catana catamaran cruising

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Catana is based in the Catalan region of southern France and is one of the pioneers of the performance cruising catamaran market. You could say that the Catana 47 is regarded as a something of a classic.

They built the 47 for many years- so this is a well proven boat, designed by Multihull specialist Christophe Barreau to replace the 471, and this catamaran has been tested many times on circumnavigations. The design benefited from continuous improvement over the years: the last version has more carbon fiber than older examples and they are produced from updated molds for the hulls and deck- the boats still have a familiar profile (the latest iteration is a bit more angular and “muscly”), with tall twin daggerboards, open helm stations aft (a Catana trademark) and a powerful rig and sail plan.

There are plenty of options in this length of boat like the Knysna 500 SE and the Nautitechs, but if you like a bit of speed the Catana 47 should be on your radar.

The boats were built for strength with the emphasis on keeping the weight down to maximise speed through the water as opposed to boats like the Elba 45 catamaran from Fountaine Pajot which is positioned more on the comfort side of things. Carbon fiber and other composites are used in high loaded areas to beef up the vinylester/polyester laminate. The structure is vacuum-bagged during construction, with the hull and deck are both cored with closed-cell foam.

The joinery inside is also built using cored laminates to keep the weight down. All in all, Catana has managed to shave off around 700 kg off the 47’s predecessor. But it´s still a comfy boat, although you are not going to get as much room on her as you would on a Fountaine Pajot or a Lagoon. But you´ll get to your destination faster.

One benefit of those aft helms is the deck and cockpit space you get on a Catana 47. The twin aft helm stations move the sailing away from  the living area, and the trademark central winches handle most of the sail lines.

The Bridle System. There is no traveller- the main is controlled via a bridle with two sheets, which you trim on the twin winches aft that sit amidships. This takes some getting used to, but it’s a system that Catana owners swear by – it’s an excellent way to tweak your trim and the force from any accidental gybes is minimised with this set up.

High Quality Gear The blocks, cleats, stoppers, winches are all high quality and oversized if anything. This boat gives the impression that it has been built with plenty of safety margin up its sleeves. One great feature of the 47 is that all sails can be managed from the cockpit: you don’t need to go to the mast foot for reefing.

Visibility can be a problem in the marina as the throttles are on the starboard helm only. This is similar to the Nautitechs (although this manufacturer does include throttles on both helms as an expensive option)- the solution is to come along the starboard side when docking or post someone to watch the port side.

Sailing Feel Another advantage of those aft helms is the direct response you get and this catamaran feels quick. She accelerates fast, especially if you keep the weight off her, and she hits top speeds in the high teens. If you are the type of sailor who enjoys trimming the sails, then you will enjoy this boat, as she rewards you with bursts of speed when she’s well set up. With those dagger-boards you’ll be able to make good headway into the wind as well, with the speed up and the leeway down.

So what´s the secret? Why is she so nippy? Well, weight saving of course, but also a square-topped main and 145-percent genoa that both get the boat slipping through the water in light to moderate breezes, and a sail plan that provides plenty of reefing options for windier conditions. The Tulip-shaped bows cut nicely through the chop when you are heading upwind and they have plenty of buoyancy forward when you are heading off it. The dagger-boards give you up to 8 feet of draft, which means less leeway on a close reach. Pull them up for a 3.5-foot boards up draft and you have less drag for when you are heading on a broad reach.

Under Power

The Catana 47 comes with twin 40HP engines and you should easily hit 7 knots at 2,200 rpm. Many owners alternate the engines to save fuel- you will still be motoring along at around 6 knots with one engine at 2400 rpm, so not much less speed over ground for a big saving in fuel consumption. If you really need to get somewhere fast under power, you’ll get 9 knots out of her with both engines purring along at 3000 rpm. As with most catamarans, she’s very manoeuvrable in the marina, but as we mentioned earlier, you just need to remember the reduced visibility of those aft helms. Coming in stern first is a breeze of course.

The saloon is well proportioned with a big sofa area wrapped around a table, a forward facing nav station to port and an aft facing galley with a “sink and a half” tucked into the port corner of the saloon. Visibility is good and the overall feel is light, bright and spacious. Compared to other more “open designs” like the Nautitech, you get relatively more room in the saloon than the cockpit. The saloon and cockpit are on different levels which, if you are used to more modern designs, takes some getting used to. Watch your head!

There’s plenty of room down below, and it´s light and well ventilated with good headroom. Your options are to go for a 3 cabin owner’s version with a full double berth and table aft, lots of stowage space amidships and a comfortable head with a separate shower forward. Close the curved sliding door for privacy.

The port hull has a single queen berth forward and either a double or twin berths aft (convertible twin berths). There are no showers in the port hull which might not go down so well with your guests.

Polar Diagram

There’s no great revolution in the last Catana 47 design- this is a well proven performance catamaran that has evolved over the years and remains a very attractive boat in this category. The Catana Group seem to be focusing on their Bali brand in terms of development which is where the volume is.

I’d love to see an evolved 47 design that takes cues from the newer Catana 53 which has a more open feeling between the cockpit and saloon. For the moment, however, the only new boats in the Catana range are the Catana 53 and the Ocean Class which is another 50 footer with a bulkhead steering position

If you are shopping around for alternatives, you might also want to take a look at the ITA 14.99 or the Outremer 45 – there´s plenty of choice in this market niche. And if you want some serious speed in this size and have deep pockets, then read our Gunboat 48 review – it´s one of our all time favourite catamarans. Let’s just hope that Catana rediscover their roots in the performance market.

Technical Specification

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Owners & Sales Brokers, Performance Catamarans

Julian & jessica.

We own a 2018 Catana 53 catamaran, which we have sailed over  30,000 miles

We are the exlclusive Catana authorized sales brokers in the United States, since 2018

LIVEABOARDS

We live aboard our Catana and have lived aboard fulltime since 2015

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Recent news.

CATANA 53: BEST CRUISING MULTIHULL OVER 50 FEET

By Herb McCormick  |  Cruising World  | December 11, 2018

The Cruising World team of judges discuss the reasons that Catana 53 was named a 2019 "Boat of the Year."  Read the full article

BOAT REVIEW: CATANA 53

By Mark Pilsbury  |  Cruising World  | July 25, 2019

"A bluewater cruising couple with big ideas will find a willing accomplice in the new Catana 53."  After the Cruising World test sail with us aboard our C53, Mark Pilsbury gives his review.  Read the full article

CATANA 53 BOAT REVIEW

By Zuzana Prochazka  |  YachtWorld  |  January 17, 2019

"The Catana 53 is a bluewater catamaran that ticks all the boxes."  After a test sail with us aboard our C53 in Annapolis, Suzanne gives a thorough review.  "If you’re searching for a proven bluewater multihull that can be sailed by two, has all the comforts of a posh home but is wicked fast, and won’t beat up your wallet, you must put the Catana 53 on your shortlist."  Read the full article

Upcoming Events

• Thu, Oct 08 United States Sailboat Show  /  Annapolis City Dock Details Oct 08, 2020, 10:00 AM – Oct 12, 2020, 5:00 PM Annapolis City Dock, Dock St, Annapolis, MD 21401, USA Exhibiting the Catana 53 Share
• Thu, Feb 13 Miami Boat Show  /  Miami Marine Stadium Details Feb 13, 2020, 10:00 AM – Feb 17, 2020, 6:00 PM Miami Marine Stadium, 3501 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA Share
• Thu, Oct 10 United States Sailboat Show  /  Annapolis City Dock Details Oct 10, 2019, 10:00 AM – Oct 14, 2019, 5:00 PM Annapolis City Dock, Dock St, Annapolis, MD 21401, USA Exhibiting the Catana 53 Share

Planning to Cruise Around the World?

Catana has a 35 year history building high quality, performance oriented, blue water cruising catamarans.  There are more than 500 Catanas cruising the world today.   Catana catamarans give you the freedom to sail quickly, safely, and comfortably anywhere where you want to go, with crew or without.

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Catana Ocean Class 50 Review

We bought a catana oc 50 - the review.

We have just acquired a Catana Ocean Class 50 and we will take possession of the boat in September at the Cannes Yachting festival . We are beyond excited to embark on this journey of discovering the “virtues” of a performance cruising catamaran! We invite you to join us there to do a private walk-through of the boat during the show!

After a hiatus for some time to focus on the hugely successful Bali range, Catana has just released their Catana OC 50 performance cruiser that has the industry abuzz, including ourselves. This is not a super-fast performance boat like a an ORC50 or a TS but it offers a beautiful balance between performance and comfort that will no doubt be popular with the cruising community. The boat is light and strong, thanks to decades of experience in “carbon infusion” at Catana.

The new bulkhead helm station that is raised mid-position is a complete departure from their previous aft-helm positions and in our opinion, is a game changer! The open plan design which affords  spacious interior volume sets Catana apart from most other performance cruisers. This boat represents a perfect balance of performance, comfort and value that is quite unique in this market.

We have purchased hull #1 which is an owners version, fully equipped with generator, air-conditioning, American size fridge / freezer, additional fridges, Solar, Lithium batteries, full suite of sails including Code Zero and Spinnaker. Watch the video here where we discuss the design features and construction of the Catana OC 50.

Characteristics of the Catana Ocean Class 50

Catana started building catamarans in 1984 and is now based in Canet en Roussillon, France. With the help of legendary Australian multihull designer Lock Crowther early on, Catana became the world leaders in fast performance cruising catamarans. Many famous designers like Barreau (Marsaudon) have contributed to their reputation and their focus on producing fast, comfortable ocean crossers over the years. This iconic brand has produced some of the most talked about performance cats during their 30+ year history.

• Carbon Infusion Technology : Catana is a world specialist in fast cruising catamarans, designed for long distance cruising and continues to be unique in that it builds boats using an advanced Carbon-Infusion process. The deck and bulkheads are carbon and the hulls are foam core with vinylester resin infusion and added carbon in high stress areas. The furniture is built in foam-cored sandwich, which further reduces weight.
• Performance: The OC 50 has a large sail plan and so, even being a heavier boat, she will sail to windspeed. This catamaran should sail very well on all points of sail according to the Sail Area/ Displacement ratios of the boat. The boat is very responsive and accelerates quickly in small gusts of wind. Read our article Performance Catamaran Comparisons here>>
• Affordability – The boat is very competitively priced. Comparatively the Catana OC 50 is at a price point that is affordable for cruising couples. 
• Helm Position: The OC 50 has a bulkhead helm station (starboard) that is raised mid-position. This is a departure from Catana’s previous aft-helm positions and is a game-changer in our opinion. Not only is the visibility from the helm to all 4 corners good, but all the lines also run back to the helm. A sliding window opens fully to connect the raised helm station on the starboard side with the interior living space

• Bridgedeck Clearance: The boat has a high freeboard and an almost 3-foot clearance which will make this boat a quiet ride even in big seas. This boat sits high in the water, which will help to power through big waves. Bridgedeck clearance on a catamaran invites a wide difference of opinion among sailors. But what we all agree on is that good clearance is very important for the seaworthiness and comfort of a catamara n.

• Daggerboards: Ease of handling of the daggerboards is a big consideration for us. On the Catana they are push button controlled with a flat winder and can easily be lowered or retracted. A daggerboarded cat will sail consistently higher into the wind than a cat with keels.   It will also sail faster, on average, than a catamaran with fixed keels.

• Interior: The interior sets Catana apart from most performance cruisers. The open plan design maximizes the living space on one level and ensures ample interior spaces and comfort for live aboard couples. The salon is extremely spacious with two seating areas, an L-shaped galley, big forward facing nav station and sliding aft doors. The owners cabin is spacious with semi walk around bed, huge bathroom, lots of storage and washer / dryer. Simply put, this boat has more interior space than any other performance cat in this size range.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Length                         14.99 m/ 49.18ft LOA                             15.75/51.67ft Max Beam                   7,83 m/ 25,69 ft Draft, boards up          1,17 m/ 3,83 ft Draft, boards down     2,49 m/ 8.16 ft Light Displacement     31,164 lbs. Full Load                      41,844 lbs. Power                          2 x 57hp Mast Clearance           23 m / 75.45 ft

Fridges                        267 L / 9.43 cu ft Freezers                      98 L / 3.46 cu ft Mainsail                      90 m² / 969 sq ft Genoa                         64 m² / 689 sq ft Solent                          50 m² / 538 sq ft Gennaker                    130 m² / 1,400 sq ft Code 0                         105 m² / 1,130 sq ft Fresh Water                211 Gal Fuel                               211 Gal 

360 Degree Tour

Want to buy a catana.

Exclusive Agents for Catana Catamarans in USA

Catamaran Guru, through its sister company, Ocean Multihulls, has been appointed the exclusive agent for Catana Catamarans in the USA. Contact us directly for specifications, pricing, and a concierge-level buying experience.

More About Performance catamarans

• The Cruising Catamaran Performance Debate: Learn what the experts have to say and what we think.
• Cruising Catamaran Comparisons:  We compare the Catana OC 50, Outremer 51, Balance 482, HH 50 OC and HH 50 Performance.

Want to learn how to sail a performance cat?

Our sailing school facility in Fort Lauderdale will start training on the Catana OC 50 with certified RYA instructors in March 2023. Contact us for information about our school dates and pricing.

Join Us at The Cannes Yachting Festival!

Are you in the market for a performance catamaran?

Join us as we meet our new performance cruiser, the Catana OC50, in Cannes during the Yachting festival! If you are interested in this model, we will do a private tour with you and discuss specifications and price with you while enjoying a French Champagne!

• Dates: 6 – 11 September 2022
• Location: Port Pierre Canto , Vieux Port de Cannes

Estelle Cockcroft

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Exploring the Catana OC 50 Catamaran: A Comprehensive Overview

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

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CATANA 58: A Luxury Cruising Cat With Speed Potential

This is a high-end performance cruising catamaran from France that tries to split the difference between high-speed sailing and posh liveaboard comfort. The design by Christophe Barreau includes all the important features that keep cats sailing their best–narrow hulls, high bridgedeck clearance, very little solid structure forward of the mast, plus high-aspect daggerboards instead of low-aspect keels.

The boat’s construction is also pretty high-tech, with an emphasis on lightweight strength. The hull and deck are fiberglass laminate set in vinylester resin vacuum-bagged over a Divinycell PVC foam core. The hull has an inner skin of Twaron aramid fabric laminated over the core to increase stiffness and impact resistance. The deck joint is bonded then glassed over to form a monocoque structure. The only solid laminate is in areas where hardware is mounted. All furniture components and floor sections are also cored with Divinycell foam; the internal bulkheads–21 in all–are laid up with Nida-Core honeycomb coring.

To flesh out the comfort side of the equation, these boats are normally equipped with lots of heavy systems–generators, watermakers, a hydraulic dinghy lift, large engines and battery banks, washer/dryers, and the like. This is especially true of the 582 version of the boat, first introduced in 2001, as opposed to the somewhat simpler 581 version, introduced in 2000. The 582 (later marketed as the Catana 58 Ocean Class) also features a more luxurious interior finish with leather upholstery and lots of high-gloss hardwood veneer.

One of many heavy luxury systems: a hydraulic dinghy elevator on the transom

This all adds up to extra weight, of course, which turns out to have been controversial, as one irate owner evidently sued Catana when he found out his boat was heavier than advertised. Catana as a result stopped publicizing the boat’s original lightship design displacement and from then on published very conservative figures that belie the boat’s performance potential.

Another concession to comfort is seen in the hull form. The hulls are narrow at the waterline with a slightly splayed-out asymmetric shape that helps to create lift and increase form stability. Their inboard sides, however, flare out in a pronounced hard-angled box chine just above the waterline. This increases interior volume for accommodations, but the flat bottom of the chine is close enough to the water to increase resistance and underbody slamming in a seaway. On the other hand, the bow form below the waterline is also slightly bulbous–Catana terms it a “tulip bow”–which increases buoyancy forward. This limits pitching and helps prevent the bows from submarining when sailing at speed.

Note the big box chine on the inside of the hulls. These allow for more living space inside the boat while keeping hulls narrow at the waterline

Having sailed transatlantic on a 582, I can attest that the boat’s creature comforts (which are considerable) have not entirely smothered its speed potential. The generous sail plan features a fat-roached mainsail and solent jib for windward work, plus a long fixed bowsprit for flying a lightweight screecher or asymmetric spinnaker. Though aluminum masts were available, all Catana 58s were ordered and delivered with carbon-fiber sticks. The 582s also feature Kevlar fiber standing rigging, plus carbon-fiber booms and bowsprits. (The 581s have aluminum booms and sprits and stainless-steel rigging.)

The boat I sailed was systems heavy and carried a lot of extra gear (like scuba gear and a compressor to jam tanks), but still was quick and lively when pressed hard. Beating to weather early in our voyage we maintained apparent wind angles of about 40 degrees while carrying 7 to 10 knots of boat speed under a triple-reefed main and full solent jib in winds blowing 25 knots apparent with gusts to 40. Off the wind with a chute up we could easily maintain double-digit boat speeds in apparent winds over 15 knots. With 20 knots or better on our quarter, we maintained double digits under the main and screecher with the solent belayed out to the windward bow. Reportedly the boat can hit 20 knots off the wind when the wind is blowing 35 or harder.

The most distinctive feature of the 58’s deck layout is the central electric cockpit winch to which much of the running rigging is routed via a large tunnel that runs under the cockpit and bridgedeck saloon. This allows most line handling to take place in a single location, with the inevitable spaghetti kept reasonably well sorted in line lockers on either side of the winch. Unfortunately, lines lost up the tunnel (as we learned during our transatlantic passage) can only be retrieved via ports under the bridgedeck that cannot be accessed while sailing. The mainsail meanwhile is controlled with a twin-sheet bridle rather than a traveler.

This view from inside the saloon looking aft shows the central electric winch, mounted vertically, with a large battery of rope clutches beneath it. All these lines running aft from the mast are routed through a tunnel under the cockpit and saloon

None of the sail controls are within reach of the two helm stations, located aft on the outboard hull corners, so the boat cannot be singlehanded without an autopilot, though it can be handled by two people fairly easily. The outboard helms are also far from the shelter of the hardtop bimini that protects the central cockpit, so you need a good hat or some foulies when it’s sunny or rainy outside. The upside is you can feel the boat much better from out there and have an open view of the sails.

The outboard steering stations, one at the back of each hull, have fantastic sight lines forward, but are open to the elements

What really makes it possible to mix comfort and performance on a cat like this is the sheer size of the thing, as is evident in the accommodations plan. The boat is big enough that the low-profile bridgedeck saloon, which also has a relatively small horizontal footprint, is still quite spacious. Likewise, though the hulls are narrow, there’s still room enough to live large inside of them.

There are a few different layouts, but all put the galley at the back of the saloon, giving the cook direct access to the cockpit via a sliding window panel, which works very well. In some versions the owner’s stateroom occupies the entire starboard hull; in others it gives up space to a small segregated crew cabin forward. The port hull meanwhile is given over to guests with twin singles aft and a double berth forward. In one version these two cabins are segregated, with separate entries and en suite heads. In another they share the same entry and have much smaller heads.

One version of the layout with crew quarters forward in the starboard hull

The galley layout is very efficient, with lots storage and counter space and easy access to the cockpit via a sliding window behind the sink

The saloon layout includes space for a large nav station

Owner’s starboard-side stateroom looking aft on the fancier 582 version of the boat

The roomy owner’s head with a separate shower stall

A total of 27 Catana 58s were built over a period of nine years, 18 of which were the fancier 582 version. The last new hull, built in 2008, was priced at $2.4 million. Used 58s can now be had for a fraction of that. They are still expensive boats by any ordinary standard, but they do represent an excellent value for a boat of this type. If you can afford one you’ll find few boats as fast and as comfortable.

Specifications

LOA (including bowsprit): 62’4”

LOD (including transom steps): 58’0”

LWL: 57’0”

Beam: 29’11”

-Boards up: 4’7”

-Boards down: 10’2”

Displacement

-Design lightship: 35,840 lbs.

-Post litigation: 52,910 lbs.

-Mainsail & solent jib: 1,797 sq.ft.

-Mainsail & screecher: 2,540 sq.ft.

Fuel: 416 gal.

Water: 211 gal.

-Design lightship: 86

-Post litigation: 127

SA/D ratio Design Lightship

-Main & jib: 26.39

-Main & gennaker: 37.30

SA/D ratio Post Litigation

-Main & jib: 20.35

-Main & gennaker: 28.77

Nominal hull speed

-Design lightship: 15.6 knots

-Post litigation: 13.8 knots

Typical asking prices: $650-900K

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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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Presentation of the group

CATANA GROUP enjoys the benefit of nearly 40 years of experience in the design and manufacture of CATANA CATAMARANS and BALI CATAMARANS. The men and women of CATANA GROUP all share the same passion for the sea, for technology at the service of boating, and for the professions of the boatbuilding world. The passion for top-of-the-range yachting is the driving force behind the group, which, combined with know-how and a constant strive for quality, has led to the creation of an unrivalled industrial tool at the service of innovation.

A SOLID GROUP

CATANA GROUP is a group totally focused on the manufacture and sale of catamarans. With 4 production sites (Three in France, one in Tunisia and one in Portugal) as well as a service base, the Group today employs more than 1,300 people, all of whom are united around the company's project. With strong growth since 2014, and constantly seeking innovative and eco-responsible concepts, CATANA GROUP has one of the best profitability rates in its sector and a very solid financial structure.

In 2003, Olivier Poncin sensed the demand for catamaran boats and took an interest in the legendary Catana brand, which went on to buy. A few years later, he realised that the “blue water” catamaran market was too small and did not provide the desired financial visibility. The decision was taken to attack the most significant part of the sailing multihull market, in the face of significant and legitimate competition. To meet the challenge, Olivier Poncin's solution was to innovate in an audacious manner. He imagined disruptive concepts that revolutionised the codes of sailing: a common space between the saloon and the aft cockpit, a tilting door and an integrated foredeck. In September 2014, the first BALI CATAMARAN was launched, the BALI 4.5, followed just a few weeks later by the BALI 4.3. Today, the Catana-BALI Catamarans shipyard builds over 300 boats a year. The gamble has paid off, the concept has gained worldwide legitimacy and meets the needs of a very large section of the clientele.

CATANA CATAMARANS

The CATANA brand benefit from 40 years of experience. Known for their reliability and performance, CATANA’s boats are perfectly balanced, fast and light in weight, ensuring low drag. Their slender, inverted bows allow them to achieve even higher speeds. The interior is fitted out with equipment designed for lightness: the ultimate in comfort and energy savings. With exceptional safety, CATANA CATAMARANS are easy to handle and their high-end level of comfort will carry you to all the seas of the world. Everything you need for fast and sustainable sailing across the oceans.

BALI CATAMARANS

BALI Catamarans offers an innovative, unique concept that has revolutionised the world of catamarans. Thanks to the pivoting aft door and the rigid foredeck platform, BALI Catamarans embody openness: openness to life, openness to the four elements and the five senses. The large windows and the door to the forward cockpit offer a natural 360° panorama. Space is given utmost importance at BALI Catamarans: the forward cockpit and the increased area (achieved by the BALI door) are key assets that distinguish BALI among all the players in the market. At a glance, a BALI is instantly recognisable among its peers.

YOT POWER CATAMARANS

The YOT brand is aimed at anyone and everyone looking for fun at sea. As a pure-player in the catamaran market, the Catana Group, with a range that is essentially sailing, had to offer power boats. And now we’ve done it. The new YOT power catamaran brand brings a breath of fresh air to the yacht sector. YOT meets the needs of novices and experienced enthusiasts alike and can be used for any purpose: whether it’s a day out or a romantic weekend, for a sporty or festive trip, as a couple or with friends. YOT has a style, a modern and trendy design, imagined for living intensely. YOTs are comfortable, stable and safe. Seaworthy, agile and powerful, their twin-hull design ensures excellent performance and comfortable passage through the water. Lively and fun, they combine power with reasonable fuel consumption.  

THE PRODUCTION SITES

Today, Catana Group counts 1,300 employees working on four boat production sites based in Canet-en-Roussillon in the South of France, the company's historic headquarters; in Marans, near La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast; and in El Haouaria (Cap Bon, Tunisia) and in Portugal. The Group is also equipped with an industrial joinery shop in Rivesaltes (on the Mediterranean coast), which allows the Group to be fully self-sufficient in the manufacture of its furniture. The Group also has a “Services” base, Port Pin Rolland, located in the marina at Saint Mandrier, near Toulon, also in the South of France.

An international presence

The CATANA Group's brands are present on every continent through sales and a network of dealers recognised for their professionalism. As representatives of our models, they carry the colours of our brands high on all the seas of the world, meeting all the needs of our customers in each market. CATANA WEBSITE BALI WEBSITE -->

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You can check the share price of the CATANA Group  (ISIN code : FR0010193052 - CATG) by clicking on  Boursier.com •   CATANA GROUP specialises in the design, construction and marketing of pleasure craft •   CATANA GROUP is listed in Section C of Euronext Paris Code ISIN  : FR0010193052 – Code Reuters : CATG.PA – Code Bloomberg : CATG FP Brokerage company  : KEPLER

•    Market : Euronext •    Listed on : Euronext Paris •    ISN & Euronext code : FR0010193052 •    Nnémo : CATG •    Number of shares : 30 706 178 •    Free float : 70%

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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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