Catamaran Storage in Miami: The Beam Problem Solved (2026)

Miami is one of America's catamaran capitals — charter fleets, liveaboard cruisers, and weekend sailors running Biscayne Bay on Hobies and Prindles. But cats break the storage industry's mold: a 38ft cruising cat is 20-25 feet wide, wider than most storage lanes, and lifts rated for monohulls can't always take the beam. Here's where catamarans actually fit in Miami, what it costs, and the hurricane math that's unique to multihulls.

The Beam Problem

Standard storage infrastructure assumes 8-10ft beam. Catamarans blow past that:

A cruising cat effectively rents the footprint of 2-3 monohull spaces — and gets billed accordingly.

Storage Options by Cat Size

General boat storage landscape in our Miami boat storage cost guide — apply the beam multiplier below.

Trailerable Cats: Beach Cats to 26ft

The easy end of the spectrum. A Hobie 16 on a trailer needs nothing special — any trailer yard at $80-$150/month works. Mid-size trailerables (Gemini 105Mc with telescoping beams, Corsair/Dragonfly folding trimarans) collapse to 8-9ft wide and fit standard oversized spaces at $150-$300/month. The catch: setup time. Folding a tri for storage then re-rigging for a weekend sail runs 60-90 minutes — fine for seasonal storage, annoying for weekly use. Many Miami tri owners split the difference: wide open yard space ($250-$400) with the boat unfolded but on the trailer.

Cruising Cats: Yards, Cradles & Lifts

For 30ft+ cruising cats, your real options shrink fast:

• Miami River boatyards: The working yards along the river handle cats with proper cradles — the only infra built for them. $15-$30/ft/month on the hard.
• Travel lift limits: Most Miami lifts max at 25-30ft beam inside the slings. Cats over ~26ft beam need the big

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  lifts — call the yard before hauling; showing up too wide is an expensive tow home.
• Marina hardstands: Dinner Key and south Dade marinas have hardstand areas that take cats at a beam premium.
• Dry storage racks: no. Dry-stack facilities cannot rack catamarans — see our dry-stack guide for why monohulls get this option and cats don't.

Charter cats: If you're storing a cat between charter seasons, negotiate the hardstand rate quarterly — yards discount long stays 10-20%.

Hurricane Reality for Multihulls

Cats have one brutal storm weakness: they can't sink — they flip. A cat that capsizes in a marina takes neighboring boats with it. The Miami playbook:

• On the hard beats in the water: A strapped-down cat on stands survives what a wet-slip cat won't. Yards offer hurricane haul-outs at $30-$50/ft/event.
• In-water survival: If hauled isn't possible, move to a hurricane hole with open water around — the danger is the dock, not the wind. Mangrove creeks in south Biscayne Bay are the traditional refuge.
• Strip the windage: Boom off, sails off, Bimini down, loose gear below. A cat's windage is double a monohull's.
• Insurance check: Many cat policies require documented named-storm plans for Miami — the yard contract often satisfies it. Full prep details in our hurricane storage guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does catamaran storage cost in Miami?

Beach cats and trailerables store for $150-$300/month. Cruising cats 30-50ft pay $500-$1,200/month at boatyards — priced per foot of length with a beam premium, since a cat occupies 2-3 times the footprint of a monohull.

Can catamarans use dry stack storage in Miami?

No — dry-stack racks are built for monohulls with narrow beams. Catamarans 8-30ft wide can't rack. Cats store on trailers, boatyard cradles/hardstands, or wet slips sized for multihulls.

What travel lift can haul a catamaran?

Most Miami lifts handle up to 25-30ft beam. Cruising cats over ~26ft beam need the larger lifts at specific Miami River and south Dade yards — always confirm beam capacity before booking a haul-out.

Is a catamaran safer stored on land or in the water for hurricanes?

On land, strapped down — dramatically safer. A cat's double windage and flip risk make wet slips dangerous in named storms. Hurricane haul-outs run $30-$50/ft per event at Miami yards.

Can I store a folding trimaran in a regular storage space?

Yes — C

orsair and Farrier trimarans fold to 8-9ft beam and fit standard oversized spaces at $150-$300/month, the cheapest multihull storage in Miami. The trade-off is 60-90 minutes of setup each time you sail.