, and how much the day depends on the wind.

This guide explains those differences in practical terms, so you can decide whether sailing is something to ask for, or whether the type of catamaran hardly matters for the day you have in mind.

The short answer

• Choose a sailing catamaran if the idea of the sails going up is part of what you want, and you are relaxed about the fact that the wind, the route and the captain decide whether it happens.
• Choose a power catamaran if you care more about predictable crossings and reaching your stops, and the sailing itself is not the point.
• For most day trips, the specific boat matters more than the category: its size, shade, layout, departure pier and route.

What the two types have in common

Both are catamarans, so they share the main reasons people pick a catamaran in the first place. Discover Boating, the consumer site of the US National Marine Manufacturers Association, notes that catamarans stay level, which makes it easier for people to move around on the flat deck. The Catamaran Company, a broker that sells both types, says both deliver a level of comfort that traditional monohulls struggle to match.

So whichever you choose, you can expect a broad, steady platform compared with a single-hulled boat. If you are still deciding between a catamaran and a speedboat, start with our catamaran or speedboat comparison first.

How they move: wind, engines and the captain's call

This is the difference that matters most on a day charter.

A power catamaran is driven by its engines. Discover Boating describes power cats as having larger engines than their sailing cousins and no masts or sails. The Catamaran Company puts the practical benefit simply: you are not waiting for a wind shift or making compromises based on what the weather is doing.

A sailing catamaran can use the wind, but sailing charter boats are not wind-only. Discover Boating notes that charter cats typically have two engines, one in each hull, to manoeuvre. (By contrast, it says small daysailing cats typically have no auxiliary engine and rely on sails alone.) In other words, a sailing catamaran on a charter can also motor, and whether it sails on your day is a decision, not a given.

The charter service behind this site says the same thing about its own boats. On its catamaran charter page, Blue Andaman states that a sailing experience is available on suitable catamarans, subject to conditions, and that whether and how much they sail depends on the boat, the route, the wind and the captain's decision.

Two general points from Discover Boating help explain why:

• Sailing catamarans don't necessarily sail as well upwind as monohulls, so a route that heads into the wind may not suit sailing.
• Power catamarans' bigger motors give them higher top speeds.

What this means for you: if your heart is set on sailing, do not choose a boat by its label alone. Ask the operator, for your date and route, whether the sails are likely to go up, for roughly how long, and what happens if the wind does not cooperate.

Deck layout: what changes on board

The most visible difference is the mast. A sailing catamaran has a mast, rigging and sails, and the deck and storage are designed around them. According to The Catamaran Company, power designs can use the space that would otherwise go to a mast, rigging and sail storage for living space instead.

On a day trip, that can affect:

• Where people sit while the boat is moving. On a sailing catamaran, some areas may be off-limits or busy while the crew handles the sails. Ask where guests can sit under way.
• Shade. Shade comes from roofs, biminis and the saloon on both types, and varies a lot between boats. Ask whether there is shade for everyone at the same time.
• Space for larger groups. Size matters more than type here. In Blue Andaman's listings, the one catamaran described as a sailing catamaran is a 78 ft double-deck boat for up to 120 guests, while the smaller catamarans are 40 to 47 ft boats for 20 to 30 guests.

Rather than relying on general rules, look at photos of the exact boat and ask the operator to describe where you will spend the crossing and where you will spend the stops.

Speed, range and fuel, in general terms

There are no reliable "typical" speeds or crossing times to quote here: they depend on the specific boat, its engines, the load, the route and the sea. The general principles from the sources are:

• Power catamarans have bigger motors and higher top speeds (Discover Boating), and consume significantly more fuel than sailing catamarans (The Catamaran Company).
• Sailing catamarans can use the wind, which is free; The Catamaran Company notes that a well-designed sailing catamaran can cover long distances on very little fuel.

For a single day around Phuket, that range advantage is mostly academic: what you notice is whether the boat gets you to the islands you want within your charter hours. Ask the operator for the expected crossing time to each stop for the exact boat, and whether fuel for that route is included in the quote.

Wind and the season

If you are hoping to sail, it helps to know the broad pattern of the seasons. According to the government's thailand.go.th guide, Thailand's rainy season runs from about mid-May to mid-October, when the southwest monsoon covers the country, and the winter season from about mid-October to mid-February, when the northeast monsoon takes over.

More wind is not automatically better for a day trip. During the southwest monsoon the Andaman Sea can be rough: on 28 May 2026, the Thai Meteorological Department reported a rather strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, with waves of 2 to 3 metres in the upper Andaman Sea from Phuket northward, and advised small boats in that area to keep ashore. On days like that, the question is not which catamaran but whether to go, and which sheltered route the captain recommends.

Season also affects which boats run where. In Blue Andaman's fleet listings, for example, one catamaran is shown departing from Nakalay Pier only from November to April.

What Blue Andaman's listings show

If you are browsing the full Blue Andaman fleet, it is worth knowing how the catamarans are described. On the day this article was written, seven catamarans were listed. One, a 78 ft double-deck boat, is described as a sailing catamaran. None is described as a power or motor catamaran, and the listings for the other six do not say whether they are sailing or power boats.

So, rather than filtering by "sailing" or "power", ask directly: does this boat have a mast and sails, and is sailing realistic on my route and date?

Which one should you choose?

• Sailing is the highlight of your day: ask for a sailing catamaran, choose a route and date the captain thinks suit sailing, and accept that the engines may still do part of the work.
• You want the most islands or the least time crossing: a power catamaran, or simply the boat the operator recommends for that route, is the more predictable choice.
• You want a relaxed day with swimming, lunch and shade: either type works. Pick by size, layout, shade, pier and route.

When you have a shortlist, send your date and group size and ask the questions below.

Questions to ask before you book

• Is this boat a sailing catamaran or a power catamaran?
• On our route and date, is it likely to sail, and for roughly how much of the day?
• What happens to the plan if there is too little or too much wind?
• What is the expected crossing time to each stop for this exact boat?
• Where can guests sit, and where is there shade, while the boat is moving?
• Is fuel for the planned route included in the price?
• Which pier does the boat leave from, and is that pier used in this season?
• Are there life jackets on board in the right sizes for every guest, including children?