catamaran cruising cost

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10 Affordable Cruising Catamarans

• By Phil Berman
• Updated: May 24, 2024

So, you want to get a catamaran , sail off into the sunset, and capture some magic with your lover or family for a few years. You have no ambition to sail around the world or to live aboard forever, but think a one- or two-year sabbatical might be life-changing. You’d like to sail the US East Coast, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, perhaps the Med—or up and down the West Coast and on to Mexico and Central America. You have $300,000 or less to spend and want a catamaran you can sell at the end of the journey without consuming a bottle of Tylenol to blunt the pain. 

The good news is that this is quite achievable. The bad news is that there is a vast wave of baby boomers who are all looking for the same thing—and for right around the same price. This makes finding a good deal on a great used catamaran a lot of work, even working with a broker. But, it’s possible. You just need to keep an open mind.

The other good news, which might seem surprising, is that an older catamaran, besides being more affordable, might sail just as well—or even better—than the same-size new cat that will cost considerably more. Yes, the older model might have less room inside and lack the latest condo-on-the-water styling, but it was designed and built before the current trend to supersize the newer generations of multihulls at the expense of sailing performance.

Here’s my advice to the cat hunter on a budget: Don’t get too hung up on the length of the boat. Instead, focus on the spatial and payload requirements you seek and which can be achieved within your budget. And best not get too focused on must-have features—what I jokingly call “surround-sound beds.” Catamaran designs and interiors have gone through massive changes in the past 10 to 20 years, and most older designs simply cannot compete with the new ones in terms of space and high-end amenities.

None of the cool cats I have in mind are over 47 feet. This is not because there aren’t bargain boats out there that are 47 feet and longer, but because any larger multihull that you can buy for $300,000 or less will most assuredly need a significant refit or is either very old or very odd. Buying a fixer-upper is, to my mind, the most dangerous thing a budget-minded consumer can do. It’s just too easy to underestimate the cost of yacht refits and repairs due to the extremely high prices charged in most boatyards. 

RELATED: 20 Best Cruising and Sailing Destinations

Nearly any cat you buy over 10 years old is fully depreciated. What we were selling a Lagoon 440 for eight or 10 years ago is nearly the same as what they sell for today. The difference between a good deal and a bad deal is tied solely to a yacht’s condition and refit history. As they joke in private-equity circles, “Any idiot can buy; you deserve congratulations only when you sell.”   

So, when your search gets underway, focus on ­condition—it is far more important than the year, brand or features you might crave. And when you find the cat of your dreams, the best way to remove financial-downside risk is to get a great survey and to choose the newest, smallest cat that will work for your agenda, not the oldest and biggest.

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

And a word of caution: Your problem will be knowing a good deal from a bad one after the survey is over if you are not well-schooled in pricing. Besides steering you toward potential boats to consider, this is where a broker, working on your behalf, can provide knowledgeable advice. It’s been my experience that this is the point when so many yacht sales come apart: a dispute over the value of a given yacht when the survey results come in. All too commonly we see buyers reject yachts they should have accepted and purchase cats they should have rejected. Remember, a used yacht is a used yacht—not a perfect yacht. A catamaran need not be perfect to remain a perfectly good deal. Here, then, are 10 cool cats to ­consider in the ­$300,000-or-less range:

1. Fountaine Pajot Orana 44 (above)

Fountaine Pajot had the misfortune of tooling up this boat just before the global financial crisis, so not that many of them were built between 2007 and 2012. But these were the first of the larger-space charter cats in this size, but not yet so porky that they still could not sail decently. In the three-­cabin owner’s version, they designed the living space very nicely; even in the four-cabin version, the aft starboard bed was very well-done. 

During this period, Fountaine Pajot had problems with the resin it was using, which led to blistering on the hulls and undersides. Affected models therefore had new bottoms done at approved shipyards throughout the world. Make sure the one you are considering had this done or that it doesn’t show evidence of significant blistering. Honestly it is only cosmetic, but it will impact resale if not repaired. Many consumers think blisters are the end of the world; frankly, they are not.

2. Catana 431

Built in France by a long-­standing yard, the Catana 431 was always a very viable vessel because it is big enough to go anywhere, but not too large for a competent owner to handle. And because the 431 has good underwing clearance and daggerboards, it sails smartly to windward. 

That said, there are a few things to watch for. The primary bulkheads on many of these boats were not tabbed on the outer ends, and over time tended to distort. Often this led, or will lead, to a costly replacement of some bulkheads. So be careful to survey these areas properly. 

The 431′s furniture is all foam-cored and handmade, but the banding on the outer edges in some cases slowly starts to peel, which allows moisture to infect the wood veneer. This can create a somewhat unsightly appearance in the cabinets and drawers. It is only a cosmetic issue, but it can make the interior feel a bit worn out. 

During the period when the 431 was being built, Catana used a distributive electrical card system, and the boats had several modules, each a zone, to which electricity was run. If one thing in a zone stops working, the only solution is to jury-rig a wire from that nonworking item back to the main breaker panel. Replacing the modules or getting them repaired can be done, but it is getting harder by the year. For this reason, the best 431 is a boat that someone else had rewired at some point along the way.

3. Lagoon 470

If you need a larger escape pod, the Lagoon 470 is one of our favorites. This model of older Lagoons was built at CNB’s yard in Bordeaux, France, and the build quality was high. The 470 was the first design to have the more-vertical windows that are a Lagoon signature, and ample saloon headroom. The 470s are also old enough that the hulls were not so supersize that it compromised sailing performance. They have decent underwing clearance, so they are not persistent pounders to windward. Many were built with a galley-down layout, some in galley-up style. You will always pay more for an owner version of this or any model. 

The big thing you have to concern yourself with on Lagoons of this vintage is that the hulls and decks are made with a balsa core, so it is not uncommon to find moisture problems, especially around deck fittings or hatches. This can sometimes require rebedding or recoring areas, and this sort of repair, in North America, can be a costly undertaking. Make sure you get good moisture-meter readings near all deck fittings and, of course, on the hulls. Hulls, however, tend less often to have moisture issues because there are few fittings through which water can enter the core. Were that to happen below the waterline, it is a real mess that must be repaired immediately and properly.

– CARRY A BEACON – Satellite beacons such as EPIRBs or PLBs allow boaters to transmit distress signals and their exact coordinates from anywhere on the planet, no cell service required. It may be the best $400 you ever spend. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

4. Privilège 435

Back when the Privilège 435 was built, Privilège catamarans were constructed by Alliaura Marine in France, and they were truly the Mercedes of the multihull world at that time. While not a performance cat by any means, the 435 was a super-solid yacht, built with great care and the finest components. The 435 is large enough to go anywhere but small enough to handle easily. 

The largest negative of this model—and many cats of this vintage—is that the saloon windows slope dramatically, so the interior gets very hot unless the windows are covered most of the time. When they legalize growing pot on catamarans, here’s the perfect greenhouse for it! Seriously, if you should buy a used 435, you really have to get strong sunblocking external UV covers, as well as interior blinds or shades to inhibit heat buildup. 

Some of the 435s were laid out with the galley down in one hull, and these days most people want a galley-up arrangement, where cooking and food preparation are done in the saloon. A three-cabin galley-up owner version will be far more sought after and cost more than a four-cabin galley-down version. 

5. Leopard 46

This was the first of the Morrelli & Melvin collaborations with South African builder Robertson and Caine and the charter companies owned at the time by TUI Marine to create a catamaran that could be sold both into charter under the Moorings brand and also privately as a Leopard, so effort was made to design a boat with good sailing performance. Gino Morrelli did a good job creating a lot of underwing clearance, the 46 has a powerful rig, and yet its interior still offers spacious sleeping areas and nice flow from the cockpit to the saloon. These can be bought as ex-Moorings charter boats for less than $300,000 but are more costly in the sought-after Leopard owner version.

Because these are balsa-­cored boats, you must inspect deck fittings carefully for moisture incursion. Some of the earlier ones also experienced structural problems on the aft bulkhead and over-door-frame areas between saloon and cockpit. Also, during this period, the windows in the main saloon had a tendency to leak and, when they did, required rebedding or replacement. This was a costly job, so check this out carefully during survey.

6. St. Francis 44/Knysna 440

If you wish to spend under $250,000, the older Saint Francis 44 and Knysna 440 are worth a look.

Back in 1990, Duncan Lethbridge started St. Francis Catamarans in South Africa with the St. Francis 43. The boat was meant to be a fast, strong bluewater voyager—and it was. The 43 was made with foam core, keeping the structure light, and it was very strongly built, with a powerful rig. The 43 loved to sail. And so too did the St. Francis 44, an updated version of the original. 

The boat did have a couple of negatives, however, the first being its sloped windows that built up interior heat. And the boat wasn’t a great fit for tall people, having less than 6-foot-2-inch headroom in the hulls. Also, the engines were installed amidships, which made the boat noisy inside under power. It also made the amidships areas of the hulls too narrow to have centrally located heads and showers, which in turn meant the only layout available was a four-­cabin, four-head design. In the forward cabins, the heads and showers had to be far forward; in the aft cabins, the heads and showers were located far aft.

St. Francis sold the tooling for the 44 to Knysna Yachts in 2004, and Knysna raised the headroom in the saloon and moved the engines aft to each stern. The hulls remained fundamentally the same, but the design was improved nicely. 

The largest negative of both the Saint Francis 44 and the Knysna 440 is that they have very low underwing clearance. Things can get pretty noisy when pushing against ­washing-machine seas. 

But you cannot have it all and still pay less than $250,000 in a midsize cat; compromises must be made. And these boats do sail quite smartly compared with many in their size range.

7. Lagoon 440

This was the most popular catamaran ever made, and it started the catamaran flybridge craze, which helped to convert many powerboaters to sailors. 

What I like about the 440 is that it is an infinitely better sailer than some of its peers, and has decent underwing clearance, vertical windows, and nice cabins for sleeping and living. While the aft cockpit is rather small, the saloon is quite large.

Flybridges are a bit of a love-hate thing. There is no question that in a cat of this size, the windward performance suffers a bit due to the boom positioned so high off the water. When piloting, the skipper is separated from those on the bridgedeck. Part of the reason flybridges are so popular in charter is that most of the parties take place up there while sailing and at anchor. In private ownership, however, it is seldom that everyone is hanging out on the flybridge during a long passage. 

As always with Lagoons, these are balsa-cored boats, so a careful survey is in order. Pay attention also to bulkhead ­tabbing to make sure they have not separated from the hulls.

Because so many of the 440s were built to go into charter, there are a lot of four-cabin, four-head models for resale. These will sell for considerably less on the ­brokerage market than a ­coveted three-cabin, ­private-owner model.

– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

8. Leopard 40

When you get into the 40-foot size range, a four-cabin layout can become pretty cramped and claustrophobic below, but the three-cabin owner version of the Leopard 40 is a very nice pocket cruiser. A Morrelli & Melvin design, the 40 has good underwing clearance and nicely shaped hulls. Not a large cat, per se, and less-suited for significant distance sailing than others because its payload is limited, the 40 is still well-suited for a couple and a child or two for near-coastal and ­island-hopping action.

9. Manta 42

If you are searching for a cat in the $200,000 range, the Manta 42s were well-built in Florida, and their electrical systems were very well-done compared with many other multihulls of that era. While many of the features on the boat are quite dated, these Mantas sail very well, and easily, and have been popular with coastal cruisers for two decades. 

The largest negative of the Mantas is that people taller than 6 feet will find the saloon headroom right on the edge, and the berths are not especially large. Also, forward visibility from the saloon windows is not particularly panoramic, so the interiors are a bit darker inside than current-­generation catamarans.

10. Lagoon 410

The Lagoon 410 was quite a popular cat in its prime, and for good reason. It offers lots of visibility thanks to its vertical windows, good headroom for a cat of its size, nice berths, and a workable, though smallish, galley-up design. The 410 has decent underwing clearance, can sail nicely over the waves, and its singlehanded operation is super easy. In the three-cabin owner’s configuration, it’s just a very cool little cat.

As always, a balsa-core boat must be surveyed carefully, especially on deck, for moisture incursion near fittings and hatches. It can be costly to repair rotted core and to rebed deck fittings. But find a dry one, and it should definitely be counted as a contender for a buyer with a limited budget. 

Phil Berman is the president of the Multihull Company and the founder of Balance Catamarans. He has managed the sale of more than 900 catamarans.

• More: catamaran , lagoon , leopard , multihulls , print june july 2020 , Sailboats
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Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Catamaran (With 4 Examples)

Turns out that owning a catamaran is pretty affordable. Not cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. In this article, I'll show you what to expect.

Sure, there are plenty of unimaginably expensive catamarans available, but a modest, used open catamaran can be as cheap as $6,000 and an additional $1,000 per year.

A new catamaran costs $144,000 on average at 30 foot, while a used one will cost between $29,000-$134,000 on average. New catamarans cost $751,000 at 50 foot, while a used one ranges from $203,000-$690,000. The average annual cost ranges from $2,805-$10,950.

Of course the price of a catamarans depends on many factors, like the size for example, and your choices determine whether owning one is a rich man's game, or actually a very good holiday investment.

It may come as a surprise that you can get a decent 34-foot catamaran for as little as $25,500 on Craigslist.

This will be a long article because there are so any aspects to cover. I'd like to spend some time exploring the costs of actually buying the boat . Then I want to go into recurring costs , like mooring, maintenance, and insurance.

Cost of buying a sailboat

If you're also eager to find out what regular sailboats cost on average, I have published a very similar article on that topic. Sailboats are a lot more affordable than catamarans, so if these numbers startle you, you could check out the cost of regular monohulls .

But first, to get a good sense of the ballpark amounts, I'll give some real-life price examples, like:

• what does it cost if you want to keep your cat in good shape and have a good sailing experience? - aka: most people
• what does it cost if you ONLY spend the absolute minimum amount to keep her floating?
• if I want to sail the world on a budget, what's the absolute minimum?
• if sailing is more of a status thing to you, how much money COULD you spend?

On this page:

Examples of popular catamarans and how much they cost, what does it cost to buy a catamaran, what does it cost to own a catamaran, catamarans are 60% more expensive than monohulls.

There are a lot of great boats out there for a good price and there are also some boats that are so expensive (or so cheap), it's not even fun to look at them.

But one thing's for sure: there are plenty of boats available, and even if you're on a very tight budget, you could absolutely still make it work. Sailing is in and of itself actually not that expensive: wind is free, water is free, boats can be cheap - if you're willing to look around a bit. It's all the little extras that add up quickly.

Listed below are four boats that make great beginner boats. Since more than 80% of all boats that are bought are second-hand, I'll use the prices of used boats I found on Craigslist and Yachtworld.

If you want to know exactly where the numbers come from, don't worry, I'll explain them after the four examples.

1. Sea Cat 226DC 22' for stressless weekends on the lake

Boat: Sea Cat 226DC 2007 22 foot The one-time costs are $53,615 Your total recurring costs are $9,510 per year, or $793 per month

Let's say you're like me and most other people and just want a nice cat without too much hassle. So you pay people for any important maintenance that's not easy to do yourself. You do the required maintenance and save up for future repairs. You do a little yourself, which saves you a couple of hundred of bucks a year. You also join a (cheap) sailing club to learn how to not trash the boat.You don't want to buy a bad boat, so you pay a fair purchase price.

One-Time Costs

Recurring Costs

2. Extreme Low Budget Kantola Mach II 35'

Boat: Kantola Mach II 1968 35 foot The one-time costs are $26,440 Your total recurring costs are $2,805 per year, or $234 per month

Let's say, for argument's sake, you want to buy the cheapest cat you can, saving as much money as possible on repairs and annual costs. How cheap could you theoretically go without ending up with a trasher?

I think something like this old but sturdy Kantola Mach II will be right for you. It will save you massively on the purchase price. However, beware, you'll have to antifoul the boat next fall, which will cost you (roughly $2,000). It's common with very cheap boats: upcoming maintenance. But if the current owner is fair and discloses it, you may get a good deal.

In this case, you won't join any clubs. You'll simply do the most important maintenance to keep the boat from falling apart, find a nice mooring place in a far-away (cheap) location, and sail along quietly and affordably.

3. Low Budget 35' Cruising Catamaran for traveling the world

Boat: Gemini 105 1996 Cruising Catamaran 35 foot The one-time costs are $85,850 Your total recurring costs are $10,950 per year, or $913 per month

Let's see what it would take to get a good bluewater cat with all the features you'll need to sail across the world on a budget. In this scenario, you buy a fairly priced, not too old cat that is ready to cruise. Something like this Gemini 105 1996 will do.

Not too long, but comfortable enough for extended onboard time, reducing length will greatly reduce cost as well. With boats, you pay per foot, both in maintenance, fuel, and docking costs.

You don't join a sailing club, reserve quite a bit of change for your maintenance fund (since you'll be bluewater sailing), but you don't need to winterize the boat, as you'll simply sail to the Bahamas and stay in the warm waters there. Or at least, that's what I'd do.

Your mooring costs will be somewhat higher, sailing to and from more popular destination, but your overall monthly cost won't exceed your monthly mortgage or rent payments, and you could permanently live onboard without problems.

You'd need an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) to be able to cross all international waters. You can learn how to get your certificate here .

4. Luxury 52' Cruising Catamaran

Boat: Shuttleworth AeroRig 2022 52 foot The one-time costs are $2,326,020 Your total recurring costs are $53,400 per year, or $4,450 per month

So what if you're in it for the fame? Well, don't worry, there are many status symbols to be had and there is plenty of cash to be burned.

In this case, we buy a new cat of 52 foot, which is not overly decadent, but it's a real piece of gear nonetheless. This Shuttleworth AeroRig comes equipped with all the comfort and luxury you'll need for extended cruising in style.

Of course, you'll pay for joining a decent club, since that's where you can show off your rig. We'll also invest something extra into equipment, regardless of the full electronic rig that comes with the boat.

The annual costs will be high due to mooring fees, the club, and pretty hefty winter storage fees that come with a boat this large.

Unlike monohull sailboats, the price difference between new and second-hand catamarans isn't as great. Regular used sailboats go at a 65-75% discount, while the discount for an average used catamaran is just 10% .

The price difference becomes more noticeable the larger you go, with second-hand catamarans of over 75 foot going at a 35% discount , but that's as high as it gets.

Size and condition affect price the most

There are a couple of important factors that determine how much money you end up spending.

• Size - length determines mooring costs, insurance, amount of paint on your hull: literally everything gets more expensive with every foot of length
• New vs. used - of course, it makes all the difference whether you buy new or used. Typically, the price of a 35-foot used catamaran vs. a comparable new one is 10% lower (ie. $237,714 vs. $261,286).

Price of new catamarans

The price of new catamarans ranges from roughly $1,765 - $54,491 per foot. An average length catamaran costs between $144,000 and $505,000 (30 - 45 foot). Some go for as low as $42,000 to as high as $924,000.

I've looked at the prices of thousands of catamarans (really) on one of the largest yacht marketplaces in the world (- not manually, don't worry: with the help of their search function). This is what I came up with:

Average price new catamaran per foot in USD:

Catamarans get a lot more expensive from 50 foot and up:

• under 30 ft: $2,835 per ft
• 30 - 50 ft: $9,767 per ft
• 50 - 75 ft: $18,055 per ft
• 75 - 120 ft: $41,737 per ft

Purchasing price new catamarans

Source: Yachtworld.com , Q2 2022

Price jumps at these boat lengths

As we can see from the data above, the average price per foot drastically increases for new boats at the following lengths: 25 foot, 35 foot, 40 foot, 60 foot, 75 foot, and 100 foot . Buy just under these lengths to get the most boat for you buck.

Price of used catamarans

The price of second-hand catamarans ranges from roughly $756 - $39,909 per foot. An average length catamaran costs between $134,000 to $467,000 (30-45 foot) on the second-hand market. Some go for as low as $29,000 to as high as $848,000.

We did the same for used catamarans, comparing thousands of listings. Here are the complete data:

Average price used catamaran per foot in USD:

On average, second-hand catamarans go at 35% less of the cost of a new boat:

• under 30 ft: $2,236 per ft
• 30 - 50 ft: $9,021 per ft
• 50 - 75 ft: $16,204 per ft
• 75 - 120 ft: $30,945 per ft

Purchasing price used catamarans

If this is too much for you, you could always rent a boat instead. I recommend chartering. You can get great catamarans at great prices. Check out my charter recommendation here .

As we can see from the data above, the average price per foot drastically increases for second-hand boats at the following lengths: 25 foot, 40 foot, 55 foot, 75 foot, and 100 foot . Buy just under these lengths to get the most boat for you buck.

To get an average of the price of a used sailboat, I went over to Craigslist. I took the first 10 relevant search results for sailboats under, and over 30 feet.

Of course, the averages here are very speculative, as prices vary from day to day. But it gives a broad range of what to expect.

Over 50 feet, listings become meagre. I believe people tend to not place their 80-ft catamaran on Craigslist, but sell it through a broker instead. So I've kept used yachts over 50 feet out of the picture for now.

This is what I found on Craigslist:

Source: Craigslist , Q2 2022

I've calculated the median price, not the average. The median is the price that's most common within the price range. This way the highest and lowest prices don't have as much impact.

The average Craigslist price-per-foot of a used catamaran:

So let's take a quick look at the costs for owning a sailboat.

One-time costs:

• Registration : costs of registration differ per state, but usually run anywhere from $3 - $10 per foot.
• Taxes : differs per state and country. Most governments want you to pay property tax and sales tax. Sales tax is usually about 5%. Property tax varies and is more complex, so I'll leave that up to you to figure out.
• Sailing club initiation fee : $1,500 - $4,000

Recurring costs:

• Mooring : $20-30 per foot per year (can be much higher for prime locations)
• Insurance : typically 1.5% of the total value of the boat. So a $100,000 30' cruiser will cost $1,500.
• Maintenance : a good rule of thumb is 10% of the boat value. Expect to spend anywhere between $1,000 - $5,000 per year for small to mid-sized boats.
• Fuel : depends on how much you use the boat and the engine, but on average something between $100 - $150.
• International License : if you want to sail on international waters, you have to get your ICC (International Certificate of Competence. Plan on spending anywhere between 400 to 500 dollars.
• Safety equipment : plan on spending anywhere between 150 to 600 bucks for lifejackets, first aid kit, and distress signals.
• Winterize boat : $4,000
• Sailing club: $800 - $1,500

Maintenance cost

Your average maintenance cost will be roughly $144 dollars per month for boats under 30', or just under $2,000 per year.

Maintainance involves a lot of hidden costs We took an in-depth look at everything . The result is a comprehensive article that lays it all out for new boat owners. Read all about maintenance costs

Gas engines run for about 1,500 hours, diesel engines run for 5,000. After that, you'll need to change them out.

A standard 15HP or 20HP outboard gas engine will cost you about $5,000 - $6,000 and needs replacing every 20 years or so. If you do the work yourself, it's more something like $1,000 - $1,500.

A smaller engine uses less fuel, reducing your total cost You can actually use a pretty small engine for most sailboats. To learn how small (and efficient) you can go, I've written a guide on how to calculate it yourself. Read all about outboard engine size

Replacing the sails and rigging

Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. Replacing the mast is uncommon, but if you're unlucky and get demasted, it will need to be fixed. So I've added it to the "be aware this might happen" list - but won't add it to the monthly recurring costs.

If you need to replace the mast and boom, prepare to spend anywhere between $15,000 - $25,000.

I won't go into detail, but I have written a detailed article about the exact cost of new sails . It's a really helpful post if you want to know what to expect.

Good quality cruising sails will need to be replaced every 10 years or so.

The cost of new sails is on average:

• 26' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $1,000 - $2,500.
• 34' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $3,000 - $5,000.

The cost of the new rigging is on average:

• Standing rigging - every 10 years at $4,000
• Running rigging - every 5-10 years at $5,000

Bottom Paint

Another important cost will be antifouling, or bottom paint. The cost of antifouling is between $20 and $45 per foot . Since a catamaran has two hulls, it will cost roughly twice as much.

• Cost of antifouling a 40-foot yacht is $1,300
• Cost of antifouling a 40-foot catamaran is $2,600

Depending on the usage, you may want to antifoul yearly of bi-yearly, making this a pretty substantial expense: $1,300 to $2,600 of additional annual maintenance costs .

Replacing safety equipment

USCG safety regulations require you to replace safety gear regularly.

• Lifejackets have to be replaced every 10 years.
• Flares have to be replaced every 42 months. You could consider buying a LED electric distress light instead, which will last you a lifetime.
• If you carry a life-raft you'll need to replace that every 12 years as well.

Adhering to the minimum safety requirements shouldn't cost you more than $150-$250 every 5 years. However, if you want the good stuff, or need more fire extinguishers, plan on spending more like $600. If you want a life raft, that's another $1,500.

To avoid you have to go cheap on your safety gear, I've put it in the budget for $500.

If you want to know exactly what the USCG safety requirements are, including checklists , definitely check out my article here.

Winterizing your boat

Winterization is an often overlooked cost, but it can be one of the largest expenses each year. If you're like me, and not so lucky to live in Florida, you need to winterize your boat.

Failing to winterize it will increase your maintenance cost over time, as the engine wears out more quickly, and your plumbing and equipment will fall apart. Winter storms and ice can damage the hull and mast as well. It's the best way to protect your boat in wintertime, period.

It consists of two parts:

• Winterizing - costs $1,000 to $2,000 - This is the preparation for winter storage. You flush the cooling system with anti-freeze, and the boat gets wrapped in a shrink wrap cover.
• Winter storage - costs $100 per ft on average for catamarans (double the regular fee).

Other maintenance costs

• Batteries: deep cycle batteries need replacing every 4-6 years at $600
• Deck hardware: every 20-30 years (bullseyes, tiller, eye straps) at $3,000

Joining a Sailing Club

If you're new to sailing, you might want to consider joining a sailboat club. This might help you to get tips, make friends, and learn in a safe environment. Most clubs also organize races, which are a great way to quickly improve your sailing skills.

But it comes at a cost. Sailing clubs are very expensive.

• Initiation fees range anywhere between $1,000 - $4,000. But that's not all.
• Then there's an annual fee of $500 - $1,000 per year. And lot's of additional fees: for dining, lockers, etc.

If you're willing to skip Christmas, go for it.

I've already referred to my guide on the average sailboat cost, which covers the same costs of purchasing and ownership as this article, but for monohulls.

Comparing the two, we can safely conclude that catamarans are way more expensive than monohulls. On every point, you'll pay more per foot for cats, both in the purchase and the upkeep.

On average, catamarans are roughly 60% more expensive than comparable monohulls. But there are exceptions.

To get the exact difference in price between monohulls and catamarans, I've done a in-depth comparison of the data. This gives us a detailed overview of the price difference for different boat lengths, both for new and second-hand boats.

If you want to learn about the price differences, and explore if there's a sweet spot of owning a catamaran for you, I really recommend reading my cost comparison of monohulls vs. catamarans next .

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How Much Does A Catamaran Cost?

‍ Catamarans are known to cost more than monohulls. But what do new and used catamarans cost, and what can you sell one for?

New cruising catamarans cost between $200,000 and $1,000,000, with an average price of about $500,000. Used cruising catamarans cost between $200,000 and $600,000. Small recreational catamarans, usually under 20 feet in length, cost under $50,000.

In this article, we’ll examine the average cost of new and used cruising catamarans. We’ll also showcase the average prices of small recreational catamarans, such as the famous Hobie Cat. Additionally, we’ll cover the factors that influence new and used catamaran prices and how to get a fair price on your next purchase.

We conducted a careful analysis of the new and used catamaran market and reported our findings in this article.

Table of contents

‍ Factors that Influence Catamaran Prices

Catamaran prices are influenced by numerous factors, namely size, and type. Large catamarans are, predictably, more expensive than small catamarans. But unlike monohulls, catamaran sizes don’t vary extensively. Prices differ substantially between large and small catamarans, and so do their uses.

This is because there are two main types of catamarans on the market, and they’re vastly different sizes. The large type is the cruising catamaran, which is almost never less than 30 feet in length or more than 50 feet in length. The other type is the recreational or racing catamaran, which has no cabin and rarely exceeds 30 feet in length.

Small Racing Catamaran Cost

Small racing catamarans are a niche market, and their prices are pretty consistent for specific makes and models. These vessels don’t have a cabin, so people don’t usually spend hundreds of thousands for them. They’re fun boats for people who enjoy going fast on the water during weekends and at regattas.

Factors that influence small catamaran prices are usually its condition, size, and make. The most popular racing catamarans, like Hobie Cats, sell for anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 depending on the size and condition. You can reliably find an open racing catamaran for less than $50,000, and usually around $10,000 to $20,000

New Cruising Catamaran Prices

Here’s where things get pricey. New cruising catamarans are some of the most expensive sailboats you can buy, second only to trimarans and other advanced aluminum and carbon yachts. New cruising catamarans never sell for less than $100,000, and the average price is around $350,000. A new cruising catamaran, depending on the length, can sell for up to $1,000,000.

New monohull sailboats are much less costly. A premium monohull built by a well-known manufacturer sells for between $175,000 and $250,000, with some outliers breaching the $350,000 mark. You can reliably expect a catamaran to cost almost double what a monohull of equal length does. That said, the additional comfort and unmatched speed are well worth the cost.

New Cruising Catamaran Cost Factors

What makes one new catamaran sell for $150,000 while another sells for $350,000? Other than size, there are a few factors that lead to such a dramatic price disparity for two seemingly similar vessels. The brand has something to do with it, but the design is the key element in pricing.

A basic cruising catamaran has few frills and utilizes standard hardware and sailing equipment. A high-end cruising catamaran in the same size and weight category has dramatically different equipment, automation, and even sailing characteristics. A high-end catamaran requires thousands of additional hours to design and develop hull shape, systems, and accommodation and thus costs significantly more.

And speaking of accommodations—the overall level of fit and finish below decks can contribute substantially to the price. High-end catamarans with central HVAC, advanced energy-saving systems, automation, and all the associated equipment add a lot to the initial cost. Additionally, high-end custom interiors require expensive materials and hours of specialized labor.

Basic cruising catamarans can be constructed and sold for little more than the price of a high-end monohull. This is because the accommodations and equipment used aboard are standard, and therefore not too disproportionately priced. Most cruising catamarans fall into this category, as they’re already quite expensive, to begin with without air conditioning, automatic sail controls, and carbon fiber masts.

Used Cruising Catamaran Prices

Used catamarans cost less than brand new models, but they still cost more than many brand new monohulls. The average price of an average-sized 40-something—foot used catamaran is around $250,000. Age doesn’t vary much, as these kinds of catamarans have only been popular since the 1990s.

The lowest price you’ll probably find for a used catamaran is about $100,000. At this price, you can get a smaller old catamaran or a vessel that needs work, like a new mast, new rigging, or hull repairs. This compromise is well worth it to some, who can save upwards of $50,000 by making repairs.

The priciest used catamarans typically top out at $700,000 to $1,000,000. These vessels, which range in size from 45 feet to 55 feet, are the cream of the crop and usually only a couple of years old. For example, a 45-foot 2019 Lagoon 450F with its advanced wave-piercing hull design and luxurious interior sells for around $550,000 to $620,000 used and sells for $635,500 new. As you can see, late-model catamarans suffer from very little depreciation.

Used Cruising Catamaran Cost Factors

The prices of used cruising catamarans vary wildly, as there are many more factors at play. The most significant pricing factor is the age of the boat. Newer and late-model catamarans built by respectable manufacturers cost almost as much as they do now, which is always in the $100,000+ range. This is limiting to many sailors who don’t want to spend a mortgage on a sailboat.

Older used catamarans are much more reasonably priced, and the condition is the primary factor. This includes the condition of the interior, rigging, and hull. Famous catamarans will cost more regardless of their age or condition, as these vessels have a large following due to some mystical characteristics like handling, speed, or seaworthiness.

Reputation plays a big part in the used catamaran world due to its relatively small size. Catamaran people know each other—and they all hang out on the same online forums. These people have an actual and quantifiable influence on used catamaran pricing.

Why are Catamarans So Expensive?

Many sailors wonder why catamarans cost so much more than monohulls. After all, it usually costs more to buy a 15-year-old 40-foot catamaran than a brand new 40-foot monohull. There are a few reasons for this, and it comes down to a combination of construction cost, demand, and ability.

Catamarans offer numerous undeniable handling benefits over monohulls. For one, they’re stable and dramatically increase passenger and crew comfort in rolling seas. They’re safe and easy to handle and very difficult to capsize. Additionally, they have much more usable interior storage and living space and accommodations for many people.

Catamarans have the upper hand with speed, as they aren’t bound by the restrictions of hull speed. Catamarans can sometimes travel at twice the speed of monohulls, which reduces costs and increases your practical cruising range.

Additionally, the cost to design, develop, and build catamarans is much higher than monohulls. Catamarans require careful engineering and strength of materials calculations, as the two hulls must be joined in the middle and also support the mast.

Catamarans use up much more material than monohulls, as they require two separate hulls with living spaces and an enclosed center cockpit area. The materials themselves are often higher quality, along with the additional cost of advanced and automatic winches, navigation systems, and controls throughout the vessel.

Design and materials alone can double or triple production costs for a catamaran, not to mention the expensive man-hours and skilled labor involved in the building process. The benefits catamarans provide to their owners keep prices high on the used market, and their limited production can never keep up with demand.

How to Tell if a Catamaran is Fairly Priced

How do you know if you’re getting a good deal on a catamaran, and what should you sell yours for? Many people consult catamaran dealerships and boat appraisers, which are a good “official” resource for boat pricing. That said, the online catamaran community shouldn’t be overlooked.

The forums are an excellent source of real-world expertise on catamaran pricing. As we mentioned previously, the ‘catamaran guys’ usually congregate online and keep track of the used catamaran market. Their consensus can help you figure out what a fair market price is—and what catamaran buyers are willing to pay. After all, they’re your target market.

Before asking, it’s a good idea to check the market yourself and see what other boats are listed and sold for. This can give you a ballpark idea of what to expect. On many boat trading sites, you can filter for sold listings and see what boats like yours recently sold for.

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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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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Catamaran cruising: everything you really need to know

• Nikki Henderson
• September 21, 2022

Expert skipper Nikki Henderson reveals what you really need to know before going bluewater catamaran cruising

It has become routine now for me to bookend the summer sailing season with a trip to the south of France for the biannual ‘Outremer Week’. This hugely popular event gathers 100-plus new Outremer catamaran owners for five days of training, both in the classroom and on the water, and three days of friendly racing. The goal is to educate future owners so they are as prepared as they possibly can be for their upcoming bluewater catamaran cruising plans.

It’s an intensive week of 12-hour days, with a lot of information to absorb. Unsurprisingly there are some discussions specific to bluewater catamaran cruising that come up repeatedly, and they apply to owners or prospective owners of all brands of bluewater multihull. Here are some of the most common questions people ask me:

What sails should I buy for a cruising catamaran?

Every day after sailing a new catamaran owner will come up to me and say, “Nikki, I’d love to take up some of your time and rack your brains about sail selection .”

To pitch my advice appropriately, I always ask some key questions about your catamaran cruising plans, and I’d encourage you to ask yourself the same.

What is your route plan?

Tradewind sailing will be predominantly downwind. So, focus your attention on downwind sails. A route involving more upwind requires more focus on headsails. Routes involving more upwind tend to be more coastal routes, or schedules with strict timings that will reduce the option to wait for downwind weather windows.

All bluewater sail plans will need storm options. Three reef points in the main is a must, or at the very least an extremely generous second reef. A storm headsail is another key component. Ideally it should be possible to hoist the storm jib up over the top of your furled foresail. In very big conditions, reliance on the thin furling line gets quite nerve-racking.

Catamaran cruising sail options range from symmetric spinnakers to Code sails for reaching performance. Photo: Nicolas Claris

How performance-orientated are you?

Performance catamarans  are designed to sail angles downwind, ideally with an asymmetric spinnaker wardrobe. However, there is a cost to the incredible speeds that you can attain reaching on these boats: comfort. So, a key question is what is your attitude to speed versus comfort?

Performance-focused sailors are typically racing sailors, sailors without kids, or sailors who are in good physical shape. If you fit this category, then I’d advise purchasing one heavy weather flat-cut asymmetric sail that can withstand a squall up to 40 knots, and a rounder, lightweight sail that you can sail quite deeply in light to moderate conditions.

If you don’t have a taste or attention span for speed, then one heavy weather symmetric spinnaker (approximately up to 40 knots TWS) should be enough. This will allow you to sail a rhumbline course, and make night-time take-downs less of a worry because the kite will survive a squall.

For upwind, if you will enjoy fine tuning your boat to get that extra half a knot, your ideal option is a large genoa for drive in light to moderate conditions, and a small flat blade-shaped jib for heavier conditions – small enough that it does not need to be furled to an inch of its life to cope with a Force 6. If an inner forestay is an option, the latter could be a staysail which will keep the centre of effort low and reduce sideways drift.

For anyone less performance orientated in their catamaran cruising, the key for upwind sailing is a strong, flat jib that is not too big. Mark three reef points on the foot with sail tape. Keep an eye on how much it stretches and don’t be surprised if you need to change it every few years to avoid losing 5-10° of height.

Downwind the tradewind route logic applies: performance sailors should invest in asymmetric and non-performance sailors in symmetric spinnakers.

Left: taking videos and photos to remember key points of spinnaker handling technique. Photo: Robin Christol/Outremer

Who’s the crew?

At this point, the conversation often goes full circle. Sailors get enthusiastic about performance, and then remember that the kids will need home schooling, or that this is a retirement plan with potential health and fitness considerations.

Most sail changes will require more than one person, and conditions at the bow can be bouncy. Crew also have to be able to sleep, cook, and live on the boat while it is thrown about. If you are short-handed, you could compromise for downwind sailing by choosing furling sails.

A furling asymmetric such as a Code D can replace the ‘hoist and drop’ asymmetric. Or you can make the sock line on a symmetric long enough to route back to an electric winch.

Upwind sailors could compromise by returning to a single jib and consider altering routing to sail slightly off the wind but faster; optimising for VMG. If you have a staysail, ensure it could be furled and therefore left rigged at sea – though make time to speak to the yacht designer about the impact on stability that having two heavy furled sails up continuously could have on the boat.

How ‘eco’ and time-conscious will you be?

Do you care about motoring? Increasingly for many of us, awareness of climate change is a strong motivator to avoid using the engine. And will you be more focused on the destination or more interested in the journey?

If you are keen to avoid motoring, and you are free of time constraints such as fixed crew changeovers or grumpy children who need to stop and swim, then I’d recommend you invest in a Code 0. A Code 0 can double or even triple the boat speed: in 6 knots of wind, an Outremer will sail at 2-3 knots with a jib, but 5-6 knots with a Code 0. It’s a great sail and worth the investment, but first work out if you will use it. They often have low wind limits – around 15 AWS – which upwind could be 10 knots TWS.

Code sails for reaching performance. Photo: Balance Catamarans

When do you reef a catamaran?

Many bluewater cruisers will reef down before dark every night. I’m not a huge fan of this as a rule; reefing should be straightforward enough to not be an intimidating manoeuvre in the dark.

But all new catamaran owners who are planning to go bluewater cruising are concerned about knowing when to reef, especially if they come from monohull sailing, as a catamaran communicates whether it is overpowered or not in a much more subtle way.

You want to conserve your equipment while sailing the boat effectively. So aim for the least amount of sail necessary to achieve your target speeds and angles. The best way to get to know this is to put reefs earlier or later each time and take note of whether it was beneficial or not. Over time you will know your boat very well.

Sailing favours guidelines over hard rules, but it’s good to have a starting point so here are some general ranges. For more cautious sailors or bigger sea states, use the more conservative side of the wind range:

• Reef 1 in at 15-20 knots TWS
• Reef 2 in at 20-25 knots TWS
• Reef 3 in at 25-30 knots TWS

Note that I am using true wind and not apparent. When sailing downwind it’s tempting to fly more sail because the apparent wind is so low. However, if you need to turn upwind – perhaps to reef – the 12 knots AWS in 20 knots TWS will quickly become closer to 25 knots AWS.

Reliance on numbers is great until the wind instruments stop working (it will happen at some point). Remember your RYA Competent Crew course and use the descriptions of the sea surface at various Beaufort Scale forces to identify how windy it is.

How to share roles is a frequent question among couples planning a catamaran cruising adventure. Photo: Robin Christol/Outremer

There are other telltale signs that the boat gives if she needs a reef. Although hulls don’t fly unless you are at the performance level of a Gunboat or similar, you may feel the windward hull just slightly lifting. This is a sign that a reef might be needed. Another is if the bows are diving down when you are sailing downwind. Heel angle can be most obviously sensed while lying down.

The main hindrance to learning when to reef – and when not – is a hesitation to perform the manoeuvre. If taking a reef feels arduous, people avoid it. I admit I can find myself in this camp: I have to remind myself that it’s a win/win, either it’s the right decision and the boat sails better, or it’s wrong and I’ve learnt from it.

The key to reefing is to practice. Taking a reef should be possible to do in under two minutes, especially if you have fast electric winches.

It’s handy to have the option to reef downwind, especially if you’re tradewind sailing. Fully battened mainsails struggle to come down so set up downhaul lines from each reef tack point. Run them through the reefing point on the sail and through the reefing points on each side of the mast so the sail is pulled down in line with the track. Watch out for chafe on the back of the main if reefing a lot downwind, and add spreader patches to your sail where applicable. Centring the traveller during the manoeuvre can help, but keep your eyes looking up and check nothing is getting caught.

Also practice  solo reefing ; aside from the possibility of needing to reef alone, this also builds a big picture understanding of the whole manoeuvre. It means reefs are put in faster because anyone can work anywhere.

Catamaran designs at the ARC start cover a full spectrum of performance. Photo: James Mitchell/WCC

How can couples close the ‘experience gap’?

The argument for both halves of a cruising partnership being competent on board has always been that if something happens to the skipper, their partner will know how to safely get to a port of refuge.

However, most people assume that this will simply never happen to them, or they practise parking a couple of times, pick a fender out the water – then never think about it again. The difficulty with starting a bluewater sailing project with a large experience gap is that it tends to widen over time. Each day as leader will be a learning opportunity for the skipper.

They will grow in competence and confidence. Meanwhile, the first mate’s skills will suffer. They will get used to following instructions, their confidence will decrease, and a habit of helplessness will develop. Then, when an emergency does occur, they’ll be in a worse position to take charge than when they started.

It’s critical that couples approach buying a bluewater catamaran for cruising as a team exercise from day one – for both safety and enjoyment. Ideas on how to level up your partnership include:

• Rotate roles each day, or follow a rota. Who drives the boat into dock? Who makes the navigation calls (do this passage by passage)? Who does the safety checks? Who runs the watermaker?
• Divide the boat – maintain one hull each and share the saloon. This forces you to both understand how everything works from bilge pumps and engines to steering gear and gear storage.
• Take a coach with you for the first few crossings. It can be hard to learn to sail from your spouse. A professional coach will force you into a learning environment. They will also create space for the less experienced to be able to take charge in a safe way.
• Sail the boat without your partner. Creating a scenario where your leadership role feels natural is the optimum way to practice skippering. So, invite a few friends who don’t know as much about sailing as you, and go for a low pressure cruise. It’s a brilliant confidence builder, and a chance to develop your own style and your own voice on board.

Do you have the skills for a faster cat? Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Production or performance cruising catamaran?

A common view is that you pay more for less when you buy a performance catamaran: fewer creature comforts, less living space, fewer berths, bathrooms, and instead get narrow hulls and sparse design. So, is the big price tag worth the upgrade in performance?

If you are lured by the comfort of a production catamaran, but plan to sail intensively around the world for the next five years, it might not actually be the most comfortable option. No dishwasher or air conditioning is going to make a boat feel safer in a storm. Conversely, why buy a performance catamaran if you plan to leave the boat at the dock for 10 months a year?

Ask yourself if you have the skills to harness the performance of a faster catamaran? And if not, how prepared are you to invest time into learning how to use the boat to her full potential?

A common justification for buying a performance catamaran is that it can outrun bad weather and therefore is safer. But you cannot take advantage of that option if you sail everywhere with three reefs in the main because you are nervous of the boat’s power.

Similarly, the power of performance catamarans comes in part from how light they are. If you load the boat with extras – personal gear, kitchen appliances, heating, aircon – you will quickly reduce a lot of the speed and safety advantages you’re paying for.

The dream – catamaran cruising in paradise! Photo: Robin Christol/Outremer

How to handle heavy weather in a cat?

A popular heavy weather strategy is avoidance: account for global weather patterns when planning your passages to ensure you sail during the more favourable months; invest in a good satellite connection to download accurate forecasts so you can see bad weather coming; use your boat speed to position yourself out of the predicted storm track; be flexible with departure windows and leave at an optimum time.

However, do not misinterpret avoidance of heavy weather as a safety net. With weather systems becoming increasingly extreme and unpredictable (see page 38), this risk management strategy is becoming less and less dependable.

• Develop scenario plans for the type of boat you have so that you don’t have to start with a blank sheet of paper as a storm approaches.
• In all scenarios, on all boats, avoid 90° wind and waves. Your boat is at its least stable in these conditions. Sail with the weather forward or aft of the beam.
• Keep an eye on heel angle. Reduce sail if you start to see any more than 5° or so, unless you have a catamaran that is designed to lift a hull. Lower the centre of effort by reducing sail, starting with the main.
• Set up and practice how to reef downwind in case the weather comes in more quickly than you were expecting.
• If you can’t sail as fast as the waves, consider trailing warps to slow you down and help with steerage. You should aim to keep the speed relatively high. The key is to reduce the erratic surfing which drops the bows into green-water troughs. I prefer warps to drogues where possible because we are more familiar with them. Unless you practice using a drogue regularly, you will likely need to read the instructions when you get it out, which isn’t ideal in an emergency.
• If waves are breaking over your stern, consider turning into the seaway and holding steady. In a performance cat, you can drop the windward daggerboard, lift the leeward board, and pinch into the wind. In a production cat with no daggerboards, this will be difficult. Running the leeward engine might help you keep your bows into the wind. Watch that there is no back flow of water into the exhaust.
• Avoid lee shores at all costs, sea room downwind is key.

Outremer Week crews receiving coaching on sail handling. Photo: Robin Christol/Outremer

When should we go?

How long should you wait after buying a boat before heading out on your first bluewater passage? Whether you spend £100,000 or £1,000,000 on your boat, it’s likely to need some fine tuning. I’ve never heard of a new boat that was perfect.

Some yards will cover the initial issues as part of the warranty, so staying close to the yard is a good idea within that period. Even if you don’t have a warranty, proximity to the yard can help you access parts, boat builders and people who understand how your boat has been constructed.

The flip side is that you want to get going, and experience all the freedoms of your new yacht! Some serious bluewater sailing is also needed to test some of the systems.

Give yourself two to six months before you head out on the first crossing. This is enough to test the boat out, but not so long that ‘passage-anxiety’ builds up and you never actually leave.

Do not treat the first few months as a holiday. This is commissioning, and it is the last stage of the build. Test the boat as rigorously as you can before you leave the proximity of the yard. Complete a couple of substantial offshore passages of 48 hours or more to test the systems. Run everything, including the watermaker. Fly all the sails you own. Sail in fruity conditions relative to your ability (Force 6-8 as a guideline) to see how the boat (and you) cope.

Women’s only coaching groups for catamaran cruising sailors help bridge the ‘experience gap’. Photo: Robin Christol/Outremer

Get some experienced people on board to bolster the crew for the early days. The ideal is to hire a professional coach, as this will make pushing the boat much safer and more fun for you.

Do some training ; the MCA AEC four-day engine course is a really useful opportunity to explore the parts of the engine you are normally too nervous to. A safety at sea course is worth its weight in gold. Use this to put together a safety kit that you feel confident in and that is appropriate for your cruising plans. A basic maintenance course can also be helpful, ideally one that covers beginners’ sail repair, rigging, splicing, and electrics.

Ask other sailors for a good tools and spares inventory list. On top of the standard parts that the equipment manuals recommend, current and previous owners of your boat model will have a plethora of advice.

Confident to cast off

Preparation for any type of bluewater sailing can feel daunting. Training courses and cruisers’ seminars like Outremer Week are a little paradoxical – learning how to insert an IV line in a morning medical session, then toasting your upcoming lifelong dream in the evening. It’s a bit like watching the flight safety demonstration before taking off on a once in a lifetime holiday.

The reality is that bluewater sailing is the most incredible opportunity in the world to be both savoured, and treated with an appropriate level of respect. But the most rewarding thing is to see sailors’s enthusiasm grow as they learn. With the opportunity to make mistakes and ask questions in a supportive environment, everyone develops their own skippering style and mantras.

Knowledge nurtures confidence, and confidence breeds positivity – which all contribute to a safe, and successful bluewater catamaran cruising experience. If in doubt, ask!

If you enjoyed this….

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10 Best Catamarans in 2024

We gave our Sailing writers one job: Find the best and most popular catamarans and review them.

Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews.

A catamaran is a sailboat that has a multi-hull design. It gives it more stability because it’s wider and that creates more livable space for more people.

Read about the best multihull boats in this article and learn which one is best for your voyages.

The biggest advantages of a multihull are:

• Multihulls are usually faster than monohulls, especially on downwind runs, reaches and broad reaches. You can travel further per day and outrun inclement weather
• They are more stable than a monohull. Sailing flat definitely has its advantages
•  It is less tiring sailing a multihull
•  More space!
•  For cruising the draft is less than a monohull which means you can go into shallower water safely

Top 5 Catamarans in 2024

All the catamarans we've tested.

Lagoon Catamarans

Where to buy:

Where to buy lagoon 40:.

Lagoon has always enjoyed a sweet spot in the 38 to 40-foot catamaran market. The Lagoon 380 became one of the most popular cats ever, with nearly 1,000 hulls being produced over a 20-year run. The L400 and L39 attempted to tweak that popular design, but neither caught on to the extent the 380 did.

The new Lagoon 40 is turning heads for many reasons. The Lagoon 380 is officially off the Lagoon website, so it might finally be time for the torch to be handed to a new cat. And the 40 has just the right mix of modern features, small size, and affordability that many cruisers and families seek.

Here’s a go-anywhere boat that looks good, sails easily, and keeps you comfortable.

• Naval Architects: Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prevost (VPLP Design)
• Built: CNB Yards, Bordeaux, France
• Exterior Designer: Patrick le Quément
• Interior Designer: Nauta Design
• Length Overall: 11.74 m/ 38 feet, 6 inches
• Beam: 6.76 m/ 22 feet, 2 inches
• Draft: 1.35 m/ 4 feet, 5 inches
• Mast Clearance: 18.42 m/ 60 feet, 5 inches
• Sail Area: 80 square meters/ 861 square feet
• Engines: 2 x 29 hp Yanmar 3YM30 (upgradable to 45 hp)
• Fuel: 2 x 200 liters/ 56 gallons
• Fresh Water: 300 liters/ 76 gallons
• CE Certifications: A10/B12/C16/D20

Things we like:

Things we don't like:.

Leopard Catamarans

Where to buy Leopard 42:

The Leopard 42 is the company’s replacement for the 40. It integrates several design elements that were proven on the new 50 and 45-foot models, including an upper lounge area atop the coachroof. The design also has the unique forward salon door that opens for direct access to the foredeck and a sun pad lounging area.

Like all Leopard catamarans, the 42 is not only comfortable to stay on, but it’s also fun to sail. All sailing controls lead to the compact helm. Everything can be handled from this one control station. The full-roach main and overlapping genoa provide plenty of power, and optional electric winches make sail handling a snap.

The Leopard 42 share company in the market for 42-foot cats with some very attractive boats–the Lagoon 42, the Bali 4.2, and the FP Astrea, to name a few.

• Year Launched: 2021 (There have been several designs to carry the "Leopard 42" name)
• Designer: Alex Simonis
• Builder: Robertson and Caine, Cape Town, South Africa
• Length Overall: 41 feet, 7 inches/12.67 meters
• Beam: 23 feet, 1 inch/7.04 meters
• Draft: 4 feet, 7 inches/1.4 meters
• Mast Height: 67 feet, 10 inches/20.68 meters
• Power: 2x Yanmar 45 hp diesel engines
• Fuel: 158 gallons/600 liters
• Water: 174 gallons/660 liters
• Holding: 44 gallons/ 166 liters
• Upwind Total Sail Area: 1,217 square feet/113.1 square meters

Catamarans-Fountaine-Pajot.com

Fountain Pajot 80 Catamaran Superyacht

Where to buy Fountain Pajot 80 Catamaran Superyacht:

Fountaine Pajot, one of the foremost builders of sailing catamarans, unveiled their biggest “ Super Catamaran ” ever: the Thira 80.

The release comes on the tail of an ever-increasing trend in the catamaran market—the bigger-the- better era . With Sunreef, Lagoon, and Gunboat all making boats in the 70 to 80-foot range, these companies clearly see a market for the catamaran superyacht.

Boats this size are easily comparable to a motor yacht of more than 125 feet long. The very wide beam provides cavernous interiors for more livable space. And they have plenty of room for the toys of the trade—tenders, jet skis, paddleboards, and more.

While sailing is always preferable, its 175 to 300-horsepower engines are more than capable of moving it on calm days. And it’s hard to beat the ride and comfort of a catamaran at sea, with its extra stability and lack of heeling in the wind.

So, is bigger really better? Let’s dive in and tour the new Fountaine Pajot 80 and all that she has to offer.

• Length: 78.7 feet/23.98 meters
• Beam: 36.4 feet/11.09 meters
• Draft: 6.9 feet/2.10 meters
• Displacement: 66.0 tons (approximate)
• Sail area Main: 2,153 sqft/200 sqm Genoa 1,507 sqft/140 sqm
• Power options: 2x 175-hp, 270-hp, or 300-hp

Kinetic Catamarans

Kinetic KC54

Where to buy Kinetic KC54:

The Kinetic may be fresh on the scene of the Super Cats but it is on the cutting edge of the finest fast craft in terms of performance and latest technology while also having features, impeccable finishes and the amenities of stylish cruising.

This has been awarded the Cruising World Best Large Multihull 50ft and Above Boat of the Year 2022 as well as the Special Recognition Award – for Overall Excellence 2022 by Sailing Magazine. Said Gerry Douglas of Sailing Magazine: ‘This was the Tesla of sailboats…in terms of design and execution and technology, it hit all three of those marks. This boat is built without compromise’.

These catamarans are all-carbon construction, an aggressively lightweight construction and set up for short-handed sailing. Mast is coachroof mounted and there are options for centreboards and daggerboard. There are three steering stations (two outside aft on each hull, one inside right behind the working cockpit) to suit weather conditions and personal preference.

• Length: 54 ft 2 in
• Beam: 27 ft 7 in
• Draft: Dagger Boards down 10.2 ft
• Standard Rudder up 4.5 ft
• Capacity: 3 or 4 double berths (6-8 persons)
• Motor: 2 x Yanmar 4JH80 - 80hp Diesel SD80
• Fuel Capacity: 264 gal
• Mast height: 85.3 ft (above water)
• Mainsail area: 1,102 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 264 gal

Xquisite Yachts

Xquisite X5 Plus

Where to buy Xquisite X5 Plus:

2022 saw the Xquisite X5 named the Cruising World magazine’s Best Cruising Catamaran of the year – yet again (it won the Best Multihull over 50ft award in 2017) .

As Ed Sherman said: ‘There are 40,000 man-hours invested in this boat. And you can see it.’ To the bolts that are torqued to the 2 weeks spent with each new owner training them on systems – this is a strong product, well designed by Rudolf Jonker and built by Phoenix Marine incorporating all of Tamas Hamor’s ideas and experience. This really is a well thought out 53 ft cruising sailboat and is another South African-built catamaran loaded with important details, not only the visible ones.

The goal for Xquisite is to supply fully equipped catamarans for long-term live-aboard cruising with comprehensive lifetime service assistance for the owners.

There are so many features from the gutters to catch rain-water on the coachroof to footswitches for the electric winches at the helm. Solid handrails all around the deck for maximum security to the below deck running-rigging network! In terms of the design and construction much thought has gone into weight saving. There is no faulting the systems installations.

All lines lead to the helm through below deck channels that are easily accessible with winches well thought out. The helm is slightly raised to port under a bimini with a sliding fully-battened canvas roof that is easily raised and lowered. There is an overall ambiance of space and light in the berths and galley which opens onto the cockpit.

Sailing performance was impressive with its powerful rig – however a heavy, low-slung cruising cat with keels instead of boards to get to your destination in comfort and style.

See our complete list of the best catamarans here .

• Length: 53 ft
• Beam: 26 ft 2in
• Draft: 4 ft 4’
• Capacity: 3 double berths (6 persons)
• Motor: 2 x 80 HP Yanmar
• Fuel Capacity: 208 gal
• Mast height: 78 ft 7’ (above waterline)
• Mainsail area: 1,130 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 227 gal

McConaghy Boats

McConaghy MC60

Where to buy McConaghy MC60:

The MC60 is the fastest and most luxurious flybridge catamaran. ‘Think next-gen fighter jet meets a New York style luxury loft apartment.’

McConagy boats was founded by John McConaghy in 1967 and in 2000 Mark Evans & Jono Morris embraced the opportunity to take over the country. They partnered with Tiger Group Investments and have grown from strength to strength – building the world’s fastest racing yachts , submarines, components for Formula One racing and developing solutions for architects, scientists and others. They have a proven track record on complex composite products which are lightweight, corrosion resistant, have design flexibility, durability and high strength.

In the MC60, designed and engineered with safety as priority, this performance sailing meets stylish living with only finest wood veneers and luxurious materials throughout – the wide saloon which offers a versatile but spacious living area, large windows and retractable glass doors aft, a galley well positioned best suited to socialising. The attention is to detail and innovation even in the storage solutions so that living space is maximised with semi-customisation of interiors too.  She is the perfect blend of sophistication and high tech.

Sailing is in utmost luxury, effortlessly and safely due to meticulous control of weight. She is much lighter than other similar length cats and can approach cruising speeds close to true wind. A professional crew are required. For sailing there are dual helm positions on the streamlined flybridge for best sight lines. The precise hull forms achieve optimum strength to weight ratio with careful use of carbon which means that under full sail she points upwind like a monohull. The M60 has push button centerboards that raise on impact automatically – certainly one of the safest offshore performance catamarans .

• Length: 60 ft 04 in
• Beam: 28 ft 2 in
• Draft: 4 ft 7 in with centreboards up
• 12 ft 4 in with centreboards down
• Capacity: 2 double berths & 1 - 2 twin (6 - 8 persons)
• Motor: 2 x 57 HP
• Fuel Capacity: 123.19 gal
• Mast height: 92.85 ft
• Mainsail area: 2,034 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 123.19 gal

Sunreef Yachts

Where to buy Sunreef 80:

Winner in the 2019 Oceanway China Yachts Award, the 2019 Yacht and Aviation Awards and claiming Best of Show Award in the 2020 Miami International Boat Show this mighty fine catamaran justly deserves all and more.  It is an all-round sailing leisure yacht for exclusive getaways, charter and transocean adventures and is set up for professional crew.

The Sunreef is built in Poland under management of Founder and CEO Francis Lapp who has been producing large vessels from 50-165 ft since 2002 and knows well what semi-custom cruising is all about.

The Sunreef 80 fuses contemporary design with its layout flowing easily one into another area in ultimate luxury. Custom finishes ensure that you have found your ultimate catamaran – the vast central lounging space with panoramic view opens both onto the bow and cockpit. The cleverly designed bridge deck and superstructure facilitates the superior comfort onboard.

The spacious 54sqm flybridge is the epitome of leisure – a jacuzzi, wet bar, barbecue and large sunpads with the main boom well clear overhead ! It also houses all the navigation. Plenty of relaxation and pleasure space.

The sail controls are well laid out for the twin helms with carbon masts built by Sunreef themselves. The rig is built for power on this well equipped and luxury sailing vessel.

The tall bow has a fine entry aimed at reducing drag while the hulls are designed to reduce drag too while having super volume to accommodate the luxurious cabins are airy and impeccable in style. The master cabin is located midships starboard and is an opulent space while the other cabins each have queen sized beds, spacious en-suites and unquestionable privacy.

• Length: 80 ft
• Beam: 37 ft 7 in
• Draft: 7 ft 218 in
• Capacity: 4 - 5 double berths plus optional crew of 3 (8 - 10 persons plus crew max of 3)
• Motor: 2 x 280 HP John Deeres
• Fuel Capacity: 634.01 to 1585.03 gal
• Mast height: 2185 ft
• Mainsail area: 2152.78 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 422.68 gal

HH Catamarans

HH50 cruiser

Where to buy HH50 cruiser:

The HH50 is a performance cruiser for the blue water with simple to use but intelligent systems, carbon construction and to top it all luxurious and spacious interior. She offers to best of all worlds – easy to manage sailing vessel which is robustly built, fully equipped and stylishly comfortable for your adventure.

The sailing systems and deck layout are designed for short-handed sailing with dual helm stations each giving the helmsman total sail control from either side and having excellent visibility.  The C daggerboards are curved and are fully retractable. Push button mainsheet and self-tacking jib are standard. Equal-to-Wind speed is normal, this is a performance sailing vessel.

The large saloon has a good sized galley and when at anchor the sail handling area converts easily to a comfortable forward facing seating area. The aft cockpit has an integrated wet bar and barbeque – perfect for al fresco entertaining or dining. Luxury queen size beds await in the cabins.

• Length: 51 ft 8 in
• Beam: 24 ft 41 in
• Draft: 5 ft 43 in Board down
• 10 ft 83 in Board up
• Capacity: 2 double berths and 1-2 single (4 - 6 persons)
• Motor: 2 x Yanmar 40HP
• Fuel Capacity: 131.98 gal
• Mast height: 75 ft 36 in
• Mainsail area: 873.28 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 87.99 gal

Excess Catamarans

Where to buy Excess 11:

This gem earned the title of Cruising World’s Boat of the Year 2021 impressing the judges with its allocation of space all the while offering superior sailing performance. All at a great price.

Using compact space effectively – effectively and seamlessly assimilating working and social areas in a thoughtful, pleasant, workable and innovative way. This is a sure winner for the Excess 11.

The Excess 11 is one of the smallest catamarans as well as the only large-scale production boat of this size, with comfort, space and thrilling sailing. She is comfortable in her simplicity and light style. It is very capable for long passages and meets the needs for life on board, built on the experience of previous models and designs.

Even with her smaller size she offers comfort on deck with a large open cockpit and twin helm stations.

Complete Excess 11 standard features list please email via website

• Length: 37 ft 5 in
• Beam: 21 ft 7 in
• Draft: 3 ft 9 in
• Capacity: 3 - 4 double berths (6 - 8 persons)
• Motor: 2 x 29HP
• Fuel Capacity: 106 gal
• Mast height: 56 ft 8 in
• Mainsail area: 592 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 79 gal

Bali Catamarans

BALI Catspace

Where to buy BALI Catspace:

The BALI Catspace is the most successful catamaran in her class with the Catspace being the smallest of the BALI range, combining all the latest innovations in cruising. It was nominated for the Cruising World’s best boat of the year: Catamaran under 50 ft, 2022.

The Catspace was conceived by Olivier Poncin & designed by Lasta Design – combining all the latest innovations in cruising into a really neat vessel.

The sailing quality is not to be faulted for a catamaran of this size, the deck which is efficient for sailing allows smooth movement from the aft platform to the forward cockpit with lounge and sunbathing area. There is, in addition a full-comfort flybridge which has a safe relaxation area and a helm station which is designed for single/short handed use.

The 4 cabins each have private heads and the ability to open up the back end of the cats to create the indoor/outdoor platform is well planned and highly effective.

Complete Catspace standard features list

• Length: 40 ft 39 in
• Beam: 21 ft 59 in
• Draft: 3 ft 91 in Boards up
• Motor: 2 x 20HP up to 2 x 40HP
• Fuel Capacity: 107.78 gal
• Mast height: 58 ft 56 in
• Mainsail area: 1,087 sqft
• Fresh Water tank: 167 gal

Big ‘blue water’ Sailing

Blue water sailing refers to the open sea. Non-blue or pond sailing refers to inland waters and coastal areas.

The difference in specific design of a blue water or non-blue water vessel is for the ship captain’s visibility as well as based on the hazards of the area they are to be used.  A bluewater (offshore) catamaran is designed for voyages in very rough seas. They are usually 40ft or longer, designed to be very stable, carry heavy loads and very safe.  Ocean sailing has different dangers to coastal water with different challenges – sailing through storms, longer distances, more maneuvering space, night sailing – and more gear, better technology, skills and sturdier vessels are needed.

When sailing in confined waters it is important to have more reactive steerage, less maneuvering time, you do not need to store multiday provisions as you are more reliant on daytime sailing, do not need so much speed so have smaller sails and lower horsepower engines and perhaps the intention if for pleasure alone so one of the major considerations will be the  layout of the vessel.

For most sailors the choice of size is between 40-50 feet which is manageable for 2 persons with lots of room to spread out and entertain or have friends on board and that is easy to dock both in terms of space and cost.

First questions to ask yourself

First up consider these 5 points before you decide on your multihull model, length and manufacturer.

Will you be using your sailing vessel for coastal or blue water adventures? What is your primary objective and then: is this for family pleasure or entertaining or Charter?

For sailing

Must it be suited for single-handed sailing? What proficiency of sailing do I have/need? Degree of technology required? Equipment required?

Functional Use

How many berths do I need? How much privacy? Elegance, comfort and style – what is required? Space for ‘toys’?  If for charter or private use with crew – extra berths.

Your total budget must include the initial cost of the vessel plus survey, transport, upgrading of equipment, insurance, etc – there is a lot to consider. Would a second hand vessel be a consideration? What is the smallest I can go?

Annual Costs

What will my ongoing budget be for Insurance, berthing, maintenance, repairs, haul out fees, etc? This excludes any travel costs

Where do I want to berth my vessel? Or living aboard?

It is said that BOAT is an acronym for: Break Out Another Thousand!

Review of Our Favorite 15 Multihulls 2024

With cutting edge technology and the strive for sail performance this was no easy task – there are many deserving vessels who deserve to be in the Top Reviews such as Privilege 510, Outremer 51, Knysna 500SE and the St Francis 50. There are also other models by manufacturers we have selected that have proven themselves over the years that may be a better size for you.

Here’s our listing!

Related Reviews

Read full review

Final Thoughts

Multihull vessels have a lot of the potential for creature comforts that motor yachts have without the constant thrumming of the engines. But they still require a modicum or rudimentary understanding of sailing.

There’s also a bit of maintenance required, but this is something–like having kids–that you figure out along the way.

Another popular boating segment is the power catamaran. Like their sailing counterparts, power catamaran boats have great living space, but without the need to understand sailing principles. Either way, both multihull markets look to be growing in popularity over the next many years.

The resale market for multihull ships also looks promising, so getting one, trying it out for a couple of seasons and selling it again is a possibility without losing too much on the purchase price.

Before you sign the cheque….

So you’ve located some a catamaran for sale that looks promising. It’s one of the models on the list here and you’re wondering if its in the best shape relative to the price. Here’s what you do:

Take time out to go and view it in person. Book yourself an experience aboard and head over to your closest marina and speak to owners (this may well help you create your shortlist too). Consider these points before purchasing:

•       Pre-book buyer’s sea trials for your shortlist
•       Select the perfect sailing vessel for you (and if it’s for your family make sure they agree too!)
•       Used – get a certified hull survey, safety comes first
•       Get annual insurance quotes
•       Calculate dockage – purchase or rent a slip or dock
•       Calculate monthly upkeep and maintenance
•       Calculate extra costs like navigational devices & fittings
•       Draft your own checklist
•       Draft & sign off sale & purchase contracts
•       Draft & sign off a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
•       Ensure you are satisfied 100%
•       Execute payment and take transfer of ownership
•       Register and insure your vessel

Check all necessary Stock is aboard – Sail away!

Pre-Departure Checklist

Some ideas for you –

• Always pre-check the weather and wind conditions prior to any excursion on the water
• Always know the tide table in your head, so you know what the ocean is doing at all times, incoming or outgoing tide, and what is the tidal range if you are in an ocean estuary or channel.
• Check you have fuel, water, food and all the basics before loading passengers aboard, and follow these easy steps to ensure safety is first at all times.
• Plan your upcoming voyage, does it feature high swells, rocky shores, and cold water
• Check Safety equipment, making sure you have enough life jackets for all sea-farers
• Check sails, sheets and lines. All sailing gear
• Check your engines – Open fuel lines, check oil and spark plugs
• Check fuel tank levels and have extra fuel aboard for an emergency
• Start the motor, make sure water is coming out to cool the motor
• Test both forward and reverse gears on the engine before guests board
• Check that you have a working and full battery communications radio, with all correct channels programmed, and that all the vessel lights and electrics are in working order
• Check for first aid kits, manual hand pump, paddles, lifejackets , additional lines, fresh drinking water and food for passengers plus some spare in case your voyage is longer than expected, necessary repair tools & kit and flags
• Strap any equipment and gear down safely before you start to motor
• If you have passengers boarding, ensure you give a proper safety briefing and point out where all the safety gear is on the vessel. Children should be included in the briefing and be secured properly before departure

Catamarans versus Trimarans

Trimarans have limited space in slimmer hull designs generally. This makes Catamarans with their comfortable open leisure space both above and below deck far preferred for leisure sailing.

On the plus side for Trimarans are their speed and seaworthiness.

How Safe are Multihull Boats at Sea?

Probably a close second in terms of questions asked. On a twin hull design the buoyancy is on the outer edges of the boat and their is greater stability and less rolling when drifting or trolling compared to a monohull.

Catamarans are safe in rough seas because of their wide stance which makes them stable with increased motion comfort and excess buoyancy due to lack of ballast. They are easy to maneuver and with high speeds that may help them outrun storms with skilled crew who know the vessel. A trimaran is the safest of multihulls with the 3 hulls, centering of its weight and anti-drift plan. The righting torque between a catamaran and trimaran is significantly different.

An important consideration is this – if your catamaran is anything longer than 45ft, unless specifically modified for single handed sailing, then it probably cannot be sailed alone. At some stage in your journey you may well have to sail alone – can it be done?

As Blue Water Sailing Vessels

Catamarans are more stable and fast and depending on conditions some can distance more than 200 miles in a day.

Cats usually sail faster than monohulls (standard) due to the weight of them and displacement, especially on a run or broad reach when the sails are perpendicular to the wind. There are many variables to consider.

Solo Sailing a Multihull

Most small and medium-sized cruising catamarans can be sailed single-handedly. The skill of the sailor with high tech equipment such as electric winches and powered sail control, layout (such as all lines to the cockpit, roller furling mainsail, autopilot, etc) and safety precautions make it an adventure not to be missed.

If your catamaran is longer than 45ft, unless specifically modified for single-handed sailing, you will not be able to safely sail it alone. Consider:

• What the minimum length of the vessel would suit your needs to handle on your own
• Layout planning is essential
• Space you need
• The bigger the boat means larger sails which will be harder to raise and repair
• The bigger the boat means more power and speed – be comfortable with your vessel
• Update your sailing skills

Finding the Right Size

It is a very personal choice but at the very least the advice would be to buy the smallest catamaran you think would meet your needs – this is because you have many other costs to consider and the bigger the vessel the more the costs of upkeep, dockage, space for crew.

A perfect size for blue water sailing (including around the world) is around 40 ft, small enough to be sailed by one person but big enough to provide safety and speed. The smallest size to consider to cross the ocean safely and in some comfort by consensus is around 30ft. Any smaller and you will possibly have the following problems as dealing with large seas the size of your vessel does count :

• A smaller vessel is always pitching and yawing and this impacts the crew negatively over a long period of time or in crisis situations
• Low bridge deck clearance due to the small size of the vessel
• when sailing upwind the waves are projected with speed and force into the decks understand (between the pontoons) creating bridge deck slamming.  This vibration and noise impacts the crew and is very tiring – sailing downwind to prevent this may not be where you want to go
• Not having enough space for all the supplies and equipment needed for a long passage
• Alongside the problem of weight to be carried is the problem of distribution of this weight over the length of the vessel safely

Multihulls best for ponds, slow rivers and calm bodies of inland water benefit from having flat hulls to provide shallow draft with great deck space manufactured from aluminium or fibreglass. Make sure you take extra food and water and all safety supplies just in case of an emergency!

The question everyone wants to know – how much does it cost to live onboard?

There are many variables depending on your lifestyle, where you intend to cruise or berth and how much you want to travel aboard. A good estimate would be between US$2000-US$5000 per month for a family of 4, a little less for a couple/single person plus the maintenance cost of your boat which is on average 5-10% of the cost of the boat. The maintenance of your boat varies depending of equipment, age, condition and size.

What do I need to consider differently to live on-board rather than racing ?

Racing vessels are designed for speed and exhilaration and safe fun.

Living on-board requires space and comfort – space for storage, large-sized comfortable berths, living space, entertaining space, home-space! You need to know your long term goals and what your personal needs are – do you need a dedicated work area or desk space/permanent interconnectivity for work?

Generally cruising catamarans have wider hulls which give you more space as well as creating more drag which slows your boat down and is more costly on fuel.

Many used charter boats are seen as great purchases for living on-board, however make sure that they are suited for blue water sailing and not only for coastal water.

Here’s a list of the Top 15 best Multihulls reviewed in this article: 

• Leopard Catamarans – 41 ft 7 in – Leopard 42
• Balance Yachts – 48 ft 26 in – Balance 482
• Kinetic Catamarans – 54 ft 2 in – Kinetic KC54
• Xquisite Yachts – 53 ft – Xquisite X5
• McConaughey – 60 ft 1 in – MC60
• Sunreef Yachts – 80 ft – Sunreef 80
• Leopard Catamarans – 50 ft 6 in – Leopard 50
• Voyage Yachts – 57 ft 42 in – Voyage 590
• Seawind – 52 ft 8 in – Seawind 1600
• HH Catamarans – 52 ft – HH50
• Fountaine Pajot – 39 ft 14 in – Isla 40
• Lagoon-Beneteau Group – 38 ft 5 in – Lagoon 40
• Excess Catamarans – 37 ft 2 in – Excess 11
• Maverick Yachts of SA – 44 ft – Maverick 440
• Chantier CATANA – 37 ft 5 in – Catspace

Frequently asked questions about Catamarans

This varies greatly, often defined used or new by the design, size, year and finish.  Quality vessels are built to last and retain market-related value if undamaged.

On average a 45-foot catamaran can range from US$250,000-US$1,000,000.

The fully loaded Isla 40 costs around US$527,000. The Balance 42 sail away price fully cruise equipped is US$1,450,000 while the Kinetic 54’s price tag approaches US$3,000,000. The modern styled Sunreef 80 costs around $6.2 million.

We think that the Seawind 1600 is, for its size and quality, a superb priced performance product at US$900,000.

One of the major benefits for a cruising vessel is to be able to enter shallower seas – catamarans have a shallower draft than monohulls and therefore a great appeal to folk for whom this is a major consideration. Most lagoons are only 6-8 feet deep in the South Pacific. The Caribbean and other areas where you have reefs to navigate and shallow sandbanks to cross to enter overnight anchor stops draft is a very important consideration. Always remember to read your tide tables and swell.

A catamaran is lighter on the water and therefore takes less energy to move, however they have 2 engines which drives up fuel costs. They are more fuel-efficient on flat water (compared to equal horsepower and number of engines) but in heavy weather the monohull’s hull design causes less resistance and therefore higher efficiency.

With lighter weight and high buoyancy generally they have low water drag by comparison to the displacement of a monohull of the same length.

The trampoline serves many purposes – primarily to allow water to quickly pass through, allowing the bow to rise and so preventing the vessel from flipping and they are ideal for pleasure purposes.

To sail around the world the vessel needs to be equipped for offshore cruising and have a heavy load capacity.

The bigger Modern blue water cats are built with this in mind – supplies, crew, technology and gear.

A bigger boat has many advantages such as speed (not only to travel longer distance in shorter time but also to outrun potential bad weather) and comfort space, space for crew and friends, storage space for supplies and fun equipment, etc.

It is important to balance price against comforts, maintenance and repair costs as well as any potential income from your vessel (chartering, Air BNB, hosting courses on-board, etc) – generally here the bigger your vessel the higher the potential for greater income.

The larger your vessel the higher your expenses are in all ways – from Insurance to berthing, maintenance, haul out fees and equipment.

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Paddle boarding

Everyday Life

Yearly Catamaran Cruising Costs

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Last Updated on September 23, 2021 by Amy

We (and every other blogger/vlogger/participant in online forums) see a ton of questions about cruising costs. Answers can vary so widely, but we thought we would at least share some basics of what our first years of cruising looked like financially.

Note: all amounts are in USD!

Table of Contents - Click to Jump

I’ve been a big fan of Mint for many, many years (longer than I’ve known David actually).  Mint works incredibly well to help us track our spending.  Plus, it really helped us track our savings prior to cruising and help us save for our trip!

While we can use our credit card a lot, often it makes more sense to use cash.  David and I each keep track of our cash expenses in our phones or by keeping receipts.  Typically, before we leave a country, I go through and reconcile our notes with Mint.  A cool thing Mint does is take our cash spending and deduct it from the ATM withdrawals.  If we track correctly when we leave a country, we will have no more of their foreign currency left, and the ATM withdrawal category will be $0.

What About the Rest?

We don’t share costs outside of this perspective.  The remaining costs – like health insurance, food, travel – are 100% based on personal preferences.  In this lifestyle, you can eat out as much as you want, or as little as you want.  You can travel home three times a year, or not at all.  You can take outside, land-based trips, or not.  Health costs are going to be very dependant on an individual’s age and health.

What Does it Cost to Sail Around the World?

As you’ll see below, our average yearly costs for all the marine items was $36,250 . That includes repair & maintenance, boat insurance, dockage, customs & immigration, gas & fuel, and communications. Our world circumnavigation took us four years and three months.

$36,250 x 4.25 = $145,000 total

The only thing missing is factoring in the cost of our boat. We will take a fairly large hit since we bought our boat new. Someone who’s bought a used boat is going to fare much better financially than we did.

Docking Around the World

Here’s a look at a breakdown of how we spent our nights while sailing around the world. Keep in mind that we are a 44′ catamaran.

It’s also really interesting to look at a breakdown by year for our docking costs:

We spent way more time at the dock in 2019 than we did any other year. Most of that was in Seychelles and South Africa. Also, these long stays meant we could pay a monthly rate instead of a daily rate, which significantly drops the per night price.

In Seychelles, we got stuck. The winds shift in July to come from the SE, which means the conditions to sail to Madagascar are really unfavorable. They didn’t shift back until late September. This also coincided with some personal difficulties and overall malaise over the cruising life, and we were very happy to sit for a few months in a very cheap marina (~25 USD/night).

In South Africa, there are very few protected anchorages and some extreme weather conditions. Most cruising boats marina-hop the coast. We spent almost six weeks in Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront Marina, a glorious stay in one of our favorite cities and another very cheap marina (~$40 USD/night).

So how much does a nightly marina cost for a boat of our size?

We were quoted $200 by two different marinas in Nassau Bahamas (Lyford Cay Club Marina and Atlantis Marina) and one in Sydney (d’Albora Marinas Cabarita Point). In both cases, we were able to find free anchorages and take taxis or public transit as needed.

One 15 Marina in Singapore was $120 a night, but also one of the best marinas we’d ever been to. To be on Sentosa Island with so many amenities was amazing. We had free transport to central Singapore, a huge Western grocery store, a pool, a gym, beautiful shower facilities, and anything else we could need.

Alternatively, we paid around $100 USD a night for some marinas that were totally not worth it: Royal Phuket Marina in Thailand, St Francis Marina in South Africa, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Australia. These places tended to be too far away from town and minimal amenities. This usually is because they just aren’t catering to transients.

On the other hand, moorings were typically incredibly cheap. Most of the time we flew home, we left Starry Horizons on a mooring where it was much cheaper and easier access to land didn’t matter as much.

Formalities Around the World

Here is what we wrote down for our formality costs around the world. Please note that this is NOT perfect. Often if we paid in cash, we forgot to write it down. The best source for information is Noonsite .

Cruising Costs Year 1

The locations.

Location plays a big part in every single category. For this first year, July 1st, 2015 through June 30th, 2016, we started in the Bahamas, sailing to Canada, Maine, Bermuda, spent three months in the Caribbean, went through the Panama Canal, and then sailing through French Polynesia. June 30, 2016, found us in the Leeward Islands of French Polynesia.

Repair and Maintenance – $16,500

We are surprised by how high this number is for a new boat, but not surprised that it is the biggest category for our cruising costs. About $4k is the bottom job in the BVIs , which we will have to do every year. The other major expenses were fixing our spinnaker in Canada , fixing the leaking mini keel in Nanny Cay , and our prop that fell off in the USVI . Half the money ($8,250) is smaller charges of less than $400.

Vessel insurance – $10,000

When we left France we were using Pantaenius for our vessel insurance, at $4,800 a year. However, that covered the Atlantic only, so we had to change our policy to cover the Panama Canal and Pacific. Pantaenius was going to cost $14,000 instead, so we shopped around and switch to Jackline at $8,400 a year.

Read about our vessel insurance .

Customs – $4,000

There is no charge for clearing into some countries, like French Polynesia. We paid $5 in Dominica, $52 in St Lucia, $40 in Grenada, $47 in St Martin. The Galapagos was $1,355.  This category also includes our canal transit at $1,970.  These two stops really increased our overall cruising costs for our first year.

Docking – $3,500

Moorings in the Caribbean are typically $25-30 a night. Moorings in Tonga are $6 a night. Dockage in Maine and Bahamas was $200 a night. Most of the Caribbean was $75 a night for a slip. Tahiti was $71 a night. Shelter Bay marina in Panama was $78 a night. Halifax $68.

In one year we spent 51 nights in a mooring (14% – including two times we left the boat to fly back to the states), 31 nights at dock (8% – 14 of those in Shelter Bay, Panama) and 7 nights on the hard (2%) for a grand total of 89 nights (24%) paying for our location.

This is higher than we thought it would be.  Our biggest error in planning this expense out was we didn’t think about where we would be storing the boat when we left it.  It’s easy to think that when we are onboard, most of the time we will be at anchor.  When we are gone though, we want to feel secure with where we leave Starry Horizons.  Thus, docking expenses becomes a higher part of our cruising costs.

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $3,700

We are not one of those boats that refuses to turn on the engine.  While we prefer to sail the entire way, we turn our engines on in order to arrive during daylight or when the wind dies and our autopilot can no longer steer.  We also run our generator at least every 5 days to run our watermaker.  With our 125 gallon tank, plus our 50-gallon fuel bladder and 4 jerry cans (20 gallons), we’ve topped up/filled up 11 times in that year, with our most expensive being close to $500 in the Bahamas.

Communications – $2,000

This covers our expenses for our satellite phone, our InReach tracker, and running our website and email for Out Chasing Stars.  For a more in-depth look at communications expenses, check out our blog post  Communications .

Total Cruising Costs & Boat Expenses: $39,700

Cruising costs year 2.

Here’s a summary of our second year, covering from July 1 st , 2016 to June 30th, 2017.

July 1 st  of 2016 we were in French Polynesia.  We made our way through the South Pacific and spent cyclone season in New Zealand.  We took a trip back home and then did a 35-day road trip in New Zealand.  This year also includes the time we spent away from Starry Horizons crewing on S/V Julia, about 35 days where our expenses were covered.

Repair and Maintenance – $16,500

As expected, the repair & maintenance section is the largest part of our cruising costs.  The difference between R&M this year and R&M our first year is a mere $88!  This includes 2 haul outs – one in New Zealand where we did a ton of projects including a bottom job and one in Tonga to fix a leaking thruhull and corrosion on our sail drives.  Again, half the money ($7,950) is smaller charges of less than $400.

Vessel insurance – $8,300

We are still covered by Jackline for the Pacific region.  Read about our vessel insurance .

Customs – $370

The fees for entering countries this year were small – $25 for New Zealand, $50 for Niue, $100 for Tonga, and the most expensive, Fiji, was $160.  A big change from our cruising costs last year!

Docking – $2,900

Most of this category is docking in New Zealand.  We paid usually about $30 USD for a dock in New Zealand, which is pretty amazingly cheap.  Starry Horizons was docked at the Bay of Islands Marina in Opua, at the Whangarei Town Basin, and part of our storage in Norsand falls into this category as well.

We did not pay for any docking in French Polynesia during this year (but the previous year we paid for docking in Tahiti).  We did pay for a mooring in Niue, and also paid for moorings in Tonga.  The Beluga Dive moorings in Neiafu are $15 TOP ($6.75 USD) a night in the peak season and $12 TOP ($5.40) a night in the offseason.  This made Neiafu an incredibly cheap place to leave our boat for 7 weeks while we crewed on Julia ($330 USD for all 7 weeks).

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $2,300

Starry Horizons didn’t move as much this year as she did in our first year.  She was sedentary for over 4 months, so as expected our diesel costs were significantly lower than the previous year.

Communications – $2,350

This covers our expenses for our satellite phone, our InReach tracker, and running our website and email for Out Chasing Stars.  For a more in-depth look at communications expenses, check out our blog post Communications .

Total Cruising Costs: $32,720

Cruising costs year 3.

Here’s a summary of our third year, covering from July 1 st , 2017 to June 30th, 2018.

July 1 st  of 2017 we had just arrived in the Ha’apai group of Tonga.  We spent the rest of the season in the South Pacific, especially in remote locations, which means we didn’t spend much money.  In December we arrived in Australia, a country that has a cost of living comparable to, if not more than, the US.  Also in this time frame is nearly three months at The Boat Works in Coomera near the Gold Coast.  For a majority of that time, we spent 6 weeks traveling around Australia while Starry Horizons stayed on the hard.

Repair and Maintenance – $13,000

We saw a significant decrease in our Repair & Maintenance expenses this year.  Our first and second years were nearly identical at $16,500.  This year outside of our battery project , we spent $13,000 dollars.  This includes the haul out at the Boat Works and new bottom paint and a majority of the projects we tackled there.

If we’d chosen to just replace the AGM batteries instead of going to Lithium-Ion batteries, the cost for the batteries would have been roughly $4,500 instead of the $27,500 for our electrical refit.

Vessel insurance – $9,500

We are still covered by Jackline for the Indo-Pacific region.  Read about our vessel insurance .

Customs – $1,200

The biggest expense for customs was our Australian Visa and clearing into Australia.  The visa was expensive because we had to travel to get our medical exams done.  The clear in itself was roughly $400.

Docking – $3,250

From July 1, 2017, to December 1st, 2017, we did not stay the night on a dock at all.  There are just so few marinas in the South Pacific, and even if we wanted to, they were full. We stayed on moorings for a total of 14 nights in the South Pacific.

In Australia, being at a dock has become much more common.  This category includes storing Starry Horizons on the hard during our 6-week Australia trip and storing her in a marina during an 8-day trip back to the states.  While we tried to get a slip in the marinas near Sydney around the holidays, they were all full.  If we’d been able to find one near the city center we would have paid roughly $200 a night.  Instead, we anchored for free.  Elsewhere, docking has cost us less than $60 a night, with the exception of Hamilton Island Marina, which was nearly $100 for one night.

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $3,000

We filled our diesel tank 6 times this year, three of which were in Australia.   Part of this was our decision to motor in light winds (like from Lake Macquarie all the way to Southport) and running the generator more often (our watermaker was at half production for a while).

Communications – $2,500

Total cruising costs: $32,450, cruising costs year 4.

Here’s a summary of our fourth year, covering from July 1 st , 2018 to June 30th, 2019.

July 1 st  of 2018 found us in Cairns, Australia, getting ready to join the rally and depart for Southeast Asia.  We cruised through Indonesia , Malaysia , and Thailand , all of which are very inexpensive places to visit.  We had a short stay in Singapore and Sri Lanka , and then  two months in the Maldives , the most expensive cruising ground we’ve been to.  We ended the year in Seychelles .

Repair and Maintenance – $16,000

Well, if we are anything….we are consistent!  Our first two years of cruising, our R&M cost was just over $16,000 – this year it’s almost exactly that number.  This includes two haul outs in Thailand, one at G&T Ship Yard and one at PSS.  The haul-out at G&T included a bottom job.

We are still covered by Jackline for the Indo-Pacific region.  Read about our vessel insurance .

Customs – $2,660

Half of our customs cost for the year was the Maldives.  It is a very expensive place to cruise (and a bureaucratic mess).  Most of the other countries were a few hundred dollars each.

Docking – $4,100

Our docking expenses were unusually high this year because we made three visits back to the states (two being for family memorial services).   Starry Horizons stayed on a mooring in Lombok (the only dockage we paid for in 100 days cruising Indonesia).  In Thailand, we left her at Royal Phuket Marina, and in Seychelles at Eden Island Marina.

Our most expensive marina was One 15 Marina in Singapore for roughly $120 a night, which we absolutely loved.  Looking at the cost of hotels on Sentosa Island with comparable amenities, clearing into Singapore and staying at the marina was the right call for us.  We did pay for docking a few times in Malaysia and the Maldives at the town wharf for roughly $25 a night.  Royal Phuket Marina was overpriced for the amenities and location at nearly $100 a night.

In total, we paid for docking/mooring 70 nights (19%).

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $5,200

As expected, crossing the Indian Ocean and cruising around the equator so much blew a lot of diesel.  We filled up three times in the Maldives alone (at over $500 a pop), plus big fills in Singapore and Seychelles.

Communications – $2,700

This covers our expenses for our satellite phone, our InReach tracker, and running our website and email for Out Chasing Stars.  For a more in-depth look at communications expenses, check out our blog post Communications .  This year our expenses went up as we have had to upgrade our website hosting service (good problems to have!).

Total Cruising Costs: $40,160

Looking to the 5th year.

I’m not sure if I will post the 5th year costs – it depends on how the year shapes out for us.  You can read about our 2020 plans .  I hope that this information is helpful to you!

46 Comments

Thank you for sharing! I was honestly shocked, hoping we could do on 3-4k$ a month avg with 2 adults 2 kids including food etc. Now I read that is what it takes without having eaten a bite.

BTW, you paid for repairs of a throughhull and saildrive in your first year of a brand new boat? What about warranty?

Hi Daniel! The corrosion on our sail drives was an environmental issue. As far as the thruhull, we didn’t feel like it was worth the hassle as it’s a cheap part, an easy repair, and we were hauling the boat out anyway.

Boats are not cheap!

I’m surprised by the insurance premium. I’ve been looking at boats in the Helia 44 range and brokers tell me 2-3% of the cost for insurance.I just had quote on a 2021 Leopard 45 of 5k and was skeptical but your $ makes me feel much better. Thanks for sharing!! Plan to sail east coast US, Maine to Florida and Bahamas

Yes, our insurance is global. There are a lot of plans you can get that’s only cover certain areas for cheaper.

One quick question, how difficult did you find locating dockage on the East Coast US for a catamaran? We’re you able to find availability when/where you wanted or was it difficult due to your beam?

We’ve always been able to find a dock when we want one, although we don’t look for them very often since we prefer to anchor.

This is a great post! My husband is very concerned about the maintenance costs and how much to budget for them. Did you do most of the work yourselves or did you pay to have it done?

You know, we didn’t realize how much work we do ourselves until you talk to other boaters who are unwilling to tackle many of the projects we have. We do a lot of work ourselves.

I published an article linking your post about cost of living on a catamaran.

I invite you to add one of your pictures, updates to the budget, or add additional context to my quote. Feel free to contact me via email and I can add your content.

Always good reading your inspirational and informative articles.

Respectfully,

Marco Sison

My article: https://www.nomadicfire.com/sailboat-life/ Your article I linked to: https://outchasingstars.com/cruising-budget-first-year-new-catamaran/#Cruising_Costs_Year_4

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Super helpful to see your numbers, thank you! We are in our first year now currently hauled out for bottom paint and saildrive repairs (there goes the maintenance budget). Very helpful to see what is realistic for docking/mooring. We are also eating our way too much in our first year 🙂

I struggle with that sometimes too….I love trying local food! Thankfully after we left Australia dining out has been really cheap.

Hi Amy are your figures in Australian Dollars?

No, everything is USD! I will update the post to clarify.

Wonderful info thanks you.i just started an excel document to begin tracking live aboard costs. We hope to be live aboard sooner than later

You are welcome! Good luck, and happy saving 🙂

Thanks Amy and David, we love your posts and your video’s. Very informative. We hope to sail in 2 or 3 years with our 3 children. Looking forward to being on the water. What an adventure your are having. Enjoy.

Thanks yall! We are glad you are enjoying them.

My name is Jan and I love your stories and videos …

Looking myself to buy a Helia very soon but need to split cost with 1-2 moore persons. Just will use it like 3-4 month a year… If you know anyone ….

Anyhow my question is does it cost anything to lay by anchor when you are outside the islands ?

Take care ,,,

Hi Jan! Good luck finding people to share the boat with. That’s got to be challenging.

Most places, anchoring is absolutely free.

This was short, sweet and informative! Thanks for the breakdown – helped me start thinking of a couple categories I didn’t consider before.Can’t wait to follow y’all and see what 2017 brings! Safe travels!!

Thanks Becca! Glad it was helpful.

Thanks David and Amy, we are awaiting our new Helia Evo at the end of Feb . we plan to continue living aboard in Newport RI for 2 years, while working/saving and fitting out the boat – Solar, Hydronic Heating, and ocean prep. It’s great to have your expenses itemized and allow us to budget for our trip. we hope to cruise “till we drop”. we live for you blogs and videos which keep us focussed and excited.

Aw thanks guys! That’s so sweet of you to say. Congrats on your Helia, drop us a line if you have any questions!

So, what was the total? I didn’t see it listed znfdoung the rough math myself it looos like ~$40K/year but I think I’m missing something?

I didn’t want to post a total, I think everyone has different things they would pay for. We have a lot of yearly expenses we didn’t list because they are not expenses every cruiser would have. For examples; doctors, storage units, other insurances, etc.

Hi there, I think those expenses would be great to list, i.e. doctors, storage, insurance, ect. Those are all perfectly legitimate expenses that can easily be over looked. My husband and I are 42 now and will be 46 when we start cruising. We will still be relatively young but health insurance is a huge concern since we will no longer be employed and way to young for Medicare. Does medicare even carry over in foreign countries?? In summary, if you could include the full spectrum of your expenses, that would be that much more helpful! And thank you so much to take the time to write this. It is a great help in the planning stages.

Greetings Admiral Amy, Captain Dave and the star of the show Starry Horizons. Thank you for such an informative coverage of your travel expenses. And thank you, Amy, for answering my similar question earlier this week. If it helps to make you feel any better, my wife & I privately own & operate a “Beechcraft Kingair 350 twin-engine turboprop aircraft. I like to average around 10 to 15 hours flying each week. But at $2700 per hour, well what can I say, it’s like sailing, once you’re hooked it’s difficult to stop! Cheers.

That is an expensive hobby! I’m glad you found the post helpful.

Great roll up of the expenses. I am surprised about the maintenance too. We have a 2002 Hunter 326, so about half the size of Starry Horizons, and spent 14K on maintenance for 2016. Hopefully now that you have worked out the bugs this year will be much kinder to your wallet.

Thanks for the numbers. This info always helps those of us still waiting to finally get away for good.

Thanks! I am feeling pretty good about maintenance being less this year. Plus we haven’t had many major things happen. I think we are past broken in and into smooth running. Knock on wood!

Love your blog and videos. Thank you for letting us “tag along”.

Aw thanks!! We are glad you are following along!

Thank you Amy and David! Somehow, these figures and comments are good news. After reading so many stories where people mostly says that whatever your budget, you will spend more, the projections I made were much higher than what you got (fuel, maintenance and insurance)! With 2 engines and genset, looks like you did good on fuel (i believe the number was for main engines and all related dinguy oil and gaz)

Thanks again for this great 1 year read point !

Thanks Cyrille! You are right on the fuel. Hopefully this will help you plan a bit and I will update you once we finish this second year of cruising!

Wallet…Grave…turning…ouch!!!

Great detailed report you two! Hope to cross paths again. Cheers Nils S/V Aggressive

Thanks Nils! We will be keeping up with you via Facebook and it may be a few years, but I’m sure paths will cross again.

That was great info to have, my wife and I are planning on making the leap in the next 9 years so getting a feel for true(within reason) cost of living is some great knowledge to have. Especially the insurance side of it. That is the one area that I can’t get good info on. Like where the boat can be and for how long and hurricane season etc. The one question I have is- With it being a new boat was none of those needed repairs covered under any kind of warranty? I keep seeing people buying “new” boats and then having all kinds of stuff breaking, like Chase The Story/Cheeky Monkey’s ice maker and the auto pilot. All of this is making me start to lean more towards a used/BROKEN in boat.

Hi Mark! A couple things:

Here’s a blog post I wrote about the insurance issues:

https://outchasingstars.com/insurance-for-cruising-boats/

The contract covers warranty time lines, but the best bet is to ask a broker (talk to Frank!).

Cheeky monkeys issues have not been from the factory. I think that after a “break in period” on our boat, we are having very minimal issues. Keep an eye out for a post in march about the projects we have tabled till NZ. I think there are plenty of blogs out there hat detail costs while cruising on a used cat.

Thank you for this info. I have not found a blog with this much detail. Very helpful for our future planning!

BTW – My wife and I have been following your videos since before you left France. Very informative.

Thanks Joaquin! Glad you found it helpful!

Look for s/v bebe- also very informative while Amy’s details are super valuable as applying to a new cat.

Thank You! This is beyond helpful for those that are interested in following your footsteps.

Thanks Ben!!

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13 Best Small Catamarans For Cruising 2024

The best small catamarans for cruising are affordable and comfortable, making great sailboats for a number of different purposes. If you’re looking for the best small catamarans to start your cruising life then look no further!

When searching for a catamaran for our adventures we scoured the internet for any and all information we could find on just about every size, shape, and model!

Although in the end, we opted for a bigger catamaran, in the hopes of having more family and friends on board, we did heavily research the best small catamarans as an option.

Each small catamaran has different pros and cons. As with every sailboat, there will be compromises, but hopefully, this post will help you firm up what you’re really looking for in a multihull and find the right smaller catamaran for you!

Here are what we consider the best small cruising catamarans out there, costing anywhere from $40,000 to $300,000. You can also read up on the average costs of sailboats here.

Why choose a small catamaran for cruising?

The downsides to small multihulls for cruisers

The best small catamarans for ocean sailing

The best small catamarans for coastal cruising

Why Choose A Small Catamaran For Cruising?

The main advantage to choosing a small catamaran for cruising has to be the cost. Not only are smaller sailboats cheaper to buy initially, but they are also cheaper to maintain and to dock in marinas or dry storage.

Why buy a small catamaran over a monohull? This isn’t the post to go into the pros and cons of multihulls vs monohulls, but a few of the main reasons you might prefer to buy a small cat over a bigger, cheaper monohull is the living space and the comfort underway and at anchor.

Living on a sailboat is very different from taking the boat out for a sporty sail every now and again. Having a catamaran over a monohull means you won’t be heeling or rolling at anchor half as much, you can leave out your coffee cup, and you have the space you need to spread out a little.

A small catamaran will enable the more comfortable lifestyle you’re seeking at a more reasonable price tag. So what’s not to love about small cruising multihulls?

The Downsides To Small Multihulls For Cruisers

Of course, just with everything in sailing, there are always compromises to be made when it comes to small multihulls.

One of the biggest downsides for cruisers is the weight issue smaller catamarans present. You won’t be able to carry half as much as you would on a larger catamaran or monohull, which might be a problem if you live onboard full time.

The other negative is that smaller boats usually aren’t quite as seaworthy as larger ones. You might find you’re limited to coastal cruising if you choose a small catamaran, so make sure you have your cruising intentions in mind before you buy.

Another big thing to look out for when it comes to choosing the right small cat for you, is the bridge deck clearance. This is often worse on smaller catamarans, and can cause nasty slamming in any sort of sea, both when sailing and at anchor.

With these downsides in mind, we’ve split this post into the best small catamarans for ocean sailing and the best for coastal cruising. Obviously this is a little subjective, as many people have sailed around the world in much smaller and less seaworthy vessels!

The Best Small Catamarans For Ocean Cruising

#1 wharram tiki.

• Suitable for: Bluewater sailing
• Fixed Keels
• Draft (max): 2.08′
• Engines: Single outboard, though some versions have twin inboards
• Price: Roughly $100,000

We have lusted after the Wharram catamarans since our adventures began and would have opted for one of these if we had found one for sale this side of the pond.

Designed by the legendary James Wharram, these small multihulls are pretty unique. They are based on the Polynesian catamaran design, and the plans enable you to self-build these boats if you have the time, money, and space for a project of this magnitude.

If you aren’t keen on taking on a project then you can commission a boat builder to complete the design for you, or buy one second-hand. The advantages of having one made yourself are that you can tweak things to your personal taste, and you can even contact the Wharrams themselves to see if they can adjust the designs for individual requests.

The Wharram catamarans have a lot of charm dues to their traditional design, and the old-fashioned appeal continues inside the boat too. You won’t find the same huge hull space as some of the modern design catamarans now have, but the outside entertainment space is perfect for entertaining.

These small catamarans don’t have an inside space across the hulls, so all of your inside living space is below. If you’re used to monohulls then this won’t be a problem but if you like the idea of a galley-up then these boats aren’t for you.

Wharram catamarans, especially the Tiki 38, have great reputations as around the world, bluewater boats. They have fantastic bridge deck clearance so slamming is minimum and they sail well.

Most models have a double cabin and two singles, a galley, a head, and a small salon area below. They are smaller catamarans than many newer 38ft multihulls but this does make them more affordable.

A big appeal for us was the fact these boats are designed to be self-made. Although a secondhand model could potentially come with a lot of problems (get a decent survey before you buy!) it does mean that almost everything onboard can be self-fixed. This is a huge bonus if you plan on sailing your small catamaran around the world.

Another thing we loved about these smaller catamarans is the fact they have outboard engines, which we felt would be easier to maintain and replace if necessary. This is a personal choice though so consider this before you get your heart set on one!

One of the downsides to the Tiki 38 is that there aren’t many of them around. These are unique boats and they don’t come on the market frequently. When they do, they tend to be scattered all over the world so you’ll have to be prepared to travel to find one!

#2 Prout Snowgoose 37 : Small Catamaran For Ocean Cruising

Prout catamarans are a popular choice for cruisers, and you’ll find many owners who have circumnavigated in them. The Snowgoose is no exception. Prout no longer exists as a company, as it was bought by Broadblue in the 90s.

Broadblue still makes catamarans today, and they have very similar features to the original Prouts, though obviously they are far fancier and have all the benefits of a more modern design!

The Snowgoose is a great small multihull to go for as you get quite a lot of space inside and out. We weren’t sure about the berth in the salon area, but it might make a great space for a baby or small child while underway!

The compromise in the Prout Snowgoose is the bridge deck clearance and this was something that put us off these smaller cruising catamarans. A low bridge deck clearance makes the boat slam in waves, both at anchor and underway.

#8 PDQ 36 : A Small Catamaran Without Too Much Slamming

• Suitable for: Bluewater
• Draft (max): 2.82′
• Engines: Twin inboard or outboard
• Price: Over $100,000

These small catamarans have an excellent reputation among cruisers because of their solid build and use of decent materials. They come with either outboard engines for coastal cruising or inboard engines designed to withstand offshore use.

If you like the sound of the PDQ 32 but need a little more room then you’ve got that here! It’s also a boat that people have crossed oceans in, though you might want to consider something more tried and tested like the Prout Snowgoose or the Wharram if you’re planning longer ocean sails.

The boat has three cabins, a galley, salon and head, but there’s a more spacious feel compared to the smaller model. Again, the bridge deck clearance is good so you shouldn’t experience too much slamming.

#9 Lagoon 380 : One Of The Most Popular Small Multihulls

• Fixed keels
• Engines:  twin diesel engines
• Price:  from $100,000, used

The Lagoon 380 is one of the most popular catamarans out there, and you’ve probably already spotted a lot of them in your search! This is a great option if modern cats appeal to you, as it’s pretty ‘with the times’ as far as smaller catamarans go!

There are lots of different layouts of this boat available all over the world. Some were built for charter with numerous berths and others were commissioned for couples or families with differing cabin and head options.

This is a proven catamaran from a reputable company, but obviously with so many of these boats out there, they come in a range of conditions. Make sure you get a thorough survey done before purchase!

Lagoon 37 TPI

• Draft (max): 4′
• Engines: Twin inboard diesels 
• Price: Over $100,000 USD 

This is the smallest catamaran built by Lagoon, and unfortunately there aren’t many of them out there. These boats were built mainly for the charter market, and have a smaller rig than some similar sized catamarans.

There are two big queen-size forward doubles port and starboard and a smaller double in the starboard hull aft. The galley and salon are designed to be simple and timeless, with none of the fancy trims you’ll find in the newer Lagoons.

As this boat was intended for charter it probably wouldn’t make a great ocean-going vessel. For starters, it isn’t designed to carry too much in the way of provisions. That’s not to say it won’t be a suitable bluewater boat with a few tweaks. Sailors who have circumnavigated in them have increased sail area and added folding props to get more speed from the vessel.

#11 Catalac 9M/30

• Draft (max): 2.5′
• Engines:  two outboard engines or one diesel engine
• Price:  from $50,000

The Catalac 9M is a little different to a lot of the catamarans on this list, as it was built for sailing in the North Sea! This is a great small catamaran for anyone wanting a boat built to be safe!

The bridge deck clearance is reasonable but the boat is light, which can make it more prone to slamming. The unique feature of this small sailboat is the hard dodger, designed as somewhere safe and dry to stand in bad weather.

It sails well, though like a lot of catamarans there is technique involved in getting it to tack smoothly. Once you’ve got the hang of though, this boat will make good speeds for its size.

The Best Small Catamarans For Coastal Cruising

• Suitable for: Coastal
• Draft (max): 3.62′
• Engines: Twin inboard
• Price: Up to $300,000 for a newer model

The Mahe 36 is the smallest of the Fountaine Pajot range, and these small catamarans can go for a heafty budget if you find a newer model!

This tiny multihull packs a lot into a small space, and because of its modern features, you’ll feel like you’re in a much bigger boat when you step aboard.

This boat is a fast mover, with an ok bridge clearance and some attractive upgrades compared to their last small catamaran design. Most notably the full-length hard top bimini which has the reviewers raving!

If you have the money to splash out on a newer, more expensive small catamaran then this should definitely be on your list to consider! Although they come with a large price tag, these small catamarans are considerably cheaper new than some of the bigger models.

#4 Gemini 105Mc (34ft)

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Centreboards Draft (max): 5′ Engines:  Single inboard Price:  from $80,000

The Gemini 105Mc is still in production in the US, which speaks to its popularity. Obviously if you buy new you’ll pay a much higher price! This is one of the smallest catamarans on the list, but it’s still a great option for coastal cruising (or some have even successfully completed ocean passages on them in relative comfort).

For a small multihull this boat sails pretty well and is fast for a coastal cruiser. The living space is decent with good headroom. It has two double cabins and a master bedroom, and the interior finishes are nice too.

A big negative to this boat is the bridge deck clearance which really isn’t amazing, but as we said at the start, there’s always a compromise! This is a sporty-looking little catamaran that’s a good contender for the top smallest catamarans out there!

#5 EndeavourCat 36

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Fixed keels Draft (max): 3′ Engines:  two inboard Price:  from $100

Designed and built by Endeavour Catamaran, these American built boats are great cruising catamarans. A big advantage to this little multihull is that it will fit into most monohull slips, so if you anticipate using marinas a lot then this might be the small catamaran for you!

This isn’t a slow boat, and owners report speeds of 8-9 knots. Bear in mind though that the narrow beam does make it less suitable for any offshore passages. It has good interior space with 6′ standing headroom throughout, three double cabins, and a decent-sized galley below. The salon area can seat 6 people comfortably.

This cat is great for single-handed sailors, as all the lines lead to the cockpit and the main and jib are completely self-tacking.

#6 Prout Event 34

Suitable for: Coastal/bluewater Fixed keels Draft (max): 2.72′ Engines:  Single inboard Price:  from $30,000

These multihulls are quite hard to find, but if you like the Snowgoose but are on a tighter budget then they might be just what you’re looking for. They share lots of features with the Snowgoose and look very similar, only smaller!

There are three cabins, one head, a salon, and a galley, only they are rather squeezed in compared to the larger model. Personally, we thought there was plenty of space for a smaller sailboat but it’s worth seeing them in person if you’re keen on this model.

They do have the same downsides as the Snowgoose though, with limited headroom and low bridge deck clearance. These boats are known for their slamming!

Coastal Engines:  twin outboards Price:  from $80,000, used

The PDQ 32 is a great budget option catamaran and should be cheap(ish) to buy second hand and maintain. With two outboards that are easy to replace on a smaller budget, you’re looking at some of the usual pinch points on a boat becoming a lot more affordable!

This small catamaran only has two cabins, so sleeps less than a lot of the boats on this list, but it is roomier than you’d imagine inside with a decent galley and salon area. It has decent bridge deck clearance so shouldn’t slam too much in any waves.

This isn’t a boat for longer passages as it is a little small (and perhaps underpowered) to face serious weather. If you’re searching for something to potter around in then this is a fun boat to sail and live in!

#12 Dean 365

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• Suitable for: Coastal cruising
• Draft (max): 3′
• Engines:  one or two inboard
• Price:  from $45,000, used

These South African catamarans are great little coastal cruising catamarans that are hard to come by anywhere other than South Africa!

They’re pretty tiny, but have enough space for a galley, 3 or 4 cabins, and 1 or 2 heads. Some of the designs even have a bathtub, which speaks of their liveaboard suitability rather than their sail performance!

These boats are some of the smallest multihulls on this list, so don’t expect much in terms of headroom or bridge deck clearance. That being said, if you’re looking for a tiny catamaran to live on and you are prepared to compromise on sailing ability then these are a solid choice.

We have heard that the build quality can vary somewhat with these multihulls, so make sure you do some solid research and get a good surveyor when buying one of these. If you get a good version then they can make really solid boats.

#13 EndeavourCat 30

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Fixed keels Draft (max): 2.1′ Engines:  single or twin outboard Price:  from $70,000

This is a boat built for comfort over all else, so if you’re looking for a budget catamaran to live in then take a look at the endeavourcat 30. Some people don’t like the boxy design, but we quite liked how it looked in the water. I guess it’s personal taste!

This sailboat has two double cabins, a decent sized galley and salon for the size of the boat, and a head. The bridge deck clearance is low so that’s something to bear in mind before you buy, but the headroom is good (another reason why this would make a good liveaboard catamaran).

Hopefully this has given you some inspiration when searching for small catamarans for cruising, and helped you to find your dream boat!

We’re passionate about helping people live this incredible cruising lifestyle, so if you’re planning your dream liveaboard life make sure you check out our guide on how to run away to sea, with everything you could possibly need to know before, during, and after starting this adventure of a lifetime!

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Such small mention of probably the best catamaran for overall cruising, focusing on ease of helming, speed and livability. Simple rig, great ergonomic features, style and definitely a pedigree on the water. The FP Mahe duo! Sea proven. Most delivered on their own bottoms from France. Wide beams and light. Beautiful interior arrangements and easy to maintain. I’m confused about so little mention of probably the best entry level and beyond real cruiser out there.

You forgot the edelcat 35. Great boats, and have circumnavigated!

I wonder why Broadblue 346 is not on the list.

Appreciate it’s a bit more expensive than most cats listed here but what about the Aventura 37? Technically a small cat but with ocean going abilities and an actual live aboard!

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How much does it cost to charter a yacht?

There are many things to consider and first time charterers can be left confused, that's why we've created a comprehensive guide to yacht charter prices (with a checklist).

The good news: It’s easy to grasp the basics of yacht charter pricing. And with one of our experts in your corner, we can help you more accurately estimate the cost of your next once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

The cost of a yacht charter is dependent on a number of factors, including the type of yacht, the charter destination, local taxes, and the base cost. (If the yacht has a celebrity owner, well that too, can add to the cost.)

Therefore, yacht charters have a wide range of base prices. That’s why charters can cost from $10,000 per week on smaller sailing yachts and catamarans, up to $150,000+ per week on the most luxurious motor superyachts.

What else can you expect to pay? This overview – a part of our planning resource, the Charter Advice Guide – offers an in-depth look at charter yacht costs.

Yacht Charter Price Structure: “All-Inclusive” vs “Plus Expenses”

In the world of yachting, two types of crewed yacht charters are available to you – “All-Inclusive” and “Plus Expenses” charter experiences. What do these terms mean exactly? Here’s a quick look:

• All-Inclusive Yacht Charters – Some charters (mainly catamaran and monohull charters in the Virgin Islands) offer all-inclusive rates. That means rates are based on the number of guests, and they include all food and drink, water sports, and fuel costs. Dockage and taxes, though, are usually charged separately.
• Plus Expenses Charters – Rates for larger motor yachts do not include running expenses, which must be paid separately. For these luxury charters, the base price is for the yacht only. Additional expenses, i.e. food, bar, fuel, dockage, port taxes, and other expenses, are charged separately. Most frequently, the running expenses are paid by an Advance Provisioning Allowance, or APA, which is typically 35% of the base price; this is an amount that’s paid prior to the charter.

Our chart below offers a quick overview of what’s included in both of these types of charters.

Average Yacht Charter Cost: Base Prices

What can you expect to pay for a catamaran, a sailing vessel, or motored yacht? Here’s a quick overview of the average cost to rent a yacht (not including extra expenses) for the most common types available:

Factors that Affect Yacht Charter Prices

Since charter yachts are privately owned, prices are set by the owner. This can explain, in part, the wide range of differences in price between boats of similar lengths. Yet, several other factors can significantly impact price, including:

• The Yacht – The year the boat was built, the builder, previous owners, and the boat’s selection of water toys can also increase the cost of a yacht. Boats can also develop a reputation, i.e. the largest or most luxurious, or having a famous builder or previous owner. Reputation can also affect pricing.
• Season – Prices typically increase in the high season – i.e. high summer in the Mediterranean or winter in the Caribbean – and decrease in low seasons.
• Destination – Your charter destination also plays a role in charter cost. For example, prices increase in areas without large charter fleets (i.e. the Galapagos), whereas Bahamas yacht charters,   BVI charters , or Mediterranean yacht charter are priced more competitively.

Additional Costs Considerations on Yacht Charter

In addition to the cost associated with running the yacht and provisioning, there are a number of other costs that must be considered. These are the most significant:

Advanced Provisioning Allowance

The APA on Plus Expenses charters equals roughly 35% of the yacht’s base price. This is a fee that’s collected prior to charter, and it’s similar to an expense account the captain can access during the charter. At the end of the charter, you will receive a detailed accounting of your APA account, plus any unused APA funds in cash.

In the case of overages, you may be required to replenish the APA account during the charter. This can be done with cash, although many choose to set up accounts with their charter brokers , which can be accessed if requested by the captain.

Taxes and Value Added Tax (VAT)

Most boats – whether all-inclusive or Plus Expenses – will not include local taxes or a Value Added Tax into their charter rate. The charterer will be responsible for paying those taxes. Taxes range significantly by destination; here’s a look at some of yachting’s most popular destinations:

• The Bahamas – Tax: 4% plus 10% VAT
• BVI – Tax: between $6 and $16 per person per day, depending on the flag of the boat
• Croatia – VAT: 13%
• Florida – Tax: 6% for Broward County, 7% for Miami-Dade County
• France – VAT: 20%, however, 10% can be applied when an itinerary includes International Waters
• Greece – VAT: 12%
• Italy – VAT: 22%, however 6.6% (over 24m) and 8.8% (under 24m) can be applied when an itinerary includes International Waters
• Montenegro – NO VAT
• New England – NO TAX
• Spain – VAT: 21%
• Turkey – NO VAT

Charterers can purchase cancellation and curtailment insurance – which is similar to traveler’s insurance. This insurance can help cover costs if a charterer must cancel or shorten the charter. Charter brokers can help you weigh insurance options, and often offer several different options.

Crew Gratuity

While crew gratuity is certainly not mandatory, it is recommended, particularly if you were truly impressed with your charter experience. In general, crew gratuity is roughly 15-20% of the base charter rate, which is handed to the captain at the conclusion of your charter.

Delivery Fees

While these fees do not apply on most charters, you may be asked to pay delivery costs if you are not chartering in the yacht’s normal cruising ground. In most cases, you will only be required to cover the fuel for the trip.

Call Worldwide Boat today to learn more. Our Charter Specialists are here to assist you with every detail and explain all charter costs. Or read our Charter Advice guide for more information and tips for planning your charter vacation.

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282.2ft / 84m

278.1ft / 83m

239.6ft / 71m

Serenity 236

236.3ft / 70m

Additional Charter Cost FAQs

What are standard private charter yacht prices?

There are a number of factors that affect charter yacht pricing. However, on average, a week-long private yacht charter costs anywhere from $10,000 on luxurious sailing yachts and catamarans, and up to $150,000 for superyachts.

What affects charter yacht prices?

There are several things that influence how much your yacht charter will cost. The type of vessel, charter destination, length of trip, base cost, time of year, and local taxes all make a difference.

How much does it cost for a crewed vessel?

Charter yacht prices do increase when hiring a crew along with the boat. At Worldwide Boat, we offer two types of crewed charter experiences: all-inclusive and plus expenses. An all-inclusive charter yacht includes accommodation for all guests, food and drink, water sport activities, and fuel costs – dockage fees and taxes are charged separately. A plus expenses experience accounts for just the yacht’s base price. Things like food, drinks, fuel, dockages, taxes, and other expenses are charged separately and are usually estimated to be about 35% of the base price.

What’s included in all-inclusive boat charters?

At Worldwide Boat, your all-inclusive charter experience includes a diligent and friendly crew, water toys, food, drinks, fuel, water and electric services, and occasionally diving experiences.

What are some additional charter boat costs to consider?

After finding a base price you’re comfortable with and evaluating your package, you’ll also want to consider delivery fees, crew gratuity, insurance fees, taxes, and Advanced Provisioning Allowance rates. If you are responsible for these fees, your crew will handle the necessary transactions on your behalf.

What does it cost to rent a 100- foot yacht charter?

This depends on what type of vessel you’re looking at and how long you’ll need it for. The average weekly cost of a 100-foot sailing yacht is between $50,000-100,000. A weekly 80-foot catamaran charter runs around $40,000-100,000, and a week-long 100-foot motor yacht rental is anywhere between $50,000-80,000.

Does the price to rent a yacht change depending on what type of boat it is?

Yes. Worldwide Boat offers sailing yachts, catamarans, and motor yachts. All of these vessels have different capabilities, but there are other factors that determine the price beyond what type of boat you choose. The year the boat was built, owner, availability of water toys, onboard amenities, and the ship’s reputation can all change how much the ship is priced at.

When is the high season for yacht charters?

The price of a yacht fluctuates depending on the season. A Mediterranean yacht charter cost rises in the summer and drops in the winter, whereas Caribbean boat charter prices are high during the winter and lower in the summer months.

How does my destination affect charter yacht cost?

The more remote an area is, the more expensive it will be to charter a yacht there. That’s because prices go up in areas that have fewer boats. If you were to travel somewhere like the Galapagos, which isn’t a typical yacht destination, you’d pay more than you would if you were traveling to the Caribbean.

How much do I tip the crew when reviewing my yacht charter expenses?

It’s not required that you tip your crew, but it is recommended and appreciated. If you had an enjoyable experience it’s considered polite to tip your crew anywhere from 15-20% at the end of your charter.

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6 Best Performance Cruising Catamarans (Buyer’s Guide)

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Performance cruising catamarans are impressive-looking vessels that focus on speed above comfort. These fast boats are ideal for racing and long cruising vacations. But with the numerous brands and models on the market, how do you know which is the best one?  

The best high-speed performance cruising catamarans are the Outremer 4x, McConaghy MC50, Nautitech 44, Gunboat 62, Balance 526, and Marsaudon Composites ORC50. All these boats deliver outstanding speeds and are light in weight, relatively comfortable, and incredibly safe.  

This article will explore the brands and models that I believe have the best combination of performance and comfort . We’ll look at their speeds and what makes them cruise so fast. We’ll also examine the factors to consider when shopping for a performance cruising cat.  

Table of Contents

How Fast Are Performance Cruising Catamarans? 

Cruising catamarans are generally faster than monohulls of similar lengths. This means most well-built and well-balanced cats will arrive at their destination much sooner, and the cruise is much more comfortable. Performance cruising cats like the Nautitech include deep daggerboards and rudders, narrow waterline beams, hull chines, and big sail plans that allow for faster sailing than a standard cruising cat.

Outremer 4X

Outremer Catamarans are well-known for their high speeds. These exciting cats sport brilliant designs, narrow bows, and large rigs. Built in Southern France, the vessels are strong and long-lasting since their structures feature materials such as carbon, glass, and vinyl ester. 

The Outremer 4x is a stable and comfortable high-speeding cruising catamaran that performs ocean crossings and confronts any weather with remarkable ease. Named the European Boat of the Year in 2017, this 48-foot (14.6 m) bluewater cruiser sails faster than wind speed and attains maximum cruising speeds of 20 knots.

The 4x is an upgrade of the extremely popular Outremer 45, thus retaining Outremer’s core values of speed, safety, and comfort. It’s built for maximum performance and enjoyment, with the lightweight, carbon fiber structure allowing for additional speed under sail . 

Featuring comfort typical of much larger vessels, the Outremer 4X features 4 double cabins, hot water showers, a full kitchen, spacious storage, and excellent ventilation. There’s also an expansive deck, an unobstructed cockpit, and large trampoline areas. Most importantly, your safety is assured through the cat’s unique features including a robust structure, offshore design, stability, and unrivaled speed potential.

The 4x’s cutting-edge design makes it ideal for competitive racing or blue water cruising, and it does both without compromising your comfort, safety, or onboard livability. However, to sail at maximum speed, the boat must remain lightweight, requiring your interior to be fitted out quite minimally. The other downside is the high price tag; the Outremer 4X commands a price between $912,322 and $1,202,945 .

McConaghy MC52

The McConaghy MC52 is a performance luxury cruising cat reflective of McConaghy’s 50 years of experience in building high-tech composite projects. The luxurious boat features a flybridge, retracting centerboards, optimized hulls, and an open space bridgedeck combining the salon with the cockpit. You can also customize the boat to your specifications.

This hi-tech cat comes with sizeable sliding salon windows and frameless doors that provide fantastic views. Its wave-piercing bows can cut through waves, thus helping to increase performance by minimizing pitch resistance, while still retaining a smooth ride. Also, the saloon offers spacious dining space for up to 8 people, and the galley area is more like a penthouse.

The manufacturer’s background in building high-end racing yachts has resulted in an incredibly strong and lightweight vessel capable of reaching 22 knots (40.7 km/h or 25.29 mph). The main downside to this boat is the boom placement on the mast, which is much higher than other high-performance cats. This makes accessing the mainsail somewhat challenging. It also increases the MC50’s center of gravity and center of effort.

You can get the MC52 for about $1.6 million.

Nautitech 44

The Nautitech 44 easily blends comfort and fun to deliver an impressive sailing performance, whether you take short trips or long ocean crossings. The boat offers a good balance under sail, and it features helming stations on each hull. Plus, there’s an integrated hardtop bimini complete with sunroof opening. Slim hulls translate to higher speeds, with the vessel reaching up to 17 knots (31.4 km/h or 19.51 mph).

The well-laid-out interior boasts a functional design, ample storage space, plus all the equipment you require for ocean cruising, such as a fridge, watermaker, and solar. 

Nautitech 44’s twin helms give you the real sailing experience with a fantastic view of the sails and great visibility when maneuvering into port. However, you might not appreciate being stuck in the aft helm position without protection in lousy weather or during hot days.

Nevertheless, the boat’s responsiveness makes sailing more pleasurable. Plus, it’s affordable; the price is between $236,000 and $334,000.

Marsaudon Composites ORC50

Marsaudon Composites vessels are ideal for both racing and cruising. The sporty-looking ORC 50 comes with large inverted bows, an angular coachroof, a high freeboard, and a sturdy rotating carbon mast. In addition, the vessel is light which allows it to accelerate quickly, while the angular coachroof offers lots of space and excellent visibility. 

The ORC50 can attain 23+ knots (42.5+ km/h or 26.41+ mph) and is among the fastest high-performance livable multihulls. It’s capable of doing more than 350 miles (563.27 km) per day.   

The downside to the ORC50 is it’s a bit technical to sail, thus requiring a skilled sailor. Furthermore, its immense power and speed can be intimidating to less experienced sailors. Solely designed for speed, the ORC50’s interior is simple, less roomy, and somewhat spartan; hence the boat might not be all that comfy. Still, it’ll get you where you want to go pretty fast, and it’s an excellent value for money at approximately $787,751.25.

Gunboat 62 

The Gunboat 62 is a true high-speed catamaran capable of sailing at 20 knots (37 km/h or 23 mph) over true wind speeds and known to notch up speeds of 36+ knots (66.7+ km/h or 41.45 mph) on a surf. The initial 3 Gunboat 62 boats featured epoxy, E-glass, and carbon fiber construction, but the fourth vessel was all carbon, sported a taller rig and a more expansive sail area. 

These structural features made the Gunboat 62s extremely light, and they formed the original luxury high-performance cruising cats.

This multihull sailboat boasts a carbon mast, round hull sections for a minimized wetted surface area, high-aspect rudders, and retractable daggerboards. The steering station offers 360-degree visibility and sports overhead hatches that you can use to monitor the mainsail trim. The boat also contains 3 private cabins with queen berths, 2 spacious heads with showers, an aft cockpit, galley, and lounge.

On the downside, Gunboats are pricey cats; hence they’re also expensive to maintain. The Gunboat 62 isn’t that spacious either as it’s more focused on speed, but it’s extremely comfortable, plus there’s plenty of space for hanging out. You can buy this catamaran starting from $2 million .

Balance 526

Built with a combination of carbon fiber, E-glass, epoxy, closed-cell foam, and composite bulkheads, this boat is strong, light, and can withstand terrible weather. The retractable daggerboards allow for good upwind performance. All high load areas contain carbon fiber, while furniture and cabinets feature cored sandwich construction, producing the lightest yet most robust catamaran. 

A Balance 526 will reach speeds of up to 20knots without stressing the rig too much.

The boat is available in various layouts and comfortably accommodates 6 people. The spacious aft cockpit and saloon provide panoramic visibility. And since Balance 526 can handle the extra weight, you get performance plus all the creature comforts you desire.

Still, Balance 526’s pricing is on the higher end, beginning at $1,440,000 . Also, the slender hulls result in less space down below. Nevertheless, the boat lives up to its name, achieving the perfect balance between superb performance and comfort.

What Makes Performance Cruising Catamarans So Fast? 

Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Narrow Hulls 

Performance catamarans contain two small narrow hulls, which cause them to have less water resistance. Smaller hulls mean the vessels have much smaller bow waves to fight, allowing them to move extremely fast. In addition, the less hull area is underwater, the faster the boat is capable of moving since there’s less drag.

Having said that, it’s important to note that a narrow hull is more prone to burying its bows in rough seas. The wider the hull, the more buoyancy it offers, but only up to a given point. After which, the excessive width becomes unmanageable and performance suffers. The key lies in finding the right balance.

Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Considerable Length

The longer a cruising cat is, the faster it’ll move. While each vessel bears a maximum hull speed, in most cases, the lengthier the boat, the higher the speed it can reach. The length of the hull (length on the waterline) also has a significant impact on the speed performance. Thus, the cat attains maximum speeds when the wavelength is equal to the length on the waterline (hull speed).

Therefore, the longer the length of the hull, the better the performance of a high-speed cruising cat. You can also compare two cruising cats’ speeds based on this measure. 

Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Quality Builds

Modern cat manufacturers continue designing more innovative high-performance cruising cats that deliver a new blend of performance and cruising features. They achieve this by using advanced construction materials, better daggerboard designs, and creative weight allocation. They also keep a keener focus on onboard amenities. For instance, asymmetrical daggerboards placed midships in each hull can help achieve proper balance and hull trim.

The overall goal is to design cruising cats that offer high speeds, outstanding performance, and enough offshore comfort. 

Here’s an article if you are wondering what daggerboards and centerboards are and why they impact performance so much.

Performance Cruising Catamarans Are Light-weight

The lighter a cruising catamaran, the greater its performance. And some of the most popular high-performance catamarans find an optimal balance between performance and comfort. As a result, modern performance-based cruising cats have embraced the use of carbon composite construction for hulls, daggerboards, and rigging, instead of the somewhat heavier glass fiber materials.

A weighed-down cat produces less speed, which means excess immersion of the hulls renders the boat sluggish . The hull submersion also reduces the bridge deck clearance, promoting uncomfortable hull slamming.

You won’t find much difference in top speed between performance catamarans bearing similar lengths because they all have displacement hulls and mostly sail to hull speed with occasional surfing. This means that under skilled hands, these cats should exhibit roughly the same performance. A cruising cat’s performance is also highly dependent on the state of the sea, wind direction, and speed, amongst many other factors.

What To Consider When Choosing a Performance Cruising Catamaran

Speed is the number one consideration when choosing a high-speed cruising cat. Yet there are other factors just as important since they contribute to the overall cruising performance, including:

•  What you’ll use the vessel for and where. Are you planning on doing coastal cruising or serious offshore cruising? Consider the number of people that you’ll be sailing with and the activities you’ll engage in. This also helps determine the size catamaran you’ll need.  
• Comfort. While some racing enthusiasts might prefer spartan accommodation plans, most enjoy relative comfort on the high seas. In any case, modern high-speed cruising cats are designed to provide a certain level of creature comforts. And since most performance cats are custom-made, new boat owners may decide precisely which features to include in their cats. 
• Quality. To produce light boats, builders employ the use of fine resins, carbon, epoxies, foam cores, and fiberglass. They build using a combination of vacuum-bagged techniques, foam cores, foam composite bulkheads, and make furniture and cabinetry with cored sandwich construction . 
• Livability. One cannot underrate the appeal of sailing in a vessel with no heeling, not to mention the high privacy attained from separate living and sleeping areas. Panoramic views and exceptional deck space for lounging and entertaining are also essential in ensuring maximum cruising comfort. Fortunately, most high-speed cruising cats offer all these features and more.
• Equipment. Sailing upwind is a challenge for cruising cats since they tend to make lots of leeway. To make things easier, high-speed cruising cats come equipped with bigger rigs and either daggerboards or centerboards. However, this also means skilled sailors are required to operate them. 
• Cost. Catamarans are generally expensive, but a cat built with longer, leaner hulls and less costly materials can still give an outstanding performance. Such materials include foam cores, epoxy bulkheads, and epoxy resins. Furthermore, it’s not necessary to use only carbon to build a lightweight boat. 

Final Thoughts

Performance cruising catamarans are built using exotic, high-tech, lightweight materials to deliver an electrifying sailing experience. And as we’ve seen from the above list, these boats deliver performance plus much more. They’re not only speed cruisers, but they also provide a smooth, comfortable, and enjoyable cruising experience. 

So, whichever option you go for – from the luxurious Gunboat 62 to the much more affordable Nautitech 44 – you’re sure to get a boat that suits your needs. 

• Wikipedia: Spinnaker
• Wikipedia: High-Performance Sailing  
• Yachting World: Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Review
• Aeroyacht: Catamaran Speed
• Cruiser’s Forum: Nautitech 44…
• Nautitech Catamarans: Nautitech
• Katamarans: Marsaudon Composites ORC50 (TS5) Review
• Outremer USA: New Outremer 4x Performance Catamaran
• Dutoit Yacht Design: Balance 526 Review
• Go Downsize: How Fast Do Catamarans Go?
• Catamaran Guru: The Cruising Catamaran Performance Debate
• The Boat App: The Fastest Cruising Catamarans of 2020
• Sail Magazine: Performance Cruising Cats Set New Standards in Sailing Speed
• Cruisers Forum: Fast Cruising Catamarans – How Fast?
• Lagoon – Inside: The Secrets of a Catamaran’s Performance
• Sail Magazine: 10 Great Cruising Cats
• Cruising World: 40 Best Sailing Catamarans and Trimarans, Cruising Catamarans…

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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The True Cost of Living on a Sailboat: Our Monthly Expenses

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How much does it cost to live on a boat? This was my biggest question when we were planning and saving to cruise. I was clueless when it came to creating a budget for our future life aboard. I was looking for someone to tell me exactly how much it would cost ME to live on a sailboat full-time.

I quickly learned some people cruise for less than $1,000 a month and some for upwards of $10,000 a month. Most are somewhere between.

Not so dissimilar from living on land, different people cruise on all sorts of budgets.

For us, our cost of living on a sailboat isn’t so far from our land-based spending.

Part of this journey was learning to live with less, but we still maintain some creature comforts on the water.

Here is a breakdown of our cost of living on a boat full-time while cruising the US east coast.

Cost to Live on a Sailboat

Average cost of $2,424 per month*

Sailboat Maintenance Expenses

Average cost $1,006.

Maintenance, Parts & Tools ($687)

It’s no surprise boat maintenance is top of the list.

You will continuously be fixing broken things or maintaining things on a sailboat. You will also need different tools, spare parts, cleaners, etc., as you cruise.

There will be months when you won’t need much in the way of tools and parts (especially if you already have a lot of tools and spare parts onboard). Then in one month, you might spend 40% of the annual budget.

We make a strong effort to do most boat projects ourselves.

Shortly after we began cruising, our wallets learned the hard truth of paying people to work on your boat.

Since then, we’ve been our own plumber, mechanic, seamstress, and electrician.

You’ll always be learning. But if you can maintain and fix your vessel, you’ll save boatloads of cash (pun intended, I couldn’t resist).

READ NEXT: Check out our 9 Helpful Things You Need in Your Sailboat Tool Kit .

Insurance ($233).

If you are a newbie cruiser, your boat insurance options will most likely be limited. Insurance was a considerable expense in our first year. In our second year, the cost dropped from 2.8% of the boat’s value to 1.3%. (We now have restricted cruising grounds for July – November.)

Do your research and consider using a broker. Get quotes based on where you’ll be cruising and staying in hurricane season.

Miscellaneous ($86)

The miscellaneous category is everything else boat-related. This includes any small purchases we make for the boat (ex. rug for the salon), our USCG documentation, Amazon Prime membership, etc.

We also have a Boat US membership , which more than pays for itself. We get dockage and fuel discounts often. And, of course, the towing service is priceless when you run aground with only one engine. (What, just me?)

For a modest fee, this membership is a no-brainer for boat owners.

Marinas vs. Anchoring

Average cost $339.

Marina Costs

If you’ve been researching the cost of living on a boat, you know it is more economical to anchor than to dock in a marina slip. We love anchoring out, but it does come with a set of variables that dictate comfort and safety while you’re on the hook. Not to mention, it requires a lot more planning.

Marinas can be expensive, especially in popular cruising areas. Dockage is usually charged per foot, so the bigger the boat, the higher the costs associated with docking fees. However, you can find liveaboard boat marinas with slip fees that are paid monthly.

Many cruisers prefer to dock at a liveaboard marina during hurricane season and save anchoring for cruising season. This allows you to keep your cost per night at marinas down, and your overall costs balance out throughout the year.

READ NEXT: Check out our post on Liveaboard Marinas: Finding the Best One for You .

Anchoring challenges.

Dreaming of our cruising days, I had the idea we would anchor out and rarely pay for marinas.

In reality, that’s not what worked for us out of the gate. Being beginner sailors and newbies to cruising and boats in general – there was an enormous learning curve.

Learning to live this lifestyle is not always easy. And yes, marinas make it easier. Especially when you REALLY need it to be easier.

Anchoring out requires the captain to always be “on”. You must be aware of the weather, wind direction, currents, and tides. You also have to be aware of the boats around you. None of this stops when you leave the boat or when you sleep.

The reality is you need to slowly become more comfortable living on the hook.

With experience, you can build more confidence.

You’ll become more comfortable with boat systems, weather, and making repairs while on the anchor. Conserving power and water becomes more natural, and you learn how to stay warm in the cold and cool off in hot weather. With some practice, you can spend less time (and money) at marinas.

For folks dreaming of this lifestyle, I’m not saying you won’t be able to start living on the anchor immediately. But the stress level accompanying living on the hook will lower with time and experience.

Average Cost $449

Provisions are consistently one of our most significant expenses on the boat.

Anticipating my new life on the water, I knew I wanted to learn more about cooking, baking, and making things from scratch. And since we planned to live on a smaller budget, I also wanted to be conscious of spending on food.

A game I often play with myself is to see how long we can go until the next big provisioning trip.

You might be thinking – that sounds miserable. But we eat pretty darn well most of the time.

We ration veggies and fruits, ensuring we leave the hardiest for last. We start with fresh salads and other raw veggie meals, such as cilantro hummus bowls. As the freshest veggies thin out, we work our way to curries and stir-fries. Then, when the fridge grows empty, we move on to rice and bean dishes, pineapple and jalapeño pizza, and bean tacos with pickled onions and cabbage.

One skillset you develop living on a boat is the ability to eat more sustainably.

Learning to make bread, yogurt, and vegetable broth from scraps is super satisfying.

Spend time learning to make flexible meals. Use a balance of fresh, canned, and dried ingredients. Do this, and you can stretch your provisioning budget without sacrificing flavor.

You can also save money by minimizing disposables, such as paper towels, sandwich bags, plastic wrap, and aluminum foil.

READ NEXT: Check out our ideas for Flexible Meals on a Boat and our Best Zero Waste Swaps for Small Spaces .

Having sundowners is a bit of a staple in the boating community. It’s a common way to meet and greet other boaters in a marina or in an anchorage. Given that, we always like to have a few extra beers onboard or the ingredients for a simple cocktail.

We love good wine, but we managed to find some enjoyable boxed wines. (Bonus, lose the boxes at the dock, and there’s very little trash to contend with.)

When we find a deal, we stock up on beer. Nothing hits the spot like a cold beer after the anchor drops. We even discovered a reasonably priced rum we enjoy. (No boat is complete without rum!)

Expenses here are based on personal taste. For us, it was possible to have more affordable beverages and still enjoy sundowner traditions!

Average Cost $233

As a couple who dined out regularly in our Colorado ski town, it was going to be tough to start cooking three meals a day living aboard.

I read a lot of advice that said, “if you like eating out, you probably won’t stop eating out because you move on a boat.”

There is truth to this. Whenever we are in a place where eating out is convenient, we tend to fall back into old habits.

However, when we dock in remote places or anchor away from shore access, there is less (or no) opportunity to eat out.

Instead, we experiment with different types of food to make meals onboard rewarding.

We still enjoy going out to experience the local cuisine, but it has become a treat instead of how we live.

A great way to cut costs is by dining out for a late lunch rather than dinner or skipping the alcohol. Opting for a refreshing drink on the trampoline while watching the sunset isn’t a bad way to close out a night.

Average Cost $103

Diesel, gas, and propane are three resources you will continuously be aware of while living on a boat.

Here are a few adjustments we make to maximize our fuel efficiency.

• We use our sails. This isn’t easy as new sailors on a big boat. We have slowly become more confident, but it took us months of traveling on the water to start getting comfortable using the sails. We are still learning.
• We don’t put ourselves in a position where we are in a hurry or have a schedule. This almost always leads to running the engines more.
• We run on one engine. We can run one engine instead of two on our catamaran and only lose about 1 – 1.5 knots. On the ICW, we unfurl the jib to improve speed if the wind is right.
• We always make sure to travel at an optimal time for the current. Some areas of the Intercoastal Waterway can have a current that’s pushing 2-3 knots. Choosing a departure time around the current makes a big difference in travel time and fuel efficiency. 
• Heating water with the electric kettle if the engines are running or we are on shore power.
• Using hot water from the engines (when we have it) to get water boiling.
• When cooking pasta, we use a minimal amount of water. We’ll often turn the propane off and let the noodles finish cooking in the hot water.
• Quality cookware makes a big difference. Once brought to a boil, some dishes can finish cooking with the lid on. This is helpful when coming into an anchorage. Often, I’ll kill the propane, and by the time we are anchored, dinner is ready.
• If we plan to make a few trips to shore, we’ll anchor closer to the dinghy dock. This doesn’t always work out, but being conscious of it has helped us stretch our gas budget.
• If it’s a short trip to the dock and we aren’t carrying supplies, we use the kayak. Paddling is free (and fun)!

Average Cost $140

When we were saving for the cruising kitty, we found ways to cut our mobile bill by using data on our home and work WiFi. When we moved aboard, our phone plan became the primary internet source. We quickly realized we would need to rethink our data plan.

There are a lot of options for unlimited data in the US, as well as hotspot data. I recommend having at least unlimited mobile data for research and logistics involved when cruising. If you need to work from the boat, you may also want to invest in an additional mobile service as backup or satellite internet. Starlink is starting to become popular in the boating community.

Our Mobile Plan

While cruising the east coast, we use T-Mobile. With this carrier, we get unlimited data and 40GB of hotspot data each month (20GB per phone). This is on the pricier end, and we have been looking into other options, but we enjoy having the hotspot data. Even after the 40GB, we still have hotspot data at 2G. When we cruise the Bahamas, we are planning to use My Island WiFi service .

Entertainment

Average cost $23.

This category is for consumable entertainment since most other entertainment on the water is free.

Music, movies, and books are popular forms of entertainment onboard. Even when we cut down on spending, we kept a few options that provided these services. Instead of ditching all the monthly streaming apps, we looked hard at our memberships and cut back or found free services to supplement.

• Spotify membership for music (we can download or stream) $11
• Movie library on an external hard drive created before we ditched our DVDs Free
• Hulu (included with Spotify) Free
• Disney Plus (prepaid for three years during a special offer) $4
• Nexflix (included with T-Mobile plan) Free
• Tubi (a free streaming app) Free

Spotify and Audible are great for downloading books and playlists for when you are out of service or on passage. You can also download movies and shows through many streaming apps for playback when you don’t have a signal or are running on a budgeted amount of mobile data. An external hard drive of your favorite movies is also a great source of video entertainment that will never let you down.

Personal Care & Clothing

Average cost $73.

Hair & Skin Care

Go more natural with skin and hair care. Most boats won’t have spare power for hairdryers and straighteners. On top of that, the sun and humidity will destroy makeup.

Start now researching ways to simplify your personal care regimens. It will make the transition abroad much easier.

Tips for Hair & Skin Care

• Get a tinted moisturizer with SPF for your face (I like Raw Elements ), a flexible eye shadow, and waterproof mascara. Opt for reusable makeup remover cloths to cut down on waste.
• Work on a natural look for your hair, and see if you can find a style you can cut yourself. Shampoo and conditioner bars are a great way to save space and are typically made with clean ingredients that won’t harm sea life.
• Opt for a simple personal care routine. The fewer products you use, the more space, time, and money you’ll save.
• We love to use UPF clothing in combination with sunscreen. The more you can cover up, the less sunscreen you’ll need.

For us, this area is where expenses remain similar to land life. There are no unique expenses with health or dental care, although finding healthcare coverage for multiple states can be challenging.

For the lady sailors, I recommend researching ways to have a zero-waste period. A menstrual cup is something I wish I had transitioned to before cruising. It will make your life easier, plus save you money and storage space.

If you can minimize laundry and wash some stuff on board, you can limit the need to find a washing machine.

Tips for Laundry on a Boat

• Wear clothes that are easy to wash and dry and can be worn several times between washes.
• In the summer months, wear UPF synthetics and bathing suits that can be washed by hand. This will also extend their life.
• In the winter months, wear merino wool and dress in layers to get the most wears out of your clothes before washing.
• Save sheets, towels, and bulkier clothing for when you have access to a washing machine. We aim to do machine washing about once a month.

Having a solid system in place for handwashing clothes helps limit our laundry budget. We average $8 per month spent on machines.

We try to buy high-quality clothing that is durable for boat life. Once you’ve created a boat wardrobe that works, you’ll find there is little you will need.

In six months, the only clothing I have purchased is a UPF shawl, a sun hat (to replace one I lost overboard), and a tank top. I previously spent a lot of money on clothes. Now I enjoy dialing in a functional, minimalist wardrobe for living on a boat.

READ NEXT: For more on clothing for boat life, check out What to Wear Sailing and How to Downsize Your Wardrobe .

Average cost $58.

For us, our travel budget for many years has consisted of only credit card membership fees. These help us earn points that pay for our travel.

Booking a flight or rental car without worrying about how it affects the budget is a nice perk in this lifestyle. There are times you need a car to get a project done or to book a last-minute flight to visit family.

We also get an annual travel credit with the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. We use a lot of the credit toward Ubers and Lyfts – great for when grocery stores aren’t within walking distance or you need to make a larger provisioning run.

Getting Started With a Cruising Budget

Here are some final thoughts when creating your future sailboat cruising budget.

• The above expenses are based on actively cruising on our 38-foot catamaran. For us, extended time at the dock is just a redistribution of funds. Maintenance and fuel go down, and marina expenses go up.
• Our maintenance costs are at about 4% of the hull value. Aside from the trampoline, we have not replaced any big-ticket items, so we expect this percentage may increase over the next couple of years.
• If you hope to stretch your cruising kitty, give yourself time to overcome the learning curve. Learning to maintain, operate, cook, and just be on a boat will take time. As you get more experience, your spending habits will improve. Be patient and keep moving forward.
• I highly recommend you continue researching and reading as much as possible about the cost of living on a sailboat. Get perspectives from different cruisers. This will help you create a cruising budget that will be unique to you.

Other Resources

• Gone with the Wynns created a very detailed article and video that breakdowns their cost of living on a boat.
• Sailing Kittiwake also has a great video on the cost of living on a sailboat on a budget .

*Costs not included in this overview are health insurance, taxes, business expenses, and gifts or donations. These expenses are particular to each individual’s situation and so are excluded from this article.

Want more tips on how to get started cruising on a boat?

For more information on the reality of boat life and tips for living on the water, view our complete guide.

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Or view our web stories.

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

Excellent article. Thank you!

I started getting the urge to return to the sea not long after I got out of the Navy in 1974…. Started out on a 15′ Phantom…. Up to 21′ Keels, up to a 26′ Bristol and finally a 28′ Newport…. You learn alot of tricks of the trade at a working marina… Barter system, I used to go up the mast or anything Aloft in return for favors with anything that I had a problem with …. Had to give up the sailboat when I couldn’t sail it by myself anymore … Looking for a 35′-38′ trawler to live in the Tampa Bay area for the rest of my day…. From the Sea I came, back to sea I will return … Anchor’s Aweigh….

Hi George, it sounds like you have lived and breathed boats for a while! One of my favorite things about a good liveaboard marina is how everyone trades boat maintenance favors and helps each other out. I sure hope you find a good trawler to liveaboard in Tampa – sounds lovely!

Do you use a specific budgeting software or anything to track your transactions? Please share if so

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Woman killed in horror Canary Islands shark attack while sailing on catamaran

The woman, a 30-year-old German national, is said to have had her leg bitten off by the shark as she was on a catamaran in international waters 278 miles south-west of Gran Canaria’s airport

• 20:43, 17 Sep 2024
• Updated 21:06, 17 Sep 2024

A woman has died after being attacked by a shark on a catamaran as she was rushed to a hospital in the Canary Islands.

The 30-year-old German lost her fight for life in a Spanish Air Force helicopter as she was being evacuated to a Gran Canaria hospital.

She was officially pronounced dead after arriving at Doctor Negrin Hospital in the Gran Canaria capital Las Palmas yesterday night.

She is said to have had her leg bitten off by the shark as she was on a catamaran in international waters 278 miles south-west of Gran Canaria’s airport and around 110 miles east of the city of Dakhla in the disputed territory of Western Sahara which is currently occupied by Morocco.

The catamaran she was a crew member of has been named as British-flagged vessel Dalliance Chichester, which had left the Spanish holiday island on September 14.

Spanish Coastguards are said to have informed their Moroccan counterparts as well as UK coastguards because of the origin of the catamaran.

But according to local reports Moroccan authorities refused to transfer the injured woman to Rabat for emergency medical treatment. The unnamed woman was pronounced dead yesterday just after 11pm after going into cardiac arrest in the Spanish military chopper The shark attack is understood to have happened around 4pm the same day.

In June, shark sightings shuttered several Spanish resorts, with one forced to close just hours after local officials gave tourists the greenlight to return.

Lifeguards ordered bathers out of the water at Melenara Beach on Gran Canaria’s east coast after a police drone spotted a hammerhead shark off the beach.

The neighbouring Salinetas beach quickly followed, with Playa de San Agustín close behind, as lifeguards were seen hoisting a red flag at the spot just two hours later when a tourist photographed the tell-tale fin of a shark sticking out of the water. One of the shark appearances was reportedly spotted by a tourist near a restaurant overlooking the sea called Balcon de San Augustin. Red Cross officials later confirmed they had also seen it.

This is a breaking news story. Follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News , Twitter , Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage.

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Below deck sailing yacht season 5 trailer leaves fans disappointed with gary king’s involvement.

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Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5’s trailer has finally arrived, and with Captain Glenn Shephard’s crew including First Officer Gary King, fans are disappointed in the show’s return . While Below Deck viewers have been impatiently awaiting news about Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 for over a year, the trailer has finally been released, and has many concerned about what the season is going to look like. While the trailer reveals the return of some familiar faces, the storylines that appear to be part of the season left viewers feeling uneasy. After Gary’s sexual misconduct allegations, his involvement seems overwhelming.

In the Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 trailer, the crew’s chartering guests around Ibiza in a new sailing adventure. With Gary showing up early in the trailer after Daisy Kelliher makes her grand entrance, things get dicey quickly. “That’s right, we have a f****** job and I’m not carrying this f****** season on my own you f****** prick,” Daisy shouts at Gary in one moment of the trailer as he lays in his bed, looking dismayed. The rest of the trailer shows the genuine chaos of the season, featuring Gary heavily much to the surprise of Below Deck viewers .

What Gary’s Involvement In Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 Means

He’s part of the show more than ever.

Throughout the Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 trailer, it was clear that Gary will be a focal point of the exterior team’s story. Being shown on the deck with some of the exterior team, pushing Deckhands to their limits and critiquing their work, Gary’s presence on the sailing yacht may be odd during Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 . While he appears to be getting along with Daisy , he may not even have her in his corner by the end of the charter season. His heavy involvement in the trailer may not indicate the same throughout the whole season.

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Although Gary has been a part of Below Deck Sailing Yacht since the early days of the series, seeing him as a member of the crew after his sexual misconduct allegations came to light is tough. While Bravo filmed Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 before the allegations were revealed, they came to light during the filming of the season and it appears that the network didn’t choose to remove Gary from later episodes or take action at all. Though it remains to be seen if production did anything about Gary , it’s disappointing to some to see him on screen.

Our Take On The Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 Trailer

It could be chaotic fun, but gary leaves a stain on the show.

Although the trailer for Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 makes it seem like one of the most exciting, dramatic seasons of the series we’ve ever seen, the mess may not be worth it if Gary’s involved. By ignoring the sexual misconduct allegations lodged against Gary and leaving him on the series, seemingly without explanation, Bravo is allowing it to seem like what he may have done is okay. Though nothing has been proven, taking no action on Below Deck Sailing Yacht could be a misstep that may taint the entire season of the sailing spin-off for once excited viewers.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht premieres Monday, October 7 at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo.

Source: Below Deck /Instagram

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

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Below Deck Sailing Yacht is a spin-off of the Below Deck reality television series. Premiering on Bravo, the show follows the life of a Yacht crew as they attempt to navigate a busy Charter season in which many customers make use of a 177-foot sailing yacht. Over the first three seasons, the yacht has been to Greece, Croatia, and Spain.

Finally, Bravo Drops Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Season 5 Trailer

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Bravo fans have been waiting a very long time for news about Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5, and the network has finally delivered.

Not only did Bravo just drop a brand-new trailer for the fifth season of the hotly-anticipated reality TV show, the network also confirmed precisely when Below Deck Sailing Yacht will return.

Until today, fans of Below Deck Sailing Yacht weren't quite sure the spin-off of Below Deck would return for a fifth season, as the last episode of Season 4 aired way back in July 2023.

Editor's note: This article contains brief mentions of sexual assault, abuse, or other related topics that could be triggering for some readers and survivors. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please visit RAINN.org. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) is available 24/7.

In late June, one viewer asked Reddit users if Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 was ever going to happen, and even as recently as this summer, fans weren't sure the show was returning.

In that thread, BDSY fans speculated that Season 5 was delayed due to allegations involving First Officer Gary King.

As we previously reported, Season 4 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht featured a wild "love triangle" between Gary, Chief Stewardess Daisy Kelliher , and Chief Engineer Colin MacRae:

"Many things influenced the relationship between Daisy and Colin, but one name was the most prominent: Gary King. "Daisy, Colin, and Gary's entanglement reached a boiling point that got the three in public arguments and name-calling, and at the end, estranged."

A month after Season 4 concluded with a two-part reunion in July 2023, Rolling Stone published an in-depth article , "'Below Deck' Accused of Covering Up Gary King’s Sexual Misconduct," rocking the show's audience.

It reported in part:

"Bravo’s Below Deck was recently lauded for its handling of sexual misconduct when a producer on Below Deck Down Under broke the 'fourth wall' and intervened when one cast member, Luke Jones, tried to get into bed naked with another cast member, Margot Sisson, without her consent while she was inebriated and passed out. Not only was Luke fired from the show, but their fellow cast member and stewardess, Laura Bileskalne, was also let go because of victim-blaming comments she made to Margot about the incident and her own line-crossing pursuit of deckhand Adam Kodra. [...] "Samantha Suarez, who first joined Below Deck in the makeup department on Season 10 of the show, tells Rolling Stone that cast member Gary King tried to force himself on her during production of Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season Four, which filmed in Sardinia, Italy, in the summer of 2022."

Fans speculated that Season 5 was delayed due to extensive retooling, but Bravo eventually confirmed the return of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, with a trailer that centers Daisy.

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Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5's Release Date And Trailer

On September 16, Bravo finally released the Below Deck Sailing Yacht trailer.

Bravo shared the clip on Instagram and Twitter/X, to the surprise of fans:

Posts teased the crew's visit to the notoriously riotous destination of Ibiza, and the trailer kicked off with some remarks from Daisy.

Daisy is the first crew member to speak in the trailer, and she addresses the unwieldy love triangle of Season 4:

"Going into this season, I got rid of some dead weight. The breakup did a number on me last year. I felt very broken. "But now, I'm coming back in more focused, full of energy, and I'm f*****g good at my job. And I'm taking back the reins."

Immediately thereafter, the clip cuts to a cabin, where Daisy tells an in-bed Gary that she refuses to "carry this season," before cutting back to newer footage of Daisy laughing and predicting:

This is gonna be a s*** show.

Then the video shifts to Ibiza, where a voiceover describes it as the world's "party capital," and scenes are interspersed with a lot of breaking glass.

Gary (who has not been let go from the franchise) makes an appearance, and the soundbite chosen for the trailer is bizarre given the allegations levied at him last year:

If the guests don't have a good time, we're clearly doing something very wrong.

As the trailer winds down, one of the crew members (likely Deckhand Keith Allen) muses that "Daisy would make a very good wife."

The trailer wraps with an apparent firing, as well as what appears to be a scene during which the crew veers uncomfortable close to another vessel at sea, at night.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 debuts on Bravo on October 7 at 9PM Eastern, and streams on Peacock the following day.

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‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ Is Returning for Season 5 After Gary King’s Sexual Misconduct Scandal

Below Deck Sailing Yacht is coming back for season 5 after Gary King’s sexual misconduct scandal.

Bravo announced on Monday, September 16, that the next season reunites Captain Glenn Shephard , chief stew Daisy Kelliher and Gary as they spend their charter season in Ibiza. The rest of the cast includes chef Cloyce Martin , chef engineer Davide Morosi , stews Diana Cruz , Danni Warren and deckhands Keith Allen and Emma Crouch .

The upcoming installment comes more than one year after Below Deck Sailing Yacht wrapped up its fourth season on Bravo in July 2023.

Gary’s future as a cast member has been up in the air, however, since a production assistant from the show accused him of making unwanted advances while filming season 4.

Related: Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Biggest Drama Through the Years

In a Rolling Stone exposé, which was published in October 2023, Samantha Suarez and other former employees, who asked to remain anonymous, accused Bravo of allegedly helping cover up Gary’s inappropriate behavior.

“It was insane. There were multiple incidents of sexual harassment in front of multiple producers after this person had been given verbal warnings multiple times,” one of the accusers alleged. “I had to promote and make this guy who just assaulted someone look awesome. That was my job, to make this person look cool, capable and exciting.”

Samantha recalled being asked to look after Gary when he allegedly got drunk. Once filming wrapped, Samantha remained with Gary in his hotel room before he tried to stop her from leaving by pressing himself against her. Samantha alleged that Gary refused to let her leave until she started to fight back.

According to Samantha, she alerted producers about the incident , who told Gary to sleep on the boat on days when the crew wasn’t filming as a way to keep him out of the hotel.

Related: Former 'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Stars: Where Are They Now?

Bravo addressed the allegations in a statement to Rolling Stone , saying, “Bravo is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows. We require our third-party production companies to have appropriate workplace policies and trainings in place and a clear process on how to report concerns. The concerns Ms. Suarez raised in July 2022 were investigated at that time and action was taken based on the findings.”

Gary has maintained his innocence since news broke about the claim. “I know [that I did nothing wrong], and I know the truth but it still hurts when people will tell lies to bring you down,” he replied to a fan via Instagram one month later.

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In the aftermath, Gary didn’t appear at BravoCon in November 2023 despite initially being announced as a guest. He has since stated that he wasn’t ruling out a Below Deck Sailing Yacht return.

Related: A Guide to 'Below Deck' and Its Many Spinoffs

Gary replied to several Instagram users in December 2023 who reminded him there’s a “life after” Below Deck .

“I hope so, will have to see but will definitely be trying to stay on peoples tv screens ☺️,” Gary wrote back. In a separate comment, Gary maintained that he would return to reality TV, adding, “I will do and hopefully be back on your screens, everyday I’m trying to better myself so hopefully if they ask me back you’ll see this.”

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VIDEO: See Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 Trailer! Daisy Slams Gary as a “Prick” After Failed Boatmance, Captain Glenn Warns the Crew, and a Firing is Teased, Plus New Yachties Are Introduced!

Credit: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

The Below Deck universe is one of the popular franchises on Bravo. Fans have been clamoring for the trailer for Below Deck Sailing Yacht following the major breakdown of Daisy Kelliher and Gary King ‘s short-lived romance last season. Now, it’s finally here, and the trailer teases everything viewers want — drama, romance, and breaking the rules with the guests.

As fans of Below Deck Sailing Yacht know, each season of the show takes place in a different location. Now in its fifth season, the show is set in Ibiza. Season four of the show was set in Italy. This new season comes after Gary was accused of sexual assault. 

The new season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht seems like a good time based on the trailer, which comes exclusively from E! News . As it begins, Daisy can be heard saying, “Going into this season, I got rid of some dead weight. The breakup did a number on me last year. I felt very broken. But now, I’m coming back in more focused, full of energy and I’m f–king good at my job. And I’m taking back the reigns.”

Of course, she is referencing her breakup with Gary. She then counters the previous statement by saying, “It’s gonna be a s–t show.”

The trailer then teases a bit of work-related drama as she says to Gary, “Guess what? We have a f–king job to do, and I’m not f–king carrying this season on my own, you f–king prick!”

Naturally, the season isn’t only about the failed romance between Daisy and Gary. The trailer also shows the crew getting a bit too friendly with the guests. Captain Glenn Shephard , who is clearly upset, can be seen reprimanding the crew after having too many drinks with the guests. 

He says, “You guys went out with some guests, I set some ground rules. Two drinks maximum. You knew the rules, you broke the f–king rules, and now you’re here getting upset.”

This season also welcomes some new faces. There’s Chef Cloyce Martin , Chief Engineer Davide Morosi , Stew Diana Cruz , Stew Danni Warren , and Emma Crouch as the deckhand. 

Fans can watch the premiere of season five of Below Deck Sailing Yacht on October 7.