The Cruising Catamaran Performance Debate
Which Cruising Catamaran Performs Better…And Does It Really Matter?
A client recently alerted us to a YouTube video posted by a catamaran dealer that is blatantly misleading and inaccurate. If you listen to this dealer, every catamaran manufacturer, other than the Fountaine Pajot brand, is slow, unsafe, not seaworthy and not fit to be a cruising catamaran.
While we agree that the Fountaine Pajot brand is an excellent product (we sell a lot of them), it certainly is not the ONLY good cruising catamaran in the world. There are many products available that are as good and like so many things, when it comes to choosing a cruising boat, it often boils down to personal preference, especially in this category of cruising catamaran.
2022 UPDATE: You will still find some great information below regarding cruising catamarans, especially if you are in the market to buy one. But lots has happened in the Performance Cruising Catamarans category since this post was written a few years ago, like Catana is back in the game with tons of innovation and a fresh new look. In addition to reading this article, be sure to read:
- 2022 Performance Cruising Catamaran Comparison
- We Bought a Performance Cruiser Catana OC 50
Cruising Catamarans Performance
The dealer in the video our client mentioned to us specifically focused on the superior performance of the Fountaine Pajot compared to some of the competing brands in the cruising category like Leopard Catamarans , Nautitech Catamarans , Bali Catamarans , Lagoon Catamarans , and Catana Catamarans .
The fact is that there is very little difference in speed between similarly lengthed cats in this category. All these catamarans are displacement hulls and they pretty much sail to hull speed with intermittent surfing. Therefore, when sailed efficiently, these cats should have very similar performance.
We hear terms such as power-to-weight ratio (sail area to displacement) bandied about a lot by yacht salespeople of the various boat brands as an indicator of performance. While this is definitely a factor and certainly has an effect on acceleration and light wind performance, it is not the only factor. Some catamaran brands will be faster around the cans in a regatta while others will be better when making long passages.
What one should also consider is that when cruising is that a catamaran’s performance will be dictated by sea state as well as wind speed and direction. In light winds, there will probably be a screecher or asymmetrical spinnaker deployed and in strong winds the sails will probably be reefed. This means that in cruising mode, most sail plans are optimized to the conditions. Therefore, when evaluating a cruising catamaran’s performance, there are many factors to be taken into consideration. This is not a simple cut-and-dried argument.
Catamaran Performance Factors & Calculations
To display the different factors and calculations which are relevant when it comes to catamaran performance, we went to Multihull Dynamics for data and pulled some numbers on the two boats most mentioned in this dealer’s video, namely Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot. Here is what we found on the Multihull Dynamics site:
- Base Speed – An empirically derived indicator of the speed a given boat could average over a 24-hour period (best days run) under a variety of conditions. Here again the Lagoon had better numbers with 9.82 knots versus 9.46 knots for the FP Helia 44 – this explains why the Lagoons are so successful on the long Ocean races like the ARC
- KSP – Kelsail Sailing Performance number is a measure of relative speed potential of a boat. It takes into consideration Sail area, Displacement and length at Waterline. The higher the number the higher the speed predicted for the boat. Here the FP Helia 44 at 6.06 had better numbers than the Lagoon 450 which comes in at 6.02 – the Helia is the lighter boat.
- TR – Texel Rating provides a handicap system for widely varying boats sailing together in a race. The formula is essentially the inverse of the Base Speed formula with constants applied to make the results useful. The Texel rating system permits the calculation of time to sail a given distance. Thus a boat with a higher TR can be expected to take longer from start to finish than a boat with a lower TR. The Lagoon 450 came in at 141 versus the FP Helia 44 at 144.
- Interestingly the Leopard 45 came in with better numbers than the Lagoon and the FP as follows: Bruce number – 1.25; Base Speed 10.65; KSP 7.68 and TR 122.
- The numbers for Antares PDQ44 are very similar to the Helia 44 and Lagoon 450.
- Unfortunately there was no data available for the Bali or current Nautitech designs.
*Disclaimer: All data quoted here was derived from Multihull Dynamics. Catamaran Guru offers the details in good faith and does not guarantee or warrant this data.
>>Click on the pictures above or go to Multihull Dynamics website for a full explanation of the graphs.
While the Fountaine Pajot dealer touts the superior performance of their brand, actual data shows that the Lagoon brand has won more ARC cruising rallies than any other brand of cruising catamaran. These are hardly the statistics of “just a charter catamaran that sails in 50-mile circles and lacks performance”, as is claimed by this dealer. As an example, check out these ARC and ARC+ rally results in which Lagoon consistently features well:
- Spirit, Lagoon 450 Flybridge – 1st Multihull
- Cat’Leya, Lagoon 52 Sportop – 2nd Multihull
- Sea to Sky, Lagoon 450 – 3rd Multihull
- Dreamcatcher, Lagoon 52 – 4th Multihull
- Sumore, Lagoon 570 – 5th Multihull
- Opptur, Lagoon 500 – 6th Multihull
- Lea, Lagoon 52 – 10th Multihull
- 2015: 380 Havhunden, first in ARC+ Multihulls Division in corrected time
- 2013: 620 Enigma, first in ARC+ Multihulls Division in corrected time
- 2012: 560 Feliz, first in ARC Multihulls Division in real time
- 2011: 560 Blue Ocean, first in ARC Multihulls Division in corrected time & third in ARC Multihulls Division in real time
- 2010: 620 Lady Boubou, first in ARC Multihulls Division & 11th overall in real time
This is NOT an indication of how good or bad one boat over another is, but rather an indication of dealer bias ! We are sure this debate will continue but it is our considered opinion that one should look at the overall boat and not be blinded by issues that might or might not be manufactured by over-zealous sales people. As we have said before, it often comes down to personal preference.
Performance Cruising Catamarans
High-performance cruising cats are becoming more popular and there are a lot more on the market than even just five years ago, but it’s not for everyone, especially if you are not a skilled sailor. Daggerboards and bigger rigs require more skill and are not for the average sailor.
We’ve been racing on and off for years on different catamarans and we’ve always had great fun sailing and surfing at speeds of 15+ knots. But as fun as that is, it can be a white knuckled, wild ride in bad conditions and can leave the crew tired and tense because one has to really pay attention. At these speeds any mistake could be catastrophic since there is so much load on the rig. So, make no mistake, sailing fast in less than good conditions is hard work, particularly when you sail shorthanded.
When only the two of us cruise along on our own boat, we really appreciate the pleasure of gliding through the water at 8-10 knots, relaxed and comfortable. Would we love to be able to coast along at a good clip in very light winds? Sure, we would love to own an Outremer or Catana! But that type of performance cat will cost us probably twice the price of a regular cruising catamaran. Is it worth the money for the average cruiser? Debatable.
With the advancement of technology, more people will eventually be able to sail these performance cats skillfully and will be able to afford them as costs come down but until such time, we believe that the average sailor can very happily sail at fair speed toward their destination, safely and relaxed on an average cruising catamaran as discussed above. The fact is, one or two knots of speed, which is what the difference between these cruising cats MIGHT be, will not make or break your passage.
2020 Update: At the time of writing this article, we owned a Lagoon 450 SporTop , not a rocket ship by any means, but a fair sailing boat. We now own a Bali 5.4 catamaran that is significantly lighter and faster in general as a cruising catamaran and we love the extra speed. However, I have to say that this boat is less comfortable underway than the heavier Lagoon. It is more buoyant, a little more skittish and tend to surf much quicker. So one has to pay more attention in more vigorous conditions. It can be tiring on a long passage, but it sure is fun!
Stephen says, “I personally like the Bali because it is a more lively boat and sails very well – when we picked our boat up in France it was completely empty and bobbed like a cork which we were not used to because our Lagoon was a much heavier boat. Since we have now equipped her with all the world cruising equipment as well as big dinghy, etc. she is a little heavier and a lot more comfortable. It is a fact that weight affects performance – the lighter the boat the better performance one can expect. We flew across the Atlantic when we were nice and light but the boat still performs well now that she is at full cruising weight”.
The Bottom Line
So, to conclude this argument, dealers are always somewhat biased about the products that they represent. Manufacturers go to great lengths and spend a lot of money training their dealer networks to be knowledgeable about their products and represent them well with the buying public. They rightfully expect loyalty from their dealers and expect them to present a positive image to the consumer. We all get that. However, when dealers trash and misrepresent their competition with manufactured issues in order to sell their own products, they do a disservice to the buying public and the industry in general.
We want to hear what you have to say! Tell us about performance on your cruising catamaran and also check out our article on why we chose our own catamaran .
Reminder! Check out these fresh updates on performance catamarans:
Contact us if you have any questions regarding catamarans, Fractional Yacht Ownership or our Charter Management Programs .
Estelle Cockcroft
Join our community.
Get the latest on catamaran news, sailing events, buying and selling tips, community happenings, webinars & seminars, and much more!
13 thoughts on “The Cruising Catamaran Performance Debate”
Thanks for a sober writing. I am the owner of the Lagoon 380 Hahunden, and agter with you. I have a spreadsheet with 75 different cruising cat models and the elapsed times in 29 races, and there is not much difference in perforfance. Can send it if uou want. Greetings.
I would like to see that spreadsheet for sure!
I own a Venezia 42′ and if my boat is part of your spreadsheet I would especially love to see it! Could you please send me a copy even if it’s not on there?
To discuss performance and Lagoon or FP in the same sentence is crass. These are not performance Catamarans, purely floating caravans. They have no pretence to performance only cruising capacity, any indicator of performance is purely coincidental.
I own a Privilege 495 and wouldn’t trade it for any other cat.
Hi Jack, I am interested in the performance of your boat. I understand that mini keels decrease performance considerably. Thanks Di
I would like to point out that the data that you use from Multihull Dynamics is completely flawed due to an inaccurate displacement value. Multihull Dynamcis inexplicably lists the Helia at 14 tons, while Fountaine Pajot and your site list the boat at 10.8 tons. This is quite a big difference and skews all the metrics calculated by the site. The Helia is obviously a lighter boat and performance in catamarans starts with weight, so it is undoubted that the Helia will be more lively than the Lagoon. I totally get your point that that does not mean that it will be more comfortable. Second, on the ARC data front: my father sailed twice across the same route in the Atlantic in the last 10 years and I’m very familiar with the conditions. The trade winds there tend to be rather lively and in those conditions weight will matter less. I would expect to see different results in lighter conditions. All that said, the dealer in question is undoubtedly doing their marketing with an agenda.
Hi Ivan, thanks for your input regarding the Helia 44 weight discrepancy. We are aware of this and it holds good for both vessels. You will note that the Helia 44 shows a displacement UNLOADED of 10.8T while the Lagoon 450 shows an UNLOADED displacement of 15T. In order to get accurate performance numbers we assume that Multihull Dynamics have used a number that represents the LOADED weight of both vessels. This means that for the Helia 44 it went from 10.8T to 14.1T (an increase of 3.3T) and in the case of the Lagoon 450, it went from 15T to 20T (an increase of 5T), since it a larger boat overall with more capacity. Based on the above I think we can safely say that we are looking at a fair and accurate comparison. Your input is really appreciated and we are always open to comment and correction to ensure the information we put on the site is accurate and fair.
Thank you for the clarification on displacement.I do see that they have bumped up the Lagoon 450 displacement as well so that’s a fair comparison. I wish they published that clearly because it changes numbers quite a bit as all manufacturers typically post the weight of their boats unloaded.It looks like the Lagoon makes up for the greater weight with a bigger sail area, so that will probably add up to greater effort needed to manage those larger sails but with modern systems, all these things can be managed. Thank you for the clarification and your insight overall.
I think the misconception people have about “performance” catamarans, is that the reason sailors gravitate towards them is not their speed, it is their ability to sail in light air. If you have a catamaran that will sail at windspeed or close to it in 5-8 knots, you’ll actually sail instead of cranking up the diesel. Those true performance catamarans capable of this that also have all the creature comforts of the Helia/Elba45 or Lagoon450/46, are 50+ feet long, and twice the price unfortunately.
You are so right! Well said.
Good article! For me, the weight includes all the stuff you are taking on a month long (or longer) journey (Full fuel +extra cans, 2 sups, dive tanks and compressor, 4 cases of wine…). My opinion is that the performance cats hull design suffers more when loaded to the gills. Ride quality is also very important and is often glossed over by the performance cat advocates.
You are completely right and that was part of strategy when we raced across the Atlantic with the ARC rally. We knew that all the cats would be loaded to the max for the crossing which no doubt makes them less efficient sailing cats. Fortunately on the Bali 5.4 the buoyancy calculations is for a fully spec’d and loaded boat. So we left and sailed like a bat out of hell right off the bat and we were sailing very efficiently, making 200+ NM distances every day. We figured that as the other cats start using their fuel, water and supplies, they would sail a little more efficiently but by then we would be well ahead of the pack, and it worked. We surprised even the very fast performance cats and all the while eight of us onboard were sailing in complete comfort and were eating gourmet meals three times a day! LOL- Of course the TS’s beat us but it is hardly a fair fight. LOL
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
6 Best Performance Cruising Catamarans (Buyer’s Guide)
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.
Performance cruising catamarans are impressive-looking vessels that focus on speed above comfort. These fast boats are ideal for racing and long cruising vacations. But with the numerous brands and models on the market, how do you know which is the best one?
The best high-speed performance cruising catamarans are the Outremer 4x, McConaghy MC50, Nautitech 44, Gunboat 62, Balance 526, and Marsaudon Composites ORC50. All these boats deliver outstanding speeds and are light in weight, relatively comfortable, and incredibly safe.
This article will explore the brands and models that I believe have the best combination of performance and comfort . We’ll look at their speeds and what makes them cruise so fast. We’ll also examine the factors to consider when shopping for a performance cruising cat.
Table of Contents
How Fast Are Performance Cruising Catamarans?
Cruising catamarans are generally faster than monohulls of similar lengths. This means most well-built and well-balanced cats will arrive at their destination much sooner, and the cruise is much more comfortable. Performance cruising cats like the Nautitech include deep daggerboards and rudders, narrow waterline beams, hull chines, and big sail plans that allow for faster sailing than a standard cruising cat.
| CATAMARAN | SPEED (Knots) |
|---|---|
| Outremer 4X | 20 |
| McConaghy 52 | 22 |
| Nautitech 44 | 17 |
| ORC 50 | 23 |
| Balance 526 | 20 |
| Gunboat 62 | 20 |
| Privilege Signature 510 (For reference) | 13 |
| Fountaine Pajot Astréa 42 (For reference) | 10 |
Outremer 4X
Outremer Catamarans are well-known for their high speeds. These exciting cats sport brilliant designs, narrow bows, and large rigs. Built in Southern France, the vessels are strong and long-lasting since their structures feature materials such as carbon, glass, and vinyl ester.
The Outremer 4x is a stable and comfortable high-speeding cruising catamaran that performs ocean crossings and confronts any weather with remarkable ease. Named the European Boat of the Year in 2017, this 48-foot (14.6 m) bluewater cruiser sails faster than wind speed and attains maximum cruising speeds of 20 knots.
The 4x is an upgrade of the extremely popular Outremer 45, thus retaining Outremer’s core values of speed, safety, and comfort. It’s built for maximum performance and enjoyment, with the lightweight, carbon fiber structure allowing for additional speed under sail .
Featuring comfort typical of much larger vessels, the Outremer 4X features 4 double cabins, hot water showers, a full kitchen, spacious storage, and excellent ventilation. There’s also an expansive deck, an unobstructed cockpit, and large trampoline areas. Most importantly, your safety is assured through the cat’s unique features including a robust structure, offshore design, stability, and unrivaled speed potential.
The 4x’s cutting-edge design makes it ideal for competitive racing or blue water cruising, and it does both without compromising your comfort, safety, or onboard livability. However, to sail at maximum speed, the boat must remain lightweight, requiring your interior to be fitted out quite minimally. The other downside is the high price tag; the Outremer 4X commands a price between $912,322 and $1,202,945 .
McConaghy MC52
The McConaghy MC52 is a performance luxury cruising cat reflective of McConaghy’s 50 years of experience in building high-tech composite projects. The luxurious boat features a flybridge, retracting centerboards, optimized hulls, and an open space bridgedeck combining the salon with the cockpit. You can also customize the boat to your specifications.
This hi-tech cat comes with sizeable sliding salon windows and frameless doors that provide fantastic views. Its wave-piercing bows can cut through waves, thus helping to increase performance by minimizing pitch resistance, while still retaining a smooth ride. Also, the saloon offers spacious dining space for up to 8 people, and the galley area is more like a penthouse.
The manufacturer’s background in building high-end racing yachts has resulted in an incredibly strong and lightweight vessel capable of reaching 22 knots (40.7 km/h or 25.29 mph). The main downside to this boat is the boom placement on the mast, which is much higher than other high-performance cats. This makes accessing the mainsail somewhat challenging. It also increases the MC50’s center of gravity and center of effort.
You can get the MC52 for about $1.6 million.
Nautitech 44
The Nautitech 44 easily blends comfort and fun to deliver an impressive sailing performance, whether you take short trips or long ocean crossings. The boat offers a good balance under sail, and it features helming stations on each hull. Plus, there’s an integrated hardtop bimini complete with sunroof opening. Slim hulls translate to higher speeds, with the vessel reaching up to 17 knots (31.4 km/h or 19.51 mph).
The well-laid-out interior boasts a functional design, ample storage space, plus all the equipment you require for ocean cruising, such as a fridge, watermaker, and solar.
Nautitech 44’s twin helms give you the real sailing experience with a fantastic view of the sails and great visibility when maneuvering into port. However, you might not appreciate being stuck in the aft helm position without protection in lousy weather or during hot days.
Nevertheless, the boat’s responsiveness makes sailing more pleasurable. Plus, it’s affordable; the price is between $236,000 and $334,000.
Marsaudon Composites ORC50
Marsaudon Composites vessels are ideal for both racing and cruising. The sporty-looking ORC 50 comes with large inverted bows, an angular coachroof, a high freeboard, and a sturdy rotating carbon mast. In addition, the vessel is light which allows it to accelerate quickly, while the angular coachroof offers lots of space and excellent visibility.
The ORC50 can attain 23+ knots (42.5+ km/h or 26.41+ mph) and is among the fastest high-performance livable multihulls. It’s capable of doing more than 350 miles (563.27 km) per day.
The downside to the ORC50 is it’s a bit technical to sail, thus requiring a skilled sailor. Furthermore, its immense power and speed can be intimidating to less experienced sailors. Solely designed for speed, the ORC50’s interior is simple, less roomy, and somewhat spartan; hence the boat might not be all that comfy. Still, it’ll get you where you want to go pretty fast, and it’s an excellent value for money at approximately $787,751.25.
Gunboat 62
The Gunboat 62 is a true high-speed catamaran capable of sailing at 20 knots (37 km/h or 23 mph) over true wind speeds and known to notch up speeds of 36+ knots (66.7+ km/h or 41.45 mph) on a surf. The initial 3 Gunboat 62 boats featured epoxy, E-glass, and carbon fiber construction, but the fourth vessel was all carbon, sported a taller rig and a more expansive sail area.
These structural features made the Gunboat 62s extremely light, and they formed the original luxury high-performance cruising cats.
This multihull sailboat boasts a carbon mast, round hull sections for a minimized wetted surface area, high-aspect rudders, and retractable daggerboards. The steering station offers 360-degree visibility and sports overhead hatches that you can use to monitor the mainsail trim. The boat also contains 3 private cabins with queen berths, 2 spacious heads with showers, an aft cockpit, galley, and lounge.
On the downside, Gunboats are pricey cats; hence they’re also expensive to maintain. The Gunboat 62 isn’t that spacious either as it’s more focused on speed, but it’s extremely comfortable, plus there’s plenty of space for hanging out. You can buy this catamaran starting from $2 million .
Balance 526
Built with a combination of carbon fiber, E-glass, epoxy, closed-cell foam, and composite bulkheads, this boat is strong, light, and can withstand terrible weather. The retractable daggerboards allow for good upwind performance. All high load areas contain carbon fiber, while furniture and cabinets feature cored sandwich construction, producing the lightest yet most robust catamaran.
A Balance 526 will reach speeds of up to 20knots without stressing the rig too much.
The boat is available in various layouts and comfortably accommodates 6 people. The spacious aft cockpit and saloon provide panoramic visibility. And since Balance 526 can handle the extra weight, you get performance plus all the creature comforts you desire.
Still, Balance 526’s pricing is on the higher end, beginning at $1,440,000 . Also, the slender hulls result in less space down below. Nevertheless, the boat lives up to its name, achieving the perfect balance between superb performance and comfort.
What Makes Performance Cruising Catamarans So Fast?
Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Narrow Hulls
Performance catamarans contain two small narrow hulls, which cause them to have less water resistance. Smaller hulls mean the vessels have much smaller bow waves to fight, allowing them to move extremely fast. In addition, the less hull area is underwater, the faster the boat is capable of moving since there’s less drag.
Having said that, it’s important to note that a narrow hull is more prone to burying its bows in rough seas. The wider the hull, the more buoyancy it offers, but only up to a given point. After which, the excessive width becomes unmanageable and performance suffers. The key lies in finding the right balance.
Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Considerable Length
The longer a cruising cat is, the faster it’ll move. While each vessel bears a maximum hull speed, in most cases, the lengthier the boat, the higher the speed it can reach. The length of the hull (length on the waterline) also has a significant impact on the speed performance. Thus, the cat attains maximum speeds when the wavelength is equal to the length on the waterline (hull speed).
Therefore, the longer the length of the hull, the better the performance of a high-speed cruising cat. You can also compare two cruising cats’ speeds based on this measure.
Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Quality Builds
Modern cat manufacturers continue designing more innovative high-performance cruising cats that deliver a new blend of performance and cruising features. They achieve this by using advanced construction materials, better daggerboard designs, and creative weight allocation. They also keep a keener focus on onboard amenities. For instance, asymmetrical daggerboards placed midships in each hull can help achieve proper balance and hull trim.
The overall goal is to design cruising cats that offer high speeds, outstanding performance, and enough offshore comfort.
Here’s an article if you are wondering what daggerboards and centerboards are and why they impact performance so much.
Performance Cruising Catamarans Are Light-weight
The lighter a cruising catamaran, the greater its performance. And some of the most popular high-performance catamarans find an optimal balance between performance and comfort. As a result, modern performance-based cruising cats have embraced the use of carbon composite construction for hulls, daggerboards, and rigging, instead of the somewhat heavier glass fiber materials.
A weighed-down cat produces less speed, which means excess immersion of the hulls renders the boat sluggish . The hull submersion also reduces the bridge deck clearance, promoting uncomfortable hull slamming.
You won’t find much difference in top speed between performance catamarans bearing similar lengths because they all have displacement hulls and mostly sail to hull speed with occasional surfing. This means that under skilled hands, these cats should exhibit roughly the same performance. A cruising cat’s performance is also highly dependent on the state of the sea, wind direction, and speed, amongst many other factors.
What To Consider When Choosing a Performance Cruising Catamaran
Speed is the number one consideration when choosing a high-speed cruising cat. Yet there are other factors just as important since they contribute to the overall cruising performance, including:
- What you’ll use the vessel for and where. Are you planning on doing coastal cruising or serious offshore cruising? Consider the number of people that you’ll be sailing with and the activities you’ll engage in. This also helps determine the size catamaran you’ll need.
- Comfort. While some racing enthusiasts might prefer spartan accommodation plans, most enjoy relative comfort on the high seas. In any case, modern high-speed cruising cats are designed to provide a certain level of creature comforts. And since most performance cats are custom-made, new boat owners may decide precisely which features to include in their cats.
- Quality. To produce light boats, builders employ the use of fine resins, carbon, epoxies, foam cores, and fiberglass. They build using a combination of vacuum-bagged techniques, foam cores, foam composite bulkheads, and make furniture and cabinetry with cored sandwich construction .
- Livability. One cannot underrate the appeal of sailing in a vessel with no heeling, not to mention the high privacy attained from separate living and sleeping areas. Panoramic views and exceptional deck space for lounging and entertaining are also essential in ensuring maximum cruising comfort. Fortunately, most high-speed cruising cats offer all these features and more.
- Equipment. Sailing upwind is a challenge for cruising cats since they tend to make lots of leeway. To make things easier, high-speed cruising cats come equipped with bigger rigs and either daggerboards or centerboards. However, this also means skilled sailors are required to operate them.
- Cost. Catamarans are generally expensive, but a cat built with longer, leaner hulls and less costly materials can still give an outstanding performance. Such materials include foam cores, epoxy bulkheads, and epoxy resins. Furthermore, it’s not necessary to use only carbon to build a lightweight boat.
Final Thoughts
Performance cruising catamarans are built using exotic, high-tech, lightweight materials to deliver an electrifying sailing experience. And as we’ve seen from the above list, these boats deliver performance plus much more. They’re not only speed cruisers, but they also provide a smooth, comfortable, and enjoyable cruising experience.
So, whichever option you go for – from the luxurious Gunboat 62 to the much more affordable Nautitech 44 – you’re sure to get a boat that suits your needs.
- Wikipedia: Spinnaker
- Wikipedia: High-Performance Sailing
- Yachting World: Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Review
- Aeroyacht: Catamaran Speed
- Cruiser’s Forum: Nautitech 44…
- Nautitech Catamarans: Nautitech
- Katamarans: Marsaudon Composites ORC50 (TS5) Review
- Outremer USA: New Outremer 4x Performance Catamaran
- Dutoit Yacht Design: Balance 526 Review
- Go Downsize: How Fast Do Catamarans Go?
- Catamaran Guru: The Cruising Catamaran Performance Debate
- The Boat App: The Fastest Cruising Catamarans of 2020
- Sail Magazine: Performance Cruising Cats Set New Standards in Sailing Speed
- Cruisers Forum: Fast Cruising Catamarans – How Fast?
- Lagoon – Inside: The Secrets of a Catamaran’s Performance
- Sail Magazine: 10 Great Cruising Cats
- Cruising World: 40 Best Sailing Catamarans and Trimarans, Cruising Catamarans…
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...
- 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 Boat Giveaway
- HH 50: Best Luxury Cruiser
- By Herb McCormick
- Updated: December 8, 2020
At the upper end of the cost equation for the 2021 Boat of the Year contestants, there were three boats with a price tag north of seven figures, which in our viewpoint puts them into Luxury Cruiser territory. The Southerly 480 was the outlier of the three—very cool and versatile, but with older if proven technology—which steered us into a lively discussion of the merits of two truly state-of-the-art sailboats, the HH 50 and the Hylas 60. So the question was, how do you choose between excellent and exquisite?
The similarities, apart from their rarified sticker prices, were rather striking. Both built in the Far East. Both with similar Boat of the Year pedigrees, having each notched victories in previous contests. Both marketed similarly. Both with strong support systems for buyers, including the services of pro sailors who guide you through the first days of ownership. When you buy either a Hylas or an HH, you’re also buying into a quite exclusive family.
2021 Boat of the Year Winners at a Glance
- Excess 11: Boat of the Year
- X-Yacht’s X4 0 : Best Performance Cruiser
- Island Packet 439: Best Full-Size Cruiser
- Hylas 60: Best Luxury Cruiser
- Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54: Honorable Mention
- Corsair 880: Best Sport Boat
- 5 New Sailboats That Were Nominees
Of course, there’s also a huge difference. One boat has a single hull, the other a pair. Neither is right, or wrong. So it comes down to personal taste and sailing style and ambitions. Island hopping or ocean crossing? Blue water or backwaters? At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with either one of these boats. If you have the wherewithal to buy one of them and you’re a good sailor and confident in your ability to handle a big boat—and these are both that—then who are we to say that one is a better choice than the other?
“I do think that these are two very good, very different expressions of cruising luxury,” Murphy said. “They represent the pinnacle of cruising luxury in 2021 as we know it.”
We couldn’t in good conscience choose between the two, so we didn’t. Each is named 2021′s Best Luxury Cruiser. Let’s delve deeper, starting with the HH 50.
“As I said earlier,” Murphy continued, “the HH is one of the two best-built boats in the fleet. Unlike the X40, it employs thermal form construction, which means they take flat panels of Corecell foam core and heat it up to make the complex shapes of the hull so that there are no slits or kerfs in the foam. In the simplest terms, you’re using that flat sheet to construct complex curves, and then you’re using the best resin available, which is epoxy, in the laminate. This is infused epoxy construction, post-cured after the fact. So this is a very, very high-quality hull.”
The big question: how do you choose between excellent and exquisite?
“This may have been one of the more interesting boats I’ve climbed aboard in terms of some of the gear choices that the owner made and the willingness of the builder to go along with them,” Pillsbury said. “For instance, the auxiliary engine was a Beta Marine diesel. And on earlier HHs, I kind of scratched my head as to whether a couple could really handle a big cat like this. But on this boat, a couple without a whole lot of big-boat sailing experiences was handling it just fine. The Jeffa steering was rack-and-pinion and very sweet. The self-tacking jib certainly made the boat a joy to sail upwind. And for a cat, it could actually sail very close to the wind. I thought the daggerboard controls were brilliant. It was just a simple continuous-line Antal winch. Not a much could go wrong there.”
Designed by the veteran cat designers Melvin & Morrelli, who brought the Gunboat line into existence, with the HH 50 they’ve moved on from the forward cockpit that distinguished those boats, and brought the helms aft and outboard, further establishing yet another trend in the moving target that is boat design. The visibility is outstanding, and the sensation of steering this boat, even in light airs, is otherworldly.
This is sailing, quite frankly, that was once unimaginable in a cruising boat. But to paraphrase Teri Hatcher on an old episode of Seinfeld , as far as the HH 50 is concerned, it’s real. And it’s spectacular.
- More: 2021 Boat of the Year , Best Luxury Cruiser , catamaran , hh catamarans , luxury yacht , multihull , Sailboats
- More Sailboats
For Sale: 1984 Camper & Nicholsons 58
Alubat Updates OVNI Models
For Sale: Little Harbor 63 Ketch
Sailboat Review: Fountaine Pajot Aura 51
Options To Explore
Cruising Tahiti: A Party in Paradise
- Digital Edition
- Customer Service
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
- Email Newsletters
- Cruising World
- Sailing World
- Salt Water Sportsman
- Sport Fishing
- Wakeboarding
- Articles and Guides
Best Catamaran Brands: Exploring the Multihull World
5th dec 2023 by john burnham / samantha wilson.
In the past 20 years, the catamaran segment has had a big make-over and expanded. These days, center console cats compete with monohulls as fishing and inshore power boats, and both sailing and motor cats cruise long distances, offering both large interiors and ample deck space, plus stability and safety. Whether you’re fishing closer to shore or cruising longer distances, catamarans are no longer seen as the less capable cousins. Some of the top brands in the sector have been driving the innovation for decades, but hot on their heels are daring and exciting newcomers who are pushing the boundaries. There are many excellent brands to choose from, and these are just a few of our favorites;
Leopard 50. Leopard Catamarans photo.
Catamaran Fishing Boats
Invincible boats.
Power cats used specifically for fishing are big business as more people realize the huge speed and stability benefits they offer compared to their monohull counterparts. Invincible have been instrumental in the popularity boom with their excellent range of 33- to 46-foot center console fishing power cats. With cruising speeds of 50 mph (and as much as 70 mph), as well as a suite of advanced livewell systems and accessories, they are one of the industry leaders in this category. Invincible boats for sale
Freeman Boatworks
Another major player in the power cat fishing sector are Freeman, whose 28- to 47-foot range of seriously hardy fishing cats offer incredible performance and speed (they can cruise at 80 mph) as well as huge fuel capacity and massive livewells. This means they’re perfectly equipped for offshore fishing adventures thanks to their four 450hp outboard engines and extremely comfortable ride even in rough sea conditions. Freeman boats for sale
Discover more of the Best Fishing Catamaran Brands
Freeman 28. Freeman Boatworks photo.
Power Catamaran Brands
Leveraging more than 30 years of building sailing catamarans, South African builders Robertson & Caine, with naval architect Simonis Voogd, has created today's range of Leopard power cruising cats, among the most highly regarded power cats on the market. The success of their seaworthy line of power cats over the last 10 years has included a 2022 International Best of Boats Award to the Leopard 46 Powercat and a Multihull of the Year award to the Leopard 53 Powercat. One of the smallest ocean-going motor cats is there new 40, which has been nominated as a European Yacht of the Year. Each model offers a spacious flybridge, modern and luxurious styling, and an impressive use of space, and even the 40 sleeps six in three private cabins. Leopard boats for sale
Aquila Power Catamarans
Power cat specialists Aquila are relative newcomers but have been taking the sector by storm with the variety and scope of their innovative models. Whether its fuel efficiency and stable cruising you’re after for covering long distances, the capability of reaching offshore fishing grounds, or sporty, coastal and day boating that’s on your mind, Aquila has a boat worth looking at. Their offshore, sport, and yacht lines run from pocket-sized 28-foot Molokai fishing cat, to the 70-foot flagship superyacht. In between, we find models such as Aquila 54 Yacht Power Catamaran designed to transport you to every corner of the globe. Aquila boats for sale
Aquila 47 Molokai. Aquila photo.
Bluewater Catamaran Brands
Fountaine pajot.
Long gone are the days when catamarans were purely coastal day sailers. Today, a whole new breed of boat is gaining huge popularity with bluewater and round the world sailors looking for more space and more stability than a monohull can ever offer (see our article on Catamarans vs Monohulls ). Fountaine Pajot have been industry leaders in this sector for 40 years, remaining one step ahead of the game with their sailing and now power cats. While they offer an 80-foot superyacht, it’s their 40-foot Isla, the smallest in the range, which is their flagship, showing their dedication to creating strong, safe, durable, and family-friendly boats. Fountaine Pajot boats for sale
For those looking to buy a high-performance, safe, and incredibly spacious bluewater catamaran that can be handled by two people, the French Outremer brand should definitely be considered. The models feature daggerboards, unlike many cruising catamarans, and the result is superior upwind performance that can help you cover long distances much faster. The brand’s five models currently range from 45 to 55 feet, and in 2022, the Outremer 55 won both a European Yacht of the Year award and Multihull of the Year at the International Multihull Show. Whether you want an eco-yacht with electric power, or a larger family-friendly yacht complete with four full-sized cabins, Outremer has a lot to offer. Outremer boats for sale
Outremer 4.zero. Outremer photo.
Sailing Catamaran Brands
Sailing purists often lament that sailing a catamaran isn’t true sailing, but these days there is much to argue in that statement. Balance is a relatively new brand, now building a range of beautiful multihull sailing boats, and earning recognition for their efforts—both Sailing World Magazine and Cruising World Magazine’s Boat of the Year Awards in 2022. Their designers, who come from racing backgrounds, have found the right point between a high-performance sailing vessel built with higher-tech materials and a practical, easy-to-handle boat that can be sailed across the oceans by a couple. Balance boats for sale
Arguably one of the most famous names in the catamaran world, Lagoon was among the first to build practical, comfortable sailing catamarans and became the most popular brand worldwide. The brand has long been one of the top choices of catamaran charter companies the world over thanks to its spacious, practical, safe models. The boats are renowned for their ease of handling and a high level of comfort and luxury. The current model range of sailing cats starts at 40 feet and goes all the way up to 77 feet, while Lagoon power cats go a step farther, to 80 feet. Lagoon boats for sale
Lagoon 46. Lagoon photo.
Cruising Catamaran Brands
Whether cruising coastally or traversing great oceans, the capable, comfortable, meticulously crafted sailing cats by Antares are up there with the best of the best. Currently, the boutique brand builds six of its 44-foot models annually at their factory in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The creation of Canadian designer Ted Clements, the 44 has long-term living in mind, focusing on interior space (there’s even an industry-leading 6.75 feet of headroom in the master cabin), as well as long-term sustainability. A hybrid version is available that carries electric motors, a hydrogenerator and extensive solar panels. Antares boats for sale
Built in Cape Town, South Africa, Xquisite catamarans are another relative newcomer making waves since their launch in 2014, recently earning awards from Cruising World and Sail magazines for the X5 Plus, a 54-footer. With a range of luxury power and sailing catamarans, unique styling, high performance, and emphasis on comfort make them very competitive in the cruising cat category. From their trailerable pocket-sized 30 SportCat sailing catamaran, to their Sixty Solar Sail and Sixty Solar Motor (using all green energy), as well as their two power cats, it’s a diverse and innovative range. Xquisite boats for sale
Discover more of the Best Cruising Catamarans .
Xquisite Sixty Solar Sail. Xquisite photo.
Liveaboard Catamaran Brands
Bali catamarans.
Catamarans offer twice as much interior space as a monohull of the same length, making almost all of them ideal liveaboards. If you’re looking for modern styling in the interior, you’d do well to start with one of the 38- to 54-foot models offered by BALI. Utilizing an open-space concept, a solid forward deck with built-in comforts, and the unique BALI doors that open the main saloon to the world outside in good weather, BALI Catamarans put an emphasis on liveaboard comfort, and even their models under 44 feet offer impressive amounts of space. Produced in France, by the well-known Catana shipyard, the brand has small-scale production ensuring each boat is of the highest quality. BALI boats for sale
HH Catamarans
Relative newcomers to the catamaran world, HH launched in 2012 as a performance catamaran brand and is now giving some of the bigger brands a run for their money. Working exclusively with the successful US design firm of Morelli & Melvin and building at its own factory in Xiamen, China, the HH range now encompasses eight models between 44 and 88 feet in length. Hulls, decks and structures are very high-tech—100-percent carbon using infused epoxy resin. These semi-custom boats allow you to choose everything down to the layout of saloon and galley (as well as the helm positions) ensuring you have the perfect spaces for long-term living. With eco-credentials, elegant styling, and lightning speed, HH are collecting awards left, right, and center. HH boats for sale
HH 55. HH Catamarans photo.
Small Catamaran Brands
Nautitech are one of the top names in the industry and their catamarans, built in France, are well-designed for both coastal cruising and bluewater sailing. Their range of small sailing catamarans—the 40 Open, 44 Open, and 48 Open—offer a good balance of performance, luxury, space, and safety, and as the name “Open” indicates, the main saloon can be opened wide to integrate saloon and cockpit spaces. Owned by Bavaria Yachts since 2014, Nautitech uses quality materials ensuring their boats, while smaller than many other brands, are equipped for long-distance adventures. Nautitech boats for sale
Built in Australia, Seawind catamarans come in five models from 38 to 45 feet long (plus a 52-footer) and demonstrate lively performance in keeping with their relatively lighter weight and use of modest-sized diesel sail drives or outboard engines. The well-engineered boats are designed for those who wish to sail their own boats and have easy access to all control lines from the cockpit, while steering from helm stations either to port or start, well-protected from the elements. The brand has evolved over the years since its founding in 1982 but continues to produce according to its mission “innovative design, quality of finish, outstanding performance and sea-handling ability…”. Seawind boats for sale
Nautitech range. Nautitech photo.
Catamaran Brands for the Money
Catana are not inexpensive catamarans—in fact they are semi-custom in a production sense—and they’re not intended to be your typical series-built white, fiberglass model. It’s the performance and style that you get for your money that has put them on our best-value list. Part of the BALI Group, Catana has a long history of building high-performance, strong, capable, and spacious cats with daggerboards for upwind performance. Most recent models are 49 and 53 feet long, built with carbon-infusion hull construction. The small-scale of production means every vessel is constructed to top quality, meaning you’re getting exactly what you want for your money. Catana boats for sale
Beneteau’s Excess range is a recent introduction that offers good- performing, cruising catamarans at good value for the price, from the largest boatbuilder in the world. Built by CNB/Lagoon in France using their long-standing catamaran know-how, the Excess line of four models—37 to 49 feet—are lively performers without the price tag and complexity of other high-tech, high-performance sailing cats. Nonetheless, Excess lead designer Bruno Belmont has managed to pack a huge amount of features into even their smallest models, meaning you’re getting many of the features of a larger boat for a considerably lower price tag. Beneteau boats for sale
Beneteau Excess 11. Beneteau photo.
Luxury Catamaran Brands
Described by one reviewer as the “Tesla of sailboats”, Kinetic’s range of luxurious catamarans are in a league of their own, built without compromise. In light winds, Kinetic cats can sail faster than wind speed. Founded in 2018, Kinetic catamarans are seriously high-quality, high-performing cruisers crafted in South Africa of all-carbon and infused epoxy resin construction to innovative designs by Simonis Voogd. The fact that they’re semi-custom allows owners to choose everything from the layout, to the rig, as well as the interior furnishings, fixtures, and equipment. While it probably doesn’t come as a surprise, these are some of the most expensive cats on the market by size, but the quality and build is flawless. Kinetic official website
Sunreef Yachts
Sunreef’s range of exquisite custom-built sail and motor catamarans see them placed well into the superyacht category, with their luxury models ranging from 60 to 88 feet for power cats and 50 to 80 feet for their “smaller” sailing range. Established in Poland, Sunreef—and their founder and president Francis Lapp—were pioneers in the luxury catamaran sector, and remain ahead of the game today with consistent innovation and dedication to eco yachts including green propulsion, renewable energy, and sustainable finishing materials. Sunreef boats for sale
Sunreef Eco Yachts 80 Sunreef Power. Sunreef Yachts Eco photo.
Written By: John Burnham / Samantha Wilson
John Burnham is a marine editor and writer with decades of journalism experience as Chief Editor of boats.com, Sailing World, Cruising World, and other boating websites. As a competitive sailor, he has led teams to world and national titles in the International One-Design, Shields, and other classes. Based in Newport, Rhode Island, John is a PCC leadership coach, a member of the America’s Cup Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and a past board member of Sail America and US Sailing. For more, see johnsburnham.com .
Samantha Wilson has spent her entire life on and around boats, from tiny sailing dinghies all the way up to superyachts. She writes for many boating and yachting publications, top charter agencies, and some of the largest travel businesses in the industry, combining her knowledge and passion of boating, travel and writing to create topical, useful and engaging content.
More from: John Burnham / Samantha Wilson
Related Articles and Guides
16th Aug 2024
Best Luxury Pontoon Boat Brands Have it All: Glamor, Speed, Fishing, Waterslides...
10th Aug 2024
Deck Boat vs. Bowrider: Which Runabout is Best?
19th Jul 2024
The World’s Best Yacht Brands
12th Jul 2024
Top Performance-Boat Brands, Where There’s Something For Everyone
- Explore Rightboat
- Boats for Sale
- Boating Articles
- Buyers Guide
- About RightBoat
- Sell Your Boat
- Boat Selling Advice
- All manufacturers
- All categories
Enter your email to keep up to date with the latest news
Join for free
Sign up now for free and discover how easy it is to keep up to date with THE latest boats for sale. Find your right boat, and tailor your voyage to finding your next boat.
Benefits of becoming a member:
- Set up tailored alerts
- Personalise your experience
- Download full specifications and broker details
- Keep tabs on your favourite boats
Are you a broker? Join as a Broker
Rightboat - join for free.
Do you have an account already? Login
Save this search
Save your search and receive new boats in your email..
You can unsubscribe from your alerts whenever you like. By pressing the button you accept the Legal Terms and conditions
- 0 No item in your cart
- The magazine
Current issue
- All the issues
- My magazines
- Technical specifications
- Multihull of the Year
- Classified Ads
- Destinations
- Online store
- All the magazines
- Subscriptions
- Accessories
HH Ocean Class 50
The Hudson Yachts group has just launched an HH ocean cruising catamaran which differs from previous models that were resolutely speed-oriented. This HH Ocean Class 50 is designed for family blue water cruising. But as a bonus, finely-tuned and an exceptional standard of finish.
Practical info
- Builder : HH CATAMARANS
- Finance your HH 50 / 50 OC
- Articles about the HH 50 / 50 OC
- Available in issue # 175
Boat Test price 5.00 € Inc. tax
Add several tests to your cart
and get an extra discount!
Test location: Badalona, Spain Conditions: sea state slight, wind 8 to 15 knots
Since 2016, HH has gotten us used to admiring their magnificent high-performance full carbon catamarans on the water: no multihull sailor can forget the extraordinary performance of the HH66 and 55! Today, we had the pleasure of sailing the first model from a new range called the Ocean Class - not without the influence of the first owner. This 50 has just been delivered in Europe to her client who plans to cruise the Mediterranean when he retires. Let’s look at the backstory to this first OC adventure: Eric, a lively 70-year-old based in the United States, was first attracted by the HH55. He quickly realized that the specific features of this model were too performance-oriented and only somewhat suited to his specifications – short-handed cruising. But his desires were finally heard by the shipyard (see inset), making him a pioneer in developing this new series. At first glance, there’s an air of belonging to the HH range which is very perceptible: that rare elegance is still clear to see. But the comparison can go no further in terms of features. Let’s start with the construction: the all-carbo...
To read in full, Buy the boat test
What readers think.
Post a comment
No comments to show.
MW #197 - Oct / Nov 2024
Download all the Boat Tests
Over 500 multihull tests
Boat tests from the same builder
HH50 Sports Cruising
- HH50 Sports Cruiser
Place a classified ad Free of charge
on Multihulls World
Boat tests from the same range
- New Windelo 54
Greencat 52
- Greencat 52'
Classified ads
Woods Flica 35
Bosgraaf 15m trimaran, minicat 310.
Nautitech 48 0pen Available
Vous avez ajouté " " à vos favoris., vous avez supprimé " " de vos favoris., in order to add this article to your favorites, please sign in..
Visit our Popular Forums
- Monohull Sailboats
- Multihull Sailboats
- Powered Boats
- General Sailing
- Antares Yachts
- Fountaine Pajot
- Lagoon Catamarans
Cruising Business
- Boat Classifieds
- General Classifieds
- Crew Positions
- Commercial Posts
- Vendor Spotlight
Life Aboard a Boat
- Provisioning: Food & Drink
- Families, Kids, & Pets Afloat
- Recreation, Entertainment, & Fun
- Boat Ownership & Making a Living
- Liveaboard's Forum
Seamanship, Navigation & Boat Handling
- Seamanship & Boat Handling
- Training, Licensing, & Certification
- Health, Safety, & Related Gear
- Rules of the Road, Regulations, & Red Tape
Engineering & Systems
- Const. / Maint. / Refit
- Product / Service Reviews
- Electronics: Comms / AV
- Electrical: Batts / Gen / Solar
- Lithium Power Systems
- Engines & Propulsion
- Propellers & Drive Systems
- Plumbing / Fixtures
- Deck Hdw: Rigging / Sails
- Aux. Equipment & Dinghy
- Anchoring & Mooring
Photo Categories
- Member Galleries
- Life Onboard
- Sailing in the Wind
- Power Boats
- Cruising Destinations
- Maint. & Boat Building
- Marine Life
- Scuba Diving & Divers
- General Photos
Recent Photos
Listing Categories
- African Cats
- view more »
- Crew Wanted
- Crew Available
- Enhance Your Account
- Meet the Mods
- Meet the Advisors
- Signup for The Daily Cruiser Email
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENTS
Here is another very interesting analysis Sailing into Freedom. The top 10 performance catamarans - Dazcat 1495, ORC 50, Odisea 48, Balance 526, Outremer 45, Outremer 51, Catana OC, HH 50, OC 50, Balance 482, HH44, Seawind 1370, Seawind 1600, Slyder 49, Privilege, Windelo 50. We would love for everyone to join the discussion.
Outremer 51/55. When you think of multihulls designed for bluewater cruising, Outremer will likely be one of the first names that comes to mind. Its heritage lies in building catamarans that can ...
Performance-oriented catamarans, however can easily achieve this since they are a different breed altogether and can indeed sail at breakneck speeds, point upwind, sail in a whisper of a breeze and tack on a dime. Catamarans in the performance category are Outremer, Catana, HH Catamarans, Gunboat, and Tag Yachts to name but a few.
Here, they take a look at the Outremer 51 and 55. When you think of multihulls designed for bluewater cruising, Outremer will likely be one of the first names that comes to mind. Its heritage lies ...
Displacement: 9,390kg 20,701lb. Engines: 2x beta 30 + 2x 10kW hybrid drives. Base price SC: US$1,325,000 ex VAT. Builder : www.hhcatamarans.com. Disruptive, innovative, and contemporary in style ...
The Outremer 4x is a stable and comfortable high-speeding cruising catamaran that performs ocean crossings and confronts any weather with remarkable ease. Named the European Boat of the Year in 2017, this 48-foot (14.6 m) bluewater cruiser sails faster than wind speed and attains maximum cruising speeds of 20 knots.. The 4x is an upgrade of the extremely popular Outremer 45, thus retaining ...
The price of an OC50 will be pitched around the same level as a Outremer 51 or a Catana 53. For the same money, you´ll get a high performance machine with a far superior level of finish. This is a luxury performance cat ... These are semi-custom catamarans, but to give you an idea, HH are pitching the OC50 at around the Outremer 51 or Catana ...
2021 Boat of the Year Best Luxury Cruiser Winner HH 50 Courtesy HH Catamarans. At the upper end of the cost equation for the 2021 Boat of the Year contestants, there were three boats with a price tag north of seven figures, which in our viewpoint puts them into Luxury Cruiser territory. The Southerly 480 was the outlier of the three—very cool and versatile, but with older if proven ...
The Outremer 55 scooped the Multihull of the Year award (2020) at the British Yachting Awards. Outremer is responding to the competition which has heated up in the past couple of years with brands like Balance Catamarans, HH and Kinetic targeting the fast long-distance cruising segment with boats that combine performance and speed.
Outremer. For those looking to buy a high-performance, safe, and incredibly spacious bluewater catamaran that can be handled by two people, the French Outremer brand should definitely be considered. ... Relative newcomers to the catamaran world, HH launched in 2012 as a performance catamaran brand and is now giving some of the bigger brands a ...
The Hudson Yachts group has just launched an HH ocean cruising catamaran which differs from previous models that were resolutely speed-oriented. This HH Ocean Class 50 is designed for family blue water cruising. But as a bonus, finely-tuned and an exceptional standard of finish. Since 2016, HH has gotten us used to admiring their magnificent ...
Hello All, I am very new to sailing and have a long term plan in motion to purchase a catamaran and sail with my wife in the 7-10 year frame. I know that is a long time aways but I want to start planning now. I have read a lot about "condomarans" like Lagoon, FP and Leopard, so I am wondering about Performance Cats in the 40-48foot range. I know about Outremer's, HH, Catanas and others but ...
Multihulls: new yacht reviews. Yes, the racing world is stretching the boundaries, with 100ft foiling maxi trimarans tearing around the globe and F50s, the…. Review: Silent 55, the extraordinary ...
The HH 55 is produced by the brand HH Catamarans since 2019. HH 55 is a 15.79 meters sailing cruising multihull with 3 guest cabins and a draft of 3.30 meters. The yacht has a carbon hull with a CE certification class (A) and can navigate in the open ocean. The base price of a new HH 55 is not currently published, please contact the itBoat team ...
The yachts are built by local labor: With an average of 40,000 man-hours per cat, the labor savings add up significantly, allowing HH to focus on superior performance through exotic materials and ...
The Outremer 45 is a boat that takes good care of its crew. The Jefa steering system also felt not only light but wonderfully responsive to the wind and waves—one of the true marks of a performance multihull. Flipping on the autopilot confirmed that the rig and hulls were in good balance, as it had little to do, even in the moderate seaway.
Chris Caswell. Updated: Nov 3, 2017. Original: Oct 25, 2017. A boat that stands apart for its speed and power. I had no trouble finding the new HH55 catamaran: she stands out in a marina of white plastic yachts like Hulk Hogan at a garden party. She is purposeful. No, purposeful is too wussy a word: she exudes menace.
The HH55 comes in two options: a forward single helm or twin raised aft helms on the aft bulkhead. The fully battened main drops tidily into a V-boom. This is a semi-custom boat. You can really tailor a new one to your needs. She sails as fast as the wind. She can point as high as 45 degrees to true. 48 degrees is the sweet spot though.
Gone with the Wynns. 550 K. Location: La Grande-Motte. Latitude: 43.56000000. Longitude: 4.09000000. Published: 30 Apr 2023. How a boat ages says a lot about the build materials and quality. And, there just so happened to be a three-year-old HH on display at the La Grande Motte boat show.
This is arguably the Outremer 52's main payoff: the accommodation is kept simple and relatively easy to reproduce in favour of keeping weight down and speed up. The effort and labour goes into ...
The Outremer 55, a 55-foot liveaboard catamaran, is easy to maneuver, whether short-handed or even solo. It offers living spaces, circulation, light and ventilation that set new standards. 54.9 ft. 13.9/ 18.5 t. 27.2 ft. 172 m² (upwind) Download the brochure.
HH Catamarans emerged 10 years later, building boats from 44ft to 88ft in Xiamen, China, with the same contractor that once used to build Gunboats. And Kinetic is more recent still, with ...
It also said Hudson "deliberately, willfully and maliciously obtained Gunboat's trade secrets with the intention of utilizing said trade secrets in connection with, and incorporating them into, the competing HH Catamaran 55 and 66 series, and HYM and Wang did in fact appropriate and utilize said trade secrets for their own benefit and ...