Naval Engineering · Catamaranes Contoy · Yucatán, Mexico

From our factory in Yucatán, every catamaran we build begins a journey that goes far beyond our facilities. Today, vessels manufactured by Catamaranes Contoy sail in destinations such as Cancún, Riviera Maya, Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, and other points across the Caribbean.

Behind every vessel lie hundreds of hours of engineering, design, lamination, installation, testing, and specialized work, all carried out in Mexico.

Catamaran construction in Mexico

Mexico has a strong maritime tradition, especially along the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. However, the manufacturing of commercial and tourist catamarans is a highly specialized sector that demands expertise in naval engineering, composite materials, and advanced construction processes.

In Yucatán, Catamaranes Contoy has developed vessels designed specifically for the operating conditions of the Caribbean, prioritizing safety, efficiency, and durability.

Mexican-built catamarans operating in the Caribbean

Caribbean waters present particular challenges: high temperatures, constant sun exposure, saline environments, and intensive tourist operations. For this reason, vessels must be able to offer:

Today, vessels built in Mexico operate in some of the most important tourist destinations in the Caribbean:

Each destination represents a new story, and a new test of what Mexican engineering can achieve.

Competing in an industry with over a century of history

The global catamaran industry has historically been dominated by manufacturers with decades, even centuries, of experience. Building vessels in Mexico and competing internationally means taking on significant challenges in design, production, quality, and service.

At the same time, it's an opportunity to prove that Mexican engineering and manufacturing can compete in international markets and operate successfully in some of the most demanding destinations in the Caribbean.

Mexican engineering for nautical tourism

The growth of maritime tourism in the Caribbean has increased demand for vessels that are reliable, efficient, and built to meet the needs of tour operators.

Catamarans built in Yucatán do more than carry passengers — they represent the Mexican industry's ability to design, manufacture, and export high-value-added products.

Proudly made in Mexico

Every catamaran that leaves our factory carries far more than materials and components. It carries Mexican talent, engineering, experience, and the commitment to build vessels capable of sailing far from home.

Naval Engineering · SNM Shipyard · Yucatán, México

At Servicios Náuticos de México, nothing is left to chance. Every component of our day charter catamarans is selected with a clear standard: durability in tropical environments, safety for hundreds of passengers, and the lowest possible maintenance cost for the operator. The mast is no exception.

Why the mast is the most important decision in the rig

When a tour operator evaluates a day charter catamaran, the conversation usually revolves around passenger capacity, engines, and deck layout. The mast is rarely discussed. And yet, the mast is the structural element that transfers the power of the wind to the hull, absorbing dynamic forces that vary with sea state, passenger load, and vessel speed.

An undersized mast or one made from lower-grade alloys can cause vibrations, progressive deformation, and in extreme cases, structural failure under adverse conditions. For a vessel operating every day of the year with passengers aboard in the Caribbean, that is simply not an option.

Why France: the nautical industry that leads global rigging

France is not just Lagoon or Fountaine Pajot. Behind the world's most recognized catamaran brands lies an entire industrial supply chain of mast, rigging, and spar specialists that exists nowhere else with the same technical depth. Manufacturers such as Sparcraft, Z-Spars, and Marechal Masts have spent decades developing high-alloy aluminum profiles specifically for heavy-use multihulls, optimizing the balance between stiffness, weight, and aerodynamic inertia.

French anodized aluminum masts offer a critical advantage for Caribbean operations in particular: excellent resistance to salt corrosion, without the maintenance costs associated with carbon fiber, and with a significantly longer operational lifespan than profiles produced in lower-specialization markets.

What this mast means for daily operations

For a Caribbean tour operator, vessel reliability is not an abstract concept — it is the number of tours that depart on time, the reputation built with agencies and hotels that resell your services, and the peace of mind of not facing unexpected repair costs in the middle of high season.

Importing as a technical decision, not a luxury one

Some may ask why SNM imports the mast from France instead of sourcing locally. The answer is straightforward: no suppliers in Mexico produce nautical aluminum profiles of this caliber — with the engineering tolerances, surface treatments, and production consistency that guarantee uniformity across vessels in a fleet.

For an operator purchasing two, three, or five catamarans for their day charter fleet, technical uniformity across units matters enormously: the same maintenance procedures, the same spare parts, the same learning curve for nautical staff.

Importing the right component is a decision that reduces total cost of ownership over the vessel's lifetime. It is exactly the kind of standard that has defined SNM across more than 20 years of shipbuilding in the Caribbean.

The complete rig: mast, standing rigging, and boom as a system

The 20-meter mast is the backbone of a broader system that includes 316 stainless steel standing rigging, the boom, furling systems, and deck terminals. At SNM, all of these components are specified together to ensure loads are distributed evenly and predictably across the structure.

This integrated approach matters for operators who prioritize safety aboard: a well-integrated rig not only performs better — it fails predictably when something falls outside tolerance, making it easier to detect problems early before they escalate.