Herreshoff Marine Museum
The era of the modern multihull has paralleled innovations in the use of wood. Nathanael Herreshoff designed a series of catamarans, starting with AMARYLLIS in 1876. Her lightweight hulls moved somewhat independently, foreshadowing a design innovation that would come 100 years later.
Wood forms the skeleton of many modern multihulls—creatures more bird than fish. Largely unknown in Europe and the Americas until after World War II, often misunderstood, and sometimes maligned into this millennium, multihulls have evolved hand-in-hand with advances in wood-composite construction. They are rooted in ancient times, but increasingly popular for racing, cruising, and commercial use.