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Top Catamarans for Cruising: Powercat Roundup

an image of a Aquila 44 Power Catamaran, powercat roundup, best cruising catamarans

An Aquila Catamaran, one of the top powercats for cruising.

Top Catamarans for Cruising

Powercats offer stability, spaciousness, beautiful lines, and so much more. see some of the industry’s top catamarans for cruising..

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Best Power Multihulls: our selection for 2024

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

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

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

Robertson & Caines: a solid range of power catamarans

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

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

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

Leopard power catamaran, for whom?

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

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

Leopard 43 Power Catamaran, Charter and Sale

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

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

Leopard catamaran for sale

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

WI Yachts’ opinion on Leopard Power Catamaran

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

Fountaine Pajot Power Catamarans: a very elegant option

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

Fountaine Pajot Powercat, for whom?

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

Fountaine Pajot motor yacht MY44

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

Charter a Fountaine Pajot MY44

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

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

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

Fountaine Pajot Motoryacht MY44 for sale

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

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Fountaine Pajot Motor Yacht

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

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

Read also: Top 6 motoryachts around 80 feet

The Sunreef 60: a well balanced luxury Powercat

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

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

Sunreef Powercat, for whom?

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

Luxury Sunreef Power 60

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

Rent a Sunreef 60 power catamaran

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

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

She has an extremely spacious saloon and large living areas.

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

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Sunreef power cat

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

Lagoon: the leader shipyard with many worldclass power catamarans

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

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

Lagoon Motor Yacht, for whom?

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

The Lagoon MY: Lagoon Seventy 8 and Sixty 7

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

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

Charter a Lagoon Seventy 8 Catamaran

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

Lagoon Seventy 8 for sale

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

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Seventy 8

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

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

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

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

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

The Bali 4.3 MY and the Bali Catspace MY

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

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

Bali 4.3 Motoryacht for charter

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

The opinion of WI Yachts on the Bali MY catamaran

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

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Bali MY catamaran

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

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

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

Nautitech motor catamarans, for whom?

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

Nautitech 47 Power Cat

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

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

Nautitech 47 Powercat for sale

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

WI Yachts’ opinion on the Nautitech 47

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

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

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

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

LEEN trimarans, for whom?

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

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

Read also: Trimaran versus Catamaran: what are the differences

Motor Trimaran LEEN 72′

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

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

WI Yachts’ opinion on the LEEN trimarans

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

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

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

Yachting World

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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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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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Best Cruising Catamarans

By Cruising World Editors
Updated: July 1, 2021

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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2023 Power Buyer’s Guide - 30 to 40 feet

Article published on 28/10/2022

By Emmanuel van Deth

published in n°SP19 dec. / jan.

This category of ‘multipowers’ incorporates a wide variety of models - from the Open designed for shoal draft waters to the comfortable Cruiser that can accommodate you for weeks on board, or even the catamaran designed just for big game fishing. The common theme: all these models easy to handle thanks to their dual engines and their still modest size.

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Dismantlable and transportable

A dismantlable powercat can be transported on a simple flatbed trailer... as long as it is of reasonable length and light in weight. Naval architect Richard Woods was able to test the validity of the concept with his own Skoota 28: the Aegean 30 is a development of the Skoota 28, still for building in plywood/epoxy and dismantlable. The objective was to increase the beam - now close to that of a sailing catamaran - and the headroom while offering two additional berths in the hulls. The outboard motors make beaching easier and safer - no rudders and engine legs. Two 40 to 60 HP engines guarantee a cruising speed of 10-12 knots (16-20 knots top speed).

Architect: Richard Woods Design Material: Epoxy plywood Overall length: 30’2” (9.20m) Waterline length: 289’ (8.85 m) Beam: 16’5” (5.00 m) Draft: 14” (0.36 m) Headroom in nacelle: 6’3” (1.90 m) Light displacement: 5,500 lbs (2.5 t) Laden displacement: 7,000 lbs (3.2 t) Engines: 2 x 40 to 60 HP outboards Cruising speed: 10/12 knots Max speed: 16/20 knots

L925 SEMI DISPLACEMENT POWER CAT

Amateur or professional construction in plywood/epoxy.

New Zealand-based naval architecture firm Dan Leech is offering a number of power multihulls from 25 to 60 feet (7.5 to 18 m) for amateur or professional construction. Among them, the L925 is the perfect choice for relaxed cruising for a couple. This model is built in ½” (12 mm) plywood - the panels can be digitally cut - with glass/epoxy reinforcements. Its limited beam will allow you access to a marina slip without any noticeable extra cost. On the other hand, the gain in habitability and stability is considerable compared to a single-hulled motorboat. This kind of construction is very accessible to an enlightened amateur (4,000 hours of work were counted for the first model) all the more so as having outboard motors for propulsion considerably simplifies the technical aspects. Despite its semi-displacement hulls, the L925 is capable of making more than 20 knots with two 90 hp engines.

Construction: Amateur or professional Architect: Dan Leech Naval Architect Length: 30’4” (9.25 m) Waterline length: 24’9” (7.55 m) Beam: 11’ (3.35 m) Draft: 19” (0.48 m) - engines up Recommended engines: 2 x 90 HP outboards Cruising speed: 17 knots Max speed: 22 knots Fuel: 79 US gal (300 l)

ARROWCAT 320

Compact but luxurious.

The ArrowCat 320 is a successful model - now in its third generation. The smallest of the Arrowcat range, it features a luxurious finish - rare in compact powercats - such as a wooden steering wheel, or modern, full instrumentation on a carbon-look dashboard. Inside, the manufacturer has paid particular attention to the owner’s cabin. The 320 is powered by two outboard motors. The limited beam of 10 feet (3.05 m) allows the boat to be transported by road in certain countries such as the United ...

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Cruise, Play, Stay

With all the comforts of home, arrowcat brings back the 20' center console, a unique design, understand why.

Enjoy your boat year-round and stay warm and dry during cooler weather or overnight trips, while also having a comfortable and private space to retreat for whenever you need a break. Here are a few reasons why an ArrowCat power cat is an excellent boat to consider.

A Catamaran Boat

Catamarans have two hulls, which provide more stability in the water. They are less likely to roll or pitch, which means they offer a more comfortable ride, especially in rough conditions and for people who are prone to seasickness.

Power catamarans are typically more fuel-efficient than monohull boats of the same size. It requires less energy and yields more performance per HP. The two hulls create little to no drag or resistance to get on plane, resulting in greater fuel economy. Allowing for longer journeys with fewer refueling stops.

Power catamarans have a shallow draft which means they can navigate in diverse cruising grounds – beaches, islands, rivers, channels, and coastal areas with limited water depth.

An Express Cruiser

Cabin boats are designed with comfortable sleeping quarters and living spaces. They feature a sleeping space with a bed, a galley with a stove, sink, and refrigerator, and a head with a shower and toilet.

Cabin boats provide protection from the elements, such as wind, sun, and rain. This allows for comfortable cruising in a variety of weather conditions, as well as providing a haven during storms

Express cruisers are designed for efficient and fast navigation, offering higher speeds compared to traditional cruising boats. They usually have powerful engines that enable them to cover long distances quickly, making them ideal for day trips or weekend getaways.

Powered By Outboard Motors

Outboard motors can provide excellent performance and speed. They can often reach higher speeds than inboard motors of the same horsepower.

Outboard motors have a simple and standard design and are relatively easy to install, they do not require additional components such as a transmission, propeller shaft, couplings, and struts, that inboard engines do. They are easily assessable and cost less to maintain than inboard motors because they are mounted outside at the rear of the boat.

Outboard motors are often designed with features that make them easy to maneuver. For example, they can be tilted or rotated to provide precise control and handling in tight spaces and shallower waters.

ArrowCat Power Catamarans

The outboard powered express cruising catamaran.

ArrowCat Express Cruisers are designed from the ground up to maximize comfort, performance, durability, and fuel efficiency, making them a better choice for both in-shore and off-shore family cruising. We build our powercats with your safety and enjoyment in mind, designing our signature interior cabin so that you’re not limited by the outside elements, but rather have the ability to enjoy your vessel at any given time, regardless of weather or location. Superior construction, optimized performance, economy, and safety can be found in every ArrowCat we make.

Explore Our 32' & 42' Signature Cabin Models

Perfect for offshore and inshore cruising, long distance and overnight trips, cold off seasons and hot boating seasons, and much more. The ArrowCat 32-foot and 42-foot models provide an exciting and versatile experience on the water. Explore to see which one could best suit your boating lifestyle.

ArrowCat 320 Coupe

Express Cruiser Catamaran Hull Planing Hull Design Twin Outboard Motors Standard Layout: 2 Cabins/ 1 Wet Head Trailerable Optional Tower Upgrade LOA: 31′ 2″/9.50 meters Beam: 10’/3.05 meters Draft: 20″/.508 meters

ArrowCat 420 Coupe

Express Cruiser Yacht Catamaran Hull Planing Hull Design Twin Outboard Motors Standard Layout: 2 Cabins/ 1 Full Head LOA: 41′ 9″/12.73 meters Beam: 14′ 9″/4.5 meters Draft: 18″/.46 meters

ArrowCat 420 Flybridge

Express Cruiser Yacht Catamaran Hull Planing Hull Design Twin Outboard Motors Standard Layout: 2 Cabins/ 1 Full Head LOA: 41′ 9″/12.78 meters Beam: 14′ 9″/4.5 meters Draft: 20″/.5 meters

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Long range power catamarans

Peter Brady provided a brief history ( Multihull World Magazine, #142 ) of how he saw the development of long distance power catamarans:

Arthur Defever 1960’s (“long range cruising” monohulls) –> Robert Beebe 1974 (“passage maker” monohulls) –> Malcolm Tennant 1990’s (catamarans) & Roger Hill 1990’s & Peter Brady 1990’s in Australia (catamarans).

The qualities of the “passagemaker” were defined by Beebe as 2,400nm range at 7.5kn, self-sufficient for at least two weeks.

Brady opines that 2,000nm at displacement speed is a “reasonable bench mark”, with 55-65′ boats making 8kn at “displacement speed”.

This “displacement speed” indication is perhaps a better metric and allows calculation of the standard “ hull speed ” calculation of 1.34 x sqrt(LWL), with a “displacement speed” changing the multiplier from 1.34x to 1x or 1.1x (so a 49′ boat would average 7-7.7kn, a 64′ boat would average 8-8.8kn).

It is worth saying now that many trimarans and catamarans are acknowledged as NOT being limited by this theoretical hull speed as the formula is based on the hydrodynamic (wavemaking) properties, but hulls that are very narrow for their length (some say 8:1 or more on LWL:BWL) may instead be more limited by the interaction properties of the waves off each hull. There is not

So as a working definition, a passage maker or long range cruiser can be classified as being able to go at least 2,000nm on standard tanks at a speed of 6-8kn (depending on length, but 36-64′ covers most cruising size boats).

I have collected fuel consumption, displacement and size for quite a collection of power catamarans that I consider cruising boats. By this I mean they have considerable range and autonomy, have a displacement or semi-displacement hull shape, and can sleep at least two couples. This precludes the larger and smaller fast fishing boats (hull shape; range), patrol boats (comfort; sleeping), and all the smaller aluminium cats.

Based on the data I have collected, for production boats, these are long range passage makers:

Sunreef 70 – range 3200
Africat 420 – range 2800
Fountaine Pajot 46 Cumberland – range 2100

and for non-production boats, these are those I can find enough data to support as long range:

Tennant 66 Domino – range 7000nm+
Tennant 60 Catbyrd – range 6000nm+
Tennant 54 PH8 – range 3000nm
Tennant 44 St John – range 2000nm
Roger Hill 66 Tenacity – range 2500nm
Roger Hill 66 Lola – range 3200nm
Brady 17.5 Passagemaker – range 3200nm

By definition, these power catamarans (a mix of one-off and production boats) are not long-range:

Fountaine Pajot 37 Maryland (with 75hp engines, not 150hp) – range 1500
PDQ 41 – range 1500
Pachoud 49 Solitaire – range 1250
Fountaine Pajot 37 MY – range 1200
Lagoon 43 – range 1200
Horizon 52 – range 1150
Fountaine Pajot 35 Highland – range 1100
Fountaine Pajot 44 MY44 – range 1100
Ligure 50 – range 1100
Aquilla 48 – range 1050
Fountaine Pajot 40 Summerland – range 1000
Fountaine Pajot 44 Cumberland – range 1000
Leopard 51 – range 1000
Leopard 43 – range 1000

and those with less than 1000nm range at the requisite speed:

Aquilla 45 – range 950
Leopard 37 – range 900
Fountaine Pajot 34 Greenland – range 900
Aspen 120 – range 750
PDQ 34 – range 680

Going non-production, you are generally into one-off builds. Even though the big-name designers may have sold multiple hulls of the same initial design, these are often modified over the build so that they may only partly resemble each other once finished.

Lastly, the technical list of non-long range power catamarans ignores the fact that all of those referenced have an excellent range of at least 900nm. There are few times in a passage maker’s travels where more range is needed – the Pacific (Panama-Marquesas) and Atlantic (Bermuda-Azores, Cape Verde-Barbados, Cape Town-St Helena) are such, but these are an extremely small part of the time on water a passage maker spends compared to being close to land and places where diesel – quality or not – is available.

As a final warning, almost all of the above it theoretical waffle. It doesn’t take into account some vital points of decision: is the boat designed and built to handle the conditions of a long passage? Are the people aboard capable and ready for such voyages?

If you know of other long range power catamarans and can provide at least three data points of speed-consumption, please let me know and I can add them.

Other interesting articles about power catamarans are:

Shuttleworth on his Adastra
Some of Malcolm Tennant’s ideas
Alex Simonis on the Leopard 43 and why Power Catamarans Don’t like to go Uphill
Noah Thompson on hull fuel efficiency

and for some first hand information, Domino and SnoDog are fantastic.

Published by robout

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3 thoughts on “Long range power catamarans”

I didn’t know this about power cats. So few go long range! How interesting.

[…] the range you can travel a lot (no ocean crossings and possibly no multi-day trips). We want to go long range cruising […]

Thanks for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.

Upgrading to a Power Catamaran

By John Wooldridge
Updated: February 4, 2015

We were floating in about 10 feet of crystal clear water when I tripped the switch to let the anchor drop down on the large patch of white sand just under our bow. Ryan, my younger son, and Jack, his best friend, were standing inside the foredeck’s twin bow pulpits watching the anchor descend, giving me the thumbs up sign when they saw it touch bottom.

I dropped both engines into reverse and slowly idled backwards as the chain continued to pay out. A gust of wind on the bow slewed the boat slightly to starboard, but when I momentarily took the starboard engine out of gear, the power catamaran quickly regained its orientation, so I put the starboard engine into reverse idle again. The small diesels located in the aft end of each hull were set wide apart, and handling was exquisitely simple. When I estimated that 60 to 70 feet had passed through the anchor pulpit, I halted the windlass, felt a firm tug, and slipped the engines into neutral.

“Okay, Go!” I yelled as both diesels answered my push-button command to stop running. With a couple of joyous yells, two sun-browned boys dove head first into the perfectly clear water, knifing over the top of the bow pulpit railings. My wife, Peggy, walked along the wide side deck carrying a couple of masks and snorkels, and tossed them to the guys. Donning them quickly, they disappeared like diving ducks to check the set of the anchor , then popped up to give me the thumbs up sign one more time.

This was the first time that Peggy and I had cruised in a power catamaran, and suddenly we were both wondering why it had taken us so long to try one. We’d cruised here before in tri-cabin motor yachts, but the power catamaran quickly showed us advantages we had never expected. Our 37-foot power cat was half again as beamy as the 46-foot tri-cabin we had cruised last, and that extra beam translated into more storage and living space in every cabin. If you’ve spent any time on the water in smaller, trailerable, outboard powered catamarans, and I have, believe me when I tell you that they are a completely different experience, particular when it comes to the sheer size and luxury of a power catamaran meant for cruising or chartering.

In fact, there was more on-deck space, too, from the massive foredeck ready-made for sunning to the wide aft deck complete with built in seating and table, and covered overhead by an aft extension of the flybridge deck. Not only was there lots of protection from the sun on the aft deck, but it proved to be a great place to sit and read, or have a meal, particularly during the times when occasional rain showers passed by.

Fiberglass and teak stairs (many modern power catamaran models have molded stairs) provided with stout stainless steel handrails made getting up to or down from the flybridge positively safe. Except for those times when the rain came down, the flybridge was where we lived when underway, as well as when at anchor. The view was spectacular in every direction, making it an ideal place from which to navigate, with bimini top to protect us from too much sun, seats for all and a table for al fresco meals.

Our power catamaran had a typical owner’s layout, with a large single cabin in one hull, and twin smaller guest cabins fore and aft in the other hull. Because it was an older model, hulls on the boat we cruised, and most others at that time, were generally more narrow and deep, a condition that reflected most power cat builder’s sailing cat roots. That’s not the case any longer.

Today, most powercats, like the Morelli & Melvin of the J&J designs for Aquila , are designed from scratch as power vessels, with hulls having 3-foot-or-less drafts that really shine in shallow draft locations (think Baha m as , the Carribean , the Florida Keys ). And with the proliferation of wider slips in marinas for the wider beams of today’s power catamarans and monohulls alike, it is increasingly likely that you will find a place to keep your power catamaran dockside.

This also means added hull width for better performance and increased volume for efficient propulsion and comfort systems (think generators to power all your electrical appliances, especially air conditioning), in addition to more living room and storage capacity. In fact, the most recent Aquila design, the 44, has a master stateroom that spans nearly the full width of the 21-foot, 6-inch wide boat. And after years of cruising in monohulls, I must say that the stability of a wide, well-designed power catamaran has to be experienced to be believed.

Building materials have advanced throughout the years, and the Aquila 44 and 48 power cats are robustly built using the latest resin-infusion techniques to produce the lightest, strongest, most fuel-efficient vessels possible. For example, twin 225-hp Volvo Penta diesels push the three stateroom 44 at a brisk 17 knots, which will be appreciated when you need to make landfall quickly to escape a storm, meet a family member, exchange crew, or even keep a dinner reservation. But when you’re taking your time between not so distant anchorages, enjoying the journey at 7 to 8 knots, the 44 only burns around 2.5 gallons per hour. For more information about Aquila power catamarans, log on to www.aquilaboats.com .

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The 8 Fastest Cruising Catamarans (With Speedchart)

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Cruising catamarans are some of the most comfortable boats to roam the water, making them fantastic for both long-term voyages and short-term vacations. Still, cruising catamarans can be great racing boats, but just how fast can they go?

Some of the fastest cruising catamarans include the Gunboat 68 (35 knots), Outremer 45 (25 knots), ORC50 (25 knots), FastCat 435 (20 knots), TS 42 (35 knots), and Lagoon 440 (20 knots). Yet, there are many more cats that can reach 35 knots safely.

If you are interested in knowing about the fastest cruising catamarans, I have you covered. I will be discussing some of the most popular, fastest cruising catamarans and the features that make them so excellent for sailors in need of speed. You will learn more about each catamaran’s speed and amenities, and I will let you know a trick or two to maximize your speed under sail.

How Fast Are Cruising Catamarans?

On average, cruising catamarans can reach top speeds of 15 knots , around 17.3 mph (27.84 kph). However, some exceptional, racing-designed cruising catamarans can reach up to 30+ knots in the right wind conditions.

When you want to better understand catamaran hull characteristics, I suggest the book Catamarans a Complete Guide (amazon link) by the president of Aeroyacht catamarans and that you check out my article Why catamarans capsize .

Factors That Impact Speed

Weight & size.

When you consider a catamaran’s speed, you will need to keep in mind the boat’s weight and narrowness. A vessel that can travel at 15 knots will still move slower if the boat is heavy or has a wide, extensive hull. When increasing the total weight of the boat, the boat “sits” lower in the water, thus increasing water drag and reducing speed.

Why trimarans are faster than catamarans!

Now that we know how weight impacts sailing characteristics, it follows that; if you are planning on racing your catamaran, you should remove as much luggage or extra gear as possible. Eliminating as much weight as possible will help you travel at your cat’s maximum speed .

Narrow Hulls

The hydrodynamics of the ship will heavily affect your speed. Narrower boats can chop through the water with less effort, making slender ships with pointed hulls far faster than wide vessels. So if you are looking for the fastest one available, you should look for a slender hull.

Slim hulls vs. space is a common tradeoff for catamarans optimized for family sailing .

Wind will also affect your ship’s speed, so do not expect your cruising catamaran to reach the maximum speed without heavy wind. Generally, cruising catamarans have two large sails (at least) to power them through the water, and some are so efficient that they can travel even faster than the wind.

Although a strong wind is needed to energize the sails and move the boat, too much wind will instead make the sails less efficient, and maximum speed is most often attained at lower wind speeds but with flat water.

Light Weight Materials

Faster cruising catamarans are often made from carbon fiber materials and fiberglass to keep the weight down. If you are looking for the quickest catamaran that you can find, you should note the materials that the ship is made out of and try to get one that is primarily made from carbon, glass, and resin materials.

While you are looking for the perfect catamaran for you, you should keep in mind what you NEED and what is NICE with your ship. Usually, this decision is between size and speed, but some of these excellent vessels have both.

Lightweight materials are usually costly; for example, a carbon fiber mast will probably cost you +$20 000, depending on the cat’s size.

I have written a buyer’s guide that explains the concept of NEED vs. NICE , which will make choosing the right boat faster and more accurate.

Gunboat 68 (+35Kts)

Gunboat 68 is a cruising catamaran designed to reach the highest speeds possible. Made by Gunboat, the ship uses Grand-Prix racing boats’ designs to develop the speediest cruising catamaran on the market.

Gunboat 68 is made entirely from carbon composites, which keeps the ship lightweight and fast. Gunboat 68 is the perfect catamaran for anyone who wants to reach the highest speeds possible while maintaining control of the vessel and not bouncing around too much.

Gunboat 68 has comfortable, spacious living quarters, though it also has a spacious deck with luxurious seating. Indeed, this cat has it all, making it one of the best cruising catamarans for racers and casual sailors. The design maximizes all of the living spaces and uses lightweight materials to add elegance and luxury to a speedy racing catamaran.

Gunboat 68 is one of the fastest cruising cats out there, with its maximum speed at more than 30 knots . Gunboat 68 can achieve these fast speeds, thanks to its lightweight construction and narrow hull design.

Still, Gunboat can customize your ship’s plan to accommodate your needs. Whether you are looking for a faster, more lightweight boat with a more extensive sail or a more comfortable cruiser, Gunboat 68 is an excellent option for you.

Specifications

Maximum Speed: 35 knots
Length: 68 ft (20.75 m)
Beam: 29.9 ft (9.1 m)
Draft: 3.9 ft (1.2 m) board up and 9.84 ft (3.8 m) board down
Displacement: 23.7 tonnes

TS 42 (ORC 42)

The TS, or Tres Simple , cruising catamarans, designed by Marsaudon Composites, are some of the fastest cruising catamarans in the world.

Marsaudon developed the ship’s plans using racing boats’ streamlined designs and combined them with a cruising catamaran’s comfortable living spaces. The TS 42 has an inverted hull which helps it glide on the water swiftly without requiring much fuel, but it also has a spacious below-deck area with plenty of luxuries.

TS cruising catamarans are often considered the fastest cruisers on the market, with their speed comfortably reaching upwards of 35 knots in the right wind conditions. Generally, TS catamarans can sail at 20 knots, even with moderate wind. They are the perfect catamaran for racers and high-speed travelers, and yet they still have the amenities of a pleasant live-in vessel.

The TS 42 has a large galley and comfortable cabins, making it a cozy home or vacation vessel. With multiple bathrooms, large windows, and open lounge spaces, these catamarans are superbly comfortable to live in.

The deck and cabin space are divided by a large, openable window, which adds extra light and ventilation to the living areas. It also has plenty of on-deck space, which is rare in such a small vessel with an inverted hull.

If you think I’m using too many confusing nautical terms, you’ll find all the answers on my Catamaran parts explained page .

Length: 42.8 ft (13 m)
Beam: 24.3 ft (7.4 m)
Draft: 4.9 ft (1.5 m) with boards up and 7.5 ft (2.3 m) with boards down
Displacement: 5.8 tonnes

Outremer 45

Based in France, Outremer (pronounced uutremeer 😉 ) designed their Outremer 45 to be a long-lasting cruising catamaran that sails smoothly at high speeds. The Outremer 45 can reach about 15 knots, but the most comfortable sailing speed is 10 knots. However, it can travel up to 25 knots in the right wind conditions, making it a quick ship with all of a perfect cruising catamaran’s luxuries.

It is made for durability from carbon, vinyl ester, and divinycell so that it can last many years without repairs. The Outremer 45 has a narrow hull, and it is designed to be as thin as possible to maximize speed and fuel efficiency. Outremer 45 still has comfortable living quarters with large windows and lounge spaces within the boat. Indeed, it sacrifices no comfort for speed.

In this article, I talk a lot about catamaran characteristics, both interior and exterior, if that’s something you want to better understand, then I recommend an article where I write about trade-offs in design choices .

The Outremer 45 was initially designed to be a boat that would last 50 or more years, and it excels in its durability. It has an open, uniquely expansive side deck and plenty of on-deck conveniences that make sailing a breeze in the ORC50.

With supreme safety features such as tall railings, slip-free grips on deck, and enclosed lounge spaces, it is one of the safest catamarans available (is safety your top concern? I wrote a list of the safest catamarans on the market).

Maximum Speed: 25 knots
Length: 48 ft (14.6 m)
Beam: 23.3 ft (7.1 m)
Draft: 3.3 ft (1 m) with boards up and 6.7 ft (2.04 m) with boards down
Displacement: 8.2 to 11.1 tonnes

Marsaudon Composites ORC50

Marsaudon Composites designed the ORC50, or Ocean Rider Catamaran 50, with both speed and comfort in mind. The ORC50 can be used for cruising, but it is also a great racing boat that has been awarded honors from many races worldwide.

Marsaudon borrowed designs from racing skippers to plan the ORC50, bringing together a cruiser’s comfort with the speed of an award-winning racing boat.

This cruising catamaran is lightweight, which allows it to gain speed at a fast rate, but still has comfortable living quarters inside the boat. It has a rotating carbon mast, which helps to eliminate turbulence over the mainsail and therefore increasing sail efficiency and speed!

With strong winds, the ORC50 can reach up to 23 knots , making it extremely fast for a cruising catamaran. The ORC50 can easily reach speeds much faster than the wind speed, which is a unique quality of this fast, yet comfortable catamaran.

The ORC50 is an excellent long-term living ship with its many organizational compartments, expansive galley, and well-ventilated sleeping cabin. It also has plenty of couches and seating areas built into the boat, and its intuitive design adds plenty of comfort to the cruising catamaran without weighing down the ship.

Length: 50 ft (15.23 m)
Beam: 27 ft (8.2 m)
Draft: 5.6 ft (1.7 m) with boards up and 8.9 ft (2.7 m) with boards down
Displacement: 13 tonnes

FastCat 435

African Cat’s catamarans, including the FastCat 435, are designed for speed and racing. This ship is mainly composed of epoxy, fiberglass, and carbon components, making it very lightweight to ensure that it travels as swiftly as possible.

The FastCat 435 may be as light as possible, but it is durable enough to last for many years in the most extreme conditions.

The FastCat 435 has comfortable living quarters and well-designed comfort spaces so that you can get the most out of your trips. The FastCat also has a green hybrid design, and it uses primarily electric power, which can help you prolong your sailing and use less fuel.

I find solar-powered/electric cats pretty exciting, so much so that I wrote an entire article called The Best Solar-Powered Catamarans on the subject.

The FastCat is an excellent option for anyone who wants a smaller cat with a comfortable design and incredible speed. FastCat’s electric power is also a unique, favorable feature for anyone who wants to use less fuel.

Maximum Speed: 20 knots
Length: 42.7 ft (13 m)
Beam: 24.4 ft (7.4 m)
Draft: 3.9 ft (1.2 m) with boards up
Displacement: 2.4 tonnes

The Lagoon 440 cruising catamaran, like the FastCat, has an electric powering version, which cuts down on fossil fuel usage and ensures that your ship will keep moving. The Lagoon 440 is also among the easiest catamarans to maneuver, thanks to its electric drivetrain and automatic engines.

The speed of the Lagoon 440 usually maxes out at 10 knots with low winds, but with higher winds, it can quickly gain speeds up to 20 knots (some argue even higher, but I’m doubtful). The Lagoon 440 is an excellent cruiser and comfortable catamaran, but it is not an all-out racing cat.

Lagoon is a well-known brand, but there are some caveats, and are Lagoons still making good catamarans?

Below the deck, the living spaces in the Lagoon 440 are magnificent. The ceilings are high, allowing the tallest of passengers to stand in the cabin. The many storage compartments and furnishings have a modern, elegant design. The interior is one large primary cabin with a few private spaces below the deck.

Length: 44.6 ft (13.6 m)
Beam: 25.3 ft (7.7 m)
Draft: 4.3 ft (1.3 m)
Displacement: 10.5 tonnes

Fountaine Pajot Astréa 42

Fountaine Pajot designs some of the most luxurious yet speedy cruising catamarans available in the world. They are renowned for their safe, durable designs that make sailing a comfortable, relaxing experience. And on a personal note, i think the name sounds beautiful!

Their cruising catamarans use an inverted hull design that has become a signature mark of Fountaine Pajot vessels. This hull type allows the water to pass beneath the ship quickly, which increases the speed and fuel efficiency of the cat.

The Astréa 42’s primary benefit is its spacious, comfortable living quarters and large, open deck spaces. The ship’s interior spaces have large windows, large lounging areas, and plenty of storage compartments.

The cabin’s ventilation is also excellent, which reduces the classic musty smells of sea living. You can also get two different models of this catamaran, either in a one-cabin option or a two-cabin option, making it an excellent vessel for larger or smaller families.

The Astréa is ideal for long-term sea living and family vacations (it is not as fast as some more racing-oriented cats). Although the Astréa is not the speediest cat available, with its speed maxing out at about 10+ knots, even in favorable wind conditions, its luxurious atmosphere and comfortable cabin spaces make up for its relatively slow speed.

Don’t get me wrong, despite its lower speed compared to the boats on this list, the Astréa 42 can still get you places quicker than many other cruising catamarans (and most monohulls). So, if you want all of the elegance and comfort of a cat and are not too worried about racing, this ship is an excellent option for you.

Maximum Speed: 10 knots
Length: 41.3 ft (12.6 m)
Beam: 23.6 ft (7.2 m)
Draft: 4.1 ft (1.3 m)
Displacement: 12.3 tonnes

Privilege Signature 510

The Privilege Signature 510 is a long-distance cruising catamaran designed for long-term voyages and sailing in extreme weather conditions. It features a durable, weatherproof design that will protect you from rainy and cold weather while sailing.

The helm and living spaces are completely covered, making it safe to live in, even in cold or stormy weather. It also has an automatic sail adjustment system with the controls at the helm, allowing you to make any adjustments from the helm’s safety and comfort.

Privilege Signature 510 also has an elegant, well-designed living space with plenty of amenities, including an accelerated cooling system, a spacious bathroom and kitchen, and plenty of windows for natural lighting.

With an elegant floor plan, this cozy ship is perfect for long-term living.

The Privilege Signature is not the fastest catamaran on the market, with a maximum speed of around 13 knots. Still, it is one of the quicker cats considering its elaborate amenities and comfortable size.

Maximum Speed: 13 knots
Length: 50 ft (15.24 m)
Beam: 26 ft (7.98 m)
Draft: 5 ft (1.57 m)
Displacement: 25 tonnes

Although cruising catamarans are great boats for slowly cruising along the water, they can also be swift, substantial racing boats that reach speeds of up to 35 knots. These speedy cruising catamarans still come with all of the amenities of leisure boats, but they also reach incredible speeds without rocking or tossing.

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!

The rejuvenating amenity is accompanied by a bar and a plush lounge.

Rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

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Top Catamarans for Cruising in our PowerCat Roundup
Aquila 70 Power Catamaran Review
Top Catamarans for Cruising in our PowerCat Roundup
Who Makes The Best Power Catamaran?
6 Best Performance Cruising Catamarans (Buyer's Guide)
Power Catamarans For Sale

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2019 Top 5 Catamarans under $700k
Luxury catamaran

COMMENTS

12 Power Catamarans Reviewed
These cruise-centric yachts offer homelike livability for avid travelers, are fuel efficient and are fairly intuitive to run. Power cats are popular in the bareboat charter market too, for these very reasons. Here, we take a look at 12 catamarans ranging from a cruising-couple-size 36-footer to a 78-footer for friends, family and some more ...
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Nautitech 47 Power. Horizon PC74. Lagoon Seventy 8. ArrowCat 420. Bali 4.1. Sunreef Supreme 68. Hudson 48. In this article, I'll review some of the best power catamarans out there. I'll also go over the main features of different power cats and if they can handle rough weather.
The Top Catamarans of 2020
Leen 56. The Leen 56 power trimaran is a long-range cruising multihull, perfectly capable of transatlantic voyages or living aboard in high latitudes. Built in a highly efficient, new hybrid composite panel system, this power trimaran has a range of 5,000 miles and may only be fueled up once a year. 3. Gallery.
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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 is optimized for comfort and safety. A cruiser is slower and less exciting to sail than a performance cat.
The Best Power Catamaran Boat Brands
Photo via World Cat Boats. World Cat is one of the most recognizable brands in the world of power catamarans — in fact, according to the company they're the largest producer of power catamarans in the world. Their line is a mix of center console and dual console fishing and family boats ranging from 23' to 40'.
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Cruising Power Catamarans Cruising aboard a powercat has a number of advantages; the one seen here is a 36-foot Fountaine Pajot MY 4.S. Photo via Advantage Yacht Sales. The power catamaran design has grown more popular for use as a cruiser in recent years, in no small part because of the extra interior room and privacy it delivers as compared ...
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Archipelago Expedition Yachts 47-foot explorer all-aluminum powercat
The consensus has been that the best boats for long-distance power cruising were heavy, displacement-speed monohulls. Stephen Weatherley, the founder of Archipelago Yachts, has different ideas. ... Catamarans offer a softer ride than a monohull, with a 30- to 50-percent lower rate of vertical acceleration in a head sea, meaning less slamming ...
2022 Boat of the Year: Best Performance Catamaran
A winning balance, it turns out, with the Balance 482 securing its position as the Best Performance Cruiser for 2022. balance catamarans Boat of the Year. With a powerful, versatile sail plan—as well as light, solid construction and go-fast daggerboards—the Balance 482 is a go-anywhere cat that puts a premium on performing, which made it ...
5 Of The Best Bluewater Cruising Powerboats In 2022
Above: A 2022 Silent 62 triple deck catamaran yacht for sale on YachtWorld by Silent Yachts. Photo by Silent Yachts. This beautiful trans-ocean yacht is the ultimate in both luxury and design. With fully solar powered electric motors, it has an unlimited range, zero emission, and noiseless cruising. Multiple layout options offer 4-6 cabins ...
Year of the Cat
Scheduled to debut at the Miami International Boat Show in February, it is an evolution of the Leopard 51 Powercat, with more than 135 of those sold, according to Leopard Catamarans. The builder projects a top speed from a pair of 370-hp Yanmar 8LV diesels at 25 knots, with a cruising speed of 17.5 knots.
2022 Boat of the Year: Best Cruising Catamaran (Over 50')
And when the votes were tallied, it was the Xquisite X5 Plus that was the obvious choice as Best Cruising Catamaran (Over 50') for 2022. Advertisement. With an unusual profile and exterior aesthetic, the Xquisite X5 Plus is a singular cruising catamaran in many aspects, but the sum of her many interesting parts added up to a winning effort in ...
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Longreach Power Catamaran
The Longreach is foremost a family of Hi Performance Power Catamarans designed for live aboard cruising to the most remote destinations. LR1200. Longreach 1200 - 600HP. LR1400. Longreach 1400 - 460Hp & 500Hp. Longreach 1400 Hi-Performance. LR1900. Longreach 1900 Expedition. Longreach 1900 Bluewater. Request an info pack.
2023 Power Buyer's Guide
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ArrowCat Power Catamarans
Explore Our 32' & 42' Signature Cabin Models. Perfect for offshore and inshore cruising, long distance and overnight trips, cold off seasons and hot boating seasons, and much more. The ArrowCat 32-foot and 42-foot models provide an exciting and versatile experience on the water. Explore to see which one could best suit your boating lifestyle.
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The best high-speed performance cruising catamarans are the Outremer 4x, McConaghy MC50, Nautitech 44, Gunboat 62, Balance 526, and Marsaudon Composites ORC50. All these boats deliver outstanding speeds and are light in weight, relatively comfortable, and incredibly safe. If you are interested in knowing which catamarans are the absolute ...
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