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TOPCAT K2X 

Fun and easy cat to sail. Speed when you need it and simple fun when you want it.  An all around boat- Simple. sporty, fast, reliable. Whether alone, as a couple or as a group of four with the whole family, this cat of the TOPCAT fleet is a reliable companion. The shape of the hull ensures a lot of buoyancy and the large amount of space offers the highest level of comfort . The K2X glides safely and quickly over and through the waves. A great alternative to a Hobie Getaway or Hobie 16 as a more modern catamaran for all ages and skills.   Wing seats are available wit this boat.  Boats are in stock.  

In the classic mainsail configuration, the K2X offers the perfect introduction to sporty sailing. The square top Streamcut mainsail offers enough power that the double trapeze can also be used in moderate winds.  Also available in the Classic, Sport Cruising and Racing configurations.  Contact us for more details on each.  

• Dacron classic Sail
• Roller-Furler-Jib
• Double  Trapeze 
• Cunningham 6-way
• Jib-Traveler-System
• Aluminum tiller extension

YOUR OPTIONS

• Streamcut square top sail
• Carbon extendable tiller extension
• Spinnaker furling
• Spinnaker bagged
• Harken traveler and blocks
• 2-part mast
• Pentax Laminate sails
• Catamaran Trailer

* optional / varies depending on the configuration

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East Coast Sailboats, Inc: 104 Shores Avenue, Point Harbor, NC 27964

Tel: 252-489-3491

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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Recreational sport catamaran K1 regatta instructional single-handed

Characteristics

5.5 m (18'00" )

175 kg (386 lb)

Min.:  14.2 m² (152.8 ft²)

Max.:  16.7 m² (179.8 ft²)

Min.:  4.7 m² (50.6 ft²)

Max.:  5.4 m² (58.1 ft²)

Min.:  16 m² (172.2 ft²)

Max.:  18.8 m² (202.4 ft²)

Description

Other Topcat products

• Sport catamaran
• Multiple sport catamaran
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• Asymmetric spinnaker sport catamaran
• Regatta sport catamaran
• Single-handed sport catamaran
• Double-trapeze sport catamaran
• Instructional sport catamaran
• Single-trapeze sport catamaran
• Disassemblable sport catamaran
• Children's sport catamaran
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• Polyethylene sport catamaran
• FRP sport catamaran
• Polyester sport catamaran
• Formula 18 sport catamaran
• Resin sport catamaran

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In the small world of beach cats there is a huge choice in the 15 ft range. Some models are getting fairly ancient, others have not yet proved themselves, some are aimed more at racing and others are fundamentally designed for beginners or for sailing schools.

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Topcat K3 Review

Topcat has become a big name in Europe with over 16,000 boats sold over three decades, but is relatively new to the UK market. Jeremy Evans put the K3 Streamcut to the test.

The first Topcat appeared in 1979, three years after the Dart 18 — to which it bore more than a passing resemblance with skegs to keep the hulls on line, a boomfree mainsail and simple but sophisticated assembly system with beams sliding into hulls and no fiddly nuts or bolts. In fact its similarity to the Dart 18 and the threat of possible legal action kept Topcat out of the UK for more than two decades.

In the meantime, Topcat GmbH has moved on, prospered and become a very popular brand which is still owned and run by Bernd Breymann and his family, a catsailing enthusiast who built the very first Topcat to a design by Klaus Enzmann.

Design and concept

Consistency appears to be the recipe to Topcat’s success, with a strongly branded range of five different cats, all designed by Enzmann and all based on the original concept. Carefully colour coordinated in red and white, the Topcats are all different size variations on the same theme with K1, K2 and K3 on the mainsail for the three principal sizes — there’s also a smaller 4.5 and Chico for kids.

Everything about a Topcat is kept simple. They all feature the same assembly system without requiring bolts or tools, are trailable or cartoppable with the option of a two-part mast, have tough fibreglass foam sandwich hulls with a handy 30 litre storage pod in each stern and have a unique rudder system and adjustable mainsail clew. All the hulls are built in Italy; all the cats are assembled in Germany with Andrew Landenberger (former Tornado bronze medallist and Topcat world champion) supplying the sails.

Unlike other cat and dinghy ranges, Topcats all work the same on a bigger or larger scale. Your first choice is size: the 5.5m K1, 5.17m K2 or 4.92m K3. Your second choice is rig. All three cats in the K range have the option of a classic pinhead mainsail and jib with a single trapeze like the Dart 18, or a larger and more modern ‘Streamcut’ square top mainsail with the same size jib and twin trapezes for the K1 and K2. There’s also the K1 Regatta with Streamcut mainsail and 19sq m kite which is an internationally recognised onedesign class, being promoted by Topcat as a same sized, user-friendly alternative to Formula 18 — much simpler to own, won’t get outdated by new designs, and nearly as quick offwind with over 40sq m of sail power.

Having built up a large following in Europe, Bernd Breymann is busy opening up new markets for Topcat — he’s already delivered two containers to China. On a smaller scale Cat Bitz (run by Andy Morse) is the new UK importer based in Portland Harbour. For our test the 16ft K3, equipped with a Streamcut Pentex mainsail, came straight out of the box.

The K3 is described as a ‘powerful one or twoman boat for recreational or regatta sailors’ which can be sailed doublehanded with mainsail, jib and crew on the wire or singlehanded with helm on the wire and just mainsail. Getting it ready for the water is as straightforward as cats come and less fiddly than rigging the average single-wire dinghy. Aluminium cross-beams slide into the hulls and are held in by trampoline tension — due to a perfect fit, the platform appears pretty rigid with no flop in the hulls. The elliptical 7.6m aluminium mast (a split-part mast is only available for the classic rig) fits onto a Harken swivel at the mast foot — lie the mast along the trampoline facing aft, attach the shrouds, walk the mast upright hand over hand and get someone to link up the roller furling jib to the bridle which provides forestay tension.

The Topcat rudders are an extraordinary design. Each foil has a tough aluminium casing and drops or lifts like a daggerboard inside the stock. The foil can be pushed halfway down to its ‘keel’ position which is aligned with the skegs for use in very shallow water — Topcat claim just 30cms are required to start sailing, one assumes with a superlight crew!

The big advantage is that because the rudder is not raked aft, there is none of the weather helm which makes it impossible to sail at more than a crawl when a conventional swivelling rudder is not right down. Once in deeper water, the foil is locked in the full depth ‘speed’ position. We all know the big disadvantage of any kind of daggerboard: potential destruction of neighbouring bits of boat if you hit the bottom at full bore. Topcat get over this with a neat kick-back facility, which allows the foil to swivel at almost 45 degrees.

Launching and sailing

Richard Glover and Luke Butler — two helms in the GBR Youth Multihull Squad — volunteered to sail the K3 in the breezy conditions which have been difficult to avoid during recent months at Portland. The wind was gusting around Force 5 when we took the photos, then steadily increased past 25 knots to a full gale. Not the easiest conditions for the K3, which above all is a beach cat designed for fun in the sun.

Everyone was impressed by the finish of the Topcat, which radiates that style and quality one expects from top German design and engineering. We also liked the way it was so quick and easy to rig — hauling the mainsail up to the halyard lock can be a bit grunty on some cats, but there was no struggle with the K3. The boys were also surprised by the relatively light weight of this 16ft cat despite its chunky, high volume hulls. There should be plenty of buoyancy for a couple of crew up to around 180kg — as with all cats, heavyweights will get best performance from bigger boats.

You can see in the photos how the skegs create a totally straight keel line. That helps makes the Topcat a particularly easy cat to launch and recover, with the aluminium bridle strut providing a useful handle as the crew wheel it to and from the water. Unlike some cats, the rudders can’t fall down at inopportune moments on the launch ramp and in shallow water they performed well with balanced handling at low speeds.

The Pentex sails looked great, providing the crew with first class vision to leeward while spectators can spot any Topcat a mile off with those bright red stripes. The Streamcut mainsail is very big and powerful for the size of boat and contributes to considerably more upwind sail area than a Dart 18, which is also a longer boat. That should make the K3 a great performer in light or moderate conditions, able to fly the windward hull with no hesitation in Force 3. But we had a load of wind and in those conditions the guys struggled, finding it difficult to depower that big mainsail and hold the boat down with their combined weight of around 140kg. Part of the problem was that with no boom stretching the foot, easing the mainsheet powered up the mainsail by increasing camber. The sailors were also unable to get sufficient jib luff tension which increased fullness to the leading edge — an extra turning block for the halyard might have helped.

Everything has to work perfectly if you’re managing a performance boat with lots of sail in hardcore conditions. Both guys thought the rudders felt too stiff. Maybe that’s because this K3 was a virtually brand new boat which needed loosening up, but it made steering more tricky than it should have been — particularly downwhill at speed, when small, precise, instant corrections are required to prevent a cat doing naughty things.

The clew outhaul traveller is a special Topcat feature which is adjustable on the water, allowing the crew to slide the top block of the mainsheet fore and aft to different calibrated positions on the foot. The idea is that you shift it forward as the wind increases, gradually flattening the sail and eventually twisting off most of the leech, and it can also be adjusted to get a suitably full shape downwind. This feature certainly looks neat, but neither Richard or Luke were convinced it made a big difference in those windy conditions when the classic method of attaching the mainsheet to different clew plate holes could have been equally efficient.

The testers capsized the K3 — inadvertently — on the way back to the Sailing Academy as the wind gusted to 30 knots. But despite the very strong wind, they had no problems getting it back up using the shockcord-loaded righting line which is ready-for-use at each end of the forward beam. The boat can also be sailed in singlehanded mode, but in the conditions neither Richard or Luke felt confident about taking on the K3 challenge alone.

Topcat K3 Review: Verdict

The K3 Streamcut seems like a hybrid which combines a cat that’s best suited to beach use and family fun with a very powerful mainsail. Like all the K range, it can also be fitted with an asymmetric kite for some added interest downhill. If you’re interested in catracing performance for all UK conditions, look elsewhere — for instance the same length Spitfire has considerably more sophisticated control systems at the cost of extra complexity and a bigger price tag.

If you’re purely into fair weather sailing, having a laugh and going fast on a good-looking machine, the K3 should be able to beat many things in a drag race and has the advantage of being very straightforward to use and to own — just like its slightly bigger and quicker K1 and K2 sisters.

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Kingfisher 730 Powercat 2024 Review

New zealand specialist power catamaran boat maker, kingfisher, has launched a tough new fishing model called the 730 powercat.

This hardtop half cabin boat is available with an open or enclosed wheelhouse – and with a huge range of fishing features and accessories.

This terrific new sports fishing trailer boat is paired with twin Yamaha 200hp four-stroke outboards to deliver excellent performance.

Kingfisher made its way across the Tasman from New Zealand in 2023, launching at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat show with Queensland dealer, Wynnum Marine.

The first Kingfisher models in Australia were single-engine centre console cats in 4.5m, 5.1m and 5.7m lengths.  

More than 12 months on, the Kingfisher brand is gaining traction as anglers and powered catamaran enthusiasts acknowledge the quality of these innovative craft.

At the 2024 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show , Wynnum Marine presented several larger Kingfisher models – including the brand new, twin-outboard 730 Powercat hardtop.

We spent some time on the water with Kingfisher’s new offshore cat, with the test rig paired with twin Yamaha 200hp extra-longshaft outboard engines.

Price and equipment

The 730 Powercat is now Kingfisher’s biggest trailerable powered catamaran, replacing the 620 series as the trailer boat flagship. 

Larger, wide-beam Kingfisher cats are also available in sizes through to 14m for both recreational and custom commercial boating applications.

Remarkably, Kingfisher also has a full line-up of plate-alloy monohull boats from 4.0m to 10.0m in length – although still no access to those boats in Australia.

The Kingfisher 730 Powercat is available with or without a fully enclosed, lockable wheelhouse.

Our test boat was the open version with the helm station enclosed on three sides, complete with a view-enhancing single-piece front windscreen and sliding cabin side windows.

Package pricing for the Kingfisher 730 Powercat HT starts at $257,539 and includes dual counter-rotating Yamaha 150hp extra-longshaft outboards with digital electronic controls and electric power steering; a Yamaha CL5 engine display; Evolution 3500kg rated custom trailer with electric-hydraulic brakes; dual cranking batteries; dual house batteries; safety gear pack; and boat and trailer registrations.

Inside the boat there is plenty of factory kit as well – too much to list here, but scroll to the bottom of this review to view all of the standard inclusions. 

Our test boat was set-up for display at the 2024 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. It was accordingly loaded with cool options, features and accessories.

Electronics gear included Garmin 8416xsv and 8412xsv multi-function displays with Airmar and Garmin through-hull transducers; Garmin GMR Fantom Radar with Motionscope; Garmin 215i VHF radio; Fusion RA210 Stereo with four speakers; and a ROKK wireless phone charger.

Optional fishing features included a transom live bait tank; port-side bait board with tackle drawer and fishing tools; raw water deck wash; starboard-side custom Plaztek tackle station with drawers; Plaztek tool, pole and gaff holders; Kilwell outrigger bases and poles; plumbed sub-floor kill tanks; extra rod holders; transom sink with tap and 50L freshwater tank.

Elsewhere, the test boat was optioned with an upgraded Maxwell drum winch, U-Dek flooring upgrade; metallic hull side paint upgrade; extra cleats; two windshield wipers; additional deck lights; underwater and under-gunnel lighting; electric toilet; custom port-side wheelhouse seating with dinette; transom door; Travel Buddy pie oven; Icey-Tek ice box upgrade (115L and 90L); and more.

With the above extra kit, and paired with larger Yamaha F200 four-stroke outboards, Yamaha’s full Helm Master EX navigation and joystick control system, and an upgraded GFab tri-axle aluminium braked trailer, the driveway package price rises to $376,253.

Hull and engineering

The Kingfisher 730 has a maximum length of 7.3m and an Aussie road-legal towing width of 2.49m.

The bare hull weighs about 2000kg, while the wet towing wet for the heavily optioned test boat is 3500kg when paired with the standard Evolution tandem axle trailer – but rising to about 3600kg on the premium GFab tri-axle braked alloy trailer.

Either way, the Kingfisher 730 is no light weight: you’ll need a Dodge Ram/Chevy Silverado size vehicle to haul this big rig on the highway. 

Below the waterline, the Kingfisher 730 has symmetric shaped sponsons with a very fine bow entry shape.

Inner and outer chine flats run all the way aft to provide lift at speed, stability at rest.

The topsides are tall and there is a pronounced sheer to the deck-line that’s designed to keep spray at bay – and to give the boat a tough-looking stance on the water.

The 730 Powercat is made using 5mm welded plate alloy for the hull and transom, 4mm for the topsides, cabin and self-draining cockpit floor.

Related: Top 10 trailer boats of the 2024 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

Design and layout.

Our Kingfisher 730 test boat had an open plan layout so that you can walk right through from the cockpit to the front cabin where there is a full width double berth.

The double berth is 1.83m long x 1.42m wide, and upholstered using a patterned (stain hiding) brown cloth material.

Beneath the berth there are storage lockers, as well as provision for the optional toilet on the starboard side.

Lack of privacy will be an issue when using the toilet, as there is no cabin bulkhead. However, I am pleased that Kingfisher has at least made a toilet available.

To use the toilet, you need to remove the starboard side berth cushion and the centre infill cushion/board.

Surprisingly, given the Kingfisher has something of a working boat vibe, there is carpet lining the cabin ceiling and surrounds – which warms up the interior.

Access to the front anchorwell (and included Maxwell drum winch) is via the exterior cabin sides, rather than through a cabin hatch.

Helm and hardtop

The helm station is nicely setup with a full width dash beneath the one-piece toughened glass windshield which provides an unrestricted view for the skipper.

The helm fascia/instrument panel is not as large as some I have seen recently, but it is big enough to flush-fit a 16-inch display – such as the Garmin 8416xsv optioned to our test boat.

A second Garmin display was bracket-mounted in the centre of the dash, above an optional Travel Buddy pie oven to port and a very handy full width welded grab rail.

The helm dash/fascia panel might be modest in size, but provision is made to comfortably fit Yamaha’s digital binnacle throttle controls, along with a Yamaha Joystick to operate the optional Helm Master EX boat control system.

Sliding side windows channel cooling air into the wheel house when required.

Overhead, beneath the hardtop, there is provision for radio head units, stereo speakers, lighting, dual full-length ceiling handrails and cockpit spreader lights out back.

The hardtop itself is sturdy and rigid. There was no movement or vibration when underway.

The hardtop is also used as a mounting base for the optional Kilwell outriggers, Garmin radar, navigation lights, radio aerials, and a nine-rod rocket launcher rod-rack.

Reconfigurable seating

The Kingfisher comes standard with box-mounted bucket helm chairs, but our test boat was optioned with a Plaztek tackle station behind the starboard side helm chair/storage box, and a clever seat/dinette arrangement for the crew opposite.  

With removable and repositionable backrests, the port side seating layout can be configured as a chaise-style lounge, a two-person dinette with adjustable height table – or as a pair of forward- or aft-facing single seats with backrests.

Both port and starboard side seat boxes allowed for the fitment of the upgraded, split-lid Icey-Tek ice boxes – which slide out into the cockpit.

Fishing cockpit

The large, U-Dek surfaced self-draining cockpit stretches 1.95m aft of the helm seats back to a full height transom wall.

The cockpit is flanked by 2.35m-wide side coamings and a two-tier side-storage pocket setup that extends the length of the cockpit.

The lower side pockets are comfortably above the floor (to provide toe/foot support underneath) and incorporate a horizontal rod storage rack.

Two large, sub-floor kill tanks provide more storage, and/or space to ice-down the day’s catch.

Other features/options included a Plaztek bait board with drawers, starboard-side sink with faucet and freshwater tank, multiple welded rod holders and cup holders, a casting/swim cage out back, elevated transom battery/storage compartments, and a live bait tank built into the centre transom boarding step/walkway.

The bait tank is sufficient in size and shape, but it did have a rigging tube running across the top of it – which may cause bruising/irritation to live baits.

On the water

The Kingfisher 730HT is a fun, fast offshore fishing boat – especially when paired with the twin 200hp Yamaha extra-longshaft outboards.

We clocked a top speed of 43.8 knots with two adults onboard and with full fuel and water.

More significantly perhaps, the Kingfisher is quick offshore – in the sense that the very smooth, cushioned ride and balanced handling allows for a high cruise speed in mild to moderate conditions.

The 730HT is also very solid, stable – and drier than many other cats I have tested in the 6.5-8.0m size range.

Like most cats, the Kingfisher runs best with the engines trimmed out/up to allow air flow into the tunnel to generate lift.

That said, the big cat is responsive to power trim so you can lift or lower the nose easily to suit the sea conditions.

At displacement speeds, the Kingfisher sits solid and secure in the water. However, this model does not have a tunnel “wave-breaker” fairing/pod so there is some tunnel wave slap when slow trolling directly into a headsea.

Overall, the Kingfisher 730 delivers the goods with regard to handling, ride and performance.

I’d happily run this boat to the wide offshore canyon fishing grounds, safe in the knowledge that it’s capable of dealing with the rough stuff and getting me home safely.

Performance

REVS   SPEED FUEL USE        RANGE

1000     4.4kt (8.1km/h)  6.0L/h   306.5nm

1500     5.6kt (10.4km/h) 10.0L/h 234.1nm

2000     6.9kt (12.8km/h) 15.5L/h 186.1nm

2500     10.8kt (20.0km/h)          24.4L/h 185.0nm

3000     16.4kt (30.3km/h)          29.7L/h 178.1nm

3500     21.7kt (40.1km/h)          38.5L/h 235.6nm

4000     26.7kt (49.4km/h)          48.5L/h 230.1nm

4500     31.0kt (57.3km/h)          64.5L/h 200.9nm

5000     35.3kt (65.3km/h)          86.7L/h 170.2nm

5500     38.7kt (71.6km/h)          101.3L/h           159.7nm

5700     43.8kt (81.0km/h)          145.0L/h           126.3nm

Range on 95 per cent of the 440L fuel supply at 3500rpm: 235.6nm

The Kingfisher 730 Hardtop is an excellent powered catamaran, and a superb fishing trailer boat.

It’s not cheap with all the optional gear and equipment fitted, but as tested the Kingfisher is ready to go offshore to do battle with everything from mackerel to marlin.

Would I have one? In a heartbeat.

Kingfisher 730 Specifications

Model: Kingfisher 730 Powercat

Length overall: 7.3m

Beam: 2.49m

Hull weight: 2000kg (approx)

Towing weight: 3500kg (approx)

Hull and transom alloy: 5mm

Topsides alloy: 4mm

Maximum power: 2 x 200hp outboards

Maximum engine weight: 240kg (each engine)

Engine as tested: Twin Yamaha 200hp four-stroke extra-longshaft outboards

Fuel: 2 x 220L

Passengers: 10

Priced from: $257,539 including dual counter-rotating Yamaha 150hp extra-longshaft outboards with digital electronic controls and electric power steering; Yamaha CL5 engine display; an Evolution 3500kg rated custom trailer with electric-hydraulic brakes; dual cranking batteries; dual house batteries; hardtop with one-piece windshield, sliding side windows, rocket launcher rod-rack and electronics box; swivelling bolster helm chairs with footrests; 2 x Icey-Tek 70L ice boxes; cabin berth cushions and infill extensions; carpet lining to cabin; Octigrip deck tread flooring; 4 x drink holders and built-in rod holders; interior lighting; underfloor storage; side storage shelving; anchor locker with electric drum winch and rode; transom swim/casting cage with ladder; boarding platforms; painted hull and cabin top; safety gear pack; boat and trailer registrations.

Price as tested: $376,253. As above but with dual Yamaha 200hp four-stroke outboards; Yamaha’s full Helm Master EX navigation and joystick control system; upgraded GFab custom aluminium tri-axle braked trailer (4500kg ATM); Garmin 8416xsv and 8412xsv multi-function displays with Airmar and Garmin through-hull transducers; Garmin GMR Fantom Radar 24x 50W HD with MotionScope; Garmin 215i VHF radio; Fusion RA210 Stereo with four speakers; ROKK wireless phone charger; transom live bait tank in walk-through; port side bait board with tackle drawer; raw water deck wash; starboard side custom Plaztek tackle station with drawers; Plaztek tool, pole and gaff holders; Kilwell outrigger bases and poles; custom plumbed sub-floor kill tanks; extra rod holders; transom sink with tap and 50L freshwater tank; upgraded Maxwell drum winch, U-Dek flooring upgrade; metallic hull side paint upgrade; extra cleats; two windshield wipers; additional deck lights; underwater and under-gunnel lighting; electric toilet; custom port-side wheelhouse seating with dinette; transom door; Travel Buddy pie oven; Icey-Tek ice box upgrade (115L and 90L).

Supplied by: Wynnum Marine

What we like

• Very soft riding in short, sharp chop
• Superb fishing fit-out
• Great styling, imposing presence

Not so much

• Some tunnel slap at trolling speeds into the waves/wind offshore

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