catamaran canoe boat

James Wharram Designs

Search our site.

• Self Build Boats
• Professionally Built Boats
• Choosing a Boat

How We Design

• Photo Gallery
• Video Gallery
• Articles & Blogs
• Wharram World

Dream, Build, Sail

Build your own catamaran renowned for its seaworthiness, stability and safe simplicity. All Wharram plans are drawn for the first-time builder.

A Global Family Of Sailors

The Wharram World circles the globe. Wharram catamarans have been built and are sailing in all the World's oceans.

Trusted, Proven Designs

We believe the ancient Polynesians knew a thing or two about building boats to last. Wharram catamarans are proven survivors.

Mana 24: Boat In A Box

Assemble her yourself from pre-CNC-cut plywood parts. Keep it at home, trail it and sail it anywhere.

Seaworthy. Simple. Affordable.

Building your own boat with Wharram Designs is the easiest and most cost effective way to fulfil your sailing dreams. Wharram Self-build boat plans start from only £120.

Wharram designs are based on years of practical, hands-on experience of building and ocean sailing catamarans. They are renowned for their seaworthiness, stability and safe simplicity. Designs from 14’ - 63’ are available for self-building in ply/epoxy with very detailed, easy to follow Plans often described as 'a course in boatbuilding'.

Study our Self Build Boats to familiarise yourself with our range of designs and their unique qualities. Download and read the Wharram Design Book which reviews each design in detail and offers a detailed introduction to the world of self-build catamarans. Order and download Study Plans and immerse yourself into the boat builder's mindset; evaluate the costs; the amount of time required to build your boat; where you will build it and where you will eventually launch it.

Once you have decided on the boat that is right for you, order your Boat Building Plans . All Wharram building plans are drawn for the first time builder, so anyone with a modicum of practical ability can build one of our designs. Our Building Plans present quality instruction, guidance and advice for both novice and professional alike. They are all based on decades of actual building experience and thousands of ocean miles sailed.

Go on adventures and live the life of your dreams. Spend your weekends coastal trekking and camping, or live aboard and spend your days sailing around the world. Become a member of the global family of Wharram builders and sailors. Wharram catamarans have been built and are sailing in all the World's oceans and can be found in far away ports and anchorages.

The quality of the Wharram self-build catamarans is reflected in their popularity, excellence of craftmanship and sound sailing qualities. More than 50 years on - with over 10,000 sets of plans sold and thousands turned into proud vessels - Wharram 'Cats' can be seen in harbours across the world, maintaining the highest reputation for surviving wind and wave.

Find Out More

Self-Build Boats

Index of Wharram self-build catamarans. Familiarise yourself with our range of designs and their unique qualities.

Choosing A Boat

To help you select a design, read our practical advice about basic requirements, building times, building methods, and costs.

Several articles giving an in-depth look at our core design principles and how they are reflected as seaworthy, stable vessels sailing the oceans.

James Wharram: Lifetime Achievement Award

A special award was presented to James Wharram for a 'Lifetime Achievement' as Pioneer catamaran builder - sailor and multihull designer.

About James Wharram

In the mid 50's, based on his research into ancient Polynesian boat design, James Wharram built the first off-shore Catamaran in Britain and sailed it out into the Atlantic. While the world's yachting community still did not accept such a design as a worthy sea-going vessel, James was landing his 23'6" 'Double Canoe' called TANGAROA in Trinidad in the West Indies.

There he built a second 40' Polynesian style Catamaran, RONGO, and in 1959 sailed it up to New York and back to the UK accompanied by two German women - being the first to sail a catamaran West-to-East across the North Atlantic. These amazing Trans-Atlantic crossings and the follow up book ' Two Girls, Two Catamarans ' have etched the name 'James Wharram' into the annals of yachting history.

Since then, James Wharram has been designing, building and sailing offshore catamarans longer than any other multihull designer. James was a 'hands-on' designer having, over his lifetime, built personally many of the prototype designs. These prototypes were built in the open, in barns, workshops and all the range of building sites available to self-builders, in a variety of climate types from northern European to the Tropics. James was often referred to as a 'Living Legend' or as written in 'Yachting Monthly' in January 2006: "James Wharram is considered by many to be the father of modern multihull cruising."

James’ last achievement was his autobiography published in 2020 as ' People of the Sea ', which he wrote in conjunction with his design/life partner Hanneke Boon. James died in December 2021 at the age of 93. The design business is carried on by his co-designer Hanneke Boon .

Hui Wharram Cornwall Gathering 2024

We are having another Annual Hui! This Hui will mark 70 years since James designed his first Catamaran 'Tangaroa' and we are excited that we will be mooring at Devoran Quay just a 5 minute walk from the Wharram Headquarters based in Cornwall. It would be lovely to celebrate his achievement with all of you.

• Read more about Hui Wharram Cornwall Gathering 2024

Pacific Islander History Month

This month of May in America is 'Pacific Islander History Month' and we at James Wharram Designs would like to join in and celebrate alongside them! As you may know, double canoes/catamarans are of ancient Polynesian origin. The modern day catamaran is a direct descendent of these original ocean-going vessels.

• Read more about Pacific Islander History Month

James Wharram's Last Ride

On 23 July, a motley fleet of self-built catamarans gathered off Cornwall to give James and Ruth Wharram their final escort. It was a fitting farewell to a legend. The ashes of James and Ruth Wharram were consigned to the sea to be carried by the ebb current out to the open ocean.

• Read more about James Wharram's Last Ride

James' Eulogy

Hi everyone. I'm Matt. And apart from being truly honoured to be here to help send James on his way to his next adventure, I am here above all as a representative, really, for the many many people worldwide who's lives have been changed, for the better, as a result of James' life work.

• Read more about James' Eulogy

A Living Legend Lives No More

We are very sad to announce that on the 14th December James Wharram left this earthly world, joining Ruth, Jutta and his many close friends that departed before him. At 93 years old his spirit has set out on the voyage to sail the oceans of heaven.

• Read more about A Living Legend Lives No More

People Of The Sea - Compact Edition

The new second edition of the autobiography of James Wharram and Hanneke Boon is now available! This more compact edition at the lower cost of £16 contains all the text and illustrations of the special first edition. An easier size to fit the bookshelf on your boat. A must for all Wharram enthusiasts and other sailors.

• Read more about People Of The Sea - Compact Edition

• 2024 BOAT BUYERS GUIDE
• Email Newsletters
• Boat of the Year
• 2024 Freshwater Boat and Gear Buyers Guide
• 2024 Boat Buyers Guide
• 2024 Water Sports Boat Buyers Guide
• 2023 Pontoon Boat Buyers Guide
• Cruising Boats
• Pontoon Boats
• Fishing Boats
• Personal Watercraft
• Water Sports
• Boat Walkthroughs
• What To Look For
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology
• Watersports Favorites Spring 2022
• Boating Lab
• Boating Safety

2021 Aspen C108

• By Jim Hendricks
• Updated: February 10, 2021

Asymmetry rarely exists in boat hulls, but there are exceptions, including the outrigger canoe and the Pacific proa. Both of these have two parallel hulls, but one hull is thinner than the other. These helped inspire a unique line of boats—Aspen Power Catamarans. Company founder and president Larry Graf has long stood as an advocate of catamarans, but Aspen takes this hydrodynamic concept to a new level with an asymmetric design. With its asymmetrical hulls, efficiency and intelligent accommodations for extended cruising, Aspen’s C108 begs you to set a course for new horizons.

An Aspen’s starboard hull is wider than its port hull. The thinner hull generates less drag. At the same time, each hull offers a balance between displacement and load, and that keeps the boat stable. The asymmetry goes largely hidden, except for one obvious element.

While early Aspen models featured a single diesel inboard within the larger of the two hulls, newer models, including the C108, are propelled by two outboards. Here’s where the asymmetry becomes readily apparent because the outboards are not identical. On our test boat, for example, the starboard engine was a Yamaha F200, but the port outboard was an F115. Both engines share the same rpm range, and each is propped proportionately.

“Because the port hull creates less drag, it does not require as much power as the starboard hull,” Graf explains. “This combination of horsepower offers the best of both worlds in terms of tracking, speed and efficiency.” Indeed, the C108 runs straight while underway. It banks flat when turning to starboard, but we observed a slight outboard lean when turning to port. Most economical cruising speed occurred at 19 mph and 3,500 rpm, where the C108 achieved 2.1 mpg. We recorded a top speed of 30.6 mph at 5,500 rpm, where the C108 posted 0.96 mpg. The boat does not plane, so there is little bow rise throughout its displacement speed range.

How does that compare with other cats? The World Cat 400 DC-X ($848,943 as tested in our October 2019 issue with twin Yamaha 425 XTO outboards) achieved a top speed of 43.6 mph at 6,100 rpm with 2.7 times the horsepower. Best cruising efficiency was 21.3 mph, where the World Cat posted 1 mpg. Also, this World Cat is a dual console, and while about 2 feet longer, it hardly approaches the Aspen’s cruising accommodations.

Interior and Accessories

The C108 begs to venture far and wide, with an enclosed cabin featuring an aft companionway to port and a special aft bulkhead to starboard—the top half hinges and locks upward to open the cabin quarters. Solar Guard windows flank the cabin to reflect 50 percent of the sun’s UV energy, but the glass and screens can slide open to allow a breeze. Four Lewmar hatches in the cabin usher in light and fresh air from above.

A convertible nook-style dinette with a Burmese teak table occupies the starboard-side, while a Corian-topped galley counter with a sink and faucet, propane cooktop/oven, fridge and teak cabinets line the port side. Grab rails provide handholds and keep items from sliding off. There’s also a passageway aft to a cozy berth within the port hull. Amtico decking offers the look of wood, without the warping or stains.

The helm resides forward on the port side, with an adjustable Bentley’s captain’s chair. Exquisitely crafted teak forms the instrument panel that accommodates two Garmin multifunction displays, a Garmin autopilot display, and controls for the standard bow thruster and optional stern thruster, among other controls and displays. SeaStar Optima power steering reigns in the two outboards. In an unorthodox setup, the binnacle control for the outboards is on the port side of the wheel. Opposite the helm is another Bentley’s chair. A full-width glass windshield, equipped with a pair of wipers, offers an expansive forward view. With the cabin closed, sound levels while underway are exceedingly low. We recorded just 72 dbA at optimum cruise, and only 81 decibels at wide-open throttle.

A descending passageway on the starboard-side accesses the master stateroom in the bow, with an elevated king berth, hanging locker, teak accents, and a pair of Lewmar hatches overhead. Access to the immaculate helm rigging is outstanding thanks to a removable panel in the bulkhead abaft the berth. Step aft to find the head compartment, replete with more than 6 feet of headroom, a shower, flushing toilet, sink, vanity and mirror. Keep walking aft, through the second door of the head compartment, to find a midcabin berth.

The cabin top extends aft over the cockpit to provide shade while fishing or crabbing. There’s a sink and faucet to wash up. A surprisingly spacious platform between the motors, accessed via a starboard transom door, allows for easy snorkeling or scuba diving. The C108 comes with a 96-quart cooler for the cockpit, and you can order a rack to stow an inflatable dinghy above the outboards and roof racks for kayaks. A stainless-steel rail along the catwalks and bow ensure safety when going forward to man the anchor windlass.

If you’re a boater intent on exploring fresh destinations with no rush to get home, Aspen’s C108 may well be your ticket to adventure.

How We Tested

• Engines: Two Yamaha outboards (F200 starboard and F115 port)
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/14.5″ x 13″ (starboard), 13.125″ x 16″ (port) 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.86:1 (F200), 2.15:1 (F115) Fuel Load: 72 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

High Points

• Overnight accommodations for five or more render the C108 a great cruiser.
• Optional 180-gallon fuel tanks offer 340 miles of cruising range based on our testing.
• A 360-degree view from the cabin helps you stay aware of your surroundings.
• Throttle-and-shift controls to the left of the wheel take some getting used to.
• With a top speed of about 30 mph, this boat is not for speed demons.
• No auto-syncing of engine rpm, so you need to do it the old-school way.

Toughest Competitor

How does that compare with other cats? The World Cat 400 DC-X ($848,943 as tested in October 2019 with twin Yamaha 425 XTO outboards) achieved a top speed of 43.6 mph at 6,100 rpm with 2.7 times the horsepower. Best cruising efficiency was 21.3 mph, where the World Cat posted 1 mpg. Also, this World Cat is a dual console, and while about 2 feet longer, it hardly approaches the Aspen’s cruising accommodations.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, operation, efficiency.

Aspen Power Catamarans – Burlington, Washington; 360-668-4347; aspenpowercatamarans.com

• More: 2021 , 30-40ft , Aspen , boat tests , Boats , Cruising Boats , March 2021 , outboards

Boat Test: 2024 Formula 457 CCS

A New Electric-Powered-Boat Speed Record

Boat Test: 2024 Tidewater 3100 Carolina Bay

Boating On Board: Boston Whaler 365 Conquest

Six Tools for Spring Make-Ready

Tips for Shaping the Perfect Wake

Eight Tips for Waxing Your Boat

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Boating may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Boating Firecrown . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

• 2024 BOAT BUYERS GUIDE
• MIAMI BOAT SHOW
• Email Newsletters
• Fishing Boat Reviews
• Fly Fishing
• Marine Electronics
• Fishing Tackle
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology
• Fishing Destinations
• The Bahamas Fishing Guide
• Boating Safety

2023 Boat Buyers Guide: Catamarans

• By Karl Anderson
• December 27, 2022

The popularity of the multihull (aka catamaran or cat) fishing boats has never been greater, as more and more boatbuilders enter this growing segment of the market. The inherent stability of the catamaran design rolls less with the seas, making fishing offshore less tiresome and more comfortable. Available from 20 to 48 feet, catamarans typically offer a large fishing platform with generous storage and fishing amenities. They are available in a wide variety of deck layouts, including center-consoles, dual-consoles, and even pilothouse and express variants.

Big Picture

The large deck area of a catamaran enables many large underdeck storage lockers and insulated fish boxes in the sponsons. This gives anglers ample room for gear and the day’s catch. The catamaran’s stability, fishability, and smooth ride in rough seas make it attractive to anglers as well as day-cruisers. A center-console version adds 360 degrees of angler access to the rail. With the dual-console design, generous seating behind a beam-to-beam windshield makes for a great family fishing-friendly setup.

Live bait is one of the most popular types of fishing in virtually every coastal zone. To do it successfully requires optimal water capacity and proper flow. The minimum size of the outflow water plumbing should be twice the size of the inflow. The plumbing should have a drain at the bottom to shed scales at the end of the day, as well as a drain at the top of the well to adjust capacity and allow overflow. Above-deck transom-mounted wells should fully flood to the lids when running to keep baits from getting beat up. 

Tip: A sump box with multiple pumps in case a pump fails is the best setup for first-rate livewells. Conveniently located inflow and outflow valves make it easy to optimize the flow without tiring your bait from swimming too much in the well. 

Rod Storage

Having enough rod holders is essential to be successful for opportunity fishing. Look for vertical rod storage along the console and across the back of the T-top. Many models also have rod holders along the outboard transom wall. Having plenty of gunwale rod holders for drift- and kite-fishing is helpful. 

Tip: Placing adjustable swivel rod holders by Gemlux makes deep-dropping, lure-fishing and drifting even easier because they allow your rods to face the direction the baits are fishing, yet they can be swiveled back to keep rods from sticking out of the boat while running and docking. 

Manufacturers often offer multiple choices for horsepower, but whatever the choice, the engines must come in pairs. For example, you might order twin outboards (one for each sponson) or four outboards (two for each sponson), but single- or triple-outboard configurations are not common on a cat. Optimal selection should be made based on user load, weight of the boat, ride comfort , performance desires, and best case for resale. It’s a rare day when you can run wide open, but having more horsepower gives better torque at slower speeds and thus better control. Running larger engines slower gives better fuel efficiency too.

Tip: When possible, choose the highest horsepower offered because it typically leads to a better resale value with a shorter sales cycle. 

Power steering from engine manufacturer Optimus or SeaStar is essential with the higher horsepower required for larger boats, and it makes installing and operating the upper station in a tower far more practical and comfortable.

With the power demands of electronics, livewell pumps, stereo amps and more, it is wise to have at least two house batteries, and for larger boats, a third or fourth with a multibank charger for dockside. Each engine should have its own dedicated battery as well. 

Electronics

Typically choosing the largest screen or multiple screens that will fit on the console is best-case scenario for ease of use, ergonomics, and visibility. VHF radios, stereo controller, and equipment switches for lighting, pumps, and accessories should all be integrated with greatest visibility and ease of operator reach. 

A Tale of Two Hulls 

A catamaran rides on pair of hulls, or sponsons, each thinner and sharper than  that of a similarly sized monohull boat. The narrow sponsons of the cat tend to slice easily through water to deliver a smooth ride, even in rough seas. At the same time, with the sponsons positioned out to the sides of the boat, cats tend to roll less, thus providing great stability to enhance crew comfort, security and safety. However, cats tend to corner more flatly than a monohull, and some hulls (but not all) tend to lean outward versus inward during a turn.

Experts Say

Newer designs such as Invincible’s Morelli and Melvin-designed semi-asymmetrical sponsons eliminate some of the negatives of the cat design, such as “sneezing,” where water sprays out the front of the boat when hitting a wave. They’ve also controlled the uncomfortable “outboard lean” ­sensation common in older designs when in a turn. Once transitioned to a ­catamaran, many become true believers and preach the benefits of the design.

Editor Says: Saltwater fishing cats not only offer superb stability and smooth ride, but some also display exceptional speed and range. I recall one trip out of Key West, Florida, aboard an Invincible 40 Cat with four 350 hp outboards to the Dry Tortugas. It was a 60-mile run, and we made it there in 70 minutes. We caught more fish than our arms could bear, and then dashed back to Key West, arriving in time for cocktail hour on the same day. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

• More: 2023 Boat Buyers Guide: More Resources , Boats

Salt Water Sportsman On Board: Boston Whaler 365 Conquest

Pathfinder 2200 TRS

EdgeWater 325CC

Pursuit OS 405 Offshore

Top Spanish Mackerel Fishing Tips

What Can Boating Anglers Expect From NMEA OneNet?

10 Common Solutions for Boat Engine Problems

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Watch The Full Video

Beautiful Yet Rugged Sport Fishing Catamarans

At Vela, we strive to create sport fishing catamarans that perform how you have come to expect a catamaran to perform and do so with a stunningly simple, elegant design. We’ve thought about every inch of our boat. Making sure everything is positioned perfectly, for both ease of use and aesthetics.

Our flagship high performance catamaran with all the luxury bells and whistles

One part performance fishing boat, one part luxury cruiser

With comfortable bench seating in the bow, and transom fold-down cushioned seating in the stern, the Vela 368 is perfect for a full day of deep-sea fishing or a comfortable day at the sandbar.

The all new 37TE is the next evolution of the Vela catamaran

Featuring an insulated split compartment coffin box with side opening doors for easy access to store your catch or use as dry storage. The T-Top has been redesigned for better visibility and an optional glass windscreen. A new rear facing bench seat with integrated cooler increases the cockpit space by over 12 inches.

Big performance in a more compact package

The Vela 318 provides the same epic cat hull experience as its big brother but in a more compact package. Get the best of both worlds with incredible offshore and inshore versatility.

The all new Vela 32TE is the not so little brother in the family

Taking cues from big brother the 32TE has a read facing integrated bench seat/cooler. The option for a glass wind screen and a large single coffin box. The 32TE has all of the same performabce and comfort features you would expect from the Vela catamaran.

Build Your Perfect Vela Boatworks Catamaran

Vela Boatworks strives to provide the best experience for our customers.Your time on the water is special to you and we feel you shouldn’t sacrifice while experiencing those special moments. We’ve thought about every inch of our boat. Making sure everything is positioned perfectly, for both ease of use and aesthetics.

GET A QUOTE

Explore Vela Boatworks Gear

Featured collection.

Vela Blue Trucker Cap

Vela Blue Logo Women's Racerback Tank

Vela Logo T-Shirt

Youth Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Vela "V" Neck Gaiter

Cuffed Beanie

View All Vela Gear

Catamaran Boats: Types, Uses & Activities

Let’s look at some of the types of catamarans and their best uses.

Sailing Catamarans

Sailing catamarans have made great strides over the past several decades. Small daysailing cats are popular because they provide a safe and simple learning platform and you’ll find fleets of them in resorts where they’re used by people with very little sailing experience. These types of small cats are usually made of roto-molded plastic or fiberglass and they typically don’t have auxiliary engines so their sole source of propulsion is sails.

Larger sailing cats have taken over the world of distance cruising and bareboat chartering . Nearly all tropically-based bareboat charter companies offer more sailing catamarans today than monohulls and those numbers are also growing in destinations such as the Mediterranean. Typically, charter cats have two engines, one in each hull, to maneuver as well as a mast that supports a mainsail and at least one headsail.

Explore Sailing Catamarans & Sailboats

Power Catamarans

Power catamarans, often referred to as "multi-hull powerboats" or "power cats," have larger engines than their sailing cousins and no masts or sails. Their bigger motors give them higher top speeds but these cats also need reinforced hulls to handle the weight and power of these engines. Other than pontoon boats (which arguably are also power cats), motorized cats are the fastest growing segment of the boating market.

Power cats come in various shapes and sizes. Numerous smaller power cat brands are marketed for fishing while larger ones are popping up in bareboat charter and as cruising platforms. Many commercial passenger ferries have also turned to the catamaran design for their spaciousness and speed.

Explore Power Catamarans

Advantages of Catamaran Boats

There are some inherent advantages of boats with multiple hulls, which include:

• More deck and interior space per foot than monohulls. A catamaran has about 1.2 times the space of a monohull. In other words, a 40-foot cat should have the deck and interior space of a 50-foot monohull. Cats also have more interior space with up to four cabins even in a vessel under 40 feet in length. These large cabins usually provide easier berth access and they have hull windows with opening ports for better ventilation and light even in the staterooms, which are usually more separated for privacy.
• Due to their design with two hulls set wide apart, cats enjoy greater stability under way and at rest in rolly anchorages . Unlike a monohull that can heel under sail or roll when powered, cats stay level, which makes them safer and easier for people and pets to maneuver on the flat deck. Some say cats have an easier motion than monohulls and tend to induce less seasickness.
• With twin engines, cats’ propellers are set wide apart so these boats have excellent maneuverability. Cats can venture into shallower waters too – especially sailing cats that don’t have deep keels. Because cats don’t drag a massive keel through the water, they’re also on average 20-30 percent more fuel-efficient even with two engines.
• Larger, more sophisticated power and sailing catamarans have a natural redundancy built into their equipment inventory, which translates to comfort and safety. For example, if a fresh water pump fails in one hull, there’s usually another to provide water for washing up. If one engine fails or one propeller spins off, there’s another to get the vessel to homeport safely. There’s also more room for the installation of additional systems like generators, watermakers, battery banks, and more.

Drawbacks of Catamaran Boats

Like any boat type, there are a few small drawbacks when it comes to catamarans:

• Catamarans take up more space so it’s often difficult and expensive to find dock space.
• Due to their design, both power and sailing cats can also slam the bridge deck into oncoming waves when going to weather.
• Additionally, sailing cats don’t necessarily sail as well upwind as monohulls because with two hulls, they simply can’t point as high into the wind.
• Finally, it may be tempting to load up a catamaran due to the space it offers but a sure way to damage a power or sailing cat’s performance is to overload them or have uneven weight distribution—something, which is less of a problem on their monohull counterparts.

Catamaran Boats FAQs

Whether used for daysailing, world cruising, chartering or fishing, boats with two hulls are growing in acceptance and appeal. The basic design may be hundreds of years old but today’s updated designs make catamarans a viable option for any boater.

Are catamarans more expensive than monohulls?

Purchasing or chartering a catamaran is usually more expensive than a monohull since there are more accessories and even more fiberglass construction to pay for. Over time, cost of ownership can be higher too since there are two hulls to polish and wax and more equipment to service or replace. It’s also more expensive to haul out a catamaran for bottom work.

What is the typical draft of a catamaran?

Draft (depth below waterline) depends on the size and type of cat. Small daysailing cats can draw mere inches but with a large cruising cat, it may be 3-4 feet. Some cats have dagger boards that are used to improve upwind performance. With the boards down, a cat can draw 10 feet or more but these boards may be lifted to allow access to shallow water.

Can catamarans be raced?

Catamarans make fine racers as has been proven by the America’s Cup contenders. There are also one-design classes in the smaller, open designs.

Read Next: Types of Sailboats, Activities & Uses

You Might Also Like:

• Boat Hull Types, Shapes & Designs
• Best Boats for Ocean & Offshore Boating
• Buying a Yacht: Motor Yacht Buyer's Guide
• Best Small Sailboats for Beginners
• Find the Right Boat for Your Lifestyle

Join Our Newsletter!

Get community news, buying bargains, and how-to guides at your fingertips.

• European Union
• South Africa

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’re proud to say that over 2,500 Leopard cats have now been delivered all over the globe. 

Pricing & Options

Latest news.

Captain Confidence: Turning Closing Day Jitters into Seamanship Success

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sailing Totem
• Charter Resources
• Destinations
• Galley Recipes
• Living Aboard
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology

2022 Boat of the Year: Best Performance Catamaran

• By Cruising World Editors
• December 15, 2021

During and in the four days immediately following the US Sailboat show in Annapolis, Maryland, the  Cruising World  judges inspected and sailed on 27 boats vying for recognition. Learn more about the boats in our  2022 Boat of the Year  »

OK, confession time. When the roster of nominees for the 2022 Boat of the Year awards was released, the contest’s team and judging panel couldn’t help themselves, and quietly put three check marks, little symbols of anticipation, alongside a trio of boats: the untamed cats that would vie for the title of best performer in their class. After all, both Balance and Seawind had entered the winner’s circle in previous BOTY competitions, and it was clear they’d have a serious contender for the throne in yet another player from cat-crazy South Africa, the Kinetic KC54. How’d it go? Let’s just say, nobody was disappointed. The conditions on Chesapeake Bay were ideal for putting the three nominees through their paces, and the trio of scalded cats all acquitted themselves superbly. 

For 2022, if anything, the trend for flybridge catamarans is on a major upswing. New cats for 2022 from both Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot continued down that design path, putting an emphasis on living accommodations, not performance. But not aboard the latest Seawind 1600 , a brand originally built in Australia that is now produced in Vietnam. And that suits judge Tim Murphy just fine. “This boat was very dialed in,” he said, “and one place Seawind has always been innovative is with their helms. This one was really great; it was -outboard and aft with great visibility, sort of half-protected where you could step in and out. There was also good access to the boom and mainsail, which you don’t always see on cats. The deck layout was excellent, particularly the forward trampolines. Some cats have lacings with large openings where you can twist an ankle, but these were nice and tight.”

“Compared to other Seawinds that I’ve seen, I was just blown away with it in terms of what it could do and how it performed,” said Ed Sherman.  “It’s a fairly conservative boat in terms of technology compared to some of the other boats in the same category, which depending on a potential buyer’s state of mind, could be either a good thing or a bad one. I loved the centralized winch aft which is where all the sail-handling takes place. It’s pretty brilliant for a short-handed crew, and it’s all in a very safe and easy-to-access location that a cruising couple can deal with without scaring the heck out of themselves.”

The Kinetic KC54 is a fresh entry in the cat universe, and we’ll let Tim Murphy get right to the point: “This is a fairly new company that was started within the past couple of years. My breath was absolutely taken away by this boat; it was spectacular. I think it was the best-built boat in the entire fleet. It’s an all-carbon boat, with a foam core, epoxy resin, all infused–fantastic. The whole boat felt integrated. You didn’t feel like there was a conflict between the forces in terms of accommodation versus performance.” With a price tag approaching $3 million, it perhaps should not be astonishing. That was a major factor in evaluating the boat, and while it did not win its class, the experts panel did present it with a Judges’ Special Recognition prize to honor the boat’s overall excellence.

“It was my personal favorite in this year’s contest,” said Sherman. The materials that were used are absolutely the highest quality available in our industry at this point, and it’s a very high-tech boat in terms of systems.” Gerry Douglas was also duly impressed: “This was the Tesla of sailboats. I think that that was their model. In terms of design and execution and technology, it hit all three of those marks. This boat is built without compromise, and what it cost was not an issue, they just wanted to do the best they could in every aspect of the boat. The construction was impeccable, the fit and finish was amazing. There are some very clever design things in the boat, but it all really worked seamlessly.”  

With that level of competition, the Balance 482 had a tall order to overcome to win its class. And it did. “The sailing performance was excellent,” said Douglas. “The boat felt really good. The steering was terrific. The structure of the boat throughout was exemplary. Storage is really good. Visibility was good. Ventilation was great. There was even a rain collection system on the cabin top, which is the only one of the boats we looked at had that. It was very well concealed because the gutters formed a handhold going forward. The solar panel installation was also well done. The panels were encapsulated into a fiberglass tray that elevated the deck so the panels wouldn’t overheat. Very clever.”

The driving force behind Balance cats is Phil Berman, a world champ at racing beach cats who brought that passion to developing and marketing fully found cruisers. Judge Murphy knows him well: “Phil comes from a very strong view of wanting to see boats that have solid sailing performance. He’s also a strong proponent of daggerboard boats, which tends to be quick shorthand for the dividing line between cats that are more about payload versus cats that are about performance, but not so much where you’re going to fly a hull or break a rudder. There’s a balance within a boat that really performs that you can still live aboard.” A winning balance, it turns out, with the Balance 482 securing its position as the Best Performance Cruiser for 2022.

• More: balance catamarans , Boat of the Year , Boat of the Year 2022 , catamaran , Kinetic Catamarans , print 2022 jan , Sailboats , seawind catamarans
• More Sailboats

New to the Fleet: Pegasus Yachts 50

Balance 442 “lasai” set to debut, sailboat review: tartan 455, meet the bali 5.8, route planning in the face of climate change, how to rig everything in your favor, imtra named employee-owned company of the year.

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding