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Catana began building catamarans in 1984 and is now based in Canet-en-Roussillon, France. This article covers the history of this famous multihull yard. If you are looking for 2nd hand boats, check out our Catana Catamaran for Sale page.

Crowther’s Cats

In their early years, they became the world leader in fast-performance cruising catamarans helped by legendary Australian multihull designer Lock Crowther. Following the Crowther era, Christophe Barreau and Frédéric Neuman continued the success with a series of designs that remain popular to this day.

Like Nautitech catamarans , they favour a more exposed helm position aft for maximum sailing feel – the sporty helm, if you like. Although the latest model (the Ocean Class 50) has a raised starboard helm.

The two original partners of Catana (Jean-Pierre Prade and Thierry Goyard) employed Lock Crowther to design a range of models from 38′ to 48′. The two directors (Goyard and Prade), both engineers, sailed for several years on multihulls,  including a round trip to Greenland, on a Lock Crowther design of course.

Later, a young architect called Christophe Barreau started working with Lockie on the deck & interior designs sometime between 1984 and the 411 which was credited to both men.

From Cogolin to Canet en Roussillon From 1984 to 1993, the Catana yard in Cogolin built around 5 to 7 boats per year. In 1986 they started using  Twaron for the inner skin of the shell.

Catana moved to Canet en Roussillon back in 1998 and the company was sold in 2000 to a group of investors. Prade left the boat business, but some years later Goyard opened XL Catamarans, also in Canet, selling high-performance catamarans (TS50/TS52) designed by Barreau.

The Marsaudon Connection Before shutting up shop at XL Catamarans, Goyard commissioned Barreau to design the TS42 now built by Marsaudon Composites in Laurent and one of the fastest performance cruising cats on the water.  Marsaudon had collaborated with Catana previously on the 521/522- they built a dozen of them under contract.

Barreau’s Boats Hull #1 of the C411 (now Pelagic) was the first model credited to Barreau, but Crowther´s name also pops up on this design. Maybe Crowther was retained as a consultant with Barreau taking the lead?

Barreau kept up and developed the design DNS of his former mentor with asymmetrical hulls, tulip-shaped bows, a narrow waterline, and daggerboards for upwind sailing.

Lombard Advises Lately, Catana has set up an in-house design studio and worked with the Marc Lombard Group as a consultant (another of my favourite multihull design teams and known for its Nautitech, Neel and Privilege designs).

Lombard is credited with designing the Catana 70, after which they brought the designs in-house, but you can still spot his influence in the shapes of the hulls.

Carbon Infusion Technology Catana remains a world specialist in fast cruising catamarans ranging from 42 to 90 feet, all designed for long-distance cruising and continues to be unique in that it builds boats using advanced Carbon-Infusion and Twaron processes.

The hulls, bulkheads, deck and furniture are all built in foam-cored sandwich, which make Catana Catamarans light and fast. Recent models have veered away from the super fast, light cats of their early years (Marsaudon have moved into this space).

Performance and Safety Catana focuses on producing fast, comfortable ocean crossers. Their yachts are well above average on the performance front, though not as quick as others in lighter winds. It’s a segment of the market that is getting more competitive: HH for example has launched its OC50 catamaran which sits in this space.

The latest launch is the Ocean Class, a 52-footer that launched in 2020 with a single raised bulkhead helm.

The History of Catana- a Timeline

• 1984: Catana is founded in Cogolin, France.
• 1984 Catana 40C,
• 1988 40S (until ’92)
• 1989 Catana 37 (until ´91), 39 (until 94), 42S, 46 (until ´90)
• 1991 Catana 47 (Crowther), Catana 48 (8 units built until ´96)
• 1992 Catana 44, 48R (2)
• 1994: Catana 411
• 1995 Catana 381
• 1996 Catana 531
• 1997: Catana opens in Canet-en-Rousillon and launches the legendary 471. Also Catana 611.
• 1998 Catana 431 launched followed by the 432. Also Catana 721
• Catana 45 One Off (custom Barreau project)
• 1999: they launched the Catana 401 which replaced the 381 and 411 (later also built by Phisa as the 42)
• 2000 Catana Aikane 56 (VPLP design)
• 2000: the 472 and 581 are launched: these both have more luxurious specs than earlier boats.
• 2001: launch of the 582, a luxury performance cruiser, later marketed as 58 Ocean Class
• 2002: the Catana 52 is launched, eg 521, 522 then Ocean Class
• 2003 Last 471 produced in May #68  “Element”.
• 2003 Catana was bought by Poncin. They market the 47-footer as the 47 Ocean Class up to 2007
• 2004 Catana 43 Ocean Class (evolved from 431), 47 Ocean Class
• 2006: Catana began to manufacture larger yachts from 82 to 90 feet long.
• 2007 The Catana 50 Ocean Class is launched
• 2008 Catana 41 Ocean Class, 65 ,Catana 90
• 2010: launch of the Catana 42 and a lighter 50.
• 2011: launch of the Catana 47 and 59.
• 2012: The Catana 70 is launched
• 2013 Catana 55
• 2016 Catana 62
• 2017 Catana 53 launched at La Grande Motte.
• 2020 Catana launches the Ocean Class,  a 52-footer with a single raised helm station on the starboard bulkhead.

(Sorted by Year)

Catana 40, 40S (1984-92)

The Catana 40 was the very first model launched in 1984 when Catana was based in Cogolin in the South of France.

Hull #1 was called “Pêcheur de Lune”: the first owners registered her on 25th July 1985 in Toulon. In 2019, she was restored by Alberto Machado and renamed “Oceanus”

There are 2 versions, the 40C (11 built? Hull #11 was launched in 1988) and the 40S. The plate above is from a 40S (Hull #15, 1995).

Fast Cat This cat is quick! She weighs only 5.8 tonnes, meaning she sails well even in light winds.  The bridgedeck was high for the time, so there was less slamming compared to the cruising cats of the time such as the Prout range.

And upwind, with her fine hulls and daggerboards, she was a real performer.

There’s not much space on her compared to modern cats, but the owners didn’t care as they were flying along.

Even so, she came with 4 double cabins- the limited space was well thought out: an excellent design that is very rare on the second-hand market.

Later Came the 40S The later 40S was built with a C39 deck mold and a 42 cockpit mold spliced together. An example is “Avighna” (1992) Hull #16.

The 40S has a narrower beam than the original 40C models which became the 42.

Catana 42S (1988?)

Another Lock Crowther creation, the Catana 42S was slightly longer and sleeker than the original 40C developed from the same molds I believe. A lovely looking catamaran, especially from this angle. Around 20 were made.

An example is “ Paikea “, a 1990 42S.

Catana 37 (1989)

The smallest Catana, but pretty rare…

Catana 39 (1988)

Image Credit: Twilight (1993)

Another example is Tigre, a Catana 39S, hull #4.

Catana 39 Boat Tour

Catana 44 (1992)

Another popular Lock Crowther design from Catana´s early days. Evolved from the 42. A new wider hull mold was made using the same deck mold and that became the 44.

The 44 design was later lengthened and became the 48.

An example is S/V Pacific Hoodlum #10 (1994), a Catana 44S

Catana 48 (1992)

The 48 is probably the most sought-after of Lock Crowther’s early Catana designs. She has a much lower bridge deck than more modern Catanas but had a high power-to-weight ratio – she’s a fast cat.

The Catana 48 is a modified 44 with transom extensions and a bigger rig.

They also built two Catana 48Rs (Racing) which were stretched 42s and different from the standard 48s.

There were only 8 48s produced. I am not sure whether this number includes the 48Rs. Hull #8 was launched in 1996.

Catana 411 (1994)

The 411 design was credited to both Lock Crowther and Barreau. Shown is Pelagic, the #1 hull. The deck mold was hand-built and the boat was transported to the Paris Boat Show where it had to be sold to keep Catana afloat.

There were 29 411s built. Hull #29 (Darbrook) was built in 1999

Catana 381 (1995)

This is a quirky cat and Catana’s smallest. The big story is the aft central helm. I love it. They don’t make them like this anymore! I believe this model went up to hull #23.

Catana 531 (1996)

A Real Looker A large, powerful catamaran from Catana’s earlier days (90s). These boats remind me a bit of the early Lagoons – they are sleek. Nice looking cats.

Catana 471 (1997), 47 Ocean Class (2003)

With the launch of the 471, the Barreau/Neuman design partnership started to motor. This is one of my favourite Catana designs, they nailed it with this one. an example is “Our White Magic” (2002). Hull #45.

Another example is S/V Scenic Route #64

The last Catana 471 hull (#68) named “Element” was delivered in May of 2003. Then this model was marketed as the 47 Ocean Class until 2007.

Read our full Catana 471 review.

Catana 611 (1997)

Catana 431, 432 (1998),.

43 Ocean Class ( from 2003)

Launched as a kind of ‘mini 471’, the 431 shares many of the same design characteristics as the bigger boat. The Barreau Neuman team was finding their feet with these designs. A great balance between performance and comfort.

431 hull #54 Papillon, for example, was delivered in June 2003 with an Alucarbon mast. Other examples are S/V Icaros #48 (2002) and Rizkitt #10 (1999).

After the purchase of Catana by Poncin in 2003, this model was sold as the 43 Ocean Class.

Catana 721 (1998)

Catana 401 (1999).

The Catana 401 replaced the 381 and 411. These are very popular boats. The 401 was an updated 381 with a new cockpit mold from the cockpit bulkhead aft.

When Catana stopped production of the 401, they sold the molds to Phisa, which lengthened them and made some other changes and sold it as the Phisa 42. Worth a look, as the interior finish was upgraded on the Phisa.

Catana 472 (2000)

The 472 is a higher-spec version of the 471. Shown above is “El Gato”. Aesthetically, Catana hit top marks with these boats

Catana Aikane 56 (2000)

This 56-footer was designed by VPLP

Catana 581/582 (2000/2001)

Incorporating all of the design features that made these Christophe Barreau Catanas so sought after. This is a high-end performance cruising catamaran with narrow hulls, a high bridgedeck clearance, minimal weight forward of the mast, and high-aspect daggerboards instead of low-aspect keels.

You will struggle to find a better long-distance blue water cruiser than this boat.

Catana 521, 522 (2002)

Another Barreau/Neuman design from their “Purple Patch” years. If you are looking for a bigger version of the legendary 471, this is it. Marsaudon built a dozen of these fast cats under contract. They look like they could weather a storm, don´t they?

The Marsaudon Connection The last one was built in 2005: “Chaton”- this is a very fast boat with a carbon mast, that averages between 220 and 240 miles on longer passages: a true luxury performance cat. Another example is “O2” which was built by Dominique Marsaudon in Lorient in 2003.

Catana 50 (2006)

Catana went through some financial difficulties after the dot com crash in the early noughties, but they came roaring back with the Catana 50. This cat was well received thanks to its stable ride through the waves. The defining feature was that bulbous bow: a wave-piercing profile that minimised hobby-horsing and provided extra buoyancy.

The Catana 50’s boards are angled slightly inward to maximize lift under sail- she performs well upwind.

Catana 41 Ocean Class (2008)

This is very similar to the newer 42. The saloon layout is different from the later boat with the galley port forward.

Catana 65 (2008)

The 65 was one of the last Christophe Barreau designs for Catana. They were making some big catamarans at this point.

Catana 90 (2008)

The largest yacht that the shipyard has constructed is the Catana 90, like the example above, Orion. This is a sleek looker despite its length.

Catana 42 (2010)

The 42 is an updated version of the 41 that was launched 2 years earlier. The galley was moved to the aft of the salon and they improved some of the sail handling. Then they renamed her the 42, maybe in honour of that great early Lock Crowther design?

Catana 42 Brochure

Catana 82 (2010)

Launched from Catana´s large yachts division that was set up in 2006. The 82 is not the prettiest in the range (in my opinion, I am sure the owner would disagree). For me, it looks like they just stretched the smaller boats.

Catana 47 (2011)

The 47 is no longer part of Catana’s current line-up. We were hoping for her to get the new look like the 53, but the yard has moved direction to the newer Ocean Class range with a bulkhead helm. They seem to be moving more towards the comfort end of the spectrum, probably influenced by the success of the Bali range.

She is a very solid, seaworthy catamaran that is infused with carbon, and evolved from the 471 but doesn’t look as pretty.

Read our full Catana 47 review in the performance catamarans section.

Catana 59 (2011)

In 2013, the Catana 59 was designed by Catana’s in-house team with Marc Lombard retained as a consultant, and it caused something of a stir, as the 47 and 42-foot models were the only remaining Christophe Barreau designs.

The design philosophy later extended to the 53 and a modernised stretched version: the 62.

She has lovely lines: a high freeboard, good bridge deck clearance, and a generous sail plan. The new muscly look is an indicator of this cat’s performance.

Catana 70 (2012)

A very sleek design for such a large yacht, the 70 was designed by Marc Lombard. After this, Catana brought the design in-house, but you can still see Lombard’s influence in the later designs such as the 53. He was retained as a consultant.

Catana 70 Brochure

Catana 55 (2013)

Image Credit: Curie via Samboat

Catana 62 (2016)

The big sister to the 53, the 62 evolved from the earlier 59.

With its maxi hulls with inverted bows, foil-type daggerboards, Carbon Infusion and Twaron Impact technology, the C62 is one of the safest catamarans in its class.

Catana 53 (2017)

The 53 is the only remaining model in Catana’s current line-up apart from the Ocean Class. The living space is huge thanks to those twin aft helms and the Open design between the saloon and cockpit. Read our Catana 53 review in the performance cats section.

Catana 53 Brochure

We also have an Owner’s Review on this cat which is well worth a read. Thanks to Rowan on PolePole.

Ocean Class (2022)

The new Ocean Class is a 52-footer. This design is quite a departure for Catana as she has a single raised bulkhead helm. She’s a solid-looking design.

Catana Ocean Class Brochure

We first saw this model at La Grande Motte in 2022. Read our Catana Ocean Class review .

A big thank you to the members of the Catana Catamarans Owner’s Group on Facebook for helping with this history.

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Boat Overview

Hull material, boat length (loa), see all details, boat description.

The CATANA Group has two production sites in France, at Canet-en-Roussillon and at Marans in the Charente-Maritime.  This enables the CATANA yard to control every stage of the build of its models.  From research and development, to building and finishing, to delivery and hand over.

The Catana Catamaran 70 is a great choice for your next vacation. It's got everything you need to feel right at home on the open water, including a spacious main salon and galley that serve as the heart of the boat. This boat is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun and sea!

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Performance & Ratios

Review of Catana 70

Basic specs..

Both the hull and the deck is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

The boat is equipped with 0 cabins and 10 berths.

The boat equipped with a fractional rig. A fractional rig has smaller headsails which make tacking easier, which is an advantage for cruisers and racers, of course. The downside is that having the wind from behind often requires a genaker or a spinnaker for optimal speed.

DaggerBoard

The Catana 70 is equipped with a daggerboard keel. A daggerboard is a lifting keel that can be lowered and raised, allowing the boat to enter shallow waters as well.

The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.56 - 1.66 meter (5.12 - 5.42 ft) dependent on the load.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Sorry, we have no sailing characteristics available for this boat.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Sorry, we do not have sufficient statistical information available for this boat to provide a significant reliable analysis.

Maintenance

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Catana 70 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

Sailboat specifications

• Last update: 18th April 2020

Catana 70's main features

Catana 70's main dimensions, catana 70's rig and sails, catana 70's performances, catana 70's auxiliary engine, catana 70's accommodations and layout.

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Catana Catamarans

@themilliardaire

Catana 70: don’t wait for the next summer to escape aboard this maxi cruising catamaran

• 2 minute read
• August 26, 2016

It is not because the end of summer is coming that you have to wait for the next one to enjoy yourself and return to sea again. Thanks to Catana 70 , a semi-custom maxi cruising catamaran, you will be able to sail again for a long trip or exciting trip full of adrenaline.

Unparalleled performances

Aboard Catana 70 you will discover what technological experience, design and performance really mean concerning such an elegant and refined boat. With a distinctive silhouette, both harmonious and well balanced, you can push the boundaries while sailing at the speed of the wind.

If you are found of ultimate sensation or calm and serene trips, Catana 70 adapts to all situations with a maximum of security. Thanks to its revolutionary curves, the hydrofoil effect will allow you to navigate peacefully in the high seas. With improved waterline length and power, Catana 70 appears to be reassuring, even if it could achieve unique performances thanks to new technologies from racing.

Made with carbon fibre and aramide, Catana 70 can benefit from all necessary security for your marine escape. Then it ensures a maximum of comfort even at high speeds thanks to an improved bridgedeck clearance. Moreover, there is no lack of comfort again in the cockpit.

Refined and functional

As spacious as luxurious, Catana 70 is elegant both inside and outside. It can easily accommodate 8 to 10 guests, and you can choose between 4,5 or even 6 cabins for passengers

Once inside Catana 70 , you can’t miss the unique sense of detail and ingenious arrangement that allow a considerable gain of space. Huge sliding bay windows around the square space offer a 360°-view of the sea, that you can savour like any open-space.

Truly ingenious, Catana 70 uses noble materials and can be customisable with for example a choice between L-shaped kitchen or another version with island galley. But whatever you choice is, you can always enjoy the most of its wine cellar, its extensible living room with large adjustable table.

In addition to many storage possibilities always functional and useful, Catana 70 appears to be luminous and very well arranged, offering cabins only seen in the most luxurious yachts. They can accommodate an office, a dressing table, huge mirrors and remarkable woodwork, water space and all of that under delicate led lights.

In a few words, Catana 70 appears to be the ideal boat for a long summer trip or a more dynamic adventure with all your friends.

Find other unique vessels in our YACHTS category

More info about Catana 70

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History of Catana

Catana was founded in 1984 by French boat builder, Jean-Pierre Dick. Initially, the company was established with a vision to produce high-performance catamarans that combined speed, safety, and comfort. Catana quickly gained a reputation for their innovative designs, marine engineering, and use of advanced materials such as carbon fibre and Kevlar. The company’s commitment to quality and performance led to the development of catamarans highly prized by sailors and enthusiasts around the world.Over the years, Catana has focused on building ocean-going catamarans that are capable of both racing and cruising, gaining popularity for their durability and sleek aesthetics. Significant milestones in their history include the launch of the Catana 401 and Catana 521, which were groundbreaking models that set new standards in the multihull sailing world. Their designs optimize weight distribution and employ cutting-edge technology, allowing for superior handling and stability.Today, Catana remains a leading name in the catamaran industry and operates from Canet-en-Roussillon in the South of France. Their state-of-the-art facility houses modern production techniques and integrates environmental considerations, ensuring that their boats meet contemporary standards for sustainability. The company continues to innovate, winning awards and gaining accolades for their exceptional performance and luxurious comfort. Catana's commitment to quality remains unwavering, solidifying their reputation as manufacturers of some of the finest catamarans available today.

Which models do Catana produce?

Catana produce a range of boats including the Catana 53 and Catana 55 . For the full list of Catana models currently listed on TheYachtMarket.com, see the model list in the search options on this page.

What types of boats do Catana build?

Catana manufactures a range of different types of boats. The ones listed on TheYachtMarket include Catamaran , Multihull , Offshore cruiser , Bluewater cruiser and Cruiser .

How much does a boat from Catana cost?

Used boats from Catana on TheYachtMarket.com range in price from £217,000 GBP to £1,310,000 GBP with an average price of £534,000 GBP . A wide range of factors can affect the price of used boats from Catana, for example the model, age and condition.

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Brand: Catana

Jump to Catana Catamarans For Sale

Catana catamarans are the exception to the rule, as they specialize in semi-custom boats built with input from their future owner. In addition these are high performance cruisers. Each boat is built with carbon fiber in the inner skin and the SCRIMP resin infusion process. The sandwich construction also incorporates Twaron, a fiber that is 10 times more puncture resistant than classic fiberglass at half its density. The resulting weight savings and stiffness provided by this construction serves as the basis of Catana’s excellent performance. A combination which guarantees rigidity and strength of the structures, significant weight savings and because of this fact, higher speed. The hulls are asymmetric and canted outward. The bows are “tulip shaped” to increase reserve buoyancy and reduce pitching motion and the risk of burying a hull. Lastly, they are designed with daggerboards, which allows Catana catamarans to outpoint any other cruising catamaran brand afloat.

The deck and coachroof are fabricated from a single mold and cored with Corecell closed cell foam with a molded diamond-pattern nonskid. The helms are out on the hulls, as there’s nothing like the clear sightlines you get with an outboard helming station. Aboard a higher-performance cat, an outboard steering position also allows you see the rig easily when threading your way through the windshifts while, say, sailing to windward.

This is a fast cruiser-racer with slim, lightweight asymmetrical hulls. These lightweight cruising catamarans define the term ‘performance’. Daggerboards enhance hydrodynamic efficiency and a high bridgedeck clearance avoids wave slapping, and her top to bottom performance driven design aspects ensure excellent performance to windward.

Catana 471 (Florida)

*PRICE DROP. After a busy few months for us settling into land life, Orion is once again available for viewings. We shall list her with a broker at the end of September so have discounted her to reflect a reduction based on brokers commission until then. 

S/V Orion II is a fully equipped, 2007 Catana 471 (hull #86) catamaran, currently in Florida. She’s a beautifully maintained owner’s version with many recent upgrades  including new dinghy, water maker, batteries, solar panels, electronics, windlass and trampoline all bought within the last 2 years.…

Catana 50 Ocean Class (France)

Over the course of four decades, the Catana shipyard has created and developed a long line of very successful and proven blue water cats that emphasize performance and dynamic comfort (i.e under way). With this latest model, the Catana 50 Ocean Class, the yard innovates like never before to push the boundaries of comfort and utility to a new level. The Catana 50 OC offers more interior volume, headroom, payload capacity, galley counter space, engine room space, than any of its predecessors. It boasts superb ergonomics on deck and vastly improved sail-handling with a raised helm that brings all lines to a large cockpit.…

Catana 44 (Chesapeake Bay)

We are selling our 1997 owners version Catana 44 catamaran which has been our family home for the last year. Designed by Lock Crowther and custom built at the French Catana yard, she is the only Catana with a factory-built, protected inside third helm station. She is a well built, high performance, ocean proven vessel. Her daggerboard design allows for greater performance when sailing upwind, and reduced drag when cruising downwind. An additional benefit of her shallow draft is the ability to drop anchor close to shore or navigate shallow cuts.…

Catana 471 (Caribbean)

Our unique Catana 471 has had one owner/operator from new and never chartered or damaged. Panic Attack is a well maintained, owner’s version catamaran, hull no 37. Three cabins, two heads and an upstairs galley with great visibility.

Catanas are the premium brand for well experienced cat sailors. Panic Attack has had regular, yearly engine services , excellent rigging and has Banks Hydronet sails. The Volvo engines were replaced in 2013 and the Hydronet sails were also replaced at the same time. The spinnaker is new and unused.

It’s a fast sailing cat which has done transatlantics with great comfort.…

Catana 411 (South Carolina)

BRAND NEW MOTORS AND SAILDRIVES, 1200W SOLAR, and NEW BATTERIES!

Don’t miss this chance to own an iconic performance cruising catamaran. This 4 Cabin/2 Head model has plenty of space for family or guests. Dual steering stations are located aft and outboard for excellent visibility and include Whitlock rack & pinion steering system. The galley and navigation station are on the same level as the saloon.

White fiberglass hull with Divynicell closed cell foam coring using vacuum bagged construction. The decks are of similar construction but using end grain blasa coring for greater compression strength.…

Catana 411 (Pacific)

PANGEA is a 1999 Catana 411 performance cruising catamaran, designed and built for bluewater sailing. Known for their high build quality, livability, and sailing performance, Catanas of this vintage are popular among experienced multihull cruisers around the world.  

She is an owner’s version with a large owners cabin, a spacious head with a separate shower, as well as numerous cupboards and hanging space in the starboard hull. The port hull has one guest cabin, a head with shower, numerous cupboards and deep drawers for provisions, and a designated workshop that also contains a Northern Lights 5kva generator and top loading 100liter fridge/freezer (not connected).…

Catana 471 (Malaysia)

OWNER’S VERSION The Catana 471 is a well known performance catamaran from the Catana boatyard in Canet-en-Rousillon France designed by Christophe Barreau. It is considered the “sweet spot” of the Catana range for the right mix of performance, accommodations and ocean crossing sea keeping abilities with many vessels completing circumnavigations. MODEL / HULL # CONSIDERATIONS FOR BUYERS For those buyers looking at 471s, it is important to know that these boats were built in a semi-custom fashion up until 2004 when they were renamed to the Catana 47 Ocean Class, which saw several higher end components being swapped out, such as Harken deck gear to Lewmar, while carbon fibre masts became an option vs.…

Catana 381 (Europe)

S/V Morgane is a 1996 Catana 381 catamaran, for sale by owner.

At just under 39 ft. LOA, the Catana 381 is the smallest (& most affordable) of the popular Catana range of performance cruising catamarans. She has daggerboards, for upwind efficiency, high bridge deck clearance, her asymmetrical ‘V’ shaped bows help to prevent Hobby horsing while providing great style, while providing high performance. She is blue water ready, strong, well equipped, and capable.

These boats have been clocked at over 20 knots in 25 knots of wind. Her cockpit features an elevated helm station aft and on the centerline for excellent visibility and easy gunsight steering.…

Catana 42 Owners (Chesapeake Bay)

Palooza is a well constructed bluewater performance sailing catamaran built by the well regarded Catana factory in France. With extensive upgrades Palooza offers great value for a couple or small family looking to sail across oceans safely and comfortably.

The Catana 42 exemplifies all the attributes that has made Catanas so sought after by bluewater sailors wanting the enjoyment of sailing a performance cruising catamaran in total comfort and safety at sea.

The Catana 42 shares the same hull design features dating back 30+ years ago and the same well-proven deck layout since 1998 when the innovative sail management system and clean uncluttered decks were introduced.…

Catana Ocean Class 50 (Chesapeake Bay)

Demo Boat lightly used – Shown at boatshows – Condition of the sale: the boat must be made available to be displayed at the Annapolis boat show in October 2024 

This Catana Ocean Class 50, 3 cabins/2 heads, owner’s version provides a unique blend of performance, safety, and comfort from one of the best-known and most well-respected French catamaran builders.  

A mid-position protected raised helm with all lines leading to, for extra safety, the ability to completely open or enclose the salon to the elements and daggerboards for the best upwind sailing gives a perfect ocean sailing boat for couples, in comfort and style, with or without guests. …

Catana 50 (Caribbean)

Catana hit the mark with the 50 and this well-equipped 3-cabin version will be an excellent choice for island hopping or circumnavigation.

With all the bluewater options: generator, watermaker, solar panels, complete FURUNO Navnet electronics, electric toilets. A carbon mast, carbon bowsprit, a brand-new NORTH SAIL Norlam Xi main, a solent and a furling genoa (2020) round out this performance-oriented world cruiser. The interior features light oak veneers, grey upholstery and black Corian counter tops.

The boat was hauled for bottom paint, engine and saildrive services in 2022. The rigging was replaced in 2016.…

Catana 65 (Pacific)

Catana is widely acclaimed for building spectacular, blue water cats that marry sailing performance and luxury like no other brand. Catana 65 LIBECCIO raises the bar further still.

LIBECCIO’s second owners purchased her directly from the Catana factory in France in her original layout and configuration and sailed her for three years all over the Mediterranean. This cruising couple made the wise decision to store the yacht in Canet, at the Catana yard, each winter. There, they upgraded the yacht using only yard staff and contractors. This culminated in a transformative refit in 2017 that radically enhanced the aesthetic, comfort and functionality of this yacht.…

Catana 581 Owners Version (Greece)

2002 Catana 581 “BLUE MOON” is returning to the market after the owner has spent 9 beautiful years with her almost all around the world.

For those rare catamaran lovers who were not introduced to this model, this Catana’s 58 has set and still is a benchmark for all modern performance cruising catamarans. Cruising at speeds between 10-14 knots under sails (she recorded 24 knots if someone needs that information), and 9-11 knots under power with extra low fuel consumption due to her efficient performance hulls makes her a dream for long-distance cruising.…

Performance Catamaran Comparisons

Performance cruising cats are becoming more popular and mainstream. A lot more brands have become available on the market over the last 10 years. Some of the most popular and well known performance cat brands are Catana, Outremer, HH Catamarans, and Balance. These boats’ popularity is not only driven by their amazing sailing abilities but also by YouTube channels like Sailing La Vagabond with their Outremer 45 and Gone with the Wynns who recently bought an HH 50 OC.

We Joined the Performance Catamaran Enthusiasts!

Catamaran Guru acquired a Catana Ocean Class 50. We take possession of the boat in September 2022 at the Cannes Yachting Festival .  After a hiatus for a few years to focus on the Bali range, Catana released in 2022 their Catana OC 50 that has the industry abuzz including ourselves. Its new bulkhead helm station, the open plan design, the comfort, interior spaciousness, and the affordability convinced us to take the leap and buy one. Read our review here>>

Let’s Look at Some Fundamentals

Of course, before we bought the Catana OC 50, we did a little research on the most popular performance catamarans. We wanted to see how these boats compare in performance.  One of the big factors that determines performance is Power-to-Weight ratio (or sail area to displacement ratio). We calculated the Bruce number and SA/D for the Catana OC 50, HH 50 OC, HH 50 Performance, Balance 482, and Outremer 51 . This is not the be-all and end-all but one do get a good indication of performance for these boats in steady sea conditions.

But before we dive down into it, let’s heed this advice from two veterans in the industry. Measuring a multihull’s performance is a complex issue that we all tend to want to boil down to a simplistic solution, which it is not. In the words of Tony Grainger: “…as a species hard wired for optimism, we’re prone to magical thinking, especially in the hands of marketing pros and advocacy scientists delivering theoretical solutions to complex problems.” As he says, “Prediction of performance and actual Observation are two very different things”. Phillip Berman from Balance Catamarans concurs: “Even the most accurate input, polar performance numbers on cruising catamarans are seldom achieved”. So, take this for what it is, simply numbers on a spreadsheet.

Some definitions:

• Bruce Number – a power-to-weight ratio for relative speed potential for comparing boats. It takes into consideration the displacement and sail area of main and jib (100% fore triangle only), no overlapping sails. Light boats are more easily driven than heavy boats and more sail gives you more drive.
• SA/D (sail area / displacement ratio): indicates the power of the sail plan relative to the displacement of the boat, regardless of the length. 

We used the Bruce-SA/D calculator  to calculate the SA/D range of values:

• 16 to 18 Heavy offshore cruisers
• 18 to 22 Medium Cruisers
• 22 to 26 Inshore cruisers, racing boats
• 26 to 30 Extreme racing boats

Catamaran Measurements

Points of Consideration

• We used the published numbers on the manufacturers’ websites to do the calculations and some of those numbers may be slightly off. We tried to verify but have not received feedback. Any input is welcome! 
• We used only the mainsail and jib area on all the boats to get an apples to apples comparison.
• The “Lightship Displacement” quoted in each of the manufacturer’s specifications was used in the Bruce number calculation. Note there is an anomaly in that the Outremer, which is the biggest boat with the least carbon fiber, is quoted as being the lightest boat of the group. We think the lightship displacement quoted on the Outremer website might be inaccurate because it is unlikely that a predominantly E-Glass boat would be lighter than a full Carbon boat such as the Balance or HH performance. If anyone has reliable numbers for Outremer, we would love to hear from you! *We have received new information and have updated the weight of the Balance with new actual published numbers.

Some Observations and Conclusion

For performance cruisers there is a fine balance between speed and comfort and they are not for everyone. Speed does not always make for comfort. Operation of daggerboards, bigger and more powerful rigs and more complex running rigging require more skill, making them not suitable for the average cruising sailor. The conclusion we drew from this exercise is that all these boats are essentially very similar cruisers with very similar performance characteristics, except for the Balance, which stands out as the real performance boat. *Updated information shows that this boat is very similar now to the other boats. We believe that most of these boats are capable of good performance in light conditions, which is of course the beauty of a performance cat. These are our observations:

• The measurements for these boats are all very similar.
• Balance is the lightest boat (full carbon) at 25,353lbs 29321lbs  with a big sail plan at 1,432 sq ft. These boats are super light and fast and moves in very light air.  *We updated the Balance weight with new actual published numbers. 
• According to the SA/D numbers, the Balance is rated in the “extreme racing” category at 26.549 and a Bruce number of 1.292.   The Balance turns out to be very similar to the other boats SA/D “inshore cruisers / racing boats” category like the other boats
• The rest of the cats all fall into the SA/D “inshore cruisers / racing boats” category. So, these boats should all perform similarly and sail well even in light conditions.
• The Catana OC 50 (carbon deck and bulkheads) and the HH 50 Performance (full carbon), surprisingly are rated very similarly. The Catana is heavier but has a bigger sail plan and thus has similar performance to the HH.
• The HH 50 OC has mini keels rather than daggerboards and will likely not have the same performance to weather as the daggerboard boats.
• The Catana is the heaviest boat at 31,164lbs with the biggest sail area at 1469 sq ft.
• The Catana has the highest load carrying capacity of 10,723lbs – great for cruising and living onboard.
• The fuel tanks on both the HH catamarans are 4 times the size of the water tanks which is curious and nearly double the size of any of the other cats. That seems a little odd, but we could be wrong.
• Fuel capacities vary greatly between the boats, with Outremer having the least fuel capacity at 88 gal.
• Water capacity varies slightly, also. Catana and Balance carry around 210 gals while the others carry around 100 gals, which is a bit small for live aboard in our opinion.

We also concluded that while these stats are interesting data, they should not be the overriding factor when choosing a boat in the performance cruising category. Other factors to consider include quality, comfort, livability, equipment, safety, resale value, etc. Price is also a very big consideration. Balance (South Africa) and HH cats (China) are way more expensive than the French-built cats, Catana and Outremer, partly because the Balance and HH Performance are full carbon boats while the others have carbon infused deck and/or bulkheads. We believe that the Catana’s interior volume and comfort make it an extremely livable boat while still having the performance benefits of an express blue water cruiser and it is extremely affordable at around $1.5 million.

Having said all that, with the advancement of technology, more people will be able to sail these performance cats safely and will be able to afford them as more hulls are built and costs come down.

Here is another very interesting analysis Sailing into Freedom. The top 10 performance catamarans – Dazcat 1495, ORC 50, Odisea 48, Balance 526, Outremer 45, Outremer 51, Catana OC, HH 50, OC 50, Balance 482, HH44, Seawind 1370, Seawind 1600, Slyder 49, Privilege, Windelo 50. We would love for everyone to join the discussion. Let us know what you think in the comment box!

Learn how to sail a performance catamaran

Our sailing school facility in Fort Lauderdale will start training on the Catana OC 50 with certified RYA instructors in March 2023. Contact us for more information about our sailing school dates and pricing.

Wanda Anglin

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