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Antares 44i

AntaresInterior

One of the innovations that the new owners put into their boat was a Selden in-mast furling mainsail.  Normally, the 44i comes with tall, high roach, fully-battened mains that really give them a fine turn of speed. The in-mast furling sail is smaller than the standard, so it has less power but is much easier for the Crandalls to handle.

Once we were 10 miles offshore, we rolled out the mainsail and began power reaching. The breeze had built to 15 knots and whitecaps were forming on the wave tops. The 44i reacted by scooting ahead at nearly 9 knots at 60 degrees to the apparent wind. It was impressive to feel the boat—which displaces 19,000 pounds—accelerate as we gathered way after each tack.  The boat’s motion through the waves was stable and easy. Unlike some cats, the 44i did not pitch as it sailed through the chop because the hulls have quite narrow bows and sterns and the weight inside the hulls has been concentrated near the centers of gravity. The waves were not large enough to slap under the bridge deck.

AntaresCockpit

THE ARGENTINE CONNECTION

The Antares began life as a PDQ Antares 44 built in Canada. Two years ago, the company folded up its tents in Canada and—under new ownership—went in search of a suitable place to build boats. Owners Jeff Woodman and Rob Poirier were looking for a boat building center with a combination of long traditions of yacht quality finish and the advanced technical knowledge needed to build modern, cored, lightweight composite structures. They were also looking for that unquantifiable quality of passion for finely finished oceangoing yachts.

Their search led them to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and to Memo Castro and Santiago Alvarez Forn, both experienced offshore sailors and veteran boat builders. Although North Americans may not be aware that B.A. is a world-class yacht building center, Europeans and Italians especially have been building high tech, high quality custom yachts in the city for many years. And, South Americans have been buying and sailing Argentine production sailboats for generations.  The logistics of moving the molds and the company from Canada to B.A. is a story in itself, but suffice it to say the saga has ended well and Antares is now producing six boats a year out of two facilities near the Rio Plata, with a full order book running through 2011.

Last winter, when Jeff and Rob extended an invitation to me to fly to South America to see the new facilities and meet the builders, I jumped at the opportunity for two reasons. First, I was eager to see where, how and by whom the boats were being built.  And second, I was keen to make a pilgrimage to the leading land of polo (the horses-and-mallets version), which has become something of a passion of mine in recent years.  I joined Jeff and Rob in B.A. for two days of visiting with Santiago and Memo and the local team, and to have a look at the Crandalls’ new boat in the near-completion stages before it was shipped to the States.  And I was lucky enough to be at the plant for an asado, when all of the staff celebrated the launching of a new Antares 44i with a lunchtime feast of grilled Argentine beef and blood sausage. The team of builders that Memo and Santiago have assembled has a huge amount of experience building light, advanced cored hulls with fine interiors.  Many of the craftsmen have been working together for years, and several of them now have their sons working with them. Their pride in their work shows the care they take to make each lamination, joint and installation as perfect as possible. That’s the passion Jeff and Rob were looking for.

After our factory visits and a thorough tour of the Crandalls’ new 44, Jeff and Rob joined me for a day of watching high goal polo north of B.A. at the Ellerstina estancia near the city of Pilar. For Jeff and Rob, seeing the sport for the first time and watching the best polo players in the world playing a local grudge match was a revelation; for me, it was pure spectator heaven. The next day, I was lucky enough to join some local players in an afternoon game on borrowed horses.  Polo is a passionate sport full of fast action, brave ponies and hot-tempered players, which is why the gauchos of the Pampas are the world’s best.

THE 44i CONCEPT

Antares builds only the 44i. They produce six boats a year right now and each one is created for it’s owners as a semi-custom offshore cruising boat. The 44i was not created for the charter market, so the compromises that inevitably creep into any yacht design are skewed toward the needs of a self-sufficient, offshore sailing couple.  Designer Ted Clements has spent his life in the marine business in Canada and has worked with some of North America’s leading builders.

For the creation of the 44i, he started with a blank sheet of paper and began solving one problem after the next.  First, the boat had to be a good sea boat that was safe offshore while still light enough to be fast and fun to sail. Ted started with the hull shapes, which as noted above are narrow and well-balanced fore and aft. He concentrated on getting the right clearance for the bridge deck so wave slapping would not be a problem. This elevated the saloon, which in turn gave the 44i fairly high topsides. The reverse sheer line gives the design a distinctive look and provides maximum headroom and volume where you need it. The rudders are fitted to full depth skegs so they are protected from flotsam, lobster pots and weed; plus, the boat can dry out on its own bottom and will stand safely on the keels and skegs.

THE DETAILS MATTER

While the 44i can have owner-specific modifications, the concept for the standard boat from the outset was to deliver the best equipped and most thoroughly thought out cruising platform on the market. The list of standard equipment is truly extensive. In the engineering department, twin Volvo engines have been chosen for reliability, quiet operation and a worldwide service network. A genset is installed in a dedicated locker in the starboard hull, where it is invisible and totally quiet. Both of the engines and the genset are completely accessible for routine maintenance or repairs. A Sea Recovery watermaker also comes standard.

To make the 44i as self-sufficient as possible, solar panels have been built into the hard cockpit top. These will keep the huge standard battery bank (750 amp hours) fully topped up and keep the fridge and freezer cold indefinitely. Interior lighting can be a serious energy sink, so LEDs can be used throughout to reduce the draw to almost nothing.

Cruising is an indoor-outdoor way of living, so the 44i has been designed to make the outdoor experience as comfortable and dry as possible. The cockpit windshield keeps wind, rain and spray off the crew; the hardtop keeps sun and rain out of the cockpit; and the entire cockpit can be enclosed with isinglass panels that will keep you warm and dry even in a driving rainstorm. A cruising boat needs to have an anchor system that really works, so the 44i has been supplied with two primary anchors and chain rodes on bow rollers that are operated by a powerful anchor windlass. The anchors are equipped with bridles that can be hooked and unhooked from the chain rodes from the safety of the foredeck.

Cruising couples have a way of collecting a lot of gear, spare parts, toys and souvenirs along the way, so onboard storage is vital. The 44i has storage to spare with two forward, watertight compartments large enough for bicycles, inflatable boats, spare sails and much more. Under the cockpit sole, there are two large lockers for everything from cleaning equipment to spare lines and deck tools.Knowing that the best tropical cruising grounds are also the best regions for underwater exploration, the 44i’s builders offer a custom dive compressor for filling bottles and a hookah system for use right off the boat. Details matter, and in the 44i, almost nothing has been overlooked.

THE CRUISING LIFE

The 44i is truly a liveaboard boat for a couple or family. The cockpit has two U-shaped bench seats around a table with a folding leaf so you can seat six for outside meals or twice that many for sundowners. The standard interior design has the galley amidships in the port hull with double guest cabins fore and aft and a head all the way forward. The master suite is in the starboard hull with the sleeping cabin aft, the huge head and shower forward, and a dressing room in between. Both the master cabin and the aft guest cabin have full queen beds.The saloon has a dinette to port, a desk or navigation station to starboard, and a chest of drawers and cabinets aft next to the door. This is where the standard washer-dryer is installed.  The galley has 18 square feet of counter space, 15 storage lockers and four drawers.  A microwave oven is standard, as are the propane stove and oven. The fridge is huge for a boat of this size and is accompanied by a large separate freezer.  In 44 feet, the Antares 44i offers a huge amount of living space that has been very cleverly thought out for self-sufficient cruisers who will be living aboard for long periods of time.

BWS THOUGHTS

The Antares 44i is a unique cruising catamaran. The boat has a distinctive, shippy look that makes it unmistakable in any anchorage. The underlying concepts in the design and the attention to detail in both the build and equipping phases of the boat’s creation are incredibly sound.  Ted Clements is a creative designer who has a practical way of solving problems. You can find his thoughts on the Antares website. If you want to be entertained and educated by an independent spirit, check out www.liveantares.com. The move to Argentina has allowed Jeff and Rob to bring together the knowledge and passion of B.A. craftsmen with their singular vision for building an offshore cruising cat. The result is a truly successful boat that is at home anywhere the wind blows.

Displ. 19,000 lbs.

Mast height 61’0″

Sail area 850 sq. ft.

Water 150 gals.

Fuel 120 gals.

Holding tank 60 gals

[email protected]

Website:  www.liveantares.com

antares catamaran review

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The best bluewater multihulls of all time: a complete guide

  • Toby Hodges
  • October 6, 2021

Toby Hodges and François Tregouet consider the best bluewater multihulls and look at the options for sailing the oceans in spacious comfort

antares catamaran review

What are the best bluewater multihulls for long term cruising? The one you own, or the one you can afford is the simple answer.

There is a wealth of proven designs to suit bluewater sailing and a variety of budgets. While we have focussed here on the best bluewater multihulls in production, we’ve also included some cracking pedigree multihulls which tour the planet and might occasionally pop up on the brokerage market.

If you can afford to, then pushing towards the 45-50ft length will buy you space, pace and that extra payload capacity needed to take all the items you’d want on your home afloat.

When looking at the best bluewater multihulls, the choice will come down to that perennial balance between comfort/space and speed/weight. Choosing a lighter weight performance design will obviously help you cover distance voyages more rapidly and potentially allow you to outrun weather systems. It means you can sail faster, with less sail up and less load and stress. But you’ll have to sacrifice some luxuries and need to be quite scrupulous about keeping weight down and centralised in order to maintain high average speeds.

For the majority of cruisers, however, it is the amount of space multihulls offer once you’ve reached your destination that really appeals. As well as the non-heeling living area and real estate they provide, they’re well suited to typical tradewind sailing .

If you’re considering your first or next multihull, we hope the following will serve as a taster.

Best bluewater multihulls for performance cruising

Outremer 51/55.

When you think of multihulls designed for bluewater cruising, Outremer will likely be one of the first names that comes to mind. Its heritage lies in building catamarans that can sail fast and are built strong enough to do laps of the globe.

The 51, the current version of which launched three years ago, is an archetypal example of what to look for in terms of blending speed and space is a dream design for a family circumnavigation.

The French yard’s new 55ft VPLP design may look boldly different from its past models, but the philosophy behind it remains the same. It is designed to match windspeed up to 12 knots and Outremer reasons that its ability to sail in 5 knots of breeze will allow it to sail for 95% of the time on a circumnavigation.

Read more about the Outremer 51 and Outremer 55.

antares catamaran review

Photo: Diego Yriarte

Seawind 1600/1370

For nearly four decades the Australian Seawind brand and its founder Richard Ward have been gearing catamarans around safe bluewater sailing, including performance, protection and ease of handling. Its Reichel Pugh-designed 1600, which launched three years ago, is an elegant looking cat with relatively low, long lines and some smart solutions for fast bluewater sailing.

Seawind also launches its new 1370 later this year, a staggering 60 of which have sold on plans alone.

This first 50 is built from a composite sandwich of basalt fibre, a cloth made from volcanic rock, and PET foam from recycled plastic bottles, which helps to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 50% when compared with traditional glassfibre methods.

This new 50 footer is perhaps a more appealing and practical prospect than Rapido’s previous 60 (with its significant fixed beam), particularly as the amas on this new model can fold to reduce beam to 18ft.

Infused carbon foam sandwich construction is used, along with beams, daggerboards and rudder in pre-preg carbon to keep displacement to 8,200kg.

Read more about the Rapido 50

This OC50 is designed as a more affordable cruising alternative, than the HH models which have preceeded it. This model targets ocean sailing.

It’s still stiffened and strengthened by carbon, but built in vinylester composites with a gelcoat finish. This adds an additional 300kg or so over a full carbon HH50, but cost savings are in the region of $400,000.

Read more about the HH OC50

Balance 526

The 526 launched four years ago, designed to suit short-handed sailors and families looking to sail long distances, hence it can carry large payloads and promises easy maintenance. It looks good too.

Berman’s Versahelm design is a key feature. The wheel cantilevers, allowing the helmsman to steer from outboard with clear sightlines or from the hardtop protection of the aft cockpit.

antares catamaran review

Photo: Christopher White

Atlantic 47

The A47 suits short-handed fast ocean sailing at an approachable size. Lengthening it to 49ft allowed for an aft cockpit. It is available as a sloop or with White’s patented MastFoil ketch rig – rotating aerofoil masts designed for easy short-handed cruising without sacrificing performance.

Read more about the Atlantic 47

A combination of sharp design from François Perus and high build quality brings plenty of appeal to this sporty Italian-built cat. The first example launched three years ago with a light displacement of 10.5 tonnes, thanks to an E-glass epoxy-infused build with carbon strengthening. The yard offers semi-custom construction and full hybrid packages.

Catana 53/Ocean class 50

Catana’s performance model from 2017, sports twin aft helms (which may not suit ocean sailors), reverse bows and carbon daggerboards. The high topsides help create good bridgedeck clearance and plenty of accommodation. Its new Ocean Class 50 seems more in the shipyard’s bluewater DNA. The light weight, and dynamic and modern shape with slim hulls and a relatively short nacelle suggests a seaworthy nature and high speeds.

Read more about the Catana 53

Best bluewater multihulls for pedigree performance

Veteran multihull designers Morrelli & Melvin designed this smaller model for the Gunboat range. It was built to be more manageable for an owner-driver yet still capable of up to 300-400 mile days.

The Gunboat 48 is something of a rare breed, just six 48s were built between 2004 and 2009. Oh, to have a spare €1.3m right now… one of them is actually on the market.

Read more about the Gunboat 48

At the start of the Millennium, Catana offered fully equipped boats as standard for long distance cruising. The Catana 471 or 472 (one or two helms respectively), represented at the time the optimum in ocean-going catamarans.

Chincogan/Lightwave

Tony Grainger has been drawing fast multihulls for 35 years, including racing trimarans and the Lightwave and Chincogan cruisers. The popular Lightwave 38 has admirable performance and comfort, and the Chincogan 52 (pictured) has the length to clock high average speeds.

Outremer 45 G. Danson

With its characteristic roof, narrow hulls and daggerboards, the Outremer 45 is a standout design which has become somewhat iconic. Despite a rather spartan interior, it has been a great success with fast cruising enthusiasts. On board, family ocean crossings at an average of 10 knots are the norm.

Best bluewater multihulls for family cruising

antares catamaran review

Photo: Nicolas Claris

The Lagoon 450 remains the most popular model in Lagoons already popular range. It exemplifies the VPLP/Nauta design partnership which has made these the very definition of modern mid-size cruising catamarans which can appeal to families and charterers alike.

Indeed the 450 marked the modern look of Lagoon and was the first with interior styling from Nauta. It originally launched over a decade ago as a flybridge design with central helming position (450F), before this ‘sport top’ option (450S) was offered with a starboard helm station and lower boom.

Read more about the Lagoon 450

antares catamaran review

Photo: Guilain Grenier

Fountaine Pajot Saona 47

The 47 has a modern shape, with straight bows and a reverse sheer line. It incorporates significant volume in the hulls below the bridgedeck to create room for the optional athwartships cabins. Cabin space is a prime selling point, particularly the owner’s suite to port, where there is also abundant natural light and headroom.

antares catamaran review

Photo: Tui Marine

Leopard Catamarans, together with designer Simonis Voogd and builder Robertson and Caine, produce the archetypal dual-purpose owner-operator or charter boat in their modern catamaran range.

Key features of the 45 are the amount of light in the saloon and the incredible volume and space on offer in the cabins above the relatively narrow waterlines. Vast social living areas include the flybridge, saloon and dual cockpits.

Read more about the Leopard 45

antares catamaran review

Photo: www.jfromero.fr

Nautitech Open/Fly 46

During the 1990s and noughties Nautitech earned a good reputation for its elegant catamarans. The 441 is a timeless example and the 44 can be credited with the ongoing trend in hardtop biminis. While its acquisition by Bavaria seven years ago helped Nautitech implement industrial build techniques, the French brand has retained its DNA at its Rochefort sur Mer yard.

The modern Marc Lombard designs have tall rigs with generous square-top mainsails. Twin wheels in the aft quarters of the Open 46 offer a direct feel on the helm, however those spending long periods in the tropics may prefer the shade of the bimini-equipped flybridge option. The layout is also open, with a saloon more outside than in. Styling is clean, modern and simple, and the standard of build and finish are good.

antares catamaran review

Photo: Olivier Blanchet

First impressions of the Neel 51 are sure to centre on its sheer size and space inside. But as you’ll see from our review of the Neel 43 on page 83, when you sail one overriding impressions quickly centre on its performance.

These trimarans are becoming a popular mass production-built option.

antares catamaran review

Photo: Christophe Launay

The Excess 11 packs plenty of potential as the smallest yacht offered by the big production yards. A little like the Lagoon 380 of old, it presents a good value new entry-level boat for genuine cruising in a more sporty, modern and enticing design. Some may argue against aft helms for ocean sailing, but those coming from monohulls will appreciate the more direct steering they offer.

Broadblue 385S

Broadblue is a UK brand which offers a distinct line of cruising and Rapier performance catamarans. Its staple 385 packs a lot of cruising comfort into its length, including generous tankage, and has been sailed all over the world. Broadblue built its first electric drive catamaran 12 years ago and offers the only all-electric production sailing catamaran under 40ft in Europe.

antares catamaran review

Photo: Christophe Breschi

Bali Catspace

For those looking for maximum volume within 40ft, it’ll be hard to beat the Catspace – although it is more of a holiday apartment than a traditional bluewater cruiser. Bali’s garage style sliding aft door does help offer an enormous amount of enclosed (or open) living space.

Best bluewater multihulls for luxury cruising

antares catamaran review

Photo: Nico Krauss

Privilège 510 Signature

The 510 is designed to take a serious amount of cruising gear – up to six tonnes of it in fact. The excellent helm station now has a fixed windscreen and all lines lead to hand. Finish quality including the electrical installation is first class and Privilege’s trademark, an admirable full beam (26ft) forward cabin, is sumptuous.

antares catamaran review

Photo: Jérôme Houyvet

Garcia Explocat 52

Garcia Yachts has cornered the market for series-built aluminium monohulls and multihulls in the last decade and this new Explocat 52 is sparking real interest. We ran a full test report in our February issue, describing it as a go-anywhere cat with an enticing combination of space, pace and rugged construction.

Read our review of the Garcia Explocat 52

Built in Argentina, the Antares 44 is the ultimate evolution of a model launched 21 years ago. Entirely dedicated to bluewater cruising, it is the yard’s only model and is constantly being improved according to owner feedback.

Time seems to have no hold on this boatyard and, against the trend, the standard equipment of the Antares 44 is extremely complete

antares catamaran review

Photo: Richard Langdon

Discovery Bluewater 50

This luxury Bill Dixon design may be a decade old now and into its third iteration, but the concept behind its original appeal remains. For those used to sailing high-end thoroughbred monohulls, here is an option to consider for a comparative level of build quality and fit out when moving to a multihull.

Read more about the Discovery Bluewater 50

St Francis 50 MKII

With this latest version of its original model, this experienced South African builder has optimised a catamaran cut out for the unforgiving seas of the Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic. The MKII allows for an increased load capacity, an important point in long distance cruising.

Xsquisite X5

Intelligent features on the X5 include the protected helm station with glass windscreen, integrated rainwater catcher, UV-protective glass and generous tankage.

Best bluewater multihulls for size & speed

Mcconaghy mc52.

The MC50 (now MC52) was the first and promises some high speed sailing, but it’s the open plan main living deck which will attract the majority. It incorporates an intelligent centreboard system, which hardly affects interior space, but arguably its exposed helms at the aft end of the flybridge will not suit serious ocean cruising.

antares catamaran review

Photo: Florian H. Talles

HH in Xiamen is building some really impressive large, luxury fast cats up to 90ft. This was its second model to launch, a high-end, high performance Morelli & Melvin design capable of rapid passagemaking speeds and enjoyable regatta sailing. Features include C-shaped boards and central or aft helms.

antares catamaran review

Photo: Mike Jones/Waterline Media

Ocean Explorer 60

If Nautor’s Swan made catamarans, they may look like this… The Ocean Explorer 60 uses the same designer in German Frers and some of the same builders who worked at the famous Finnish yard to produce this world cruiser. The resultant quality shines through. A new OE72 is due soon.

Kinetic KC54

A young company with plenty of experience, Kinetic produces custom fast ocean cruisers, which can occasionally race. Its 62 is a serious performance vessel with carbon hulls, rigs and rigging, daggerboards or centreboards. With fast bluewater cruising the goal, carbon is used to minimise weight so features/toys can still be added. The swim platform and hardware on the newly launched 54 weighs just 90kg, and the generous sized tanks are all in carbon too. Views from the saloon and forward cockpit also look special.

Best bluewater multihulls for ultimate performance

Marsaudon ts4/orc 42.

Few catamaran builders produce genuine performance cruisers at this ‘smaller’ size: this one is kept minimalist and light weight (around 6 tonnes) – the yard’s philosophy is ‘simplicity, then add lightness.’ The 42 is a cruiser-racer with the ability to outpace most yachts across the Atlantic, win a regatta and still offer some space for island hopping. Standard tankage is minimal however. Marsaudon recently rebranded its TS range to Ocean Rider Catamarans (ORCs) and has an ORC 57 in build.

Dazcat 1495

Dazcat builds fast, seaworthy cats from its Multihull Centre in Cornwall. The 1495 is a true ocean cruiser-racer, which is stiff and rewarding to sail, with direct steering linked to carbon rudders. The 1495 can hit 20+ knot speeds with relative ease, but it is the consistent high average speeds which will attract those looking to cover serious miles. Weight is centralised including engines, tanks, and systems all located amidships to help reduce pitching. Dazcat has a semi-custom build approach and creates all sorts of weird and wonderful craft for all abilities.

Dragonfly 40

Dragonfly trimarans are known for their high quality construction and ability to delight sailors with their ease of planing speeds. For those who can live without the space of similar length cats, the new flagship 40 is large enough to offer cruising space, while folding outriggers and retractable appendages mean you can dry out where others wouldn’t dare.

Looping 45/Freydis 48

These two designs by Erik Lerouge both offer a high-performance vision of ocean cruising. The Loopings were built individually and the Freydis in small series, and on both you can sail as fast as the wind in complete safety. Interior quality depends on whether finished by an amateur or by a shipyard.

Swisscat 48

An attractive combination of luxury, comfort and performance, the S48 is a stiff, go-anywhere premium cat that is easy to manage single-handed. The lightweight build (11t) is in epoxy infusion with carbon reinforcement.

Schionning Designs

Jeff Schionning has catamaran design in his blood. His designs exude performance and seaworthiness with flowing, even aerodynamic lines. On all tradewind routes you’ll find a G-Force (models from 12m to 23m) or an Arrow (12m to 15m) sailing more quickly than the rest. His latest venture is with Current Marine in Knysna, South Africa.

Best bluewater multihulls for pedigree cruising

The long-time best-seller from the world leader in catamarans, with more than 1,000 produced over almost 20 years from 1999. With its characteristic vertical windows, the 380 and its big brother the 410 made the purists scream when they were presented. But the 380 proved a pioneer of its kind. Safe bow volumes and light displacement (7,260 kg) helped its seaworthy behaviour. The high number of boats on the market makes this the most affordable bluewater cruising multihull for its size, even if price range is as wide as condition is variable.

Casamance 44/46

Between 44ft and 46ft depending on the year of construction and the length of its transoms, the Casamance was an impressive catamaran on launch in 1985. The design by Joubert/Nivelt offered good volume and load capacity. Of the 490 units produced, many joined the charter fleets. The exterior of the Casamance is dated, but the interior in grey ceruse oak has retained plenty of charm.

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Cruiser Wiki

 
30-12-2013, 07:02  
is better off for me in these categories: Speed, , luxury, driving comfort, and seawrothiness. Which has a higher ?
30-01-2014, 19:06  
a bit more personally.
09-03-2014, 18:27  
Boat: Maine Cat 30
435 (same as the 445). We did not look at any so cannot compare. This boat has been around the world once and across the Atlantic a time or two yet the is in great shape. No crazing in the gel coat except where there are a couple of small impact dings topsides. The fit and finish are great. in is excellent, but I am only 5' 10". Hulls have even more headroom. The center nacelle greatly increases the forward sizes and affords plenty of room for the forward heads. Lots of cabinets/storage.
09-03-2014, 20:40  
Boat: Roberts Offshore 38
:

Aft gallery – good size, good arrangement, bit more room I think
Shaft / skeg
Rear sugar scoops less steep – more useable
Larger internal gallery
Protected
Hard (Privilege seem mostly to have soft version – correct?)
Nature light over hull sections

Privilege seems to have larger hulls – I suspect greater strength / but less speed.

Both such nice units. Older do not look dated. If new it’d be an Antares for me but second hand costs seem lower for the Privilege and that would probably guide me.
09-03-2014, 20:51  
Boat: St Francis 50
with a strong owners group and great manufacturer's support.
10-03-2014, 05:46  
Boat: Maine Cat 30

Hard (Privilege seem mostly to have soft version – correct?)
Nature light over hull sections

Privilege seems to have larger hulls – I suspect greater strength / but less speed.

Both such nice units. Older boats do not look dated. If new it’d be an Antares for me but second hand costs seem lower for the Privilege and that would probably guide me.
14-03-2014, 08:49  
Boat: Antares 44i
and finishing of the Antares are stunning and higher quality than the Privilege wood. Also, aren't the Privilege floors only while the Antares has genuine wood floors that both look and feel extremely good.
Look at this Antares owner blog: There's a great example somewhere there showing the dad repairing a small ding on the steps caused by one of his kid's toys, teaching them to care for the fine wood.
I think both Antares & Privilege are well designed for liveaboarding, are luxurious, have cockpits and helms that can be enclosed, and are very (both have circumnavigated).
The Antares seems more expensive until you look at what is included. They've thought of everything and constantly improve and upgrade their features (such as recent change to , Vesper , etc).
One big plus for Antares - it has shaft drives not sail drives. These are much more expensive for the to supply, but less expensive and more reliable for the owner to enjoy.
Headroom is an interesting point. Are you looking at the owner version forward on the Privilege? This has lower headroom at the actual area (it's high headroom at the , but you climb up some steps and the has much lower headroom - can't stand up at bed). The Antares has plenty of headroom in the master cabin, but the bed is against one wall, and there's a part of the hull to the right that prevents the person on the inside from easily exiting the bed and standing up without climbing over the person on the outside.
The master berth that spans the beam is a big plus on the Privilege, especially given how the master berth on the Antares is one that landlocks one person against the inside of the bed. This is a big point of difference between the two boats.
Galleys - I personally prefer the Antares' to the Privilege 445- at least Privilege's galley up. Antares has a wonderful spacious functional attractive galley in the 44i that is down, but it's still very open to the because there is no ceiling above the galley - it's open to the wide roof, and there's an opening in the banquette so you can look from the galley into the saloon. The Privilege 45 galley up takes a lot of space in the saloon. It does leave more room down below on the Privilege, and lets you have more heads, or one mid-ship - if you want that, or bigger cabins.
The Antares banquette is large enough for two adults to each lie on it at the same time (each taking one part of the "L") - we tested it! The Privilege's rounded banquette, and one side being smaller, doesn't as well for us because we want to both be able to recline to read a book, watch tv or nap - at the same time.
The cockpits of the two boats are quite different in configuration. The Antares has the unique feature of two high back seats next to the . We really like them, and the give much-needed extra seating, and good visibility in the 45' length. Also, the Antares offers an extra seat as an option that is on the opposite side from the helm. Once you try this seat, it becomes your favorite spot and I haven't seen it offered on any other boat.
 
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Antares Builder Interview with Mark Silverstein

  • Post author By Richard
  • Post date March 14, 2021
  • 1 Comment on Antares Builder Interview with Mark Silverstein

antares catamaran review

Welcome to another episode where we interview builders and designers across the industry of catamarans. Today, we present Mark Silverstein from Antares Catamarans. The Antares 44 is a legendary catamaran first introduced by legendary catamaran builder PDQ in 2004. The model was built by PDQ until 2008 when the molds were moved to Buenas Aires, Argentina and production continued under different management. Since then they have made numerous updates to the design and continue to build one of the premier cruising catamarans in the world.

For more news, information about exciting new models, and to put in your build order, please see the website for Antares Catamarans and contact Mark.

Thanks so much for joining us. I know you’re in Malaysia, tell us what brings you to Malaysia for work.

We have a very unique story. We’ve been an owner of an Antares 44 catamaran now, for just over nine years. We started sailing nine years ago with our family, and we ended up settling in Malaysia in the last couple months. Our kids are in school, high school age, so we ended up just stopping here in Malaysia. I’m now working from Malaysia remotely, and travel to the US, when I can, or to Argentina, Buenos Aires, where the boats are being built. This is our home now, at this point.

antares catamaran review

Wow! How have you settled into Malaysia, has it been a big change for you?

We’ve been living aboard our Antares catamaran for nine years, so it’s just another place to be. We’ve been in Southeast Asia for three years. The kids love it, there’s a lot more amenities and expats in Penang, Malaysia, so it’s a good place to be.

antares catamaran review

Great! So how many catamarans are you currently building a year, on average?

On average, we build between three to four catamarans per year, and that’s been pretty much our history for the past 10 years. At PDQ, it was maybe three-to-four, or five per year, but we’ve been in that three-to-four per year.

antares catamaran review

Have you seen an increase as of late, due to COVID, to your business?

antares catamaran review

I wouldn’t say that we’ve seen an increase. We haven’t seen a decrease, we have a very high demand, very high interest in our boats. The hard part for us, and I think for most catamaran manufacturers, is just the travel to boat shows, that’s challenging. We actually are having our first Antares boat show in four weeks, in Tampa, and we’ve got 35 people signed up. People are flying from Europe to see the boat. It’s our newest boat, and it’s in Tampa. We decided to go ahead and do our own boat show, so we’ve been ecstatic to have 35 people signed up over two days in Tampa, in four weeks. We’re just doing our own thing now. We’re trying to do our own boat shows, basically.

antares catamaran review

Interesting. How did you select Tampa for the location to host this boat show?

Our newest owner of our newest boat is from Tampa. We’re using his boat and it’s in Tampa. We’re moving the boat show there.

Tell us about the history of Antares and the connection to PDQ.

PDQ is the original builder. Ted Clements is the designer of the boat, he worked for PDQ in Canada. In about 2009, when the exchange rate for the Canadian dollar changed dramatically, they ended up basically saying it’s time for us to close the doors on PDQ. An existing PDQ 44 owner said, “hey, this is a good business model.” He hired a bunch of the people from PDQ and they moved the operation and boatyard down to Buenos Aires, Argentina. For the last 11 years now, the boats been built in Argentina.

antares catamaran review

Now building boats in Argentina, what were some challenges that you faced in making that transition?

The biggest challenge that we faced was just the cultural differences, from a Canadian boatyard to building boats in Argentina. Then you get into supply chain considerations. The lead time to get components to Argentina was different of course, in Canada.

antares catamaran review

But end of the day, it’s been a very good result for us, because we found that the workers, in particular in Argentina, are very loyal, very good. The father-son combination that design and do all of our cherry-wood work and on the interior, are the same two leads that we’ve had for the last 11 years in Buenos Aires. So we have a lot less turnover in Argentina than we did in Canada. We think at the end of the day, that has resulted in a lot higher quality boats.

antares catamaran review

Good, good. So overall it sounds like it’s been a benefit to the business.

It has been. Outside of the logistical components of the supply chain, that’s a harder part.

Right. Are you currently building any other models besides the 44? And then what happened to the molds for the smaller PDQ?

At this point, we build the 44, and only the 44. We’ve had different versions of the 44, so it used to initially be the 44 I and then the 44 GS. Now we’re on the 44 GT. We’ve had a lot of changes that have taken place to the boat over those different iterations of the 44. We have some very exciting things that we’re going to be announcing soon, this year, as it relates to different boats from Antares. It was very confidential, so we’re not going to talk too much about it, but we do have some really good things to be announcing later this year.

antares catamaran review

You got me on the edge, can you give us any cue as to what it relates to?

Bigger, possibly, might be a keyword. We’re excited about what we’re doing and where we’re going, let’s just say that.

Okay, I’ll stay tuned for more.

Talk to us about the modifications and the molds that you’ve made recently..

The main changes that we’ve been making on the newest GT, deal with a complete redesign of our cockpit. Those changes were significant. It required us to redo a lot of our top side molds in the cockpit, in particular. We did that because over the years, we’ve received feedback from different owners that just wanted to have a new fresh design, so we’ve done that. Our newest boats are under construction at this point, with that new design. It was a lot of work, but we’re happy with those changes.

antares catamaran review

You are one of the few builders with the galley down layout?

Yes, that’s right.

In your opinion, why is that layout better?

If you look at a boat that’s in the 44-foot range, and that’s 44 to 46 feet. We have found, and myself as an owner having lived on our boat for nine years, that with the galley down, we actually call it a kitchen and not a galley, because we have over 17 different cabinets and cupboards to keep things in our galley, food-wise, cooking appliance-wise. We just have a lot more space for cooking on our boat with the galley down. If it’s galley up, then you get into considerations of space. On a 44-foot boat, your salon becomes a lot smaller, and every owner that has Antares loves the galley down. People have a hard time, sometimes, getting their mind around, “Why would I want to walk down some stairs to do the cooking?” But the mess stays downstairs.

antares catamaran review

We have a very unique thing on our boat, where we can open up one of the seats and literally open up the galley to those in the salon as well, if they want to. For me, I can tell you it’s a great design having that much space, because we are a live-aboard.

We’re not a charter boat, and most charter boats are galley up, and that’s fine, that works for them. But our design is for a long-term cruiser. Live-aboard, galley-down gives us more space.

So what do you think is the most important element when building a catamaran?

There are always trade-offs in design. If you look at the customers that we target, which I call them the serious live-aboards. Those people that want to really live aboard their boat and travel to very, very far away places. We need to make sure that our design doesn’t compromise the safety and the integrity of what we believe is a safe boat to go around the world.

antares catamaran review

For example, I’ll take the skeg rudders. You will never see a future interiors without skeg rudders. Why is that important in design? It’s important because when you travel to remote places, you don’t want to have an issue where you lose a rudder, and you lose steering. I can tell you from experience, we were sailing with another boat in Papua New Guinea. They hit a log, we hit a log. The log was one meter in diameter, rolled under the boat. Our rudders were fine, same log, different boat. His rudders were not fine. He had to sail all the way to Australia to get that fixed. It’s those types of design considerations that we’re just not going to compromise.

antares catamaran review

Same thing with a shaft drive, you’ll never see a sail drive on Antares because we believe that design provides too much maintenance on that boat. To haul a boat out in remote areas, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, forget it. It’s not easy to do, and you have to haul the boat to fix a leak, a leaking seal on a sail drive. You don’t have to haul a shaft drive to fix those types of problems, so that’s another design consideration that is important for us that we just don’t compromise on.

It sounds like the galley down is viewed from a lot of your buyers as a positive.

What do you think is the biggest challenge in your boat, and getting people to buy it.

The biggest challenge that we would have, I think a lot of catamarans have in general, is you’re dealing with a lot of money to have to pay for a boat. You have to be able to show a potential customer, why spend a million dollars on a new catamaran? Our catamaran, we make no excuses. We are more expensive than another 44-foot catamaran in our same space, and the reason for that is a lot of the designs and the workmanship that goes into our boat, so we have to educate our buyers. Once we show them the boat and they understand those design considerations, we sell the boat.

antares catamaran review

But again, a different client will buy our boat versus probably a Leopard or a Lagoon. It’s a different budgetary strata, basically.

You alluded to it a little bit earlier on, sounds like some of it is confidential, but what can you share with us about just the future of Antares Catamaran?

Our future is to continue to build what we believe to be the world’s best live-aboard catamarans, plural, with different designs coming downstream to fit that parameter. There’s a change in the market right now, that we’re seeing, as it relates to people that are very interested in being more environmentally friendly. So we are doing things on our boat that are a lot more in line with being environmentally friendly. Right now, on the GT, we’ve gotten completely rid of any LP gas, for safety. We’ve added solar, we’re adding a lot more solar under newest designs, we haven’t even announced that yet. To be completely off the grid, from an environmental perspective, and there’s more to that we’ll be announcing later this year, probably in Annapolis.

I’ve spoken with a few designers and builders now, at this point in the catamaran industry, and you’re right. It’s a market trend, right now, of how can we make the boats emissions free.

That’s right, that’s right.

We look forward to hearing that, and hopefully in person, right in Annapolis. Anything else for those viewers today that are interested in learning more about Antares Catamarans, what’s the best way to get in contact with you?

The best way to get into contact with myself and learn more about our boats is just to go to our website www.AntaresCatamarans.com . You’ll find everything that you can imagine on our website, as it relates to boat performance, how we design our boat, and as I mentioned, the skeg rudders, the shaft drives, and lots of other details about why we design and build our boat the way that we do.

That concludes another episode, thank you to our viewers for joining us on catamaransite, and thank you Mark, for your time today.

You’re welcome, thank you very much.

  • Tags Catamaran Builders , Catamaran Interviews

Richard

1 reply on “Antares Builder Interview with Mark Silverstein”

Great article cousin. Sounds like you and the family are doing well.

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antares catamaran review

10 Best Catamarans for Couples: Review and Pictures

antares catamaran review

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Going out on a pleasant and comfortable sail can be such a relaxing experience. Catamarans are especially great for romantic cruises due to their ample space and smooth sailing. If you’re looking to spend more time on the water with the wind in your hair, you might be considering getting a catamaran of your own. But what’s the best choice for couples?

The best catamarans for couples include the Lagoon 42, the Seventy 7, the Leopard 45, and the Antares 44GT.  Value for money is vital, but so is comfort. Catamarans for couples should be easy to handle, romantic, and not too big.

If you’re looking to spend some time away with the one you love, read on. We’ll discuss the ten best catamarans for couples, detailing each vessel and what you can expect in terms of size, style, and cost. If you’re lucky, you may find the catamaran of your dreams .

If you’re looking for a comfortable catamaran where you can relax with your partner, look no further than the Lagoon 42. The cockpit is nice and comfortable both physically and mentally. Everything has been perfectly planned out, from the proper use of space to the ease of circulation. But the cockpit isn’t even the most important part.

You’re able to have three or four double cabins with island double beds and bathrooms with a separate shower. There are large windows offering great illumination, so you won’t have to worry about it being too dim. Essentially, this watercraft has everything you need to be comfortable.

The interior has nicely molded wood that pairs well with the curved furniture, designed by Nauta. The design combines both elegance and functionality. If you’re looking for something that looks great and will provide comfort, the Lagoon 42 might be your best bet.

Expect to pay upwards of $300,000 for a used model.

For a catamaran that was apparently a challenge to build, you may want to read about the Seventy 7. All the different rooms connect, from the cabins to the deck and the trampoline forward. It follows an ample lifestyle and living space while also managing to look extremely comfortable. You’re going to get the whole cruising experience with the Seventy 7.

The interior has serious attention to detail, making sure you don’t miss a thing. The layout is optimized to create a brighter and more spacious living space. Since it’s brighter, you’ll be much more energized and enthusiastic to do more fun things on your trip. Some find that sailors tend to feel more exhausted in dimmer cabins and sleep more on the cruise. Since it’s spacious, you won’t feel cramped up at all, and you can relax. 

There’s also a saloon with huge windows and a fantastic headroom that’ll give you a panoramic view of the ocean. The owner’s suite is private from the rest of the vessel, giving you quiet access to the sea. For this area, you can also get a private beach, but that is optional. 

If that’s not enough to draw you in, this catamaran’s living space is flexible. You can move things around to add another private space in the owner’s suite that connects to the saloon and forward cockpit. Additionally, you can have up to five guest cabins with an island bed and desk each, perfect for storage spaces and private bathrooms.

Overall, this is a great choice for you and your partner if you want to be comfortable and relaxed. 

This model is one of the more expensive options and will set you back more than $4 million brand new.

Fountaine Pajo t Isla 40

While this is better for family cruising, it’ll still be an amazing option for you and your partner. The Catamaran Isla 40 is a mythical experience leaving you feeling like the only people in the world. You’ll be able to connect with nature easily, considering your fantastic sea view, and will be at your utmost comfort level with soft seats and cloud-like bedding.

Dine on a smooth wooden table as you feel the ocean breeze or on the opposite side of the boat, where you can sit on the edge as the boat slowly cruises. You can even do some yoga stretches on the same side of the boat. If that’s not enough for you, you can even get off of the ship and onto an attached board to get a feel of the water. 

There are various places to relax, so you’ll never get bored with the experience. Just sit back and relax with your partner as you slowly cruise on the peaceful ocean blue.

All in all, this is a fantastic choice for you and your partner if you’d like a relaxing getaway with various activities and fun experiences for the both of you. 

On average, this model will cost a little under $500,000 .

Catamaran Astréa 42

This watercraft will help to elevate the importance of being together. From that alone, it’s quite obvious that this will be a great opportunity for you and your partner to get some alone time. The exterior is built to look elegant, making the inside stunning and spacious regardless of its small size. 

Of course you love your partner, but sometimes personal space is important. Luckily for you, this boat offers both. Everything is connected; however, there is still a sense of privacy, and you’re able to move freely without any sort of restriction. You won’t feel cramped, and you won’t feel overwhelmed either. 

On the roof at the helm station, you’ll notice a double seat near a sunbathing area. You can either soak up some rays with your partner, or one of you can sunbathe while the other relaxes on the seat. You can also stay in the cockpit with a griddle, or feel the ocean breeze on the footbridge.

If that’s not enough to win you and your partner over, just wait until you realize how comfortable it is. The lounge has huge windows that’ll give you just enough sunlight and energy. You’ll be torn between the comfort of your cabin and the sweet experience of the open sea. Plus, the bathrooms are beautiful with an Italian style, and the Owner’s Suite bathroom is huge.

Overall, this is a fantastic watercraft if you’re looking for a relaxing experience with just the right amount of comfort. Needless to say, you and your partner will be connected more than ever. 

A fully loaded Catamaran Astréa 42 will cost a little under $600,000 .

Fountaine Pajot Saona 47

As soon as you look at the Catamaran Saona 47, you’ll notice it says “majestic.” They’re not wrong. Get ready to fall in love with the luxury experience of this watercraft. 

On this cruising catamaran, everything is perfectly designed to help you and your partner feel connected. There are various places where you both can relax, including a beach club located on the rear platform, a place to sunbathe at the front or helm station, and a lounge deck.

Once you step in, you’ll never want to leave. You’ll notice the well-lit and comfortable saloon that even includes a perfectly fitted kitchen. Then, you’ll go to your cabin to unpack and be stunned by the maximized comfort you’ll experience. It’s even flexible, as you can have an Owner’s version with three cabins, including an Italian-style suite and bathroom, or you can go for the five-cabin option with five private spaces.

You’ll be surprised at all of the beautiful sights you’ll see from both inside and outside the watercraft. Combining luxury, comfort, and flexibility, this catamaran may just be the best choice for you and your partner. 

Expect to pay upwards of $700,000 for this catamaran.

Fountaine Pajo t New 51

If you’re looking for a spacious catamaran that’ll keep you relaxed, the Catamaran New 51 might just be the one for you. The deck has tons of space for you and your partner to walk around freely, and there is also a comfortable saloon and cockpit. 

Whether you’re at the galley or the cockpit, you’ll have easy ways to communicate across the entire cruising journey, helping you to feel free and uncramped. The watercraft also uses renewable energy through solar panels, which produce 2000 watts. These solar panels also fit the gorgeous lounge and sunbathing area.

On top of that, there’s tons of space in terms of storage and areas to relax. If that’s not enough for you, there are also four different layouts for this catamaran to choose from for the best experience. No matter what layout you and your partner choose, you’re sure to feel comfortable and connected. Overall, this catamaran is a great choice if you’re hoping for a spacious, comfortable, relaxing, and flexible cruise.

This luxury vessel will come in at just over $1 million brand new. 

Antares 44 GT

When you go to the Antares Catamarans website, you’re presented with their latest model, which is currently the Antares 44 GT. After spending a year creating this model, they completely redesigned everything. This includes new details in the cockpit, more space, larger windows, comfortable seating, and much more, all without conflict with the helm position.

If you’re familiar with Antares, then you’ll also notice that they’ve added some new interior features. There are two new forward-facing hatches located in the salon that help to increase the amount of fresh air you get, allowing for proper ventilation. As for headroom, that has increased by 6.5 in (16.51 cm), now allowing 6.75 ft (2.06 m) of headroom. So if either of you is tall, you won’t have to worry about banging your head.

They’ve also accommodated for a much more comfortable experience, including for both physical and mental comfort. There are new stainless steel armrests in the cockpit for a more aesthetically pleasing design. Plus, there’s a standup locker in the cockpit that you can use for storage, but can also be used as a fridge or ice maker. Talk about flexibility!

Overall, the Antares 44 GT will give you an experience that allows you to feel the maximum amount of comfort with your partner. It would not be surprising if you decide to choose this one, because it truly seems like the best on the list so far. 

Used models can be found for just under $1 million .

If you’re hoping for a great amount of space, look no further than the Leopard 42. You can choose between three or four cabins and showers, making this one of the most flexible boats on this list. This design will exceed all of your expectations and then some while still accomplishing the main goal of comfort and perfect performance. 

The exterior is stunning, featuring hull side windows, a hardtop, and an upper-lounge area, which happens to be Leopard Catamarans’ signature. However, the exterior is nothing compared to the beautiful interior experience. There are modern contrasts, perfect lighting, classy finishes, and more, giving you the combined feeling of luxury and elegance. 

As previously stated, you can get this model with three or four cabins. While three cabins is probably best, four cabins can also provide more storage and space for you and your partner. Every single cabin has its own private en-suite and shower area, which are features that aren’t commonly included in catamarans of this size.

The saloon has tons of skylight and an additional window in the aft starboard corner that faces the helm seat. All in all, this catamaran is a fantastic choice for any couple regardless of what they’re looking for, considering how flexible it can be.

Some used models have been as low as $250,000 .

Yet another flexible boat from the same brand, we’re going to look at the Leopard 45 now, awarded Boat of the Year in 2017. Both the exterior and interior will leave you feeling absolutely stunned , you won’t know where to start or what to start doing. The possibilities are endless with this catamaran.

Of course, there’s a hardtop lounge for maximum comfort, which includes a sunbed, seating area, and table. To get up to this lounge, you’ll head up on floating stairs that lead up from the aft cockpit without disrupting the helm station. 

This catamaran is also flexible, considering it’s available in a three-cabin layout or a four-cabin layout. It’s sleek and nimble, but overall it’s going to provide a comfortable and relaxing experience. This might just be your dream boat.

When loaded with extras, this catamaran will cost you almost $600,000 .

Designed to replace the Leopard 48 (which isn’t on this list), the Leopard 50 is one of the most beautiful catamarans you’ll ever see. It has a stunning layout with a flybridge that has a lounge area, sunbed, table, and optional exterior speakers and shade awning. If that doesn’t do it for you, then I don’t know what will.

While the interior is built solely for comfort, the exterior is built to look as elegant and luxurious as possible. You can start by sunbathing on the flybridge with your lover and then relax in your cabin, or you can head over to the saloon and enjoy some fine wine as the ocean breeze waves over the both of you. Then, you can go back to the sunbathing area as you and your partner relax together. Be sure to put on some sunscreen first!

Overall, this catamaran offers a fantastic experience for both you and your partner, regardless of what you’re looking for. From a luxurious exterior to a soft interior with the most relaxing experience, this might be the best choice for the both of you.

This newer model will go for around $1 million brand new.

Buyer’s Guide

Catamarans have a high price tag when brand new, and though it may seem a lot, it is important to remember that they are highly sought-after vessels and typically have excellent resale values. Though you may not get exactly what you paid, chances are you’ll get close.

When thinking about getting a catamaran as a couple, you’ll want to consider how you intend to use it. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Will it just be the two of you? Though a four-cabin catamaran will be more spacious, if it will just be the two of you, is all that space really needed?
  • What extra amenities are needed? If you’re not planning on being on the vessel full-time, do you need a top-of-the-line kitchen?
  • Are you planning on taking longer trips? Some catamarans are not designed for long trips on open waters. Expect to pay more for such models.

If you want to better understand what to look for and how to get the best deal on a catamaran i would suggest checking out my Buyer’s Guide .

Final Thoughts

When it comes to spending time with your other half, you want to be together while creating a sense of personal space as well. If you decide to go cruising, you’ll want the perfect catamaran that’ll do just that. Be sure to look for something within your budget that has a good amount of space and comfort, as well as well-designed cabins and bathrooms and various fun activities.

If you can find one with all of these features, then you and your partner are sure to have a nice and relaxing experience. Have fun!

  • Cata-Lagoon: Lagoon Catamaran: sale, rental, catamaran and luxurious yacht construction – 42
  • Cata-Lagoon: Lagoon Catamaran: sale, rental, catamaran and luxurious yacht construction – SEVENTY 7
  • Fountaine Pajot: Luxury Catamaran Sailboat Isla 40
  • Fountaine Pajot: Astréa 42 – The perfect sailing catamaran for family cruises
  • Fountaine Pajot: Luxury Sailing Catamaran – Saona 47
  • Fountaine Pajot: Cruise catamaran sailboat New 51
  • Antares Catamarans: Antares Catamarans GT
  • Leopard Catamarans: Leopard 42
  • Leopard Catamarans: Leopard 45
  • Leopard Catamarans: Leopard 50

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!

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The Antares 44i

It took us less than a year to decide upon, locate and buy our floating home. This is pretty fast in boat years; many people spend many years in the decision process, and then it can take more years to either find the right used boat, or to spec out and wait for a new one to be built.

The Antares 44i catamaran “Golden Glow” in Sardinia, Italy

Our good fortune came because we chose an Antares 44i catamaran . We had considered the Antares boat early on. We loved the wood interior and the overall quality of the boat, the shaft drives and that it had an encloseable helm and cockpit, which were important to us – and hard to find all in one boat.

Our selection process was managed by a rather large spreadsheet with several dozen manufactures and categories that included everything from capsize coefficients to finish options and even a run down on company management and post sale support.  Antares was always in the top 2-3 of boats for our use.  We had a specific profile we were targeting:

  • sailing vessel would be a catamaran
  • a safe blue water cruiser
  • capable of being easily managed by two people in rough seas
  • 5 years on board
  • blue water sailing: 8-12 months (< 20% of the 5 years, 8-10 large ocean crossings)
  • day sailing, meaning less than 2-3 days at ocean at a time: 10 months (<10% of time in 5 years)
  • at anchor: 42 months (> 70% of the 5 years)
  • at dock: 2-3 months (< 5% of the 5 years)
  • the sailing vessel would have several must have aspects that were based on safety, comfort and sail-ability.

After a several boat shows and visits to factories on multiple continents, we narrowed it down to just a couple boats.

Antares 44i Catamarans are in high demand

We put a deposit down on a new Antares 44i build. Fortunately for Antares, the company, but unfortunately for us, there is a great demand for these boats. New Antares boats built at the factory are completely sold out into 2018 , and used Antares 44i ‘s tend to sell within a week.

We had a date when we wanted to have our new boat by (by the dates of Robby and Zack’s graduations from college and Wharton respectively, and in time to sail to the Med for the summer of 2015 to have Hunter, Savannah and Reid join us there), and the completion date of the hull we were going to get wouldn’t have been ready in time. Rob & Jeff from Antares were forthright with us and we appreciated that. Rather than tell us what we wanted to hear, and risk disappointing us by missing our date, they told us honestly when the boat would likely be delivered – fall of 2015 – and since that was too late for our needs, they then sent back the deposit and helped us find a used Antares in bristol condition and whose availability fit our time schedule.

The previous owners were experienced sailors and had taken excellent care of the boat. The boat had splashed in early 2011, but the owners had only sailed her for six months a year. The engines were practically brand new, and the previous owners had done all of the new-boat gremlin-catching so when we got her she was very, very solid… how lucky were we!  And so, in June 2014 we took possession of Cinq a Sept and after a very formal and intoxicating renaming ceremony, “Golden Glow” was born.

We can’t say enough about how highly we regard the Antares Team: Rob and Jeff, Salwa, Paul, and all the people involved with Antares! They have all been incredibly helpful to us, and are honorable and nice people too. The boat’s architect, Ted Clements , put so much thought and wisdom into every part of the boat’s design.  He has a blog explaining many of his decisions that is very informative no matter what catamaran you’re sailing.  It’s not surprising that they are having such success with Antares and that we have had such success in our journeys on Golden Glow thus far.

The Antares Catamaran University and Community

Through the Antares attention to detail, a great community of fellow Antares owners has evolved that actively share information and support each other.  That ‘family’ cliche is very real for Antares owners. In addition to building the most sea-worthy and comfortable, safe, well-designed liveaboard sailing vessel, they also provide the best after-sales support and care…even to second owners like us.

Our time at Antares University in the Exumas

Antares sponsors a free Antares University that owners and prospective owners can attend to learn more about their boats. Attending an Antares University in George Town, Exumas, Bahamas in May 2014   and being able to experience the boat and confirm her ease of handling, quality and design, was what solidified our decision to buy an Antares. We’ll probably attend at least one more Antares U now that we own an Antares to learn more from fellow owners and share what we’ve learned about our boat. One thing we’ve learned is how much we miss being on Golden Glow when we aren’t aboard and sailing!

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9 Comments on The Antares 44i

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I would hugely appreciate that spreadsheet you mentioned! Am in the process of compiling my own. Why re-create the wheel? Many thanks for advising. Mark

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Hi, any chance of you posting or emailing the spreadsheet you compiled when deciding on which catamaran to purchase?

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Hello can I ask what you do with regards to electric in Europe as I assume your boat is American voltage as looked through the specs and everything for a new Antares44i and very interested in purchasing a new one just concerned about the issue with it being American voltage.

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Hi Christopher, During our two seasons in the Mediterranean, or whenever we are in a 220volt area and want to hook up to shore power, we use a voltage converter transformer that steps the voltage from 220 to 110. It was only $75 on Amazon – http://amzn.to/2kr4JOk and worth every penny. Small, sturdy, durable and effective. There is one Antares Blue Dawn built for a family from Israel and they had it built with 220v so that’s another possibility if you’re commissioning the factory to build your boat. Enjoy Europe!

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Would you consider sharing a copy of your spreadsheet w/selection criteria?

Hi Toby, Sure, we’d be happy to do that. We’ll post it after the Thanksgiving holiday. All the best, Ellen & Rand

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Congrats on finding the boat! I am so jealous- I saw an Antares at the boat show in Newport a couple of years ago and it was love at first sight. I will be following your exciting journey! Fair winds!

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Thank you so much for your kind words Stacey. Getting the boat was the hard part. Then the fun (and work, but a labor of love as you know) begins. We are in love with the Antares 44i catamaran too. Such a solid, well-built, comfortable and pretty boat. We’ll check out your blog and follow your boat adventures too. Glorious good day, Ellen & Rand

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Neat website! We are discussing the Atlantic crossing. Best regards

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Cruising World Logo

Best Cruising Catamarans

  • By Cruising World Editors
  • Updated: July 1, 2021

multihulls

Cruising catamarans have been around for decades, but early models—often plywood and fiberglass vessels built by their owners from plans and kits, kept the boats on the fringes of mainstream sailing. That all changed, though, as big roomy cats were discovered by sailors who went off to charter in the Caribbean, where the multihulls proved their worth as comfortable liveaboard and party boats.

Today’s bluewater catamarans roam the globe, carrying families to exotic destinations across the Pacific and beyond. Just as with their monohull cousins, there is no best catamaran. Instead there is a wide variety of designs, ranging from small catamarans that offer the ease of maintenance a couple might enjoy to performance catamarans capable of easily knocking off 250-mile days. Today, the best catamaran brands offer a range of size models and layouts that can be optimized for an owner sailing with family and friends, or for the charter market, where there’s a demand for four, five and even six cabins worth of accommodations.

The most prolific catamaran manufacturers are in France and South Africa where yards include both large-run production builders and niche companies building fewer than 10 boats a year.

The best cruising catamarans offer good load-carrying ability and respectable performance. As with any sailboat , a modern catamaran’s design is a result of compromises. Daggerboards or keels? Galley up or galley down? Spacious owner’s cabin or extra bunks? There are lots of options to choose from—and that’s what makes looking at these sailboats fun!

Here, then is an eclectic A to Z list of some of the best catamarans that have helped shaped the evolution of how we live and sail on two hulls.

Antares 44i

Antares 44i catamaran

Now built in Argentina as a full-fledged, bluewater catamaran and cruiser that can be safely operated by a shorthanded couple or family crew, the Antares 44i features a fully covered cockpit with a quartet of big, standard solar panels recessed within the hardtop, one example of a yacht capable of long-range passagemaking.

Atlantic 42

Atlantic 42 Catamaran

Almost 30 years ago, yacht designer Chris White revolutionized catamaran design with the first in his series of Atlantic cats, the primary feature of which was the innovative mid-ship sailing cockpit forward of the main cabin. The smallest in the Atlantic line, the 42 remains White’s most popular design ever.

Bahia 46 catamaran

Fountaine-Pajot has built so many outstanding cruising catamarans that it’s difficult to narrow down any single boat, but we’ve always been fans of the good-looking, well-thought-out Bahia 46. At 46 feet, the boat is large enough for offshore forays and has plenty of volume; with its simple but powerful sail plan, it’s also an excellent performer.

Catana 471 catamarans

Beginning around 1996, the French builder Catana was one of the first companies to manufacture fully found cruising cats for private ownership, and this Christophe Barreau design, which enjoyed a nearly 10-year production run from 1997-2006, was emblematic of this first generation of safe, fun, long-legged offshore voyagers.

Click here to see more cats from Catana.

Catana 50 catamaran

When it comes to speed, light boats are fast ones. And if you wish to save weight, that means exotic modern materials like carbon. Catana now infuses the laminates of their entire production line with carbon fiber, and for this list, we’ve chosen the Catana 50 Carbon, one of the zippiest cats now crossing oceans.

Click here to read about a couple’s charter aboard a Catana 50.

Gemini 105M

Gemini 105M catamaran

Pioneering catamaran sailor, builder and designer Tony Smith launched the first of his 33-foot Gemini 105M’s (10.5 meters = 33′) in 1993, and soon after found a ready and willing stream of sailors enamored of the boat’s compact size, affordable price tag, and such innovations as the nifty lifting rudder and transom steps.

Click here to read about the Gemini Legacy 35.

Gunboat 62 catamaran

Built between 2000-2005, the Gunboat 62 firmly established the Gunboat brand: go-anywhere cats that applied race-boat technology to a world-cruising platform. Hull no. 1, Tribe, was built for company founder Peter Johnstone, who then spent a year-and-a-half cruising with his family, smiling all the way.

Kronos 45 catamaran

French builder Henri Wauquiez is best known for his long career building monohulls, but the Kronos 45 cat, which he launched in 1992, was ahead of her time. Classic lines, the aft “targa bar” over the cockpit, the louvered coach roof windows, even the distinctive stripes on her hull: the Kronos 45 remains timeless.

Lagoon 380 catamaran

No roundup of cruising cats would be complete without several Lagoon entries, and the best of that impressive bunch might well be the Lagoon 380. Originally launched in 1999, and revered for its combination of quality, volume and performance, with over 740 boats built the 380 is still going strong.

Lagoon 440 catamaran

Launched five years after the breakthrough 380, the Lagoon 440 was an evolutionary design that featured a raised flybridge helm station, a unique “gullwing” configuration below the bridge deck, expanded windows in the hull and much more. With 400 boats built in a 6-year production run, the 440 was an unqualified success.

Lagoon 620 catamaran

How big can a production cat, still operable by a short-handed crew, really be? The builders at Lagoon discovered that 62-feet hit a sweet spot in the marketplace, and have sold over 70 boats since its introduction in 2010. The centerpiece of this design is the sensational steering station atop the flybridge, with expansive views of the sea and sky.

Click here to see more cats from Lagoon.

Leopard 40 catamaran

With an unmatched pedigree – designed by premier multihull naval architects Gino Morelli and Pete Melvin, built by the prestigious Robertson & Caine boatyard in South Africa, and commissioned by chartering giant The Moorings – the Leopard 40 was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Cruising World ’s Import Boat of the Year in 2005.

Louisiane 37

Louisiane 37 catamaran

Based on the famous French racing cat Charente-Maritime, the Louisiane 37, designed by Joubert/Nivelt and launched by builder Fountaine-Pajot in 1983, was a light, fast liveaboard cruiser with full accommodations that represented a radical departure from the hefty British cats that preceded it.

Maine Cat 30

Maine Cat 30 catamaran

One of the more versatile and clever cats ever created, the central feature of the cool Maine Cat 30 is the open bridge deck/living room sandwiched between the hulls and canopied by a rigid, permanent hard top (the comfortable accommodations/ staterooms are stationed in the hulls). Ideal for a winter in the Bahamas but with the ability to sail offshore, it’s a boat for all seasons and reasons.

Manta 42 catamaran

Built in Florida and beloved by the owners of the over 120 boats built during the company’s existence from 1993 to 2009, the Manta Catamarans range included 38-, 40- and 44-foot cats. For this exercise, however, we’re heralding the original Manta 42, which won the Best Value Overall prize in CW’s 2001 Boat of the Year contest.

Moorings 4800/Leopard 48

Leopard 48 catamaran

Another Leopard/Moorings collaboration built by the wizards at Robertson & Caine (though this boat was designed by fellow South African Alex Simonis), the Leopard 48 was another CW Boat of the Year winner with all the contemporary bells and whistles: forward cockpit, flybridge helm station and solid hardtop dodger, just to name a few.

Click here to read more about the Leopard 48, and click here to see more images.

Nautitech 441

Nautitech 441 catmaran

The Best Multihull Under 45 Feet: So said the CW judging panel in the 2013 Boat of the Year competition, regarding the Nautitech 441. But what makes this versatile platform so intriguing are the different helm set-ups. The 441 employs a single wheel, to starboard, ideal for solo sailors, while the 442 has a pair of helm stations aft.

Click here to see more Nautitech Catamarans.

Outremer 5X

Catamaran

A state-of-the-art all-oceans cat that exemplifies how far multihull design has come, the 59-foot Outremer 5X was a winner on both sides of the Atlantic, taking top honors in the European Boat of the Year competition in 2013, and following up as the Best Full-Size Multihull in CW ’s contest a year later.

Click here to see more cats from Outremer.

St. Francis 50

St. Francis 50

The flagship of the proud St. Francis line – built in South Africa since 1990 to designs by local legends Lavranos Marine Design – the St. Francis 50 is another “luxury cat” that shares much in common with an earlier 48-foot sister-ship, but packs even more payload into its roomier lines.

Click here to read more about the St. Francis 50

Seawind 1000

Seawind 1000 catamaran

Founded by Aussie surfer and sailor Richard Ward in 1982, the 33-foot Seawind 1000 is easily the most popular cruising cat ever built in Australia (the company has since moved its manufacturing and management operations to Vietnam). Roomy and airy, these cats dot the coastline of eastern Oz.

Seawind 1160

1160 catamaran

If the Seawind 1000 was a minimalist approach to cruising cats, the 38-foot Seawind 1160 is the flip side of the coin, a full-fledged long-range voyager. Among the reasons it was named CW ’s Most Innovative boat for 2007 is the unique “tri-folding” door that stashes overhead to open up the saloon and cockpit into a spacious living area.

Click here to read more about the Seawind 1160.

Sunsail 384

Sunsail 384 catamaran

Every sailboat is a compromise, and in the case of the Sunsail 384 (also sold privately as the Leopard 38) that’s a good thing, because designers Morrelli & Melvin and builder Robertson and Caine got the balance just right with this relatively small catamaran. With four cabins, the 384 can carry the same size bareboat charter crowd as her larger siblings, but does so with a decided bounce in her step. Named CW’s Import Boat of the Year in 2010, you can gauge the success of the design by the grins on the crew as they barrel down Sir Francis Drake channel in the British Virgin Islands.

Victoria 67

Victoria 67 catamaran

The French design office of Berret Racoupeau drafted the lines of Fountaine-Pajot’s new flagship, introduced in 2013, a magnificent world-girdling voyaging catamaran. Like other giant cats launched in recent years, the boat features a sensational upper deck with all sail controls, helm and lounging stations.

Click here to see more images of the Victoria 67.

Wharram Tanaroa

Wharram catamaran

No list of influential multihulls would be complete without the work of James Wharram, and while Tangaroa wasn’t a production cat by any means, it showcases the British designer’s respect for ancient Polynesian craft. Wharram sailed this 23-foot-6-inch “double-hulled canoe” across the Atlantic in the 1950s, and sold countless plans for similar boats for decades afterwards.

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Leopard 46

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Antares 44 Hybrid

Timeless design, meticulously crafted, great performance, check out the antares hybrid at the annapolis sailboat show, new hybrid tour.

Welcome to the NEW Antares design.  It is best to view this virtual tour in full-screen mode.  After pressing play, select the top right brackets to enlarge.

NEW Antares Tall Rig Option

We are pleased to announce a NEW sail configuration for the Antares. We have collaborated closely with Selden, UK Sails, and our engineers to enhance our design and increase sail area for customers who want to maximize light wind performance.

The new Tall Rig option takes the already high-performing Antares to a whole new level. With our improved infusion process, we have managed to reduce the weight by over 1,000 pounds, while maintaining our focus on safety and seaworthiness for our discerning bluewater cruising customers. We are proud to have engineered a new level of performance for Antares.

New Interior Color Option!

We have a new lighter-colored wood interior, with a new layout option for the port aft cabin.  This is another example of Antares listening to our customers and creating enhancements that make the Antares the ‘Wold’s Best Liveaboard.’

New Hybrid & GT Cockpit Design

We completely redesigned the cockpit, increasing space, increasing window sizes, adding streamlined seating that is easier to lounge, without compromising our excellent helm position or the ability to manage all lines in the cockpit easily.

Catamaran Design Discussions

Whether you are buying a monohull or catamaran, understanding the difference between shaft drives and saildrives is important!

Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of performance catamarans and dive into research done by the Univerisity of Southhampton, UK, about why multihulls capsize. Topics covered include catamaran stability, 2021 World...

Watch this short video to learn about safe cockpit designs for cruising catamarans. All too often, buyers overlook key safety considerations when buying a catamaran.

In this episode of "All Things Antares," we discuss performance ratios, boat polars and hear from Antares owners about their sailing experiences in diverse conditions around the world.

Losing steering at sea is a potentially severe issue. Mechanical systems can be selected, and consistent maintenance schedules must be used to protect the safety of crew and vessels under challenging situations.

In this episode, we detail how the Antares hybrid catamaran is designed and demonstrate the hybrid systems on the water with our special guest, the CEO of Hybrid Marine.

Learn about Hybrid Catamaran design, the failures, and successes over the past 15 years. What are the design considerations for a global cruising hybrid catamaran? Are hybrid catamarans ready for world cruising?

In this episode, learn how to rig, deploy and trim a parasailor on an Antares Catamaran.

In this episode, we discuss the design considerations of galley up versus galley down and the differences between both options.

Superior design is as timeless as the sea. It never compromises safety or dependability for the latest market trends.

Meticulous craftsmanship takes time. nothing is built well that is built fast., continuously refined, always improve, never settle. every new antares incorporates refinements, continuously improving our design., exclusively liveaboard, antares owners are part of an exclusive community. their desires and expectations are to own the world’s best-designed liveaboard catamaran., 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.”

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IMAGES

  1. Antares 44 GS Catamaran Review 2021

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  2. Antares 44 Catamaran Review

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  3. New Antares 44 GS Catamaran. Guided tour and review. Built to be a live-aboard world cruising boat

    antares catamaran review

  4. Antares 44i The world's best live aboard!

    antares catamaran review

  5. Exterior Photos

    antares catamaran review

  6. Antares 44i The world's best live aboard! Catamaran Design, Sailing

    antares catamaran review

VIDEO

  1. Antares

  2. Are Performance "Cruising" Catamarans Safe?

  3. Leopard 50 Catamaran Review and Tour

  4. “เก็ท โสภณ-วารุณี” คอตก ศาลไม่ให้ประกันตัว คดี 112 เชื่อหลบหนี

  5. Antares University & Factory Tour 2013

  6. Catamaran Project For Sale!

COMMENTS

  1. Antares 44i

    BWS THOUGHTS. The Antares 44i is a unique cruising catamaran. The boat has a distinctive, shippy look that makes it unmistakable in any anchorage. The underlying concepts in the design and the attention to detail in both the build and equipping phases of the boat's creation are incredibly sound.

  2. PDQ Antares 44i

    Draft 4'. Displ. 22,500 lbs. Sail area (main and jib) 864 sq ft, Power (2) 29-hp Yanmar diesels. PDQ Yachts, 888-297-2287. Voluminous cruising catamarans have a reputation for being ideal charterboats, but the boat builders at PDQ Yachts are quick to point out that the new Antares 44i cruising cat is not intended to be a charterboat.

  3. The best bluewater multihulls of all time: a complete guide

    Lagoon 380. The long-time best-seller from the world leader in catamarans, with more than 1,000 produced over almost 20 years from 1999. With its characteristic vertical windows, the 380 and its ...

  4. Featured yacht- Antares 44i, the ocean-crossing catamaran

    PRINT. The Antares 44i is the only production catamaran built with a glass windshield and wipers and a full removable enclosure designed into the hardtop. With substantially more storage and counter space than other yachts of its size, the Antares galley is designed to provide a bright and open work area. Features include custom built 7-cubic ...

  5. Antares 44i vs Privilege 445

    After checking out the 2008 Antares 44i on yachtworld I would say the galley on the Antares is larger, the cherry wood finish is spectacular and it is much more expensive than the P445. The P445 appears to have more cabinetry. The P445 cockpit is a bit more appealing to me.

  6. Antares 44 GS Catamaran Review 2021

    The Antares 44GS Catamaran is billed as the perfect liveaboard. There is no doubt that the Antares is a beautiful boat, and hundreds of Antares 44 catamarans...

  7. 13 Best Catamarans for Cruising (Buyer's Guide With Prices)

    However, purchasing a cruising catamaran is no small decision; it's essential to research the range of models to decide which will be best for you. Some of the best catamarans for cruising are the Sunreef 60, the Leopard 45, the Saona 46, the Manta 42, and the Antares 44i. A good cruising catamaran offers plenty of space, extended range and ...

  8. Antares 44. Guided Tour & Review. Is this the perfect cat for a couple

    We took a guided tour of the Antares 44 Catamaran at this year's Annapolis Sailboat Show. It has a great reputation for being a quality built boat that is d...

  9. New Antares 44 GS Catamaran. Guided tour and review. Built to be a live

    In this episode of Cruising Off Duty, we continue our series where we are checking out the Catamarans at the Annapolis Sailboat Show to see what we think wou...

  10. Antares Builder Interview with Mark Silverstein

    The Antares 44 is a legendary catamaran first introduced by legendary catamaran builder PDQ in 2004. The model was built by PDQ until 2008 when the molds were moved to Buenas Aires, Argentina and production continued under different management. Since then they have made numerous updates to the design and continue to build one of the premier ...

  11. 17 Best Catamarans for Sailing Around the World

    The best catamarans for sailing around the world include: Lagoon 42. The Fountaine Pajot Ipanema 58. Manta 42. Catana 50. Dolphin 42. Gunboat 62. These cats focus on speed, safety, and comfort for longer journeys. This article will show you the seventeen best catamarans for long journeys, and why they're the best.

  12. 10 Best Catamarans for Couples: Review and Pictures

    The best catamarans for couples include the Lagoon 42, the Seventy 7, the Leopard 45, and the Antares 44GT. Value for money is vital, but so is comfort. Catamarans for couples should be easy to handle, romantic, and not too big. If you're looking to spend some time away with the one you love, read on.

  13. The Antares 44i

    Antares 44i Catamarans are in high demand. We put a deposit down on a new Antares 44i build. Fortunately for Antares, the company, but unfortunately for us, there is a great demand for these boats. New Antares boats built at the factory are completely sold out into 2018, and used Antares 44i 's tend to sell within a week.

  14. Antares GT and Hybrid Overview

    The Antares 44 GT and Antares 44 Hybrid both share the same design and have the new upgrades to the cockpit, electrical systems, increased ventilation inside, etc. However, there are some significant differences - the largest is 'how' the boat is powered. These changes are highlighted below. For additional details on the hybrid design and ...

  15. ANTARES 44 HYBRID Catamaran

    For several years now, the Antares has been a sure bet for sailors looking for an owner's catamaran to sail around the world. But the distribution of these...

  16. Antares 44GS Catamaran Review

    [embedded content] The Antares 44GS Catamaran is billed as the perfect liveaboard. There is no doubt that the Antares is a beautiful boat, and hundreds of Antares 44 catamarans have sailed the globe. However, what. ... in antares 44 catamaran, catamaran reviews, Sailing Blogs, ...

  17. Antares boats for sale

    Antares. Antares is a yacht brand that currently has 7 yachts for sale on YachtWorld, including 1 new vessels and 6 used yachts, listed by experienced boat and yacht brokers mainly in the following countries: United States. Models currently listed on YachtWorld span in size and length from 26 feet to 44 feet.

  18. Best Cruising Catamarans, Sailing Catamaran Brands

    Gemini 105M Courtesy of Gemini Catamarans. Pioneering catamaran sailor, builder and designer Tony Smith launched the first of his 33-foot Gemini 105M's (10.5 meters = 33′) in 1993, and soon after found a ready and willing stream of sailors enamored of the boat's compact size, affordable price tag, and such innovations as the nifty lifting rudder and transom steps.

  19. Antares Pre-Owned

    2023 s/v Ripple. The Antares 44 has been revered over two decades as the world's finest blue-water cruising catamaran. In 2022, the game-changing 44 Hybrid model was released. Designed from the ground up for extensive. off-grid sailing, it's the perfect balance of style, safety, comfort, and electrification.

  20. Antares 44 Catamaran Review

    Our experience and impressions from touring the Antares 44GS at the 2019 United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland.

  21. Antares Catamarans

    The world's best liveaboard. Meticulously handcrafted in Buenos Aires, Argentina by 40 Grados Sur, Antares Catamarans are the world's best liveaboard sailing catamarans. Our philosophy is 'Always improve, never settle', and each new Antares is continually refined, from improvements in line handling to increased solar capacity, streamlined ...

  22. S2#4. Antares 44 Guided Tour: Hybrid World Cruiser

    @Barefoot Doctors Sailing - Catch up with the Barefoot Doctors Sailing story 2 months after our Leopard 50 burnt to the bottom of the ocean and now we are lo...

  23. Antares Catamarans Home Page Annapolis 24

    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.