liveaboard catamaran plans

• Plans & Kits
• Plans by type

ECO 55 Power Cat Plans

• Create New Wish List

Description

Additional information.

The ECO 55 power catamaran is an affordable DIY power catamaran. As the owner proved the boat is a capable coastal cruiser. The inside layout is the same as for the ECO55 sail version but the underwater shape is changed. The cockpit is wider and has a size of 1,45m x 2 m. With the bigger size normal deck chairs can be used. With a cockpit cover two more can sleep on the boat.

Accommodation is simple but practical.

Because of the easily driven hulls the boat will travel at about 12 knots with the a 15 HP outboard engine. But practice showed that a single outboard of 20 HP is more feasible - less noise and lower operating costs.

The boat has a double bunk, but the cockpit is big enough to sleep 2 more persons. The construction and list of materials is similar to the ECO55 sail version . The difference is that you need no rig, rudders or dagger board. With the low weight of about 325 kg including engines the boat can be towed behind a relative small car.

Construction is as always the plywood/glass/Epoxy construction system. The hulls are V-shaped with vertical sides - easy to build by a beginner. For cost estimation see the list of materials below.

• All drawings are CAD drawings
• Wood/epoxy composite for easy construction and low maintenance.
• Sleeps up to four

DELIVERY: 16 Drawings: JPG or DXF files. + Manual: 12 pages description (PDF)

Related Products

ECO 75 Power Cat Plans

ECO 55 Sail Plans

New ECO 55 Sail Plans

Skoota 18 Power Cat Plans PDF

James Wharram Designs

Search our site.

Dream, Build, Sail

Build your own catamaran renowned for its seaworthiness, stability and safe simplicity. All Wharram plans are drawn for the first-time builder.

A Global Family Of Sailors

The Wharram World circles the globe. Wharram catamarans have been built and are sailing in all the World's oceans.

Trusted, Proven Designs

We believe the ancient Polynesians knew a thing or two about building boats to last. Wharram catamarans are proven survivors.

Mana 24: Boat In A Box

Assemble her yourself from pre-CNC-cut plywood parts. Keep it at home, trail it and sail it anywhere.

Seaworthy. Simple. Affordable.

Building your own boat with Wharram Designs is the easiest and most cost effective way to fulfil your sailing dreams. Wharram Self-build boat plans start from only £120.

Wharram designs are based on years of practical, hands-on experience of building and ocean sailing catamarans. They are renowned for their seaworthiness, stability and safe simplicity. Designs from 14’ - 63’ are available for self-building in ply/epoxy with very detailed, easy to follow Plans often described as 'a course in boatbuilding'.

Study our Self Build Boats to familiarise yourself with our range of designs and their unique qualities. Download and read the Wharram Design Book which reviews each design in detail and offers a detailed introduction to the world of self-build catamarans. Order and download Study Plans and immerse yourself into the boat builder's mindset; evaluate the costs; the amount of time required to build your boat; where you will build it and where you will eventually launch it.

Once you have decided on the boat that is right for you, order your Boat Building Plans . All Wharram building plans are drawn for the first time builder, so anyone with a modicum of practical ability can build one of our designs. Our Building Plans present quality instruction, guidance and advice for both novice and professional alike. They are all based on decades of actual building experience and thousands of ocean miles sailed.

Go on adventures and live the life of your dreams. Spend your weekends coastal trekking and camping, or live aboard and spend your days sailing around the world. Become a member of the global family of Wharram builders and sailors. Wharram catamarans have been built and are sailing in all the World's oceans and can be found in far away ports and anchorages.

The quality of the Wharram self-build catamarans is reflected in their popularity, excellence of craftmanship and sound sailing qualities. More than 50 years on - with over 10,000 sets of plans sold and thousands turned into proud vessels - Wharram 'Cats' can be seen in harbours across the world, maintaining the highest reputation for surviving wind and wave.

Find Out More

Self-Build Boats

Index of Wharram self-build catamarans. Familiarise yourself with our range of designs and their unique qualities.

Choosing A Boat

To help you select a design, read our practical advice about basic requirements, building times, building methods, and costs.

How We Design

Several articles giving an in-depth look at our core design principles and how they are reflected as seaworthy, stable vessels sailing the oceans.

James Wharram: Lifetime Achievement Award

A special award was presented to James Wharram for a 'Lifetime Achievement' as Pioneer catamaran builder - sailor and multihull designer.

About James Wharram

In the mid 50's, based on his research into ancient Polynesian boat design, James Wharram built the first off-shore Catamaran in Britain and sailed it out into the Atlantic. While the world's yachting community still did not accept such a design as a worthy sea-going vessel, James was landing his 23'6" 'Double Canoe' called TANGAROA in Trinidad in the West Indies.

There he built a second 40' Polynesian style Catamaran, RONGO, and in 1959 sailed it up to New York and back to the UK accompanied by two German women - being the first to sail a catamaran West-to-East across the North Atlantic. These amazing Trans-Atlantic crossings and the follow up book ' Two Girls, Two Catamarans ' have etched the name 'James Wharram' into the annals of yachting history.

Since then, James Wharram has been designing, building and sailing offshore catamarans longer than any other multihull designer. James was a 'hands-on' designer having, over his lifetime, built personally many of the prototype designs. These prototypes were built in the open, in barns, workshops and all the range of building sites available to self-builders, in a variety of climate types from northern European to the Tropics. James was often referred to as a 'Living Legend' or as written in 'Yachting Monthly' in January 2006: "James Wharram is considered by many to be the father of modern multihull cruising."

James’ last achievement was his autobiography published in 2020 as ' People of the Sea ', which he wrote in conjunction with his design/life partner Hanneke Boon. James died in December 2021 at the age of 93. The design business is carried on by his co-designer Hanneke Boon .

Tiki Odyssey

From Kos to Kefalonia. Father and son, in a self-build Wharram Tiki, survive a winter passage across Greece. The call came on Thursday. "Hey, Dad. There's a weather window, all next week. It could take us all the way to Monemvasia, maybe even round the Peleponese." Our plan was to sail our self-built Wharram Tiki 26 from its birthplace in Kos to its new home in Kefalonia, a winter passage of over 400nm east to west across Greece. A compelling read.

• Read more about Tiki Odyssey

Hui Wharram Cornwall Gathering 2024

We are having another Annual Hui! 3rd - 5th August 2024. This Hui will mark 70 years since James designed his first Catamaran 'Tangaroa' and we are excited that we will be mooring at Devoran Quay just a 5 minute walk from the Wharram Headquarters based in Cornwall. It would be lovely to celebrate his achievement with all of you.

• Read more about Hui Wharram Cornwall Gathering 2024

Pacific Islander History Month

This month of May in America is 'Pacific Islander History Month' and we at James Wharram Designs would like to join in and celebrate alongside them! As you may know, double canoes/catamarans are of ancient Polynesian origin. The modern day catamaran is a direct descendent of these original ocean-going vessels.

• Read more about Pacific Islander History Month

James Wharram's Last Ride

On 23 July, a motley fleet of self-built catamarans gathered off Cornwall to give James and Ruth Wharram their final escort. It was a fitting farewell to a legend. The ashes of James and Ruth Wharram were consigned to the sea to be carried by the ebb current out to the open ocean.

• Read more about James Wharram's Last Ride

Hanneke's Atlantic Adventures (Part 3)

My new home for the next two weeks was Ontong Java. She had crossed the Atlantic a week after us and was moored off the beach in Port Louis, on the North West coast of Grand Terre.

• Read more about Hanneke's Atlantic Adventures (Part 3)

James' Eulogy

Hi everyone. I'm Matt. And apart from being truly honoured to be here to help send James on his way to his next adventure, I am here above all as a representative, really, for the many many people worldwide who's lives have been changed, for the better, as a result of James' life work.

• Read more about James' Eulogy

A Living Legend Lives No More

We are very sad to announce that on the 14th December James Wharram left this earthly world, joining Ruth, Jutta and his many close friends that departed before him. At 93 years old his spirit has set out on the voyage to sail the oceans of heaven.

• Read more about A Living Legend Lives No More

People Of The Sea - Compact Edition

The new second edition of the autobiography of James Wharram and Hanneke Boon is now available! This more compact edition at the lower cost of £16 contains all the text and illustrations of the special first edition. An easier size to fit the bookshelf on your boat. A must for all Wharram enthusiasts and other sailors.

• Read more about People Of The Sea - Compact Edition

My Cruiser Life Magazine

9 Best Liveaboard Catamaran: Sail Away and Explore the World in Style!

Liveaboard catamaran sailboats are some of the most comfortable vessels on the water for long-term living and traveling. The choices when shopping for a cruising catamaran can be daunting, however.

So, without further ado, here are some of the best liveaboard catamaran sailboats that are 40-plus-foot and comfortable for long-term offshore cruising.

Table of Contents

9 best catamaran for liveaboard, 1. antares 44, 2. knysna 440/500, 3. leopard 42/43/45/47 (circa 1998–2004), 4. lagoon 42/46 (circa 2018), 5. manta 38/40/42, 6. alliaura marine privilege 42/435/45/445/465, 7. catana 401/42/431/471, 8. fountaine pajot orana 44/helia 44, 9. voyage/norseman 380/400/440/470, why a liveaboard catamaran, questions to ask before choosing a liveaboard catamaran, performance cats vs. cruising cats, size — what’s too small and what’s too big, build quality and longevity, owners vs. charter layouts, galley up vs. galley down, open transom/traveler up vs. closed cockpit, best features of a liveaboard catamaran, 1. downsize and organize, 2. learn to conserve, 3. maintenance skills, 4. safety first, 5. stay connected, 6. embrace the lifestyle, 7. financial planning, 8. health and well-being, 9. environmental responsibility, 10. education and learning, which is the best catamaran for liveaboard cruising, best catamaran for liveaboard faqs.

Picking the right liveaboard catamaran for your crew is a big choice. This list has been handpicked based on personal experience of years living on the water. 

Note that some of these are grouped based on the boat model. Many times, a boat goes out of production, and the hull molds get bought by another yard. They change the name and sell it under their brand. As a result, you will find a lot of boats listed with multiple names.

Are you looking for a smaller, cheaper option? Check out our list of cheap catamarans , including many older and smaller models that can be gotten for a bargain. 

Best Liveaboard Catamaran Options

Originally built by Canadian builder PDQ, it’s now produced by an Argentine company. The Antares 44 is one of the few purpose-built yachts for owners and cruisers.

They include training with new boat sails and have excellent after-sales support. The boats are gorgeous and some of the most seaworthy and well-appointed catamarans on the market, with high bridge deck clearance and everything to make life aboard as comfortable as possible.

Knysna is a boutique, semi-custom yacht maker from South Africa. Their boats are extremely well built to a very high standard. The designs came from the St. Francis boats (also really nice options!) but have been updated and redesigned. Knysnas are some of the prettiest cruising cats you’ll ever see. 

These early Leopard models had a lot going for them. The 43 is probably the most popular, but the 42 is in the same boat but a few years older.

The Leopard 43 was made popular recently by the Gone With the Wynns YouTube sailing channel. What’s to like? They’ve got shaft drives (not sail drives, so less maintenance), good looks, spacious cabins, and lots of living spaces. 

This newer line of Lagoons has a self-tacking jib and sleek, modern design. What we like most is the layouts, which have wide open spaces between the salon, cockpit, and helm station.

Manta was a US builder with a great reputation for building quality boats. They only built one model, which started as the 38 and progressively got more and more added to the transoms (sugar scoops). 

These older French boats were built to a much higher quality standard than current charter boats. They’re well-designed, even if the layouts are a bit dated by modern standards. There are many offshore cruisers that have been comfortably live aboard Privilege owners for years.

Catana is a performance-oriented French company. Their boats have distinctive daggerboards, narrow hulls, and asymmetric hulls. Catana now also makes the new Bali line of charter liveaboard catamarans. One of the company’s trademarks are the dual helm stations mounted aft on each hull, a really fun place to sail from.

Many FPs could be on the list, but the 44s are my favorite. They have just the right balance of good looks, useable space, and a workable layout, and it is just the right size. For tours and videos of the Helia, check out the Out Chasing Stars YouTube channel.

A South African yard from the early 2000s, the Voyage boats have a nice feature set and are built well. Unique for the era, these boats have open cockpits and easy walk-around side decks. Compared to many of today’s cats, these have low windage and low-slug decks for a sleek, seaworthy look.

Whether you want to set off and sail the world or just live comfortably while tied to a dock, catamarans are a great way to do it.

Catamarans first became popular with charter companies because they had more space to sleep more people . But something else became apparent quickly—non-sailors liked them. While they have all the parts and equipment to sail, they also have more space for guests to spread out. Everyone can have a private cabin, and there’s tons of space on deck to lounge where ever you like.

What’s more, the space on a catamaran feels different. The salon, the main living area in the cabin, is up high on the bridge deck. It has large windows that let in lots of air and light. A sliding patio door opens directly into a large cockpit , usually with bench seating for up to ten people and a dedicated large table for meals. All of this is separate from sailing controls and the helm, which is nearby but not in the way.

The dream of sailing and living on a sailboat appeals to many people until those people see the inside of a typical monohull sailboat. 

You see, the classic sailboat is cramped and dark. Many sailors describe the cabin of their sailboat as a “cave.” Windows are limited. Every inch of space in a sailboat has a purpose, so the space is usually packed with furniture, storage lockers, and need-to-have items. The outdoor space, called the cockpit, is crammed around the sailing controls and the helm or wheel. Getting between the cabin and cockpit requires climbing a steep ladder. The deck space is taken up with lines and sails, with no room designed to stretch out and enjoy yourself. And then you step on a catamaran.

The difference between a regular monohull sailboat and a catamaran is night and day. If you look at pictures of the two, the monohull is undoubtedly a boat. But the promo shots of a catamaran could be a seaside cottage or tiny house. It’s more comfortable and more approachable for the non-boater despite the spacious interior. And for boaters, it represents a huge step up in space and comfort . 

Here are some critical questions to ask yourself before making this investment:

• Purpose and Use : What is your primary purpose for the catamaran? Are you planning long-term cruising, weekend getaways, or perhaps a mix of living aboard and chartering? Understanding your primary use will help guide your choice in terms of size, layout, and features.
• Budget : What is your total budget, including purchase price, outfitting, and ongoing maintenance costs? Remember, the purchase price is just the beginning; insurance, docking fees, maintenance, and potential upgrades can add significantly to the overall cost.
• Size and Layout : What size of catamaran suits your needs? Consider the length and beam in terms of living space, comfort, and handling. Additionally, how many cabins and heads (bathrooms) do you need? The layout should accommodate your living and privacy needs, especially if planning to have guests or family aboard.
• Sailing Performance vs. Comfort : What is your preference regarding sailing performance versus living comfort? Some catamarans are designed for speed and agility, while others prioritize spacious living areas and amenities. Your sailing plans (long passages vs. coastal cruising) will influence this decision.
• Single-handed Sailing Capability : Will you often be sailing solo or with a crew? It’s crucial to consider how easily you can manage the catamaran by yourself or what kind of crew you will need for longer passages.
• Equipment and Amenities : What equipment and amenities are essential for your lifestyle? Consider navigation equipment, safety gear, kitchen appliances, energy systems (solar panels, generators), water makers, and storage capacity.
• New vs. Used : Are you considering buying a new or used catamaran? New boats offer the latest designs and technologies, along with warranties, but at a higher cost. Used boats can offer significant savings but may require more upfront maintenance or upgrades.
• Inspection and Survey : Are you prepared to have the catamaran thoroughly inspected by a professional marine surveyor? This is crucial for identifying any issues or potential maintenance concerns, especially with used boats.
• Docking and Mooring : Have you considered where you will dock or moor your catamaran? Availability, costs, and accessibility of marinas or mooring spaces can vary significantly by location.
• Lifestyle Fit : Does living aboard a catamaran align with your lifestyle and comfort level? Consider the implications of living in a smaller, mobile space, including storage limitations, privacy, and the need for a certain level of physical mobility and adaptability.
• Insurance and Registration : Have you researched the insurance and registration requirements for your catamaran? These can vary by location and the type of sailing you plan to do.
• Exit Strategy : Finally, what is your exit strategy? Consider how long you plan to keep the catamaran and how easy it will be to sell when the time comes.

Reflecting on these questions can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your sailing aspirations, lifestyle preferences, and financial situation.

Picking the Best Catamaran for Liveaboard Life

There’s a lot to look at when thinking about catamaran liveaboards.

Here are a few things to consider as you browse Yachtworld, Sailboat Listings, and Catamaransite.

Cats are unfairly divided into two groups, but it’s often oversimplified. All catamarans are built for cruising once they’re above a certain size (about 35 feet). At the same time, all catamarans are built for some amount of performance. The trick is figuring out which manufacturers balance these two things the same way you do.

Cruising catamarans are generally charter cats from companies like Lagoon, Leopard, Fountaine Pajot, and Bali. These boats lean on the side of having bigger hulls, stub keels, and easier-to-sail rigs . They still sail well, though. Unless you’re a racing sailor, know that most owners are very happy with how these catamarans sail. 

There are also a few companies making cruising cats that are aimed at private owners. Antares and Knyesna are two examples of spacious cruising catamarans perfect for living aboard. These are built semi-custom and are more likely to have space dedicated for storage, workspace, and offices.

Performance catamarans usually have smaller accommodations and sleeker profiles . They are also likelier to have daggerboards than stub keels, narrow hulls, and more sail area. Brand examples include Catana, Outremer, Maine Cat, and Gunboat. They’re built as lightly as possible out of the best materials and aim for the highest speeds and the most miles sailed per day. Boats in this category are much more expensive due to their higher construction costs and more advanced features.

More and more companies are spouting up with their own balance of performance vs. cruising space. No company picks one or the other; they all make compromises somewhere.

Picking the right size for your catamaran is important. If you’ve been boating on a few types of vessels, you might have some ideas. But if you’re shopping online, it is almost impossible to tell. 

As a rule of thumb, the smallest liveaboard catamarans are usually between 35 and 40 feet long. This isn’t just about accommodations, it’s about weight-carry capacity. It’s very easy to overload a catamaran, affecting both its performance and stability. If you’re a couple and want to go long-distance cruising, a 38-foot-class cat is best. This has space for you, your stuff, and an occasional guest or two.

If your budget allows, a 42 to 44-foot class boat is superior in a few ways. If you often have guests or more kids coming with you, this size boat is about right. They also carry more load, perform better (more miles per day), and ride better in a choppy sea.

Of course, there are couples cruising out there who couldn’t possibly do it on anything less than 65 or 70 feet! The size of your boat is a personal choice based not only on your budget but what you are comfortable with.

You really won’t know where you fit until you get on some boats. Visit a major boat show to get aboard some boats. Even if they don’t have the exact models you like the most, you can probably get an idea of what sizes work. If you’re close to buying, you can also enlist the services of a buyers broker to show you around some boats and help you pick the right size for your trip.

However, It must be said that bigger boats come with bigger price tags—for as long as you own it. Just looking at asking prices, you’ll quickly see that they leap at intervals as the boats become more complex. A nice, sail-away-ready 38-footer can be found for $250,000, but a 45-footer in similar condition will likely be over $400,000.

But everything is more expensive on a bigger boat, not just the purchase price. Dock space, boatyard fees, and most labor tasks (waxing, bottom paint, rerigging, etc.) are priced based on the boat length, not time. It is always beneficial to buy the smallest boat you’re comfortable on and save the extra money for longer cruises and future boat projects!

When shopping for a catamaran, it’s really important to gauge the build quality of the boat. This can be a daunting task for first-time buyers as you learn about how these boats are made and the differences between manufacturers. 

The bottom line is this—since catamarans are built for speed and performance, they are built lightly with modern techniques and materials. Unfortunately, most boat builders aren’t paying much attention to how that boat will last after ten or twenty years of pounding across oceans. Stress and flexing issues on these boats are real, as are manufacturing issues that don’t appear until years later.

If you’re looking to buy a used boat, you want to ensure it’s been built by a reputable builder and has been taken care of. Therefore, a survey from a professional who knows about catamarans is really important. 

Features of the Catamaran Liveaboard

For liveaboards, a few layouts and features set catamaran designs apart from one another. 

• Owners vs. charter layouts
• Galley-up vs. galley-down design
• Open transoms vs. closed cockpits

Since many catamarans were designed and built for charter use , their layouts often feature as many staterooms as possible with en suite heads (bathrooms) . This enables groups of couples to pool their resources and travel on a boat but still have personal space and privacy. It also allows hiring a crew to work the boat for your charter and for everyone to have separate accommodations.

The result is a pretty common layout found in many catamarans that features four cabins and four heads. The 4/4 will have a bunk on each end of the hull, each connected to a small bathroom and shower. If the catamaran is under 40 feet, it might be a 4/2 with only one larger bathroom in each hull. If you assume two per bed, and the salon settee converts into a fifth bunk, this boat could conceivably sleep ten. 

A private owner probably doesn’t need or want this many bunks. Most boats are owned by cruising couples that occasionally have friends visit or small families with one or two kids. Two bunks are plenty.

For this situation, the owner’s version layouts are much better. In this case, the owner’s stateroom takes up an entire hull . There’s extra storage space , a very large head, and a more spacious cabin . Plus, you usually get a very roomy separate shower that feels like home. All that extra space can make an office space or room to install amenities like a washing machine. The other hull shares the same layout as the charter version, with a smaller cabin on each end and one or two bathrooms in between. So, the owner’s version is either a 3/2 or 3/3.

Owner’s versions are slightly harder to come by and usually more expensive. However, many go into charter service despite the name, so they are out there. They’re more desirable and have higher resale value. On the other hand, the charter versions are often the cheapest liveaboard catamaran options because they’re common and less desirable in the resale market.

The next feature is how the boat is laid out with the galley.

Most modern charter cats have adopted the galley-up layout, which has the galley in the upper salon . That way, it’s right next to the indoor and outdoor dinettes, and the cook can be part of the social action.

A galley-down design has the galley tucked into one of the hulls . It’s more common on smaller boats where the upper salon is too small for the galley. But having the galley down is a safer and easier arrangement if you are cooking at sea, where the chef needs to brace themselves against a counter to get things done. 

Galley up or galley down? It’s a matter of personal preference. Some like being up with the views and fresh air while cooking, while others like the counter space and useability of a well-laid out galley down layout.

One big difference between modern charter catamarans and early models (and older monohulls) is the cockpit’s layout.

On catamarans, the cockpit is open and easy to walk around. You can step out onto the boat’s transom or side deck without stepping over any seats or deep coamings . This is a much more comfortable arrangement for living aboard.

But, if you’re crossing an ocean and the weather turns ugly , being tucked inside a deep cockpit with a tall coaming is pretty comforting. 

A common feature to look for is an arch or hardtop over the cockpit. The main sheet, the line that controls the mainsail, attaches to a control called the traveler. If this is on the deck at the back of the cockpit, it’s very hard to work around it. But if this is on top of a hardtop or arch, the cockpit will feel more open and spacious. Many older Lagoons and FPs had deep cockpits with the traveler on deck. Leopard catamarans were among the first to put it on an arch and open up the cockpit.

Again, it’s a matter of personal preference. But you definitely want to consider what you like and why before purchasing a catamaran because these are not features you can easily change. 

Here’s a list of the best features to look for, tailored to ensure a harmonious balance between sailing performance and liveaboard lifestyle:

• Spacious and Comfortable Living Areas : Look for a catamaran with ample living spaces, including a large saloon, comfortable cabins, and multiple heads with showers. Adequate headroom and natural light can make the interior feel more spacious and livable.
• Efficient Galley : A well-equipped galley (kitchen) with sufficient storage, counter space, and appliances such as a refrigerator, freezer, stove, and oven is essential for daily living and entertaining on board.
• Good Ventilation and Air Conditioning/Heating Systems : Proper ventilation is crucial to prevent condensation and maintain a comfortable living environment. Additionally, having air conditioning and heating systems can extend the comfort range to hotter and colder climates.
• Ample Deck Space : A catamaran with generous outdoor spaces, including a comfortable cockpit, foredeck, and trampolines, provides additional living and relaxation areas, enhancing the onboard lifestyle.
• Water Maker : Having a water maker on board can be a game-changer for long passages and remote anchoring, reducing the need to frequently dock for water supplies.
• Energy Independence : Features like solar panels, wind generators, and efficient battery storage systems ensure a sustainable and independent power supply for your electrical needs.
• Easy Handling and Maneuverability : A catamaran designed for ease of handling, possibly with features like electric winches, a furling mainsail, and bow thrusters, can make sailing and docking less strenuous, especially for short-handed crews or solo sailors.
• Safety Features : Essential safety features include a robust navigation and communication system, life rafts, fire extinguishers, automatic bilge pumps, and a well-thought-out design for safe movement around the boat.
• Storage Capacity : Adequate storage for provisions, spare parts, personal belongings, and water toys is crucial for long-term living and voyaging.
• Dinghy and Davits : A reliable dinghy and an easy-to-use davit system are essential for accessing the shore when at anchor and for general exploration.
• Strong Build and Hull Design : A catamaran with a solid build quality and a hull design suited for your intended use (coastal cruising vs. blue-water passages) provides safety and comfort in various sea conditions.
• Bridge Deck Clearance : Sufficient clearance between the water and the bridge deck reduces slamming in rough seas, contributing to a smoother and more comfortable ride.
• Protective Helm Station : A helm station that offers protection from the elements while maintaining good visibility around the boat is essential for safe navigation.
• Accessibility and Maintenance : Consider the ease of access to engines, generators, and other systems for maintenance. A well-designed layout can save time and effort in upkeep.
• Liveaboard Amenities : Additional amenities such as a washing machine, entertainment systems, and outdoor grilling areas can make life aboard more enjoyable.

That said, each potential owner’s priorities will vary, so it’s important to consider which features align best with your lifestyle and sailing plans.

Tips for Liveaboard Catamaran Life

Living aboard a catamaran is not just about adjusting to the physical constraints of boat life; it’s also about embracing a lifestyle that is both challenging and immensely rewarding. With the right preparation and mindset, you can make your liveaboard experience truly unforgettable.

• Downsize Belongings : Space is a premium on a catamaran. Carefully consider what you need versus what you want. Downsize your belongings to the essentials and a few comforts that make you happy.
• Organize Intelligently : Use space-saving storage solutions and keep your belongings organized. Every item should have a designated place to avoid clutter and ensure safety while underway.
• Water Conservation : Fresh water is precious on a boat. Get accustomed to water-saving habits like short showers and using saltwater for preliminary cleaning.
• Energy Conservation : Be mindful of your energy use. Rely on renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind generators, and invest in energy-efficient appliances.
• Develop DIY Skills : Basic maintenance and repair skills are essential for a liveaboard lifestyle. Being able to troubleshoot and fix issues with the engines, sails, and electronics can save time, money, and prevent potential dangers.
• Regular Check-ups : Stick to a strict maintenance schedule to prevent small issues from becoming big problems. This includes checking the hull, rigging, sails, and all onboard systems regularly.
• Invest in Safety Equipment : Ensure you have all necessary safety equipment onboard, including life jackets, fire extinguishers, flares, a life raft, and an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).
• Be Prepared for Emergencies : Regularly practice safety drills with everyone onboard. Everyone should know how to operate the safety equipment and what to do in case of an emergency.
• Communication Tools : Invest in reliable communication tools, including a VHF radio, satellite phone, and internet access, to stay in touch with the outside world and for emergency communications.
• Build a Community : Connect with other liveaboards and sailors. They can be a great source of support, advice, and companionship.
• Be Flexible : Living on a catamaran means being at the mercy of the weather and the sea. Be prepared to adapt your plans according to conditions.
• Enjoy the Simplicity : Embrace the simplicity and closeness to nature that comes with living on a catamaran. It’s a chance to focus on what truly matters to you.
• Budget Wisely : Understand and plan for the costs associated with liveaboard life, including marina fees, maintenance, insurance, and daily living expenses.
• Emergency Fund : Always have a financial cushion for unexpected repairs or emergencies.
• Stay Active : Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. Swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and yoga are great options.
• Healthy Eating : Plan and stock up on nutritious foods. Fresh produce may not always be available, so consider growing herbs or sprouts onboard.
• Respect the Ocean : Practice eco-friendly habits to minimize your impact on the marine environment. This includes proper waste management, using eco-friendly products, and avoiding activities that harm marine life.
• Navigation and Sailing Skills : Continuously improve your sailing and navigation skills. Knowledge and experience contribute significantly to safety and enjoyment.
• Learn Local Regulations : Familiarize yourself with the regulations of the waters you are sailing in, including fishing laws, protected areas, and anchoring rules.
• Knysna 440/500
• Leopard 42/43/45/47
• Lagoon 42/46 (circa 2018)
• Manta 38/40/42
• Alliaura Marine Privilege 42/435/45/445/465
• Catana 401/42/431/471
• Fountaine Pajot Orana 44/Helia 44
• Voyage/Norseman 380/400/440/470

The good news is that we live in a time when catamarans have become mainstream. They’re exceedingly popular and more exciting new models are coming out each year. We’ve moved past the years when the only boats to choose from were built for charter. There are now great choices aimed at liveaboards and cruising families. 

What is a good size catamaran to live on?

For most cruising couples, the smallest catamaran they’d want to consider is in the 35 to 38-foot range. Small families prefer a slightly bigger boat, from 40 to 42 feet, while those with older kids or more people on board like something in the 45-foot range. Everyone is different, of course, and you’ll find families of 4 or 5 living happily on 35-foot cats and couples that could never live on anything less than 60. 

Are catamarans good in rough seas?

Yes and no. Most catamarans 38 feet and over are certified for offshore sailing and can safely handle any conditions—so long as they are sailed conservatively. In general, as long as you reduce sail early and travel carefully, catamarans are safe at sea. 

But are they comfortable in rough seas? This is a question for which everyone has a different answer, and a lot depends on the model of the catamaran. Catamarans are built light in order to move quickly over the waters. Unfortunately, the two hulls mean that the boat is slammed by each wave twice. In some conditions, this makes for a choppy ride that makes some people seasick quickly. 

Can you sail a 40-foot catamaran by yourself?

Yes. Most catamarans are set up for short-handed or single-handed sailing . Much of it is simply how the boat is rigged and whether or not all the control lines are led to the helm. Even if a boat isn’t set up this way, it’s usually fairly straightforward to make it so.

What is the minimum size of a liveaboard?

People live on all sizes of vessels, so there’s no minimum. It’s a personal choice and depends on how you like to live. The most common size for liveaboard boaters is between 35 and 45 feet. These boats are small enough to be easy to drive, store, and maintain while still having enough space to live comfortably.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

Leave a comment

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

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

7 Best Liveaboard Catamarans: Seaworthiness and Liveability!

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.

While sailing the Bahamas I lived on a 35ft monohull sailboat, this was an exciting time of my life but once I stepped on my first catamaran I knew “this is the way it’s supposed to be done”. After that, I have fallen in love with the space and speed of liveaboard catamaran,s so today I want to show you some of the best out there.

The best liveaboard catamaran sailboats include Manta 42, Dolphin Ocema 42, Bali 4.5, Privilege 435, Fountaine Pajot Saba 50, Voyage 580, and Lagoon 620. These catamarans offer plenty of space, load-carrying capability, and are very comfortable to live aboard.

This guide offers a starting point for your research into what catamaran you should get , today we will discuss:

• Best catamarans to live aboard: seaworthiness and liveability
• Important questions to ask yourself before shifting to a liveaboard lifestyle
• Pros and cons of living aboard
• Factors to consider when choosing a liveaboard cat

Are you a beginner with catamarans and don’t really know what models are good for beginners? Check this out!

Table of Contents

There are rarely more than a handful of Mantas on the market at any given time, this is due to the high demand, sailors love this brand and the Manta 42 is definitely not an exception. Only 127 sailing vessels were ever produced before Manta closed shop in 2008.

Manta 42 was selected as the Boat of the year in 2001 and has since attracted a good number of sailors seeking to jump on board because of its liveability and affordability, this dedication has also led to a comparatively strong online community, where owners share their experiences and tips&tricks.

The Manta 42 is one of the few really good bluewater capable boats under $300k. If the $300k pricetag is still to high, then here’s a list of the best cats under $200k .

Seaworthiness

The Manta 42 is set up with almost all controls at the cockpit, this allows for single-handed sailing if either part of the crew gets sick or you just want to spend some time alone out at sea.

Safety-wise, the cockpit has been made big and is well protected from the winds and spray that will kick up. A well-built cockpit that protects its crew is very important since crew fatigue is one of the greatest threats to the safety of a boat.

I could write about its construction features such as honeycombed reinforcement at stress points, but there’s really no need since the manta already has a fancy track record of sailing around the world that gives more value than just raw numbers.

Liveability

This specific model boasts spacious accommodation in which five people can comfortably sleep. In the port (left) hull is the owner’s suite fitted with modern facilities. It has a shower cubicle, a marine toilet (aka head), mirror, headroom, bookcases, and companionway pantry storage.

The owner’s suite/cabin also features a queen-size bed and a settee.

On the starboard(right) hull of this 42-foot cat is a VIP stateroom with a double berth in the aft and a guest stateroom with a queen-size bed in the forward. The guest cabins feature a shared bathroom, shower, swanstone sink, and marine toilet.

The galley (kitchen compartment) is inviting, with large counter space, drawers, and an integral trash bin. It also features a force ten propane four-burner stove and a large swanstone sink. The storage space here is adequate, with cabinets fitted above and below the galley.

The saloon (general living space) is fitted with a modern décor featuring an L-shaped settee, an adjustable dining table, a TV locker cabinet, and two ottomans. It is also fitted with AC heat units to create a comfortable living environment.

Dolphin Ocema 42

Dolphin Ocema 42 offers a good balance between performance and great cruising . It is designed and built in Brazil with a foam core for reduced weight throughout.

Finding information on this model is quite hard, there aren’t many around, and once they hit the market they are sold fairly quickly, except for the custom builds which always seem to take somewhat longer to sell.

Some Ocema 42s are fitted with daggerboards to enhance upwind performance, while others, unfortunately, have the bad reputation of being too heavily loaded once fully setup up for liveaboard cruising, hence impairing performance.

This is usually fixed by removing the big water tanks and rather using a water maker, together with removing the Genset (adding solar panels preferably) it seems to be enough to shed sufficient weight to get back to good sailing performance.

Ocema 42 is also an excellent liveaboard catamaran option that offers a large saloon with a kitchen fitted in its port hull. The kitchen features a fridge, freezer, sink, a four-burner stove, and storage drawers.

Its interiors are made of laminated wood combined with fiberglass and epoxy to give a more defined look.

It has four cabins with four berths and two heads. Also, it has two complete bathrooms with a hot water system and electric toilets.

Additionally, this catamaran has plenty of storage space offered by its louvered lockers. Dolphin Ocema 42 also boasts a well-fitted air conditioning system for increased comfort.

The Bali company is owned by the Catana Group, famous for building some of the best-performing bluewater catamarans out there. Although there is a cooperation between the two brands there are not a lot of similarities, this boat is perfectly adapted to coastal and charter rather than hardcore offshore sailing.

The “open layout” with flybdrigde and high boom doesn’t really do well with offshore passagemaking, this is worth discussing in further detail.

The Bali 4.5 Open has a flybridge just like many motorboats, but since this is a sailboat that means the boom needs to be moved upwards to accommodate the heightened position of the cockpit.

This is of course not all bad, it’s perfect for visibility and docking, but horrible for bad weather since it is unprotected. It is also worth mentioning that this reduces sail area and moves the center of effort up, which impacts performance negatively.

Another interesting feature is that the engines can only be controlled from the flybridge.

Together with the self-tacking jib the Bali 4.5 is a great boat as long as you use it in the way it’s made for, coastal sailing.

This series of Bail 4.5 catamarans is well designed to meet the needs of liveaboards. It has modern interiors and easy-to-clean surfaces.

Its starboard features a side-by-side refrigerator with an efficient ice maker for a more homely feeling. Additionally, its port houses a galley fitted with an ENO cooktop and a separate oven at eye level for easier and more convenient cooking. It also has a double sink, a large countertop, and ample storage space.

There is a lot of electronics on this boat but the solar system is only on 400w (a microwave owen is 1000w) so be prepared to run the genset.

Most interior items are touch screen controlled, including the modern water maker and the Genset.

Along the port hull of this 45-foot cat is the owner’s cabin. It features an oversized shower, a wide berth, plenty of hanging and storage space, and a separate head, sofa, and desk.

The owner’s cabin has a privacy door that separates it from the rest of the cat.

On the other hand, the starboard hull has two cabins, a shared shower, and two heads. This catamaran boat boasts of its efficient lighting, storage, and ventilation, making it more accommodating.

Not only is the Bali 4.5 one of the best to look at, but it is probably one of the top five to live aboard.

Privilege 435

Something all too common on “condomarans” is a bridge deck clearance that is too small (this is the distance between the water and the underside of the boat, between the hulls). Insufficient clearance will increase something called bridge deck slamming, when water bashes into the bridge deck and not only creates awful noises but also puts some extra tear and wear on the boat and crew.

The bridge deck clearance on this privilege is probably one of the highest in its class.

The performance under sail of a privilege 435 is nothing to write home about, but the buildquality might be, this cat is known for its high level craftmanship and sturdy structure making it a safe and easy to handle cat during ocean crossings.

According to a sailor that circumnavigated without any light-wind sails, this boat can average about 8kts over long ocean crossings. Spending some dollars on a spinnaker and you’ll probably add a knot or two.

Compared to its French sisters and brothers (lagoon, FP, etc) you will have to pay a little more.

If interior design and perfect finish is your fetish, then this is probably the boat for you, It comes with meticulous details that make this boat stand out among other catamarans.

Which I must admit isn’t always a hard competition to win compared to the many shaky interiors in the business.

Privilege 435 boasts a lavish interior décor that you can customize as per your tastes and preferences. It has a spacious galley with modern kitchen equipment such as an espresso coffee machine, toaster, bread maker, and yogurt maker. Additionally, it has a gas stove with three gas burners and a double stainless-steel sink.

For increased accommodation, it has four cabins, four bathrooms, two heads, and three showers. The cabins have four queen size beds and one double bed. It also has a washing machine for your laundry.

The lighting, ventilation, and storage are ample in this catamaran.

Fountaine Pajot Saba 50

When it comes to being safe at sea, longer is most often safer. This means that when designing a boat as long as 50ft you can get away with some design decisions that would have been devastating on a 35 -40ft boat. Such as the flybridge and up top helm position, as we discussed with the Bali 4.5 this is not how you would design a boat for performance or safety. But considering its size, this is less of an issue than it is for its smaller competitor the Bali 4.5.

The Saba 50 comes as a result of the experiences that FP had with its little sister the Salina 48. The goal was to make the Salina 48 more comfortable while still maintaining performance. Something that the magazine multihulls world would agree that they did.

“A new model fulfilling the wishes of yachtsmen looking for comfort, as much on deck as below. However, performance has not been neglected, and that’s even better! “ Multihulls World Magazine Test Saba 50

The Saba 50 employs stub keels instead of daggerboards, this has its advantages of being easier to operate and therefore less chance of breaking something or making a wrong call when to lower or raise them. But with the disadvantages of not being able to go as close to the wind and possibly lose some downwind speed due to drag.

Although this is the case, in theory, the saba 50 design team seems to have found a good balance, and the cat performs better than expected upwind:

“…but here was a large—and I mean large—cruising cat doing 6 to 9 knots with the wind ahead of the beam .” Sailmagazine.com Test Saba 50

Fountaine Pajot Saba 50 boasts extensive liveability and comfort. It can carry an almost infinite amount of people during a day sail but can only accommodate approximately 10-night occupants in its either 4 or 6 cabin layout .

It offers plenty of space on the cockpit seattees, the large transom seat, between the sun pads on the bow and the flybridge lounge. People can relax here without feeling crowded.

The catamaran comes in two versions, the Maestro and the Quintet.

The maestro model features 1 private suite with an exclusive bathroom, and three guest cabins, each with its bathrooms as well. So if having a separate wash area for your guest is high on your list of priorities, well then this boat won’t let you down.

On the other hand, the Quintet version offers 5 double cabins one skipper’s cabin, and 6 bathrooms (I am still unsure of what I think of this love for bathrooms everywhere). This boat is aimed at the charter market hence the skipper’s cabin.

This catamaran also boasts luxurious interiors with four large cabins, four heads, and four double berths . Its dinette is on the cockpit’s far end, while the saloon features only a lounging settee.

The galley has a microwave, oven, gas burner, and freshwater maker, among other basic kitchen essentials.

The better-than-average performance, exceptional liveability, and comfort derived from this cat make it a highly-priced piece in the sailing market .

One sometimes forgotten aspect of bluewater sailing is the ease with which things can be fixed. I am talking about access to engines, the difficulty of finding parts, and how complex the various systems are. No matter what adventure you are on, the possibility to repair or maintain in far-out places is essential.

This is where the Voyage 580 excels:

“Voyage has kept this [Model] as mechanically and electrically simple as possible.” Cruising World Boat Resource Guide

It is also worth mentioning that the 580 stems from the smaller Voyage 440, a boat that won the Cruising Worlds “Boat of The Year” award in 2002. Not only did voyage keep what was good with the 440, but they also innovated and actually made an even better boat according to the Multihulls World test.

Correctly outfitted and with a knowledgeable crew this boat will get you anywhere you want to go!

Voyage 580 catamarans are huge with a lot of living space and are also pricey, you will have to pay +$600k to get yourself an older model. They boast luxuriously designed interiors using premium modern materials.

A voyage 580 catamaran has a spacious galley fitted with modern kitchen facilities. The kitchenette has a full-sized fridge, a large induction cooktop, a deep freezer, a freshwater maker, and two electric ovens.

Its saloon is cozy, inviting, and accommodating, with ample lighting and air conditioning. It is a perfect space to relax, read, or watch a movie. The dining area is also well prepared with glossy seats that can accommodate 8-10 guests in a single sitting.

For accommodation, it has two spacious cabins, four heads, and three double berths.

Lagoon 630/620

The L620 is created by the famous naval designer Van Peteghem Lauriot Prévost , or VPLP for short, this is worth mentioning since the company has won more awards than any other designer studio in the catamaran industry.

At 62ft this cat is so big that the criteria for seaworthiness start to shift, at this size most weather is safe as long as you have powerful enough engines to get you out of a bad situation in case your primary motor, the sails, for some reason stop functioning.

A sailboat of this size also requires a somewhat different skilled sailor to safely be sailed.

Even though this cat has the option of dual helm stations it can still be very hard to dock a boat with the windage of a small suburb. Especially if the wind picks up.

At this size it is probably only a handful of people that can single-handedly sail this beast, most would need a crew of at least three. And according to a study I did a while back, 46% answered that anything larger than 40ft and it becomes difficult to solo (you can find the post here ).

Lagoon 620 (or the powerboat version 630) is another highly appreciated liveaboard catamaran. Although it is pricey (~USD 2 000 000), this large catamaran offers exceptional liveability, comfortability, and convenience. It is highly accommodative, featuring four suites, a galley, and a large saloon.

And per a conversation with a sailor of the 620, the interior finish is much better than what is usually found on smaller/cheaper Lagoon boats.

Its port side hull is a fully equipped modern kitchen followed by a suite containing two bunk beds, a complete bathroom, and some cupboards. The bow is another suite with a raised double bed, ample storage space, and a complete bathroom.

Again, on the starboard side is another suite with a raised double bed, a complete bathroom, and a storage area. The fourth cabin is the owner’s suite located at the stern. It has a comfortable double bed, closets, a sofa, a private area, and a complete bathroom. Generally, this cat has four cabins, four bathrooms, four heads, three double baths, and two single berths.

The catamaran boats above are just a glimpse of what the sailing market has to offer concerning liveaboard catamarans. Depending on your budget and your needs, you may get a new or used catamaran. Most used catamarans are still in good working conditions and are more affordable if you have a tight budget.

Interested in a cat under $200k? Here is my list of the 12 best!

What To Consider Before Moving Aboard

Before shifting from your spacious apartment to a catamaran, here are a few questions you need to ask yourself:

Will It Be Cheaper to Live on a Boat Than on Land?

Living on a catamaran can be cheaper depending on its size, price, and additional costs. You’ll likely save on rent, water, gas, and electricity as you will not be lighting, heating, or cooling a big apartment room.

However, your maintenance costs are likely to rise. You will also incur additional expenses such as slip fees, insurance, and boat mortgage fee.

Therefore, don’t just assume that you will save by moving aboard. Do the maths, and make your decision based on facts.

Will Life Be Simpler?

Simplicity here depends on how your typical day or week looks. By living aboard, you may need to go grocery shopping frequently due to insufficient storage space. You may also need to rush to the post office to get your deliveries more often. This means plenty of back-and-forth movements.

If you want a simpler life aboard, it is advisable to run your typical day through your mind first. By doing this, you will be able to find solutions to the wanting issues.

If you plan on doing your maintenance, then life will not be easier from that perspective;

“ Sailing in the Caribbean as a liveaboard; one thing that really surprised me was how incredibly much time I would have to spend on maintenance and repairs! “

What About the Storage Space on a Catamaran?

Although some cats are large, their storage space does not equate to that of most apartments. Be prepared to forego some items such as kitchen equipment, utensils, and clothes. The kitchen space, lockers, cupboards, and wardrobes will be much smaller. Therefore, you’ll need to declutter and move in with only the essentials.

If it doesn’t serve at least two purposes, don’t bring it along! Life/boat lesson learned

What About Comfort and Connectivity?

You can tailor the interiors of your cat to suit your taste and preferences. Your cat should be dry, well ventilated, and have adequate lighting and air conditioning for increased comfort.

For connectivity, you can install a satellite receiver for TV or internet access. You do not want to be cut off from your family and friends when aboard. Choosing a satellite reception instead of the usual mobile phone network allows you to stay updated no matter where in the world you are!

I really like the Google Fi plan (mobile network) for connectivity near land ( link here ), it’s easy, works almost all over the planet, and is reasonably cheap. Whilst in the middle of nowhere I use the Garmin Inreach mini(satellite, Amazon link here ) to send emails and get weather, it’s a good device but nothing fancy.

Will It Be Safe and Secure To Live Aboard?

Safety and security will depend on the marina. The security in most marinas is usually really good although, as always, it’s good to be a little streetsmart and lock your vessel when you leave.

For safety, be sure to install fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide, and smoke detector alarms. You can also install gas and propane sniffers. If you live with kids and pets, check the above deck space to ensure it’s safe for them.

Since a cat is basically a floating apartment you can install the same type of security that you would on land, cameras, etc.

Can I Move Aboard My Boat if I Have a Slip?

A slip (a boat parking space enclosed by three sides) is not enough to guarantee life aboard. For most marinas, you’ll need to submit an application for you to move aboard. Most of them have long waiting lists, while others don’t allow life aboard. Ensure you understand the needs of your target marina before commencing your plans.

Most often you are allowed to stay a night or two, but long-term stay is frowned upon.

I have compiled a few lists of liveaboard friendly marinas depending on where you are:

• 9 Best Liveboard marinas in Florida
• Best liveaboard marinas in Australia

Pros of Living Aboard a Catamaran

Below are some of the advantages you get by living on a catamaran.

• Economical: Life on a catamaran can be cheaper than the skyrocketing housing prices in major cities. However, you shouldn’t base this only on the cat’s cost. It is important to consider other charges such as marina fees, insurance, state tax, and maintenance fees.
• Lifestyle: You get to experience a peaceful and exciting lifestyle away from crowded cities. Here you’ll get plenty of fresh air and a chance to explore the beautiful coastal or sea waters. If you need some solo time away from the daily hustles and bustles of life, this is the ideal lifestyle for you.
• Social life and community: Depending on the marina and area you live in, you meet and interact with like-minded people. You also get an opportunity to create social networks with a larger community of liveaboards. Additionally, you get to share ideas and learn more from your newly created community. This idea of community life is what draws many sailors to live aboard.
• Connecting with nature: Living aboard a catamaran gives you a chance to connect with nature. You wake up to beautiful views of the water and the peaceful hummings of sea birds. You also view the sunset from the comfort of your cat as you enjoy the calm sea breeze. If you are a nature lover, you’ll enjoy this special connection with nature.
• Adventure: Living on a catamaran means you are a step closer to plenty of adventurous days. You have the opportunity to explore the waters anytime you feel like it. You get to learn a new skill and make discoveries with each passing day.

Cons of Living on a Catamaran

Living aboard has several setbacks, which include:

• High maintenance costs: Unlike standard brick and mortar houses, catamaran boats are prone to damage by water, weather, and microorganisms. They are likely to corrode and rust, which calls for regular maintenance. The maintenance costs of a catamaran may be high compared to those of a standard apartment.
• Safety: Some marinas and anchorages are not safe enough. Additionally, others are filled with dirty water and littered with waste materials. As a result, they are not pleasing to live in.
• Practicalities: The space within most catamarans is limited. The limitations mean you’ll have to adjust your way of doing things such as disposing of waste and cooking to fit into your new lifestyle. Not everyone can fit into this lifestyle. If for you, the advantages of living aboard a catamaran outweigh the drawbacks, then you’re well placed to start your life aboard. 

With that, let’s look at the factors to consider in choosing the best catamaran boat to live on.

Features of the Best Liveaboard Catamaran

Here are the factors you should look for when getting a liveaboard cat:

• Space: Although the living space in catamarans is limited compared to that of an apartment, it should be enough to accommodate your needs. Your ideal cat’s space will depend on the projected number of people. It should be enough for everyone aboard without feeling congested or crowded. Having your own space is very important in the long run.
• Standing headroom: Standing headroom refers to the space available for you to stand in a cabin. Although some sailors live in cats without a standing headroom, it is not good for their general well-being. You don’t always want to crouch or crawl during your stay aboard. Sooner or later, your back will start experiencing problems. To avoid such health issues, get a cat with a standing headroom of at least 5-feet 10-inch (5’10”).
• Electric lighting: Although the use of kerosene lamps has basically disappeared, except for the enhancing cozy-factor. Consider getting a cat with LED lighting for reliability and low maintenance. Most modern sailing cats have solar panels for an efficient electric power supply.
• Ventilation: Your liveaboard boat should be adequately ventilated. It should have openings to let in fresh air without necessitating you to open the main hatch.
• 120VAC: Since electricity is vital when living aboard, your cat should have a reliable power source. Consider one with a 120VAC (or 230v for Europeans) where you can charge your phone, computer, and other electronic devices. Unless you’re getting a very old cat this is standard.
• Toilet and plumbing: Sanitation is extra necessary when living aboard, therefore when looking for a cat, get one with a well-fitted head (toilet) and an efficient plumbing system for safe waste disposal. It should encompass a holding tank so that you can use the head when parked in a marina.
• Kitchen facilities: Most cats have a galley but make sure it fits your needs, maybe you love to cook, and therefore you have special preferences for the setup.

When I’m looking to buy something as expensive as a cat I create a Need vs Nice spreadsheet where I track all the most important factors to make sure I don’t miss something, if you want to access this sheet all you need to do is either send me an email or sign up for the newsletter.

Interested in sailing characteristics and catamaran stability? Read this!

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...

How We Chose the Best Liveaboard Catamaran

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn from other affiliate websites. See our full disclaimer .

It was eye-opening when we began our preparation to shop for a cruising catamaran. We didn’t have many clues as to what to look for. We did know that we needed to research (a lot) and rely on others’ knowledge and experience.

We listened and learned throughout our six-month process of buying a sailing catamaran. We also figured out which advice to take to heart.

Here are the five important things to look for and take into account when choosing the best liveaboard catamaran and the perfect boat for you and your crew.

1. What Size Catamaran Do You Need?

The most common advice we found was to buy the smallest sailing cat we could comfortably live aboard.

Here are a few tips for deciding on your catamaran’s length.

• The smaller the boat, the less boat to maneuver, dock and maintain. As new boat owners, this didn’t go unnoticed. We would pay for any gluttonous purchase with more sweat, tears, and cash later.
• The layout of the saloon and galley can play a part in how big a boat feels. Getting inside different catamarans, whether at a boat show or by other means, will give you more knowledge of your preferred interior space layout.
• Sailing on a catamaran generally becomes more comfortable on larger models. If you are planning to do a lot of offshore sailing, things like bridge deck clearance, beam-to-length ratio, and other performance indicators will become drastically more of a priority when purchasing your boat.
• Another significant factor for us was the ceiling height of the boat. At 6’3, Ross could step on a boat and know almost immediately if it was a contender. (Ceiling height can vary in different models and isn’t always correlated with the length or size of the catamaran.)

Ross still has to watch his head, but he’s getting better at subconsciously ducking.

WHAT WORKED FOR US: As a two-human, one-feline family that was planning to do mostly coastal cruising, the ideal catamaran length for us turned out to be in the 37-40 foot range for most production catamaran lines.

2. the fixer-upper catamaran sailboat.

Learning the ins and outs of our first boat, including learning to sail a catamaran, was already overwhelming.

Considering also needing to fix many major working parts made my eyes cross. We would have our hands full even with almost everything in working order.

Replacing rigging right away? No, thank you.

We found other experienced sailors agreed, at least for our first boat.

Yes, we’d miss out on the attractive cost savings. But we would be able to spend our precious time getting to know the boat, its systems, and this new lifestyle.

NOTE: There are a lot of opinions about purchasing a charter boat (a boat that has been retired from the charter market). These can be good sailboats, and the average price is often lower than a boat that hasn’t been chartered. Just be aware there could be additional wear and tear, and of course, hire a reputable surveyor.

What worked for us: there will always be things that need to be fixed when you buy a boat, even a new catamaran. we found a pre-owned catamaran that needed minor repairs but was overall ready to set sail., 3. what systems do you need onboard.

At first, we found ourselves looking for a catamaran with all the systems (we thought) we needed. Insert watermaker, generator, air conditioning, etc., here.

There is a wide range of what is said you “need” on a boat. Every sailor is different. Some people live without refrigeration; some consider a washing machine essential.

The only way to know what sacrifices and trade-offs you’re willing to make is to live the sailing life. Cruise how you plan to in the future, and see what works. Then you can start answering questions.

How frugal do you want to be with water? How conservative with energy? How do you want to handle the heat?

Changing your mindset to buy a boat capable of living off the grid but without all the additional comforts can be a good idea.

When you start cruising more remotely, you can decide if you want the convenience of a watermaker, more solar, or a generator for backup power.

Sailing legends Lin and Larry Pardey are famous for their sailing quote , “Go small, go simple, go now.” And although I don’t believe they were referring to a 40-foot cat, I still think we can take away a reminder to keep things simple and get on the water – especially newbie sailors.

WHAT WORKED FOR US: We landed on the most important system to us – solar, and went from there. We found that by getting started cruising, we could live without many of the conveniences we thought we needed. In the meantime, we were able to enjoy not having an overabundance of systems to learn and maintain.

4. owners’ version catamaran.

Whether you choose a charter version or an owners’ version catamaran will have a big impact on the boat’s cabin layout and purchase price.

What is an owners’ version catamaran? This desirable catamaran layout has three cabins instead of four cabins (referred to as a charter version because this layout is the standard for charter companies). Meaning there is a spacious bathroom (head) in the place of the fourth cabin in the owners’ hull.

These sailing catamarans are a little scarce and come at a premium, but it’s one a lot of folks are willing to pay an additional cost to have, including us.

In one hull, the forward cabin is replaced by an expanded bathroom. This allows for a more open layout and storage space. On catamarans under 40 feet, the 2-cabin, 1-bath hulls can be especially tight.

WHAT WORKED FOR US: This was our most inflexible condition. If we were going to live in this tiny floating home, we wanted to maximize the hull’s limited living space better. A larger bathroom, a more open layout in the hull, and more storage space would let us do that.

Also, I can’t imagine the fiasco of Ross trying to shower in a wet bath where you shower with the toilet. I would most likely end up living with a very smelly guy! Lucky for my nose, with a little patience and persistence, we were able to find our three-cabin home.

5. Choosing a Catamaran Manufacturer

One of the big questions I find future cruisers have is, ‘What is the best cruising catamaran?’ There are a ton of opinions out there about the right catamaran to purchase. Remember, the answer will depend on your cruising style and the price range of your budget.

How much offshore cruising do you want to do? Will you be sailing single-handed? Balancing your needs and budget will be a big part of the process.

Production Sailing Catamarans

Many people asked if we were looking for a Lagoon catamaran when we were shopping.

The truth is, we didn’t know what we wanted, so we looked at as many boats as we could. From the popular South African-built Leopard Catamarans to the smaller U.S.-manufactured Gemini, we looked at various makes, models, and years of catamarans on the used market.

In the end, we found purchasing a highly-produced boat would make our lives easier as new sailors.

Catamaran sailboats are not cars. They are made on demand. For many models, 100 (or fewer) boats might be manufactured.

However, catamaran manufacturers, such as Lagoon , Leopard, and Fountaine Pajot, may design and produce quite a few more.

Our Lagoon 380 is hull number 322, which was a lot when it was built in 2005. I recently saw in a Facebook group that the tally is creeping up to 900.

Whoa, that’s a lot of boats. Or, as I like to call them, my newfound sailing friends whom we can inquire about how to fix this or get to that.

From forums and Facebook groups to people we meet, someone out there has already done what we are trying to do on our model boat.

WHAT WORKED FOR US: For us rookies, access to more information and the comfort of knowing a certain model production boat had been tested could save us oodles of time and money. Ultimately, the Lagoon 380 layout and availability of a boat that ticked all our other boxes made this the right choice for us.

Buying the best liveaboard catamaran.

Buying a catamaran came with many hard decisions because, let’s face it, it’s a lot of money for something you keep putting money into.

Things like how you want to cruise, how long you want to cruise, and other circumstances will help you decide what catamaran is best for you.

Ultimately, given our knowledge, personal preferences, market climate, and many other factors, we sought to make the most informed decision possible.

Our Lagoon might not be the biggest or fastest boat out there. But so far, Sunnyside has been the right boat for us. She got us out cruising and living this sailing lifestyle, which makes her the best sailboat we could ask for.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Our post featuring 5 Important Tips to Remember When Buying a Catamaran .

For more about our Lagoon 380 catamaran, check out the link below.

Want more tips on how to start cruising on a boat?

View our guide to get a real look at life on a boat, including the cost of cruising and priceless tips for learning how to live aboard.

Like this post? Save it on Pinterest for later.

Morgan, the founder of The Home That Roams, has been living nomadically for over five years. She began her journey traveling across the U.S. in a motorhome and cruising on a liveaboard sailing catamaran. Currently, she lives full-time in a travel trailer, sharing resources on RV living and boat life to help others downsize their lives and thrive in an alternative lifestyle.

That’s really nice post. I appreciate your skills, Thanks for sharing.

Thanks so much!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Sign Me Up!

Learn how to live on a boat.

Get weekly tips on how to start traveling full-time on a boat.

View our privacy policy .

Privacy Overview

• Build Your Antares 44 Hybrid
• Build Your Antares 44 GT
• Antares Hybrid Details
• Optional Salon Layout
• GT and Hybrid Overview
• Hybrid Design
• Standard Features
• Specifications & Layout
• Performance
• Building the Antares
• Antares Design Concepts
• Electrical Systems
• Antares Line Management
• Ted Clements – The Legend
• Antares Owner Roundtables
• Owner Satisfaction Survey

Antares University

• Owner Adventures
• Interior Photos
• Exterior Photos
• Featured Videos

Timeless Design

Meticulously crafted, continuously refined, the world's best liveaboard.

Our philosophy is ‘Always improve, never settle’, and each new Antares is continually refined, from improvements in line handling to increased solar capacity, streamlined water collection, dual 110/220v power, and much more.

Whether you plan to go sailing along the east coast of the United States and the Caribbean or to circumnavigate the globe, Antares Catamarans can take you there without any compromise to comfort, livability, or safety.

Superior design is as timeless as the sea. It never compromises safety or dependability for the latest market trends. With flat deck surfaces, fully secure cockpit with enclosures, shaft drive propulsion, and maximum use of space – our superior design provides a comfortable home for the serious world cruiser.

Meticulous craftsmanship takes time. Nothing is built well that is built fast. It takes over 9 months to handcraft each Antares Catamaran compared to one-third the time for charter catamarans. Quality takes time, and our customers expect nothing less.

Always improve, never settle. Every new Antares incorporates refinements, continuously improving our design of an already world-class cruising catamaran. New refinements include upgraded bimini hardtop with more solar, integrated water collection, and many more.

Exclusively Liveaboard

Antares owners are part of an exclusive community. Their desires and expectations are to own the world’s best-designed liveaboard catamaran, with no exceptions. Our boats are exclusively liveaboard and never put in charter.

Buying a New Antares

It’s never easy buying a new boat. There are many options, price points, sales pitches, and choices. Our goal at Antares is to educate customers on the critical components required to safely and comfortably sail around the world. The better educated you become, the better decisions you will make.

We are proud of our history and are confident in our position as the world’s best liveaboard for a cruising couple or family.

Mark Silverstein offers unique expertise, as he leads our sales efforts. He has lived aboard his Antares for over 8 years and sailed more than 40,000 nautical miles in all types of weather conditions. His experience will be invaluable to you as you consider the purchase of your new Antares.

The Antares Experience

Buying an Antares will change your life. We want to make that transition as comfortable, safe, and fun as possible. It takes time to get to know your new boat, be confident docking in tight spaces, and safely navigating reef speckled islands around the world.

Everything is standard on the Antares, including personal assistance, instruction, and mentorship for your new boat.

2 days aboard an Antares

To provide an overview of the Antares, and give new owners the opportunity to learn more about the boat.

Sample Agenda

– Boat Systems Overview

– Docking Instruction

– Sailing Instruction (wind permitting)

– Cocktail reception

Cruising University

7-10 Days aboard s/v Field Trip, in Malaysia & Thailand

While your boat is being built, provide in-depth instruction on cruising with an Antares in remote areas of the world.

– Docking instruction, med-mooring

– Boat maintenance

– Provisioning

– Man overboard drills

– Satellite navigation

– Heavy weather sailing

– Water sports (diving, snorkeling, etc)

Ownership University

5-7 Days aboard your new boat

Help you as a new Antares owner get familiar with your new boat and any items that will help you become comfortable with your vessel.

– Assist with items that need fixing

– Passage making as needed

– Additional docking practice

– Additional sailing instruction

– Maintenance schedules

– Any other owner items that need to be addressed

Latest News

New, leaner maintamer.

As you may already know, the Antares exclusive MainTamer makes mainsail handling easy without compromising proper sail shape. The NEW mainsail management system offers improved ventilation and is significantly lighter than the previous version. The sail gathering system aboard the Antares is an add-on to the existing boom and cradles the full-battened main when it’s…

A Great Success at Annapolis 2019

We’re still processing the incredible reception we got at the Annapolis Boat Show and want to thank everyone who came on board to tour Antares 44GS Volare. We loved hearing your feedback and comments, and yes, we do have a galley down, thanks for noticing! Taking the time to listen to your questions about livability,…

Elit duis tristique sollicitudin

Elit duis tristique sollicitudin nibh sit amet commodo nulla facilisi viverra justo. Tempor commodo ullamcorper a lacus vestibulum. Et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas integer eget aliquet nibh icula ipsum a arcu cursus vitae congue mauris rhoncus. Mi quis hendrerit dolor magna eget. Tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames. Elit duis tristique sollicitudin nibh…

Elit duis tristique sollicitudin nibh

Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cumsoci et! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cumsoci et.

Owner Testimonials

“I love the comfort and dependability of our Antares. As we’ve sailed the world with our family, it has allowed us to be safe at home wherever we are.”

“Of all the catamarans available on the market, there is no other catamaran available in this size range we would choose at this time. All boats have pros and cons, the Antares provides a great balance in design, comfort, livability, sail capability, and crew safety.”

“The design of the Antares is well thought out, from the ease of maintenance, to comfort at sea. The contemporary design, wood throughout, large galley, and panoramic salon views make it more than a boat we live on. It makes it our home.”

“We were essentially non-sailors when we purchased the boat. Our first season, we sailed 8,000 miles. Then proceeded to spend the next 7 seasons exploring the Caribbean. I cannot imagine we would have found a boat that would have better served our needs. A truly special chapter in our lives.”

“The Antares is a versatile boat that can be used for various purposes, including ocean crossing, anchorage, scuba diving, ICW exploration, marina residency, and Bahamas home. It is easy to maintain and dock, making it suitable for new cruising owners. The Antares community aims to help make dreams come true without drama.”

“We have had a fabulous experience cruising on our PDQ Antares 44i. We purchased her in New Zealand and have enjoyed 5 years cruising around the South Pacific. We had had great support from the Forum and the Antares company over the years.”

“After owning the Antares 44 for 6 years, I still have not found another cruising catamaran that I’d rather have.”

“Antares is unique and special, and we love showing off our beautiful home!”

“The longer we had our boat, the more we appreciated the design, particularly in terms of safety and efficiency.”

“The safest, most well-designed couples / liveaboard cruising catamaran on the market – period.”

Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance

13 Best Liveaboard Sailboats (under 30 & 50 ft)

Choosing a boat to live on is a big deal — something you definitely want to get right. There are plenty of options to pick from, which can make the choosing process a bit daunting. So to help you navigate those deep waters (no pun intended), here is an article summarizing the 13 best liveaboard sailboats under 30 and 50 feet.

So what are the 13 best liveaboard sailboats?

Catalina 30, pacific seacraft flicka 20, nonsuch ultra 30, aventura 34, island packet 35, peterson 44, prout snowgoose 37, gulfstar 44, beneteau oceanis 50.

Beautiful lineup, isn't it? Let me explain what makes these so special.

Picking the Right One Matters

Picking a liveaboard sailboat belongs among those kinds of decisions that require months, if not years of research and testing.

It is not like choosing a car - those are more or less the same, and although they vary widely in terms of comfort, feeling, and performance, rarely you would encounter one that wouldn't get you from point A to B reasonably.

The same goes for a house or an apartment. Regardless of if you get a 200 square foot condo or a 30,000 square feet mansion, it will most of the time provide a warm shelter with a shower and a kitchen and a bed, fulfilling its basic functions.

But this is only the case because there is extensive infrastructure in place helping cars and houses. A car can only get you from A to B thanks to roads. A house can only have a shower and a kitchen if it is connected to a grid.

But on a boat, you are on your own.

The sea doesn't adjust its waves for your comfort. If something breaks, there is usually not a repair shop nearby. You aren't always connected to water or electricity. And if you don't like what you see around yourself, it's not like you can just leave.

So a liveaboard boat needs to provide what a house does, what a vehicle does, and more, plus it needs to provide this regardless of if you are docked in a marina or in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. That is a lot to ask, especially if we are talking about boats around 30 or 50 feet.

Fortunately, every single boat on this list is an all-star that ticks all the right boxes. Let's see why.

I know, I hear you, it isn't exciting enough as it doesn't perform that well. Sure. But we are talking about a boat that is supposed to be a house too. So why is it on the list?

This boat has been in production since 1975, which means that it has been extraordinarily well-refined according to the suggestions of thousands of owners. And this manufacturer is known for listening to the sailors' feedback. It is a very popular model, so finding spare parts for it will always be easy. Its famous well thought through the salon, and cabin layout is generous and spacious, so Catalinas are comfortable boats to live on. Plus, the boat has quite a wide beam, great ballast/displacement ratio as well as low sail area/displacement ratio, making it a stiff boat under sail, which adds to stability and comfort.

Good condition MkIII Catalinas can be found for about $35,000, but given the volume of these on the market, you can find a usable one even for around $15,000.

This one is a hero. I'd be hesitant to call such a small boat a comfortable liveaboard if it wasn't for this model. For its size, the interior is very spacious. It is also made for comfort since it seems to be inspired by the aforementioned Catalina 30. In fact, after reading some reviews, I am confident in saying that you will not find a significantly more comfortable 27 footer out there.

It also has a talent very uncommon for liveaboard boats - you can put it on a trailer, which can make your life easier when it comes to certain trips. But most importantly, it is a beauty. Just look at it.

Pricing this boat is a tricky task. You can buy nearly new ones (2015) for around $140,000, but even for $50,000, you can stumble upon models from both the 80s and the 2000s. This means the condition is a big factor, and you gotta inspect your choice well. The good news is that whatever your price in that range, you will find a boat for that money. The bad news is that the cheaper you go, the more effort will the potential repairs take.

I thought the Nor'Sea 27 is gonna be it, but let's push the size limit even more with the 20 foot Flicka, this tiny, towable, but seaworthy beast that accomplished several circumnavigations. Upon entering, you will be amazed at how spacious and equipped with amenities the interior is. Its designer lived on this boat with his partner (who too was a naval architect) for years and cruised all around the world - and what a proof of confidence in his own design that is.

Truth be told, there is a lack of deck space, but underneath it has the comfort and size of a boat a few meters larger, a space you can comfortably live in. Due to its size, it is easy to operate, tow, and sails better than what you would expect from a boat this length.

This boat is incredibly charming, and so its owners rarely sell it. In fact, it has amassed quite a following since it was designed into existence. So expect to spend quite some time searching for one for sale. Once you do find one, it will cost you around $30,000 - $40,000.

This one's a weird one. But because of it, a very spacious one. It is structured as a catboat, that is, with the mast being all the way on the front of the boat, which makes for impressive space below the deck. It has all the necessary amenities, including a shower, so for the liveaboard lifestyle, this boat definitely deserves to make this list.

The single sail catboat design also means it is easy to handle single-handed, which makes for great solitary passages.

Expect to pay around $40,000 to $60,000 for this one.

Though I am trying to keep this list in lower price ranges, I have to put this one in. If you don't mind the price tag of around $170,000, this boat is marketed as the currently cheapest liveaboard catamaran. As previously mentioned, cats offer the most in terms of space, and this model is a brand new one. Thus when it comes to service troubles and costs, you wouldn't pay much. The look is modern, relatively minimalistic and sleek, so for those of you who would like to give the liveaboard lifestyle a go but get cold feet upon seeing boats from the 80s, this is a way to make sure things remain stylish.

The modernity, space, and attention to practicality when it comes to using this as your home, make this a great entry-level liveaboard choice.

Again, this is no performance vehicle. Rather it focuses on the usual cruiser aspects - space, stability, sturdiness, and convenience, which makes it an ideal candidate for your choice when looking for a new floating home. Aside from the spacious interior, this boat also has an unusually large cockpit, great for those lunches on the deck.

As if the designers knew this might be used by the liveaboard people, this boat is easy to handle, which means even under sail, you won't have issues focusing on what you came for in the first place - sea living.

This boat can be found on the market for around $75,000 - $100,000.

The great thing about the Hunter 33 is that it was designed as more of a house than a sailboat. The attention to accommodation details is great here; there is plenty of space for sleeping the owners as well as the occasional visitors, it has a fantastic headroom throughout the boat and one of the most spacious and comfortable dining spaces seen on boats this size.

Food preparation and consumption was probably high on the priority list of the makers; the kitchen has an L shape, which adds to the convenience.

The price spread on these is quite large, with the bottom around $55,000 for the 2004 models and the top around $95,000 for the 2013 models.

This one is for those who don't mind sacrificing luxury for space. If in the middle of the ocean, it makes sense that one would want as much of usable space as possible, so if you are okay with the simplicity that will inevitably come with a system like this, you have found your match.

An undeniable advantage of such a design approach is that the storage space is maximized. Long passages with the need for plenty of room for equipment and provisions won't be a problem here. The simplicity of this boat is not just in terms of design, but even the electrics and plumbing. Thus if something breaks, you will have an easier time fixing it.

This being an older model, you can get your hands on one for around $30,000.

Since we are mostly looking at cheaper boats here, most of them aren't new - in fact, they likely have quite a few years behind them. The build quality is thus important. You want to go for builds that will last. Peterson is known for this, so it's gotta be on the list. As far as this list goes, it is quite a large boat. Moreover, it is one that has been built with spaciousness in mind, both when it comes to living spaces and storage.

A neat thing about this boat is its attention to performance. It isn't a racer; rather, it fits in the performance cruiser category, but they haven't made too many speed-related compromises here.

Peterson 44 can usually be found for $80,000 - $100,000.

There needs to be a catamaran on this list - they are, by definition, more spacious than monohulls, providing a large living area, which is, of course, an attractive characteristic for a liveaboard boat. Especially if they have a solid bridge deck, creating yet more square feet of usable space, which Snowgoose has. Unfortunately, they tend to be costly. While it is easy to recommend a bunch of half a million dollar cats, to make this list more within reach of the average sailor, I've found this beauty that you can get for around $100,000.

Aside from the extra space, this model is a true bluewater cruiser, meaning you won't be limited by its abilities when planning your journeys.

Those of you who had the pleasure of sailing this boat know why it needs to be here. It was built for a liveaboard lifestyle. Its wide body makes for one spacious interior which is well ventilated, (a very important aspect) with a beautiful galley and it has a large aft cabin with a huge bed. It was made with comfort, practicality, and convenience in mind.

Not to sound like a salesman, but believe me when I say this boat is a genuine pleasure to be on. If you want the homey feeling, you don't get much closer than this in this size range.

Expect to pay around $80,000 - $100,000 for this one, though some digging around and 'fixing her up' can knock this number down significantly.

This is another easy choice, space being the reason. Not only does it have an extra-large main cabin and salon with a kitchen, many small Parisian apartments could envy, but it is also very generous in terms of storage space. Stocking up for longer crossings will be a pleasure on this one.

Also, it was built as a racer-cruiser, so you won't be making many compromises in terms of performance, as is often the case with comfortable boats.

All of this comes for a price, though. You might be able to find one for around $100,000 if you put some time into your search and won't mind a bit of travel to see it, but otherwise, the average price is around $130,000.

Let's end this list by stretching the ceiling too with this fifty-footer. It was designed as a holiday cruiser, and it is a popular choice among charter companies. The designers know that there are places in Europe where it is very easy to get a sailing license, so many inexperienced people who don't want to give up the comforts of their home end up on these boats. Oceanis 50 is thus comfortable, spacious, easy to sail, and the attention to accommodation details, amenities, and practicality, is very high.

As such, it is designed to house whole families, so if you live there as a couple, you will have a floating house for yourself, and if kids come, no need to buy a new boat. Even on the deck, this boat is designed for pleasure cruises, so as far as that goes, you will be taken care of. As far as their seaworthiness goes, some consider Beneteau an entry-level holiday brand, and some models are indeed more designed for coastal hopping than large crossings. But that can be fixed with some proper fitting.

If you fancy a new one, you will find yourself paying above the $500,000 mark, but older models start a bit above $100,000. Which is something a person who just sold all their possessions to escape to the sea is more likely to have. Just be a bit careful with boats sold by charter companies. Their previous owners serviced them regularly, but you can be sure the hundreds of sailors that touched the helm weren't necessarily skilled or kind to them.

So there you have it. $15,000 - $50,0000 range, 20 - 50-foot sizes, from cozy towable boats to large sailing houses. A range anybody can choose from to pursue the liveaboard dream. Nothing is stopping you now, so hit the yachtworld.com website and start browsing.

Know though that if you really want to take advantage of the boat market, you might have to travel quite a bit. If you are an American, the strong dollar will make it enticing to look for a boat in European countries without the EUR currency. Or you might find plenty of cheap models in Turkey, for instance. It requires more effort, but in return, it might save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Fair winds!

Leave a comment

• BoteCote Epoxy
• LuciClear Resins
• Epox-E-Glue
• Epoxy-Other
• Marine Paints
• Rot and Rust
• Rollers and Trays
• Safety Gear
• Fibreglass Cloth
• Vacuum Bag Stuff
• Marine Carpet
• Marine Plywood
• Hobby Materials
• Hoop Pine Timber
• Strip Planking
• Davey Bronze
• Wood Screws SiBronze
• Bolts Silicon Bronze
• Nuts, Washers, Pins
• Rod & Bar Silicon Bronze
• Nails Silicon Bronze
• Copper Nails & Roves
• Monel Staples
• Books, Magazines, CDs
• Plans & Kits

These are our current specials

BoatCraft's 9.5 m catamaran has been designed to offer exhilarating racing performance combined with comfortable accomodation for 5 - 6 people for cruising weekends and holidays. It has all the features of much larger boats, cleverly designed into a compact economical craft.. The boat is also available as a comfortable live-aboard power cat. It will have particular appeal to both private owners, and to hire fleet operators seeking a small economical easily handled boat. The vessel, from multihull designer Ashley Holliday, is based on the highly efficient Thruster hull form. These narrow, low resistance hulls are very easily driven, and with their long waterline they provide exceptional stability and performance. At 4.23 m, the beam has been kept to a minimum which results in a compact, highly manouvreable, light weight craft, with lower construction costs, and which can utilise a standard marina berth - another cost saving feature. The hull weight should be around 1500 kg, with a design displacement to 2500 kg. Cruising speeds of 10 - 12 knots can be anticipated, with faster passages under racing conditions. LOA 9.46m LWL 9.28m Beam 4.23m Draft 0.347m Displacement 2530kg Sail area 45sqm Waterline beam: 4.07 m Midsection freeboard: 0.888 m Mass per unit immersion: 9983 kg/m Prismatic coefficient: 0.619

9.5m Boatcraft Performance Catamaran Plans

• Shipping Weight: 0.45 kgs

Plan and/or Kit Type

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 28 August, 2008.

Customers who bought this product also purchased...

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

The Boat Galley

making boat life better

10 Small Catamarans for Cruisers

Published on January 23, 2021 ; last updated on November 7, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock/Rick Marcarelli

I hear from many readers interested in small catamarans. Recently, the folks at www.CatamaranSite.com reached out to interview me about our experience cruising on our Gemini 105, Barefoot Gal and we began chatting about the various small catamarans on the market. One thing led to another and I’m pleased that Rick Marcarelli was willing to contribute a guest post sharing information comparing ten of the most popular small catamarans on the market.

When most buyers think of catamarans these days, they think of designs by Lagoon, Leopard, and Fountaine Pajot. 

These are all fine vessels. But they were built to cater to the charter markets. And so they may not be the best boats for long-term, liveaboard cruisers. 

Charter vs Liveaboard Cruising

The typical charter catamaran accommodates three or four couples sailing for one to two weeks in the Caribbean or Mediterranean. Usually they will provision once, sail a few daylight hours, eat out more than a typical cruiser, and anchor or moor for the night.

Compare that itinerary to the typical liveaboard cruiser. 

Most cruisers spend over 90% of their time at anchor or a dock. They provision repeatedly and usually for many months at a time. Many cruisers rarely eat out at restaurants. And most importantly, cruisers sometimes sail non-stop through the night for multiple days or weeks when making a passage between cruising destinations. 

The differences between charterers and cruisers cause them to desire different cabin layouts and amenities.

For charter boats, the focus is on several small cabins, each having its own accompanying head. They also have minimal storage space and enormous salons and cockpits. 

Long-term liveaboards generally desire a large master cabin, fewer heads, and significant storage space. They are usually willing to compromise space for superior sailing performance to reduce passage making days and increase safety by avoiding severe weather. 

Affordable Catamaran Market

Unfortunately for liveaboard cruisers interested in catamarans, the market is dominated by enormous, often very expensive, four cabin-four head charter models. In fact, our analysis of sales data suggests that about 38% of the market consists of Lagoon catamarans and over 50% are Lagoon or Fountaine Pajots. In addition, 90% of the market consists of catamarans over 38 feet in length. Please see the infographic. 

While a majority of catamarans for sale are large, expensive, charter catamarans, our site’s traffic suggests that 40% of buyers are looking for smaller, simpler, affordable catamarans under 38 feet in length. 

These are buyers like Carolyn was when she purchased S/V Barefoot Gal . And they are buyers who may be like you and are looking for something affordable that is suited to your liveaboard needs. 

Modest Cats for Cruisers

Consider widening your net. Here are some additional models to consider in your search:

Prout 37 Snowgoose

• Cruising Grounds: Bluewater
• Underbody: Fixed Keels
• Draft (max): 2.08′
• Mast Height: 40’ (Standard) / 50’ (Elite)
• Bridgedeck Clearance: Average
• Layouts: 3 cabins, 1 head; galley down; open version has larger salon while private stateroom has larger master cabin
• Speed: Slow
• Engines: Usually single outdrive; rare versions have twin inboards
• Availability: Relatively common all over the world
• Ballpark Price: Around $100,000 USD

• Cruising Grounds: Built for North Sea
• Draft (max): 2.5′
• Mast Height: tabernacle mast
• Bridgedeck Clearance: Above Average
• Layouts: 3 cabins, 1 head; galley down
• Engines: Single gas outboard or twin inboard diesels
• Availability: Somewhat rare; usually a couple on the market or 8M sister ship; more in Europe
• Ballpark Price: Under $50,000 USD

Lagoon 37 TPI

• Draft (max): 4′
• Mast Height: 55’
• Layouts: 3 or 4 cabin; 2 heads; galley down
• Speed: Fast 
• Engines: Twin inboard diesels 
• Availability: Very rare; cult classic 
• Ballpark Price: Over $100,000 USD 

PDQ 36 Capella

• Draft (max): 2.82′
• Mast Height: 47’ (Standard) or 55’ (LRC)
• Layouts: 2 or 3 cabin; 1 or 2 heads; galley down
• Engines: Single gas outboard, twin gas outboard, or twin diesel inboard
• Availability: Usually a few on the market and more likely in USA
• Ballpark Price: Over $100,000 USD

Seawind 1000

• Draft (max): 3.2′
• Mast Height: 47’
• Layouts: 4 cabins; 1 head; galley down
• Speed: Fast
• Engines: Twin gas outboard
• Availability: Usually a few for sale; newer models still being built; originally built in Australia
• Ballpark Price: Over $150,000 USD

• Cruising Grounds: Coastal
• Draft (max): 3.35′
• Layouts: 4 cabins or 2 cabin Maestro; 2 head; galley up
• Engines: Twin inboard diesels with saildrives
• Availability: Usually a couple on the market often in Caribbean
• Ballpark Price: Around $150,000 USD

Endeavour 36

• Draft (max): 2′ 9″
• Layouts: 3 cabin; galley down
• Engines: Twin inboard diesels
• Availability: Rare and likely in the USA

• Draft (max): 3.62′
• Mast Height: 55′
• Layouts: 3 cabin / 1 head; 2 cabin / 2 head; galley up
• Availability: More common especially in Caribbean
• Ballpark Price: Newer version up to $300,000 USD
• Underbody: Centerboards
• Draft (max): 5′
• Mast Height: 47’ (M) or 48’ (MC)
• Bridgedeck Clearance: Below Average
• Layouts: 3 cabin; 1 head; galley down but open
• Engines: Single inboard diesel with retractable outdrive
• Availability: Common especially in the USA

• Draft (max): 3′
• Mast Height: 46′
• Layouts: 4 cabin / 1 head; 3 cabin / 2 head; galley down; bathtubs on some
• Engines: Single or twin inboard diesels
• Availability: Rare model
• Ballpark Price: Around $50,000 USD

Rick Marcarelli is the webmaster of CatamaranSite.com featuring cruising catamarans for sale by owner as well as educational articles. Rick is the owner of S/V Catalpa , a Catalac 8M based out of Merritt Island, Florida. The site also functions as the owner’s website for Catalac catamarans. If you are planning on buying a catamaran, CatamaranSite.com might save you a considerable amount of money and lead to years of happy sailing.

And check out our other courses and products

Find this helpful? Share and save:

• Facebook 359
• Pinterest 198

Reader Interactions

January 31, 2021 at 5:58 pm

I would think draft on the fixed keel boats would be important to many who are considering cats.

Carolyn Shearlock says

February 1, 2021 at 12:49 pm

I’ll see if we can perhaps add that.

Richard says

February 9, 2021 at 11:03 am

Good addition. I have provided drafts to Carolyn, so please watch this article for that to be updated. Any questions or additional information you would like added please comment again.

Drew Frye says

February 20, 2021 at 11:46 am

The best way to look at speed ratings is the PHRF rating or other handicaps. I used to own a PDQ 32 and never found a Gemini I couldn’t pass rather easily on autopilot, so I don’t think it rates slow if well handled. Granted, mine was turboed a bit and carried a 120 rating.

Florida ratings, according to US Sailing

PDQ 32 135 Seawind 1000 137 PDQ 36 156 Gemini 105 MC 168 Snowgoose 250 The others rate around 130-145

And of course, this is only fast or slow within the class. Fast multihulls cruising (?) multihulls rate 0-60.

February 21, 2021 at 7:59 am

Thanks! Good info.

September 10, 2023 at 5:55 am

I have an Edel 35′. For their price, they are a good option, for this size of catamaran. They are not slow, by any means. Disadvantage: clearance under nacelle.

Erin Michaud says

February 23, 2021 at 10:22 am

Great info, we met an owner of a Catalac 9M in Key West Garrison Bight Marina a couple of weeks ago. His name is Eric & he moved his boat to the Boca Chica Navy Marina. I will send the contact info for Rick to him specifically for the Catalac boats! Thanks!

February 24, 2021 at 5:54 am

Catalacs are great boats. We saw a couple for sale around the time we bought Barefoot Gal but they were sold the same day they were listed so we didn’t get to even look at them.

January 6, 2022 at 11:32 am

Hello. I was wondering if you can identify this open catamaran which boasts a GRP cockpit with seating?

https://imgur.com/gallery/2wzUJmR

Bruce Bayne says

February 20, 2022 at 9:57 am

I noticed that the Privilege 37 and 39 were not mentioned in your 10 list of catamarans. Is there a reason? How do they stack up to the others with regard to speed and bridgedeck clearance?

June 6, 2022 at 10:44 am

Rayma Church says

July 31, 2024 at 7:27 pm

Last November we purchased a Fontaine Pajot power cat (MY4s) that is 37′ long and has a beam of 16.8″, with a draft of 2.6″ and a height of 15′ but is tall inside for my 6’5″ partner without having to hunch over. This means we can go under the lowest bridges on the Great Lakes leg of the Loop, although we do not have a fly bridge. This is a new model (made its debut in 2023) and we plan to start the Great Lakes leg in June 2025 – the boat is being handed over to us in Annapolis in October. One of the reasons we selected this boat is because of the need for interior height but exterior “shortness” to get under the bridges. Also, this model has access on both sides of the boat that are about 18″ wide – another safety feature as my 6’5″ man has size 14 feet! We have been receiving your emails for the last 9 months or so in preparation for so many things boat related. We are both so happy to crib off of your experience rather than learn through adversity! Thanks, rayma

August 1, 2024 at 12:26 pm

Great choice of boat for the Loop!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Each week you’ll get:

• Tips from Carolyn • New articles & podcasts • Popular articles you may have missed • Totally FREE – one email a week

SUBSCRIBE NOW

• Questions? Click to Email Me
• Visit Our Store

Tip Top V, Galapagos

• from ₽ 67,604 / day

• Ocean views and private balconies
• Choice of two 7-night itineraries
• Multi-lingual guide showcasing incredible Galapagos

Newly built in 2019, the Tip Top V first-class catamaran offers fantastic small-ship cruises in the Galapagos Islands for just 16 passengers. On the main deck are 2 double matrimonial and 2 twin cabins. Located on the upper deck are two double cabins and 4 twin cabins. Each tastefully decorated stateroom has ample storage space, a safety deposit box, a hairdryer, individually controlled air-conditioning, and private en-suite bathrooms. All cabins feature ocean views, and the upper deck cabins also have a private balcony.

Main deck social areas include the large open-air dining room with a capacity for 20 guests, an indoor salon, and a comfortable lounge. On the upper deck is an al-fresco terrace, lounge, and bar, perfect for sipping a cocktail while enjoying the evening's sunset and stunning views. There are also comfortable loungers and a hot tub for relaxing in-between activities.

The Tip Top V catamaran has the choice of two 7-night itineraries, which can also be combined to offer the ultimate Galapagos experience. Option 1 visits Santiago Island, Fernandina, Isabela, and Santa Cruz, whereas Option 2 explores Santa Cruz, Floreana, Espanola, and Genovesa. Either itinerary ensures getting up close with wildlife and memorable experiences that only the Galapagos Islands can deliver. The onboard multi-lingual guide will show off the Galapagos Islands' incredible scenery and magical encounters.

Book online today to start planning your perfect small-ship Galapagos cruise.

Choose your departure date

Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Local Flights, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Kayaks, Land Excursions, Naturalist Guide, Snorkel Gear, Snorkeling Guide, Stand Up Paddleboard, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Deck Towels.

Required Extras: National Park Fees (100-200 USD per trip), Visas and Fees (20 USD per trip).

Optional Extras: Alcoholic Beverages, WiFi internet.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

Pay by bank transfer or online with

Boat features

• TV in cabins
• Air Conditioned saloon
• Aircon Cabins
• Indoor Saloon
• Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
• Warm Water Showers
• Non-Smoking Rooms
• Family Cabins
• Seaview Cabins
• Kayaks On-Board
• Snorkeling Equipment
• Dedicated Local & International Crew
• Nearly 1:1 Crew-to-Guest Ratio
• Observation Deck
• Family Friendly Cruise
• Available for Charter

Food & Drinks

• Vegetarian Options
• Buffet style
• Beer available
• Free Soft Drinks
• Welcome Cocktails

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English and Spanish.

Gear Rental

There is equipment available to rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. You will need to pay for the rental gear on board of the boat. Show prices

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Boat navigation and safety.

• Depth Sounder
• Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
• E.P.I.R.B. Distress System
• Emergency Rafts
• Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
• First Aid Kits
• Satellite & mobile phones
• Bilge pump alarm
• Search light
• Engine room CCTV
• Crew trained in first aid
• Emergency flares

Similar Cruise Ships

• Natural Paradise
• from ₽ 37,024 / day
• 9.6 Exceptional

• Galapagos Legend
• from ₽ 43,365 / day

• from ₽ 24,546 / day

We’re here to help, 24/7.

Connect with our expert travel consultants to plan your next trip.

• Call us +44 1341 555033
• Email Us Send us a message
• About us Who we are

• AUD Australian Dollar
• BRL Brazilian Real
• CAD Canadian Dollar
• CHF Swiss Franc
• CNY Chinese Yuan
• CZK Czech Koruna
• DKK Danish Krone
• GBP British Pound
• HKD Hong Kong Dollar
• HUF Hungarian Forin
• ILS Israeli New Sheqel
• INR Indian Rupee
• JPY Japanese Yen
• KRW Korean Won
• MXN Mexican Peso
• MYR Malaysian Ringgit
• NOK Norwegian Krone
• NZD New Zealand Dollar
• PHP Philippine Peso
• PLN Polish Zloty
• RON Romanian Leu
• RUB Russian Ruble
• SEK Swedish Krona
• SGD Singapore Dollar
• THB Thai Baht
• TRY Turkish Lira
• TWD New Taiwan Dollar
• USD US Dollars
• ZAR South African Rand
• New Zealand
• Virgin Islands
• Admiralty Dream
• Adriatic Princess
• Adriatic Queen
• Akomo Isseki
• Alaskan Dream
• All Star Cuan Law
• All Star Red Sea
• Amadeus Thailand
• Amalia Indonesia
• Amaya Explorer
• Amba Liveaboard
• Aqua Tiki II
• Aqua Tiki III
• Archipell I
• Arora Virgo
• Atlantis Azores
• Bahamas Aggressor
• Bahriyeli C
• Bahriyeli D
• Baranof Dream
• Belize Aggressor III
• Belize Aggressor IV
• Black Pearl
• Blackbeards Morning Star
• Blackbeards Sea Explorer
• Blue Dolphin
• Blue Force One
• Blue Horizon
• Blue Maldives
• Blue Melody
• Blue Shark 2
• Blue Voyager
• Burc-u Zafer
• BVI Aggressor
• Cachalote Explorer
• Caledonian Sky
• Calico Jack
• Calipso Cruise
• Calipso Dive
• Captain Bota
• Caribbean Explorer II
• Carpe Diem Indonesia
• Cayman Aggressor IV
• Chichagof Dream
• Christianna VII
• Cocos Island Aggressor
• Coral Adventurer
• Coral Discoverer
• Coral Geographer
• Coral I and II
• Coral Sea Dreaming
• Cormorant II
• Crucero Amazonas
• Cruisenautic
• Danubio Azul
• Deep Andaman Queen
• Dewi Nusantara
• Discovery Alaska
• Discovery I
• Discovery II
• Discovery Palawan
• DiveRACE Class E
• Dolce Vita Egypt
• Dolphin Dream
• Dolphin Queen
• Duke of York
• Duyung Baru
• EcoPro Mariana
• EcoPro Seascape
• Elite Galapagos
• Emperor Asmaa
• Emperor Elite
• Emperor Explorer
• Emperor Harmoni
• Emperor Leo
• Emperor Raja Laut
• Emperor Serenity
• Emperor Superior
• Emperor Voyager
• Expedition Antarctica
• Fascination
• Fiji Princess
• Freedom III
• G Adventures Croatia
• G Adventures Greece
• G Adventures Thailand
• Galapagos Aggressor III
• Galapagos Angel
• Galapagos Horizon
• Galapagos Master
• Galapagos Sea Star
• Galapagos Sky
• Galaxy Diver II
• Galaxy Orion
• Galaxy Sirius
• Gaya Baru Indah
• Gemini Explorer
• Gentle Giant
• Ghazala Explorer
• Golden Dolphin
• Golden Dolphin II
• Golden Dolphin iii
• Golden Dolphin IV
• Grand Daphne
• Grand Majestic
• Grand Queen Beatriz - Galapagos
• Hammerhead II
• Harmony G Cape Verde
• Heaven Saphir
• Heritage Explorer
• Hondius Antarctica
• Hondius Arctic
• Humboldt Explorer
• Iberotel Amara
• Iberotel Crown Emperor
• Iberotel Crown Empress
• Idriva Comfort Plus
• Idriva Deluxe
• Idriva Premium
• Indo Master
• Infinity Galapagos
• Jardines Avalon Fleet
• Jaz Nile Monarch
• Jelajahi Laut
• Katarina Line Deluxe
• Katarina Line Deluxe Superior
• Katarina Line Premium Class
• Katarina Line Premium Superior
• Katarina Line Traditional En-Suite
• Kimberley Quest II
• Komodo Sea Dragon
• Lucky Marine Liveaboard
• Maldives Aggressor II
• Maldives Blue Force 3
• Mama Marija
• Mama Marija II
• Manta Queen 1
• Manta Queen 2
• Manta Queen 3
• Manta Queen 5
• Manta Queen 7
• Manta Queen 8
• Merit Dahabiya
• Mikumba Dua
• Mutiara Laut
• MY Odyssey Liveaboard
• Nautilus Belle Amie
• Nautilus Explorer
• Nautilus Explorer Costa Rica
• Nautilus Gallant Lady
• Nautilus Two
• Nautilus Under Sea
• Neptune One
• Nile Queen II
• Northern Dream
• Ocean Albatros Antarctica
• Ocean Albatros Arctic
• Ocean Divine
• Ocean Hunter 3
• Ocean Lovers
• Ocean Quest
• Ocean Sapphire
• Ocean Spray
• Ocean Victory
• Odyssey Dive
• Okeanos Aggressor II
• Ombak Putih
• Ortelius Antarctica
• Ortelius Arctic Diving
• Pacific Master
• Palau Aggressor II
• Palau Siren
• Palau Sport
• Panorama Greece
• Panorama II Polynesia
• Pearl of Papua
• Philippine Siren
• Philippines Aggressor
• Philippines Aggressor II
• Plancius Antarctica
• Plancius Antarctica Diving
• Plancius Arctic
• Plancius Arctic Diving
• Plataran Phinisi Ambasi
• Polar Pioneer
• Princess Aloha
• Princess Dhonkamana
• Princess Haleema
• Princess Haseena
• Princess Rani
• Princess Sara
• Princess Ulua
• Putri Papua
• Queenesia II
• Quino el Guardian
• Raja Ampat Aggressor
• Raja Ampat Explorer
• Red Sea Aggressor II
• Red Sea Aggressor IV
• Red Sea Blue Force 2
• Reef Endeavour Diving
• Reina Silvia Voyager
• Rembrandt van Rijn Arctic
• Roatan Aggressor
• Rocio del Mar
• Royal Evolution
• Royal Evolution - Saudi Arabia
• Running on Waves
• Safari Endeavour Alaska
• Safari Explorer
• Safari Explorer Hawaii
• Safari Quest
• Safari Voyager Mexico
• San Spirito
• Saudi Explorer
• Saudi Pioneer
• Sawasdee Fasai
• Scubaspa Yang
• Scubaspa Ying
• Scubaspa Zen
• Sea Bird Cruise
• Sea Pearl - Egypt
• Sea Pearl Cruise
• Sea Safari 8
• Sea Safari VI
• Sea Serpent
• Sea Serpent Contessa
• Sea Serpent Excellence
• Sea Serpent Grand
• Sea Star Alaska
• Seafari Explorer 2
• Seahorse II
• Seaman Journey
• Seawolf Dominator
• Seawolf Steel
• Seven Seas Egypt
• Shore Thing
• Situju7 Cruise
• Smiling Seahorse
• Snefro Love
• Snefro Pearl
• Snefro Spirit
• Snefro Target
• Solitude Adventurer
• Solitude Gaia
• Solitude One
• Southern Sport
• Spirit of Freedom
• SS Glorious Miss Nouran
• SS Serena Dreams
• Steigenberger Legacy
• Steigenberger Minerva
• Steigenberger Regency
• Steigenberger Royale
• Stella Maris
• Stella Maris Explorer
• Stella Oceana
• Sunshine Egypt
• Thailand Aggressor
• The Phinisi
• Thunderbird
• Tiare Cruise
• Tiburon Explorer
• Tranquility
• Treasure of Galapagos
• Turks and Caicos Aggressor II
• Turks and Caicos Explorer
• Vita Xplorer
• Water And Wind
• Westward Alaska
• Westward Mexico
• White Manta
• White Pearl
• Wilderness Discoverer
• Yasawa Princess
• Zephyria II
• Cayman Islands
• Dominican Republic
• Turks and Caicos
• Saudi Arabia
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Solomon islands
• 0 Verified Review
• Activities 0.0
• {{ review.modelAverageRatingFormatted }} {{ review.ratingText }}
• {{ review.modelPresentationName }}

{{ review.title }} {{ review.howwasit }} Recommended for {{ review.best_things }}

Fill in the form below and LiveAboard’s customer service will get back to you as soon as possible.

Main Deck Double Cabins

• 1 double bed
• Aircon with control
• Ensuite Bathroom
• Max 2 guests

Cabins with one king-size bed (6.5’ x 6.5’) – Cabins 1 & 2 (210 square feet each cabin). Each cabin has: - Private bathroom (toilet, shower, washbasin, and vanity) - Locker and drawers - Hair dryer - Safety box - Air-conditioned

Main Deck Twin Cabins

• 2 single beds (twin)

Cabins with two single beds (3.15’ x 6.5’)– Cabins 3 to 6 (210 square feet each cabin) Each cabin has: - Private bathroom (toilet, shower, washbasin, and vanity) - Locker and drawers - Hairdryer - Safety box - Air-conditioned

Upper Deck Double Cabins

Cabins with one king-size bed (6.5’ x 6.5’)– Cabins 5 & 6.( 200 square feet each cabin plus 70 square feet balcony) Each cabin has: - Private bathroom (toilet, shower, washbasin, and vanity) - Locker and drawers - Hairdryer - Safety box - Air-conditioned

Upper Deck Twin Cabins

Cabins with single lower beds (6.5’ x 6.5’) – Cabins 7 to 10. (170 square feet each cabin plus 35 square feet balcony) Each cabin has: - Private bathroom (toilet, shower, washbasin, and vanity) - Locker and drawers - Hairdryer - Safety box - Air-conditioned

Main Deck Single Cabins

• 1 double or 2 single beds (amenable twin)
• Max 1 guest

2 Cabins with one king-size bed (6.5’ x 6.5’) – Cabins 1 & 2 (210 square feet each cabin).  4 Cabins with two single beds (3.15’ x 6.5’) – Cabins 3 to 6 (210 square feet each cabin) Each cabin has: - Private bathroom (toilet, shower, washbasin, and vanity) - Locker and drawers - Hairdryer - Safety box - Air-conditioned. 1 of them can be booked as single occupancy with no supplement. Subject to availability.

Rental Gear Prices

There is equipment available to rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. You will need to pay for the rental gear on board of the boat.

• BCD 25-45 USD per trip
• Fins Included
• Mask Included
• Wetsuit 35-90 USD per trip

{{ itinerary.itineraryName }}

• Private Charter ENQUIRE
• Private Charter
• -{{ itinerary.discount }} % Special Deal
• {{ itinerary.currencySymbol }} {{ itinerary.crossedRate }} {{ itinerary.currencySymbol }} {{ itinerary.price }}
• {{ itinerary.spacesLeftText }} Select Cabin Book Now

Living Aboard a Boat: How to Know When You’re Ready

Embracing the call of the open sea and making the life-altering shift to living aboard a sailboat isn’t just about following a to-do checklist. Preparation and knowledge are crucial, but at some point you must cast aside the list and take that daring plunge into the unknown. The question is: How do I know when I am ready to take on this adventure?

YOU ARE READY TO LIVE ABOARD WHEN

You can overcome your checklist obsession.

Ignore the Noise

The internet is flooded with opinions from so-called “experts.” (like us? LOL) They can provide useful insights…we certainly aim to do so. But don’t let their chatter cloud your judgment. Trust your instincts and your partner’s. You know you are ready when you can make these decisions and not second guess yourself:

• Have confidence in your boat and equipment – is the boat and equipment in good condition?
• Feel confident in boat handling, anchoring, docking, maintenance – do seaschool / engine course.
• Know what you want in a boat. Choose 5 things you cannot live without and 5 things that would be a deal breaker – the things that matter are anchor, engine, sails, solar, lithium, refrigeration, dinghy, washer, aircon, etc.

Communication is Key

Discuss openly with your partner what about your expectations, limitations, and boundaries are. It’s essential to be on the same page. A well-thought-out safety net or a backup plan can ease any anxieties. You are ready when you can discuss a plan to:

• Commit to a timeline.
• Purchase a boat that is affordable fitting within a sensible budget. Don’t over capitalize. Your exit strategy is important to being sensitive about both partner’s abilities, sensibilities, and limitations.

Shared Commitment

Sailing is a team activity. Be prepared to be fully involved and invested in a good and happy outcome. You cannot be a passenger. I know because I made this mistake when Stephen and I first set sail relying on him completely. It was tough on both of us. Competence gives you confidence. Are you ready to:

• Stand watches and sail at night with no stopping for days – takes endurance.
• Fix the boat.
• Handle the sails.
• Tie a line.

Embrace Uncertainty

Feeling unsure is natural when embarking on such a significant life change. Remember, no one masters everything instantly. Practice and experience will be your best teachers. Be flexible and adaptable. Be a “can-do” person because this is sometimes really hard, physically and mentally! Be prepared and creative. Prepare as much as you can, but accept that everything is a challenge.

Compromise onboard and be flexible ready to “tack” in life and in sailing. Don’t let small things freak you out. Avoid blaming the boat, your partner, the island, etc. as the blame game will sink your dream.

Make sure that the sacrifice is worth it for you. Is this a rewarding alternative for giving up some things to gain others? The smallest “irritation” on a boat can become an insurmountable obstacle if you are not happy with your choices. Consider:

• Can you significantly pare down on “stuff”
• Do you understand and accept the limitations of onboard refrigeration and storage?
• Can you comfortably adhere to a budget? Modern, intricate boat systems can unexpectedly inflate expenses. And many components can only be repaired by an experienced hand, so you’ll need to differentiate between essentials and luxuries.
• Are you okay with sailing overnight and standing watches?
• Are you OK with missing out on family and friends’ events and in-person visits?
• Consider your connectivity needs. Do you need to work while onboard? Can your budget accommodate a Starlink or Iridium-Go plan or will local options suffice?

Second Chances

It’s perfectly fine to make mistakes along the way. If you find that you’ve sailed off course, there’s no shame in turning back and giving it another shot. Sometimes, the second try is the charm. If not…well, it may take a third try.

In the end, the sea beckons with its promise of adventure and freedom. So, whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a newbie, remember that sometimes, it’s the bold, unplanned leaps that lead to the most rewarding journeys. Bon voyage! 🌊⛵

start Learning Here

• Marine Diesel Engine Do’s and Don’ts
• Prevent Marine Fuel Contamination
• Typical Marine Engine Issues and How to Resolve Them
• Sailing School 
• https://www.ryanandsophie.com/
• https://www.fit2sail.com/about-nica
• https://www.sailingtotem.com/

Wanda Anglin

Join our community.

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

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

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

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

Recent Posts

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

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

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

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

Annapolis Boat Show 2024

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

Exploring the Catana OC 50 Catamaran: A Comprehensive Overview

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

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

• Stephen & Estelle
• Testimonials

Get Started

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

Liveaboard Sailboat Budget: A Complete Guide

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

Living aboard a sailboat can be a cost-effective lifestyle, but only if you budget smart, predict expenses, and plan ahead.

In this article, we'll go over the basics of budgeting and what to consider when planning your finances as a liveaboard. We'll also cover the most common expenses that are unique to sailboats, along with how to save money and budget accordingly.

As a liveaboard, you'll need to budget for slip fees, fuel, maintenance, utilities, repairs, and supplies. You'll also need to factor in registration fees and mandatory safety equipment that has a limited service life.

We sourced the information for this article from marinas, maintenance records, and from our experience with sailors who live aboard their boats. Other information was sourced from financial experts experienced in budgeting.

Table of contents

Budgeting Basics

Budgeting is one of the simplest and most important aspects of money management. They don't teach it in schools, but it can be the difference between living well and falling behind. This is especially true on a sailboat because a well-budgeted liveaboard can enjoy a level of financial independence unrivaled by traditional housing.

Before we dive into the specifics of budgeting on a sailboat, we will cover some of the basic rules of managing money. This will make it easier to manage your finances in the unique liveaboard environment.

Managing Income, Savings, and Expenses

One of the most important rules of budgeting is to be aware of what's going on in your personal finances. You need to figure out how much money you're making, how much money you have, and how much money you're spending.

One way to get a handle on your finances is to audit your bank statements. Figure out how much you're taking home, when your bills are due, how much they cost, and what you have leftover. This includes things such as credit card bills, loan payments, utility expenses, rent, and other recurring expenses.

Once you have a handle on your finances, keep track of them regularly and look for ways to save. This is how you can safely determine how much you can afford to spend.

Emergency Fund

Everyone, especially liveaboards, should have an emergency fund if they can afford it. An emergency fund is a chunk of change that you don't touch unless you absolutely need to. For most people, $10,000 is the ideal emergency fund balance. It can cover everything from emergency medical bills to job loss, and it can also cover expensive sailboat repairs.

Budgeting on a Sailboat

Many people choose the liveaboard lifestyle because they believe it saves money. That's said, poor financial management can make living aboard cost more than living in an apartment or house. Proper budgeting and regular upkeep are essential to keep your liveaboard lifestyle affordable and comfortable.

Budgeting on a sailboat follows the same basic principles as any other kind of budgeting. However, the specifics are different, as a sailboat is a floating vehicle that has unique maintenance and living requirements.

Boat Payments

Many people make payments on their boats. Financing a liveaboard sailboat is common practice, and you should budget these payments the same way you'd budget a car payment or even the mortgage. Be sure to factor in boat payments when making your budget, as it should be a top priority when cash is tight.

Boat Insurance, while not mandatory in most places, can actually make your budget more secure despite the recurring expense. Sailboat insurance is generally inexpensive and rarely costs more than a few hundred dollars per year.

It provides peace of mind and protection from accidents that can easily cost thousands. Part of budgeting is preparing for unexpected costs, and boat insurance can eliminate one of the largest emergency boat expenses.

Cruising vs. Permanent Mooring

How do you plan on using your sailboat? A moored sailboat has vastly different requirements than a cruising sailboat. Cruising, whether short or far, requires several additional resources that you'll need to budget for. Remember, these requirements are in addition to regular maintenance, which will cover later in this article.

Up-to-date navigational equipment is essential if you plan to cruise on your sailboat. In the 21st century, people rely primarily on digital navigation systems when setting sail. The old tools and methods are important but less expensive to acquire, so we'll focus on Modern systems.

The most basic modern GPS chart systems cost between $250 and $1,000. These systems become obsolete somewhat quickly, so you should plan to update them once every five or ten years. More advanced navigation instruments, such as radar, last longer but cost significantly more. If you intend to use radar, plan to spend between $1,500 and $3,000 for the system and occasional maintenance.

Another consideration for cruising sailboats is rigging. In this case, we'll also include items such as sails, furling systems, winches, and other working hardware that's necessary for sailing.

Plan for regular maintenance and occasional replacement, as the consequences of rigging failure can be catastrophic. Be sure to budget for replacement canvas, tools, stays, lines, and other items that need attention before (or after) getting underway.

Dockside Liveaboard Budgeting

If you plan on spending most of your time at the dock, you don't have to worry as much about rigging and operational expenses. Instead, your expenses will likely resemble those of living in an apartment or a house.

Docking Fees

Docking fees, or slip fees, are the expenses paid to dock your boat at a marina or yacht club. Docking fees vary widely between states, cities, and establishments. Usually, docking and slip fees are calculated by an overall boat length. Additional expenses may apply to unusually wide boats, such as catamarans and trimarans.

You should budget slip fees the same way you budget a rent payment or a mortgage. Similarly, if you fail to pay your dock or slip fees, your vessel could be evicted from its mooring. Slip fees should be a top priority on your liveaboard sailboat budget.

Utilities include everything from electricity to freshwater. These connections are available only on the dock, though sailboats can generate their own electricity using their engine, solar panels, wind turbines, and other sources. Liveaboards typically connect to shore power, water, and sewage, as it requires virtually no initial expense.

Budgeting for utilities is typically fairly easy for liveaboards. This is because shore connections are often included in the price of mooring. If they're not included, you can talk to the marina and get an idea of how much you'll spend.

Fuel expenses are also a factor for liveaboards, even if they rarely move the boat. This is because fuel includes both gasoline or diesel for the engine (which should always be operational) and also propane or kerosene for heating and cooking.

Some boat stoves and heaters use mineral spirits (alcohol), so that should also be considered. There are no hookups for cooking and heating fuel at marinas, so it must be hauled in manually.

If you live aboard in an area with cold weather, such as the Pacific Northwest or the Northeast, you should allocate a considerable amount of your budget to heating fuel. Additionally, consider converting your appliances to run on the same fuel. For example, if you have a kerosene stove, consider installing a kerosene heater as well. This can simplify the budgeting process as only one fuel type has to be acquired.

Maintenance

Apart from slip fees, maintenance is likely the largest expense you'll need to budget for. It is also incomparable to home maintenance, as very few of the same tasks apply. Regular maintenance is essential and will prevent costly repairs down the line.

Safety Equipment

The U.S. Coast Guard requires several pieces of safety equipment to be aboard your boat at all times, whether moored at a marina or out at sea. Many of these items have a limited service life and must be checked and replaced regularly. These items include fire extinguishers, life jackets, flares, among others.

Engines are the source of some of the highest maintenance expenses aboard a sailboat. This is especially true for inboard motors, which must be maintained in tight spaces. It's essential to keep your engine running well. Oil changes, cooling system inspections, repairs, and filter replacements must occur regularly.

The hull of a sailboat is a magnet for undesirable sea life, such as barnacles, muscles, and other growth. Though the hull itself is quite resilient, marine growth can weigh down the boat, immobilize the propeller, damage the rudder, and cause other issues, especially while underway. The hull must be scraped and painted periodically, which can be considerably expensive. This should be included in the budget once every year or two.

Additionally, oxidation occurs on fiberglass hulls which need to be addressed periodically. This process can be done about the waterline and does not always require hauling out. Refinishing kits are available, and you can do it yourself to reduce the cost.

The deck is another source of maintenance costs that are often overlooked. The cost time required to maintain your deck depends on what kind of deck you have. A teak deck, for example, can be maintained yourself, but it's more labor-intensive than a fiberglass deck. Be sure to factor in the cost of chemicals and tools when budgeting for deck maintenance.

Wiring typically doesn't require maintenance in the traditional sense, though it will need to be serviced periodically. Marine electrical systems required fuses, bulbs, and other items that deteriorate faster in a saltwater-rich environment than they do on land. Factor in a few hundred dollars per year for miscellaneous electrical parts.

Hauling Out

Hauling out is an essential part of hull maintenance that's costly enough to include as a separate category. Your vessel will need to be hauled out once every couple of years to scrape and paint the bottom, along with performing any repairs that can't be done in the water. Hauling out is an extensive process that can cost several thousand dollars, but it isn't required very often.

Chemicals are surprisingly expensive and must be budgeted accordingly. Items such as fiberglass and resin, which are essential aboard any sailboat, can cost upwards of $100 per gallon. Several gallons could be required to complete a repair job.

Other compounds, such as paint, spar varnish, and cleaning supplies, should also be factored in. In most cases, $1,000 per year or so should cover most chemical expenses. Storing chemicals properly helps preserve them and reduce costs over time.

Most liveaboards agree that you should have a few grand tucked away for repairs each year. Things break on a sailboat, and this is especially inconvenient if the vessel doubles as your home. We've already covered chemicals for fiberglass repair, so let's go over some of the other sources of surprise repair costs.

Pipes and Plumbing

Plumbing issues are common on sailboats. Leaky showerheads, clogged toilets, and tank issues happen occasionally and must be repaired. Luckily these issues are usually not particularly expensive or complex to fix.

Sailboats must furnish their own water pressure and include systems the pump out the bilge. Potable water pumps and bilge pumps are electric and have a limited service life, which means you'll need to replace them eventually.

Cabinets, doors, gimbals, and other interior furnishings break from time to time. Budget a few hundred dollars each year for wood, stain, hinges, screws, and other miscellaneous hardware to repair interior fixtures if they break.

Leaks occur on sailboats; it's just part of life. Leaks are also the most annoying problems to fix and can be very costly and urgent. It's best to factor in some of your savings to repair leaks in the hull and the deck. Don't ignore leaks around portlights and vents, as water ingress can cause mold and quietly weaken the fiberglass structure of your vessel.

Mechanical Systems

Mechanical and electromechanical systems such as the engine, blowers, and hydraulics sometimes fail and need repair. These systems are the most costly to repair on a sailboat. They can eat up a considerable amount of your maintenance budget in a short period of time. Regular inspection and maintenance are key to preventing unwelcome mechanical issues.

Experienced sailors often already have all the tools they need to maintain and repair their boat. But if you're new to the liveaboard lifestyle, you're going to need to equip yourself with all the required implements for maintaining your vessel.

Along with basic tools, such as screwdrivers, a power drill, and wrenches, you'll also need tools to work with fiberglass, wiring, and plumbing. Most of these tools are available for discounted prices at yard sales, pawnshops, and local marketplaces.

Transportation

Transportation is an important factor to consider when living aboard a sailboat. Some sailors choose to keep a car, especially if they continue to work a traditional job in a city. This poses unique challenges in that it adds car payments, insurance payments, and fuel to the equation. Additionally, some marinas don't allow parking for free.

Ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft are an alternative, but this adds up quickly. Some sailors choose to take public transportation or ride a bicycle, which can reduce the long-term load on your budget.

Sample Liveaboard Budget

Now that we've covered the basic expenses to expect when living aboard, we'll put together a sample liveaboard budget. The figures are based on someone making a monthly income of $4,000 docking a 30-foot sailboat at a reasonably priced marina.

As you can see, a well-proportioned budget leaves plenty of wiggle room for personal expenses, saving, and stashing money away for larger unexpected expenses. These prices may not reflect your individual situation, but the point remains the same. A balanced budget can make living aboard a sailboat affordable and enjoyable.

Related Articles

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

by this author

Financial and Budgeting

Most Recent

What Does "Sailing By The Lee" Mean?

October 3, 2023

The Best Sailing Schools And Programs: Reviews & Ratings

September 26, 2023

Important Legal Info

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

Similar Posts

Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K

December 28, 2023

How To Choose The Right Sailing Instructor

August 16, 2023

Cost To Dock A Sailboat

May 17, 2023

Popular Posts

Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats

Can a Novice Sail Around the World?

Elizabeth O'Malley

4 Best Electric Outboard Motors

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

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

December 20, 2023

7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat

Get the best sailing content.

Top Rated Posts

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. (866) 342-SAIL

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