15 Best Catamarans in 2023

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

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

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

The Leopard 42 is the company’s new-for-2022 replacement for the 40. It integrates several design elements that were proven on the new 50 and 45-foot models, including an upper lounge area atop the coachroof. The design also has the unique forward salon door that opens for direct access to the foredeck and a sun pad lounging area.

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

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

The Balance 482 is the Sailing World Magazine’s Boat of the Year 2022: Multihull, and no surprise. To quote the designer Phil Berman ‘Balance doesn’t make Perfect – only Perfect balance makes perfect’. Every aspect of the yacht has been thought through to find the perfect balance between speed and comfort. The designers are racers as well as experienced practical sailors – they have designed this yacht to be simple for a couple to operate and maintain in blue water with gracious living and the capacity to carry significant cruising payload thrown in to top the mix. Her luxurious elegant design is a perfect live-aboard catamaran. And she sails like a dream!

The ground-breaking Versahelm design gives you permanent up (fair weather) and down (inclement weather) helm stations and the claim is that this vessel gives you the most expansive sight lines in the cat industry at present. You can certainly see everything forward and above without looking through a dodger or vinyl. From the helm you have full command of the engine and sail trim controls – literally every line leads to this space with tails disappearing into line boxes.

There has been dedicated thought process into the functionality of every part of the yacht – even to the foredeck where the raised longeron eliminates the normal tripping hazard. There is even a rain collection system on the cabin top.

It’s as comfortable to sail as it is at anchor. She is your home-from-home, making a striking sunny appearance.

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

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

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

The Kinetic is a joint venture between Bob Hayward, a US real estate developer and Leon Scheepers, a vastly experienced South African boatbuilder, both keen sailors. These catamarans are designed by Simonis Voogd Design BV and only leading internationally available products and components are used.

These catamarans are all-carbon construction, an aggressively lightweight construction and set up for short-handed sailing. Mast is coachroof mounted and there are options for centreboards and daggerboard. There are three steering stations (two outside aft on each hull, one inside right behind the working cockpit) to suit weather conditions and personal preference. The galley is an all-electric one powered by a ultra modern DC-based 24-volt electrical system – these are just 2 of the outstanding sophisticated finishes. After sales support is key and there are customised options including cruising or racing configurations as well as equipment, interior layout, fixtures, furnishings and finishes. What is more with the triple headsail rig this vessel can quickly switch from cruise to race mode.

It maximises space in thought-through ways to ensure the very best of luxurious indoor/outdoor living on the water. For those who enjoy fishing on route there is the option of a live bait well installation at the back of one hull!

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

The Leopard 50 was designed and launched in 2018 to replace the Leopard 48 with versatility in mind. Again Leopard Catamarans set the standard for what a cruising catamaran should offer.

It has an ideal layout for excellent outdoor living space with the flybridge including a lounge are, table, sunbed and optional shade awning. As in all Leopard Catamarans the flybridge is so situated to maintain contact with the helm station.

The exterior styling has been revamped to give the hull a more sophisticated look and the interior has multiple layout configurations with 3 – 5 cabins as well as an extensive options list. There is also an option to keep the continuous hard top rather than the flybridge which would benefit increased performance if using the Squaretop mainsail and other performance-orientated rigging and sail options.

Most of the improvement is through advanced engineering improvements (including using carbon infused ring frames)  in the construction of the vessel so that you have open plan layouts and a near-360 degree view from the saloon area without compromising safety and strength.

The interior is elegant, stylish, modern and fresh, focusing on quality of finish and materials.

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

The new Voyage 590, from Voyage Yachts Cape Town South Africa is designed exclusively for private owners as well as the charter industry and has been voted 2022 Boat of the Year ‘Best Charter Yacht’ by Cruising World. It is not the first time that this yacht has won accolades – and well deserved they are too. The Voyage Company has been building yachts for 30 years for the exclusive use of charters in the British Virgin Islands. It’s a solid boat beautifully designed with a perfect sail plan.

This is an unparalleled, exciting and innovative new design – there are multiple lounge and entertaining areas, queen deluxe walk-around beds with stunning detail at all levels, modern aesthetically pleasing open-plan saloon and suitable for single-handed sail with the latest on-board system’s management – to mention just a few of its features.

This vessel has simply everything you would want for the best vacation. And to come back again and again.

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

Australian built for real sailors! The Seawind 1600 is the perfect balance of first class sailing performance and cruising comfort.

This is a product of another dedicated and passionate team – professional throughout. Designed by naval architects Reichel Pugh Founder and well known cruiser Richard Ward and his team build innovative performance sailing vessels without compromise for safe blue water sailing with only the best quality home-from-home comforts. Seawind yachts have won numerous awards over the years, constantly striving to improve their craft. Long and fast Carbon and Kevlar reinforced hulls, Kevlar retractable captive daggerboards and high aspect deep retracting rudder, Watertight collision bulkheads, fully protected dual helm stations with 360 degree vision, rigging and sail area – these are but a few of the many innovative tweaks to the design that performs.

Advanced weight saving as well as build technologies are a feature such as the captive daggerboards (they do not protrude through the deck) prevents windage on deck while at anchor, ensures safety at sea – clean deck – and reduces maintenance while is aesthetically pleasing. The daggerboard lifting system is, of course, controlled from the cockpit.

The sleek, modern, minimalistic but luxury accommodation and living area is designed with comfort in mind. It is very inviting.

This is a catamaran you have to sail.

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

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

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

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

This vessel was also nominated for Sailing Magazine’s Best Cruising Year Catamaran under 50ft. Fountaine Pajot, a longtime cat leader, follows the trend for flybridge catamarans, focusing on living accommodations and family cruising and not on vessel performance.

This 40ft catamaran has loads of versatility, it includes all the creature comforts that you would want as a bareboat or crewed charter or private ownership. It is designed to optimize space and enjoy natural lighting. It is laid out very well and also sails well with its overlapping genoa.

The Isla 40 has dynamic inverted bows, chart table adjacent to the entrance of the innovative saloon, the habitability (you can choose 3 or 4 cabins and an optional crew cabin) and sailing performance – all embodying the innovative design and spirit of the Fountaine Pajot vessels.

There are many customised options for owner to choose from – from internal layout to navigation, sailing options, interior design and finishes.

Complete Isla 40 standard features list please email

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

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

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

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

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

Complete Excess 11 standard features list please email via website

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

An easy to maintain catamaran using only the highest quality materials and equipment and all components easy to access.

The Maverick 440 follows the success of the 400 with the natural progression to a larger boat with larger transoms, sugar scoops with swim platforms, increased load carrying capacity – increasing waterline and length for faster speed and smoother sail. She is comfortable, safe and reliable.

She is easy to manage as a couple and running costs should be cost-saving.

Custom built to owner’s specifications in Cape Town by Master Boat Builder Rudi Pretorius she is put to good test in her sea trials in the southern ocean.

Complete Maverick 440 standard features list please email [email protected]

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.

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

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

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

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

Complete Catspace standard features list

See our complete list of the best catamarans here.