best catamaran power boats

• THE PRINCESS PASSPORT
• Email Newsletter
• Yacht Walkthroughs
• Destinations
• Electronics
• Boating Safety
• Ultimate Boat Giveaway

The Power Catamaran Compilation

• By Yachting Staff
• Updated: December 21, 2018

Power Catamarans have been growing leaps and bounds in popularity, and, in lengths and widths. And for good reason. These cruise-centric yachts offer homelike livability for avid travelers, are fuel efficient and are fairly intuitive to run. Power cats are popular in the bareboat charter market too, for these very reasons.

Here, we take a look at 12 catamarans ranging from a cruising-couple-size 36-footer to a 78-footer for friends, family and some more friends. And there are myriad power options: outboards, diesel inboards, hybrid or even all-solar power.

Fountaine Pajot MY44

The Fountaine Pajot MY44 , a creation of Italian architect Pierangelo Andreani and French designer Daniel Andrieu, has a main deck that’s open from the aft-deck seating all the way forward to the starboard helm station. The sense of spaciousness is significant, for several reasons. First, four glass panels aft can all slide to port, creating an indoor-outdoor space with the aft deck and salon. In the salon, 32-inch-high windows extend for 12 feet down the sides of the yacht, with three sections per side, bringing in natural light along with the three forward panes that comprise the windshield. Finally, 6-foot-6-inch headroom provides vertical clearance, with a 21-foot-7-inch beam that adds interior roominess while keeping the yacht stable.

Read more: Fountaine Pajot MY44

Silent-Yachts 55

The ideas about which solar panels, electric motors, inverters and the like to use — and more importantly, Michael Köhler says, how to configure them — became the basis for the brand Silent-Yachts. The company offers 55-, 64- and 79-foot catamarans that run on solar-electric propulsion. The Silent 55 premiered this fall, and the 64 is sold out for the next two years, Köhler says.

Read more: Silent 55

Horizon PC74

As founder and director of The Powercat Company, a Horizon Power Catamarans distributor, Stuart Hegerstrom had long believed that catamaran builders needed to design their yachts to more stylish standards.

“The boats were very boxy,” he says, based on his years of experience with cats in the charter market. He and his partner, Richard Ford, asked Horizon to produce models that had high-end finishes and looked good inside and out.

The Horizon team brought in mega-yacht designer JC Espinosa to work with its own craftsmen. The result aboard the Horizon PC74 is a catamaran with exterior styling, layout and functionality that should appeal to private and charter owners alike.

Read more: Horizon PC74

The Aquila 36 is a departure from her sisterships in that she is an outboard-powered, express-cruiser-style catamaran, but she also adheres to MarineMax’s philosophies.

With a single main living level from bow to stern and a beam of 14 feet 7 inches, the Aquila 36 is like a bowrider on steroids. She has seating that can handle 20 adults for outings and barbecues, and there are two staterooms below, one in each hull, for family weekending. The staterooms have nearly queen-size berths, en suite heads, stowage and 6-foot-6-inch headroom.

Read more: Aquila 36

Lagoon Seventy 8 Powercat

Lagoon is a division of Groupe Beneteau, the world’s largest builder of sailing yachts, and the Lagoon Seventy 8 Powercat is a developmental sistership of its Seventy 7 super sailing cat. The Seventy series yachts are built at Construction Navale Bordeaux in France, which had to add a new yard to construct these catamarans because they require separate stern molds for the power and sail versions.

Read more: Lagoon Seventy 8 Powercat

Horizon PC60

To understand the Horizon PC60 power catamaran , you need to put aside preconceived notions about midsize yacht amenities. For example, main-deck master suites are the province of yachts over 100 feet length overall. Incorrect. This 60-footer has an elegant and spacious owner’s stateroom on the same level as the salon. If you want a 14-foot center console tender on a 60-foot yacht, you have to tow it. Wrong again. On the PC60, you hoist it onto the upper deck, no problem.

Read more: Horizon PC60

40 Open Sunreef Power

Sunreef is known for pushing the boundaries of catamaran design, incorporating four adjustable hydrofoils into a twin-hulled speedboat.

The Polish builder is one of several European builders (including Evo, Fjord, Wider and Wally) transforming the open ­day-boat category with creative designs. ­Beyond its hydrofoils, the 40 Open Sunreef Power ‘s cockpit has side “wings” along the aft gunwales that fold out at anchor, widening the beam from 17 feet to 22 feet 9 inches.

Read more: 40 Open Sunreef Power

Sunreef 50 Amber Limited Edition

Sunreef Yachts introduced its 50 Amber Limited Edition , with plans to launch just 10 hulls of the exclusive design.

The Sunreef 50 Amber Limited Edition will have a carbon fiber mast and boom, four layout options and numerous amber-colored elements, including the hull.

Read more: Sunreef 50 Amber Limited Edition

Lagoon 630 Motor Yacht

Fitted with the optional twin 300-horsepower Volvo Penta D4 diesels, the Lagoon 630 MY burns only 1.64 gph total at 6 knots, giving a theoretical range of 2,952 nautical miles with standard tankage of 793 gallons. Hull No. 1 had an optional 502-gallon tank, giving it transatlantic range.

Luxury, stability and economy are all hallmarks of Lagoon’s return to luxury motor yachts. If you can take a ride, it will be worth your time.

Read more: Lagoon 630 Motor Yacht

Fountaine Pajot MY 37

The Fountaine Pajot MY 37 easily accommodates the seafaring family with three- and four-stateroom options. In the three-cabin version, called ­Maestro, you’ll find an owner’s suite in the portside hull with a queen-size berth and en suite head. Two double-berth cabins and one more head are available for the kids. If your brood is bigger, the Quator setup features four double cabins with two heads.

The 37 is a traveler and can be powered with twin 150 hp or 220 hp Volvo Penta diesels. Top speed with the smaller engines is 17 knots, while it’s 20 knots with the bigger power plants. Interestingly, at 7 knots, the fuel consumption is the same, with either set of motors offering voyagers a 1 ,000-nm range.

Read more: Fountaine Pajot MY 37

Solarwave 64

Many yachts boast eco chops because they have a handful of solar panels that power the microwave or navigation lights. The Solarwave 64 , launched last summer, has the potential to run on sunshine alone. The vessel’s 42 solar panels generate 15 kW that are stored in batteries weighing about 1,300 pounds. They connect to electric motors.

Read more: Solarwave 64

Glider SS18

This British builder says it strives for design innovation and the Glider SS18 displays that DNA, the result of 8 years of research and development. She has a head-turning, catamaran hull form constructed from aluminum and composite materials. She is 60 feet LOA with a 17-foot beam, and has a relatively shallow 1-foot draft. Powered by quad Yamaha 300 hp outboards, she can reportedly reach 50 knots, and with her Stability Control System (SCS), should give a smooth ride while doing it.

Read more: Glider SS18

• More: aquila , Aquila Boats , Express and Flybridge Cruisers , Fountain Pajot , Glider Yachts , Horizon Power Catamarans , Lagoon , Power Catamarans , Silent-Yachts , Sunreef , Yachts
• More Yachts

Superyacht Collision, Sinking Incident, Takeaways and Lessons

Riviera to Unveil 6800 Sport Yacht at Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

Heesen Reveals “Santosha” Details

Azimut Launches the Fly 62

For Sale: 2006 84′ Lazzara

For Sale: 2015 Beneteau Swift Trawler 50

New Mediterranean Charter Options

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

• Subscribe Now
• Digital Editions

Best power catamarans: 6 of the best models on the market right now

• Top stories

Power catamarans have become so popular in recent years. Alex Smith talks us through 6 of the most exciting models we've covered in the past 12 months...

With the promise of extra volume stability and running efficiency it’s easy to see why power catamarans have become so popular in recent years.

Established players like Sunreef , Leopard and Lagoon have been joined by new builders like Vandal, Archipelago and Moon Yachts.

Big brands like Prestige have also made them move into twin hulled motorboats in recent years, and the likes of Bluegame and Wider Yachts look set to follow suit.

So with the trend showing no signs of slowing here’s our round-up of some of the most exciting new power catamarans you can buy right now.

Article continues below…

Prestige M48 sea trial review: The smartest multihull on the planet?

Moon Power 60 review: Is this £3.7m adventure cat the next big thing?

6 of the best power catamarans available right now.

Prestige M48

Prestige’s first ever power catamaran is designed to provide the volume of a 60 footer alongside the running efficiency of a 40 footer, but the way it manages all that onboard space is also quite attractive.

A three-part aft swim platform features a raising central section to help extend the cockpit party out over the water. The foredeck mimics that with freestanding furniture right at the forepeak and between them the saloon includes a big-aft galley, a large port lounge and a compact helm with a handy starboard side door.

From here private stairwells to the forward owner’s cabin and each of the two guest cabins provide plenty of privacy, and the split design of the port ensuite means it works really well as a day head.

In terms of styling the freestanding bow furniture looks a bit odd, and in terms of dynamics the stooping bridge deck does tend to touch down when the swells get beyond a couple of feet.

But if you want an accessible, novice-friendly boat that provides a party platform way out of proportion to its length, the first model in Prestige’s M line has a lot going for it. And if you have the budget, the more recent Prestige M8 is an even more convincing piece of work.

Watch our full sea trial review of the Prestige M48

Moon Power 60

As a modified sailing cat, the Moon Power 60’s beam stands at a massive 53% of its overall length and that has a very clear impact on the inside.

In spite of huge side decks with dual access to the flybridge , the internal saloon occupies an enormous footprint. It’s used for a pair of peripheral seating areas plus a forward door to access a lovely sunken bow lounge.

Visibility from the lower helm is restricted by the big stuts that sit sailboat-style toward the centre of the screen, but performance is pretty impressive: a pair of 3,500L tanks give you a 2,000nm range at 8 knots with a fuel flow of just 3lpm, and if you really want to boost the range there’s plenty of space for extra fuel capacity too.

Up on the flybridge there’s a big symmetrical lounge and a hot tub flanked by sunbeds, and down below the two hulls borrow a bit of inboard space for four ensuite cabins.

The simplistic saloon arrangement, the absence of a day heads, and the sheer masculinity of that styling might prove a bit problematic for some, but if you’re okay with a modified sailing cat, and you’re happy to work with the yard to refine that deck layout, this big imposing long-distance boat is unlike anything else out there.

Watch our full sea trial review of the Moon Power 60

Invincible 33

Invincible is a well-respected American Builder with a strong offshore sports fishing heritage and close links with the US Navy, but it also builds high-performance power catamarans, and this impressive 33-footer is the entry point to that fleet.

It uses quite a narrow beam with asymmetrical chines and spray rails, which enable it to heel into a turn in much the same fashion as a monohull and to ride the chop without spitting clouds of spray over that bow.

Capable of 56 knots with twin 400hp Verado outboards , it can also reportedly achieve cruising economy of just 2.5lpm for a range of around 500nm.

The internal arrangements are also really practical – with high capacity deck drains and an automatic fresh water flushing system for the outboards you can simply hose this boat down after a trip and get on with your day.

The fuss-free fit out includes multiple bait wells as well as lots of drained, insulated lockers that do a great job as ice chests and storage spaces, and the squared off bow provides lots of seating to supplement the big open deck of that half cockpit.

It might be built with fishing in mind, but as a rapid offshore performance machine, this might just be the perfect power catamaran for monohull lovers.

Watch our yacht tour video of the Invincible 33

Archipelago 47

The Archipelago 47 is a seriously good looking boat. Built from aluminum on the Isle of Wight with design input from commercial specialist Chartwell Marine, its low roofline, reverse screen, wide beams, slender forward hulls, and raised bridge deck give it a seriously potent profile, and that’s precisely what this boat is all about.

The idea is to deliver proper long distance offshore performance alongside a handy turn of pace in a homely fit out, and the Archipelago delivers that.

Built from 8mm hull plating with 6mm topsides, this Category A boat is rated to carry 12 people and sleep up to eight people in four cabins.

Reserving one entire hull for the owner’s suite is a really attractive option, but in all cases headroom is great and huge vertical picture windows provide amazing views from bed level.

The saloon features a large galley and lounge, as well as a raised helm with a shut-off partition for night nav. There are still some design tweaks required, particularly at the helm and the aft end, to maximise this boat’s potential, and if you want a flybridge you’ll need to look toward the Archipelago 52 instead, because on this particular boat that’s not an option.

But with space up top for all kinds of expedition friendly tenders, toys, cranes and solar panels, this tough go anywhere power catamaran has plenty going for it.

Watch our full sea trial review of the Archipelago 47

Vandal Explorer

As a foil-assisted, outboard-powered, flybridge equipped, aluminium power catamaran, the Vandal Explorer is certainly not the mainstream choice, but of course it was never designed to be.

Created by Ben Mennem, who wants to enjoy the sun-drenched waters of the Med, in collaboration with Norwegian designer Espen Oeino, who loves outdoor adventures in the Nordic States, it seems to straddle both camps.

It uses a wide open main deck with skeletal bars rather than rigid bulkheads to keep you properly in touch with the sea. There’s also a big aft platform between the Verado XTO outboards, which operates as a passerelle, and thanks to a ladder and rain shower does a great job for watersports too.

Ahead of the cockpit lounge there’s a big transverse galley tucked inside the shelter of the pilothouse structure, and there’s also a raised full-beam bow cabin with a separate incinerator toilet.

It’s a bit noisy on that main deck when you’re underway and the limited two-berth arrangement of the base boat is likely to compel some people to question its overall practicality.

But as a tough and lightweight 40-knot boat with space for 14 people, a cool off-grid aesthetic and all the custom friendly flexibility you could want, its simplicity is actually a really key part of its appeal.

Watch our full sea trial review of the Vandal Explorer

The Aquila 44 is a proper wide-beam cruising cat

Built at Sino Eagle’s 1million sqft facility in China and developed in collaboration with the renowned J&J Design Group, Aquila is a specialist power catamaran builder and that absolutely shows.

Capable of up to 20 knots with the top rated Volvo Penta D4 420s, the Aquila 44 uses bow bulbs for extra waterline length, a softer ride and improved stability at displacement speeds.

But is the way it uses its 21ft beam that really impresses. In the aft cockpit a convivial c-shape dinette sits opposite a fold-out bar at the aft galley.

At the bow a set of steps connects the foredeck lounge directly to the flybridge, which is great for practicality as well as for large partie, and up top a central walkaround helm pod keeps things more sociable and inclusive than on any other boat in this class.

There’s a proper main deck helm too if you want it, plus sleeping for six in three private ensuite cabins, including a brilliant owner’s cabin that occupies the full beam beneath that foredeck.

If you need extra performance and style you could of course look toward the brand’s smaller, narrow-beamed, outboard-powered sport line, but for proper power catamaran lovers this big, cleverly arranged entertainment platform feels exactly right.

Watch our yacht tour video of the Aquila 44

Grand Banks 62 first look: new yacht set to launch in 2025

New boats at cannes boat show 2024: pershing gtx80, new boats at cannes boat show 2024: wilder 60, latest videos, watch: parker sorrento sea trial: 50-knot cruiser with a killer aft cabin, watch: virtue v10 sea trial: €272k weekender, how to mark your anchor chain: 6 top tips from our expert, watch: galeon 560 fly sea trial – the best galeon flybridge you can buy.

10 Best Catamarans for 2023

Table of Contents

Last Updated on November 3, 2023 by Boatsetter Team

Catamarans have taken the boating world by storm, becoming the fastest-growing segment, with both sail and power cats dominating the market. Some of the best catamarans have been launched in the past 12 months! Let us introduce you to five power catamarans and five sail multihulls, and then let us get you on the water with one! Here are the ten best catamarans for 2023 :

• World Cat 260 CCX 
• Four Winns TH36 
• Leopard 40 PC 
• Aquila 42 PC 
• HammerCat 45 
• Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 
• Bali 4.4 

Balance 442

• Minicat 310 

Find the market’s hottest catamarans for half-day and full-day rent 

Power Catamarans:

World cat 260 ccx.

Image Source: https://worldcat.com/models/260cc-x/

The sixth model in the builder’s center console line , the World Cat 260 CCX , is compact but packed with features, including a wraparound U-lounge for relaxing or casting, a 30-gallon live well, a 120-quart insulated fish box and twin 200-hp outboards that draw on 180 gallons of fuel. This is a small but serious fishing machine.

Four Winns TH36

image source: https://www.fourwinns.com/new-era

The new Four Winns TH36 is the first outboard-powered catamaran introduced by the builder. The dual console design has a walkthrough windshield and room for 15 or more guests. Power is provided by twin 300-hp outboards upgradeable to 350s, making this runabout speedy and fun.

Leopard 40 PC

Joining her 46- and 53-foot siblings, the new Leopard 40 PC is a couple’s cruiser with many of the same features as the two larger models but on a much smaller (and for some, more approachable) platform. Engine packages range from 250 hp to 370 hp, and a top speed of 20 knots is expected.

Aquila 42 PC

Image Source: https://www.aquilaboats.com/news/42-yacht

The new 42 falls in the middle of the Aquila range and offers two staterooms, multiple sunbeds, a utility cabin , and numerous layout configuration options. She has engines from Volvo Penta and a spacious flybridge with steps that lead directly down to the foredeck for easy maneuvering.

HammerCat 45

Image Source: https://www.multihulls-world.com/news-catamaran-trimaran/hammercat-45-an-almost-unlimited-program

The new HammerCat 45 is versatile and can work as a sportfish platform, a dive boat, a day cruiser, or a superyacht tender. This center console has a hardtop and a Carolina bow and is built in epoxy and carbon fiber to keep weight down and performance up. Expect a 55- knot top end and a 30-knot cruise depending on the engine package selected. 

Sailing Catamarans:

Fountaine pajot tanna 47.

Image Source: https://www.catamarans-fountaine-pajot.com/en/sailing-catamarans/catamaran-tanna-47/

This French-built sailing cruiser has space in spades. The new FP Tanna 47 is based on (and shares a hull design with) her predecessor, the Saona 47, but clever tweaks have made this a whole new boat. The cabin house and deck have been revamped, the flybridge is 40% larger, the salon/ galley has gained storage options, and the helm is more ergonomic than before.

Video Source: bali-catamarans.com

Bali has captured the hearts of sailors who love lots of living space, large household-style appliances, and simplicity. Bali cats are unique for their combination salon/ cockpit layout, and the 4.4 joins her siblings in this groundbreaking design. With the touch of a button, a “garage door” lifts, connecting the indoors with the outdoors with minimum redundancy in living arrangements.

Image Source: https://balancecatamarans.com/balance-442/

Fast and packed with proven cruising features, the Balance 442 is the little sister to last year’s 482. Perfectly sized for couples, this boat was designed for distance cruisers by distance cruisers. There’s even an option for a large solar array to make living at anchor easy and just about carbon neutral.

Image Source: https://www.cata-lagoon.com/en/55

French catamaran builder, Lagoon, has introduced a new VPLP-designed cruising cat that you can test in charter soon. The Lagoon 55 slots just above the newly introduced 51and are offered as a large and comfortable flybridge model with up to six cabins to accommodate an overnight crowd. 

Minicat 310

Image Source: https://redbeardsailing.com/products/minicat-310

Not all cats are of the large, expensive fiberglass variety. An affordable multihull can be had in Europe’s Minicat 310 Sport, an inflatable beach cat weighing only 77 pounds and packing down into a single bag. This cat has sophisticated big boat features like roller furling, a fully battened mainsail, keels, and an attachment for a small outboard.

Find catamarans for rent— NEAR YOU

These models, representing some of the best catamaran brands on the market today, are pretty new, so there aren’t many out there yet, but if you get a chance to step aboard one, you won’t be disappointed. One way to potentially test one is via a peer-to-peer boat-sharing service like Boatsetter that pairs owners, who can offset boat ownership costs, with charters, who can enjoy luxury boats without the long-term commitment. 

Check out the hottest boats in the market at Boat Types , and scroll through Boat Guises to find your next boating destination . Keep your eyes peeled to catch one of these ten amazing catamarans on the water!

About Boatsetter 

Boatsetter is a unique boat-sharing platform that gives everyone — whether you own a boat or you’re just renting — the chance to experience life on the water. You can list a boat , book a boat , or make money as a captain . 

List. Rent. Earn— Only at Boatsetter

Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin. 

A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide. 

Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico. 

Browse by experience

Explore articles

How to Take the Best Boatsetter Boat Listing Photos

How to Bait a Hook with Shrimp

Lake Norman Fishing Guide

Puget Soundkeeper Creating Safe & Sound Seattle Waters | #MindYourWake Series

• Yachts for Sale
• Sales Report 2024
• FAQ – Luxury Crewed Yacht Charters
• FAQ – Bareboat charters
• FAQ – Sell your Boat
• FAQ – Buying a Yacht
• How Much does it Cost to Charter a Luxury Yacht?
• All Blog Posts and News
• Yachting for beginners
• Indian Ocean
• Mediterranean
• Sales & New build
• Motor Yacht
• Event & News

Best Power Catamarans in 2024: Our Selection

Power multihulls have grown in popularity for the last decades. From the original power catamarans to the most recent innovative hybrid trimarans, the multihull market is constantly evolving and has a lot to offer for the years to come.

A motor multihull is the opportunity to sail a comfortable boat, easy to handle, easy to maintain with optimised outdoor living spaces. A powercat or a motor trimaran will seduce you for coastal sailing in areas with simple and short navigations, as well as if you are simply tired of having to manage the sails of your sailing yacht… 

Discover our favourite selection of multihulls for this year and you are guaranteed not to go wrong! 

Robertson & Caines: a solid range of power catamarans

Robertson & Caines is one of the world leaders in the catamaran market with its Leopard catamaran brand.

Founded in 1991 by John Robertson and Jerry Caine, Robertson & Caine Ltd has its production site in South Africa, in Cape Town.

It owes its leadership to the care it gives to every detail of its boats. Leopard boats offer refinement, comfort and performance. 

Leopard power catamaran, for whom?

The Leopard will please those who want to make a reliable investment. They are very good units to put into rental management for those who wish to reduce the maintenance costs of their yacht. 

In the Leopard powercat range, discover the Leopard 46, Leopard 43 or Leopard 53 . 

Leopard 43 Power Catamaran, Charter and Sale

The Leopard 43 PC is a 13m unit that can be found in 3 or 4 double cabin versions, with a fully equipped galley and a large flybridge.

You can rent this Leopard Powercat on bareboat charter : from €8,700 per week in the Virgin Islands , in Martinique from €7,500 per week or in the Bahamas, from €8,214 per week. 

Leopard catamaran for sale 

The reputation of the Robertson & Caine shipyard is well established and the quality of their yachts for over 20 years now proves it. You can find used Leopard catamarans from €680,000 or up to €1,500,000 for a new yacht excluding options.

WI Yachts’ opinion on Leopard Power Catamaran

In the Leopard range, let yourself be tempted by the Leopard 53 Powercat for its elegance and its large volumes. Voted best multihull of the year in 2020, it would be a well thought out investment!

Fountaine Pajot Power Catamarans: a very elegant option

The elegance, refinement and precision of Fountaine Pajot ‘s boats are no longer in question. Designers and builders of boats since 1976, their know-how is unique and gives birth to exceptional yachts. 

Fountaine Pajot Powercat, for whom?

For those who want to enter the luxury motor catamaran range, without committing to units that are too big and too expensive. Fountaine Pajot has managed production costs well and delivers quality yachts.

Fountaine Pajot motor yacht MY44

This yacht offers tremendous volumes equivalent to those of a 20 metre monohull. Its living spaces are breathtaking, with a large flybridge, a large saloon, a galley and cabins that offer privacy and satisfaction in impressive dimensions. The shipyard rebranded the MY44 to MY6 in 2021, to harmonise the names of the units in their engine range.

Charter a Fountaine Pajot MY44

Discover this motor yacht catamaran in a 3 double cabin version in various destinations: 

From €5,800 per week from Athens, Greece , with skipper.

She is also available without crew in the BVI from $12,900 per week or on the French Riviera from €7,000 per week.

Fountaine Pajot Motoryacht MY44 for sale

WI Yacht offers for sale a second hand MY44 as new with all options for €895,000. She is an elegant yacht with unparalleled space for a vessel of her size. 

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Fountaine Pajot Motor Yacht

The brand has made an effort to design the bows of its catamarans and has optimised the storage space and volumes to save space. 

All in all, these PowerCats have comfortable relaxation and reception areas worthy of the most luxurious catamarans.

Read also: Top 6 motoryachts around 80 feet

The Sunreef 60: a well balanced luxury Powercat

Sunreef is the world leader in the construction of custom multihulls. From the first drawings to the smallest finishing details each yacht is designed with the utmost care to offer you the perfect balance of comfort, safety and design! 

Since 2002, the yachts have been built in Poland. Sunreef knows how to surprise with technological innovations, notably with their Sunreef Eco yacht, and the announcement of their motor trimaran: 210 Sunreef Power Trimaran, a mega yacht with more than 1000m2 of living space!

Sunreef Powercat, for whom?

Sunreef Power catamarans are versatile and modern motor yachts with a contemporary and sporty look. They are elegant and easy to handle luxury catamarans. Ideal for all types of groups. Prefer to hire a qualified crew to look after your yacht maintenance.

Luxury Sunreef Power 60 

The Sunreef Motoryacht 60 is the smallest of the multihull motor yachts offered by the Polish yard. It is therefore a perfect choice for both bareboat and crewed sailing.

Rent a Sunreef 60 power catamaran

The 60 Sunreef Power OTOCTONE is an ultra-modern motor yacht offering exemplary sea keeping and a high level of comfort. 

Otoctone can accommodate up to 8 guests in a large double cabin, two guest cabins and a twin cabin. 

She has an extremely spacious saloon and large living areas. 

Available from €30,000 per week + expenses in Italy.

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Sunreef power cat

Sunreef shipyard opens the doors to luxury aboard multihulls. The yachts are customisable and offer exceptional finishes. Let yourself be tempted if you are looking for a super luxurious floating hotel.

Lagoon: the leader shipyard with many worldclass power catamarans

Lagoon Catamaran shipyard is one of the world leaders in the construction of cruising catamarans. Designed by the famous designers Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prevost, Lagoon’s reputation is well established. 

The French shipyard builds its yachts using a composite vacuum infusion and injection method that guarantees their process.

Lagoon Motor Yacht, for whom?

Lagoon motor cruising catamarans offer luxury and comfort. Their silhouettes and shapes are harmonious and are therefore very popular for all sailors and boat lovers. 

The Lagoon MY: Lagoon Seventy 8 and Sixty 7

The French shipyard offers us two Powercat in their power range. The Seventy 8 is the Lagoon flagship, over 24m long, with an elegant silhouette and luxurious spaces. 

The latest revolution was the Sixty 7 with continuous open spaces linking the interior and exterior of the yacht. 

Charter a Lagoon Seventy 8 Catamaran

Frenchwest Lagoon 78 is available for charter in the Caribbean from €50,000 per week. Version with 4 double cabins to accommodate 8 passengers comfortably with 3 crew members, discover the blue waters of the Caribbean aboard a Lagoon power catamaran!

Lagoon Seventy 8 for sale

Depending on the options requested, the price of a Lagoon motor catamaran starts at 4.3 million euros. If you wish to put your yacht under management to optimise its occupancy and reduce your annual maintenance costs, it is advisable to combine essential options and a professional crew used to chartering. Take professional advice. 

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Seventy 8

Lagoon offers you one of the best luxury Powercat on the market: stability, volume, multiple living areas. It will surprise you with its richness of space. Think of fitting out your yacht in a practical way according to your use!

READ ALSO : Lagoon Sixty 7: a dive into Lagoon’s Latest Luxury Power Catamaran

Catana power catamarans: the Bali models are a good choice for families

The Catana shipyards have brought out the Bali brand, which is popular thanks to the layout of their rigid cockpit, which has a tilting door that opens up the outside living space to the inside. 

Obviously the Bali brand has moved into power catamaran construction and has kept the codes and design that make the brand so successful on these sailing boats, notably that characteristic tilt and turn door. 

The Bali 4.3 MY and the Bali Catspace MY

The 4.3 is recognisable by its resolutely modern lines, combined with a carefully selected choice of noble and classic materials.  As for the new Catspace catamaran, it is the ultimate in cruising innovations. The shape of its hulls gives it excellent seaworthiness and it has an exceptional ease of movement in its very large spaces. 

Both catamarans offer superb spaces where everything is designed for conviviality.

Bali 4.3 Motoryacht for charter

Discover the Aegean Sea on board a Bali 4.3 MY in a 3 double cabin version with professional skipper from €7,110 per week plus expenses. 

The opinion of WI Yachts on the Bali MY catamaran

The design of the Bali motoryacht range from the Catana shipyards has been chosen to resemble the famous Trawler, a habitable vessel perfect for families wishing to spend time together. These are affordable vessels for first time buyers and those wishing to sail in less formal seas. 

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Bali MY catamaran

The design of the Bali motor yacht range from the Catana shipyards has been chosen to resemble the famous Trawler, a habitable vessel perfect for families wishing to spend time together. These are affordable vessels for first time buyers and those wishing to sail in less formal seas. 

Part of the success of the Nautitech yard lies in their ability to recognise the true spirit of a catamaran. They are redefining the open concept of life on board, combining the saloon and cockpit into one highly functional living space. 

Their catamarans are built in Rochefort, France, known for its excellence in ship production. Nautitech motor yachts are designed and produced according to the most stringent standards that make up the shipyard’s know-how. 

Nautitech motor catamarans, for whom?

Thanks to their robust, demanding and marine design, Nautitech is recognised as a brand capable of putting navigation at the heart of the sea experience. You will find the Nautitech 40, 46 and 47 Power Cat available for charter. 

Nautitech 47 Power Cat

The best finishes have been given to this Nautitech multihull. Its performance is ensured by two engines known for their great reliability. It has all the necessary fittings for comfortable cruising in the sun, as well as enough power to reach 20 knots. 

Available in 3 or 4 cabin versions, it combines comfort, aesthetics and performance. 

Nautitech 47 Powercat for sale

Wi Yacht can offer you a used Nautitech 47 for sale in excellent condition! 

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Nautitech 47 

This motor catamaran is based on the sail model. Its spaces are well optimised, and its performance is surprising for a vessel of this size. Overall it is a catamaran with a pleasant, efficient and powerful line. s

NEEL power trimarans: the cutting edge of the sustainable power trimarans

In 10 years, the Neel shipyard has designed trimarans that stand out for their quality of design and unique know-how. Their trimarans combine elegance, design and performance. 

The Neel shipyard teams, always at the forefront of the search for performance and eco-responsibility, have embarked on the motor trimaran adventure at the beginning of 2021, with their Leen power cat range. 

LEEN trimarans, for whom?

The LEEN trimaran range offers two models, the Leen 56 and the Leen 72.

These hybrid trawler yachts are equipped with an innovative and efficient propulsion system. The shipyard announces their reliability for offshore and coastal cruising. 

Read also: Trimaran versus Catamaran: what are the differences

Motor Trimaran LEEN 72′

With its hybrid engine, its unique design and its ergonomics, it is part of this new futuristic trend in yachting which aims to make sailing more ecological and sustainable. 

READ ALSO: LEEN 72 the future of hybrid trimarans is here 

WI Yachts’ opinion on the LEEN trimarans

The Leen trimarans are a safe bet thanks to the know-how of the trimaran builder. The brand is mainly focused on safety and performance, making these boats ideal for all types of sailing.

The power catamaran or powercat market is developing in the nautical world in the same way as the vessels presented. The shipyards have been able to deliver fast and luxurious yachts for cruising. The engines have been improved for performance and autonomy, the noise of the engines reduced and the spaces offer hyper luxury multihulls / motoryachts!

Also noteworthy are manufacturers such as Hammer Yachts who are launching catamarans powered by very seaworthy outboards. 

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

6 great motoryachts just under 100 feet to consider, sail the mediterranean onboard the custom line navetta 28 “yvonne”, yacht christina o: the most iconic superyacht to charter in the world.

• Testimonials
• Privacy Policy

• Search Used Yachts For Sale
• Search Boats By Brand
• Search Boats By Type
• Search By Location
• Search By Price
• What's My Boat Worth?
• Search Boats Just Listed
• Small Yachts
• Custom Sport Fishing Boats
• Finance A Boat
• Amer Yachts
• Aquitalia Yachts
• Cabo Yachts
• Century Boats
• French Yachts
• Gulfstream Yachts
• Hatteras Yachts
• Shelter Island Yachts
• Solaris Yachts
• Sunpower Yachts
• Sunreef Yachts
• Vela Boatworks
• Virtus Yachts
• Why List With United?
• Why Own A Boat Or Yacht?
• Custom Website For Your Yacht
• United Sold Boats
• Buy A Yacht With Crypto
• Find a Yacht Broker Near Me
• Search For Broker By Name
• Meet The United Support Team
• Our History
• Fort Lauderdale Boat Show
• Stuart Boat Show
• Miami Boat Show
• Palm Beach Boat Show
• Other Boat Shows
• Yachting News
• Yacht Closing Services
• River Forest Yachting Centers

Search All Yachts

Who Makes The Best Power Catamaran?

By Robert Bowman | Posted On Sep 15, 2022 Updated On May 03, 2023

The story of the evolution of the power catamaran can be broken down to a simple act of marital duty. it was the 1940's and Ray Leger loved to fish off of the California coast with his wife Evelyn. Ray had been a carpenter and capitalized on the booming Southern California housing market after World War 2, later using his skills and equipment to construct fishing boats. Evelyn would routinely suffer from seasickness, a problem that Ray needed to solve in order to keep fishing. Knowing that a catamaran offered greater stability, Ray set out to build one with outboard motors. The first one, an 18-foot cabin cruiser, was outfitted with twin 33hp outboards. By the 1960's, construction had moved to fiberglass hulls and the popularity quickly soared.

Today, power catamarans are among the fastest growing segments in the marine industry, as are sailing catamarans . A recent report shows that the global catamaran market as a whole is worth over $4 billion and has an annual growth rate of over 6%. That's nearly double what the average CAGR (compound annual growth rate) is for the boating industry in total.

The transition to power cats really came from charter customers in the Caribbean that would vacation on sailing cats in the BVI's for weeks at a time. The catamarans offered greater stability, but also an incredible amount of space on board thanks to the wider beams. But people on vacation enjoying the trip would end up using the small engines most of the time as sailing comes with a certain amount of effort. Now it's common to see power catmarans in charter in the Caribbean, as well as privately owned boats behind someone's house.

As more boaters get exposed to the benefits of power catamarans, the number of builders has grown as well. Power cat brands like Aquila Boats , as an example, weren't around in the early 2000's, but are now a common boat to see all over Florida or the Northeast. Prestige Yachts also just released their very first power cat into the market, the M48. Trying to claim that one power catamaran builder is the "best" among all of the others is a tough decision as there are many factors. If judged by number of units sold over the last 10 years, then Leopard is the best power catamaran builder in the industry. Looking at boats sold globally in the MLS over the last decade, Leopard Catamarans sold 40% more vessels than the second leading power cat builder, Fountain Pajot . Other notable power cat brands that led in overall sales were Endeavor, Lagoon, and Aquila.

(Below: On the extreme luxury power catamaran market, the Sunreef 80 is among the best.)

Video by: @NautiStyles

While the number of boats sold into the marketplace is a sign of strength in a builder, it also may not necessarily equate to 'being the best power catamaran' in terms of quality. Like with monohulls, there are varying degrees of both quality and price when it comes to the subsects of the power cat industry. Both Sunreef and Horizon Yachts have expanded into large luxury power cats that, even when more than 10 years old, can still command more than $2 million as an asking price.

One way to tell if the catamaran you're buying is well-recognized for its quality is to look at some of the recent award winners. Many of the editors of multi-hull focused magazines are experts in this category and have real-life experiences on dozens of different models. Here are a few notable ones:

• Fountaine Pajot MY4.S won the 2022 Multi-Hull of the Year Award for its category (36.1' and reaches 22 knots!)
• The Aquila 54 won 2021 Multi-hull of the Year 
• The Leopard 53 Power Cat won 2020 Multi-Hull of the Year
• The Lagoon 55 won the 2021 British Yachting Awards

(Below: The new Fountaine Pajot MY4.S offers a new 'sport top' style for the longtime catamaran builder.)

Whether you're purchasing a new or pre-owned power catamaran, its resale value is of the utmost importance. Nothing can stifle your enthusiasm when you are trying to sell your existing yacht only to have it sit on the market for a long time while diminishing in value. If this is of concern to you, the best advice is to stick with the more mainstream, reputable catamaran builders. Boats with odd layouts, underpowered engines, outlandish decor, and other out-of-the-norm equipment can cause your boat to sit on the market longer than anticipated.

The market demand has also improved in recent years. Over the last decade, power catamarans took roughly 330 days to sell. Almost a full year! Since 2020, however, that amount of time has decreased by 19%. Among the builders that sold within 100 days of hitting the market, Aquila, Endeavor, Fountaine Pajot, Leopard, and Robertson & Caine were prominent. 

(Below: The Aquila 54 Power Catamaran has a tri-deck design with a beam of over 25-feet.)

At United Yacht Sales, we have over 250 experienced yacht brokers worldwide. Many have years of real hands-on experience with power catamarans, sailing cats, sailboats, and other similar vessels. We can assist you in the sale of your current yacht, or represent you in the purchase of a new one. Call us today at 1-772-463-3131 and we will connect you with the right sales professional that perfectly sits your needs and situation.

Also Read: Are Power Catamarans Good In Rough Water?

Interesting Boating Links

Worldwide yacht sales.

• Trawlers For Sale in California
• Yachts For Sale NC
• Used Mega Yachts For Sale
• Boat Trader Canada
• Yacht Locator
• Boats For Sale Charleston SC
• Boats For Sale Cape Cod
• Custom Sportfish For Sale
• Trawlers For Sale New York
• Nicest Yachts
• Boats For Sale Washington
• Million Dollar Yacht
• Virginia Yacht Brokers
• 50 Million Dollar Yacht
• Boats For Sale in Maryland

Luxury Boats & Yachts

• Trawlers For Sale in Texas
• Prestige Yachts
• Yachts For Sale Near Me
• Rybovich For Sale
• Azimut Yachts Price
• Sabre 42 For Sale
• Yachts For Sale by Price
• Hinckley Yachts For Sale
• Used Center Console Boats For Sale in Florida
• Broward Yachts
• Yacht Brokers Near Me

Popular Builders & Models

• Sea Ray 58 Sedan Bridge
• Sea Ray 460 Sundancer For Sale
• Offshore Racing Boats For Sale
• Motor Yacht
• 54 Hatteras Motor Yacht For Sale
• Used Edgewater Boats For Sale
• 44 Sea Ray Sundancer For Sale
• Motorsailer
• Power Catamaran
• Aft Cabin Boats For Sale
• 50 Ft Viking

Trending Brands & Types

• Ranger Tug Boats For Sale
• Smith Boats
• Kadey Krogen Yachts
• Beneteau For Sale
• Ocean Alexander 72 For Sale
• Used Jupiter Boats For Sale
• Davis Boats
• Contender Bay Boats For Sale
• Carver For Sale
• Used Egg Harbor Boats
• 60 Marquis Yacht
• Meridian For Sale
• Yachts For Sale Fort Lauderdale
• Cheoy Lee Boats
• Sport Fishing Yachts For Sale

SEND UYS A MESSAGE

Recent posts.

Aug 16, 2024

Your Yacht For Sale Now Featured on SuperYachtTimes.com

Aug 07, 2024

List Your Yacht Before The Fall Boat Show Season

Aug 01, 2024

The Hot List - August 2024

Jul 15, 2024

Luxury Yachts For Luxury Buyers

• 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

2023 Power Buyer’s Guide

In the under-30-foot sector, monohull hulls are still resisting. But compact multipowers, catamarans for the most part, are now a feature of many manufacturers’ catalogs in the United States, Australia and even Brazil. The catamaran formula of course offers increased stability, both when under way and at anchor. These multihulls are most often propelled by twin outboards. Accessible and easy to handle, these units allow day trips, fishing and, why not, from 16 or 17 feet and above, a bit of coastal cruising. Most of the models are content with a moderate beam, thus limiting marina fees.

Create a notification for Buyer's guide

We will keep you posted on new articles on this subject.

Published 28/10/2022

By Emmanuel van Deth

Issue: SP19

Published: dec. / jan. 2023

Choose the option that suits you best!

Issue #: SP19

Published: December / January 2023

• Price per issue - digital : 7.90€ Digital magazine
• Price per issue - print : 11.90€ Print magazine
• Access to Multihulls World digital archives Digital archives

POWERCAT 525

Small but seamanlike.

The test videos of this pocket powercat leave no doubt about its seakeeping qualities: the machine jumps from wave to wave and always seems to be at ease, whatever the sea state. For all that, the designers are not looking for power overkill - 2 x 30 to 2 x 120 HP. The maximum speed quoted by the builder, subject to the chosen drivetrain, ranges from 16 to 30 knots. The deck layout comes in several versions - open, central passage, cabin - and can accommodate 7 people.

Manufacturer: Powercat  Length: 17’3” (5.25 m) Beam: 7’5” (2.25m) Draft: 12” (0.30 m) Light displacement: 1,300 lbs (590 kg) Engines: 2 x 30 to 120 HP CE Category: C

CASTLEROCK CARBON CAT

The temptation of a rib – and of extra power.

Designed in Australia and built in New Zealand, the Castlerock Carbon Cat was designed by Dan Oatley, a member of an Australian family well known in the boating world. This catamaran RIB is built from an aluminum chassis and a carbon deck. Trim is controlled by a pair of trim tabs. Although this boat’s short length confines it to relatively sheltered waters, the top speed recorded with a modest 115 HP is still 60 knots… We can only imagine that the Formula 1 version, with double the engine power, is reserved for very experienced skippers. The builder has already reinforced the structure of hull #3 so that it can take a more powerful engine.

Builder: Carbon Cat Length: 17’5” (5.30 m) Beam: 7’10” (2.40 m) Displacement: 2,200 lbs (1,000 kg) Capacity: 6 people Fuel: 21 US gal (80 l) Engines: 115/250 HP outboard Max speed: 60 knots with 115 HP outboard

CHEETAH 690/720 ADVENTURE

The all-purpose boat for everyone.

Discover our exclusive video

Cheetah is well known in the UK: the brand has produced nearly 400 motor catamarans over the past 30 years. Designed from the start to take on the rollers of the exposed beaches on the Isle of Wight, the first model initiated a complete range of powercats perfectly adapted to the demanding constraints of various services – firefighters, response operations, diving etc. The Adventure model, developed from the proven hull of the 720, features a bulwark opening to starboard, which provides a 10 by 12½-foot (3 x 3.8 m) deck when at anchor. A metal frame, not unlike a roof-rack you might find on a 4x4 that also goes on adventures, can be fitted to carry equipment (bikes, paddleboards, etc). A tent is also available so you can spend a night or two on board. We’ll be testing one soon in Multihulls World.

Builder: Cheetah Marine Catamarans Length: 22’8” or 23’7” (6.9 m or 7.2m) Beam: 8’4” (2.55 m) Draft: 12” (0.30 m) Engines: 2 x 80/100 HP outboards Fuel: 2 x 26 US gal (2 x 100 l) Price: € 129,167 ex-tax with 2 x 80 HP outboards

Compact but with no fear of anything!

Despite its limited length, this Australian ...

Subscribe to Multihulls World and get exclusive benefits.

Tags : 

• Power multihulls , 
• Power catamaran , 
• power trimaran , 
• 2023 power buyer's guide

Most-read articles in the same category

Lagoon World Escapade

Bahamas, White Cay

Calendar of International Boat Show this Fall

The photographer's eye

What readers think.

Post a comment

No comments to show.

MW #197 - Oct / Nov 2024

2024 Sail Buyer's Guide

2024 Multipower Buyer's Guide

2023 Sail Buyer's Guide

Subscribe now

The latest news from €3 / month

Video of the month

Our latest YouTube hit!

The Multihull of the Year

The 2024 results

Classified ads

LAGOON 450F, 3 cabins

Vous avez ajouté " " à vos favoris., vous avez supprimé " " de vos favoris., in order to add this article to your favorites, please sign in..

Berthon Winter Collection

Latest issue

August 2024

In the August 2024 issue of Yachting World magazine: News Few finish a tempestuous Round The Island Race European rules are eased for cruising to France and Greece Olympic sailing…

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Best catamaran and multihull: We sail the very best yachts on two and three hulls

• Toby Hodges
• March 20, 2024

Toby Hodges takes a look at all the nominees and the winner of the best catamaran and multihull category in the much-anticipated European Yacht of the Year Awards

There are many categories in the  European Yacht of the Year  awards, from the best  luxury yachts  and  performance yachts  to the  best yachts for families  and event a  best specialist yacht category. But with multihulls rapidly increasing in popularity, the best catamaran and multihull category was possibly the most hotly anticipated.

The small number of entrants in this category in no way reflects the rich range or huge demand for multihulls. Many new models were launched by the big yards in the preceding years and they’re struggling to keep up with bulging order books.

However, these three shortlisted represented a choice pick of the latest fast cruisers and each, in their own very different ways, are responding to this insatiable demand for high end space and pace cruising.

Best catamaran and multihull

Best catamaran and multihull winner 2024 – outremer 52.

My highlight test of 2023? Sailing this Outremer 52 for 200 miles over two days and nights! Quite how such a large vessel, one that is capable of doing laps of the planet in true comfort, is also capable of providing such enjoyable sailing is the secret sauce that helps scoop this prize.

And it was pushed hard for this award by the disruptive HH. But the Outremer is such a well rounded, measured and thought out yacht for bluewater cruising at a reliable speed – it’s the full package, a dream boat for family bluewater sailing and arguably the French yard’s best and most refined model to date.

Designer VPLP was tasked with replacing the popular and well proven 51 with more comfort and stowage, while maintaining the performance. It says it took the best of the 55 (which won this award two years ago), and the best of the 51’s deck plan to create this 52. The result means too many good features to point out here, from the variety of helm positions, including a completely protected position inboard using the swing pedestal, to the well conceived spaces. I’d therefore recommend reading our full test report online or in YW’s June 2023 issue!

Neel continues to enjoy its cruising trimaran niche, using the wow factor of bridgedeck accommodation combined with the type of sailing enjoyment and feedback monohull sailors appreciate.

The impressive lightwind performance and direct feel of a Neel I am used to. But I don’t think I’ve ever been so surprised by the amount of cabins or space as I was on this 52. It’s available with four to six cabins plus the option for two crew cabins aft! Some of this maze works well, other areas, such as the forward cabins in the main hull not quite so well. Horizon and rig sightlines and some finishing also leaves room for improvement.

The HH44 seemingly manages to achieve the space and pace balance in a compact 45ft package, while also being one of the most innovative and exciting new production yachts I have sailed. From its looks to layout, to practical on deck solutions such as swing pedestals, side gates through the bulwarks and transom gates that double as swim platforms and boost cockpit security, it’s packed with fresh thinking.

And on the subject of ‘fresh’, the natural ventilation encouraged into the yacht through those massive forward facing coachroof windows which open – a feat made possible thanks to a stiff carbon composite structure – negates any aircon requirements.

With its deep carbon boards and tall carbon rig the HH44 is a powerful, reactive animal to sail. However, it’s the incorporation of the first parallel hybrid electric drive units which really makes this high tech high performance cat stand out. The electric motors are attached to the aft end of conventional diesel engines, not only providing silent power, but renewable energy through regenerative drives while sailing.

Best catamaran and multihull 2023

Best catamaran winner – nautitech 44.

If the very best catamaran delivers the ideal comfort to performance compromise, here’s a catamaran that seems to strike the perfect balance.

For those who cite a lack of visibility and protection as reasons not to choose this aft helm route, try sailing this first – direct steering brings so much more helming pleasure that you get the enjoyable feeling and communication more associated with a monohull. The attention to keeping weight low and central, vacuum infused vinylester build and a low coachroof and boom all aid this performance. The fine entry Lombard-designed hulls allowed us to properly point upwind at 8 knots (in 13), but it was the hands-on steering sensation that really stayed with me.

While there’s no real inside/outside boundary – the saloon bridges both – the Chedal-Anglay interior design works well. It is not as voluminous as some, but is certainly enough to be smugly comfortable at anchor, finished to a good quality, with walnut Alpi trim as standard. The layout option for a ‘smart room’ office/laundry/bunk room or stowage cabin is indeed really smart.

Out of all the multihulls nominated or sailed last year, this cat impressed me the most under sail. It’s the ideal size to go distance sailing, with good performance, low draught and space for family and friends. It had me dreaming.

Balance 482

I was drawn to the Balance 482, thanks to the combination of good looking modern design, high average speeds and, chiefly, the profusion of clever thinking and practical ideas that it brings. The South African build uses a foam core with E-glass laminate and cored furniture for a light weight of 11.3 tonnes, but also with the ability to take a generous payload.

An electric furler option combined with screecher sail helps offer effortless handling and fun sailing, although the 482 prefers a breeze in the double figures. Smart options such as load cells on the rigging, a bowsprit camera to monitor the anchor chain, plus engine room and mast cams all help for maintaining vigilance. Other features we like include the solar panels properly installed on raised brackets, raincatchers built into the coachroof, and how all sheets and lines are led to the helm station. But the prize solution is the VersaHelm, which allows you to swing the wheel inboard, close off the helm station, and stand watch and steer from a fully protected position.

Catana Ocean Class

The Catana Ocean Class is a bulky model which is geared more towards creature comforts than the higher performance of its predecessors. That said, it uses carbon in the structure and roof, foam cored furniture, the tanks are mounted low in the hulls and it has daggerboards and fine entry bows. The weight savings help it offer a massive 5.5 tonne cruising payload, plus there’s capacious stowage and large tank, refrigeration and laundry capacity.

Positioned between Lagoon and Outremer, the Catana echoes a bit of its sister brand Bali’s concept with its internal cockpit-cum-saloon layout while providing good ventilation via large sliding doors and opening windows. We liked how it’s easy to handle solo from one helm station, including the electric remote control of the boards, plus the layout of the galley and navstation.

Those chasing speed and helming pleasure should perhaps look to the C-Cat 48, as it’s as close to helming a fast monohull as a cruising cat is likely to get and one of the rare times we enjoyed sailing upwind in light breezes on a multihull! This is largely thanks to a lightweight, stiff build – the Comar yard has managed to save 1.7 tonnes over the first boat (9.5 tonnes light) and increased the draught of the curved daggerboards to 2.95m.

A carbon roof and rig comes as standard, as well as an epoxy hull, full carbon deck, bulkheads and compression beam. It is a little quirky with comparatively small volumes, but this François Perus design will outperform most other performance cats and monohulls of a similar length.

The Excess 14 shares that direct sensation you get from aft helms and some of the performance of the C-Cat, but in a more balanced, voluminous layout for cruising. The Excess 14 benefits from the research of VPLP’s Vannes racing office, where attention was focused on weight reduction, with savings particularly in furniture, on improved stiffness (PET foam cored sandwich for main structural bulkheads), and the efficiency of deeper fixed keels.

The result is telling on the water, as it should be for any best catamaran contender, where you can log easy miles: we clocked late 7s upwind, reached in the late 8s and regularly averaged 9 knots with gennaker in 12-15 knots. Clear glass windows give acceptable visibility from the helms through the coachroof and the comparatively minimalist interior. In short it offers a good mix of volume, reasonable performance and enjoyable sailing – see our full review last month.

Sailing performance was another key facet in the battle of the big cats from the big cat yards, Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot. Both models offer luxurious amounts of space for home from home comfort, as watersports bases for long term cruising.

The decision to push the mast to the front of the coachroof to allow for a larger genoa than its recent preference for self-tacking jibs has paid off on the Lagoon 51. It helped us sail efficiently into the waves (albeit not pointing too high) before clocking double figures reaching with the code sail in 15 knots.

The Lagoon’s large flybridge with dual access is a USP at this size that will be a hit or miss deal breaker for many. The 51 offers unrivalled accommodation volume in three, four or six cabins, and relaxation zones, and good circulation through these big spaces. Once again the jury applauds Lagoon for thoroughly testing the prototype model during a six month tour. Over 100 have already sold.

We saw in our December issue how the experienced owners of the Fountaine Pajot test boat choose to live and work full time aboard their Aura 51. It’s a design that promotes space, enough to take friends, family and crucially for them, all the toys to enjoy at anchor. Its capability of averaging 8-10 knots also appeals, although the single side helm and hydraulic steering result in scant connection to the sailing in light winds (the same applies to the Lagoon).

The fact the yard already offers this in a hybrid version and has an electric and hydrogen model in the pipeline could sway some, but the decision between the FP and the Lagoon will likely come down to preference between a central flybridge or offset bulkhead helm together with interior design and layout.

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.

9 Best Power Catamarans For Rough Seas and Coastal!

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.

Power catamarans are gaining popularity in the cruising world thanks to their enhanced stability and ease of operation. They’re ideal for coastal cruising but can also be used for ocean crossing thanks to their stability and speed.

Here are some of the best power catamarans on the market:

• Fountaine Pajot MY6
• Nautitech 47 Power
• Horizon PC74
• Lagoon Seventy 8
• ArrowCat 420
• Sunreef Supreme 68

In this article, I’ll review some of the best power catamarans out there. I’ll also go over the main features of different power cats and if they can handle rough weather. 

But before we dive in, let’s get a better understanding of what power cats are.

Table of Contents

What Is a Power Cat?

A power catamaran (power cat) is a motor-powered boat that, unlike traditional boats, has two hulls connected by a bridge deck. These vessels are more stable than monohulls because of their wide base.  

Power cats also don’t have a leaded keel to weigh them down, so they’re pretty lightweight and fast. The lack of a keel also means that power cats are more suitable for shallow waters.

They feature large engines designed to handle their bigger bodies and weights, and serve different purposes, like fishing, cruising, or crossing rough seas. In addition, each hull has a separate engine which makes them more maneuverable, especially at turns and tight spaces.

Power catamarans don’t have sails or masts and get all of their power from the combustion engine (or electric motor), unlike their sailing cousins. In addition, these vehicles are much easier to steer because of their increased stability.

Power catamarans have more interior and exterior space thanks to their multihull design, making them perfect for cruising and liveaboard . They also have ample space for storing everything you need on a cruise without worrying about weighing it down. Catamarans offer increased privacy as well because each hull houses one sleeping area, separated by the living area between them.

Are Power Cats Good in Rough Water?

Power catamarans are good in rough waters particularly because of their multi-hull design. Their wide base makes them stable, and their high speed allows for outrunning bad weather.

Power cats that feature a high bridge clearance, will handle rough waters effortlessly. With the added height, you won’t experience pounding and slamming even in heavy waves, allowing the crew to easily control the vessel in challenging situations.

These boats are also faster than their sailing counterparts, which means they can get you out of rough waters quickly.

In addition, since catamarans are large and tall, maneuvering is easier because you have a better view of the surroundings. Additionally, you can steer from the interior cockpit (on certain models), making it easier to control the vessel in bad weather.

Finally, although a power cat doesn’t have a keel to help it right itself in case of capsizing, it will still float easily because of its positive buoyancy.

Are Power Catamarans More Efficient?

Power catamarans are more fuel-efficient than monohulls because they don’t have leaded keels. While keels are designed to offer stability by weighing down the vessel, they increase the wetted surface and thereby add drag.

Due to the catamarans’ narrow bow entry, there’s lower resistance, leading to smoother acceleration and greater fuel economy in catamarans. In addition, power cats show fewer spikes in fuel consumption in a single power band, especially because of their smooth acceleration and fuel consumption.

The figures reported by cat owners or manufacturers show that power cats have the best power-consumption-to-speed ratios.

That being said, you can improve fuel efficiency by maintaining lower speeds; studies have shown that speed can be the most important factor in fuel efficiency, regardless of the number of engines or hull types. 

Now that you have a better understanding of power catamarans, let’s take a look at the ten best models on the market.

1. Leopard 53

This 53ft (16.19m) power cat is the fourth generation of the widely popular Leopard catamarans, and brings with it all the great features from her predecessor, the 51. 

Although the 51 was the company’s best-selling cat, they added these features to the 53 along with new ones to repeat its success. For example, they have built an enormous saloon, flybridge, and galley by removing the foredeck cockpit in the 51 PC, making it 30 percent larger than the previous model.

This model comes with three or four stateroom layouts, with the 3-stateroom version featuring an owner’s stateroom, two sinks, a loveseat, and lots of storage space.

With two Yanmar 370 hp engines, a maximum speed of 22 knots, and a cruising speed of 17.5, you can enjoy a magnificent ride, whether it’s long-distance cruising or a fun night out with friends.

2. Fountaine Pajot MY6

This luxury power cat is 44ft (13.40m) long, making it super spacious and suitable for families and big parties. With its spacious flybridge, sunbathing lounge, and enormous galley, it’s nothing short of a second home on the water. 

You can steer the cat from the saloon or the 21sqm (68 sq ft) flybridge which features a sunbathing lounge, a pool, and a galley.

This motor yacht continues to delight with its luxurious combination of privacy and pleasure, with views of the sea in almost every interior space. With three cabins, two bathrooms, six cabin beds, ample storage, and a kitchen that opens into the cockpit, you can enjoy practicality and luxury in one place.

The MY6 is exceptionally seaworthy and stable thanks to its wave-piercing hulls and Volvo IPS engines.

Like all power cats, it has straightforward steering, enabling you to control this beast even in the roughest circumstances.

3. Nautitech 47 Power

Powered by dual Volvo Penta D4 engines, this model can output 225-300hp, reaching a maximum of 22 knots and a cruising speed of 18-20 knots . This 46′ 8″ (14.23m) long power cat comes in three or four cabin versions, depending on the customer’s preference.

No matter which layout you choose, you’ll get a spacious, luxurious, and comfortable catamaran with panoramic views from the cabin. The sleek, streamlined exterior design ensures elegant sailing and seaworthiness.

It’s easy for passengers to navigate the deck thanks to its seamless design that connects the saloon to the cockpit and the rear deck. The stern features a big swimming platform that can also accommodate a tender. The cockpit is usable in different weather conditions thanks to the clear covers wrapping the whole area.

This efficient catamaran promises long cruising for big families and groups with two 300L water tanks and a pair of 645L fuel tanks.  

4. Horizon PC74

The Horizon PC 74 is another luxury power cat that can give you the comfort of your home on water. This 73′ 9” (22.48m) long power cat with a 2,000gal (7570L) fuel tank is an enormous vessel that can accommodate more than 14 people.

The enormous hardtop on the three-piece windshield, the teak dining table, the U-shaped bar, the sun pad, and the swing-out stools all guarantee that you’ll have the luxury cruising experience of a lifetime.

This vast and wide catamaran allows you to access the aft deck from the flybridge via a curving staircase. The vast aft deck has a ten-person dining table, a wet bar, and storage space. You can separate the interior and exterior spaces through sliding glass doors and make the space appear bigger by opening them.

Reaching a top speed of 23 knots and a cruising speed of 19 knots, this enormous catamaran was built for efficiency and practicality.

5. Lagoon Seventy 8

This 78’1″ (23.80m) power cat with two 494 HP engines and a 2246gal (8500L) fuel capacity is one of the largest power cats on the market, offering both comfort and reliability. The enormous flybridge can feature a jacuzzi, a sunbathing area, a large foldable dining table, and a hardtop with a moveable roof. However, you can customize the flybridge based on your preferences.

The designers have compromised nothing in terms of elegance and high-quality materials with top-of-the-line finishes and interior paneling to create the kind of luxury you want.

The saloon is huge, well-ventilated, and separated from the exterior by glass doors and panoramic windows.

But what sets Lagoon Seventy 8 apart from other power cats, in addition to its enormous size, is the wide choice of layouts. You can choose between five different versions, all offering the same amount of storage space, living and sleeping area, and privacy.

Additionally, some versions are fully customizable, allowing you to pick every detail to your liking.

6. ArrowCat 420

This 41′ (12.73m) long express cruiser is a semi-custom catamaran with two-stateroom and three-stateroom layouts. The ArrowCat 420 is designed and built with comfort and strength in mind, and capable of handling rough waters safely.

The two Suzuki 350 hp engines give this model a maximum speed of 40 knots and a cruising speed of 20 knots.

The streamlined design and the angled hulls ensure the vessel cuts through the waves effortlessly, making it easy to maneuver.

The fully-equipped head features an electric toilet, a shower, sink, and mirrors, coupled with a dining table, floor storage locker, and teak-finished floors. This cat is built to combine luxury and comfort for both onshore and offshore cruising.

7. Bali 4.3

This 43′ (13.1m) power cat is made for ocean crossing in mind. With five different layouts featuring different combinations of cabins and heads, the company ensures you’ll get the kind of setup you want. Regardless of the layout, this cat offers a spacious master suite with a large double bed and other private sleeping quarters.

You can quickly add to the overall space by removing the adjustable glass doors to merge the cockpit with the saloon.

A feature that sets the 4.1 apart from its predecessor is the fixed aft deck between the hulls, which provides a passageway and eliminates the need to go from one hull to the other without entering the cockpit.

8. Sunreef Supreme 68

According to its designers, this model was built with a radical concept in mind while staying true to the company’s promise of building the most comfortable and spacious power cats in the world.

One of the greatest features of the Supreme 68 is its aft garage that houses a 5m (16 ft) tender and two jet skis in addition to other water toys.

You can also transform the aft to a large platform for water sports by lowering the garage door.

The four-stateroom layout features ample storage, ensuite guest cabins, queen-sized beds, and TVs to create a memorable stay. The white and beige furniture with chrome details and floor-to-ceiling glazing create a soothing atmosphere that blends with the practicality of the well-equipped galley. 

However, if you’re looking for something different, you can opt for a customized model from three different layouts.

9. Hudson 48

The sleek, diamond-cut design of this 46.46’ (14.16m) long power cat is usually the first thing to catch your eye.

It’s a light displacement cat that ensures fast cruising with a top speed of 24 knots and cruising speed of 8 knots thanks to the two 370hp Yanmar V8 engines.

The three-cabin layout features a master stateroom with a spacious and well-ventilated design made possible via the three overhead windows and opening deck hatches.

The saloon’s enormous helm station allows for comfortable and safe accommodation, making it great for rough waters and bad weather conditions.

This model also offers a few entertainment options with its large TV systems and mood lighting. The storage areas and the full-sized walk-in wardrobe give this model a comfortable, homely setting.

Here are Some of My Favorite Catamaran Cruising Resources

Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it helpful as you hopefully start your sailing adventures. Here are some resources that I use as a sailor that I hope you’ll also find helpful. These are affiliate links, so if you do decide to use any of them, I’ll earn a commission. But in all honesty, these are the exact things that I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family. Sailboats: If you’re looking for the best boat to suit your needs, I would recommend a catamaran. If you’re interested, I can show you the differences between catamarans and other types of sailboats .

Books:  For getting started, I really like  Cruising catamarans made easy . It is actually a textbook from the American sailing association; it is used to get a cruising catamaran certification. There are some other great books, and I have compiled a list of books about cruising catamarans that you will find useful.

Communication:  Being out on adventures, whether it be sailing or climbing mountains, good communications are essential to being safe. I recommend two things Google fi (incredibly simple cellular data all over the world) and Garmin inreach mini (for text and voice in remote areas without cell coverage)

Sailing courses: Online sailing courses are great for beginners starting out their sailing career; it’s an efficient way of learning the basics of navigation, throttle controls, and maritime safety. I suggest starting with two free courses from NauticEd .

To see all my most up-to-date recommendations,  check out this resource  that I made for you!

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

2022 Boat of the Year: Best Performance Catamaran

• 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  »

OK, confession time. When the roster of nominees for the 2022 Boat of the Year awards was released, the contest’s team and judging panel couldn’t help themselves, and quietly put three check marks, little symbols of anticipation, alongside a trio of boats: the untamed cats that would vie for the title of best performer in their class. After all, both Balance and Seawind had entered the winner’s circle in previous BOTY competitions, and it was clear they’d have a serious contender for the throne in yet another player from cat-crazy South Africa, the Kinetic KC54. How’d it go? Let’s just say, nobody was disappointed. The conditions on Chesapeake Bay were ideal for putting the three nominees through their paces, and the trio of scalded cats all acquitted themselves superbly. 

For 2022, if anything, the trend for flybridge catamarans is on a major upswing. New cats for 2022 from both Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot continued down that design path, putting an emphasis on living accommodations, not performance. But not aboard the latest Seawind 1600 , a brand originally built in Australia that is now produced in Vietnam. And that suits judge Tim Murphy just fine. “This boat was very dialed in,” he said, “and one place Seawind has always been innovative is with their helms. This one was really great; it was -outboard and aft with great visibility, sort of half-protected where you could step in and out. There was also good access to the boom and mainsail, which you don’t always see on cats. The deck layout was excellent, particularly the forward trampolines. Some cats have lacings with large openings where you can twist an ankle, but these were nice and tight.”

“Compared to other Seawinds that I’ve seen, I was just blown away with it in terms of what it could do and how it performed,” said Ed Sherman.  “It’s a fairly conservative boat in terms of technology compared to some of the other boats in the same category, which depending on a potential buyer’s state of mind, could be either a good thing or a bad one. I loved the centralized winch aft which is where all the sail-handling takes place. It’s pretty brilliant for a short-handed crew, and it’s all in a very safe and easy-to-access location that a cruising couple can deal with without scaring the heck out of themselves.”

The Kinetic KC54 is a fresh entry in the cat universe, and we’ll let Tim Murphy get right to the point: “This is a fairly new company that was started within the past couple of years. My breath was absolutely taken away by this boat; it was spectacular. I think it was the best-built boat in the entire fleet. It’s an all-carbon boat, with a foam core, epoxy resin, all infused–fantastic. The whole boat felt integrated. You didn’t feel like there was a conflict between the forces in terms of accommodation versus performance.” With a price tag approaching $3 million, it perhaps should not be astonishing. That was a major factor in evaluating the boat, and while it did not win its class, the experts panel did present it with a Judges’ Special Recognition prize to honor the boat’s overall excellence.

“It was my personal favorite in this year’s contest,” said Sherman. The materials that were used are absolutely the highest quality available in our industry at this point, and it’s a very high-tech boat in terms of systems.” Gerry Douglas was also duly impressed: “This was the Tesla of sailboats. I think that that was their model. In terms of design and execution and technology, it hit all three of those marks. This boat is built without compromise, and what it cost was not an issue, they just wanted to do the best they could in every aspect of the boat. The construction was impeccable, the fit and finish was amazing. There are some very clever design things in the boat, but it all really worked seamlessly.”  

With that level of competition, the Balance 482 had a tall order to overcome to win its class. And it did. “The sailing performance was excellent,” said Douglas. “The boat felt really good. The steering was terrific. The structure of the boat throughout was exemplary. Storage is really good. Visibility was good. Ventilation was great. There was even a rain collection system on the cabin top, which is the only one of the boats we looked at had that. It was very well concealed because the gutters formed a handhold going forward. The solar panel installation was also well done. The panels were encapsulated into a fiberglass tray that elevated the deck so the panels wouldn’t overheat. Very clever.”

The driving force behind Balance cats is Phil Berman, a world champ at racing beach cats who brought that passion to developing and marketing fully found cruisers. Judge Murphy knows him well: “Phil comes from a very strong view of wanting to see boats that have solid sailing performance. He’s also a strong proponent of daggerboard boats, which tends to be quick shorthand for the dividing line between cats that are more about payload versus cats that are about performance, but not so much where you’re going to fly a hull or break a rudder. There’s a balance within a boat that really performs that you can still live aboard.” A winning balance, it turns out, with the Balance 482 securing its position as the Best Performance Cruiser for 2022.

• More: balance catamarans , Boat of the Year , Boat of the Year 2022 , catamaran , Kinetic Catamarans , print 2022 jan , Sailboats , seawind catamarans
• More Sailboats

Sailboat Preview: Elan GT6 Explorer

For Sale: 1984 Camper & Nicholsons 58

Alubat Updates OVNI Models

For Sale: Little Harbor 63 Ketch

North Sails Parent Company Buys Doyle, Quantum

Top Tools for Sailboat Cruising: Must-Have Gear for 2024

Sailing Avocet : A New Adventure Begins

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

• 2024 BOAT BUYERS GUIDE
• SWS ADVENTURES
• Email Newsletters
• Fishing Boat Reviews
• Fly Fishing
• Marine Electronics
• Fishing Tackle
• Fishing Destinations
• The Bahamas Fishing Guide
• Boating Safety
• Ultimate Boat Giveaway

2023 Boat Buyers Guide: Catamarans

• By Karl Anderson
• December 27, 2022

The popularity of the multihull (aka catamaran or cat) fishing boats has never been greater, as more and more boatbuilders enter this growing segment of the market. The inherent stability of the catamaran design rolls less with the seas, making fishing offshore less tiresome and more comfortable. Available from 20 to 48 feet, catamarans typically offer a large fishing platform with generous storage and fishing amenities. They are available in a wide variety of deck layouts, including center-consoles, dual-consoles, and even pilothouse and express variants.

Big Picture

The large deck area of a catamaran enables many large underdeck storage lockers and insulated fish boxes in the sponsons. This gives anglers ample room for gear and the day’s catch. The catamaran’s stability, fishability, and smooth ride in rough seas make it attractive to anglers as well as day-cruisers. A center-console version adds 360 degrees of angler access to the rail. With the dual-console design, generous seating behind a beam-to-beam windshield makes for a great family fishing-friendly setup.

Live bait is one of the most popular types of fishing in virtually every coastal zone. To do it successfully requires optimal water capacity and proper flow. The minimum size of the outflow water plumbing should be twice the size of the inflow. The plumbing should have a drain at the bottom to shed scales at the end of the day, as well as a drain at the top of the well to adjust capacity and allow overflow. Above-deck transom-mounted wells should fully flood to the lids when running to keep baits from getting beat up. 

Tip: A sump box with multiple pumps in case a pump fails is the best setup for first-rate livewells. Conveniently located inflow and outflow valves make it easy to optimize the flow without tiring your bait from swimming too much in the well. 

Rod Storage

Having enough rod holders is essential to be successful for opportunity fishing. Look for vertical rod storage along the console and across the back of the T-top. Many models also have rod holders along the outboard transom wall. Having plenty of gunwale rod holders for drift- and kite-fishing is helpful. 

Tip: Placing adjustable swivel rod holders by Gemlux makes deep-dropping, lure-fishing and drifting even easier because they allow your rods to face the direction the baits are fishing, yet they can be swiveled back to keep rods from sticking out of the boat while running and docking. 

Manufacturers often offer multiple choices for horsepower, but whatever the choice, the engines must come in pairs. For example, you might order twin outboards (one for each sponson) or four outboards (two for each sponson), but single- or triple-outboard configurations are not common on a cat. Optimal selection should be made based on user load, weight of the boat, ride comfort , performance desires, and best case for resale. It’s a rare day when you can run wide open, but having more horsepower gives better torque at slower speeds and thus better control. Running larger engines slower gives better fuel efficiency too.

Tip: When possible, choose the highest horsepower offered because it typically leads to a better resale value with a shorter sales cycle. 

Power steering from engine manufacturer Optimus or SeaStar is essential with the higher horsepower required for larger boats, and it makes installing and operating the upper station in a tower far more practical and comfortable.

With the power demands of electronics, livewell pumps, stereo amps and more, it is wise to have at least two house batteries, and for larger boats, a third or fourth with a multibank charger for dockside. Each engine should have its own dedicated battery as well. 

Electronics

Typically choosing the largest screen or multiple screens that will fit on the console is best-case scenario for ease of use, ergonomics, and visibility. VHF radios, stereo controller, and equipment switches for lighting, pumps, and accessories should all be integrated with greatest visibility and ease of operator reach. 

A Tale of Two Hulls 

A catamaran rides on pair of hulls, or sponsons, each thinner and sharper than  that of a similarly sized monohull boat. The narrow sponsons of the cat tend to slice easily through water to deliver a smooth ride, even in rough seas. At the same time, with the sponsons positioned out to the sides of the boat, cats tend to roll less, thus providing great stability to enhance crew comfort, security and safety. However, cats tend to corner more flatly than a monohull, and some hulls (but not all) tend to lean outward versus inward during a turn.

Experts Say

Newer designs such as Invincible’s Morelli and Melvin-designed semi-asymmetrical sponsons eliminate some of the negatives of the cat design, such as “sneezing,” where water sprays out the front of the boat when hitting a wave. They’ve also controlled the uncomfortable “outboard lean” ­sensation common in older designs when in a turn. Once transitioned to a ­catamaran, many become true believers and preach the benefits of the design.

Editor Says: Saltwater fishing cats not only offer superb stability and smooth ride, but some also display exceptional speed and range. I recall one trip out of Key West, Florida, aboard an Invincible 40 Cat with four 350 hp outboards to the Dry Tortugas. It was a 60-mile run, and we made it there in 70 minutes. We caught more fish than our arms could bear, and then dashed back to Key West, arriving in time for cocktail hour on the same day. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

• More: 2023 Boat Buyers Guide: More Resources , Boats

Scout 357 LXF

Electric Outboard Steering

Best Dredge Fishing Tips for Center Consoles

EdgeWater 208CC Watchman

Where to Find the Best Fishing in August and September

Salt Water Sportsman’s Deals of the Week

Outstanding Trout and Redfishing in the Chandeleur Islands

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

• Competitions
• British Yachting Awards
• Southampton Boat Show
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Single Issues
• Advertise with us

Your special offer

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting today!

Save 32% on the shop price when to subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting!

Save 32% on the shop price when you subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Boat Test: New Luxurious Multihull Lagoon 60

Multihull manufacturer lagoon is the world leader in building cruising multihulls. they’ve gone big with their new lagoon 60 as sam jefferson finds out..

Lagoon 60 : Double the pleasure

Lagoon catamarans is without doubt the biggest cruising multihull manufacturer in the world and their yachts are ubiquitous be it in the South Seas or the South Coast of England. The manufacturer states that there are around 7,000 Lagoons bobbing around on the oceans. The secret of their success could probably best pinned on their consistency of purpose; the Bordeaux based manufacturer has never really tried to produce anything other than comfortable cruising catamarans. Sure, they have always looked to improve performance and internal volumes but they have always kept the faith with the idea that they know what they want to produce and they believe that they are in tune with the buying public. The results speak for themselves; nobody is ever going to win races in a Lagoon but they will always have a comfortable platform for cruising adventures and the fact that you find Lagoons the world over suggests that the boats are tried and tested in quite extreme conditions. 

Having said that Lagoon has always displayed a consistency of purpose is true but its also fair to say that they have diversified slightly in recent years. The introduction of the spin off Excess range of slightly more sporty cruising cats spoke of a desire to diversify slightly. Meanwhile, the launch of the Lagoon Sixty 5 and Seventy 7, big cats aimed squarely at a slightly more bling audience than smaller models, also pointed to a desire to move into a new market, one remove from their previous flagship, the Lagoon 55. The 60, which replaces their bestselling 620, is a clear attempt to bridge the gap between the 55 and the Sixty 5 and there is plenty of evidence that they have looked to take the best aspects of both these boats and fuse them in the new 60. This is a yacht that shares plenty of styling and design characteristics with the 55 and its smaller sister the 51 yet, once aboard, I definitely felt that it shared a lot with the luxurious Sixty 5 when it came to the interior space. 

So who is the boat designed for? Well, while the 55 is mainly aimed at cruising couples, Lagoon accepts that the 60 will likely need a full time crew. Sure, the set up is simple enough to sail as an energetic couple but this is a genuinely big boat and that means an awful lot of cleaning if nothing else. The boat is designed by VPLP with Nauta doing the interior. This is a classic team for Lagoon and they rarely make too many mis steps. The design is far from radical and features hulls designed for volume and also taking into consideration that this is a yacht that is likely to be loaded to the gills. Lagoon is realistic enough to know that they are not going for blinding performance with this boat so daggerboards are out of the question and the tulip shaped midship sections ensure that there is big outward flare well above the waterline to boost volume. The boat relies on stub keels which give a draught of 1.6m to give a bit of grip going to windward but she is not going to compete with the Catanas or Outremers of this world – nor is she intended to. Given that this is a yacht that weighs in at 32,000kg it is perhaps no surprise that the sail area is big, with an air draft of 100’ meaning that, even with the flybridge reducing the size of the main somewhat, this is a big rig. As with the 55, the rig is stepped further forward than on earlier models and is fitted with overlapping headsails. Naval architect VPLP says these offer more flexibility and efficiency on a boat of this type than the near ubiquitous non-overlapping jibs of today’s yachts.

Approaching the boat from the water (she was anchored off the port of Fornells in Minorca when I tested her) I was struck by the strong family resemblance with the 55. Stepping aboard though and I felt like I’d moved into an altogether different size bracket. Make no mistake, this is a big boat. Approaching from astern you have wide bathing platforms on the sponsons and two steps up take you to the cockpit. A notable feature is the dinghy/bathing platform which is a massive wood slatted platform that drops down to water level when at anchor and can be submerged to allow the dinghy to float free. At deck level there are two side flaps on both quarters that drop down to give you even more space. This feeling of space is genuinely astonishing by the way – as you can probably imaging given the boat has a beam of 32’. 

One notable feature is that the entire boat from stern to bow features no steps up or down. This was more of a challenge for the designers than you imagine and was a conscious decision based on the idea that they wanted the boat to feel as open as possible. It means you have an unobstructed walkway from the back of the aft cockpit, through the saloon to the forward cockpit. The aft cockpit area is big with an L-shaped sofa and twin tables to port. The drop leaf tables fold out to make one very large single table ideal for dining al fresco. To starboard is another sofa with a fridge at the forward end. There is storage both under the seats and under the deck plus access to the engines. There is also direct access to the owners stateroom from the starboard side of the cockpit via a fancy doorway/hatch made from toughened glass.  

Two steps up takes you onto the side decks which are wide and feature a good handhold on the coach roof. Up at the bow there is a forward cockpit area with loungers and sofas. This is also a pleasant space and there is a door that leads you straight back into the saloon, so access is excellent. The Solid foredeck does not extend right to the bow, which is reserved for two crew cabins to port and starboard of the trampoline. These feature a reasonable amount of space for crew and the port side has an ensuite with shower. 

Heading back into the cockpit and then up to the next level via well proportioned stairs is the flybridge, which is well shaded by a solid bimini. This area is huge, with a work surface, sink and fridge aft and to starboard and l shaped seating area with table to port. The stairs up to this deck are to starboard and the helm is also offset to starboard. Forward of the helm station is a large seating/lounging area with a coffee table in the middle. The solid Bimini has a detachable ladder up to it which gives access to the main and has solar panels on it. There are four giant harken winches with 14 jammers – seven each side – which handle all the running rigging. In addition the buttons for the furling code 0, staysail and Genoa are to port And starboard The helm station is comfortable with a broad seat. 

The saloon is huge and loosely divided into three areas with the galley aft and to port and a small nav station aft to starboard. In fact this galley area is a sink, wine cooler and fridge plus storage space because the actual galley is just aft of this, completely separate, with it’s own entrance in the cockpit. Down here you have a good space for cooking with a huge full height fridge four ring hob and oven plus ample workspace and a small crew dining area. There is an option to expand the galley in the main living area, dispense with the large ‘crew’ galley to starboard and turn this into an extra cabin. This marginally reduces the feeling of space in the saloon but might work better if you had plans to charter the boat out a lot. Staying in the saloon and forward on the port side is a huge seating area with a coffee table in the middle and then a dining area to starboard. It’s all very open with sliding patio doors into the cockpit and a large door leading to the forward cockpit.

Descend to starboard and you are in the owner’s suite. This is huge and very light and spacious. The double bed is athwartships and there is more than enough space to walk either side of the bed and also a desk area forward of this. After is the bathroom which has a totally separate heads and steps aft which, as already mentioned, lead directly onto the aft section of the cockpit. The smoked glass ensures privacy while also letting in masses of natural light. It’s an extraordinary place to take a shower. Staying in the starboard hull and forward of the stateroom –  and completely separate – is a large guest double with ensuite. There’s plentiful room and a good feeling of space.  

Stepping into the port hull and moving forward of the galley which we have already discusse, there is a twin bedroom with fore and aft berths plus  ensuite. Ahead of this there is a double cabin with the bed set athwartships forward of this with the ensuite at the bow. The boat therefore sleeps eight comfortably plus the crew up forward. The overall ambience is very pleasant and the quality of the fit out was impressive. Trite as it may be to say, this is far more spacious and comfortable than many mid sized apartments. 

One thing you can’t do with a mid sized apartment is take it sailing. Something you definitely can do with the Lagoon 60. Conditions in Minorca were somewhat tricky for a boat weighing in at 32 tonnes. The wind was between 5 and 10kn, although the water was relatively flat. Under sail the 60 proved a powerful performer in very light winds and with the Code 0 unfurled we were largely able to match the wind speed up to 7kn. Sail handling was simple but the hydraulic steering was a touch on the notchy side and lacking in feel. I’d just come from a week sailing a tiller steered Jeanneau Selection 37 so this was a hard contrast. Although it’s fair to say that the contrast in comfort aboard was similarly striking. Things have improved a lot in a short time when it comes to hydraulic steering but even so, it lacks a bit of feel and on any long passage you’ll be sticking it on autopilot and simply enjoying the ride. The boat is medium displacement and is designed to sail heavily loaded down so that powerful sail plan is a must and it works well. She’s not massively close winded but she does truck along thanks to that big sail plan. Under power she was very responsive and the addition of bow thrusters meant it was supremely easy to manoeuvre. The Raymarine dock assist system further helped ensure that mooring was truly effortless with six cameras allowing you to see clearly all sides of the boat and their distance relative to the quay. 

Sam’s verdict on the Lagoon 60

At the mid point of the test, we anchored up for a couple of hours and enjoyed lunch and a swim. For all the Lagoon 60’s fine sailing I felt it was this that truly showcased the potential of this yacht; its supremely comfortable and large enough to be both a sociable space but also allow you the space to unwind in a quiet corner. As with all Lagoons, you’re not going to win a Transatlantic race, but you’ll get there without any fuss and once you arrive, you’ll have the most comfortable yacht in the anchorage. 

Comfort: 5/5

Performance: 4/5

Lagoon 60 Specifications

Hull length: 18.27m (59’11”)

Length overall: 19.77m (64’10”)

Beam overall: 9.87m (32’5”)

Naval architect: VPLP Design

Exterior design: Patrick le Quément

Interior design: Nauta Design

Water draft: 1.65 m (5’55”)

Air draft: 30m (98’5”)

Light displacement: 34.6 T (76,293 Lbs)

Sails area upwind: 222 m² (2,389 sq ft)

Genoa: 87 m² (936 sq ft)

Contact: catamarans-lagoon.com

Alternative boats

Fountaine Pajot Samana 59

This Berret Racoupeau design is narrower and lighter than the Lagoon 60 but is clearly designed with comfort in mind – boating the biggest flybridge in her class according to the manufacturers.

catamarans-fountaine-pajot.com

A catamaran that places luxury squarely above performance. This is a big, spacious and very comfortable cat that can easily be optimised for skippered charter. Intriguingly, the 60 is available with electric motors as standard, which is a real revolutionary touch.

sunreef-catamrans.com

Privilege Signature 580

Privilege edges closer to the performance market, offering an interesting compromise between luxury and speed. This Marc Lombard design is lighter and marginally narrower than the 60. 

privilege-marine.com

Show Me More:

• The WORLDSTAR 2026 Race: Circumnavigate in your Own Boat
• Ben Ainslie’s Team Update: America’s Cup Countdown
• South Atlantic Cruising: Sailing Cape Town to Brazil

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

America’s Cup Boats: What it’s like helming an AC75

Women in Sailing: Southampton Boat Show Women in Marine Day

Finding Uninvited Guests Onboard: Sailing with Animals

Offering a wealth of practical advice and a dynamic mix of in-depth boat, gear and equipment news, Sailing Today is written cover to cover by sailors, for sailors. Since its launch in 1997, the magazine has sealed its reputation for essential sailing information and advice.

• Telegraph.co.uk

ADVERTISING

© 2024 Chelsea Magazine Company , part of the Telegraph Media Group . | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

fast outboard catamaran

The Musings of a Hopeless Wanderer

Engaging in the eternal search for the meaning of life...or a good time.

• Netherlands

Monday, September 3, 2018

Tackling moscow by train and boat.

Our first full day in Moscow started fairly late since we were still catching up on sleep.  Around 1, we finally were able to get our act together and get out the door. 

We stopped by a cafe to get some breakfast and headed over to the Red Square.  Since the festival is going on, we had to go through metal detectors.  Once we cleared security, we reached the State Historical Museum which provided an entrance to the Red Square.

We walked the length of the Red Square, passing by the Kazan cathedral.

Under normal conditions, the Red Square is a large walking area with the State Historical Museum on one end and St. Basil's on the other end.  On the sides is the Kremlin wall on one side and then the GUM shopping mall and the Kazan cathedral on the other side.  Presently, the walking area has been considerably narrowed and the fesitval grounds occupying a large space between the Kremlin and the mall.

We even asked a stranger to take our picture!

After walking around the Red Square, we had to leave to meet up with our Metro Tour.  

Moscow has famously pretty metro stations so metro tours are quite popular.  We booked a relatively inexpensive tour through a tour group which met outside of the Red Square.

On our way, we passed by the Kremlin gardens and the tomb to the unknown soldier and the eternal flame.

We soon met up with our group which, fortunately, was only 5 people.  Our guide told us that we were going to visit 8 stations during the 1.5 hour tour.  

Honestly, a lot of the stations blended in to me so I won't be able to give you a detailed description of all of them.  However, I did learn that there are 222 metro stations and the trains come every 2-3 minutes reliably.  For that reason, Moscow > DC. 

One of the first metro stations we visited had bronze statues all over of various depictions.  Many of the statues had superstitions tied to them.  For example, for a statue of the dog, it's held that if you rub the nose of the dog, you'll have good luck.  Consequently, most of the statue is tarnished - except for the nose.  I joked to Tomas that they probably rotate the "good luck" portion of the statue to ensure the entire statue gets polished.

However, I do remember some of the stations.

Novoslobodskaya is a station adorned with stained glass on the walls.

There was also Belarusskaya, which paid tribute to Belarus.

Another station which name I cannot remember but had pretty mosaics in the ceilings.

My favorite station was Komsomolskaya.  It's the busiest station and a hub for other connecting trains.  It was built during Statlin times and he wanted the station to embody beauty to set a good first impression to Russia.

I'd seen pictures of it beforehand since it's the most famous but it's so much more impressive in person.

Look at these ceilings!

Overall it was a very interesting tour.  Not sure of any other city which could offer a metro tour.  DC certainly can't...

After the tour, we headed back of the hotel to rest for a bit.  We had purchased tickets to a tour hour boat down the Moscow river.  The tickets were good for any time on any day and the boats left every 20min.  We decided to knock the tour out that day and headed over to the pier.  

We arrived at the pier and saw a boat by the company we had purchased from boarding.  We approached and they shook their head and said it wasn't the right boat. 

So we waited for another boat.

Another boat came along by the same company we had purchased from so weapproached them.  Again - we were told it wasn't the right boat and the boat we were looking for was coming.  

A third boat came along which was NOT by the company we had purchased from.  By this point, it had been longer than 20min waiting and I was starting to suspect that the correct boat was actually one of the ones which turned us away.   We approached the 3rd boat to ask if they knew which boat we should be on.  However, when we approached,  they waved us aboard without scanning our tickets.

So, we boarded the 3rd boat....which was definitely not ours.

We settled into an upper deck, open air table to take in the views.

We passed by pretty buildings.

The somewhat impressive cathedral of Christ the Savior.

This random statue.

After about hour on the cruise, Tomas remarked that it had been about an hour so we should be turning around soon.  I reminded him that we actually had no idea how long this cruise was or where we would be dropped off.  Since we were on the wrong boat.

Fortunately, it did turn around and took us back to the pier.  

For dinner, we decided to go to this burger place, Black Star Burger, which our guide told us about.  Tomas really liked his - I thought mine was OK.  It was a decent size patty with a mountain of Cole slaw on top.  We've realized that apparently Russians dislike getting their hands dirty while eating so some restaurants will give out gloves to use.  This particular restaurant gave out black gloves.

Tomas modeling our dinner.

Since little mum has been asking about pictures which show my feet, I assume she wanted to see my new shoes.  I recently bought Allbirds which are suppose to be super comfortable walking shoes which you wear without socks and can be washed.  I didn't wear them too extensively beforehand, so that was probably my first error.  I also didn't bring another pair of good walking shoes,  which was likely my second error.  The Allbirds were great the first two days without socks.  Midway through the third day, my right foot was quite unhappy. Left foot was a trooper. So, now I have a bandaid on the heel of my right foot and wear socks.  

No comments:

Post a comment.