sailing catamaran 14

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Aqua Cat 14 Catamaran

The larger version of one of the world's most popular one design catamarans brings you performance, simplicity and weight carrying capabilities not offered in other catamarans this size. Featuring wide, flat bottom hulls with turned up bows and a small keel skeg, the pontoon design is unequaled in weight carrying capacity and planing speed. The small keels have replaced the daggerboards used on the smaller Aqua Cat and allow for easy beaching thru the surf. Designed for ocean sailing or inland lakes this cat has it all. The Aqua Cat 14 is ideal for four large adults or where capabilities to support 1,000 lbs. are needed.

The boomless sail rig supported by the tubular "a" frame provides simplicity and safety not found in traditional wire shroud designs. One sheetline and a simple tiller arrangement result in sailing simplicity, fun and excitement. Weighing in at 230 lbs. and with a 6-1/2 foot beam, it can easily be car topped or trailered to your favorite spot on the beach. Constructed of hand laid fiberglass, anodized aluminum tubing and stainless steel fasteners, maintenance is at a minimum. The rudder system is durable all aluminum construction with gudgeons through bolted to aluminum plates inside the hull and features wide performance designed aluminum blades. Positive foam flotation in each hull, plus the added feature of the mast flotation ball provide a measure of confidence and safety.

Standard features include spring loaded kick up rudders, 105 sq. ft. Dacron two colored sail, a 360 quick release cleat and rudder lift systems. Available with white hulls with red side stripes and four sail combinations, the Aqua Cat offers a performance fun package not to be missed. Experience the Aqua Cat feeling.

RESORT SPECIAL VERSION OF AQUA CAT 14 CATAMARAN

Exceedingly popular as a resort rental craft, the Aqua Cat 14 has proven itself as an excellent investment. Its simplicity allows use by the most inexperienced and offers a stable, safe and fun filled package for the Hotel Guest.

American Sail manufactures a slightly slower version of this popular catamaran for use in resort locations where most sailors are novices. The resort special features a smaller sail (90 square foot), a shorter mast and eliminates the 360 main sheet cleat to require the sailor to hold the rope controlling the sail thus reducing capsize possibilities.

*AquaCats Temporarily Unavailable at this time due to supply chain issues.

Contact Us for Current Special Discounts and Freight Quote

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Description.

This boat takes the enjoyment and handling associated with beach cats to a new level. Stiffness and balance defy the cost-effective durability of the RS CAT14’s construction – making the boat perfect, not only for training and recreational sailing, but also as a true performance pathway class. We’re excited – and we think you will be too! The design protected system for joining the beams to RS CAT hulls gives increased stiffness compared to other rotomolded catamarans, with the added bonus of allowing the boat to be disassembled quickly for storage or transport. Durability : Convenience : Excitement – the hallmarks of the RS CATs

Two Models Available

• RS CAT14 S: Mainsail only
• RS CAT16 XL: Main, Jib, and Single Trapeze
• Novice to expert capabilities for young and youthful sailors
• Crisp, easy handling from the stiff platform leads to exciting performance
• Practical features to make sailing convenient and fun
• High buoyancy hulls give reserve stability and forgiving handling
• Concave deck creates secure sitting area
• Lift & lock – simple & secure rudder system
• Designed by innovative multihull expert Jo Richards and the RS development team
• Exciting single-handed – great for two youngsters or a small groups
• Blast across the bay – performance pathway
• One, two or three sails to suit experience and performance level aims
• Efficient gennaker chute system for simple hoists & drops
• Fast assembly & separation allows storage in restricted space
• Quick to rig – simple and robust
• Practical moulded-in handholds make moving the boat easy on shore
• NEW – Hull & beam securing system without holes through the skin of the boat – no sealant required
• Beam and shroud bolts secure into stainless-steel bars in channels on either side of the hulls
• Exceptionally strong, simple and fast assembly – just 15 minutes using only one spanner
• RS Comptec PE3 construction– state of the art three layer rotomoulding system
• Toughest outer skin – middle foam layer for stiffness – strong inner skin
• RS process leads the way & enables additional thickness in high load areas
• Reduced overall weight for better sailing – every RS offers the best performance and most rewarding handling
• Built in buoyancy from thick foam layer
• Strongest fittings attachment – through-bolted rudder systems
• Super-strong RS transom & rudder fitting structure
• Virtually maintenance free

Specifications

• Construction: 3 Layer Comptec PE3 Hull
• Length: 14 feet
• Beam: 7 feet
• Hull Weight (each): 95 lbs
• Sailing Weight: 275 lbs
• Capacity: 1-2

Why West Coast Sailing

We represent a dozen sailboat brands from all around the world. Our dinghy sailboat inventory is second to none, with at least 100 boats in stock in our warehouse at any time. Our staff has extensive experience sailing, racing, rigging, coaching and delivering boats worldwide. This is what we do:

• Selection – 70+ models of boats from manufacturers around the world.
• Service – Our staff is focused on helping you Own The Water.
• Experience – The team here has decades of experience on all types of dinghies.
• Inventory – Over $1million of boats and parts inventory in stock at all times.
• Logistics – We have experience shipping boats all over the world, at reasonable rates, quickly.
• Rigging – We rig most boats by hand, and stand behind our work.
• Long Term Support – We are a leader in our industry, and we didn't get here by cutting corners. We have your back.
• Apparel and Accessories – We have the apparel, accessories, trailers and dollies to go with each boat.

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Delivery Info: Enjoy Free Standard Shipping on most orders* to the Continental United States over $99. Our Standard Shipping method utilizes USPS, UPS, and FedEx to send packages near and far. Oversize/Freight shipping (where applicable), Expedited Shipping (where available), and rates to other destinations will be calculated at checkout.

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Returns Info: Your 100% satisfaction is our goal - we want you to love your sailing gear, but if something doesn't work out, we accept returns on most new, unused items*. Returns can be made within 366 days (1 year + 1 day) of your original order date. Exceptions include (and are not limited to) cut line, Rig Shop products, special order items, numbered sailors, and items used or worn sailing.

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Sailboat Review: Light and Lively Excess 14

• By Mark Pillsbury
• November 7, 2023

When Groupe Beneteau’s Excess Catamarans introduced its first model in 2019 , a test sail in winds approaching 40 knots made it abundantly clear that the 38-foot-7-inch Excess 12 wasn’t just another pretty new face in the ever-growing cat crowd. That boat could sail.

A recent light-air outing aboard the company’s newest model, the Excess 14, was perhaps equally revealing. With a hull length right around 44 feet and a beam of 25 feet, 9 inches, this is a big, roomy and comfortable cruising cat. But in just 5 knots of breeze, sailing with the main and working jib set, the chart plotter’s speed over ground read 4.1 knots heading upwind with the sails sheeted hard. A little later, with the jib rolled up and the code zero unfurled and set on a sprit that brings the boat’s LOA to 52 feet, 5 inches, our boatspeed was 5.7 knots on a reach in wind gusting to maybe 6. 

Those were conditions that would have left a lot of similar-size multihulls parked, but the Excess 14 felt relatively lively underway and “tacked quickly,” I wrote in my notes. I also noted that line handling was easy, thanks to sheet winches within reach of the helms and an electric Harken FlatWinder winch that handles a traveler mounted outboard of a comfortable bench seat that spans most of the transom.

For the record, I’m a fan of the Excess brand DNA that calls for outdoor helm stations located far aft on either stern. Sitting at them underway, you can see and hear the water rush by and feel the breeze in your face. You know, like when you’re sailing. You can converse with people seated in the cockpit, and you have easy access to the salon should you care to set the autopilot and keep watch out of the elements, through windows that provide nearly 360 degrees of visibility.

Open to fresh ideas, the team at Excess started with a blank slate when they conceived the 14, and they gave naval architects at VPLP Design some liberty in terms of hull design in their quest for better performance. VPLP, drawing from their experience with a long line of racing machines, then tested and ultimately opted for asymmetrical hulls—think of a monohull sliced lengthwise down the middle and then separated—that tend to reduce the size of the waves produced between the hulls, thereby reducing drag that slows down the boat.

The design team also toyed with replacing the stub keels affixed to most cruising cats, including earlier Excess models, with the sort of lifting daggerboards found on high-performance cats. They dropped that idea, however, because daggerboards add complexity when sailing and take away from living space below. Instead, the 14 has more-efficient, deeper and thinner fixed foils that increase draft to 4 feet, 10 inches—a few inches deeper than what you would expect to find on cats of a similar size.

There are also interesting ­innovations found in the 14’s interior, where saving weight has a direct relationship to livelier sailing. Relatively lighter carbon-fiber cloth is employed in some structural areas for strength, and some bulkheads are infused using foam coring. And there’s less wood used in furniture, drawers and stowage areas. Overhead, the cabin top is injected-molded, eliminating the need for a liner. And in hulls with two staterooms and two head compartments located amidships, the toilets share a single holding tank to reduce plumbing, while the staterooms share one larger Webasto air-conditioning unit, saving the weight and wiring required for two. 

Excess is also involved with Groupe Beneteau’s overall efforts to adopt more-sustainable building practices. Laminates used for the performance mainsail and genoa are recycled material, and hemp fibers are used in place of fiberglass and injected with partly bio-sourced resin in some nonstructural parts such as locker lids. Even furniture knobs have been replaced by neat little loops of rope.

Buyers have a few decisions to make when ordering an Excess 14. There is a four-­stateroom version that would be well-suited for charter, and there are a couple of three-stateroom options. In one, the owner gets a large fore-and-aft bunk aft, a sitting area with a desk at the foot of the companionway, a head and shower forward, and a walk-in closet in place of a V-berth. A second plan, called the Transformer Version, has bunks far forward that can be folded down for sleeping or up for stowage. (One company photo shows a paddleboard stashed away there.) That’s the layout we saw in Miami and the one I’d choose if it were my boat. In all the layouts, the salon gets lots of sunlight and has a pleasant, airy feeling with the sliding door and window open aft. There’s an abundance of fridge and freezer space adjacent to the galley to port. Dining tables are indoors, at the front of the salon, and in the cockpit. 

The Miami boat included a pair of optional 57 hp Yanmar diesels with saildrives (45 hp engines come standard) that pushed us along at 7.8 knots in cruising speed and 8.4 knots in get-home-quick mode. Gear included an electric winch at the starboard helm to make raising the main easier, as well as engine controls at either wheel to make docking simpler. Davits are available, as are canvas Biminis over the wheels for shade.

The boat also had an optional seating area on the flybridge. It reminded me a bit of a stretch version of the footwell that you’d find on a Sunfish. I’m not sure if it’s an option I’d choose, and with the boom set relatively low on the mast, it wouldn’t be a place to lounge underway. Some might like to sit up there while at anchor to enjoy the view though.

The sail-away price for the boat we visited is right around $980,000, but that’s loaded with gear, including an Onan generator and a Pulse rig and sail package that includes a 70-foot-8-inch mast instead of the standard 64-foot-11-inch spar. The upwind Pulse rig sail area of 1,453 square feet will be appreciated by those who sail in variable conditions and like to go fast; in the trades, the standard 1,323 square feet might suffice, and the shorter rig would let you just squeeze under most Intracoastal Waterway bridges.

Me? I was happy to have the added horsepower provided by the bigger square-top main. Sailing a big cat in 5 knots of breeze isn’t always fun, but aboard the Excess 14, we had a jolly old time.

Excess 14 Specifications

• More: catamaran , Excess Catamarans , Print December 2023 , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
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Excess 14 review: competitively priced performance catamaran

• Rupert Holmes
• February 21, 2023

Can spacious performance cruising multihulls be built in large volumes at competitive prices? Excess thinks so and demonstrates just that with the Excess 14

Product Overview

Price as reviewed:.

We’re sailing the Excess 14 upwind in 12-14 knots of true wind, with boat speed hovering between 7.4 and 8.0 knots. The helm feels positive and responsive, the boat tacks easily and responds readily to accurate sail trim.

Aside from the lack of heel, it’s the type of experience and real-world cruising speeds you might expect of a 50-something-foot monohull performance cruiser. Yet, this is an enormously spacious 26ft wide platform from the world’s largest boatbuilder, not a niche builder of expensive high performance designs.

Until now, anyone looking for a catamaran sailing experience that’s fun and rewarding to sail had a limited choice. Granted, yards such as Outremer and Marsaudon Composites produce fantastic boats, but they can be complex, while high tech construction and low build volumes inevitably mean hefty prices.

Groupe Beneteau identified a gap in the market into which it launched the Excess brand four years ago. How did the yard achieve good sailing qualities and performance in a high volume production boat with a commensurate price tag?

A policy to chase weight savings in every area, without creating an expensive high-tech boat, started with a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the entire structure by VPLP’s Vannes office, which normally deals with race boats.

Asymmetric hull shape with more curvature outboard reduces drag and slamming. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/EYOTY

Carbon reinforcement was added to highly stressed areas, such as the fully infused PET foam sandwich bulkheads, while weight was dropped from lightly stressed zones including hull skins, through using a lower density end grain balsa core. This is divided into small squares, separated by resin, so localised damage won’t allow water ingress to spread. Layup is monolithic in way of the engines and keels, while the deck is PET foam sandwich.

The weight of furniture also came under scrutiny – the galley, for instance, is 25% lighter without resorting to expensive foam cores. Light displacement is 12.8 tonnes, compared to 14-15 tonnes for other cruising catamarans this size, and is one of several factors that make a significant improvement to the way the boat sails.

Feedback loop

VPLP also optimised keel hydrodynamics. Renowned naval architect Vincent Lauriot Prévost was convinced these could be more efficient than cruising multihulls’ typical fat, low aspect keels – and his initial modelling showed a modest 10cm increase in draught would give 15% better efficiency.

At the same time, discussions on the Excess Lab, an online forum engaging directly with sailors, showed the market will accept a catamaran with deeper draught than the industry-standard 1.2m (4ft) chosen to allow access to shallow Bahamian anchorages. So draught was increased to 1.48m, allowing chord length to be reduced by half, meaning thinner keels, even less drag and further improvements in steering response. The rudders are also 20cm deeper, so their shape is less compromised than most cruising catamarans.

Helm positions put you in contact with anyone in the cockpit, but the coachroof restricts visibility. Photo: Julien Gazeau

Other innovations include asymmetric hulls with more curvature and volume on the outside and less on the inside, reducing drag from the interaction of the wakes between the two hulls and slamming.

Our test boat had the optional 1.76m (5ft 9in) taller Pulse Line mast and longer bowsprit, which increases upwind sail area by 12m2 and adds 14m2 to the Code 0. The boat performed well on my first sail in 8-12 knots of breeze, reaching at speeds of up to 7.3 knots under Code 0, and maintaining six knots with a true wind angle of 58°.

However, it falls off quickly if you try to point too high in appreciably less than 10 knots true wind. Turning downwind and setting an asymmetric spinnaker we maintained 7-7.5 knots at a true wind angle of 145°, increasing to 8.5 knots after heading up 30°.

Light airs performance

My second sail gave an interesting chance to try the boat in light airs. Compared to a new 47ft monohull performance cruiser, sailing gently upwind in only 6-7 knots of true breeze, we were around 5° lower, but almost matched speed. Even in such gentle conditions the helm has good feel and the boat is responsive to sail trim.

The bridgedeck accommodation is bright, with a wonderful almost all-round view. Photo: Julien Gazeau

The twin aft helm stations offer numerous advantages, including a direct connection from the wheels to the rudders using Dyneema cables. There’s an excellent view of the headsail luff, but there’s a large sector where you have to peer through the saloon windows. Nevertheless, for monohull sailors this feels like a natural place from which to steer and has the additional benefit of keeping the driver in contact with others in the cockpit.

The arrangement also makes short-handed berthing easier than cats with a central helm or a flybridge. As standard, mechanical cable engine controls are fitted at the starboard helm only, but our test boat had an electronic option with controls both sides.

Standard specification includes a square top mainsail and powerful overlapping genoa. Both are ideal for cruising cats, as the centre of effort is lowered and there’s no backstay to get in the way of the head of the mainsail.

Most sail controls are led to a bank of clutches and a pair of winches at the starboard helm station. Headsail sheets are colour coded, so tacking is an easy one-person operation. Our test boat had an electric winch upgrade, including a Harken Flatwinder powered mainsheet traveller.

Helm seats hinge upwards to give access to the transoms. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/EYOTY

My final day on board was in breezier conditions touching 17-18 knots, with a steep onshore chop that led to some wave tops gently slapping underneath the bridgedeck. This short, steep sea meant speed was quickly lost if you pointed too high when sailing close hauled. However, bearing off to a true wind angle just over 50° (around 33-34° apparent) saw brisk acceleration to speeds occasionally topping 8.5 knots.

Bearing away and deploying the Code 0 saw boat speed climb up to a maximum 10.3 knots. The delivery crew taking the boat from the Atlantic coast of France to the Cannes Yachting Festival report a top speed of 16.5 knots. However, this is not intended as a high performance vessel capable of sustained speeds in the upper teens, which makes it a less intimidating, easier boat to sail.

The central section of the aft cockpit is clear of sail handling action, with the exception of the traveller on the beam aft of the long bench seat across the back of the cockpit. An extending table to port allows easy circulation of people, yet can accommodate plenty for dining. There’s also an outdoor fridge and small bench seat on the starboard side of the cockpit. Access to the water or tender is from the aft platforms of each hull.

Wide side decks make going forward easy. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/EYOTY

Side decks are wide, with good handrails, but weight saving means there’s no well for a forward cockpit. Instead sunbeds and cushions at the front of the bridgedeck create an area for relaxing and socialising, while beanbags can be used on the big trampoline.

There’s also an option of a ‘sky lounge’ on one side of the hardtop for use when not under way. This is reached via a couple of steps each side of the mast. The boom sweeps low across the top of the coachroof and hardtop, making it easy to pack the mainsail away and close the lazy bag after sailing.

Stowage on deck is under the cockpit seating, plus large lockers at the front of the bridgedeck, one of which also houses the optional generator. This area has space for the windlass and chain locker, while there are big sail lockers forward in both hulls, with enough space for optional skipper’s cabins.

Excellent owner’s suite includes a big dressing table/desk for those who work on board. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/EYOTY

Under sail the boat has a sufficiently comfortable, relaxed and solid feel to make leaving the helm to wander into the saloon or galley a viable proposition, especially if an apparent wind speed alarm is set. There are no full height cabinets, so only the mullions obstruct vision, while the blind spot from the helm stations created by coachroof, genoa and Code sails are no longer a problem.

The saloon is large, with ample room for circulation, plus a navstation and big table with space to comfortably seat eight people for dining. There’s good natural ventilation, including two big hatches in the front windows, plus one outboard of the cooker, as well as wide doors aft. The lack of full-height lockers means acres of galley worktop space. There’s also generous refrigeration and easily accessed stowage, plus considerable additional volume below the floor.

Chines above the waterline boost accommodation volume in the hulls, giving more space than high octane performance cruising designs. The charter version has a full four cabin, four head, four shower layout with good space, privacy and stowage.

Mmulti-function stowage space at the front of the owner’s hull can convert to an occasional twin berth cabin. Photo: Julien Gazeau

Owners’ versions offer an unusual, but effective, take on how to use the space at the front of the starboard hull. There’s a flexible forepeak, instead of the standard 4m-long bathroom, with excellent stowage, including space for a walk-in dressing room (or even workshop). Yet this area can be converted to two single berths when necessary, perhaps with grandchildren on board. Aft of this is a midships washroom with twin sinks alongside enclosed toilet and shower compartments.

Between this area and the large peninsula berth aft is a generous dressing table/desk area, with ample space for those who work from home. There’s substantial further stowage in multiple hanging lockers, shelves and drawers.

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It’s often said the benefits of owning a multihull come at the cost of compromising factors that bring joy to boat ownership. Excess has done a good job with this design which is a step forward compared to its first two models, the 12 and 15, which were hampered by being based on Lagoon hulls. Of course, there are more spacious and better finished boats of this size, as well as some with considerably better performance. Closest rivals are perhaps the Nautitech 44 Open and Neel 47 trimaran. Both are two tonnes lighter, faster and arguably nicer to sail, but they have appreciably less accommodation and the former is more expensive. The Excess Lab is also an example of the brand’s determination to try different things and pursue a different line, including how key interactions with the boating public are handled. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next.

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A New Kind Of Sailing Experience.

The Topaz 14 is an accessible but high performance cat designed for two medium to light crew. There is room on the trampoline for three for cruising. 

The Topaz 14 delivers tremendous performance and is light, responsive, nimble and beautifully behaved. The Topaz Catamarans have been designed by International multihull racing legends Yves Loday and Robert White. With such sailing experience and pedigree, not to mention their proven design track records, it comes as little surprise that the Loday/White team have produced such a stunning range of cats.

Topaz 14 Features

• High foredeck with lots of volume in the bow area is great for stability, handling and taut feedback for the helm
• The built-in skeg design hulls (so no need for Daggerboards) make for simple user friendly sailing, especially on the beach
• No boom makes life easy OnBoard when teaching novice sailors
• Lock-in beams provide a rigid sailing platform and firm hull performance
• Fully adjustable simple Rudder System allows you to adjust the rake of the blade usually found on expensive Racing Catamarans
• Fully battened mainsail provides exciting performance
• Durable and manageable Dacron radial-cut mainsail and furling jib as standard
• Reefing mainsail as standard
• Single-line ‘Race’ Gennaker System is easy and effortless to use
• Twin trapeze as standard
• Hard wearing injection moulded polyethylene rudder blade
• Incredible high quality fittings including ball bearing blocks and race specification cleats as standard
• Auto-ratchet Gennaker block as standard
• Foam filled sealed mast for extra safety
• Step hinged mast makes rigging quick and easy (even for one young person)
• High quality foot straps for trapezing
• Unique non-slip pattern is user friendly and provides extra grip when trapezing
• Total rigged weight of just 110kg
• TRILAM technology unique to Topper gives unrivalled strength to weight ratio and great uniformity, buoyancy, stiffness, dynamism, lightweight and durability

A great first racing catamaran

A wonderful 14 foot catamaran that is fast, fun and forgiving and is ideally suited to lighter weight crews.  The Topaz 14 has a twin trapeze and a powerful 9.98m2 sail area courtesy of a large Dacron main and jib.

Tremendous stability & speed.

The 14 X option generates even higher performance with an added 10.00m2 gennaker to provide a more powered up downwind ride – while still retaining the excellent stability. The result; far more control and fewer spills than you’d expect from a cat with this much power.

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Topaz 14 prices start at £8,495.00 (inc VAT.)

If you would like a more detailed quote to discuss you requirements, please contact one of our sales team for more information.

Our dedicated Sales Managers, Russ & Jon are always on-hand for any questions, or help you require.

We have an on-the-road parts and repairs shop and Russ attends various events across the country to fix or replace equipment. He is also a font of knowledge offering general advice and after-care for all our customers.

Below you will find all the support documents available for the Topaz 14 and 14 X. If you have any further questions or can’t find what you are looking for please let us know! 

Instructions

CE Certificate

UK Certificate

Topaz Manual

Topaz Range

Hobie Cat 14 Classic

Sailboat specifications.

• Last update: 20th March 2020

Hobie Cat 14's main features

Hobie cat 14's main dimensions, hobie cat 14's rig and sails, hobie cat 14's performances, hobie cat 14's auxiliary engine, hobie cat 14's accommodations and layout.

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RS CAT14 – EXCITEMENT AND HANDLING REACH A NEW LEVEL

This boat takes the enjoyment and handling associated with beach cats to a new level. Stiffness and balance defy the cost-effective durability of the RS CAT14’s construction – making the boat perfect, not only for training and recreational sailing, but also as a true performance pathway class. We’re excited – and we think you will be too! The design protected system for joining the beams to RS CAT hulls gives increased stiffness compared to other rotomoulded catamarans, with the added bonus of allowing the boat to be disassembled quickly for storage or transport. Durability : Convenience : Excitement – the hallmarks of the RS CATs.

No. of Crew

Hull construction, no. of trapezes, sail area (m²), find out more, ready to buy, find similar models, what the sailors are saying….

Unbelievably stiff platform, proven fittings and systems from the CAT16, a fair amount of buoyancy in the hulls, can carry weight easily on top of being a junior boat. RS has got a winner here!

RS Sailing France

Why change a winning formula? The RS CAT14 picks most of the characteristics of her big sister the RS CAT16 launched in 2014. The RS CAT14 is adapted to a wider range of use to allow youth and adult sailors have a lot of fun, with a minimum of constraints linked with set-up or care. It’s robust, ergonomic, well-built and easy to handle – the second Cat made by RS is clearly a success. To handle without care!

(Journaliste/rédacteur)

To me the RS CAT14 is much more than the little sister of  the CAT16. The 14 is small enough to go singlehanded – even with jib and gennaker. And its big enough for a full family cruise with two adults and a child. The 14 feels stiff like a GRP-cat and tacks lively like a dinghy – totally different to these low volume ‘long-keel’ beach cats of the 1970s.

RS Sailing Germany

Stiffness and manoeuvrability – sparkling performance & easy handling

• Novice to expert capabilities for young and youthful sailors
• Crisp, easy handling from the stiff platform leads to exciting performance
• Practical features to make sailing convenient and fun
• High buoyancy hulls give reserve stability and forgiving handling
• Concave deck creates secure sitting area
• Lift & lock – simple & secure rudder system
• Designed by innovative multihull expert Jo Richards and the RS development team

Singlehanded or with crew

• Exciting single-handed – great for two youngsters or a small groups
• Blast across the bay – performance pathway
• One, two or three sails to suit experience and performance level aims
• Efficient gennaker chute system for simple hoists & drops

Storage and transport convenience

• Fast assembly & separation allows storage in restricted space
• Quick to rig – simple and robust
• Practical moulded-in handholds make moving the boat easy on shore

Greatest durability – lowest maintenance

• NEW – Hull & beam securing system without holes through the skin of the boat – no sealant required
• Beam and shroud bolts secure into stainless-steel bars in channels on either side of the hulls
• Exceptionally strong, simple and fast assembly – just 15 minutes using only one spanner
• RS Comptec PE3 construction– state of the art three layer rotomoulding system
• Toughest outer skin – middle foam layer for stiffness – strong inner skin
• RS process leads the way & enables additional thickness in high load areas
• Reduced overall weight for better sailing – every RS offers the best performance and most rewarding handling
• Built in buoyancy from thick foam layer
• Strongest fittings attachment – through-bolted rudder systems
• Super-strong RS transom & rudder fitting structure
• Virtually maintenance free

Safety features

• Toe straps above and below tramps to assist capsize righting
• Capsize righting line in under-tramp stowage bag
• Knife stowage under tramp
• Recesses in aft decks reduce volume and make it easier to “sink” a stern and right the boat from inversion
• Mast head float standard on all models

RS CAT14 Club

• Mainsail only – simple set-up
• Single trapeze

RS CAT14 XL

• Single Trapeze

RS CAT14 Accessories

• Launching wheels
• Road trailer
• Carbon fibre tiller extension
• Wind indicator
• Gennaker pack

SPECIFICATION

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Excess 14 Catamaran Launch

Thanks to Thibaut and Herve from Excess Catamarans for sharing the designs and thoughts behind their new model: the Excess 14 .

Like her smaller sister the Excess 11, the 14 has been developed from the ground up by Excess along with VPLP and Nauta design. She’s a completely new design. You can read our Excess 14 review on Katamarans.

First Impressions

They have followed the sporty look of the 11 with aft helms and a low boom for maximum sailing feel on the water. Some of the innovations we picked up on include:

Asymmetric hulls. According to Thibaud, they have spent a lot of time modelling the hull shape to get the best balance between speed through the water and living space. The cross section profile of the hulls is asymmetric.

Overlapping Gennaker The 14 will be powered by an overlapping genoa. Like the 11, the 14 will be available with a standard rig or powered up with a Pulse Line rig.

Deeper Keels One of the other areas they have been looking at, is the depth of the keels: modeling sailing performance for different depths of fixed keel. The starting point was daggerboards, but have stuck to fixed keels and gone slightly longer. The draft will be just over 1.4m.

2 Bowsprit Options There are 2 bowsprits you can go for, both are part of the structure of the boat rather than being bolted on- a configuration similar to high performance brands. The standard bowsprit takes the boat length from 13.34m up to 13.97m. An optional longer bowsprit will take the total boat length up to 15.99m (including davits)

New Helm Seat Design The helms remain aft, but Excess have developed a new design for the double helm seat on each side of the boat. I’m looking forward to seeing more details on those.

Flexible Living Space Down Below It looks like they have developed some very interesting options in the forward cabin where you can flex the space between 2 single berths and a walk in wardrobe.

Weight It sounds like the Weight Police have been busy on this boat. Projected weight will be between 12-13 tonnes. It’s not an area that they are obsessing over to gain (for example) half a knot, but at the same time, the idea is to design and produce a comfortable cruising catamaran with good sailing sensations.

More details to follow when we have them!

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Promise kept: Excess 14

• October 1st, 2022
• Sailing Yacht

As my sixth and last boat I have visited in detail during this year´s edition of Cannes Yachting Festival I´d like to come up with a very special one. The all-new Excess 14 cruising catamaran celebrated its world premiere at the Croisette and although I am a bit biased being an Excess-dealer myself I can say it would have got my attention anyway despite this fact. Why? Because this catamaran comes up with some very cool features I´d like to talk about.

First of all it is the second “real” Excess next to 2020 launched Excess 11 by the yard. Their predecessors, Excess 12 and 15 had been hybrids using parts of their sister brand Lagoon. 11 and 14 are unique and separate developments of the Excess team, there is no connection to Lagoon whatsoever. More than this, the Excess 14´s hull designed by renowned bureau VPLP comes up with asymmetric hulls, a feature I wrote about in length previously .

Like all of a piece

Now it was the time to see the catamaran live. Which by the way hasn´t been my first time: Months before when I was handing over an Oceanis 51.1 in Les Sables d´Olonne I saw this very first hull #1 along the expedition pontoon. I as well had been welcomed by my fellow colleagues by the yard but of course wasn´t allowed to take pictures nor to write about the boat. Well, it is unveiled now and here we are.

The boat is a beauty. She takes on the Excess-typical lines, faintly reminding on an E-Type Jaguar. I like the inverted bows as well as the new cat-like hull windows. The grey hull and the stickers are Excess indeed and among so many undistinguishable boats, this one is easily recognizable. The boat looks like it is all of one piece. Take the bowsprit for example.

It looks like an organic extension of the boat, much more dynamic and vividly than the aluminium-part fitted to the Excess 11. Everything about the Excess 14´s design talks speed, even the newly designed composite davits at the very opposite end. Design-wise the new Excess 14 keeps what the renderings promised: Owners can be sure to be involved in pontoon-chat everywhere they tie up their pretty boat.

The yard changed a lot in regard to the Excess 11 that is a huge commercial success by the way. Not all changes I liked: The backseats for example. On the new 14 these are made from a fold-up one-piece GRP part that looks nice, for sure, but I like the two-way folding stainless steel seats on the 11 more. Well, a boat is always a compromise, the backseat is a tiny detail, no problem.

All in all, looking at the new catamaran from all angles, she is well-balanced. Not as edgy and bulky as some of her competitors, not overly emphasizing particular details, like others do. If form follows function than this new boat should really be a suitable proportioned yacht: Quick, but not uncontrollable, voluptuous but not fat. A dynamic mix, an attractive design. But what about the promised sailing capabilities?

A step further along the Excess DNA

Of course we couldn´t take her out to do a small sea trial during the show (I hope to being able to do so coming spring with some of our buyers/prospects) but looking at her layout reveals some information. Easy sailing, for example, which is one of the core values of Excess. Excess 11 comes up with a self-tacking jib and all lines ending up on one single winch.

The Excess 14, being a 44-footer, it’s a bit more complicated. The running rigging is derived to two winches. Except this the catamaran is similar to the 11. Why two winches? Because the new 14 comes up with a real overlapping Genoa. This said, it is clear that we now will have two Genoa-sheets instead of a single Jib-sheet for the self-tacker on the 11.

Also, mainsail trim (which again on this boat will be a square top mainsail without any backstays) is different than on the Excess 11. On the smaller sister the German Cupper System is installed. This is two mainsheet lines rendering a traveler unnecessary. I like this because it makes mainsail trim single handed very easy. Gybing becomes a no-brainer. On the new Excess 14, I guess because there is too much load on the big mainsheet, comes with a traditional traveler and electric winching.

Talking of the Genoa: This sail is derived through Genoa lead cars on a track. This gives at least some degree of fore sail trim possibilities and more freedom in sails trim upwind/downwind. The Genoa lead cars are manually operated. For this, the skipper must go to the mid-section of the boat and trim the cars on the track. This may seem a bit odd but since fore sail fine trim is done not so often, I guess it is okay to occasionally leave the helm station.

Truly blue water capable

Practicality of the running rigging and ergonomics of the layout will be tested soon, as I said, let´s now take a look at the more important details of a catamaran: The interior. Buyers of a multihull choose a cat because of the stunning internal volume and the comforts of heeled-free sailing. In this, being a 44-footer and thus a pretty huge boat, the 14 must be best of her class in this respect.

And look at this grand entry! The saloon of this boat is not only roomy in respect to the bare numbers, the clever planning of the layout makes it absolutely huge. The windows all around create a light-suffused lofty character: Somewhere around these 360 degrees the sun will surely shine and light up the interior. The layout is clean and simple: The large dining area around a table in the front, in front of it, a large free area that makes the whole room appear much bigger than it is.

The galley is blue water-rigged. To port side the big stove: This time it´s an Eno-3-flamer fired up by natural gas. The oven is separated and also works with gas. Knowing that Butane or Propane bottles are abundand all over the world, this might be the most suitable solution to cooking. In light of recent discussions about fossil fuels and the current events unfolding around energy, it may be time for the industry to think about induction cooking. Definitely worth a separate article though.

Vis-à-vis the galley buyers of an Excess 14 can choose how to fill this part of the galley: Multiple combinations of stowage, cupboards, fridges or freezers are possible so that your 14 fits the very personal use case of the owners. The aft edges of the saloon could be filled with more cupboards and stowage, such as it has been done now with the Excess 11 where surplus hanging furniture is offered. Maybe the first feedback from sailing owners will make the yard do an update here.

Port side facing forward next to the main switch panel is a small nav station. A mobile one-seater can either be fitted here so that the L-shaped main settee is prolonged or fitted opposite the dining table, making it a kind or “O”-shaped siting order, leaving space for feet of the navigator to sit here and do the log. All in all, the saloon is huge: Imagining spending much time here on a long haul trip makes me a good feeling.

Once a king …

The main selling point of a catamaran is comfort. All owners and buyers of a cruising catamaran I know tell the same: You simply won´t get that high level of comfort, space, volume, bathrooms and cabin-sizes in monohulls. Ever. And this is true, I must say. Since my first own long encounter with a cat , delivering the boat through the Bay of Biscay to Spain, I can confirm: The comfort is indeed impressive! And that was for the Excess 11. It´s even true for the much bigger 14 – and the comfort-level on this boat a multitude of times bigger.

To starboard side, going down the winding companionway, one enters the owner´s hull. As with the Excess 11, the layout is pretty classy – but not quite so. Looking aft to over one´s right shoulder you will see a huge open room with a large floating island bed in the middle. Bulkheads and structural elements are limited to a minimum, thanks to Carbon and Kevlar that is applied where needed.

The owner´s bed comes wit impressive measurements and is easily accessible from either side. A large skylight above, one smaller opening hatch to the rear and a large hull window to seaside make sure that this area is always lit up in natural light. I was a bit sad to see that the hull windows on the Excess 14 have been placed well above the waterline which is a pity: On the Excess 11 they are much deeper so that one can see the water when in bed. Not so here.

On the other hand, right in the middle of the owner´s hull the designers have gone a little farther than on the Excess 11. The boat office down here is truly a workspace one can … well, work with. The tabletop is big enough to act as a real writing desk, there is much stowage for this and that. Alone the cupboard´s plastic fiddles seem a bit too fragile but I am sure a dedicated owner will and can transform this area into a full fledged office. The pouffe down here may not be appropriate enough for a full workday´s load …

Uniting charter and owner´s demands

A real novelty on the Excess 14 is the fore cabin in the owner´s hull. This is said to be a walk-in closet that can house crew wear and all the clothing needed for the whole trip. Also, this cabin could be transformed with ease into a cabin sporting two butterfly berths.

The idea is kind of cool but seeing this live makes me realize that this butterfly-cabin/walk-in closet idea is just a secondary usage of something else: The front cabin of the 4-cabin/charter-version of the Excess 14. In this version, you will get a full sized cabin in the front and a proper bathroom – just like we have on the portside hull. In the owner´s version, there is no “need” for a front cabin, so I guess they came up with the idea of the walk-in closet.

This will get more apparent when seeing the bathroom-situation of the 3-cab owner´s version: There is a nicely set up washing facility with lots of bathroom-stowage and a sink port side. When standing here washing or getting a decent shave, one will stand back to back to the very bathroom: WC, shower and yet another sink are inside a closed off bathroom. Kind of done twice here …

It´s nice, but a bit off for me personally. So, I do have an idea: Why go for the owner´s 3-cab version anyway? I mean, this boat is so big and the guest cabins (as you will see now) are also so nicely done, that this Excess 14 will do much better when ordered in 4 cabins. I´d say that a proper fourth cabin instead of a makeshift “butterfly”/closet-hybrid seems more logical to me. Anyone investing in such a big boat may have a big family or circle of friends. Well, just a thought here …

Guests and family welcome

What a 4-cabin catamaran would be looking like can be seen inside the opposite hull. The aft guest cabin has the same size in terms of bed and sleeping area as the owner´s counterpart. The cabin is huge in monohull-standards. I´d say that even on the new Beneteau flagship, Oceanis Yacht 60 the aft cabins haven´t got the size offered here. On a 44-footer.

The fore cabin is also decently sized. The bed here isn´t of the so famous island-shape anymore, but this is no disadvantage: I remember the great owner´s cabin and aft guest cabin in the Excess 11 where there´s also a bed that covers all of the area: In heavy, choppy seas there is no chance of falling out of bed. Plus, in the aft cabin, you could lay yourself down either longitudinal or transverse to the ship´s forward direction.

The fore cabin is the least attractive in the Excess 14: just plain white panels, no other colors. A bit boring. But still, big and light-suffused, much, much standing height and sufficient stowage. The designers could have invested a bit more love to this cabin I´d say. Both guest cabins have their own dedicated bath as opposed to the Excess 11 where both guests share a bath. One could say that´s a handful of valves less to maintain, others would state that an own bathroom is indeed one of the main issues defining comfort. Or even luxury.

Spending weeks and months

I proceed back on deck where admittedly most of the time will be spent by the occupants of the boat. Down below, as much as we tend to look and analyze the cabin-size and all amenities, down here we are either taking a dump or being unconscious, meaning, at sleep. So we shouldn´t overvalue the details down below. Most imported is how the catamaran feels up because this is where he action takes place.

Apart from the usual lounge area in front of the central house and on the nets securing the space between the hulls in the bow, the main lounge area is the cockpit in the back. The Excess 14 offers next to the two-seater wheel-stations a loooooong settee in the aft, an L-shaped settee around the cockpit-table to port side and a tw-person chaiselounge to starboard side right next to the cockpit fridge. Multiple seating options for owners and crew, at sea and whilst mooring.

A specialty of Excess is the so-called skylounge. The roof, when not used for solar panels , can be equipped with a GRP-“pool” that is placed in a roof-cutout. This is essentially a trough where cushions are fitted all around. These cushions have nice backrests. So, when mooring or at a pontoon, the boom of the mainsail can be put to starboard and easy access via ladder from the front invites the crew to a rooftop sundowner up here. I liked it quite much, I shall say.

A perfect 44-feet cruising catamaran

So, is this the perfect quick cruising catamaran as promised in the ads? I´d say that the design of the Excess 14 is absolutely holding up to what the glossy prints have made us hungry for: The 14 is a true beauty, sports a modern, aggressive design. The design is a consistent, fluid whole and I am sure that this boat will make many people fall in love with her. As I said, I cannot say anything about her sailing capabilities yet, but judging from what the smaller Excess 11 was doing, the 14 will surely be quite a nice sailing boat.

My first impression of the Excess 14 cabins “down below” is predominantly positive although I must say that this 3-cabin-version would not be my boat of choice for reasons I´ve stated. A catamaran that big used by just 2 persons is for my taste too big. The walk-in closet or butterfly-cabin is a nice idea but merely a makeshift from the 4-cabin-version. But this is just my personal taste.

Seeing the new Excess 14 moored next to her smaller sister, the 11, makes me think. If I had the money to buy a 14 (for me and my partner, some occasional guests) I would opt for the 11, of course. Take the money left over from the 14-budget and invest it in a great trip around the world. The Excess 14 is surely a great boat – but she is a big one too. As orders of this boat start to come in, I am curious of how many units will go to charter-use and how many will be used by real cruising couples or families. For me, an Excess 11 a little bigger, say a new 12 or 13 would do the trick. Well, let´s see, I´d say, the yard is not yet done with presenting a complete range of products.

You might also find interesting to read these related articles:

VPLP´s trick: Asymmetric hulls for the Excess 14 catamaran

Sailing qualities : Excess 11 in the Race of Alderney

How to escape a capsized catamaran

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A cruising sailboat with sleek lines

Watch the video.

The Excess 14 is the result of a dedicated design work and an industrial execution, unique to the brand. It is a cruising yacht that is both fun and playful, with sleek lines.

This catamaran is the outcome of innovative architecture, of unbiased research work seeking ‘out of the box’ solutions. The Excess 14 is designed around a layout never seen before on the market, both in the owner’s version and in the charter version. More sensations yet everything you’d expect from a cruising boat: this is the challenge taken up by the Excess 14!

Welcome on board

Instantly recognizable design:

Take a low boom, reduced windage thanks to lower freeboard, taut lines and redesigned hull windows, and you get a catamaran with a distinctive look! Add an aft-set coachroof, a forward stepped mast, a composite bowsprit (as standard) as well as inverted and inclined bows for more fun! Finish off with an exposed forefoot and you have a dynamic catamaran that’s ready for adventure.

For more sensations at the helm, you know our preference:  helm stations right at the stern in direct contact with the rudders and a good view of the sails, as inspired by monohulls.

What you may not know is that visibility is optimal on board the Excess 14, through untinted windows – this is an Excess exclusive on the market!

This model features an optimized fins design, and the rudder blades have been extended! A direct steering system has been chosen, with textile lines, for a better helm feel (because yes, it is important!)

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Technical details

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• Which brand are you interested in? * Please select a brand Bali Sailing Catamarans Beneteau Monohulls Dufour Monohulls Excess Sailing Catamarans Fountaine Pajot Power Catamarans Fountaine Pajot Sailing Catamarans Jeanneau Monohulls Lagoon Power Catamarans Lagoon Sailing Catamarans Please select a brand Bali Sailing Catamarans Beneteau Monohulls Dufour Monohulls Excess Sailing Catamarans Fountaine Pajot Power Catamarans Fountaine Pajot Sailing Catamarans Jeanneau Monohulls Lagoon Power Catamarans Lagoon Sailing Catamarans
• Which model are you interested in? * Please select a model Alegria 67 Astrea 42 Aura 51 Aura 51 - Smart Electric Bali 4.2 Bali 4.4 Bali 4.6 Bali 4.8 Bali 5.4 Bali 5.8 Bali CatSmart Catspace Dufour 37 Dufour 41 Dufour 44 Dufour 470 Dufour 530 Dufour 61 Elba 45 Excess 11 Excess 13 Excess 14 Isla 40 Lagoon 40 Lagoon 42 Lagoon 46 Lagoon 51 Lagoon 51 Lagoon 55 Lagoon 60 MY4.S MY5 MY6 Oceanis 30.1 Oceanis 34.1 Oceanis 37.1 Oceanis 40.1 Oceanis 46.1 Oceanis 51.1 Oceanis Yacht 54 Oceanis Yacht 60 Power 67 Samana 59 Seventy 8 Sixty 5 Sixty 7 Sun Odyssey 349 Sun Odyssey 380 Sun Odyssey 410 Sun Odyssey 440 Sun Odyssey 490 SunLoft 47 Tanna 47 Thira 80 Please select a model Alegria 67 Astrea 42 Aura 51 Aura 51 - Smart Electric Bali 4.2 Bali 4.4 Bali 4.6 Bali 4.8 Bali 5.4 Bali 5.8 Bali CatSmart Catspace Dufour 37 Dufour 41 Dufour 44 Dufour 470 Dufour 530 Dufour 61 Elba 45 Excess 11 Excess 13 Excess 14 Isla 40 Lagoon 40 Lagoon 42 Lagoon 46 Lagoon 51 Lagoon 51 Lagoon 55 Lagoon 60 MY4.S MY5 MY6 Oceanis 30.1 Oceanis 34.1 Oceanis 37.1 Oceanis 40.1 Oceanis 46.1 Oceanis 51.1 Oceanis Yacht 54 Oceanis Yacht 60 Power 67 Samana 59 Seventy 8 Sixty 5 Sixty 7 Sun Odyssey 349 Sun Odyssey 380 Sun Odyssey 410 Sun Odyssey 440 Sun Odyssey 490 SunLoft 47 Tanna 47 Thira 80
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EXCESS 14 A FUN AND PLAYFUL CRUISING SAILBOAT WITH SLEEK LINES

The Excess 14 is the pure incarnation of the Excess DNA. It is the result of a dedicated design work and an industrial execution, unique to the brand. It is a cruising yacht that is both fun and playful, with sleek lines.

Excess 14 WELCOME ON BOARD!

This catamaran is the outcome of innovative architecture, of unbiased research work seeking 'out of the box' solutions. The Excess 14 is designed around a layout never seen before on the market, both in the owner's version and in the charter version. More sensations yet everything you'd expect from a cruising boat: this is the challenge taken up by the Excess 14! Our Excess catamarans are equipped with SEANAPPS technology : the solution for keeping your boat safe and seaworthy at any moment.Thanks to a device installed on board and a mobile application, you can access all your boat's information directly from your smartphone.

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THE EMBODIMENT OF EXCESS DNA

Take a low boom, reduced windage thanks to lower freeboard, taut lines and redesigned hull windows, and you get a catamaran with a distinctive look!

INNOVATIVE ARCHITECTURE

Thanks to our collaboration with VPLP design, the lines of the Excess 14 have benefited from an understanding of ocean racing.

MORE SENSATIONS AND EVERYTHING YOU'D EXPECT OF A CRUISING BOAT

The Excess 14 is a cruising catamaran that also offers comfort and modularity of its living spaces.

A LAYOUT UNSEEN ON THE MARKET

Designed around a layout unseen on the market, both in the owner's version and in the charter version.

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WELCOME ABOARD THE EXCESS 14 IN 360° MODE

THE ESSENTIALS IN FIGURES

Discover the specifications of the Excess 14 catamaran

Square top mainsail

83 m² | 893 sq ft

Overlapping genoa

40 m² | 430 sq ft

Code 0 (option)

72 m² | 775 sq ft

Upwind sail area

123 m² | 1323 sq ft

135 m² | 1453 sq ft

Code 0 [option]

86 m² | 926 sq ft

Length overall (depending on options)

13.97 to 15.99 m | 45’9’’ to 52’5’’

Hull length

13.34 m | 43’9’’

Light displacement [EC]

12,8 T | 28219 lbs

7.87 m | 25’9’’

Mast clearance (std/pulse)

19.78 m | 64’11’’ / 21.54 m | 70’8’’

1.48 m | 4’10’’

Displacement

12.8 T | 28,219 lbs

CE certification

A : 10 - B : 12 - C : 16 - D : 20

Fuel capacity

2 x 53 US gal

2 x 57 HP (option)

Fresh water capacity

300 L (standard) + 300 L (option)

79 + 79 US gal (option)

Holding tank capacity

2 x 21 US gal

Salon and cockpits

3 cabin version, 3 cabin transformer version, 4 cabin version.

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TESTIMONIES OF PASSIONATE OWNERS Join the Excess tribe !

"I love the way the boat look, it's confortable and all of that but it also sails just amazingly well. "

Jill and Michael H.

"It's a great atmosphere right from the start, with everyone mixing together. We're all one big family!"

Béatrice and Jean-Pierre D. - Excess Campus

"You learn lots of things. And then meeting and sharing with the other owners... So far, it's been great!"

Cathy and John B - Excess Campus

“When the Excess 14 first came out, it seemed almost perfect. The main advantages of this catamaran are its perfect size for two people, and its ease of sailing. With the boom being low, it’s easy to handle.”

Tony & Heather

“We loved the family atmosphere. Excess is like one great big family to us, and we're really glad to be part of it! They're always there to listen to us and advise us.”

Jeniffer and Cédric

“Yes, we were very impressed with the Excess 14. Each year, we teach hundreds of students how to sail on all the latest catamarans in production, from Fountaine Pajot, to Bali, Nautitech, etc..."

Did you meet our other catamarans yet?

12 Best Catamaran Sailboats

The appeal of the catamaran sailboats in terms of speed , stability, and the ability to embark on long-range cruising has made them hugely popular with today's sailors. But what are the best catamaran sailboats?

Even though catamaran sailboats have become increasingly popular in the last few years, they have a truly rich legacy as one of the most sought after vessels for bluewater cruising.

Thanks to their incredibly wide beams and bigger daft, catamarans have become remarkably favorable for sailors looking to go for long-distance voyages, overnight cruising, and day sailing.

And if space is paramount for you when out there on the water, a catamaran sailboat is the only way to go as they offer extraordinary space to allow you to spend more time on the water with friends and family.

But even with all these amazing features, you're probably still wondering; what are the best catamaran sailboats?

Like their monohull counterparts, choosing the best catamaran sailboat can be quite overwhelming since there are lots of them out there. They come in a wide variety of designs and sizes ranging from small catamarans to huge ones.

The best catamaran sailboats can easily clock 250-mile voyages, offer incredible performance, and have layouts that can be easily optimized for individuals, charter markets, and great accommodation. In essence, the best catamaran sailboats offer respectable performance and offer good load-carrying ability.

That being said, here are some of the best catamaran sailboats that you can get your hands on.

Table of contents

Best Catamarans

{{boat-info="/boats/manta-42"}}

Even though many multihulls are no longer built in the United States these days, the Manta 42 is a true American-built catamaran that brings good living and good value into one package. Designed cleverly for easy handling, this American built catamaran is a great choice for a liveaboard cruiser for sailors looking to go for long-distance voyages. Thanks to its trademark high bows and an enormously curved incorporated forward crossbeam, this catamaran is easily recognizable even from a distance.

It is designed with a uniquely fixed crossbeam, which is very different from conventional aluminum cross beams that support the tension of the forestay. This fixed crossbeam allows for a little bit of movement thereby helping in absorbing enormous twisting forces of the bows. As such, you have to keep in mind that there may be resultant stress crack particularly in the bow area of the vessel.

All in all, the Manta 42 is a superb offshore cruising catamaran that offers a good sail-area-to-displacement ratio as well as plenty of space and accommodation. The cockpit area is refined, luxurious, and is designed with additional stainless pushpit contraptions to help in holding objects such as wind vanes, dinghies, and solar panels. The boat's quality in terms of performance and stability is the benchmark of what a catamaran should be.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

{{boat-info="/boats/fountaine-pajot-elba-45"}}

Recently named the "Boat of the Year" for 2019 by Cruising World Magazine and Sail Magazine, the Elba 45 is the latest model in the incredible line of Fountaine Pajot catamarans. This boat was designed to replace the outgoing Helia 44 and stands to be one of the most popular catamarans with Fountain Pajot having sold over 100 Elba 45 hulls long before even the first one emerged from production.

This French-built cat brings to the fore a well-thought-out, safe, and dependable features with 10% less drag, efficient motoring, top-notch performance, and high speeds. It's also designed with fixed stub keels and slightly aft-raked bows, which are all essential in enhancing windward performance; something that most catamarans struggle with.

To improve on safety, the keels of this amazing catamaran sailboat are glued into a particularly designed recess in the hulls. This is to ensure that there are no keel bolts that can rip out and put the boat in danger if the boat gets grounded or in the event of a collision. The rig is also ICW friendly and is a true representation of a standard catamaran setup.

This is, without a doubt, a modern-looking cruising catamaran that has a low-profile lounging space on its deck, high topsides and bows as well as a more pronounced reverse sheer that's essential in minimizing the bulk of the windows while creating additional and useful volume below. This is a true catamaran that occupies a sweet spot for those looking to sail along the bay or for those adventurous sailors looking to set sail for more ambitious offshore cruising plans.

{{boat-info="/boats/leopard-48"}}

With its fine design, straightforward systems, and easy handling, the Leopard 48 has everything it needs to be ranked among the distinguished category of the best catamaran sailboats. This is an excellent multihull that is structured with advanced materials, designs, and innovations that are meant to be fun, spacious, and comfortable.

Designed in South Africa by Simonis-Voogd, is probably the best design in the Leopard family of catamarans. Its two hulls are vacuum-bagged using balsa core to offer maximum firmness while ensuring that the weight is on the minimum. This is done by articulately regulating the level of resin in the layup. With such types of hull shapes, this catamaran sailboat is very fast and can consistently clock 12 knots of speed against the currents.

The boat is also designed with shallow keels as they're filled with closed-cell polyurethane foam that's of great importance in increasing buoyancy and preventing water ingress. To enhance the safety of the vessel, the stern and bow both have bulkheads that are essential in keeping out that water if the sailboat is involved in a collision.

The hulls of this boat are deep and narrow, particularly below the waterline. They also curve higher up to practically reduce the wetted surface area while offering enough deck space and plenty of room for accommodations. Its cockpit is another excellent feature thanks to its lavish spaces that give you the chance of kicking back and relaxing.

This boat is designed to offer superior livability, quick and easy to handle features, as well as enough space for friends and family. It is designed with beautiful lines and immense practicality for those who want to go on long cruising voyages.

Antares 44i

While many people often believe that voluminous cruising catamarans should be used as charter boats, the Antares 44i brings a very different perspective altogether. Designed in Argentina as a complete bluewater catamaran, this is a boat that's specifically built for private boat owners looking for a sturdy and well-equipped bluewater cruiser. This is an absolutely gorgeous catamaran that has a fully-equipped cockpit just to ensure that you can safely operate it even when shorthanded.

Like most catamarans, the Antares 44i is designed with features that allow for long-distance voyages. It comes with a minimum bridge deck clearance of 30 inches, which is essential in mitigating bridge deck slap. The helm station is designed to offer excellent visibility over the coach roof without having to perch the helmsman high above the cockpit.

If you're planning to make those long-distance cruising to exotic places, you'll appreciate this boat's layout. The galley is put down in the port hull so that it doesn't compromise the size of the galley and the saloon. The forward-facing navigation station is up there with the best and is up to offshore standards. And that's not all; the Antares 44i comes with good mounting points for electronics, a large table, comfortable seats, and provides brilliant visibility outside.

This boat is perfectly suited for extended offshore cruising and is a great reminder for anyone who thinks that all catamarans are charter boats and all offshore boats are monohulls.

{{boat-info="/boats/dolphin-ocema-42"}}

Designed by Philipe Pouvreau in northern Brazil, the Dolphin Ocema 42 is a truly unique catamaran sailboat that goes against the conventional norm of catamarans. It is equipped with daggerboards, which are essential in enabling it to point higher on the wind while reducing the wetted surface when running or anchoring in shallow surfaces. This, however, requires a higher level of expertise in sailing. This is because lifting the daggerboards higher up will expose the rudders while the daggerboards can also interfere with the hulls in the event that the vessel runs aground.

But even with that, the Dolphin 42 balances incredible performance and cruising comfort in a very compact package; something that is not very easy in bluewater cruising. That's why it's designed using a foam core to make it lightweight by reducing weight wherever possible. This vessel will most likely never let you down if you want to circumnavigate the bluewater on a high-performance boat that is safe and comfortable.

So if you've been looking for a real sailing catamaran that doubles up as a very comfortable liveaboard sailboat , look no further than the Dolphin 42.

{{boat-info="/boats/catana-50"}}

Regarded as the best built and most stylish cruising multihull, the Catana 50 is a very huge catamaran sailboat. Measuring about 50 feet long with a beam of about 26 feet, this is an amazing catamaran that will test your sailing skills as a single sailor or if you're planning to sail shorthanded.

This boat is designed with a rig that gives you the option of using either a screecher or a self-tending jib. This may seem complex since the sheets are led to winches near each wheel while all other controls lead to a centerline winch that's located in the cockpit. But even with that, this sailboat can be easily tacked once on the course.

This is a real performance-oriented catamaran with efficient hulls and rigs allowing for top speed. This vessel is also designed with a long waterline and a subtle underwater shape at the bow to help in increasing volume while minimizing wave drag. The stern platforms can help in stretching the waterline length while also providing easy access from a dock or a dinghy. The board trunks are also very strong and sturdy to protect the integrity of the hulls if a collision occurs.

In essence, this is a very modern catamaran that's designed to safely make long-distance passages with ease. It is subdued in terms of styling but this doesn't mean that it falls short as far as performance is concerned.

Atlantic 42

{{boat-info="/boats/atlantic-42"}}

Designed in 1993, the A42 has cultivated a legion of fiercely loyal fans thanks to its efficiency and aesthetic. This is the smallest of the Atlantic cruising catamaran line and is hugely popular with sailors thanks to its ease of handling, ocean-going capabilities, and superb use of space. From the forward cockpit, pilothouse to the sleeping cabins, and brilliant galleys everything about this cat is a true classic.

Unlike most catamarans, the Atlantic 42 is designed with a waist-high cockpit that's located forward of the pilothouse just behind the mast. It brings forth a solid construction thanks to the large metal girder-like bearers that run across the bulkheads. This helps the vessel in having the utmost strength, better air circulation under the engine, and a high level of flexibility as far as the size of the engine and its positioning is concerned.

Initially, the boat's style and its outlook were considered conservative but it soon became clear that it is built of high-quality materials and to last. The internal construction of the boat is impressive, to say the least. The exterior looks very beautiful and perhaps much more beautiful than most boats today. Its large aft cabin accommodation is a top drawer while the space separating en suite heads and shower compartments are considered a bonus.

{{boat-info="/boats/fountaine-pajot-bahia-46"}}

If you were to board the French-built Fountaine Pajot Bahia 46, you'll agree that the high-quality of workmanship, layout, and efficient use of space is quite exciting, to say the least. This cat remains very popular among sailors thanks to its easy handling features and incredible performance under the sails. Well, this may not come as a surprise to many of us given that the Fountain Pajot is known for building some of the most remarkable cruising catamarans out there that it can be quite overwhelming to narrow down to a single vessel, but the Bahia 46 simply stands out.

This vessel is designed with hulls that are broader than those of many other catamarans. It's also designed with centerboards and daggerboards that are meant to enhance its performance. These are essential in minimizing draft while ensuring reliability, generous bilge, and in helping to protect the rudders and propellers.

This boat is big enough to manage any type of serious offshore sailing. This is one of the best cruising catamarans for anyone looking for the right vessel for long-distance sailing. This vessel has a very more generous rig than most cruising catamarans, which is essential in enhancing its performance. The six-post Bimini is very strong and clean and can perfectly hold dinghies.

In terms of its look, the Bahia 36 is designed with gorgeous lines with the deck and hulls sculpted with lines that add a touch of elegance to the overall look of an already excellent catamaran sailboat.

Gemini 105MC

{{boat-info="/boats/gemini-105mc"}}

Whether you're looking for a comfortable catamaran vessel to take you for a weekend sailing trip or a long sabbatical vacation on the oceans, the Gemini 105MC is a very satisfactory liveaboard catamaran vessel that offers spacious accommodation, thoughtful design, and a stable cruising platform for anyone who wants to have some good time on the water.

Designed by the legendary Tony Smith, this is somewhat a sailing cottage. Like a land cottage, it is cozy, comfortable, and very safe. This is essentially a 35 feet catamaran that offers great value for any sailing looking for a reasonably-priced catamaran sailboat for the weekend or holiday cruising.

This boat is designed with incredibly slim hulls, which are teardrop-shaped with flat bottoms and smaller wetted surface area. This is to ensure that drag is minimized and to lead to more leeway under sail. Each of the boat's hull is designed with a kick-up centerboard is of great importance in enhancing the vessel's windward pointing capability. This boat also has its rudders raised to enable it to seamlessly cruise in shallow waters where most vessels would otherwise run aground.

The eccentric narrow beam, which measures about 40% of the boat's length, is very different from today's 50%. However, its low center helps in keeping its stable, upright, and of course, safe.

Lagoon 450 F

{{boat-info="/boats/lagoon-450-f"}}

If you're looking for a catamaran sailboat that offers prestige at its peak, look no further than the Lagoon 450. This cat is widely known for offering an all-around comfort without compromising its beauty, spaciousness, class, and elegance. This is an elaborate French catamaran that brings to the table fantastic craftsmanship while leaving nothing to chance.

This is a very safe 45 feet catamaran that's not just comfortable but also very luxurious. The deck layout is centered on an amazing flybridge, which has been redesigned and redefined to offer both the traditional and modern outlook. You can very easily access the bridge, engine controls, steering station in a matter of seconds. As a result, this boat is efficiently designed to give you the ultimate control of almost every situation while on the water.

The spacious and luxurious interior of this boat is worth experiencing. The cabins and saloons are perfectly lit. We're talking about four to six cabins, eight to twelve berths, and up to four bathrooms. In essence, this boat can comfortably sleep eight to twelve people. This boat is designed to offer ultra-modern accommodations and amenities that come with little but amazing touches; all designed to make your life inside the catamaran enjoyable.

{{boat-info="/boats/gunboat-62"}}

An original performance catamaran cruiser from the iconic Gunboat manufacturer, the Gunboat 62 has truly cemented its place as one of the best catamaran sailboats to ever grace the oceans. Honestly speaking, this cat-inspired a whole range of other incredible boats including HH66 Catamaran and the Balance 526.

This is a boat that can perform admirably well in storms with a speed of over 35 knots despite being built using epoxy and E-glass with carbon-fiber structural components. It's designed with a distinct angular outline than most catamaran sailboats of its size and category. This is a vessel that was built for people looking to add more stuff and more gear for their voyages. In other words, you can have all the gear and equipment on this boat and still outperform a racing monohull of the same size.

Thanks to its lightweight feature, this vessel can sail upwind at speeds of over 17 knots and pinch up to 30 degrees. Just for comparison, the Gunboat 62 can tack through 95 degrees and still outperform the best racing monohulls. This boat is designed with a comfortable helm seat that offers 360-degree visibility as well as plenty of storage space, a functional working surface, and a luxurious cabin. Like many performance catamarans, the Gunboat 62 can attain about 20 knots if the conditions are right.

Privilege 615

{{boat-info="/boats/privilege-615"}}

Combining elegance, comfort, and style, the Privilege 615 is a lovely catamaran sailboat that seems to be always ready for a long offshore voyage. The roots of this incredible cat can be traced back to the 1980s when Philippe Jeantot opened up a boat-building company in France. As one of the best productions from the company, the privilege 615 sports a flybridge that comes complete with twin wheels, a sprawling sunbed, and other excellent features that will make your bluewater cruising a breeze.

Whether you want the charter version or a privately-owned version, the Privilege 615 is one of the most versatile catamaran sailboats. Step inside this vessel and you'll instantly notice the quality of the wood finish and the elegance of design. The advanced navigation station is not only ultra-modern but is perfectly stationed at a dedicated corner where you can control everything while still having a conversation with your friends and family.

This boat comes with multiple sleeping configurations to ensure that you and your guests can live aboard the boat for months on end. Although the boat appears like some sort of maze on the inside, you'll easily get used to it when you enter the forward section. That's not all; this boat has gorgeous lines that make the exterior beautiful just like the interior. Its sleek profile, incredible volume, and versatile interior make it one of the best catamaran sailboats out there.

There you have it; these are the best catamaran sailboats out there. It doesn't matter the one you choose, these cats will make your day out on the water and will serve you just right for your offshore voyages or for day sailing along the bays.

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Daniel Wade

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

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