catamaran sail boat price

How Much Does A Catamaran Cost?

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

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

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

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

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

Table of contents

‍ Factors that Influence Catamaran Prices

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

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

Small Racing Catamaran Cost

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

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

New Cruising Catamaran Prices

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

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

New Cruising Catamaran Cost Factors

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

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

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

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

Used Cruising Catamaran Prices

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

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

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

Used Cruising Catamaran Cost Factors

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

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

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

Why are Catamarans So Expensive?

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Tell if a Catamaran is Fairly Priced

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

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

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

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

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How Much Sailboats Cost On Average (380+ Prices Compared)

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

Sure, super yachts are expensive, but so is everything super (except for maybe supermarkets). But a modest, used sailboat can be as cheap as $2,500 and an additional $1,400 per year.

It may come as a surprise to you that you can get a decent sailboat for as little as $1,500 on Craigslist.

Average sailboat costs at a glance

We've compared thousands of listings, so you don't have to. If you just want the ballpark figures, here they are:

The average price of new sailboats is $425,000 ($127,000 to $821,000). The average price of used sailboats is $278,000 ($67,000 to $555,000). Maintenance costs are on average $2,000 - $3,000 per year, and the average total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000.

Of course the price of a sailboat depends on our choices. We decide whether sailing is a rich man's game, or actually a very good holiday investment. (It beats driving to a bungalow park for sure - both cost-wise and the experience itself.)

How Much To Charter a Superyacht? (Less Than You Think)

Why you should trust us These figures are based on our latest research which was last updated September 26th 2023 . We do this research every year, giving us very accurate numbers and clear insight into the trend of sailboat prices. We've literally compared thousands of sailboat listings over the years, and we've done so methodically. The research is done by our researcher Tay, who is an engineer by trade.

This will be a long article because there are so many 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.

To really drive home what you're getting into , I'll give four real-life examples. These examples include every expense as a separate line-item. And we'll go over them line-by-line together.

Then I'll share our exact research results with you . This will include all our numbers: new vs. used, average price per foot, and much more. These are extremely detailed numbers (you don't have to read this if you don't want to).

At the end of the article, we'll discuss why a boat doesn't just cost money: she can actually make you some if you wanted.

• A used family week-ender with a small cabin will cost roughly $30,000 (all-in for the first year).
• If you dream of sailing around the world, expect to spend around $100,000.
• New sailboats on average cost twice as much as used boats.
• Maintenance cost are 5-10% of the boat's value per year. Docking costs are roughly $800 - $2,500 per year.
• Sailboat prices have gone up 30% this year.

On this page:

Average sailboat cost: 2023 summary, examples of popular sailboats, and how much they cost, what does it cost to buy a sailboat, what does it cost to own a sailboat, make or save some money, related questions.

Before we really get into it, I first want to give you the quick rundown. So I've summarized our research for you.

Buying a sailboat

Small boats are up to 30 foot long . They'll be very capable and great for solo sailors or small families who want to go on day trips, or short week-end trips on inland waters. Some of them will have cabins and sleeping quarters, although small.

Medium boats are between 30 and 50 foot long . They'll host larger parties and will be more suited for longer trips, coastal sailing, or even bluewater cruising. Sailboat length isn't necessarily the most important feature for that, though.

Large boats are 50 foot and up . This is proper yacht territory, and they'll be a lot more luxurious, and also exponentially more expensive.

If you buy via a broker, you typically get more reliable boats, but also pay more. If you buy off of Craigslist, you get a fat discount, but there are more lemons on there too.

You could hire a boat surveyor who will inspect the boat before you buy it (much like when you buy a house). Those surveys are not very expensive and can be worth your money.

Owning a sailboat

There are a lot of costs involved with simply owning a boat. The biggest expenses will be docking and maintenance.

Those two alone will account for roughly 80% of your yearly expenses.

• Maintenance : 5-10% of the boat's value
• Docking : $800-$2,500 per year on average, depeding on location

If we want to know what we're getting ourselves into, we should know every expense to the dot.

Below, we'll go over four very different case studies. I'm hoping one of these will relate to your specific situation. It'll show you what to expect and how to budget for your purchase.

The four sailboat case studies

• What does it cost if you want to keep your boat 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?

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 in and of itself is 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 4 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.

If you want to know exactly where the numbers come from, don't worry, I'll explain them after the 4 examples.

1. Island Packet 26' for stressless weekends on the lake

The one-time costs are $24,860 Your total recurring costs are $5,650 per year, or $471 per month

Let's say you're like me and most other people and just want a nice boat without too much hassle. So you pay people for complex maintenance. 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 get the right trailer, and you save up some money for future repairs. 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 catalina 22'.

Ok, I'm very interested in how cheap you could actually go (in theory). Is it do-able to buy a very cheap sailboat and just keep her afloat, never change sails, and only pay for maintenance that is absolutely necessary to not sink?

In this scenario, I don't care about speed, so I don't change sails. I certainly won't join a sailing club, and I try to save some money on the marina by boondocking. I also happen to live in a cheap state registration and tax-wise.

Docking costs can get out of hand For an average sailboat, depending on your area and wishes, up to $5,000/year . Read everything about docking costs

I try to pay as little as possible for the boat itself (and I've actually found a Catalina 22 for $2,250 on Craigslist today!). I don't save up for rigging and hardware (tomorrows' worries). I try to get an extra 2 years out of my bottom paint and I only do the essential repairs, and I do them myself. But because I saved so much on the purchase, this little boat needs a lot of maintenance.

Luckily, I have time on my hands and know my way around engines and rigging, so I do all of it myself (with the help of YouTube).

I don't bother with winterizing my boat, I'll just sail somewhere warm. Oh, and I'll use the engine as little as possible to save on gas.

Will your boat be happy? Definitely not, but your wallet will be (for now). Can it be done? It's optimistic, but yes, I think it can be done. But you have to be mechanically inclined, and pretty creative.

The one-time costs are $2,428 Your total recurring costs are $1,380 per year, or $115 per month

Recurring Costs

3. low budget 35' ocean cruiser for traveling the world.

If you dream of crossing oceans, you need a comfortable ride. Usually, most sailors pick a boat that's between 32' - 50' for two person ocean cruising. Anything under 32' gets pretty uncomfortable in high waves, although it can be done.

But this is also the range that gets expensive - quickly . So if we're on a tight budget, but also need a good and reliable boat: how much will it cost?

The boat will cost you $35,000. For this price, I've seen a beautiful 1983 wooden cutter (by Robert Tucker), multiple Beneteau Oceanis from '88 - '89, multiple Bavarias ... plenty of solid choices on the second-hand market here.

In this example, you don't join any sailing clubs (I assume you're pretty experienced if you want to cross oceans). You also don't winterize (you're sailing the Caribbean by now). No trailer, as you won't haul it out of the water any time soon.

You do pay a fair price for the boat because you don't want any surprises during your Tour du Monde. In need of a lot of bottom paint , since you're in saltwater most of the time. It's also a good idea to invest in at least SOME navigation equipment, so for $500 I've added a simple but capable GPS chartplotter and compass.

You can get a cheap but reliable chartplotter and compass for less than $500 - in total. If you want to learn more, head over to the recommended gear section .

The one-time costs are $37,590 Your total recurring costs are $5,425 per year, or $452 per month

4. Powerful 40' Yacht (and everything that goes with it)

Let's say you're in the game for the fame. What does it cost me to own a grande yacht with all luxuries (and costs) that go with it?

I join an expensive sailing club, hire pros that maintain the thing beautifully, and I also pay for winterization, the best trailer I can find. I replace my sails and running rigging every 5 years - since speed matters to me. Because she's my pride, I paint her every year. I spend an additional 500 bucks a year on special soaps and waxes.

I want a prime mooring location, so I pay a premium. I also get a small boat to hang from the large boat, to get to shore more quickly.

The one-time costs are $166,400 Your total recurring costs are $15,150 per year, or $1,263 per month

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 25-year old used sailboat vs. a comparable new one is 3-4 times lower ($60,000 vs $200,000).

With used sailboats, I find that the price generally increases rapidly from 30 feet onwards

It's the same with new sailboats - or actually, it keeps increasing with every extra couple of feet. The reason is that as the boat gets bigger, it also gets more luxurious (upholstery, finishing, equipment).

The average price of a new sailboat per foot in USD:

• under 30 ft: $3,217 per ft
• 30 - 50 ft: $7,625 - $11,128 ft
• over 50 ft: $14,927 - $78,033 per ft

On average, second-hand sailboats go at 1/3 - 1/4 of the cost of a new boat:

• under 30 ft: $1,773 per ft
• 30 - 50 ft: $6,473 per ft
• over 50 ft: $10,091 - $36,889 per ft

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

Cost of buying a sailboat

Price of new sailboats.

I've looked at the prices of thousands of yachts (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:

Source: Yachtworld.com Q3 2023

The price of new sailboats ranges from roughly $1,765 - $78,033 per foot. I've used these numbers to calculate the following list:

Prices per foot in USD

Here's the detailed price per foot for all lengths from 20 to 100 feet:

Price of used sailboats

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

Source: Yachtworld Q3 2023

The price of used sailboats ranges from roughly $882-$36,889 per foot . Here's the detailed price per foot for all lengths from 20 to 100 feet:

Prices on Craigslist

The price of used sailboats ranges from roughly $476-$2,098 per foot.

To get an average of the price of a used sailboat, I went over to Craigslist. I took the first 20 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 sailboats on Craigslist, but sell it through a broker instead.

Median Craigslist price of a used sailboat:

• under 30 ft: $11,065
• over 30 ft: $87,020

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.

Average Craigslist price-per-foot of a used sailboat:

• under 30 ft: $476 per ft
• over 30 ft: $2,098 per ft

This is what I found on Craigslist under 30 feet:

Washington dc.

Source: Craigslist Washington DC Q3 2023

Los Angeles

Source: Craigslist Los Angeles Q3 2023

Source: Craigslist Houston Q3 2023

South Florida

Source: Craigslist Miami Q3 2023

Source: Craigslist New York Q3 2023

Here's what I found for 30 feet and up:

Sailboat price development.

Compared to our 2022 research, the median price of new sailboats has gone up 22.5% (from $251,000 to $307,500). The average price has gone up 33.6% (from $248,000 to $331,250).

The average price of used sailboats under 30 ft on Craigslist has gone up 30% (from $8,500 to $11,000).

Sailboat prices research archive

You can check our earlier research data here:

• 2022 average sailboat price data
• 2019 average sailboat price data

Catamarans are 60% more expensive

If you dream of owning a catamaran, you should expect to pay roughly 60% more for the boat, and 60% more on annual cost like upkeep and mooring. There are exceptions, of course, and for some boat lengths, new catamarans may be slightly more affordable than a monohull.

I've researched thousands of catamaran listings as well to come up with those numbers. The exact numbers are summarized in my guide on the average cost of buying and owning a catamaran. It's very similar to this article, so if you like this and are curious about catamaran prices as well, I encourage you to check it out.

Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Catamaran (With 4 Examples)

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.
• Trailer : $1,000
• Sailing club initiation fee : $1,500 - $4,000

Recurring costs:

• Mooring : $10-15 per foot per year (can be much higher for prime locations)
• Insurance : typically 1.5% of the total value of the boat. So a $50,000 26' cruiser will cost 750 bucks.
• Maintenance : a good rule of thumb is 10% of the boat value. Expect to spend anywhere between $500 - $2,500 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. - Find out how much fuel a sailboat uses in my article here (opens in new tab).
• 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 : $2,000
• Sailing club: $800 - $1,500

Cost of owning a boat

Maintenance

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

Maintenance 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.

Most engines will last you about 20 years.

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 long article about the cost of new sails (opens in new tab). It's a really helpful post (with a formula) 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

Your boat will need bottom paint roughly every 2 years (could be longer, but to be safe, let's keep it at two). It's also called antifouling paint because it helps to protect your hull from weeds, barnacles, and so on. Barnacles can slice through your boat's bellow! So you don't want them on there.

On average, it costs about $15 to $20 per foot to get your sailboat hull painted professionally.

For a 26' sailboat, that's just 500 bucks. Money well spent.

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 dollars every 5 years. But if you want the good stuff, 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. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here .

It's the best way to protect your boat in wintertime, period.

It consists of two parts:

• Winterizing - costs $500 to $1000 - 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 $50 per ft on average

Some 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 $1,500

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.

How about making up for some of those losses? There's just no better feeling than earning back all that cash with the same thing that you've spent it on in the first place.

There are lot's of ways to earn a little extra with your boat - if you're willing to put in the effort. Here are a few ideas:

• hire yourself out as the captain of a personalized cruise (for families, newly-weds, groups of colleagues)
• take people to go fishing
• hire your boat out to yacht charter companies
• teach someone to sail
• take photographers, film crews, and artists on tours
• organize dolphin and whale watching tours
• delivery of cargo - some places just can't be reached by car, for example, the city center of Giethoorn (Dutch Venice). So you have a competitive edge here!

Some ideas to save money:

• install solar panels (no more dock power)
• buy a and cheap small boat (kayak or someting) to get to offshore anchorage (which are cheaper)
• shop around for insurance
• get gas at the gas station, not the marina
• do your own maintenance as much as possible
• find a friend with water access to avoid mooring
• use it a lot (prevents stuff from breaking)
• fix things that are broken immediately
• keep your sails out of the sun
• do your own upgrades

For example, convert your winches to self-tailing yourself. I was really surprised by how cheaply this can be done yourself. Read my article on how to do it here (opens in new tab).

How much does it cost to paint a boat hull? Painting a boat hull with antifouling paint will usually cost between $15 - $20 per feet. For example, a 25-foot sailboat will cost roughly $500. A 35-foot sailboat will cost $800 to repaint. You can get premium paints and services, which can quadruple the cost. Typically, a boat needs to be repainted every two years.

Why are used sailboats so cheap? Sailboats require a lot of skill and patience. They can be quite expensive to maintain and to keep in slip. Some people find they can't afford the marina rent, upkeep, and other costs; sometimes they simply don't want to; others don't want to sail anymore. In some cases, expensive and important parts are missing.

How much does it cost to charter a sailboat? The price of a charter depends on location, size of the vessel, crew or bareboat chartering, and so on. However, on average, a bareboat yacht charter will cost anywhere from $5,000 - $10,000 per week. Crewed charters cost anywhere between $10,000 - $15,000 per week. Superyachts may cost up to $150,000 per week.

Thanks to Jean-Pierre Bazard for letting me use his wrapped boat photo under CC BY-SA 3.0

Excellent write up. This is honestly the type of information that’s hard to find as you’re trying to get into sailing. I’m a car guy. People think of car collecting like Jay Leno, but it can be done cheaply. I get the impression sailing is the same way.

Shawn Buckles

Hi Stephen, thanks a lot for your kind words, really appreciate it! It really is kind of the same, it’s all about how much time and effort you’re willing to put in. As with anything, lots can be achieved with energy and attention.

Thanks again.

Serious question. Why are you buying a trailer for a 40 ft yacht? That doesn’t even make sense.

Hi Christian, thanks for the remark. 40 ft boat trailers do actually exist, although I agree that most people probably won’t trailer a 40 ft yacht.

Thank a lot for the very useful information„ now you caused me to start thinking why don’t I start sailing lessons to do round the world in a sail boat ( instead of an aircraft)

Hello Hatem, you’re very welcome. Smooth sailing, or flying.

Hi, I am not familiar with boats. My boss just asked me to find a nice boat for him. Thank you for this informative post, this helps me so much. By the way, I already found a site selling yachts here in the Philippines, here’s the link https://rayomarine.com Do you have any suggestion with brand and boat type. Thank you! More power!

Very good information, but I am having a hard time matching these number here in Southern California. Cheapest slip I found so for is $375/month, on a very run down and far from the ocean marina. At the harbor that I want, the cheapest I found is $800/month. Even if I was given a boat for free, just keeping it in place would cost me almost 10k/year

Excellent writeup, Shawn! Thank you very much for all your hard work and I look forward to reading your other articles on the subject.

Great info! We are in the market for our first sailboat and this answered many of our questions. Although I do agree with Rafael that slip prices in Southern California our much higher than what you listed. The marina we like will run about $1000 a month.

Thank you for your artical…a LOT of useful information included in it sir. I have been thinking about buying one for two years now, since I moved to a harbor town near where I grew up. We always had motor boats when I was young. But, I always loved sailing MUCH much more! I love the quiet of it, and always something to do, rather than just sit, drive, gas it up, dock, repeat. Laugh!! It’s about a ten min walk to the marina from here..and I have nothing but time. However my health is pretty bad. I just don’t know if I could handle it all alone. I’m thinking maybe a 25-30 foot cruiser. Thanks again sir!! I look forward to reading your other articles. Sincerely, Gary Heaton Olcott, Ny

Thanks a million! First time I come across an article that complete and with so much effort. For people thinking about buying a boat the info you provide is priceless.

John Callahan

Good information, but any article on prices should have a date associated with it. I see no indication of when this article was posted.

Thank you so much for this well done article. We’re looking at getting a boat and you’ve answered questions we didn’t even know we had.

Awesome article good job i am from Slovenia and thinking about buyng sailboat and sail for 6 monhs per year.I hawe bean looking on Holland sites too buy one can i maybe find auctions too buy a sailingboat i bawe wach Troswijk but they do t hawe any up ther?

Many of the costs quoted look very low to me, especially in the first article. Was this written a long time ago?

Excellent article. Am wondering though how do I dispose of a used boat if I get tired of it and can’t sell it or possibly run it aground. Maybe a 40 ft sloop?

Chris Kenny

Thanks for this infor.

Peace sailing.

Benjamin Sklar

Extremely helpful and interesting article! Thank you!

John Wallace

This is the most accurate information I have ever seen about boat ownership costs.

Many thanks!!!!

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You may also like, how much does it cost to dock a boat for a year.

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40ft Catamaran Models Comparisons

We compare specifications, dimensions, sail area, and pricing on the most popular 40ft catamarans in 2020.

Since 2016, Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon, Leopard, Bali, and Nautitech all rolled out new 40 ft catamaran models in a similar price range that are innovative, spacious, well-built, and comfortable. The latest model to be added to this 40ft array in 2020 is the Bali Catspace.

Bali has done away with the Bali 4.1 model and has designed the Bali Catspace with much improved and innovative features while Lagoon updated their popular L400 and redesigned it with the mast further back to accommodate a self-tacking jib, open scoops, and updated interior. The FP Lucia 40, released in 2016, has pretty much stayed the same, as has the Leopard 40. They are both very popular and successful cats. While the Nautitech Open 40 is a nice sporty sailing cat, it has not really taken hold in the US market with the aft helm stations.

These 40ft catamaran models are affordable and easily be handled by a coupled. It also has all the amenities suitable for a cruising boat such as an ice maker, washing machine, bigger fridge/freezer capacity, and big living spaces, which is very attractive for live-aboard cruising couples. 

The 40ft catamaran holds its value because it is in high demand on the used boat market. The 40ft catamaran size range just makes sense.

Read our previous 40ft comparison article for older models:  How Do The Most Popular 40-ft Production Catamarans Compare?

New 2020 40Ft Catamaran Comparison

The five main production catamaran contenders in 2020 for liveaboard couples are:

• BALI Catspace
• FP Lucia 40
• Nautitech 40 Open

40ft Catamaran Models Specifications

40ft Catamaran Deck & Flybridge Layout Comparison

40ft Catamaran Deck & Flybridge Layout Comparisons

40ft Catamaran Models Sail Plan Comparisons

40ft Catamaran Cabin Layouts Comparisons

3-cabin layout.

4-Cabin Layout

READER'S QUESTION ANSWERED: Andy asked: "Which Cat is the best value and what do you budget for upgrades that deliver an above average sailing and comfort experience?" 

The pricing for the different brands are generally in the same range since this a competitive space and the manufacturers have to make sure they are not priced out of the market. There are essentially no “bad catamarans”. Most are all built to recognized and enforced codes such as the European CE standard, so it comes down to personal preference. Some boats have Balsa cores and others have closed cell foam cores. Some have large nets, others have small nets and some have no nets.

All the forward deck designs are acceptable and safe, as we have now conclusively seen over the last five years. The current trend is smaller nets and larger foredeck areas for the most part on cruising cats. Performance cats all have nets and longer bows and are a different category to the production cruisers. Lagoon has the biggest living space, Bali has the best live-ability overall and FP and Leopard are very popular for couples with the semi-raised helm position but that too is a personal preference.

In terms of the extras or additional options, I normally recommend the following:

• The largest engine option available – this is important for your exit strategy especially in the US market and of course it is nice to have the extra power since the modern cats have quite a lot of windage.
• The best winch pack available
• All the cleats offered
• Mostly it is smart to take the code zero pack even if you do not order the sail immediately (Difficult and expensive to retro fit)
• Folding props – I really think that if you are going to do any extended cruising the last thing you want is to be dragging fixed props
• Air Conditioning if you want to have it
• Generator unless you are going to go Lithium with all the inverters and electronics to replace the generator.
• Solar – I normally take the factory option and then add aftermarket to increase the array
• If possible cable throttles and not electronic (If you are struck by lightning at least you can still control the engines if they still run)
• Electrically assisted davits at a minimum – your dinghy is your “car” so one needs to have an efficient handling system (we raise our dinghy every night for security)
• Watermaker is fantastic to have. It really makes life so much easier.
• Estelle will definitely opt for the washing machine – we never had one but since she’s had it onboard our Lagoon 450, she will not go without again.

Which Is Your Favorite 40ft Catamaran?

So many cruisers and liveaboard couples choose their dream boats from this new 40ft catamaran market. Which is your favorite catamaran and why? Leave your comment below!

Contact us for more information, price lists, specifications, and available charter management programs.

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12 thoughts on “40ft Catamaran Models Comparisons”

Fabulous article and great comparisons, thank you. How do they sail? Is there any real difference?

HI Chrissy thank you! The performance of the boats are all very similar. They are all cruising cats, so not exactly rocket ships but totally adequate for a an average cruising couple. You could get a little more performance out of any of these boats depending on how aggressively you sail the boat and the type of sails you have. We race our boat and almost always end up in the top three boats.

Thank you for your article, I think we will go for the Catspace

Your welcome! I think you will be very happy with this choice. Only recommendation for any of these models, is upgrade the engines to 40hp.

In your opinion, which Cat is the the best value and what would you budget for upgrades that deliver an above average sailing and comfort experience? Obviously upgrades can be all over the map but you mentioned upgrading engine to 40hp – what else do you feel are almost ‘required’ upgrades? Thanks!

The pricing for the different brands are generally in the same range since this a competitive space and the manufacturers have to make sure they are not priced out of the market. There are essentially no bad catamarans, most are all built to recognized and enforced codes such as CE so it comes down to personal preference. Some boats have Balsa cores and other have closed cell foam cores, others have large nets, some have small nets and some have no nets, all designs are acceptable as we have now conclusively seen over the last five years.The trend is to smaller nets and larger foredeck areas for the most part. Performance boats all have nets and longer bows and are a different category to the production cruisers. Lagoon is good bang for your buck, Bali has the best liveability and space overall and FP and Leopard are very popular for couples because of the helm position.

In terms of the extras or additional options I normally recommend the following: The largest engine option available – this is important for your exit strategy especially in the US market and of course it is nice to have the extra power since the modern cats have quite a bot of windage. the best winch pack available All the cleats offered Mostly it is smart to take the code zero pack even if you do not order the sail immediately (Difficult and expensive to retro fit) Folding props – I really think that if you are going to do any extended cruising the last thing you want is to be dragging fixed props Air Conditioning if you want to have it Generator unless you are going to go Lithium with all the inverters and electronics to replace the generator. Solar – I normally take the factory option and then add aftermarket to increase the array If possible cable throttles and not electronic (If you are struck by lightning at least you can still control the engines if they still run) Electrically assisted davits at a minimum – your dinghy is your car so one needs to have an efficient handling system (we raise our dinghy every night for security) Watermaker is fantastic to have. It really makes life so much easier. Estelle will definitely opt for the washing machine – we never had one but since she’s ahd it onboard our Lagoon 450, she will not go without again.

This is a big subject and there are many opinions, I would be happy to discuss further -Stephen

We have a 2020 Leopard 40 Owners version. We love it. Just wish it carried a bit more fuel.

Hi Eugene, yes! The Leopards are very popular and we sell many of them. They are definitely a great bang for your buck. Thank you for your input!

The 40 Open has the longest WL, Largest Sail Area and has the lightest displacement… indicating it ‘should’ sail better than the others. Other than the helm position, what are the other differences (drawbacks?) you have observed or can comment on (if any)? It appears to be trying to straddle the ‘performance / cruiser’ designation… would you say it is successful?

Doug, yes you are correct however it is a displacement hull, just like the other cats in this category and while it may be a little lighter and have a bigger sailplan, it sails marginally faster, so that is not too much of a factor. In general they are nice boats but the living space is small and just like the new Excess range from Lagoon, the biggest drawback of these cats in our market is the helm position. The aft helm station have just never caught on, which is the reason that Catana and Outremer also moved their helm stations to the bulkhead rather than on the sterns.

Any chance on getting a 2024 update of the 40ft-ish Catamaran Models Comparison?

We will look into it for you

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Stable in heavy winds, fast in light winds. Full speed ahead.

The XCAT combines versatility, portability and performance in a way that no other boat on the market can. Harness the winds with the X CAT Sail or row for fun and fitness with our innovative forward-facing RowVista or rear-facing RowMotion rowing systems. The X CAT opens up a whole new world of adventures.

A winner of SAIL Magazine’s 2017 award for Best Daysailer, the X CAT is engineered to endure any challenge including some of the world’s top boat races. During the 2018 Everglades Challenge Red Beard’s very own Alex captained an X CAT Sail with RowVista.

From performance to safety gear, we carry the widest range of X CAT  accessories   to get you from your car to your next adventure.

XCAT Sail Innovations

The XCAT Sailing model has everything you need to start harnessing the wind. Both sails and all the rigging are included. We strongly recommend the Sailing Equipment Set to take your XCAT sailing experience to the next level.

1  - Fully battened square-top mainsail creates a lot of power. This sail is looped onto the mast for easier mounting and so it can be stowed still attached to the mast while rowing.

2  - Large laminated window in the genoa allows for safe navigation regardless of what tack you are on.

3  - Forestay is cleated at the mast step. This allows you to drop the mast while on the water for easy passage under low bridges and powerlines.

4  - Trampoline is made of a Textiline mesh that automatically tensions when the trampoline is installed. This prevents the need for tedious and time consuming lacing.

5  - Color coded and marked trampoline speeds up assembly by removing the guesswork. Shroud blocks and shrouds are marked with their respective red and green coloring. The positioning for the genoa and mainsheet blocks are marked on the center beam.

6  - Full length hull keels afford leeway resistance to the XCAT without the unnecessary draft of daggerboards or a centerboard. The boat will float in 6 inches of water!

Not the right sailboat for you? Let’s find your perfect boat.

XCAT Sail Features & Benefits

The world’s first hard-hulled catamaran that can be transported on the roof of your car and assembled in 12 minutes—all without sacrificing quality or performance.

Lightweight Construction The XCAT hulls are made of an HDPE skin wrapped around EPP foam forms to create unsinkable but ultra-light hulls. Combined with the anodized aluminum frame and carbon mast, the XCAT weighs in at 165 pounds when rigged as a sailboat. The heaviest part of the boat are the hulls—at only 38 pounds each—which is lighter than most kayaks!

Continuous Line Furler An in-house designed endless loop genoa furler allows for easy reefing of the sail area when on the water. An endless loop furler allows you to easily furl and unfurl the sail regardless of wind direction and speed.

Safety as a Priority The XCAT was designed to be an expedition boat, which required a focus on durability and endurance. This translates to a day sailing beach cat that makes light work of foul weather. The XCAT rig has been tested to withstand conditions as high as a Beaufort 8. The mast float and mast with floatation inside makes sure this boat is quick and easy to right in the event of a capsize.

Built-In Heave-To Feature Most sailboats can heave-to without too much trouble, but many boats struggle to remain hove-to as the wind builds. On the XCAT, if you furl the genoa, hard sheet in the mainsail, let the rudder free and sit forward of the mast: the boat will sit within 5º of true wind direction and will average a half knot in reverse, regardless of wind speed. This is a fantastic feature for novice sailors or anyone who gets caught by a squall in open water.

OE Inboard Electric Motor Option The XCAT is the smallest production sailboat with an optional inboard motor! Whether you want the security of being able to get back home when the wind doesn't cooperate or the ability to short tack up a narrow river, the eProp is the perfect solution for any XCAT sailor!

Fast & Easy Assembly The XCAT assembles with no tools or hardware. There are audible *clicks* when things get attached or are tight. This lets you know that it is locked and ready. Once you are familiar with the process, assembly can be done in about 10-15 minutes. The Red Beard Record is seven minutes and thirty seconds.

Genoa with Barber Hauler Oversized 110% genoa allows for the XCAT to be rigged with a much shorter mast without sacrificing performance. This reduces heel in heavy winds and allows you to sail under bridges for which other other sailboats would have to de-mast. The centralized genoa cleats allow you to trim regardless of which side of the boat you are on. The barber hauler, typically seen on racing boats, allows you to haul the genoa clew closer to the centerline, allowing you to point higher on the wind.

Kick-up Rudder The anodized aluminum rudder is resilient and perfectly formed. There is a built in lifting and kick up feature. You can easily lift the rudder to clear any seaweed or for shallow waters.

Dyneema Shrouds Dyneema shrouds are lightweight, easy to store and still allow for an incredibly tight rig that is ready to withstand heavy winds. The shrouds feature a double shackle system where it attaches to the boat. This makes the XCAT easier to right from a capsize by lightweight sailors.

XCAT Sail Technical Specifications

Packing & assembly specifications.

XCAT Sail Featured Accessories

Sail it. row it. power it. go ahead, it's your move.

The XCAT combines versatility, portability and performance in a way that no other boat on the market can. The XCAT Sail is perfect for achieving your fitness goals, or use it on your next river or lake rowing adventure. You can maximize the XCAT’s versatility by powering it with an optional outboard motor, or add a sailing kit to XCAT RowVista for the ability to row and sail at the same time.

XCAT Sailing Equipment Set

The X-Cat Sail is a great boat, but with the addition of these select accessories, you can really round out the whole experience. The Hiking Seats provide more ergonomic seating plus added storage for oars and paddles. The Bow Mesh provides a lot of storage capacity for gear and an anchor without cluttering up the main tramp. The Tiller-Fix can hold the tiller steady while sailing or off center for solo paddling from one side. The X-Cat is stable enough to do without, but it is highly recommended to have hiking straps equipped.

• Increase storage without cluttering the main trampoline.
• Adjustable Hiking Seats provide curb-height seating in high winds or tilted as a backrest in light winds.
• All of the most popular accessories for the X-Cat bundled at a $120+ discount.

Accessory Kit Includes: One Bow Mesh ($525 Value), One Pair of Hiking Seats Plus Storage Bag ($555 Value), One Pair of Hiking Straps ($125 Value), One Tiller-Fix ($65 Value).

RowVista® Forward Rowing System Add-On

The world’s best forward rowing system with linkage mechanism and blade feathering integrated. The RowVista system holds both national and international patents, and pending patents. If you want to maximize your X-Cat Sail with the ability to row & sail at the same time, then the RowVista is the best system for you.

• When combined with a sail, the revolutionary forward-rowing systems allows you to row and sail the X-Cat at the same time.
• Oarlocks snap onto the side beams without the need for tools.
• A technical masterpiece – Oar blade feathering despite reverse direction.
• No energy is wasted thanks to the highly efficient linkage.
• During sailing, the oars are folded together and can be stowed under the seat.

Kit Includes: XCAT RowVista® rowlocks, foot stretcher, sliding seat, stopper, bag. 1p RowVista® forward rowing Carbon oars (81”) with linkage mechanism & blade feathering integrated, and RowVista® sculls Storage Bag.

RowMotion Classic Rowing System Add-On

The classical method of rowing, straight sticks with a flappy bit on one end. Pull the sticks and off you go, it’s as simple as that. The RowMotion is the classical rowing setup for the X-Cat Catamaran. These oars will get you moving when the wind dies down. it definitely beats the heck out of paddling with a little rescue paddle. Equipped with Concept2 oarlocks, you can use your old oars from college, or add our 2 piece carbon oars in the list below to get you upstream with two paddles.

• Carbon fiber sculls with an adjustable cuff make blade feathering easy.
• Concept2 oarlocks are familiar to any rower and are the perfect fit for any aftermarket oar.
• During sailing, the oars can be stowed behind the optional Hiking Seats.

XCAT eProp Inboard Motor

XCAT Mast Float

XCAT Launching Hull Cradles

XCAT Roof Rack Accessory Kit

XCAT SUP Paddle

XCAT Anchor

XCAT Launching Cart

XCAT Launching Cart with Balloon Tires

XCAT Additional Center Beam Seat

HIKO Dry Bag for Paddleboards

XCAT Dry Bag

XCAT Hiking Straps

XCAT Tiller-Fix

Carbon 2-Piece Oars for ROWonAIR and XCAT

XCAT Bow Mesh / Front Trampoline

Side beam clamping block railblaza.

XCAT Fenders

XCAT Tie Down Strap

XCAT Hiking Seats

XCAT Small Bag

Xcat velcro strap.

XCAT RowMotion Add-On Option

Resources & support, customer reviews.

XCAT WARRANTY 2-Year Warranty against defects in the material or workmanship that affect usability. XCAT does not require that you register your boat for registration. To file a claim or for assistance with your XCAT, please email us at [email protected] or give us a call at 410-705-5026.

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2024 Boat of the Year: HH44

• By Dave Reed
• December 18, 2023

On a cool late-October morning in Annapolis, Maryland, Sailing World ’s Boat of the Year judges stepped on board the gleaming red HH44 built by the Hudson Yacht Group in China. With them for the test sail was HH Catamarans president Seth Hynes and commissioning skipper Chris Bailet, who had tuned the rig and bent on the boat’s Dacron delivery sails. (The race sails were delayed in shipping.) It was their first time sailing the boat too, and like the judges, they were eager to see what it could do.

As the crew slipped dock lines and motored away in silence, the boat’s twin 10-kilowatt electric engines propelled the sleek catamaran through the mooring field in silence. If not for the sound of water gurgling from the transoms and the apparent wind blowing across the foredeck, the judges could barely tell they were underway.

The mainsail was then carefully hoisted inside the lazy jacks, and the halyard held firm with an innovative Karver KJ cone (a conical rope-holding device that acts like a restricter). They bore away and unfurled the non-overlapping jib, which snapped full, and the boat immediately accelerated. 

“Once we got going, it was 5, 6, 7 knots and then—boom—we’re right up to 10,” Stewart says. And with that they were laying tracks all over the Chesapeake Bay, making good pace on all points of sail, even without a reaching sail to deploy. (That too was stuck in transit.)

After two hours of straight-­lining, tacking, jibing, and enjoying the comforts of the interior in a 10- to 15-knot southerly and sharp Chesapeake chop, I extracted the judges from the boat and asked, “So?”

“Boat of the Year,” was veteran Boat of the Year judge Chuck Allen’s immediate response. “That thing is wicked.”

Greg Stewart and Mike Ingham confirmed with nods of approval and big grins. There was no need to debate any further: The HH44 had earned the first award of what will be more to come. This $2 million crossover catamaran is the performance sailor’s retirement race boat. [Editor’s note: The judges’ estimated price was based on an expected racing inventory and associated hardware, but according to HH Catamarans, the new 2024 pricing is as follows: The HH44-OC will start at $995K and is approximately $1.3m fully optioned with EcoDrive and sails). The HH44-SC will start at $1.45m and be approximately $1.6 million fully optioned with EcoDrive and sails.]

With a stated 37 of these 44-footers on order as of late October and a waiting list of three-plus years, HH44s will someday be scattered about in cruising grounds around the world, says Hynes. But it’s only a matter of time—and it will be sooner than later—before owners gather and give the racing thing a go.  

The HH44 is the smallest of the builder’s new lineage of hybrid-powered performance catamarans (there is a 52-footer in the works), so it is positioned as an entry point into big-cat sailing. This model does not require a professional captain or crew because simplicity and owner-operator considerations are prevalent throughout the boat, which is designed by young naval architect James Hakes, son of Paul Hakes, one of the company founders. Chinese entrepreneur Hudson Wang is the other “H” of HH Catamarans.

“It had a great groove upwind. The self-tacking jib was really easy to deal with, and for the mainsail it was just a few feet of ease on the mainsheet, adjust the powered traveler up to center, trim on and go.”

“James brought the hybrid idea with him, and Hudson was willing to take a risk and look at doing something kind of game-changing in the industry with our parallel-­hybrid approach,” Hynes says. Morrelli & Melvin was intimately involved in every performance aspect of the boat, from the appendages to the final hull profile.

“It’s a diesel engine with a shaft drive, and then independent of that is an electric motor with a belt to the shaft, so they’re really independent of each other,” Hynes explains.  

HH isn’t the first or only builder to use the system from Hybrid Marine, but Hake’s approach to the boat overall is inextricably linked to maximizing solar coverage, which means a clean roof and placing the helm stations down in the cockpit. To address the known challenges of cockpit steering in such catamarans, the steering wheels pivot inboard and outboard to allow for better forward visibility and communication with anyone on the foredeck dealing with sails, anchors or dock lines.

Placing the steering stations in the cockpit eliminates the tiered wedding-cake look of most big catamarans these days. More importantly, doing so allows them to lower the sail plan. “That allows for more sail area and less stress on the standing rigging,” Stewart says. “Plus, it looks so much better.”

There are 4,432 watts worth of solar panels piled onto the coach roof, which Hynes says has plenty of juice to get by off the grid, even in low-light conditions. “At full battery capacity, you can run the boat at full throttle using the two 10-kilowatt electric motors and get 7 knots of boatspeed for approximately two hours,” he says. “In light air, you can even keep your leeward electric motor running to build yourself some apparent wind. That’s what’s great about this system: You can sail quietly when no one else can sail at all.”

The port helm station is where a lot of the boathandling happens; there are powered halyard winches and a meticulous array of labeled jammers. Tails disappear into a deep trough forward of the pedestal. The wheels are sized just right, Stewart says. “Initially, I was steering from the weather wheel and I could see fine, and when I went to the leeward wheel, I could easily see the telltales. It had a great feel to the helm—light and responsive with no slop or tightness.”

In Allen’s sailing assessment of the HH44: “It had a great groove upwind. The self-tacking jib was really easy to deal with, and for the mainsail it was just a few feet of ease on the mainsheet, adjust the powered traveler up to center, trim on and go. There is some choreography to learn with the steering wheel, though. You have to move the wheel inboard to get better access to the sail and daggerboard controls during the tack. But once you’re done, you pop the wheel right back out to the outboard position. We didn’t have a screecher to really light it up downwind, but even with the Dacron jib and main, the boat took off. I was really impressed.”

One wish for Stewart would be a sliver of a coach roof window for quick sail-trim checks, but he understood the priority of using every inch of solar-panel coverage.

Not having a sail-trim window wasn’t an issue for Ingham, however. “Most of the time, you’ll trim it to your best guess, take a step outboard and up the stairs right next to the wheel, and check yourself on the trim. It’s all push buttons anyway, so you’re not having to reload a winch or anything like that every time you make an adjustment.”

Even as the morning’s fresh breeze abated, the boat continued to perform beyond expectations, Stewart says. “As we got down to 5 knots of wind, the boat was still quick through the tacks. We didn’t have to back the jib at all, and it sailed at good angles upwind. I was impressed with how well it tacked, and how well it tracked with only one daggerboard down.”

Stewart, a naval architect himself, also appreciated the boat’s modern styling and “sexy-looking profile,” especially the uncluttered interior. “It’s a nice departure from other similar-­size catamarans,” he says. “I like the styling—it caught my eye the very first time I saw the rendering. The transom angle and the reverse bow give it nice aesthetics and the buoyancy you need. The curved boards worked well and are integrated nicely on with the boat. Overall, it’s a great-looking package, and it would be a lot of fun to do some races on.”

“We will definitely end up racing in the Caribbean and doing some fun events for owners,” Bailet says. “The cool thing about this boat is you can take a smaller crew of friends and race competitively, and it isn’t going to cost you $50,000 in paid crew and housing. You can race this boat with three or four people, no problem. Doublehandling is pretty easy too, but if you really wanted to go banging around the buoys, with this boat it would be easy.”

• More: 2024 Boat of the Year , HH Catamarans , Print January 2024 , Sailboats
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