Power Catamaran Krabi: Fast, Stable and Roomy Private Charters

It is a quarter past ten on Ao Nang beach, the long-tails are queuing at the waterline, and your group of fifteen is trying to work out how grandparents, two toddlers and a birthday cake will fit into one narrow wooden hull. That is usually the moment people start asking about a power catamaran Krabi charter instead. Two hulls, a wide deck, a roof over your heads and room for everyone to sit together.

This guide covers the two power catamarans available in Krabi, what they cost for the whole boat, where they go, and the honest trade-offs against a sailing catamaran or a long-tail. No hype, just what years of days on this water have taught.

Power catamaran Krabi charters: what are the two boats?

Charter Krabi offers two power catamarans for private hire: a 40 ft boat for up to 25 guests and a 72 ft boat for up to 70 guests. Both are custom-built motor catamarans with four double cabins, and both come with captain and crew for your group only.

The Power Catamaran 40ft is 12 m long. It is the practical choice for a family reunion, two or three families travelling together, or a group of friends who want space without paying for a boat twice the size. Up front there is a mesh net, the same as on a sailing catamaran, where you can lie right above the water.

The Power Catamaran 72ft is 22 m long and is the biggest boat in the Charter Krabi line-up. It is built for numbers: company outings, weddings and big celebrations where forty or fifty people need to be on one deck. It has the same bow net, plus a shaded upper deck that works as a natural gathering point.

Both boats carry the same toys: snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddle board, a kayak and a fancy swim ring. You can compare both side by side on the page for motor yacht and power catamaran charters in Krabi, which lists every route with its price.

How is a power catamaran different from a sailing catamaran or a long-tail?

A power catamaran moves on engines, so the day runs to a plan and does not depend on the wind. A sailing catamaran has the same two-hull stability but a slower, more relaxed rhythm, while a long-tail is a small open wooden boat that feels closer to the water and to local life.

Two hulls mean less rolling than a single hull. That matters on the Andaman Sea, where even on a calm day there can be a low swell between the islands. People who get queasy on a long-tail often feel fine on a catamaran, although nobody can promise that, so take your usual precautions if you are prone to seasickness.

The engines also make a difference on longer routes. Hong Island is a full-day trip, and on a power catamaran the crossing is usually a steady, predictable run rather than a slow sail that depends on the breeze. If you want to see a sail go up and feel the boat heel a little, a sailing catamaran is the more romantic choice. If you want to get there, swim, eat and get back on time, the engines win.

Here is how the three types compare on the things that usually decide it:

My honest view: for two to six people a long-tail is charming and cheaper, and you can read more about them on the page for private long-tail boats in Krabi. For a couple or a small group who want to sail, look at the sailing catamarans in Krabi. Once you pass about ten people, or have small children and older relatives together, the power catamaran starts to make real sense.

How much does a power catamaran cost in Krabi?

The 40 ft power catamaran costs from ฿22,000 for a half day to ฿32,000 for a Hong Island full day, and the 72 ft costs from ฿35,000 for a 2-hour river cruise to ฿75,000 for a full day at Koh Hong. These are prices for the whole boat, not per person.

On both boats the price covers 1-10 guests. Each extra adult adds ฿600 and each child aged 3-12 adds ฿300, up to the boat's maximum. That structure is what makes a power catamaran good value for big groups: the per-guest top-up is small compared with the base price.

Included on both boats: captain and crew, accident insurance, the fuel surcharge, a dinghy, coffee and tea, soft drinks and ice, seasonal fruits and snacks, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, full safety equipment, a stand-up paddle board and a kayak. A full lunch is not on that list, so if you want a proper meal on a full day, raise it with the manager when you book.

What is not in the price: national park fees where they apply. Hong Island sits inside a national park, and the park fee is paid on the day. Ask for the current amount before you go, because these fees can change.

Which routes can you do on a power catamaran from Krabi?

The 40 ft boat runs the 4 Islands as a half or full day and goes to Hong Island for a full day; the 72 ft adds a short Krabi River cruise and does the 4 Islands in 4 hours or Koh Hong in a full day.

The 4 Islands route covers Poda Island, Chicken Island, the Talay Waek sandbar and Railay. The islands are close to the coast, which is why a half day works well here. On the full day you visit the same islands with more time at each stop, which matters if you have kids who will not want to leave the sandbar or friends who want a long snorkel at Chicken Island.

Hong Island is the bigger day. The 40 ft boat visits Hong Island, Pak Bia Island, Lading Island and the lagoon inside Koh Hong, where the cliffs close around calm green water. If your group has only one day at sea, this is the route I would pick: it feels further from the crowds than the 4 Islands, and the lagoon is the kind of place people remember. The page on Hong Island charters from Krabi explains the stops in more detail.

The Krabi River cruise on the 72 ft boat is a 2-hour trip past a fish farm and the mangrove forest. It is not an island day: it is a gentle cruise that works for a corporate welcome, an evening with drinks or older guests who do not want to swim. It gets its own article soon, so here it is enough to know it exists.

A word on seasons. From about May to October the south-west monsoon brings swell to the Andaman Sea, and routes can change or be cancelled on rough days. A catamaran handles more than a long-tail, but the crew decides on the morning, and safety comes first.

Who books a power catamaran in Krabi, and who should not?

Power catamarans are booked mostly by groups of ten or more who want to stay together on one deck: families across three generations, friends celebrating something, and companies on an outing.

These are the groups that get the most from one:

• Big families with small children and grandparents, who need shade, a toilet, somewhere to sit inside and a stable deck for walking around.
• Birthday, hen and stag groups, who want music, space to dance a little and a photo spot on the bow net.
• Company teams and incentive groups, especially on the 72 ft, which takes up to 70 guests.
• Groups mixing swimmers and non-swimmers, since the deck is comfortable enough for the people who stay on board.
• Anyone on a tight holiday schedule who needs the day to start and end on time.

Who should choose something else? Couples looking for quiet romance will find a 40 ft motor catamaran a lot of boat for two. A long-tail or a sailing catamaran fits that mood better. Travellers on a budget with four or five people will also get better value from a long-tail.

And if your group wants Phi Phi, these two boats are not the answer: neither lists a Phi Phi route. For that day, look at the sailing catamarans, which do run there.

What is on board a power catamaran?

Expect a covered deck, an indoor saloon, four double cabins, a small galley and water toys. It feels less like a day boat and more like a floating living room.

The saloon is the underrated part. On a hot afternoon in March or April, having a cool, shaded room to retreat to makes the difference between a long day and a tiring one. Small children nap there, older guests read there, and phones get charged out of the spray.

The cabins are useful for changing out of wet swimwear and for anyone who needs a quiet lie-down. The galley keeps drinks and ice cold for the whole day. Outside, the bow net is where most of the photos happen, and the swim ring, kayak and paddle board keep teenagers busy at every stop.

One practical tip: the toys are shared by the whole group. On a boat with twenty-five people, one paddle board and one kayak will have a queue. If water sports are the main point of your day, mention it when you book so the crew can plan the stops around it.

40ft or 72ft: which power catamaran fits your group?

Choose by headcount first: up to 25 guests fits the 40 ft, and more than 25 means the 72 ft. After that, the route decides.

The 40 ft is the more flexible boat. It offers a 4 Islands half day in the morning or afternoon, a full 4 Islands day and a Hong Island day, all at prices that make sense for groups of ten to twenty. For most families and friend groups, this is the one. Its routes and inclusions are on the Power Catamaran 40ft page.

The 72 ft is for the big occasions. Above 25 guests there is no other option, and the size gives you space to set up a party, a buffet or a team event. The 2-hour river cruise is also a handy short format that the 40 ft does not offer. See the full details on the Power Catamaran 72ft page.

If you are around ten guests and still undecided, the 40 ft suits a relaxed family day and the 72 ft suits a group that is really an event:

Power catamaran Max 25 persons Power Catamaran 40ft From฿22,000 Power catamaran Max 70 persons Power Catamaran 72ft From฿35,000

For groups under ten who like the catamaran idea but want to sail, the Lavezzi 40 and Blue Atoll are worth a look before you decide.

Tips for booking a power catamaran day

Book early for weekends and the high season, tell the manager your exact headcount with children's ages, and agree on food before the day. These three things prevent most of the small problems I see on board.

1. Count your group carefully. The price covers 1-10 guests, and the extra charge depends on adults versus children aged 3-12, so a correct count means a correct final price.
2. Pick morning or afternoon for the half day based on your crowd. Mornings are cooler and calmer for kids; the 14:00-19:00 slot suits groups who like a late start and an evening return.
3. Ask about lunch. Snacks and fruit are included, but a full meal is not on the list.
4. Bring cash for the park fee if you go to Hong Island.
5. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, hats and a dry bag for phones.
6. Check the weather the evening before in the monsoon months, and keep a backup day if you can.

The request is free and non-binding: send your date and group size from the boat page or on WhatsApp, and a manager confirms availability and the final price.

Ready to choose your boat?

Every boat page shows the routes, prices and what is included. The booking request is free: a manager checks the boat is free on your date and confirms the price.

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Updated 7 November 2026. Prices can change: the boat page always shows the current price.