best 50ft sailing catamaran

[ Sailing Range ]

• Home > Sailing Catamarans >

Redefining Catamaran Excellence with Unmatched Innovation

Luxury sailing.

SPECIAL OFFER

Fill out the form below to receive an instant download with the current offer.

Build Your Boat

Visit our Build Your Boat tool for Standard and Optional Equipment lists and Prices

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Specification at a glance, water capacity.

185 US gal / 700 L

fuel Capacity

243 US gal / 920 L

Displacement

41 888 lbs / 19 000 kg

STANDARD ENGINES

2 x Yanmar 57 | 80 hp

Waterline length

48 ft 11 in / 14.9 m

length overall

50 ft 6 in / 15.40 m

5 ft 3 in / 1.61 m

26 ft 5 in / 8.04 m

TOTAL SAIL AREA

1652 sqft / 153.5 sqm

Load Carrying Capacity

0141 lbs / 4600 kg

Holding Tank Capacity

45 gal / 170 L

All Leopard Catamarans are NMMA and CE Certified.

GENERAL LAYOUT

VIRTUAL TOUR

Explore the leopard 50.

walkthrough & related videos

Boat Reviews

Leopard 50: a most hospitable boat

April 22, 2024.

Leopard catamarans feature – passagemaker

February 8, 2024, in the same range.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

Evolving from 50 years of customer feedback, Leopard Catamarans has pooled their expertise with builders Robertson and Caine to design today’s Leopard range: spacious, robust, performance-driven blue water cruising catamarans.

• News & Events
• Our catamarans
• Sailing Range
• Power Range
• Leopard 40PC
• Leopard 46PC
• Leopard 53PC
• Download Brochure
• Terms of Privacy
• Owner Warranty Claim Form

©2024 Leopard Catamarans. All Rights Reserved

Choose Language

Compare The Most Popular 50ft Production Sailing Catamarans

The chart below compares the specifications and prices with some of the positives and negatives of each catamaran. Some of the designs are huge in volume as well as have lots of entertainment areas inside and out while others are more performance oriented with much less interior volume and others are more pricey. We would love to hear your comments. .

2022 UPDATE: You will still find some great information below regarding 50ft-range catamarans, especially if you are in the market to buy one. But lots has happened in the range especially in the Performance Cruising Catamarans category since this post was written a few years ago. In addition to reading this article, be sure to read:

• 2022 Performance Cruising Catamaran Comparison
• We Bought a Performance Cruiser Catana OC 50

Estelle Cockcroft

Join our community.

Get the latest on catamaran news, sailing events, buying and selling tips, community happenings, webinars & seminars, and much more!

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

Top 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in Annapolis, MD

We have a new home in Annapolis! The office is located in Annapolis, Maryland

Top 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in Texas

Our Texas Office is located in the Watergate Marina Center in Clear Lake Shores,

Annapolis Boat Show 2024

Meet with our team!    Want to learn more about the Bali and Catana

Exploring the Catana OC 50 Catamaran: A Comprehensive Overview

The Catana OC 50 Catamaran, the latest addition to the Catana Ocean Class series,

For more than 30 years, we have been a part of the catamaran community and created Catamaran Guru™ to encourage and educate all the aspiring sailing out there. We understand the dream of traveling the world by catamaran and created a one-stop-shop to make that dream a reality for you.

• Stephen & Estelle
• Testimonials

Get Started

• Yacht Sales
• Used Yachts
• Charter Management
• Boat as Business Programs
• Seminars & Events

• ACHIEVEMENTS
• MANUFACTURING

SAILING RANGE

Power range, introducing the, leopard 50 catamaran, the next generation of leopard catamarans.

Designed as a versatile replacement for the award-winning Leopard 48 (Boat of the Year 2012), the new Leopard 50 is an exciting new cruising sailing catamaran taking the best of Leopard Catamarans’ previous features yet boasting new innovations and design elements both on the exterior and interior.

With naval architecture by Simonis & Voogd Yacht Design, and with exterior and a fresh new look on the interior design by the world-class design team at Robertson and Caine, the Leopard 50 proudly ushers in the next generation of Leopard Catamarans’ style and functionality.

29+ Years of Production Expertise

While the exterior of the yacht has been enhanced, Naval Architect for Simonis Voogd Design, Alexander Simonis, tells us this:

“Most of the work has been done ‘under the bonnet’ so to say by advances made in the construction geometry of the new 50. To create the beautiful open plan layouts and the nearly 360-degree view from the saloon area while at the same time have a strong and stiff yacht which is not too heavy requires advanced engineering solutions.

The new Leopard 50 makes use of carbon-infused ring frames in the most critical areas to achieve this. This type of construction has been pioneered on the larger all carbon racing catamarans and is now successfully being applied in this Leopard cruising catamaran so that we can offer the best possible mix between comfort, space and performance.”

The perfect blend of comfort and style.

“Stepping onboard the L50 will reveal an interior that is contemporary in style, with a focus that blends aesthetic detail with functionality.

Cabins are more open and spacious than ever before thanks to widening bulkhead openings as much as possible. This is achieved by combining exotic materials with new modern construction techniques.

One can appreciate the sense of ease and comfort while moving throughout the boat. This is a product of our team’s passionate approach stemming from initial sketches, to detailed 3D models, and finally life-size replicas of each area where we physically and meticulously tweaked every single feature until we were 100% satisfied that we had the best product available.”

- Michael Robertson, Tampa Design Team

The innovative flybridge on the Leopard 50 includes a lounge area, a sunbed and shade awning. Access to the flybridge is provided by floating stairs leading up from the aft cockpit. While under sail, passengers can move about the flybridge with ample headroom and never worry about interference from the boom.

The next generation of

LEOPARD CATAMARANS

She incorporates a heritage of Leopards spanning twenty five years of production expertise.

Engine Specifications

Sail Specifications

Load Specifications

• 3 Cabin + Utility Cabin Layout
• 4 Cabin Layout
• 5 Cabin Layout

12 Best Catamaran Sailboats

The appeal of the catamaran sailboats in terms of speed , stability, and the ability to embark on long-range cruising has made them hugely popular with today's sailors. But what are the best catamaran sailboats?

Even though catamaran sailboats have become increasingly popular in the last few years, they have a truly rich legacy as one of the most sought after vessels for bluewater cruising.

Thanks to their incredibly wide beams and bigger daft, catamarans have become remarkably favorable for sailors looking to go for long-distance voyages, overnight cruising, and day sailing.

And if space is paramount for you when out there on the water, a catamaran sailboat is the only way to go as they offer extraordinary space to allow you to spend more time on the water with friends and family.

But even with all these amazing features, you're probably still wondering; what are the best catamaran sailboats?

Like their monohull counterparts, choosing the best catamaran sailboat can be quite overwhelming since there are lots of them out there. They come in a wide variety of designs and sizes ranging from small catamarans to huge ones.

The best catamaran sailboats can easily clock 250-mile voyages, offer incredible performance, and have layouts that can be easily optimized for individuals, charter markets, and great accommodation. In essence, the best catamaran sailboats offer respectable performance and offer good load-carrying ability.

That being said, here are some of the best catamaran sailboats that you can get your hands on.

Table of contents

Best Catamarans

{{boat-info="/boats/manta-42"}}

Even though many multihulls are no longer built in the United States these days, the Manta 42 is a true American-built catamaran that brings good living and good value into one package. Designed cleverly for easy handling, this American built catamaran is a great choice for a liveaboard cruiser for sailors looking to go for long-distance voyages. Thanks to its trademark high bows and an enormously curved incorporated forward crossbeam, this catamaran is easily recognizable even from a distance.

It is designed with a uniquely fixed crossbeam, which is very different from conventional aluminum cross beams that support the tension of the forestay. This fixed crossbeam allows for a little bit of movement thereby helping in absorbing enormous twisting forces of the bows. As such, you have to keep in mind that there may be resultant stress crack particularly in the bow area of the vessel.

All in all, the Manta 42 is a superb offshore cruising catamaran that offers a good sail-area-to-displacement ratio as well as plenty of space and accommodation. The cockpit area is refined, luxurious, and is designed with additional stainless pushpit contraptions to help in holding objects such as wind vanes, dinghies, and solar panels. The boat's quality in terms of performance and stability is the benchmark of what a catamaran should be.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

{{boat-info="/boats/fountaine-pajot-elba-45"}}

Recently named the "Boat of the Year" for 2019 by Cruising World Magazine and Sail Magazine, the Elba 45 is the latest model in the incredible line of Fountaine Pajot catamarans. This boat was designed to replace the outgoing Helia 44 and stands to be one of the most popular catamarans with Fountain Pajot having sold over 100 Elba 45 hulls long before even the first one emerged from production.

This French-built cat brings to the fore a well-thought-out, safe, and dependable features with 10% less drag, efficient motoring, top-notch performance, and high speeds. It's also designed with fixed stub keels and slightly aft-raked bows, which are all essential in enhancing windward performance; something that most catamarans struggle with.

To improve on safety, the keels of this amazing catamaran sailboat are glued into a particularly designed recess in the hulls. This is to ensure that there are no keel bolts that can rip out and put the boat in danger if the boat gets grounded or in the event of a collision. The rig is also ICW friendly and is a true representation of a standard catamaran setup.

This is, without a doubt, a modern-looking cruising catamaran that has a low-profile lounging space on its deck, high topsides and bows as well as a more pronounced reverse sheer that's essential in minimizing the bulk of the windows while creating additional and useful volume below. This is a true catamaran that occupies a sweet spot for those looking to sail along the bay or for those adventurous sailors looking to set sail for more ambitious offshore cruising plans.

{{boat-info="/boats/leopard-48"}}

With its fine design, straightforward systems, and easy handling, the Leopard 48 has everything it needs to be ranked among the distinguished category of the best catamaran sailboats. This is an excellent multihull that is structured with advanced materials, designs, and innovations that are meant to be fun, spacious, and comfortable.

Designed in South Africa by Simonis-Voogd, is probably the best design in the Leopard family of catamarans. Its two hulls are vacuum-bagged using balsa core to offer maximum firmness while ensuring that the weight is on the minimum. This is done by articulately regulating the level of resin in the layup. With such types of hull shapes, this catamaran sailboat is very fast and can consistently clock 12 knots of speed against the currents.

The boat is also designed with shallow keels as they're filled with closed-cell polyurethane foam that's of great importance in increasing buoyancy and preventing water ingress. To enhance the safety of the vessel, the stern and bow both have bulkheads that are essential in keeping out that water if the sailboat is involved in a collision.

The hulls of this boat are deep and narrow, particularly below the waterline. They also curve higher up to practically reduce the wetted surface area while offering enough deck space and plenty of room for accommodations. Its cockpit is another excellent feature thanks to its lavish spaces that give you the chance of kicking back and relaxing.

This boat is designed to offer superior livability, quick and easy to handle features, as well as enough space for friends and family. It is designed with beautiful lines and immense practicality for those who want to go on long cruising voyages.

Antares 44i

While many people often believe that voluminous cruising catamarans should be used as charter boats, the Antares 44i brings a very different perspective altogether. Designed in Argentina as a complete bluewater catamaran, this is a boat that's specifically built for private boat owners looking for a sturdy and well-equipped bluewater cruiser. This is an absolutely gorgeous catamaran that has a fully-equipped cockpit just to ensure that you can safely operate it even when shorthanded.

Like most catamarans, the Antares 44i is designed with features that allow for long-distance voyages. It comes with a minimum bridge deck clearance of 30 inches, which is essential in mitigating bridge deck slap. The helm station is designed to offer excellent visibility over the coach roof without having to perch the helmsman high above the cockpit.

If you're planning to make those long-distance cruising to exotic places, you'll appreciate this boat's layout. The galley is put down in the port hull so that it doesn't compromise the size of the galley and the saloon. The forward-facing navigation station is up there with the best and is up to offshore standards. And that's not all; the Antares 44i comes with good mounting points for electronics, a large table, comfortable seats, and provides brilliant visibility outside.

This boat is perfectly suited for extended offshore cruising and is a great reminder for anyone who thinks that all catamarans are charter boats and all offshore boats are monohulls.

{{boat-info="/boats/dolphin-ocema-42"}}

Designed by Philipe Pouvreau in northern Brazil, the Dolphin Ocema 42 is a truly unique catamaran sailboat that goes against the conventional norm of catamarans. It is equipped with daggerboards, which are essential in enabling it to point higher on the wind while reducing the wetted surface when running or anchoring in shallow surfaces. This, however, requires a higher level of expertise in sailing. This is because lifting the daggerboards higher up will expose the rudders while the daggerboards can also interfere with the hulls in the event that the vessel runs aground.

But even with that, the Dolphin 42 balances incredible performance and cruising comfort in a very compact package; something that is not very easy in bluewater cruising. That's why it's designed using a foam core to make it lightweight by reducing weight wherever possible. This vessel will most likely never let you down if you want to circumnavigate the bluewater on a high-performance boat that is safe and comfortable.

So if you've been looking for a real sailing catamaran that doubles up as a very comfortable liveaboard sailboat , look no further than the Dolphin 42.

{{boat-info="/boats/catana-50"}}

Regarded as the best built and most stylish cruising multihull, the Catana 50 is a very huge catamaran sailboat. Measuring about 50 feet long with a beam of about 26 feet, this is an amazing catamaran that will test your sailing skills as a single sailor or if you're planning to sail shorthanded.

This boat is designed with a rig that gives you the option of using either a screecher or a self-tending jib. This may seem complex since the sheets are led to winches near each wheel while all other controls lead to a centerline winch that's located in the cockpit. But even with that, this sailboat can be easily tacked once on the course.

This is a real performance-oriented catamaran with efficient hulls and rigs allowing for top speed. This vessel is also designed with a long waterline and a subtle underwater shape at the bow to help in increasing volume while minimizing wave drag. The stern platforms can help in stretching the waterline length while also providing easy access from a dock or a dinghy. The board trunks are also very strong and sturdy to protect the integrity of the hulls if a collision occurs.

In essence, this is a very modern catamaran that's designed to safely make long-distance passages with ease. It is subdued in terms of styling but this doesn't mean that it falls short as far as performance is concerned.

Atlantic 42

{{boat-info="/boats/atlantic-42"}}

Designed in 1993, the A42 has cultivated a legion of fiercely loyal fans thanks to its efficiency and aesthetic. This is the smallest of the Atlantic cruising catamaran line and is hugely popular with sailors thanks to its ease of handling, ocean-going capabilities, and superb use of space. From the forward cockpit, pilothouse to the sleeping cabins, and brilliant galleys everything about this cat is a true classic.

Unlike most catamarans, the Atlantic 42 is designed with a waist-high cockpit that's located forward of the pilothouse just behind the mast. It brings forth a solid construction thanks to the large metal girder-like bearers that run across the bulkheads. This helps the vessel in having the utmost strength, better air circulation under the engine, and a high level of flexibility as far as the size of the engine and its positioning is concerned.

Initially, the boat's style and its outlook were considered conservative but it soon became clear that it is built of high-quality materials and to last. The internal construction of the boat is impressive, to say the least. The exterior looks very beautiful and perhaps much more beautiful than most boats today. Its large aft cabin accommodation is a top drawer while the space separating en suite heads and shower compartments are considered a bonus.

{{boat-info="/boats/fountaine-pajot-bahia-46"}}

If you were to board the French-built Fountaine Pajot Bahia 46, you'll agree that the high-quality of workmanship, layout, and efficient use of space is quite exciting, to say the least. This cat remains very popular among sailors thanks to its easy handling features and incredible performance under the sails. Well, this may not come as a surprise to many of us given that the Fountain Pajot is known for building some of the most remarkable cruising catamarans out there that it can be quite overwhelming to narrow down to a single vessel, but the Bahia 46 simply stands out.

This vessel is designed with hulls that are broader than those of many other catamarans. It's also designed with centerboards and daggerboards that are meant to enhance its performance. These are essential in minimizing draft while ensuring reliability, generous bilge, and in helping to protect the rudders and propellers.

This boat is big enough to manage any type of serious offshore sailing. This is one of the best cruising catamarans for anyone looking for the right vessel for long-distance sailing. This vessel has a very more generous rig than most cruising catamarans, which is essential in enhancing its performance. The six-post Bimini is very strong and clean and can perfectly hold dinghies.

In terms of its look, the Bahia 36 is designed with gorgeous lines with the deck and hulls sculpted with lines that add a touch of elegance to the overall look of an already excellent catamaran sailboat.

Gemini 105MC

{{boat-info="/boats/gemini-105mc"}}

Whether you're looking for a comfortable catamaran vessel to take you for a weekend sailing trip or a long sabbatical vacation on the oceans, the Gemini 105MC is a very satisfactory liveaboard catamaran vessel that offers spacious accommodation, thoughtful design, and a stable cruising platform for anyone who wants to have some good time on the water.

Designed by the legendary Tony Smith, this is somewhat a sailing cottage. Like a land cottage, it is cozy, comfortable, and very safe. This is essentially a 35 feet catamaran that offers great value for any sailing looking for a reasonably-priced catamaran sailboat for the weekend or holiday cruising.

This boat is designed with incredibly slim hulls, which are teardrop-shaped with flat bottoms and smaller wetted surface area. This is to ensure that drag is minimized and to lead to more leeway under sail. Each of the boat's hull is designed with a kick-up centerboard is of great importance in enhancing the vessel's windward pointing capability. This boat also has its rudders raised to enable it to seamlessly cruise in shallow waters where most vessels would otherwise run aground.

The eccentric narrow beam, which measures about 40% of the boat's length, is very different from today's 50%. However, its low center helps in keeping its stable, upright, and of course, safe.

Lagoon 450 F

{{boat-info="/boats/lagoon-450-f"}}

If you're looking for a catamaran sailboat that offers prestige at its peak, look no further than the Lagoon 450. This cat is widely known for offering an all-around comfort without compromising its beauty, spaciousness, class, and elegance. This is an elaborate French catamaran that brings to the table fantastic craftsmanship while leaving nothing to chance.

This is a very safe 45 feet catamaran that's not just comfortable but also very luxurious. The deck layout is centered on an amazing flybridge, which has been redesigned and redefined to offer both the traditional and modern outlook. You can very easily access the bridge, engine controls, steering station in a matter of seconds. As a result, this boat is efficiently designed to give you the ultimate control of almost every situation while on the water.

The spacious and luxurious interior of this boat is worth experiencing. The cabins and saloons are perfectly lit. We're talking about four to six cabins, eight to twelve berths, and up to four bathrooms. In essence, this boat can comfortably sleep eight to twelve people. This boat is designed to offer ultra-modern accommodations and amenities that come with little but amazing touches; all designed to make your life inside the catamaran enjoyable.

{{boat-info="/boats/gunboat-62"}}

An original performance catamaran cruiser from the iconic Gunboat manufacturer, the Gunboat 62 has truly cemented its place as one of the best catamaran sailboats to ever grace the oceans. Honestly speaking, this cat-inspired a whole range of other incredible boats including HH66 Catamaran and the Balance 526.

This is a boat that can perform admirably well in storms with a speed of over 35 knots despite being built using epoxy and E-glass with carbon-fiber structural components. It's designed with a distinct angular outline than most catamaran sailboats of its size and category. This is a vessel that was built for people looking to add more stuff and more gear for their voyages. In other words, you can have all the gear and equipment on this boat and still outperform a racing monohull of the same size.

Thanks to its lightweight feature, this vessel can sail upwind at speeds of over 17 knots and pinch up to 30 degrees. Just for comparison, the Gunboat 62 can tack through 95 degrees and still outperform the best racing monohulls. This boat is designed with a comfortable helm seat that offers 360-degree visibility as well as plenty of storage space, a functional working surface, and a luxurious cabin. Like many performance catamarans, the Gunboat 62 can attain about 20 knots if the conditions are right.

Privilege 615

{{boat-info="/boats/privilege-615"}}

Combining elegance, comfort, and style, the Privilege 615 is a lovely catamaran sailboat that seems to be always ready for a long offshore voyage. The roots of this incredible cat can be traced back to the 1980s when Philippe Jeantot opened up a boat-building company in France. As one of the best productions from the company, the privilege 615 sports a flybridge that comes complete with twin wheels, a sprawling sunbed, and other excellent features that will make your bluewater cruising a breeze.

Whether you want the charter version or a privately-owned version, the Privilege 615 is one of the most versatile catamaran sailboats. Step inside this vessel and you'll instantly notice the quality of the wood finish and the elegance of design. The advanced navigation station is not only ultra-modern but is perfectly stationed at a dedicated corner where you can control everything while still having a conversation with your friends and family.

This boat comes with multiple sleeping configurations to ensure that you and your guests can live aboard the boat for months on end. Although the boat appears like some sort of maze on the inside, you'll easily get used to it when you enter the forward section. That's not all; this boat has gorgeous lines that make the exterior beautiful just like the interior. Its sleek profile, incredible volume, and versatile interior make it one of the best catamaran sailboats out there.

There you have it; these are the best catamaran sailboats out there. It doesn't matter the one you choose, these cats will make your day out on the water and will serve you just right for your offshore voyages or for day sailing along the bays.

Related Articles

Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

by this author

Best Sailboats

Most Recent

What Does "Sailing By The Lee" Mean?

October 3, 2023

The Best Sailing Schools And Programs: Reviews & Ratings

September 26, 2023

Important Legal Info

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Similar Posts

Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home

September 13, 2023

Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom

December 28, 2023

Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K

Popular posts.

Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats

Can a Novice Sail Around the World?

Elizabeth O'Malley

June 15, 2022

4 Best Electric Outboard Motors

How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England?

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

December 20, 2023

7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat

Get the best sailing content.

Top Rated Posts

© 2024 Life of Sailing Email: [email protected] Address: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244 Disclaimer Privacy Policy

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Garcia Explocat 52 review: A go-anywhere aluminium catamaran

• February 23, 2021

The new go-anywhere Garcia Explocat 52 offers an enticing combination of space, pace and rugged construction. Rupert Holmes tested the new boat for Yachting World and felt it's clear she has the potential to make easy 250 mile days in the right conditions.

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

In recent years there have been two clear trends in serious long-term cruising yachts. Firstly catamarans have become mainstream, to the extent that professional racing sailors talk of ‘buying a catamaran’ for cruising with their families – a monohull doesn’t even enter the equation.

This trend can also be seen in ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) entries, where multihulls are increasingly common. In 2020 they accounted for 28% of the total fleet and a much higher proportion of new boats and more recent designs.

The second trend is the rapidly growing popularity of rugged metal expedition yachts. Aluminium is favoured for this as it offers good strength and stiffness without a weight penalty, especially for yachts over a critical size. That’s why many top-end racing yachts were built of aluminium before composites dominated that scene.

This is a boat that’s capable of effortlessly eating miles on a long passage. Photo: Jérôme Houyvet/Garcia Yachts

It was, therefore, surely only a matter of time before someone married these two concepts to create an aluminium expedition catamaran. Cherbourg-based Garcia Yachts has been building metal boats for almost 50 years, including Jean Luc Van Den Heede ’s 36.15 MET, in which he scored a podium finish in the inaugural Vendée Globe Race in 1989.

Equally Garcia needs no introduction as a front-runner in the development of expedition yachts, thanks to the success of the Exploration 45 that was developed with ARC founder Jimmy Cornell eight years ago. What’s less well known is that the Explocat 52 is by no means Garcia’s first aluminium catamaran.

A pair of 43-footers 15 years ago were followed by the SC48, one of which consistently posted some of the fastest passage times in the 2017/18 World ARC .

As part of the Grand Large Yachting group Garcia was also able to draw on considerable expertise from Outremer and Gunboat for its latest model, while naval architecture is by Pierre Delion, who also drew the SC48.

The Explocat 52 is therefore the product of a highly knowledgeable development team and has already attracted plenty of attention, including nomination for the 2021 European Yacht of the Year awards.

The core concept for the Explocat 52 is a robust, safe long-range yacht that offers good passagemaking speeds. A high level of comfort, both at sea – even in inclement weather – and in harbour was also a key requirement, and the boat had to be capable of being handled by a couple.

Go anywhere?

While a key marketing message for Garcia’s monohulls is ‘Nowhere you can’t go’, the company accepts this won’t apply as literally to the Explocat 52, even though the boat’s impressive speed potential will enable routing around a lot of bad weather.

Explocat 52, the ultimate aluminium exploration catamaran by Garcia Yachts

The problem is, unlike being knocked down in a monohull, capsizing a multihull is always catastrophic. There are parts of the world, especially at high latitudes in the southern hemisphere, or out of season in the north, where it could be impossible to route around potentially dangerous weather. Nevertheless, the boat is intended to stretch the boundaries that are sensible for exploring the globe with a catamaran, allowing owners to sail a lot further north and south than might be prudent with existing designs.

Rugged construction is also a benefit when venturing off the beaten track in tropical waters. If anything goes wrong while exploring a poorly-charted lagoon, for instance, a fibreglass boat may be in grave danger. Many foam sandwich hulls have surprisingly thin outer skins, which can make the structure vulnerable to abrasion, whether from coral or a concrete quay.

By contrast, the thinnest plating of the Explocat 52 is 5mm, which increases through 8, 10 and 12mm thicknesses, before reaching an enormously reassuring 14mm at the bottom of the hulls. The boat has framing of up to 14mm and is structurally engineered to eliminate flexing between the hulls.

A substantial keel with a long chord length is welded to the bottom of the hulls. They are marginally deeper than the rudders, which offers some protection, as well as providing a firm base on which to dry out on a beach. At the same time the key elements that have made Garcia’s Exploration monohulls so successful are incorporated.

These include fore and aft watertight bulkheads and upstands for through-hull fittings that enable all seacocks to be above the waterline. A skeg ahead of the saildrives and rudders provides good protection, while the rudders are large enough to offer redundancy in the event of one being lost. In addition, the top aft corner of the rudders have a sacrificial zone designed to eliminate risk of the blade puncturing the hull, or becoming jammed, if it hits an obstruction with enough force to bend the stock.

What about weight? Are metal multihulls uncommon because they’re simply too heavy? As with aluminium monohulls, where the material offers better strength/weight ratios for larger boats, around 14m/46ft overall length seems to be a transition point for catamarans.

Below that composite boats will always be lighter, but above that length aluminium is lighter for equivalent rigidity than a composite structure that doesn’t use exotic materials. At 18.9 tonnes lightship displacement the Explocat is therefore in the same league as other cruising catamarans of a similar size and indeed lighter than some.

Substantial built-in attachment points for shorelines are found at the waterline of each bow for use in extreme conditions, plus attachment points aft for a drogue

Interestingly, it’s also a similar figure to that of the Exploration 52 monohull, yet the Explocat offers a large amount of extra space and 35% more sail area. Maximum payload is a useful five tonnes. But how does that translate on the water?

Rapid exploration

Our test took place from Cherbourg on a gloriously sunny late November day, with a gusty and shifty southerly breeze varying from 7-19 knots.

It’s immediately clear the Explocat 52 picks up and sails at speeds that belie its displacement, putting it in a different league to other expedition yachts of similar length, especially when reaching.

Broad reaching at 120° TWA with full main and Code 0 in 16 knots of true wind we cruised comfortably at 10 knots, reaching an unfussed maximum of 11.8 knots, with the boat still feeling rock steady.

When the breeze picked up to 19 knots, at the design limit for the Code 0, we furled it and continued with the Solent jib instead, losing only a couple of knots of boat speed. By the time we turned upwind the wind had eased significantly, which gave a good test in conditions that can challenge cruising yachts.

Article continues below…

Boreal 52 boat test – The sailor’s off-roader

If ‘off-road’ or ‘off-piste’ were categories in sailing, the Boréal 52 would be among the top contenders. From the brushed…

Garcia Exploration 52 test: The sailing equivalent of a 4×4 off-roader

If you were to take your partner or family to some of the world’s most remote waters, exploring the oceans…

In just seven knots of true wind we made 5.3 close-hauled, rising to 6.2 in 9 knots of breeze. Maximum upwind speed was 9 knots in 15 knots of true wind. However, these numbers can’t be achieved if pinching – the boat likes to be sailed fast and free, with tacking angles of at least 105°. This is hardly a surprise for a boat of this style that’s sufficiently fast to have a big impact on apparent wind angles.

Even in light airs the Explocat is surprisingly nimble in tacks, showing no hint it might miss stays, or slow enough for steering to be difficult until speed is regained on the new tack. Obviously the steering has less feel than a lightweight monohull, but there’s enough feedback for it to feel reasonably responsive and enjoyable to helm.

The shifty and gusty offshore winds were ideal for figuring out the boat’s capability across a range of wind strengths, but the mostly flat water meant we didn’t see the boat performing in a more agitated sea state.

Pete Goss – another massively experienced high-profile Garcia owner – has sailed the boat in more lively conditions. Even fully powered up he reported the lee shrouds remaining tight and there was no telltale creaking of furniture below decks, indicating no deflection of the structure despite the high loads. “It’s incredible how fast she is,” Goss says. He was also impressed by how nimbly the boat tacks.

Cockpits and steering

Much thought has gone into optimising the deck layout. The core vision is for key operations to take place in the safety and shelter of the aft cockpit. The only exceptions are preparing the main for use and hoisting/dropping spinnakers and reaching sails.

We conducted our test in south-east to south-west winds of 7-19 knots, in flat water

As standard the helm station is offset to starboard at the front of the aft cockpit. It has a two-position swinging wheel, which provides an all-round view over the top of the coachroof in its upper position. When swung inboard and lower, the helmsman gains shelter from the hard top, while being able to see forward through the bridgedeck cabin windows.

However, at the request of the owner the first boat has twin outboard helm stations. Before sailing it I’d expected to prefer this arrangement, but didn’t warm to it. Granted, you can steer from the windward side, with a good view of the jib, but the headsail luff will also be visible from the higher of the standard steering positions.

The key problem with the twin wheels is the coachroof creates a large blind spot on the other side of the boat. This has potential to create issues when manoeuvring in confined quarters such as a marina or when bailing out of an anchorage in an unexpected squall.

Mainsheet and traveller are handled right aft on the crossbeam, while the headsail, staysail and kite sheets, plus furling lines, are handled by electric Lewmar 65 winches on each side of the cockpit. Plenty of large rope bins and bags help keep lines nicely ordered.

The rig has twin headstays, with a marginally overlapping furling Solent jib on the main forestay, plus a self-tacking furling staysail. This runs on a neat Dyneema strop, instead of a more conventional but unnecessarily expensive and heavy track.

Combined with furling spinnakers and reaching sails it’s an excellent configuration that takes the hassle out of changing gear to suit widely different conditions.

The square-top mainsail has a Dyneema strop that pulls the ‘gaff’ forward to the mast track without any need for complex hooks, making it as easy to use as pin-head sails. A fuse attaching one of the mainsheet blocks to the boom is intended as a capsize prevention device if the boat is over pressed.

When the fuse blows the strop joining the block to the boom extends by two metres, immediately depowering the sail. The idea of the forward cockpit is to provide a protected position for a lookout when sailing in ice and for anchor handling. It also doubles as a well ventilated area for relaxation when at anchor in warmer climes.

It’s generally easy to move around on deck and there are decent steps at a gentle gradient between the various different levels. I also liked the cork deck – it looks surprisingly good, has great grip and is a more environmentally friendly option than teak.

There’s plenty of stowage, both in small lockers in the cockpit benches and in cavernous sail lockers at the front of each hull.

Davits are rated to take a 500kg RIB, allowing a substantial, powerful tender to be carried.

Temperature control

Alongside the rugged exterior is supremely comfortable and well thought out accommodation.

This, of course, isn’t a boat where it would be appropriate for the distinction between interior and exterior living spaces to be all but eliminated, as it is for many recent designs intended solely for hot climates. Nevertheless, the standard specification has a drop-down window each side of the door between the saloon and aft cockpit. This will help to open the saloon to the aft cockpit and improve ventilation in warm weather.

The saloon is comfortable, bright and airy, yet also has practical sea-going elements

For colder parts of the world an air extraction system vents moist and stale interior air without needing to open hatches.

The main forward saloon windows are also equipped with demisters. In the same vein, dedicated lockers for foul weather gear and boots have mechanical ventilation and heating. These features make sailing in cold and damp regions far more civilised, yet are addressed by disappointingly few manufacturers.

The aluminium shell is lined with up to 76mm of high density foam, which provides excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. As a result the boat is impressively quiet inside when under way – in the saloon you can barely hear the engines, even at cruising speed, and the high bridgedeck – it’s 85cm above the water – means we experienced no slapping of waves.

Insulation of this standard is expensive to install and doesn’t show up on photographs. Yet yachts create a cacophony of noise in heavy weather. Effective sound proofing is therefore a critical element in creating a comfortable environment, while the thermal insulation will be a benefit whether in the tropics or the Arctic.

As you’d expect, the saloon is very bright and airy, with a good almost all-round view.

The navstation forward on the port side, next to the watertight door to the forward cockpit

The biggest drawback in this respect is at the navstation, forward on the port side, as the mast support and starboard forward mullion obscure some of the view.

Also to port is a big galley that offers plenty of secure worktop space, with low fiddles, and masses of stowage. The test boat had additional fridge and freezer space in the starboard hull. Garcia says more than half its customers choose electric cooking and this boat has a microwave, electric oven and induction hob.

The company has its roots in custom boatbuilding and offers several choices for fitting out the hulls, with options for 6-10 berth arrangements, including a classic owner’s layout. The aft cabins have natural light through two hull windows, a wide aft window to the cockpit, plus opening ports aft and overhead.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

Garcia’s longstanding knowledge of creating rugged go-anywhere yachts has enabled the yard to produce one with a very enticing combination of space, pace and rugged construction. It also benefits from a high standard of finish, attention to detail and many neat touches. It’s clear the boat has the potential to make easy 250 mile days in the right conditions. At the same time it has sufficient tankage and stowage for supplies, spares and tools to give a high level of autonomy for extended periods. The owner of the first boat intends voyaging to Svalbard and, with another seven boats on order, it’s unlikely to be long before we see Explocats in many more far-flung and interesting parts of the globe.

10 Best Catamarans in 2024

We gave our Sailing writers one job: Find the best and most popular catamarans and review them.

Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews.

A catamaran is a sailboat that has a multi-hull design. It gives it more stability because it’s wider and that creates more livable space for more people.

Read about the best multihull boats in this article and learn which one is best for your voyages.

The biggest advantages of a multihull are:

• Multihulls are usually faster than monohulls, especially on downwind runs, reaches and broad reaches. You can travel further per day and outrun inclement weather
• They are more stable than a monohull. Sailing flat definitely has its advantages
•  It is less tiring sailing a multihull
•  More space!
•  For cruising the draft is less than a monohull which means you can go into shallower water safely

Top 5 Catamarans in 2024

All the catamarans we've tested.

Lagoon Catamarans

Where to buy:

Where to buy lagoon 40:.

Lagoon has always enjoyed a sweet spot in the 38 to 40-foot catamaran market. The Lagoon 380 became one of the most popular cats ever, with nearly 1,000 hulls being produced over a 20-year run. The L400 and L39 attempted to tweak that popular design, but neither caught on to the extent the 380 did.

The new Lagoon 40 is turning heads for many reasons. The Lagoon 380 is officially off the Lagoon website, so it might finally be time for the torch to be handed to a new cat. And the 40 has just the right mix of modern features, small size, and affordability that many cruisers and families seek.

Here’s a go-anywhere boat that looks good, sails easily, and keeps you comfortable.

• Naval Architects: Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prevost (VPLP Design)
• Built: CNB Yards, Bordeaux, France
• Exterior Designer: Patrick le Quément
• Interior Designer: Nauta Design
• Length Overall: 11.74 m/ 38 feet, 6 inches
• Beam: 6.76 m/ 22 feet, 2 inches
• Draft: 1.35 m/ 4 feet, 5 inches
• Mast Clearance: 18.42 m/ 60 feet, 5 inches
• Sail Area: 80 square meters/ 861 square feet
• Engines: 2 x 29 hp Yanmar 3YM30 (upgradable to 45 hp)
• Fuel: 2 x 200 liters/ 56 gallons
• Fresh Water: 300 liters/ 76 gallons
• CE Certifications: A10/B12/C16/D20

Things we like:

Things we don't like:.

Leopard Catamarans

Where to buy Leopard 42:

The Leopard 42 is the company’s replacement for the 40. It integrates several design elements that were proven on the new 50 and 45-foot models, including an upper lounge area atop the coachroof. The design also has the unique forward salon door that opens for direct access to the foredeck and a sun pad lounging area.

Like all Leopard catamarans, the 42 is not only comfortable to stay on, but it’s also fun to sail. All sailing controls lead to the compact helm. Everything can be handled from this one control station. The full-roach main and overlapping genoa provide plenty of power, and optional electric winches make sail handling a snap.

The Leopard 42 share company in the market for 42-foot cats with some very attractive boats–the Lagoon 42, the Bali 4.2, and the FP Astrea, to name a few.

• Year Launched: 2021 (There have been several designs to carry the "Leopard 42" name)
• Designer: Alex Simonis
• Builder: Robertson and Caine, Cape Town, South Africa
• Length Overall: 41 feet, 7 inches/12.67 meters
• Beam: 23 feet, 1 inch/7.04 meters
• Draft: 4 feet, 7 inches/1.4 meters
• Mast Height: 67 feet, 10 inches/20.68 meters
• Power: 2x Yanmar 45 hp diesel engines
• Fuel: 158 gallons/600 liters
• Water: 174 gallons/660 liters
• Holding: 44 gallons/ 166 liters
• Upwind Total Sail Area: 1,217 square feet/113.1 square meters

Catamarans-Fountaine-Pajot.com

Fountain Pajot 80 Catamaran Superyacht

Where to buy Fountain Pajot 80 Catamaran Superyacht:

Fountaine Pajot, one of the foremost builders of sailing catamarans, unveiled their biggest “ Super Catamaran ” ever: the Thira 80.

The release comes on the tail of an ever-increasing trend in the catamaran market—the bigger-the- better era . With Sunreef, Lagoon, and Gunboat all making boats in the 70 to 80-foot range, these companies clearly see a market for the catamaran superyacht.

Boats this size are easily comparable to a motor yacht of more than 125 feet long. The very wide beam provides cavernous interiors for more livable space. And they have plenty of room for the toys of the trade—tenders, jet skis, paddleboards, and more.

While sailing is always preferable, its 175 to 300-horsepower engines are more than capable of moving it on calm days. And it’s hard to beat the ride and comfort of a catamaran at sea, with its extra stability and lack of heeling in the wind.

So, is bigger really better? Let’s dive in and tour the new Fountaine Pajot 80 and all that she has to offer.

• Length: 78.7 feet/23.98 meters
• Beam: 36.4 feet/11.09 meters
• Draft: 6.9 feet/2.10 meters
• Displacement: 66.0 tons (approximate)
• Sail area Main: 2,153 sqft/200 sqm Genoa 1,507 sqft/140 sqm
• Power options: 2x 175-hp, 270-hp, or 300-hp

Kinetic Catamarans

Kinetic KC54

Where to buy Kinetic KC54:

The Kinetic may be fresh on the scene of the Super Cats but it is on the cutting edge of the finest fast craft in terms of performance and latest technology while also having features, impeccable finishes and the amenities of stylish cruising.

This has been awarded the Cruising World Best Large Multihull 50ft and Above Boat of the Year 2022 as well as the Special Recognition Award – for Overall Excellence 2022 by Sailing Magazine. Said Gerry Douglas of Sailing Magazine: ‘This was the Tesla of sailboats…in terms of design and execution and technology, it hit all three of those marks. This boat is built without compromise’.

These catamarans are all-carbon construction, an aggressively lightweight construction and set up for short-handed sailing. Mast is coachroof mounted and there are options for centreboards and daggerboard. There are three steering stations (two outside aft on each hull, one inside right behind the working cockpit) to suit weather conditions and personal preference.

• Length: 54 ft 2 in
• Beam: 27 ft 7 in
• Draft: Dagger Boards down 10.2 ft
• Standard Rudder up 4.5 ft
• Capacity: 3 or 4 double berths (6-8 persons)
• Motor: 2 x Yanmar 4JH80 - 80hp Diesel SD80
• Fuel Capacity: 264 gal
• Mast height: 85.3 ft (above water)
• Mainsail area: 1,102 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 264 gal

Xquisite Yachts

Xquisite X5 Plus

Where to buy Xquisite X5 Plus:

2022 saw the Xquisite X5 named the Cruising World magazine’s Best Cruising Catamaran of the year – yet again (it won the Best Multihull over 50ft award in 2017) .

As Ed Sherman said: ‘There are 40,000 man-hours invested in this boat. And you can see it.’ To the bolts that are torqued to the 2 weeks spent with each new owner training them on systems – this is a strong product, well designed by Rudolf Jonker and built by Phoenix Marine incorporating all of Tamas Hamor’s ideas and experience. This really is a well thought out 53 ft cruising sailboat and is another South African-built catamaran loaded with important details, not only the visible ones.

The goal for Xquisite is to supply fully equipped catamarans for long-term live-aboard cruising with comprehensive lifetime service assistance for the owners.

There are so many features from the gutters to catch rain-water on the coachroof to footswitches for the electric winches at the helm. Solid handrails all around the deck for maximum security to the below deck running-rigging network! In terms of the design and construction much thought has gone into weight saving. There is no faulting the systems installations.

All lines lead to the helm through below deck channels that are easily accessible with winches well thought out. The helm is slightly raised to port under a bimini with a sliding fully-battened canvas roof that is easily raised and lowered. There is an overall ambiance of space and light in the berths and galley which opens onto the cockpit.

Sailing performance was impressive with its powerful rig – however a heavy, low-slung cruising cat with keels instead of boards to get to your destination in comfort and style.

See our complete list of the best catamarans here .

• Length: 53 ft
• Beam: 26 ft 2in
• Draft: 4 ft 4’
• Capacity: 3 double berths (6 persons)
• Motor: 2 x 80 HP Yanmar
• Fuel Capacity: 208 gal
• Mast height: 78 ft 7’ (above waterline)
• Mainsail area: 1,130 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 227 gal

McConaghy Boats

McConaghy MC60

Where to buy McConaghy MC60:

The MC60 is the fastest and most luxurious flybridge catamaran. ‘Think next-gen fighter jet meets a New York style luxury loft apartment.’

McConagy boats was founded by John McConaghy in 1967 and in 2000 Mark Evans & Jono Morris embraced the opportunity to take over the country. They partnered with Tiger Group Investments and have grown from strength to strength – building the world’s fastest racing yachts , submarines, components for Formula One racing and developing solutions for architects, scientists and others. They have a proven track record on complex composite products which are lightweight, corrosion resistant, have design flexibility, durability and high strength.

In the MC60, designed and engineered with safety as priority, this performance sailing meets stylish living with only finest wood veneers and luxurious materials throughout – the wide saloon which offers a versatile but spacious living area, large windows and retractable glass doors aft, a galley well positioned best suited to socialising. The attention is to detail and innovation even in the storage solutions so that living space is maximised with semi-customisation of interiors too.  She is the perfect blend of sophistication and high tech.

Sailing is in utmost luxury, effortlessly and safely due to meticulous control of weight. She is much lighter than other similar length cats and can approach cruising speeds close to true wind. A professional crew are required. For sailing there are dual helm positions on the streamlined flybridge for best sight lines. The precise hull forms achieve optimum strength to weight ratio with careful use of carbon which means that under full sail she points upwind like a monohull. The M60 has push button centerboards that raise on impact automatically – certainly one of the safest offshore performance catamarans .

• Length: 60 ft 04 in
• Beam: 28 ft 2 in
• Draft: 4 ft 7 in with centreboards up
• 12 ft 4 in with centreboards down
• Capacity: 2 double berths & 1 - 2 twin (6 - 8 persons)
• Motor: 2 x 57 HP
• Fuel Capacity: 123.19 gal
• Mast height: 92.85 ft
• Mainsail area: 2,034 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 123.19 gal

Sunreef Yachts

Where to buy Sunreef 80:

Winner in the 2019 Oceanway China Yachts Award, the 2019 Yacht and Aviation Awards and claiming Best of Show Award in the 2020 Miami International Boat Show this mighty fine catamaran justly deserves all and more.  It is an all-round sailing leisure yacht for exclusive getaways, charter and transocean adventures and is set up for professional crew.

The Sunreef is built in Poland under management of Founder and CEO Francis Lapp who has been producing large vessels from 50-165 ft since 2002 and knows well what semi-custom cruising is all about.

The Sunreef 80 fuses contemporary design with its layout flowing easily one into another area in ultimate luxury. Custom finishes ensure that you have found your ultimate catamaran – the vast central lounging space with panoramic view opens both onto the bow and cockpit. The cleverly designed bridge deck and superstructure facilitates the superior comfort onboard.

The spacious 54sqm flybridge is the epitome of leisure – a jacuzzi, wet bar, barbecue and large sunpads with the main boom well clear overhead ! It also houses all the navigation. Plenty of relaxation and pleasure space.

The sail controls are well laid out for the twin helms with carbon masts built by Sunreef themselves. The rig is built for power on this well equipped and luxury sailing vessel.

The tall bow has a fine entry aimed at reducing drag while the hulls are designed to reduce drag too while having super volume to accommodate the luxurious cabins are airy and impeccable in style. The master cabin is located midships starboard and is an opulent space while the other cabins each have queen sized beds, spacious en-suites and unquestionable privacy.

• Length: 80 ft
• Beam: 37 ft 7 in
• Draft: 7 ft 218 in
• Capacity: 4 - 5 double berths plus optional crew of 3 (8 - 10 persons plus crew max of 3)
• Motor: 2 x 280 HP John Deeres
• Fuel Capacity: 634.01 to 1585.03 gal
• Mast height: 2185 ft
• Mainsail area: 2152.78 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 422.68 gal

HH Catamarans

HH50 cruiser

Where to buy HH50 cruiser:

The HH50 is a performance cruiser for the blue water with simple to use but intelligent systems, carbon construction and to top it all luxurious and spacious interior. She offers to best of all worlds – easy to manage sailing vessel which is robustly built, fully equipped and stylishly comfortable for your adventure.

The sailing systems and deck layout are designed for short-handed sailing with dual helm stations each giving the helmsman total sail control from either side and having excellent visibility.  The C daggerboards are curved and are fully retractable. Push button mainsheet and self-tacking jib are standard. Equal-to-Wind speed is normal, this is a performance sailing vessel.

The large saloon has a good sized galley and when at anchor the sail handling area converts easily to a comfortable forward facing seating area. The aft cockpit has an integrated wet bar and barbeque – perfect for al fresco entertaining or dining. Luxury queen size beds await in the cabins.

• Length: 51 ft 8 in
• Beam: 24 ft 41 in
• Draft: 5 ft 43 in Board down
• 10 ft 83 in Board up
• Capacity: 2 double berths and 1-2 single (4 - 6 persons)
• Motor: 2 x Yanmar 40HP
• Fuel Capacity: 131.98 gal
• Mast height: 75 ft 36 in
• Mainsail area: 873.28 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 87.99 gal

Excess Catamarans

Where to buy Excess 11:

This gem earned the title of Cruising World’s Boat of the Year 2021 impressing the judges with its allocation of space all the while offering superior sailing performance. All at a great price.

Using compact space effectively – effectively and seamlessly assimilating working and social areas in a thoughtful, pleasant, workable and innovative way. This is a sure winner for the Excess 11.

The Excess 11 is one of the smallest catamarans as well as the only large-scale production boat of this size, with comfort, space and thrilling sailing. She is comfortable in her simplicity and light style. It is very capable for long passages and meets the needs for life on board, built on the experience of previous models and designs.

Even with her smaller size she offers comfort on deck with a large open cockpit and twin helm stations.

Complete Excess 11 standard features list please email via website

• Length: 37 ft 5 in
• Beam: 21 ft 7 in
• Draft: 3 ft 9 in
• Capacity: 3 - 4 double berths (6 - 8 persons)
• Motor: 2 x 29HP
• Fuel Capacity: 106 gal
• Mast height: 56 ft 8 in
• Mainsail area: 592 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 79 gal

Bali Catamarans

BALI Catspace

Where to buy BALI Catspace:

The BALI Catspace is the most successful catamaran in her class with the Catspace being the smallest of the BALI range, combining all the latest innovations in cruising. It was nominated for the Cruising World’s best boat of the year: Catamaran under 50 ft, 2022.

The Catspace was conceived by Olivier Poncin & designed by Lasta Design – combining all the latest innovations in cruising into a really neat vessel.

The sailing quality is not to be faulted for a catamaran of this size, the deck which is efficient for sailing allows smooth movement from the aft platform to the forward cockpit with lounge and sunbathing area. There is, in addition a full-comfort flybridge which has a safe relaxation area and a helm station which is designed for single/short handed use.

The 4 cabins each have private heads and the ability to open up the back end of the cats to create the indoor/outdoor platform is well planned and highly effective.

Complete Catspace standard features list

• Length: 40 ft 39 in
• Beam: 21 ft 59 in
• Draft: 3 ft 91 in Boards up
• Motor: 2 x 20HP up to 2 x 40HP
• Fuel Capacity: 107.78 gal
• Mast height: 58 ft 56 in
• Mainsail area: 1,087 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 167 gal

Big ‘blue water’ Sailing

Blue water sailing refers to the open sea. Non-blue or pond sailing refers to inland waters and coastal areas.

The difference in specific design of a blue water or non-blue water vessel is for the ship captain’s visibility as well as based on the hazards of the area they are to be used.  A bluewater (offshore) catamaran is designed for voyages in very rough seas. They are usually 40ft or longer, designed to be very stable, carry heavy loads and very safe.  Ocean sailing has different dangers to coastal water with different challenges – sailing through storms, longer distances, more maneuvering space, night sailing – and more gear, better technology, skills and sturdier vessels are needed.

When sailing in confined waters it is important to have more reactive steerage, less maneuvering time, you do not need to store multiday provisions as you are more reliant on daytime sailing, do not need so much speed so have smaller sails and lower horsepower engines and perhaps the intention if for pleasure alone so one of the major considerations will be the  layout of the vessel.

For most sailors the choice of size is between 40-50 feet which is manageable for 2 persons with lots of room to spread out and entertain or have friends on board and that is easy to dock both in terms of space and cost.

First questions to ask yourself

First up consider these 5 points before you decide on your multihull model, length and manufacturer.

Will you be using your sailing vessel for coastal or blue water adventures? What is your primary objective and then: is this for family pleasure or entertaining or Charter?

For sailing

Must it be suited for single-handed sailing? What proficiency of sailing do I have/need? Degree of technology required? Equipment required?

Functional Use

How many berths do I need? How much privacy? Elegance, comfort and style – what is required? Space for ‘toys’?  If for charter or private use with crew – extra berths.

Your total budget must include the initial cost of the vessel plus survey, transport, upgrading of equipment, insurance, etc – there is a lot to consider. Would a second hand vessel be a consideration? What is the smallest I can go?

Annual Costs

What will my ongoing budget be for Insurance, berthing, maintenance, repairs, haul out fees, etc? This excludes any travel costs

Where do I want to berth my vessel? Or living aboard?

It is said that BOAT is an acronym for: Break Out Another Thousand!

Review of Our Favorite 15 Multihulls 2024

With cutting edge technology and the strive for sail performance this was no easy task – there are many deserving vessels who deserve to be in the Top Reviews such as Privilege 510, Outremer 51, Knysna 500SE and the St Francis 50. There are also other models by manufacturers we have selected that have proven themselves over the years that may be a better size for you.

Here’s our listing!

Related Reviews

Read full review

Final Thoughts

Multihull vessels have a lot of the potential for creature comforts that motor yachts have without the constant thrumming of the engines. But they still require a modicum or rudimentary understanding of sailing.

There’s also a bit of maintenance required, but this is something–like having kids–that you figure out along the way.

Another popular boating segment is the power catamaran. Like their sailing counterparts, power catamaran boats have great living space, but without the need to understand sailing principles. Either way, both multihull markets look to be growing in popularity over the next many years.

The resale market for multihull ships also looks promising, so getting one, trying it out for a couple of seasons and selling it again is a possibility without losing too much on the purchase price.

Before you sign the cheque….

So you’ve located some a catamaran for sale that looks promising. It’s one of the models on the list here and you’re wondering if its in the best shape relative to the price. Here’s what you do:

Take time out to go and view it in person. Book yourself an experience aboard and head over to your closest marina and speak to owners (this may well help you create your shortlist too). Consider these points before purchasing:

•       Pre-book buyer’s sea trials for your shortlist
•       Select the perfect sailing vessel for you (and if it’s for your family make sure they agree too!)
•       Used – get a certified hull survey, safety comes first
•       Get annual insurance quotes
•       Calculate dockage – purchase or rent a slip or dock
•       Calculate monthly upkeep and maintenance
•       Calculate extra costs like navigational devices & fittings
•       Draft your own checklist
•       Draft & sign off sale & purchase contracts
•       Draft & sign off a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
•       Ensure you are satisfied 100%
•       Execute payment and take transfer of ownership
•       Register and insure your vessel

Check all necessary Stock is aboard – Sail away!

Pre-Departure Checklist

Some ideas for you –

• Always pre-check the weather and wind conditions prior to any excursion on the water
• Always know the tide table in your head, so you know what the ocean is doing at all times, incoming or outgoing tide, and what is the tidal range if you are in an ocean estuary or channel.
• Check you have fuel, water, food and all the basics before loading passengers aboard, and follow these easy steps to ensure safety is first at all times.
• Plan your upcoming voyage, does it feature high swells, rocky shores, and cold water
• Check Safety equipment, making sure you have enough life jackets for all sea-farers
• Check sails, sheets and lines. All sailing gear
• Check your engines – Open fuel lines, check oil and spark plugs
• Check fuel tank levels and have extra fuel aboard for an emergency
• Start the motor, make sure water is coming out to cool the motor
• Test both forward and reverse gears on the engine before guests board
• Check that you have a working and full battery communications radio, with all correct channels programmed, and that all the vessel lights and electrics are in working order
• Check for first aid kits, manual hand pump, paddles, lifejackets , additional lines, fresh drinking water and food for passengers plus some spare in case your voyage is longer than expected, necessary repair tools & kit and flags
• Strap any equipment and gear down safely before you start to motor
• If you have passengers boarding, ensure you give a proper safety briefing and point out where all the safety gear is on the vessel. Children should be included in the briefing and be secured properly before departure

Catamarans versus Trimarans

Trimarans have limited space in slimmer hull designs generally. This makes Catamarans with their comfortable open leisure space both above and below deck far preferred for leisure sailing.

On the plus side for Trimarans are their speed and seaworthiness.

How Safe are Multihull Boats at Sea?

Probably a close second in terms of questions asked. On a twin hull design the buoyancy is on the outer edges of the boat and their is greater stability and less rolling when drifting or trolling compared to a monohull.

Catamarans are safe in rough seas because of their wide stance which makes them stable with increased motion comfort and excess buoyancy due to lack of ballast. They are easy to maneuver and with high speeds that may help them outrun storms with skilled crew who know the vessel. A trimaran is the safest of multihulls with the 3 hulls, centering of its weight and anti-drift plan. The righting torque between a catamaran and trimaran is significantly different.

An important consideration is this – if your catamaran is anything longer than 45ft, unless specifically modified for single handed sailing, then it probably cannot be sailed alone. At some stage in your journey you may well have to sail alone – can it be done?

As Blue Water Sailing Vessels

Catamarans are more stable and fast and depending on conditions some can distance more than 200 miles in a day.

Cats usually sail faster than monohulls (standard) due to the weight of them and displacement, especially on a run or broad reach when the sails are perpendicular to the wind. There are many variables to consider.

Solo Sailing a Multihull

Most small and medium-sized cruising catamarans can be sailed single-handedly. The skill of the sailor with high tech equipment such as electric winches and powered sail control, layout (such as all lines to the cockpit, roller furling mainsail, autopilot, etc) and safety precautions make it an adventure not to be missed.

If your catamaran is longer than 45ft, unless specifically modified for single-handed sailing, you will not be able to safely sail it alone. Consider:

• What the minimum length of the vessel would suit your needs to handle on your own
• Layout planning is essential
• Space you need
• The bigger the boat means larger sails which will be harder to raise and repair
• The bigger the boat means more power and speed – be comfortable with your vessel
• Update your sailing skills

Finding the Right Size

It is a very personal choice but at the very least the advice would be to buy the smallest catamaran you think would meet your needs – this is because you have many other costs to consider and the bigger the vessel the more the costs of upkeep, dockage, space for crew.

A perfect size for blue water sailing (including around the world) is around 40 ft, small enough to be sailed by one person but big enough to provide safety and speed. The smallest size to consider to cross the ocean safely and in some comfort by consensus is around 30ft. Any smaller and you will possibly have the following problems as dealing with large seas the size of your vessel does count :

• A smaller vessel is always pitching and yawing and this impacts the crew negatively over a long period of time or in crisis situations
• Low bridge deck clearance due to the small size of the vessel
• when sailing upwind the waves are projected with speed and force into the decks understand (between the pontoons) creating bridge deck slamming.  This vibration and noise impacts the crew and is very tiring – sailing downwind to prevent this may not be where you want to go
• Not having enough space for all the supplies and equipment needed for a long passage
• Alongside the problem of weight to be carried is the problem of distribution of this weight over the length of the vessel safely

Multihulls best for ponds, slow rivers and calm bodies of inland water benefit from having flat hulls to provide shallow draft with great deck space manufactured from aluminium or fibreglass. Make sure you take extra food and water and all safety supplies just in case of an emergency!

The question everyone wants to know – how much does it cost to live onboard?

There are many variables depending on your lifestyle, where you intend to cruise or berth and how much you want to travel aboard. A good estimate would be between US$2000-US$5000 per month for a family of 4, a little less for a couple/single person plus the maintenance cost of your boat which is on average 5-10% of the cost of the boat. The maintenance of your boat varies depending of equipment, age, condition and size.

What do I need to consider differently to live on-board rather than racing ?

Racing vessels are designed for speed and exhilaration and safe fun.

Living on-board requires space and comfort – space for storage, large-sized comfortable berths, living space, entertaining space, home-space! You need to know your long term goals and what your personal needs are – do you need a dedicated work area or desk space/permanent interconnectivity for work?

Generally cruising catamarans have wider hulls which give you more space as well as creating more drag which slows your boat down and is more costly on fuel.

Many used charter boats are seen as great purchases for living on-board, however make sure that they are suited for blue water sailing and not only for coastal water.

Here’s a list of the Top 15 best Multihulls reviewed in this article: 

• Leopard Catamarans – 41 ft 7 in – Leopard 42
• Balance Yachts – 48 ft 26 in – Balance 482
• Kinetic Catamarans – 54 ft 2 in – Kinetic KC54
• Xquisite Yachts – 53 ft – Xquisite X5
• McConaughey – 60 ft 1 in – MC60
• Sunreef Yachts – 80 ft – Sunreef 80
• Leopard Catamarans – 50 ft 6 in – Leopard 50
• Voyage Yachts – 57 ft 42 in – Voyage 590
• Seawind – 52 ft 8 in – Seawind 1600
• HH Catamarans – 52 ft – HH50
• Fountaine Pajot – 39 ft 14 in – Isla 40
• Lagoon-Beneteau Group – 38 ft 5 in – Lagoon 40
• Excess Catamarans – 37 ft 2 in – Excess 11
• Maverick Yachts of SA – 44 ft – Maverick 440
• Chantier CATANA – 37 ft 5 in – Catspace

Frequently asked questions about Catamarans

This varies greatly, often defined used or new by the design, size, year and finish.  Quality vessels are built to last and retain market-related value if undamaged.

On average a 45-foot catamaran can range from US$250,000-US$1,000,000.

The fully loaded Isla 40 costs around US$527,000. The Balance 42 sail away price fully cruise equipped is US$1,450,000 while the Kinetic 54’s price tag approaches US$3,000,000. The modern styled Sunreef 80 costs around $6.2 million.

We think that the Seawind 1600 is, for its size and quality, a superb priced performance product at US$900,000.

One of the major benefits for a cruising vessel is to be able to enter shallower seas – catamarans have a shallower draft than monohulls and therefore a great appeal to folk for whom this is a major consideration. Most lagoons are only 6-8 feet deep in the South Pacific. The Caribbean and other areas where you have reefs to navigate and shallow sandbanks to cross to enter overnight anchor stops draft is a very important consideration. Always remember to read your tide tables and swell.

A catamaran is lighter on the water and therefore takes less energy to move, however they have 2 engines which drives up fuel costs. They are more fuel-efficient on flat water (compared to equal horsepower and number of engines) but in heavy weather the monohull’s hull design causes less resistance and therefore higher efficiency.

With lighter weight and high buoyancy generally they have low water drag by comparison to the displacement of a monohull of the same length.

The trampoline serves many purposes – primarily to allow water to quickly pass through, allowing the bow to rise and so preventing the vessel from flipping and they are ideal for pleasure purposes.

To sail around the world the vessel needs to be equipped for offshore cruising and have a heavy load capacity.

The bigger Modern blue water cats are built with this in mind – supplies, crew, technology and gear.

A bigger boat has many advantages such as speed (not only to travel longer distance in shorter time but also to outrun potential bad weather) and comfort space, space for crew and friends, storage space for supplies and fun equipment, etc.

It is important to balance price against comforts, maintenance and repair costs as well as any potential income from your vessel (chartering, Air BNB, hosting courses on-board, etc) – generally here the bigger your vessel the higher the potential for greater income.

The larger your vessel the higher your expenses are in all ways – from Insurance to berthing, maintenance, haul out fees and equipment.

On this page

Table of content:, breadcrumbs.

• / Catamarans

Continue reading

Orion Safety 544

SEABOB F5 SR

Galeon 800 FLY

Gallery of catamarans review.

Three sailboats racing in the Indian Ocean

• Waterproof Backpacks
• Duffel Bags
• Hiking Backpacks
• Waterproof Gear
• Teepee Tents
• Camping Chairs
• Heated Socks
• Marine Binoculars
• Night Vision Goggles
• Windbreaker Jackets
• Collapsible and Folding Wagons
• Portable Power Stations

• Dive Computer
• Scuba Diving BCD
• Scuba Regulators
• Freediving Fins
• Diving Wetsuits
• Women’s Wetsuits
• Scuba Diving Drysuits
• Rebreathers
• Scuba Diving Masks
• Snorkel Masks
• Full Face Diving Mask
• Full Face Snorkel Masks
• Prescription Dive Masks
• Prescription Snorkel Masks
• Snorkeling Gear
• Kids Wetsuits
• Seiko Dive Watches
• Best Underwater Cameras
• Waterproof Cameras
• Underwater Scooters
• Best Dive Knife
• Dive Lights
• Underwater Metal Detector
• Reef Safe Sunscreen
• Scuba Tanks
• Dive Destinations
• Liveaboards

• Paddle boards (SUP)
• Best Touring Paddle Boards
• Best Beginner Paddle Boards
• Motorized paddle boards
• Electric SUP Pumps
• Paddles For Paddle Boarding

• Beach Chairs
• Beach Umbrellas
• Beach Wagons
• Beach Tents
• Beach Canopy
• Beach Towels
• Beach Blankets
• Water Shoes
• Water Socks
• Boogie Boards

• Swimming Goggles
• Swimming Fins
• Swimming Earplugs
• Women’s Swim Shorts

• Getting into Sailing
• Life Jackets
• Marine Flares
• Waterproof Marine Radios
• Pontoon Boat Accessories
• Sailing Gloves
• Boat Fenders

• Inflatable Kayak
• Folding Kayaks
• Tandem Kayaks
• Sit On Top Kayaks
• Sea Touring Kayaks
• Ocean Kayak
• Pedal Kayaks
• Fishing Kayaks
• Kayak Life Vests
• Kayak Shoes
• Kayak Paddles
• Kayak Trailers
• Kayak Anchors
• How to Choose a Kayak – A Beginner’s Guide
• How To Choose a Kayak Paddle? [What You Need to Know]
• Kayaking Gear for Beginners
• What to Wear Kayaking
• Kayak Safety

• All Mountain Snowboards
• Snowboard Boots
• Snowboard Bindings
• Snowboard Helmets
• Snowboard Jackets
• Atomic Skis
• Blizzard Skis
• Ski Resorts in the US

• Travel Backpacks
• Weekender Bags
• Packing Cubes
• Suitcases and Travel Luggages
• The Best All-inclusive Resorts in the World

• Men’s Yoga Pants
• Yoga Shorts
• Yoga Mat Bags
• Yoga Blocks

• Laptop Backpack
• Mini Backpacks
• Mesh Backpacks
• Clear Backpacks
• Fanny Packs
• Water Bottles

• Waterproof Jacket
• Waterproof Pants
• Waterproof Watches
• Waterproof Headphones
• Snorkel Fins
• Best Snorkels
• Best Dive Sites in the World
• Best Dive Resorts in the World
• Central & South America
• North America
• Southeast Asia
• Indian Ocean
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Red Sea
• All Liveaboards
• Liveaboards in Australia
• Liveaboards in Fiji
• Liveaboards in Micronesia
• Liveaboards in Myanmar (Burma)
• Liveaboards in the Maldives
• Liveaboards in the Philippines
• Liveaboards in Egypt
• Liveaboards in Costa Rica
• Liveaboards in Belize
• Liveaboards in Mexico
• Liveaboards in the Galapagos Islands
• Aggressor Liveaboards
• Liveaboard in Thailand
• Liveaboards in Indonesia
• The Best Starboard Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
• Bluefin Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
• Isle Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
• Red Paddle Co. Ride 10’6
• ROC Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
• The Best iRocker Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
• Blackfin Paddle Boards
• Pontoon Boats
• Bowrider Boats
• Motor Yachts
• Cabin Cruiser Boats
• Inflatable Boats
• Electric Surfboard
• Efoil Board
• Jet Body Boards
• All-Mountain Skis
• Ski Bindings
• Ski Poles for Downhill & Touring
• Ski Goggles
• Ski Gloves and Mittens
• Ski Jackets
• Ski and Snowboarding Pants and Bibs
• Ski Helmets
• Best Resorts in North America
• Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
• Copper Mountain Ski Resort
• Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort Area Review
• Jackson Hole Ski Resort
• Telluride Ski Resort
• Aspen Ski Resort
• Crested Butte Ski Resort
• Kirkwood Ski Resort
• Alta Ski Resor
• Park City Ski Resort
• Winter Park Resort
• Breckenridge Ski Resort
• Vail Ski Resort
• Snowmass Ski Resort
• Heavenly Ski Resort
• Taos Ski Valley
• Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort
• Ski Santa Fe
• Angel Fire Ski Resort
• Sun Valley Ski resort
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Aruba
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Cabo
• All-inclusive resort in Cancun
• All-Inclusive Resorts In Costa Rica
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Cozumel
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Hawaii
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico
• All-Inclusive Puerto Rico Resorts
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Tulum
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Turks and Caicos
• Best Diving in the Caribbean
• Diving in Guadeloupe
• Diving in Aruba
• Diving in Antigua and Barbuda
• Diving in the Bahamas
• Diving in Barbados
• Diving in Bonaire
• Diving in the British Virgin Islands
• Diving in Cayman Islands
• Diving in Cuba
• Diving in Curacao
• Diving in Dominican Republic
• Diving in Grenada
• Diving in Jamaica
• Diving in Martinique
• Diving in Puerto Rico
• Diving in St. Maarten
• Diving in St. Lucia
• Diving in Tobago
• Diving in the Turks and Caicos
• Diving in Belize
• Diving in Costa Rica
• Diving in the Galapagos Islands
• Diving in Mexico
• Diving in Roatan Honduras
• Diving in California
• Diving in Florida
• Diving in North Carolina
• Best Diving in Southeast Asia
• Diving in Thailand
• Diving in the Philippines
• Diving in Indonesia
• Diving in Vietnam
• Diving in Cambodia
• Diving in the Maldives
• Diving in Australia
• Diving in Japan
• Diving in Fiji
• Best Diving in Europe
• Diving in Mallorca
• Diving in Malta
• Diving In Denmark
• Diving in Egypt
• All Liveaboards in Thailand
• Liveaboards in the Similan Islands
• All Liveaboards in Indonesia
• Liveaboards in Komodo
• Women’s Life Vest
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Playa del Carmen
• All Diving in Mexico
• Diving in Cozumel
• Diving In Similan Islands – Khao Lak Area
• Diving in Malapascua
• All the Diving in Indonesia
• Diving in Bali
• Diving in Gili Islands
• Diving in Komodo
• Diving in Sulawesi
• Diving in Raja Ampat
• All Diving in Australia
• Diving In Brothers Islands

Paddle boarding

Everyday Life

Best Catamarans Under 50 Feet (With Pictures and Prices)

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site.

Catamarans within the 40-50 ft (12-15 m) range are some of the hottest on the market, this is largely due to their offshore capabilities and amazing comforts. But what are the best catamarans under 50 feet?

The best catamarans under 50 ft (15.24 m) include the Leopard 50, Lagoon 42, Bavaria Nautitech 46, Fountaine Pajot 45, Beneteau Excess 15, and more. The Leopard 50 is one of the most expensive options on the used market, while you’re likely to land a bargain on the Beneteau Excess 15.

The rest of this article will take a closer look at the best catamarans under 50 feet. I will explain what you need to know about them, reveal price estimates, and ensure your future cat matches your lifestyle.

Table of Contents

What Is a Catamaran?

A catamaran is a wind-powered sea vessel made of two hulls. The hulls are separated with a deck in the middle which encompasses the saloon. Many sailors use catamarans for leisure because they make excellent vacation homes on the water. 

However, most catamarans are pricey. You can expect to spend between $200,000 and $1M for a vessel in good condition on the used market.

What Are the Best Catamarans Between 40 and 50 Feet?

The best catamarans between 40 and 50 feet include the following:

The Leopard 50 is the replacement for the Leopard 48. It sits at 50 ft (15.24 m) long, powered by two 57 hp Yanmar engines. Used models start at a whopping $800k.

The exterior of the vessel boasts endless high-end features. You’ll get a table, a sunbed, and a roomy lounge on the flybridge area of this boat. However, you can spice things up with shade awning and exterior speakers, though you have to order these separately.

Getting to the flybridge from the side deck is easy, thanks to the carefully designed floating stairs, masterfully fitted in. A signature design move from this brand is that the flybridge now links to the helm station on most of the models. 

Read my article to understand pros and cons of a flybridge!

The Leopard 50 is no different. The spacious lounge also acts as protection for the helm station behind the bulkhead. You’ll also get a clear line of sight and movement to the aft cockpit for a flawless journey. Passengers can move freely across the flybridge without interfering with the boom, which is in stark contrast to other catamarans similar to the Leopard 50.

Overall, the exterior design of the Leopard 50 is fantastic. It’s hard not to look at any further customizations as extravagance. On the inside, it’s no slouch either. You get a utility room, five independent cabins, and 6-12 berths. The vessel also boasts 4-6 showers onboard, and the interior décor features classy materials.

• The 50 feet size ensures it has very wide interior spaces.
•  It’s designed to sail well upwind.
• The mechanical and structural composition makes it one of the most seaworthy boats in this range.
• The boat design can be a bit sleeker, hence the slow sailing.
• The model’s high boom can make it harder to operate the mainsail, this also moves the center of gravity up .
• The Leopard 50 is a slow-moving ship in low winds.

The Lagoon 42 is the scaled-down version of the Lagoon 52 designed by Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prévost (VPLP). It measures 42 ft (12.80 m) and boasts two 42 hp Yanmar engines. Price-wise, expect to splurge between $620,000 and $850,000 on the used market. 

The two main features that distinguish this model from other popular Lagoon models are:

• A relocated mast to ensure proper balancing of the gross weight and reduce pitching. 
• A beautiful silhouette that gives the boat a unique look. The design is part of the exterior styling spearheaded by Patrick Le Quément.

The smaller boom and the self-tacking genoa make the Lagoon 42 a bit more compatible for short-handed sailing. You get lots of room in all the lounges across the boat—from the cockpit down to the saloon. There’s also excellent ventilation on the wide flat decks, thanks to the flush opening hatches. Access to the boom is simple, as the vessel has safe and sturdy stairs that lead to the upper deck and helm station.

With the helm station on top of the coach bulkhead roof, mobility and communication between the cockpit and saloon are a breeze. The interior of the boat has four cabins. The forward has beds that passengers can access from the side, while the aft options have an island bed.

• The deck layout is one of the best you’ll find.
• The single-level design from the saloon to the aft platform is an interesting deviation from the norm.
•  Short-hand sailing is easy due to the self-tacking genoa.
•  It’s one of the pricier options in the market.

The Lagoon 46 is another high-quality catamaran from VPLP with an overall length of 45 ft (13.72 m). It receives its power from two 45/57 cv CR engines, and it’ll set you back around $500,000 for a used model. The overall design is a refreshed approach that guarantees better performance than the preceding models. 

The first noticeable design change is the narrowed down water lines flared out inboard. This combination dramatically improves the volume on the inside of the boat. The results are a bit more pronounced on the cabins in the forward area, making it easier for you to have the same bed size on the abaft and front.

The Lagoon 46 also has a high-tech cradle-like davit system accompanied by a Bimini roof that’s a lot less weighty than what you’ll find on older models. The boat’s flybridge features a large enough area for sunbathing, connected to the two side decks directly. Meanwhile, the reserved storage space on the boat has also had a bump in this model.

With the mast located at the aft position at the top of the boat, it’s no surprise that there’s a self-tacking genoa on it. The interior décor of the ship looks as exquisite as the price range suggests. Most of the finishes are either Alpi or light wood oak, with rounded edges prioritized a great deal.

• The accessible double-side beds in the cabins are an excellent addition.
• The size of the vessel means there’s some limit to where it can safely pass while out on the water.

The Bali 4.1 is one of the lower-priced catamaran models in the used market today. It’s a 40 ft (12.19 m) vessel powered by two 20 hp engines and priced around $400.000 .

This design from Naval architect Xavier Faÿ and Lasta Design Studio improve upon the earlier 4.0 model. In other words, you can expect the best features from the older model and some improvements. 

This is a model known for its seaworthiness, meaning the foredeck space provides some rigidity and offers protection from water spray while out on the sea. Although some would argue that the solid deck forward of the mast could be an offshore issue.

If you want to better understand why solid decking might be an issue, read my article on w hat trampolines are and how they impact safety .

The boat’s saloon is large and protected by a glossy pivot door, and the deck has lots of space to accommodate sunbathers. The fore cockpit is large enough to fit a small crew without the space feeling cramped. Since it sits in an elevated position, the helming station delivers excellent visibility for sailors.

The windows are designed to open with a retracting or gliding mechanism, so you’ll enjoy excellent ventilation in most of the living areas on the boat. Some of the new features added to the Bali 4.1 include new bench seats in the back cockpit, large side lockers, a platform connection for the two hulls, and more. 

Overall, this is an excellent vessel you can count on to deliver a smooth sailing experience.

• The foredeck offers incredible amounts of usable space.
• It delivers less floating and a lot more stability.
• The deck layout and deck camber are great and rid water quickly.
• A solid foredeck makes for a more usable exterior area.
• The Interior layout is excellent!
• Boom might be situated too high for some sailors.
• Quite a slow vessel.
• Some sailors report issues with the “garage door style” saloon door leaking.

Nautitech 46

With the Nautitech 46, you’re sure to get nothing but pleasure, comfort, and elegance. You can expect to spend between $500,000 and $800,000 for this used 46ft (14.02 m) super vessel, with the two Volvo Penta engines combining for 80 hp of sailing power. The vessel architecture and design were handled by Marc Lombard and Roseo Design, respectively.

The catamaran has two models known as the Open and the Fly ( flybridge setup ). The Open variant is the “original” version. While the models are the same under the hood, the major difference lies in the deck variations. The Fly delivers a flybridge space for the passengers and captain, with unforgettable views in all directions.

The Nautitech 46 Open has a 4-cabin version that can carry eight people (great for summer rentals) and a 3-cabin version that’ll appeal to people that want an owner’s suite. The saloon’s design offers passengers picturesque views of the sea from a very comfortable sitting position. 

If you need table space for work or to organize navigation, you can find one carved out in the kitchen.

• The interior design reflects the price and is of very high quality.
• There are lots of clip-on-points and rails to ensure safety and easy movement around the vessel.
• There’s a spacious engine bay that allows easy access to the engines thus reducing maintenance times.
• The slender shape of the boat hulls causes a decrease in the living space.
• There’s reduced visibility on the aft helm (open version).

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

This 44 ft (13.41 m) vessel powered by two 40 hp engines made its grand introduction at the 2019 Cannes Yachting Festival. Since then, it’s grown in popularity, thanks to the bold and modern design which emphasizes cruising, relaxation, and comfort. You can buy one of these for around $500,000 to $900,000 on the used market.

The vessel is made of energy-emitting lines and inverted bows, which has dramatically improved the interior space. The helm station also features upgrades to improve the handling experience.

Not to worry; the cockpit doesn’t get the backburner in the comfort-centric design department. It’s very spacious, containing lots of storage spaces and direct access to the saloon. 

You can choose to install a Beach Club electric platform if you’d like to host parties from time to time. If you like to bring guests aboard, they’ll enjoy the relaxation spaces on the cockpit, lounge, and foredeck. Some interesting additions to the internal elements of the FP 45 are two refrigerators and a water maker that can produce 15.85 gal (60 L) of drinks per hour.

• The living spaces on the catamaran are some of the best and largest in this range.
• The fly lounge is an interesting design.
• It’s sharp when traveling downwind and offers a good compromise between speed and comfort.
• Performance suffers a lot in upwind sailing, and the fuel consumption increases significantly.

Designed by Christophe Barreau, the Catana 47 is another premium catamaran on the market today. It’s a 46 ft (14 m) durable vessel powered by two 40 hp Volvo engines. Going for around $750,000 on the used market, the Catana 47 is a light and strong vessel featuring a heavy infusion of carbon fiber. 

The Catana 47 retains some of the signature design moves the Catana Company is known for, including open helming stations, a performance-centric rig, and tall twin daggerboards. This model of the Catana runs a bit faster than the preceding model. That’s likely because Catana dropped its weight by around 1,500 lbs (680.39 kg). 

The vessel doesn’t skimp on space either. Both the crew and passengers on board will always have enough space to move around without bumping into someone else.

•  The room space is excellent.
•  Its speed is up there with some of the best in this class of catamarans.
• High bridge deck clearance
• You may need a watcher during docking due to the blind spot between the helming station and the opposite bow.

Seawind 1370

The Seawind 1370 is like a mash-up of the best features from the Seawind 1600 and 1260 designs with some further unique improvements. The 45 ft (13.72 m) catamaran is an excellent cruise vessel with warm and roomy living spaces. This makes the vessel an excellent option if you have a large family. The ship boasts two 40 hp Yanmar engines, and you can purchase a high-quality used one for around $700,000.

The catamaran can withstand heavy spray while in turbulent waters, thanks to the tough panoramic fashioned glass windows. The saloon opening from the cockpit features a tri-fold door. Once inside the cockpit, you’ll find a large transom lounge and a nice little bar that can also double as your cocktail joint.

The lounge on the saloon has enough space, and you can make more by simply folding down the table to transform it into a bed. You’ll find all the lines and controls in the helm station. The well-shaped hull offers high headroom in the cabins. Overall, the architectural design of this catamaran (made by Francois Perus) is one of the best in its class.

• It’s comfortable enough for small families.
• It’s very sturdy while on the water.
• The volume and space on offer may not be enough for commercial applications

The Beneteau Excess 15 is one of the largest catamarans created by the Beneteau group. It’s a sleek, cruising vessel with two powerful 57 hp engines. The twin helm stations on the boat make it one of the few catamarans that sport this design approach. There’s an 80 hp dual-engine variant of the vessel. With those specs in mind, you can expect to spend $200,000 to $1 million on a Excess 15.

On the inside, the vessel has a roomy saloon, which can double as a mini room diner.  While there, the non-smoked bay windows guarantee a full view of the entire seascape ahead. The cockpit is large enough to hold a table that can seat eight people. Helmsman, in particular, will enjoy the Dyneema steering cables and the aluminum supports.

• It’s a very stable seaworthy vessel.
• The engine is powerful enough for the size.
• It runs at a decent speed for a luxury boat.
• The interior and exterior design screams comfort and prestige.
• Since this is a luxury boat, it’s not the fastest in this class.

There are many excellent catamarans within the 40-50 ft (12-15 m) range. The options we’ve covered here are the best ones I have seen so far. Think about your unique needs before choosing any specific option. After all, some of these are more equipped for cruising while others are more useful as holiday boats with your family.

Don’t forget to consider other factors such as ease of control, harbor space, fuel type, and engine type. If you’re going with a used model, be sure to evaluate it thoroughly before you make a decision. It’s often best to get a professional valuation.

If you want to get my five cents on how to buy a boat i suggest you check theese articles out:

• Buyers Guide
• How to afford buying a catamaran
• Seawind Cats: SEAWIND 1260 WON THE BEST CRUISING CATAMARAN UNDER 50 FEET 2019
• MultiHulls World: 2019 BUYER’S GUIDE: Multihulls from 40 to 50 feet
• The Boat DB: The best catamarans under 40/50 Feet

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

Must-Have Boat Gear for Catamaran Sailors!

Sailing is probably the most gear-intensive activity I've ever done; there are so many decisions to be made about what gear to buy now, for tomorrow, and what to definitely never buy. The gear on...

6 Best Trailerable Trimarans For Bluewater and Coastal Sailing

Having a boat costs a lot of money, even when you are not using it, marina fees, etc. And once it is in the water most sailors never go very far from their "home marina" and sailing will be somewhat...

Better Sailing

10 Best Catamarans Under 50 Feet

A catamaran is simply a water vessel or any sea vessel propelled by air and composed of two hulls. These hulls are kept apart with space and the middle, but they are held together by a frame situated above them. But you probably already knew that. You are here probably because you are looking for an ultra-luxurious catamaran that you can use either as a summer vacation home or as a liveaboard. However, be prepared; the best catamarans between 40 and 50 feet featured here are pretty expensive. But you were probably expecting that as well. 

Here Are The Best Catamarans Under 50 Feet

Price: Around $1 Million USD on the Used Market

The Leopard 50 comes as a replacement for the Leopard 48. Let’s assume we dropped from a helicopter onto one of these bad girls floating out on the Maldives, and we get to see the exterior outlook first.

Its outdoor is equipped like never before. With the flybridge space comes a roomy lounge, a table, and a sunbed. As an option, exterior speakers and shade awning can be made available upon order. 

It is easy to get to the flybridge from the side deck using the floating stairs that were masterfully fitted in. Like other Leopard Catamarans, this is no different in that the flybridge has active contact with the helm station. The roomy lounge also serves to protect the helm station at the back of the bulkhead. It also enjoys a clear path of sight and movement into the aft cockpit. Movement of passengers is allowed on the flybridge, without them ever having to worry about meddling with the boom, unlike many other sailboats that are often compared to the Catamaran Leopard 50. 

Although one can decide to customize the exterior design of this beauty, it will prove extravagant as it is already made fabulous to sate a wide range of choices. The hull is now restructured to have a more positive switched-up outlook.

A little is said about the interior modifications. Still, it is enough said to have 4 – 5 independent cabins, a utility room for liveaboard, and an options list that looks like it will not end. The heads are around 4 – 6, and the berths can be from half a dozen to a dozen. There are up to 6 and no less than 4 showers on the Catamaran 50.

Specifications of the Leopard 50

Size Measurements

Length Overall: 50 feet and 6 inches. Waterline Length: 48 feet and 11 inches. Beam Measurement: 26 feet and 5inches. Draft: 5 feet and 3 inches. Height of Mast: 77 feet and 2 inches. Bridgedeck Clearance: 3 feet and 3 inches. Displacement of the Leopard 50: is 45415lbs. Its Load Carrying Capacity Limit: is 11905 lbs. Holding Tank Capacity: is 45 gallons. Fuel Tank Capacity: 243 gallons

Mechanical Specs

Engine: Yanmar engines Rated a 2 × 57hp power this bad girl, and it runs on diesel. It could also be upgraded to 2 × 80hp Yanmar engines, which will see you easily pushing 9 knots on the water at about 2,500rpm. You can also choose to kill one of the engines and go at a comfortable 6 knots (not in a hurry but not lazy either) for fuel consumption to decrease.

Propeller Dimensions: 3 blades: 18 inches × 14 inches.

Number of Engine Cylinders: 4

Leopard 50 Pros

• It has a huge living space, a bungalow at sea.
• Incredibly seaworthy
• It can sail well upwind.

Leopard 50 Cons

• They are not sleek therefore indubitably slow sailing
• With a lighter wind, the speed drop is significant.
• A high boom can make finding your way to the mainsail a bit dicey in a seaway.

Price: Around $620,000 – $850,000 On The Used Market

The Lagoon has its Architecture designed by the dedicated Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prévost. It seems very similar to the Lagoon 52, but the two main features that can distinguish it from the other contemporary Lagoons are the

Relocated Mast, which was moved for the purpose of balancing the gross weight and minimizing chances of pitching.

A beautiful silhouette that gives it an exquisite look thanks to the exterior styling of Patrick Le Quément. These designers saw to the Lagoon 42’s compatibility with short-handed sailing and couples because of its smaller boom and self-tacking boom. 

There are very room lounges everywhere, from the cockpit to the saloon. The wide flat decks have flushing opening hatches that serve as great ventilators. It also has a very easy access to the boom and with very sturdy and safe stairs that lead both to the upper deck and helm station.

The helm station atop the roof of the coach bulkhead makes for a direct communication and mobility between the cockpit and saloon. The interior finishing is by Nauta Design and consists of up to 4 cabins, 3 at least. Each aft cabin is furnished with an island bed, while the forward cabins have beds that are accessed primarily from the side.

Lagoon 42 Specs

Length Over All: 42 feet Beam: 25 feet 3 inches Draft: 4 feet 1 inch Mast clearance: 67 feet 9 inches

Mechanical Specifications are:

Engine (standard): The Lagoon 42 is driven by 2 x 45 HP YANMAR 4JH45s. Its Fuel capacity: 79 gallons (+79 gallons in option) of premium diesel.

Other Specifics include:

Light displacement: 26,460 pounds Sail area: 968 feet² Self-tacking genoa: 395.5 feet².

Lagoon 42 Pros

• The deck layout is truly genius.
• A self-tacking Genoa which helps short-hand sailing
• It sports only one single level from the aft platform to the saloon: a structural “revolution”.

Lagoon 42 Cons

• It may not be readily affordable.

Price: Around 500k On The Used Market.

The Lagoon 46 has an increased volume and a relatively better performance than the 450. Looking at the hull alone tells the story of how VPLP saw that this dream could be achieved. The waterlines are narrowed down and flared out inboard, and this notably increases the volume of the inside, especially the cabins in the forward area. This enables for the same size of beds to exist front and abaft.

Also added to the new 46 is a state-of-the-art cradle-like davit system and a relatively less weighty Bimini roof. The flybridge has also an area large enough for couples sunbathing which has direct access to the two side decks. There is also increase in the reserved storage space.

The mast is now situated at the aft position of the top of the boat, a self-tacking genoa becomes a necessity, and thus this is made a basic feature. Nauta Design sees to it that the innards of the Catamaran Lagoon 46 does not look anything short of blessed, with most of the finishes either light wood oaks or Alpi and many rounded edges.

Lagoon 46 Specs

Size Measurements:

Length Overall: 45 feet 11 inches Beam: 25 feet 10 inches Draught: 4 feet 3 inches Displacement: 33,603 pounds Sail area: 1,323 square feet. Self-tacking genoa: 500 square feet. Square top mainsail (optional.): 866 square feet.

Mechanical Specifications include:

Engine (standard): 2 x 45 cv CR to 2 x 57 cv CR. Fuel Limit: 79 US Gallon Fresh Water Capacity: 79 US Gallon

Berths : are up to six-twelve.

Lagoon 46 Pros

• The innovation in the double-side accessible beds in a cabins is surely a huge bonus.
• For more comfortable maneuvering, this two engined catamaran is worth having.

Lagoon 46 Cons

• It goes without saying that there are some places your Catamaran might not safely pass in the waters because of its size.

Price: Around 400k On The Used Market

We are at the Bali 4.1 as we arrive at the saloon, which couldn’t be larger and gated by a glossed-over pivot door. These and some others are the modifications that made the Bali 4.0 a huge success. They continue to create a sensation in the Catamaran world with the Bali 4.1. As it is a boat known for its seaworthiness, its component foredeck space provides rigidity and serves to protect from spray. It sports a very large space that can accommodate people for sunbathing. Its fore cockpit is large enough to fit in a small crew comfortably without their bumping each other’s heads. Reviewers have described the flying bridge as a glad-handering platform, while the helming station is somewhat elevated.

For the sake of unhindered natural ventilation, its windows open either as the gliding or retracting kind. In other news, new features have been added to the Bali 4.1, like the large side lockers, the new bench seats in the back cockpit, and a platform that connects the two hulls, which is situated in the aft position. The design mastermind of the Bali 4.1 is the LASTA Design Studio, and the Naval architect is Xavier Faÿ.

Bali 4.1 Specs

Length Overall: 39 feet 8 inches Beam: 22 feet 1 inch Waterline length: 38 feet 1 inch Draft: 3 feet 7 inches Maximum upwind sail area: 1135 square feet Mainsail: 516 square feet Jib: 355 square feet

Mechanical Specifications include:-

Fuel Capacity Limit: 105 gallons Engines: 2 X 20 HP and can be upgraded to the 2 X 40 HP for making those extra knots count while at sea.

Displacement: 9.9 US ton Maximum displacement: 13.0 US ton Freshwater Capacity: 211 gallons

Bali 4.1 Pros

• It promises more stability and less floating.
• There’s obviously more space on the Bali than on many monohulls.

Bali 4.1 Cons

• It is very expensive to charter a Bali 4.1, sometimes 200% more than yachts of the same length.
• It is both expensive and hard to find a place in marinas.

Bavaria Nautitech 46

Price: Between $500k and 800k USD On The Used Market

The Bavaria Nautitech 46 promises nothing less than elegance, comfort, and pleasure. One of the worthy of note things about this Catamaran is that it comes in two models: The Fly and the Open. They’re basically the same thing but for cabin variations. The Bavaria Nautitech 46 Fly is the flybridge variant of The Bavaria Nautitech 46. The flybridge provides a roomy space for the captain and passengers and an excellent view of all directions. The Bavaria Nautitech 46 architecture was handled by Marc Lombard, and Roseo Design saw to its finish.

You can opt for this 46 Open as a 3-cabin version if you’d prefer an owner’s suite or as a 4-cabin version that accommodates 8 people, especially if you intend to rent.

There is an area in the kitchen that was specially carved out as a chart table space where you can comfortably organize your navigation without losing coordination. A very spacious, well-designed saloon that provides passengers with an all-round view of the delectable sea while reclining on the comfiest seating, possibly sharing the experience with a loved one.

Bavaria Nautitech 46 Specifications

Length Overall: 45 feet 3 inches Length, Waterline: 45 feet Beam overall: 24 feet 9 inches Draft: 4 feet 9 inches Full mainsail: 818 square feet Self-tacking jib: 409 square feet Mast Altitude Above Water Line: 75 feet 2 inches Unloaded weight (approximately is): 23,814 lbs

Mechanical Specifics Include:

Engine runs on diesel, and it is also sail-driven. Engine power: 2 x 40 Hp Volvo Penta to run the boat at 8.1 knots to 9 knots at full throttle. Fuel tank: 2 x 79 gal Water tank: 2 x 79 gal

Bavaria Nautitech 46 Pros

• The number of rails and clip-on points assures safety and allows for easy movement around the cat 
• Engine bays are spacious enough to allow direct access to the engines
• Quality interior design

Bavaria Nautitech 46 Cons

• The aft helm have reduced visibility, especially towards the opposite bow.
• Due to the slender shape of the hills, there seems to be a decrease in the living space below.

Fountaine Pajot 45

Price: Between $500k and 900k USD On The Used Market

Fountaine Pajot 45 was debuted at the 2019 Cannes Yachting Festival and popularly known as the Elba 45; its bold and modern style was indeed made for comfort, relaxation, and… you guessed right, cruising. Forged with inverted bows and energy emitting lines, which makes for large interior spaces. The helm station was also remodeled to increase the handling experience. Indeed, the Fountaine Pajot 45 was primarily crafted for comfort. The fact that this point is being reiterated says a lot.

The cockpit is the size of very spacious, runs into the saloon in a direct access, and provides lots of storage spaces. Also available as a variation is the Beach Club electric platform for night parties. Standard relaxation spaces are on the foredeck, lounge, and the cockpit. There is something striking about the FP 45 that’s rare; the two refrigerators of 50.1 gallons & 34.3/23.7 gallons capacities, also there is a watermaker that produces drinking water 15.85gal/hour for blue-water cruisers.

Fountaine Pajot 45 Specifications

Length Overall: 44.2 feet Beam: 24.77 feet Draft: 4.3 feet Main Sail Area: 796 square feet Genoa Area: 484 square feet Displacement: 30200 lbs

Mechanical Specifics include:

Engine: 2 × 40 Hp or an optional 2 × 50 Up available for upgrade. Diesel capacity: 124 gallons Freshwater capacity: 185 gallons

Fountaine Pajot 45 Pros

• Has one of the best and largest living spaces of catamarans in its class.
• The Fly Lounge is clever. 
• Pretty nippy sharp when with the wind, and it is a good compromise between comfort and speed.

Fountaine Pajot 45 Cons

• The consumption of fuel increases in an upwind sailing.
• Not positively popular for its performance upwind.

Price: Around 600k USD On The Used Market

After we went through the details and characteristics of this Leopard Catamaran, we concluded that is was indeed deserving of winning the Boat of the Year Award in 2017. Also, we wish to affirm of its astute value and penchant for satisfying all sailors of the deep blue.

The overseer of the architecture of this catamaran is the popular Simonis and Voogd Yacht Design, with all exterior and interior finishing expertly handled by one team at Robertson and Caine. This boat was built while putting a lot of cruiser reviews into consideration. The lounge (which wasn’t in the original design but now in the later editions) provides a sunbed for sunbathers, a seating space, and table for either working or eating. It is accessed from the aft cockpit by floating stairs situated by the side while avoiding any direct obstruction to the helming station. It is available on the 3 or 4 cabins variation and can take from 6 – 8 passengers comfortably. 

Leopard 45 Specs

Length Overall: 45 feet Length, WaterLine: 42 feet 11 inches Beam: 24 feet 2 inches Draft: 4 feet 11 inches Mast Height: 70 feet Bridgedeck Clearance: 2 feet 9 inches Genoa Area: 501 square feet Load Carrying Capacity: 10141 lbs Displacement: 32849 lbs Holding Tank Capacity: 45 gallons

Engine: is powered by 2 x Yanmar 45HP which runs on diesel. Propeller Dimensions: 3‐blade 17inches x 14inches Engine No. Cylinders: 4 Fuel: 185 gallons Water Capacity: 206 gallons

Leopard 45 Pros

• The helm position has good visibility and clearly assesses to the cockpit. The only flaw is the absence of some kind of barrier between the helm station and the sidedeck, apart from an armrest. We’d want a more robust and more reliable barrier for safety onboard.
• Due to the abundance of rails and attachment points, movements of persons around the boat are encouraged.

Leopard 45 Cons

• A tough nut to crack is the question concerning the forward-facing cockpit’s drain time in the event of large waves over the bows. (Leopard claim 45 seconds)

Price: Around $750k USD On The Used Market

The Catana 47 comes with the Catana signature tall twin daggerboards, open helming stations, and a performance-oriented rig. The Catana 47 is built light and strong with a lot of carbon fiber input, which is a new innovation from the Catana company as their older models contained less of carbon fiber. We also see that this Catana promises to run faster because it was made lighter than the previous Model by 1,500 lbs. What’s more, is that it can also carry more.

In terms of space, crew members do not have to worry about bothering the passenger guests on board because the deck and cockpit have space enough to perambulate without bumping into another person. The Catana 47 was built by Catana Catamarans and designed by Christophe Barreau.

Catana 47 Specs

Length Overall: 46 feet Length, Waterline: 45 feet 6 inches Beam: 25 feet 1 inches Draft: 3 feet 7 inches Berth: 6 feet 5 inches × 5 feet 6 inches (forward) 6 feet 5 inches × 2 feet 2 inches (aft) Fuel Capacity: 158 gallons Water Capacity: 177 gallons Displacement: 21,800 lbs Sail Area: 1,035 square feet 

Engines: it runs on 2 × 40hp Volvo (saildrive) Electrical: the house is rated at 920AH, and the engine is at 230AH.

Catana 47 Pros

• Has quality headroom and enviable roomy space.
• It is fast enough for a catamaran.

Catana 47 Cons

• There is a blindspot diagonally looking from the helming station to the opposite bow. During docking, a watcher will be needed to direct the skipper.
• The running rig is led to a single winch.

Seawind 1370

Price: Around 700k USD On The Used Market

This is a one of a kind 45-foot long cruise cat. Made from contributions of previous Seawind 1600 and 1260 designs, she features a high-performance hull design. However, the makers still managed to give it the balance of roomy and warm comfort and residing spaces that make it an ideal cruiser for large families. The glass windows are shaped in a panoramic fashion and well toughened up to protect against the spray and afore positioned navigation station.

The opening to the saloon from the cockpit is the tri-fold door. Inside the cockpit, there’s a large transom lounge and a nice little bar that can serves as a small cocktail bar. The large saloon’s lounge has enough space, and more can be created by folding down the table to make a bed. 

The helm station houses all the lines and controls, which are through below the deck. This cat’s architecture was designed by Francois Perus, a French native. While equipped with high headroom in the cabins due to the well-shaped hull, it’s unique also due to its flat decks and galley up.

Seawind 1370 Specs

Length Overall: 45 feet Beam: 24 feet 9 inches Draft: 4 feet 2 inches Headroom: 6 feet 9 inches Job/Genoa: 387 square feet Mainsail: 1,937 square feet Displacement: 24,250 lbs

Engine: is powered by 2 x 40 Hp Yanmar engines which run on diesel fuel. Fuel Capacity: 158.5 gallons Water Capacity: 158.5 gallons

Seawind 1370 Pros

• It is comfortable, especially for a couple or small family.

Seawind 1370 Cons

• The Seawind cuts down of volume & space in the cause of it being a better sailing vessel.

Beneteau Excess 15

Price: From 200k to 1 Million USD On The Used Market

Excess 15 is succinctly put, the largest Catamaran in the new Beneteau Group. What I find most interesting in the boat, apart from its comfortable cruising and sleek make, is the twin helm stations, each situated where the hull aft ends up. The designers of this Beneteau Excess 15 say it is for the purpose of heightening sailing pleasure on skippers and crewmen alike. 

We start this catamaran’s internal look, and we see first of all that the saloon, which can also serves as a mini room diner, possesses a 360° view of the entire land/seascape due to the non-smoked bay windows. Another feature is the beam which at 26 feet 3 inches can afford to house a cockpit that can contain 8 people to sit on its large table.

With titanium-style of aluminum supports and Dyneema control cords (steering cables) to positively effect the level of response and sensitivity of the feel of the helm. A catamaran that was built for cruising with the artistry invented for race boats and guardwired with fluorescent finer.

Beneteau Excess 15 Specs

Size Measurements: 

Length Overall: 48 feet 5 inches Length: 46 feet 11 inches Beam: 26 feet 4 inches Draft: 4 feet 7 inches Jib: 592 square feet Displacement: 42,018 lbs

Engines: are the 2 × 57 Hp or the 2 × 80 Hp variant. Fuel Capacity: 2 × 137 gallons Water Capacity : 2× 67 & 2 × 46 gallons

Beneteau Excess 15 Pros

• It has a of stability
• For what’s worth, she is a seaworthy vessel
• The Beneteau Excess 15 has prestige written all over it.

Beneteau Excess 15 Cons

• The Excess 15 is a luxury boat through and through, and one must be willing to sacrifice speed for it.

What is your favorite Catamaran Under 50 Feet? Let us know in the comments below.

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

Related Posts

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Fishing Line for Trolling

Lagoon Catamaran Review: Are Lagoon Catamarans Good?

Best Inboard Boat Engine Brands

Are O’Day Sailboats Good? A Closer Look at a Classic Brand

• Buyer's Guide
• Destinations
• Maintenance
• Sailing Info

Hit enter to search or ESC to close.

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Sailing Totem
• Sailor & Galley
• Living Aboard
• Destinations
• Gear & Electronics
• Charter Resources
• Ultimate Boating Giveaway

2022 Boat of the Year: Best Cruising Catamaran (Under 50’)

• By Cruising World Editors
• December 15, 2021

During and in the four days immediately following the US Sailboat show in Annapolis, Maryland, the  Cruising World  judges inspected and sailed on 27 boats vying for recognition. Learn more about the boats in our  2022 Boat of the Year  »

The sweet spot for cruising catamarans, for most multihull sailors, is right there between 40 and 50 feet: manageable by a couple, not so large that finding a place to park or dock is prohibitive, and with lots more room to spread out and bring the toys and kids than a monohull of similar length. This year’s set of nominees features industry stalwarts Leopard and Fountaine Pajot—both of which have enjoyed plenty of success in previous Boat of the Year competitions—and a pair of relative upstarts from Bali, the cruising offshoot from French builder Catana. The former are all-around cats with plenty of versatility; the latter aim to cater more toward the cruising/liveaboard part of the equation. Choices, choices! It proved to be a challenging quartet of cats for the judging panel to evaluate and sort out. 

The larger sibling of the two Bali cats entered for BOTY 2022—all the Bali offerings feature an innovative “garage door” separating the saloon and cockpit, which when raised creates a seamless indoor/outdoor living space that has proven to be highly popular—was the 46-plus-foot 4.6. It’s yet another one of this year’s catamarans with the ever-popular flybridge that has become a design staple for many cat builders. Judge Tim Murphy found it a pleasure to sail. “On some of the other cats, you felt you were fighting the sail controls,” he said. “Not here. It’s laid out nicely. It has a double-ended mainsheet system with no traveler but control at both ends, so you’ve got a port and a starboard sheet, and I think that’s a fine way to control the mainsail. It’s arguably easier to jibe with that system than a standard traveler; you have good athwartships control throughout the maneuver. Bali cats are known for comfort, but this one sails well too.”

At 40 feet, the Bali Catspace—the second of two boats from the brand entered in the 2022 BOTY contest—is the smallest offering in the Bali line, but judge Murphy found the open floor plan particularly alluring: “The living experience of being able to open up the back end of these cats so you create an indoor/outdoor platform is terrific. I didn’t give it much thought until I chartered a Bali, and it was totally delightful. The sailing performance was actually fine, but it was that back porch that made the trip.”

Dream Yacht Charters has added more and more Bali cats to their fleets, and it’s easy to see why. With their vast interior space; plenty of amenities including air conditioning and multiple fridges, including ones that would not be out of place in any well-equipped household kitchen ashore; and surprisingly effective sailing prowess given their systems and accommodations, these boats are almost synonymous with the word “vacation.” Take the interior layout of the Catspace: It has four staterooms with private heads, the forward pair with berths aligned athwartships and the aft set laid out in a fore-and-aft configuration. It’s hard to imagine a better use of space for four couples or a family in 40 feet of waterline.

Yes, a 40-foot catamaran is a design challenge; it’s fairly easy to accommodate loads of features in a 50-foot multihull, but it’s quite another to include all the creature comforts and niceties in considerably less real estate. But Murphy felt that the Isla 40—another 40-footer like the Catspace, but this one from longtime cat leader Fountaine Pajot—pulled it off well. The Isla also had a tall order to fill in that it replaced a previous cat of the same size in the builder’s lineup, the highly successful Lucia 40. “The mission for this boat was described in thirds,” Murphy said. “Bareboat charter, crewed charter and private ownership. I think they’ve created a boat that accomplishes all those missions. The boat sailed well, but it was also laid out well. In fact, the owner’s cabin to starboard was superb, one of the nicest places on any boat we inspected. We toured a lot of much bigger boats that didn’t have that sort of space.”

But when all was said and done, the Bali Cats and the Isla ran into a juggernaut with the Leopard 42, which proved to be a powerhouse BOTY entrant. It’s pretty clear by now that the relationship between South African builder Robertson and Caine; their lone client, the Moorings; and naval architects Simonis and Voogd, who bring the Leopard brand to life, is strong and fruitful. And they have a wall full of BOTY award-winning plaques to prove it. It’s time to make room for another. The judges found much to like about the latest Leopard, including the offset steering station to starboard and the lounge space forward accessed via a front door in the saloon. But the Leopard sealed its victory with an awesome sea trial in which it overhauled and passed a popular new monohull that shall remain nameless. Cats can’t point? Wrong!

What put the boat over the top wasn’t just the sailing performance, which was obviously terrific, but also the tools with which to sail the boat, and its overall deck layout, all of which optimized the experience. Murphy said, “With the Leopard, you have visual eye contact from the raised helm station to starboard down into the cockpit, you’ve got a visual line of sight into the saloon, and you’ve got a pretty good visibility over the top of the cabin top everywhere. You had access to your main sheet right there where you needed it. This was one of the boats that had no traveler, but instead had a windward and leeward block on the mainsheet. I think that’s a fine system, I like the control you have. Jibing works fine and is easily controlled.”

It was one little thing in a series of them, all of which added up to a boat—the Leopard 42—that was the unanimous winner in the 2022 category of Best Cruising Catamarans (Under 50’).

• More: bali catamarans , Boat of the Year , Boat of the Year 2022 , Fountaine Pajot , leopard catamarans , Sailboats
• More Sailboats

Pre-Owned: 1988 Hylas 47

Catalina Introduces the 6 Series

Sailboat Preview: Elan GT6 Explorer

For Sale: 1984 Camper & Nicholsons 58

Point Your Compass Due South, Bitter End Yacht Club Reopens October 23rd.

Understanding Wind in the West Indies

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding