Catamaraning is an interesting word. It doesn’t officially exist, but it’s used everywhere. Ask any water sports enthusiast about catamaraning, and they’ll have something to share. On online forums dedicated to the subject, the term pops up regularly, but you won’t find it in specialized literature (it’s not even in Wikipedia).
The logic is simple—catamaraning should refer to navigating rivers on catamarans. However, the broad and versatile term “rafting” (a journey on inflatable rafts) has taken its place and substituted the concept.
White-water river navigation is commonly called rafting. However, rafting specifically refers to trips on rafts. For kayaks, canoes, kayaks, and other watercraft, the unifying term is “river navigation.”
Catamaran vs. Raft: Why Do the Terms Differ?
The difference in terminology stems from the fact that the word “Rafting” was borrowed from American water sports culture. In the U.S., there’s no concept equivalent to “water trekking”: athletes bring all their equipment to the river and practice challenging sections, honing their skills.
A watercraft for tourist rafting up to Class 5 rapids
There’s also a commercial version—a sort of water-based amusement ride, where participants pay to navigate a fairly turbulent but manageable section of river with an experienced guide. Catamarans are less popular there, so for American reality, the term rafting is broad enough.
A catamaran for water tourism
In Russia, commercial rafting trips are gradually replacing catamarans, as assembling and launching a catamaran for a group often takes up to three hours. To better understand the distinction, let’s compare the two types of vessels side by side.
Comparative Table of Inflatable Watercraft
| Catamaran | Raft | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Modular. Rigid thanks to longitudinal elements. Inflatable pontoons connected by a frame. | Semi-rigid inflatable boat with cross-sectional inflatable support tubes. Floor is detachable. |
| Buoyancy | Cannot fill with water. | Natural drainage of water. |
| River difficulty levels | All levels. | Up to Class 5, easier routes. |
| Tourism type | Sports routes, recreational, and multi-day trekking. | Day tours, group recreation, and entertainment. |
| Safety | Hard to capsize; easy to climb onto even when overturned. | In case of capsizing, it's impossible to right-side the raft directly on the water. |
| Passenger seating | Seated astride the pontoons or crouched. Requires an even number of participants. | Seated semi-sideways on the tube with legs inside the boat. |
| River types | Suitable for shallow streams. | Deep draft makes it unsuitable for shallow waters. |
| Maneuverability | Optimally designed for gliding across water. | High frontal resistance. |
| Weight, kg | From 25 kg. | From 15 kg. |
Catamarans appeared in Russia much earlier and, for several reasons, are far more widespread. Why river navigation on domestic catamarans didn’t get its own distinct name remains a mystery. Most likely, the term wasn’t deemed necessary because the activity could simply be called a river trek on a catamaran. In any case, that’s exactly the phrase used in route logs.
Why is It Important to Differentiate the Terms?
In Russia, water tourism exists in its classic form, inherited from the Soviet school of water sports. This involves following routes complete with all their unique challenges: tricky setups and breakdowns, portages, obstacles, and bypasses.
The sporting aspect is just one component of this broader endeavor. It’s no coincidence that water enthusiasts call themselves tourists rather than athletes. The essence of this practice goes well beyond the definition of rafting, even without considering the type of watercraft being used.
The first Soviet catamaran design by I. Sizov
Do not overlook such a subtle point as national pride. The sports catamaran was created in the Soviet Union, and it was on this vessel that our water sports enthusiasts managed to navigate the country’s most challenging routes. How it was developed is described in detail in the article
History of the Origin of Catamaraning
. Everyone involved in water tourism is well aware of this fact, so not every catamaran enthusiast would agree to call their favorite pastime “rafting” in honor of a foreign boat.
The Term “Catamaraning” is Necessary
One could debate the need to differentiate concepts for a long time, but in conclusion, it’s worth presenting undeniable facts:
- In our country, the primary form of water-related extreme activity is water tourism. While there are also sports and commercial rafting tours, they represent a less widespread phenomenon;
- For navigating turbulent rivers, catamarans remain the primary vessel. They are convenient for transportation, familiar, and allow traversal of complex obstacles.
Based on this alone, the term “catamaraning” can and should exist. It will help to avoid confusion and more accurately convey the essence of the activity.
