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Catamaran Construction – Hulls, Laminates, and Composites- Post author By BJ Porter
- Post date October 15, 2020
- 4 Comments on Catamaran Construction – Hulls, Laminates, and Composites
It’s a given that catamarans are more sensitive to weight and loading than monohulls. Catamaran builders strive to build the lightest boats they can without sacrificing strength and stiffness, and have adapted new building techniques and materials to meet this target. Cutting weight allows more passengers and gear without sacrificing performance. And the marketing materials reflect it–they load every review and website with polysyllabic technical jargon describing the design and production choices each builder made to deliver the best boat they can. But when you’re reading a brochure and you come across phrases like “ hand laid bidirectional GRP ” or “ vacuumed bagged e-glass with vinylester resin over a Divinycell core ” do you know what that really means? All modern production catamarans are made with “FRP” construction (for Fiber Reinforced Polymer). Composites aren’t new–it’s just using materials together to strengthen the whole assembly. Straw was added to bricks centuries ago, and steel reinforced concrete is a staple of construction over the last century. For boats, it’s the use of stranded fibers and cured resins which make FRP different. The term “FRP” doesn’t get into the technical detail of which fibers and which plastics, and how they’re put together to build your hull. There’s a wide variety of fiber types which can be stranded, woven, chopped or sprayed in a varied of patterns then combined with several types of resins to make hulls with different characteristics. Some FRP techniques produce lighter, stronger shapes, while others are quicker to build and less expensive to produce. The choice of technique is a function of many factors, from the number of hulls and parts to be built, the type of parts, the budget for the project, and many design specific requirements for weight and strength. 1. FRP BasicsThe principle behind all FRP construction is the same – you lay our fibers in the shape you need, then saturate them with resin, removing all the air and voids you can. Resin is left to cure, then the piece is ready to finish and use. The reality is more complex, since building a boat isn’t like making a flat board or a simple door. You’ve got a complex shape with a designed set of curves to build. “Tooling” is the set of shapes to make the boat parts; molds to cover with fiberglass to get the right shapes. That’s what makes FRP so effective – you can make almost anything out of it. But to do so requires a lot of choices about what you need for the project at hand. There isn’t a “best” all around material or technique choice for all jobs, and sometimes a lower cost technique or easier to work with material may be the better solution to the problem. A. Fiber typesFiber choices in the last few decades have expanded past the glass fibers used in the first mass produced boats in the 1960s. FRP construction wasn’t new even then, they built the first composite boats using modern fiberglass in the 1940s. The major fibers used in marine construction fall into three categories – glass, aramids, and carbon. The primary differences are in the strength to weight ratios of the fibers, durability, elasticity, and cost. Some construction may use blends of fiber types to combine performance characteristics. Glass – the most common material still, because of its low cost and versatility. The most common variety used in GRP (Glass Reinforced Polymer) is “E-glass” which refers to its strand size and mineral content. Other grades have different and sometimes better mechanical properties, but may be more expensive and less appropriate for boat building use. Fiber sizes run 10 to 25 microns for E-glass, though other grades may be smaller. Brands like Leopard, Lagoon, and most higher production volume builders use E-glass. Aramids – this includes brand names like Kevlar, Technora and Twaron. They have higher tensile strength than E-glass, and resistant abrasion and punctures. Kevlar is a common choice for bullet proof body armor, and can built a tough, lightweight hull. The materials can be difficult to work with, as it is very tough to cut the cloth. It is often blended with carbon fiber or other materials – Catana is known for using Twaron blends in hull construction. Carbon – the ultimate in lightweight, strong construction material. Carbon fiber is the most expensive fiber, and is available in a variety of weights, grades and strengths. Fibers are smaller than glass – down to 5 Micron. The lightest, most expensive hulls are made from carbon, but a catamaran builder may use carbon in places other than the hull to add strength and stiffness. Carbon boards, rudders, and reinforcing structures can enhance performance without driving the price of the boat beyond reach. Carbon is the fiber of choice for many custom builds, racing cats, and Gunboat. B. Mats, Strands, Roving, Direction, and WeightsFibers are woven into matting and cloth for construction. Depending on the application, different weights of cloth and cloth patterns and weaves may be more appropriate for the job. Cloth weight refers to the weight per square yard (or meter) of the cloth. A square yard of nine ounce cloth weighs nine ounces. The heavier the cloth, the stronger it is in a laminate. Fibers carry loads along their length, so cloth weaves have directionality to their strength. Most builders use several layers of cloth with different orientations to give good universal strength to hulls. Specific FRP applications with strict load-path requirements may have more unidirectional fiber layering – for example, a chainplate manufactured from carbon fiber may use unidirectional fiber. Cloth – fiberglass cloth is commonly used on outer layers of composites. Cloth may have unidirectional or bidirectional strength. Bidirectional cloths have maximum load strengths in two perpendicular directions. Variations on weaves like a modified twill allow a more flexible cloth for better shaping around complex molds. Mat – is omnidirectional strands of fiber compressed into a cloth. This is often held together with a resin soluble glue, which makes mat great at conforming to mold shapes without folding and bunching as it collapses when wetted. Because the strands do not align, fiber strength is the same in all directions. Woven Roving – a heavier cloth made from larger bundles of strands. Woven roving allows for quicker buildup of material and strand weight. Most FRP layups include multiple layers of different cloth and mat. Finished layers may be finer cloth over courser cloth, over woven roving and mat. Three primary resins are in common use in marine construction – polyester , vinylester , and epoxy . All resins have materials safety concerns and require care in their use and handling. Polyester is the least expensive and requires breathing protection because of the VOC emission (Volatile Organic Compounds…nasty, smelly fumes). It doesn’t have good bonding/gluing capability, and should only be used with glass fibers for structural building. Some polyester resins are referred to as “isophthalic” resins. Vinylester is chemically similar to a hybrid of polyester and epoxy, and performs best with fiberglass. It shouldn’t be used in high strength applications with carbon or aramid fibers. It has some adhesive qualities which polyester lacks, it shrinks less during curing, and has better impact resistance. The added strength of vinylester coupled with increased water resistance makes it an attractive option for many catamaran builders. It costs less than epoxy, but still has better performance than polyester. Epoxy is the most expensive, but is three times the strength of the others. It offers the best adhesion and the only resin for building structural elements with carbon and aramid. It resists water intrusion better than the other resins, resists blisters, emits no VOCs, and shrinks less. The major drawback is it is more brittle if it takes an impact. While epoxy is “the best” in terms of strength and ease of building, there are many applications where other resins are appropriate. Budget is a big driver – a boat made from E-Glass doesn’t need epoxy resin, and considerable cost savings to meet a construction price target may drive the choice. They can build quality boats from all material combinations, but price and performance will drive materials choices to keep some boats more affordable. 2. Cored ConstructionWhat’s the best way to make fiberglass strong? To a point, you can make it thicker. As it gets thicker, it gets heavier. A hollow shape can take more compressive load than a solid one of the same weight, and the same principle applies to fiberglass construction. Consider an I-Beam used in building construction. It has the same strength (or more) as a solid rectangular beam of similar mass. The compressive load on the beam is supported by the outside edges of the material, the metal in the middle doesn’t contribute much to the strength. So we can remove metal to get the “I” shape while still keeping those sides rigid, making a lighter girder with less material. The same principle applies to cored construction with fiberglass. Making a sandwich of two layers of fiberglass with a light core between them allows for the greater strength with weight savings. There are drawbacks – the biggest risk is damage which breaks the skin, which can let water into the core. Earlier cored construction used materials prone to saturation and rot if they got wet. Some builders opt to do cored construction above the waterline and solid below to minimize some of these risks. But the advantages in weight savings and increased stiffness offset the drawbacks, and there may be a few other side effects like sound and temperature insulation. Like resins and fibers, core materials offer distinct advantages, disadvantages and price points. Most builders have adopted a hybrid approach, building solid hulls below the waterline, and cored hulls and decks above. This gives a balance of weight and safety. A. Balsa CoreBalsa is light and inexpensive. The first cored construction used balsa, but it has the disadvantage of being wood. As a natural material, if it gets wet it can rot and break down. Builders use “end grain” balsa – shorter cross cut sections – to prevent wicking of water if there is an intrusion. B. Foam CoreClosed cell foam cores give good strength to weight savings while minimizing water intrusion. If you get water in the core, it won’t spread very far. Divinycell is a popular PVC foam core, though there are several choices with different densities and compressive strengths. Some foam cores are not suitable for heat treatment, but infused or vacuum bagged boats like the Outremer and PDQ do well with it. C. HoneycombHoneycomb cores are often the most expensive, but also give some of the best strength to weight ratios. Honeycombed cells made from resin cured aramid papers are some of the best, but also among the most costly. They offer good stiffness, but can be hard to shape. Aluminum and other resin-infused papers are other core materials builders can choose from. 3. Construction and ResinWhen building a hull, there are optimal ratios of fiber to resin saturation for target strength and weight. Too little resin and you may not have enough strength (or worse, voids and gaps), and too much, and you’re just adding weight without adding strength. Resins are also a significant material cost in building the boat, so over application not only increases weight but adds cost. There are many ways to assemble the cores, fibers and resins to build a finished laminate hull – we’re addressing the most common in boat building. Each approach has strengths and limitations, and an impact on the bottom-line cost to build the boat. Any voids or air pockets in the laminate can be disastrous; these techniques have been developed to increase saturation and reduce the risk of voids. A. Hand Layup / Open MoldingAs the name implies, this is the application of resin by hand to cloth as it’s laid into a mold. Wetting is done with a brush, and the laminate is rolled out to remove any air pockets and voids. This is the simplest way to lay up fiberglass, but also the least precise and consistent and will use the most resin. Skilled craftsmen have built some of the finest vessels in the world this way. Though it’s more popular with monohulls, which are less sensitive to weight, many catamarans built with hand layups on open molds are still out cruising and performing well. B. SprayingUsing chopped-strand fiber mixed with resin, a “chopper gun” can spray the mixture into a mold to lay down the composite. A consistent thickness can be difficult, but this is a low cost construction technique which makes a very resin-rich laminate. Using sprayed fibers gives lower strength in all directions compared to meticulously laid down mat and bi-directional cloth. But it is a quick technique popular with mass produced, smaller boats. It is an excellent technique for parts with complex geometry where weight is not an issue, but you will not see it often in catamaran construction. It’s heavy with resin without any resultant increase in strength. C. Vacuum Bagging (Wet layup)When an open molded component has been laid up and wetted with resin, vacuum bagging takes the process a step further. After the wetting is complete, air tight plastic bagging is secured around the wetted area, and the air is pumped out of the bag. The vacuum pulls excess resin out and collapses air pockets. The goal is to get thorough wetting and produce as strong a laminate as possible without excess resin. Knysa and Leopard are two builders that use vacuum bagging on their hulls to reduce weight. D. Resin InfusionFor resin infusion the cloth, matting and core is laid in place dry, then sealed in an air-tight bag. A vacuum pump attaches to one side of the bag, and on the other a feed for resin. The vacuum sucks the air out of the dry cloth stack, then pulls the resin through the stack, infusing and wetting it. Resin infusion, when done right, gives the lightest, strongest laminates with no voids and the minimum resin weight for maximum strength. SCRIMP is a variant of the resin infusion process used by some builders, including TPI which build many early Lagoon cats. E. Pre-pregUsing pre-preg (for “Pre Impregnated”) cloth for your laminating gets rid of the resin bucket. They manufacture cloth with a partially catalyzed resin pressed into it, then it’s chilled or frozen to stop the curing process. There is no need for seperately mixed resins, and there’s no worry your resin might “go off” and harden before you’re done wetting the cloth. Instead, the cloth is assembled, vacuumed, then heated to kick off the curing process. There are both advantages and disadvantages to using pre-preg for your laminate work. The big disadvantage is the cost; it is most expensive material to use. You also need to chill and store the cloth until you need it, though some can be at room temperature for a couple of weeks without kicking off. And you need an oven which requires some clever tricks if you’re building a forty or fifty foot boat. But the strength to weight ratio will always be perfect. High tech honeycomb cores are best suited to pre-preg lamination, and without racing against resin cure times, you can ensure perfect cloth placement and precise layout in the build process. The primary use for pre-preg in boating is high performance race boats. With catamarans, pre-preg may be used high load parts, like Gunboat does for foils and rudders. 4. Industry ExamplesAcross the catamaran building industry you’ll find almost all the above techniques and materials used, though some are less common. You aren’t likely to find chopped strand sprayed layups in ocean going cats, and hand layups can lead to heavier hulls than weight sensitive catamaran designers prefer. Most manufacturers have moved to vacuum bagging or resin infusion, with a few of the highest end boats using pre-preg for key components. Built by Robertson & Caine in South Africa, the hull material is vacuum bagged, end-grain balsa-cored E-glass with polyester. Hand laid, bagged vinylester over an Airex foam core in the hulls. Earlier Prout catamarans like the Snowgoose 34 featured hand laid solid FRP hulls and decks. Over time they switched to foam or balsa cores for decks and above the waterline. Older PDQ boats were made from vacuum bagged vinylester – solid below the waterline and cored with CoreCell foam above the waterline and in decks. Newer PDQ models switched to epoxy resin. All glass is vacuum bagged. Below the waterline is solid E-glass and vinylester. The rest is unidirectional, bidirectional, and triaxial cloths over a Nida-Core polypropylene honeycomb core with isophthalic and vinylester resins. The Gemini cats are built with a solid hand layup of woven roving and fiberglass mat and polyester resin. Decks are cored with end grain balsa. The Gemini 3200 introduced vinylester resin into the layup to prevent blistering. Older Lagoons were SCRIMP infused vinylester with and end grain balsa core above the waterline and in the decks. Newer Lagoon catamarans use polyester and vinylester resins, also infused with balsa cores above the waterline and solid below. With a carbon fiber inner skin, Catana also uses Twaron aramid fibers in the sandwiched hull over a foam core. Fontaine PajotPrimary hull construction is resin-infused vinylester with a balsa cored hull and deck. Beneath the waterline, Outremer uses a single layer, solid vinylester laminate for safety. The hulls and deck are vinylester with a Divinycell foam core. They stiffen certain components with carbon for rigidity and durability. Gunboat hulls are epoxy infused carbon fiber with a Nomex honeycomb core. They build dagger boards and other high load components with pre-preg carbon. By BJ PorterOwner of Hallberg Rassy 53; world explorer. 4 replies on “Catamaran Construction – Hulls, Laminates, and Composites”Excelent. Thank you for this I learned allot. Johan Very straight forward information. Thankyou for doing this. Damn…What an Amazingly Informative Article. *Cheers* Outremer publish on their website that they use polyester. Not vinyl ester as you have stated. Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Are Leopard Catamarans Still Worth The High Price?South African boat builders Robertson and Caine worked with international naval architects Morrelli, Melvin, and Simonis Voogd to design their Leopard Catamaran range. These catamarans are known to be spacious, comfortable, and performance-driven bluewater cruising catamarans. In addition, Leopard catamarans are the only catamaran brand certified in Europe (CE certification) and the US (NMMA Certified). These South African-built boats have a reputation for being robust enough for ocean crossings, extremely spacious, easy to handle, and expensive. Here’s Why Leopard Catamarans Are Worth Their High Price:Leopard Catamarans are worth their high price because they are extremely well-built with high-quality finishes. Initially designed for the charter market, they became so popular that the company expanded into the private market offering a choice of layouts and semi-custom options. Table of Contents A Brief History Of Leopard Catamarans:In 1991, John Robertson and Jerry Caine started a boat building company in Woodstock, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The company earned a solid reputation for building custom racing yachts and production cruisers. By 1994, as the company became known, Robertson and Caine were approached by the leading global yacht charter company, The Moorings, to produce specifically designed, spacious catamarans for its charter fleet. The company successfully delivered 100 new catamarans to The Moorings in less than 4 years! Plus, they sailed every catamaran from Cape Town to various charter destinations worldwide, proving their robust design and blue water capabilities. Six years later, Robertson and Caine started to manufacture catamarans for the private market, and in 2020 the brand Leopard Catamarans was introduced. Sailors worldwide were impressed with this new line of catamarans. The custom ‘owner’ versions became very popular for private use, with owners able to choose their layout, plus any optional equipment and even their delivery location. In 2007, Leopard Catamarans tested the luxury power catamaran market by introducing the Leopard 47 power catamaran. The Leopard 47 power cat was a great success with its stylish, good looks and remarkable fuel efficiency. Today Leopard Catamarans offers a range of both sailing and power catamarans from 40 to 53 feet, and the company has delivered more than 2,500 Leopard Catamarans worldwide. They have become one of the industry’s leaders in producing and delivering quality catamarans for private use and charter fleets worldwide. Catamaran Or Monohull? Check out our 27 Important Facts to know! How Much Exactly Do Leopard Catamarans Cost?Leopard Catamarans don’t come cheap. If you are in the market for a new catamaran, then a Leopard will set you back anything from $569,000 for their smaller 42-foot 2023 basic sailing catamaran model, and that’s if you pick it up in Cape Town! A new Leopard 40 power catamaran will cost $769,000 for the basic 2023 model. However, second-hand catamarans are available if you can’t afford a new model. A quick search on Yachtworld.com came up with a Leopard 38 from 1999 that is on the market for $198,000. Plus, Leopard Catamarans themselves have a yacht brokerage for their second-hand models. At the time of writing, prices there start from $219,900. In general, 85% of all Leopard Catamarans go into the charter market for their first 5 years. Charter companies prefer the 4 cabins with 4 heads version because they generate more income than the owner’s version, which only has 3 cabins. The new market for most boats is the 4 cabin version. The second-hand market for Leopard Catamarans generally prefers the owner versions because they normally have had less use and are in demand by live-aboard cruisers. As fewer of these owner versions are around, they tend to go for higher prices. Do Leopard Catamarans Cost More Than Similar Brands?Similar brands of catamarans include Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Nautitech, and Catana. The prices of new catamarans are not widely available and will come down to the layout, the basic boat package, and any added-on options. However, we can make a price comparison of similar second-hand models from the same or similar years. | | | Fountaine Pajot Orana 44 | 2009 | $435,600 | Catana 42 Owner’s Version | 2009 | $419,000 | Leopard 46 | 2009 | $449,000 | Lagoon 420 | 2009 | $499,000 | Nautitech 47 | 2007 | $375,000 | [Info Courtesy of Yachtworld.com, July 2022] At first glance, the Leopard Catamaran is not the most expensive, but it is the cheapest. As for value, you would have to take a more in-depth look at the inventory and the boat’s overall condition to get a better idea of whether these boats are good value for money. In addition, if you are buying a second-hand catamaran, or indeed any boat, it is always recommended to have an independent marine survey carried out to identify any unseen problems. Why Do People Choose Leopard Over The Competition?The following are reasons why people choose Leopard over other catamaran brands: - Leopard Catamarans claim that their boats are of a superior and more solid construction compared to other brands.
- The boats are beautifully and practically designed for simple sailing and living aboard.
- Leopard Catamarans boasts a finish that is in a class of its own.
- They deliver excellent performance in all conditions – under sail, under motor, or at anchor.
- The boats are spacious and comfortable, with ample storage and space for family and friends to stay aboard and socialize.
- Leopard Catamarans score big on safety with plenty of handholds, grab rails, and attachment points. Plus, all lines return to the cockpit, so you don’t have to go on deck in bad weather.
Do Leopard Catamarans Keep Their Value Better?The value of a catamaran largely depends on how well the boat has been maintained and looked after. However, catamarans tend to hold their value well, particularly Leopard Catamarans. This can be attributed to the availability of new catamarans being fairly limited as there are not so many catamaran manufacturers around. Most manufacturers have full order books and waiting lists for their boats, which keeps the resale value of catamarans much higher than monohulls or other yachts. Each year the price of new catamarans tends to increase more quickly than the equivalent monohull. So this also helps to keep the value on second-hand catamarans. In addition, roughly 85% of Leopard Catamarans are built for the charter market. While some people may be averse to buying an ex-charter boat, they tend to be of great value as they have been professionally serviced and maintained throughout their charter life. If a Leopard Catamaran has been well looked after, it will keep its value and will possibly be better than other brands. What Are Typical Alternatives To Leopard Boats?While you might be in the market for a Leopard Catamaran, there are good alternatives to consider: Lagoon CatamaransLagoon Catamarans are one of the main alternatives to Leopard Boats. The French company has been building sailing and power catamarans since 1984 and has produced more than 5,800 multihulls. Today the company still offers both sailing and luxury power cats from 40 to 78 feet. Fountaine PajotFountaine Pajot is another famous French boat builder who was founded in 1976. They launched their first cruising sailing catamaran back in 1983 and began with their line of luxury power catamarans in 1998. Today Fountaine Pajot offers a range of sailing and power catamarans ranging in size from 36 to 67 feet. Catana CatamaransCatana Catamarans is an additional French catamaran manufacturer on a much smaller scale than the previous two brands. Catana has been a leader in producing high-performance catamarans since 1984. Over the years, they have built catamarans ranging in size from 42 to 70 feet. As a smaller boatyard, they offer personalized services, and each new boat is designed in close collaboration with its future owner. Nautitech Catamarans, also based in France, build around 80 catamarans annually. Again, they are not one of the big-volume French manufacturers like Lagoon or Fountaine Pajot. Instead, Nautitech has positioned itself as a manufacturer concentrating on quality over quantity. Today they offer a range of sailing catamarans from 40 to 46 feet and a 47-foot power catamaran. They have a reputation for building performance catamarans that combine comfort in their boats. While all of the above are French catamaran builders, there are catamaran manufacturers based in the UK, the USA, and Australia. These other, mainly smaller boat builders offer high-performance catamarans that are not an alternative to a comfortable, robust cruising catamaran like a Leopard. Do You Pay Full Price, Or Do Dealers Offer Discounts?It’s a seller’s market for catamarans, with manufacturers having full-order books for the next 2 years. Most dealers have waiting lists of clients for catamarans, and Leopard is no different. To get a discount, you may be able to negotiate with a dealer at a boat show, or the dealer may be able to offer discounts on any additional equipment or upgrades you might want to order. However, don’t expect huge discounts as the dealers have little room to maneuver their prices. And with catamarans in such high demand, why should they offer discounts? If you are looking for a great deal, you should take the time to look at the second-hand market. You might find a Leopard catamaran that is only a couple of years old with many upgrades and for a good price. References:Leopard Catamarans Leopard Brokerage Click to share... - Search Used Yachts For Sale
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Search All Yachts Who Makes The Best Power Catamaran?By Robert Bowman | Posted On Sep 15, 2022 Updated On May 03, 2023 The story of the evolution of the power catamaran can be broken down to a simple act of marital duty. it was the 1940's and Ray Leger loved to fish off of the California coast with his wife Evelyn. Ray had been a carpenter and capitalized on the booming Southern California housing market after World War 2, later using his skills and equipment to construct fishing boats. Evelyn would routinely suffer from seasickness, a problem that Ray needed to solve in order to keep fishing. Knowing that a catamaran offered greater stability, Ray set out to build one with outboard motors. The first one, an 18-foot cabin cruiser, was outfitted with twin 33hp outboards. By the 1960's, construction had moved to fiberglass hulls and the popularity quickly soared. Today, power catamarans are among the fastest growing segments in the marine industry, as are sailing catamarans . A recent report shows that the global catamaran market as a whole is worth over $4 billion and has an annual growth rate of over 6%. That's nearly double what the average CAGR (compound annual growth rate) is for the boating industry in total. The transition to power cats really came from charter customers in the Caribbean that would vacation on sailing cats in the BVI's for weeks at a time. The catamarans offered greater stability, but also an incredible amount of space on board thanks to the wider beams. But people on vacation enjoying the trip would end up using the small engines most of the time as sailing comes with a certain amount of effort. Now it's common to see power catmarans in charter in the Caribbean, as well as privately owned boats behind someone's house. As more boaters get exposed to the benefits of power catamarans, the number of builders has grown as well. Power cat brands like Aquila Boats , as an example, weren't around in the early 2000's, but are now a common boat to see all over Florida or the Northeast. Prestige Yachts also just released their very first power cat into the market, the M48. Trying to claim that one power catamaran builder is the "best" among all of the others is a tough decision as there are many factors. If judged by number of units sold over the last 10 years, then Leopard is the best power catamaran builder in the industry. Looking at boats sold globally in the MLS over the last decade, Leopard Catamarans sold 40% more vessels than the second leading power cat builder, Fountain Pajot . Other notable power cat brands that led in overall sales were Endeavor, Lagoon, and Aquila. (Below: On the extreme luxury power catamaran market, the Sunreef 80 is among the best.) Video by: @NautiStyles While the number of boats sold into the marketplace is a sign of strength in a builder, it also may not necessarily equate to 'being the best power catamaran' in terms of quality. Like with monohulls, there are varying degrees of both quality and price when it comes to the subsects of the power cat industry. Both Sunreef and Horizon Yachts have expanded into large luxury power cats that, even when more than 10 years old, can still command more than $2 million as an asking price. One way to tell if the catamaran you're buying is well-recognized for its quality is to look at some of the recent award winners. Many of the editors of multi-hull focused magazines are experts in this category and have real-life experiences on dozens of different models. Here are a few notable ones: - Fountaine Pajot MY4.S won the 2022 Multi-Hull of the Year Award for its category (36.1' and reaches 22 knots!)
- The Aquila 54 won 2021 Multi-hull of the Year
- The Leopard 53 Power Cat won 2020 Multi-Hull of the Year
- The Lagoon 55 won the 2021 British Yachting Awards
(Below: The new Fountaine Pajot MY4.S offers a new 'sport top' style for the longtime catamaran builder.) Whether you're purchasing a new or pre-owned power catamaran, its resale value is of the utmost importance. Nothing can stifle your enthusiasm when you are trying to sell your existing yacht only to have it sit on the market for a long time while diminishing in value. If this is of concern to you, the best advice is to stick with the more mainstream, reputable catamaran builders. Boats with odd layouts, underpowered engines, outlandish decor, and other out-of-the-norm equipment can cause your boat to sit on the market longer than anticipated. The market demand has also improved in recent years. Over the last decade, power catamarans took roughly 330 days to sell. Almost a full year! Since 2020, however, that amount of time has decreased by 19%. Among the builders that sold within 100 days of hitting the market, Aquila, Endeavor, Fountaine Pajot, Leopard, and Robertson & Caine were prominent. (Below: The Aquila 54 Power Catamaran has a tri-deck design with a beam of over 25-feet.) At United Yacht Sales, we have over 250 experienced yacht brokers worldwide. Many have years of real hands-on experience with power catamarans, sailing cats, sailboats, and other similar vessels. We can assist you in the sale of your current yacht, or represent you in the purchase of a new one. Call us today at 1-772-463-3131 and we will connect you with the right sales professional that perfectly sits your needs and situation. Also Read: Are Power Catamarans Good In Rough Water? Interesting Boating LinksWorldwide yacht sales. - Trawlers For Sale in California
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SEND UYS A MESSAGERecent posts. Aug 16, 2024 Your Yacht For Sale Now Featured on SuperYachtTimes.com Aug 07, 2024 List Your Yacht Before The Fall Boat Show Season Aug 01, 2024 The Hot List - August 2024 Jul 15, 2024 Luxury Yachts For Luxury Buyers Four Most Popular Production Catamarans: How Do They Compare?Four of the most popular catamarans on the market today are Lagoon 450, Fountaine Pajot Helia 44, Bali 4.5 or Leopard 44. They are similar in length but there are significant differences between these catamarans in profile, styling, power to weight ratios, volume, and comfort. The fundamental question is: which catamaran is the best value and which sailing catamaran is right for me? Ultimately the choice is very personal. Everybody has different criteria for what a perfect boat is. However, we want to be sure that we compare apples with apples before we make that choice. We have done a price and specifications comparison of these popular 45ft catamaran models to see what the real differences are. While everybody claims that their product is the best, what are the facts? I took the two pictures in this article during boat shows when these boats were staged next to each other. - The first picture is of a Lagoon 450 (45.10ft length & 25.9ft beam) and the Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 (43.5ft length & 24.3ft beam) . What a difference in volume! (Click on the picture to really see the difference in size and volume). These two catamarans are both luxuriously equipped. The Lagoon is very spacious with lots of freeboard, high bridgedeck clearance, beamy hulls and a longer water line. The Helia is markedly smaller, lighter and has narrower hulls which translates into less whetted surface area and therefor, higher performance. However, from all reports, that is not neccessarily the case. For instance, look at the results of the Arc Rally for cruisers from Las Palmas to St. Lucia 2014 (see below) where all the manufacturers are featured. Both Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot fare similarly, with Lagoon showing a slight edge in these results. These are displacement hulls and they pretty much perform to thier hull speed, unless really powered up, which will allow them to displace at higher speeds.
- The second picture shows the bows of a Bali 4.5 and Leopard 44. The difference in freeboard and bridgedeck clearance between the two catamarans is remarkable. Here the claim is that one is much less expensive than the other but these are not the same boats! The Bali uses very high tech building methods with composite cores in the hull and deck while Leopard uses Balsa core. Core-Cell foam core is a closed cell structure that will never rot or absorb water. Balsa core, on the other hand, shows its weakness when exposed to water. The Bali is also a lot lighter because of the use of modern infusion techniques. Clearly there is a lot more boat and innovation in the Bali which justifies the price difference to a large degree. Dimensions for the Leopard 44 – Lenghth 42.7ft & Beam 23.9ft. The Bali 4.5 dimensions – Length 44.88ft & Beam 24.48ft.
None of these boats are bad boats. Each has it’s application and good or not so good points but the moral of the story is: Make sure that you compare apples with apples to ensure that you get the best bang for your buck. Bali 4.5 and Leopard 44: Big difference in freeboard and bridgedeck clearance Looking to buy a yacht? Contact us if you have any questions regarding catamarans for sale , Fractional Yacht Ownership or our Charter Management Programs . For Advice or More Detailed Information On These Or Any Other Catamaran Brands More Relevant Articles- How Do The Most Popular 40ft Production Catamarans Compare?
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Estelle CockcroftJoin our community. Get the latest on catamaran news, sailing events, buying and selling tips, community happenings, webinars & seminars, and much more! Leave a Comment Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Recent PostsTop 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in Annapolis, MDWe have a new home in Annapolis! The office is located in Annapolis, Maryland Top 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in TexasOur Texas Office is located in the Watergate Marina Center in Clear Lake Shores, Annapolis Boat Show 2024Meet with our team! Want to learn more about the Bali and Catana Exploring the Catana OC 50 Catamaran: A Comprehensive OverviewThe Catana OC 50 Catamaran, the latest addition to the Catana Ocean Class series, For more than 30 years, we have been a part of the catamaran community and created Catamaran Guru™ to encourage and educate all the aspiring sailing out there. We understand the dream of traveling the world by catamaran and created a one-stop-shop to make that dream a reality for you. - Stephen & Estelle
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Our List of Non-Negotiable Catamaran Characteristics All Catamarans are not made equal. And as every catamaran owner will tell you, before you purchase a catamaran you must first decide what it is that you want in a yacht. What purpose will your catamaran serve to you? Will she be a weekend getaway, will she be your home, will she sail all seven seas or will she be your retirement plan? These are all important questions to consider, as your yacht may, at one time or another, be all of these things! While performance, space and comfort are all important factors to consider, there are some things that you should never compromise on. To help, we have compiled a list of items that a sailor should never settle on. 1. Integrity In the sailing world, people put a lot of value on a company’s reputation. And this is with good reason. The sailing community is very supportive and honest, so be sure to hear it from your peers. Read all the sailing blogs that you can get your hands on and absorb all the information that you can about your boats of interest. John Devers, writer for Multihulls World said this about the Leopard Brand, “Every new catamaran in the Leopard range contains all the top features that sailors look for, including blue water capability, high bridge deck clearance, great sailing performance, solid construction, a superb anchoring system, excellent ventilation, high quality equipment, large tank capacities and a hard top on all models. Accordingly, Leopard has optioned the very best equipment and warranty support globally. Yanmar motors, Raymarine electronics, Lewmar winches are respected brands in all markets around the world and of course standard equipment can be enhanced by a range of quality optional items including generator, air-conditioning and water-makers. The end result is that once again the bar has been well and truly raised when it comes to cruising catamarans.” When you buy a Leopard, you are investing in a heritage of boats built on integrity. 2. Innovation Any yacht that you consider buying should be a fine balance between new and old. Keep what works, fix what doesn’t. That’s evolution. If you are in the market to buy a boat you should consider a brand that is innovative, as this will not only make your cruising experiences comfortable and more enjoyable, this will also help with the resale value of your yacht. Look for a trusted brand that has paved the way for the industry and other builders that have followed suit. Leopard owner Marius Martelle affirms that Leopard is leading the pack of innovation by stating the following: “I’ve made a careful study of the Leopard catamarans over an extended period. I feel like I’ve got to know them very well and I’ve always been impressed by their design and build quality. Their designers have made it their business to lead with innovation rather than follow. They were one of the first catamaran manufacturers to lead all lines to the helm station and this is done in a logical, intuitive and entirely practical way. There is always a grab rail exactly where you need it. We love the walk through to the forward deck area. We know we will be spending a lot of time lying at anchor so a user friendly layout for entertaining and relaxing was an important consideration for us.” Leopard Catamarans has made huge impacts in the catamaran industry by being the first to do many things. This includes building the first catamarans to have a hard top protecting the aft cockpit, an innovative deck plan that leads all lines to the helm, a forward cockpit that provides good space and ventilation, plus so much more. 3. Bluewater Capability We are not talking about the images that you see in Cruising World Magazine of a happy skipper sailing along the edge of an island surrounded by turquoise waters. We are talking about a catamaran sailing about somewhere between Bermuda and the Azores in 15 foot swells with a reefed mainsail and a broken autopilot. It doesn’t matter what kind of sailing you plan to do, as all sailors know, one day the weather will have its way with you and there will be nowhere to hide. For this reason, never settle for a catamaran that doesn’t tick all of the seaworthy boxes. This includes, but is not limited to: position and features of the helm station, build quality, cockpit layout, rigging, sail plan, interior layout and hull design. 4. Customer Service All of the i’s have been dotted. All the t’s have been crossed. What now? Hopefully you made it a point to research what kind of after purchase customer service the company provides because sooner or later you will need further assistance with some aspect of your new yacht. Make it your mission to learn about the team who handles customer support. You will want to take comfort in knowing that your contacts are helpful and accessible. Also, it is important to select a yacht and brand that carry a reputation of high-level quality control. Additionally, look into Owner Groups. This is a great way to learn more about the boats that you are interested in and they can also serve as a tool for useful information and “customer service”. So there you have it, our list of non-negotiable, must haves when it comes to boat buying. If you need more guidance in yacht buying, read an owner’s story about his journey to find the perfect yacht. Topics: Product Details Katie CampbellSubscribe here. |
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I chartered a Leopard 39 and found the quality to be as good as any brand I've seen. Catamarans especially are sensitive to weight, and a lot of the flimsiness depends on your perspective. To some, that indicates weak materials. To others, that indicates a valuable savings in weight. Any catamaran that is built like a tank isn't going to sail well.
Boat: Lagoon 380. Posts: 138. Re: 38ft FP, Lagoon , Leopard Quality comparison. We looked at (and were on board) both the 38 foot Leopard and the 38 foot Lagoon 380. We liked the 380 much better-enough headroom almost everywhere for my 6'4" husband, and just generally felt more spacious.
Leopard catamarans are good because they are robust, spacious, well-built, and deliver an exceptional cruising performance. These cats are excellent for ocean crossings since they are safe, easy to handle, and fast. The main downside is that they are expensive. Throughout this article, you'll also discover the following about Leopard ...
Leopard 43 X Lagoon 42. The Leopard 43 is a popular cruising catamaran. The relaxed and well-considered style and shorthand ability to sail is a perfect blue-water cruising craft. Built with high construction standards, the use of catamarans is good value for money. The Lagoon 42 bears a strong resemblance to the Lagoon 52.
With uncompromised and exceptional build quality, and a pedigree of over 1800 blue water catamarans, Leopard has set the standard for cruising catamarans. Despite its larger living areas and its higher level of sophistication, the Leopard 45 is faithful to its pedigree of robust, easy to maintain, easy to maneuver, blue water catamarans.
The softer offshore performance, high quality materials, and navigation station comfort give the Leopard my edge. The Lagoon has better interior space, visibility, and airiness. Expect to pay around $600k versus $500k for a late model Leopard 46 compared to an equivalent Lagoon 440. Clients often debate about which of the production catamaran ...
He ranks his favorite Leopard models by build quality and gives the following reasons. In his opinion, the best made Leopard (10 out of 10) is the Leopard 43, known to Moorings as the 4300 and made famous by Nicki and Jason Wynn of the popular YouTube channel Gone with the Wynns has the highest quality build in the history of the company with ...
The new Leopard 45 (also available as the Moorings 4500) evolved from the 2012 Leopard 44 with a number of features that make it an even better platform for. ... U.S. Distributor Leopard Catamarans, Dania Beach, FL AIR DRAFT 70ft Price at time of publication $555,000 (sailaway) NB&G 2017. Tags. terms: boat review Leopard 45.
In summary, the Leopard 45 Sailing Catamaran delivers uncompromised, exceptional build quality throughout, new, sleek styling, a sensible and practical layout, sailing comfort across all sea states, and features innovative technologies and multiple entertainment areas. See all catamaran models from the different catamaran manufacturers.
Taking elements of their 40 and 50- foot sailing models, Leopard even borrowed some of the interior styling from the Leopard 53 powercat to create one hot cruiser that targets a sweet spot in the multihull market, which was exploding long before COVID even hit. Above: 2021 Leopard 42 Catamaran Sailing Yacht. Photo by Leopard Catamarans.
In summary, the Leopard 45 Sailing Catamaran delivers uncompromised, exceptional build quality throughout, new, sleek styling, a sensible and practical layout, sailing comfort across all sea states, and features innovative technologies and multiple entertainment areas. INTERIOR .
Boat Review: Leopard 42. Sticking with its proven design formula, but also cherry-picking popular features from its recent models, Leopard Catamarans has launched a "best of" package with this new boat that sold nearly 30 units before hull #1 even touched water. Like a greatest hits album, the Leopard 42 combines the best of its 40ft and ...
Many on their 2nd or 3rd Leopard. I consider the buid quality to be at the upper end of production boats. The thing is built like a tank with huge metal cross beams that make the hulls incredibly stiff. Even after three years - when I go below under sail it's amazingly quiet. None of the squeaks and rattles you hear in most production boats. I ...
Leopard. Built by Robertson & Caine in South Africa, the hull material is vacuum bagged, end-grain balsa-cored E-glass with polyester. Knysna. Hand laid, bagged vinylester over an Airex foam core in the hulls. Prout. Earlier Prout catamarans like the Snowgoose 34 featured hand laid solid FRP hulls and decks.
Every boat show we went to we poured over the boats comparing features, comparing build quality, listened to multiple sales people expound the virtues of their model over another and of course we talked to real-life sailors that were 'doing it'!" ... The forward cockpits on a Leopard Catamaran has been tested and proven to drain 100% of ...
A new Leopard 40 power catamaran will cost $769,000 for the basic 2023 model. However, second-hand catamarans are available if you can't afford a new model. A quick search on Yachtworld.com came up with a Leopard 38 from 1999 that is on the market for $198,000. Plus, Leopard Catamarans themselves have a yacht brokerage for their second-hand ...
Whether is it pure curiosity or whether you intend to own a catamaran, you have without a doubt wondered how they are constructed and the materials that are used to build them. It is the unique process and high quality materials that we use to construct our boats that give them a reputation for being solidly built, sea-worthy yachts. Why we use ...
The Leopard Identity. Leopard Catamarans pushes the boundaries of catamaran design. Evolving from 50 years of customer feedback, Leopard Catamarans has pooled their expertise with builders Robertson and Caine to design today's Leopard range: spacious, robust, performance-driven blue water cruising catamarans. As the worldwide distributor, we ...
The Leopard 53 Power Cat won 2020 Multi-Hull of the Year; The Lagoon 55 won the 2021 British Yachting Awards (Below: The new Fountaine Pajot MY4.S offers a new 'sport top' style for the longtime catamaran builder.) Whether you're purchasing a new or pre-owned power catamaran, its resale value is of the utmost importance.
Leopard Catamarans pushes the boundaries of catamaran design. We produce yachts that are not only performance driven, but innovative models created with new concepts that change the way catamarans are built and utilized. All of our catamarans include cutting-edge equipment and are built blue-water ready by world renowned Robertson & Caine.
Check out Leopard's raised helm station design for an example of good visibility and handy layout for sail and boat controls. Build Quality. Catamaran construction is technically challenging and more complicated than monohull construction because of the complexity of joining two hulls and building a solid bridge deck. Builders and designers ...
Four Most Popular Production Catamarans: How Do They Compare? Four of the most popular catamarans on the market today are Lagoon 450, Fountaine Pajot Helia 44, Bali 4.5 or Leopard 44. They are similar in length but there are significant differences between these catamarans in profile, styling, power to weight ratios, volume, and comfort.
For this reason, never settle for a catamaran that doesn't tick all of the seaworthy boxes. This includes, but is not limited to: position and features of the helm station, build quality, cockpit layout, rigging, sail plan, interior layout and hull design. 4. Customer Service. All of the i's have been dotted.