catamarano open

A catamaran for sailing and living fully

The 40 Open has been designed for lovers of sailing and good life. This luxury catamaran combines sailing sensations and absolute comfort on board, so that you never have to choose between the two. Whether you are an experienced skipper or a beginner cruiser, the 40 Open will take you and your family on a journey of discovery at sea. Beautiful moments of sharing on the horizon.  

A neat design bathed in light   Like the 44 Open, this catamaran has an open living space with the deck, the cockpit and the saloon all being on the same level. A cozy and beautiful atmosphere full of conviviality. This is where the concept of the "Open" lies. Beautiful volumes, natural light and comfort are the main characteristics of this outstanding catamaran which can accommodate up to 8 people. The 40 Open is the perfect illustration of the French expertise in catamarans.

The details that make the difference

• Natural light in every room
• An elegant interior decor

The double helmstation, NAUTITECH's DNA

Double steering station, the choice of performance :

• - ideal position to keep an eye on the sea and sails
• - more sensations at the helm 
• - best position to dock along a quay or pontoon

A word from the architect

"In a nutshell: the Open 40 is the catamaran of choice for a round-the-world trip thanks to its great maneuverability and size. It is a boat designed for all those who love to sail while enjoying life on board, a balance made possible by the aft helm station".

Marc Lombard, 

Architect of the 40 Open

Welcome on board

Discover the Nautitech 40 Open with some data

Technical data

3 cabin version

You can choose the three-cabin version with its huge owner’s cabin on the port side. It comes with a separate shower, a big bathroom and loads of storage space. 

4 cabin version

Or the four-cabin version, with two shared bathrooms

Premium partner for high quality

Happiness only comes with satisfaction, and satisfaction is only possible if the quality is right. That is why we only work with reputable partners. All of them market leaders in their fields. That way we leave nothing to chance when it comes to equipment and accessories for our catamarans, sailing yachts and motor yachts. You’ll find a selection of our many partners here.

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If you want to test this model, do not hesitate to contact your agent to organize a visit or trip at sea

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Share unforgettable moments.

Discover the stories of Gérald & Marie Claude aboard Harmony Two, of Pascal & Madelon aboard Zebulon and Silvina & Jacques aboard El Gaucho. They share their most memorable experiences with us! 

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Nautitech 40 Open

Test one out yourself – charter a Nautitech 40 Open – browse our available yachts in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. We previously owned one of these boats, and we are trying to make this the most comprehensive owner’s review on the Internet.

The Franco-German Axis Nautitech is now owned by Germany’s Capital Management Partners who also own Bavaria, but their boats continue to be built in Rochefort, France. These catamarans are constructed with a resin-infused technique that results in a light, strong finish. The decks include a closed-cell foam core. The joinery is high quality on these cruising cats – especially considering their price point.

This review is from personal experience- we’ll try and keep it objective! You can also read our Owner’s review that we compiled for a prospective buyer that will give you another angle as we were answering specific questions. We wrote this up following the boat delivery from La Rochelle to Barcelona.

1 Minute Summary

– For her length, the Nautitech 40 Open is one of the lightest catamarans in her class (Cruising Catamarans) – As long as you don’t overload her, she gets going quickly and is fast – The reefing system is traditional – it is done from the mast. – There is lots of living space up top thanks to the Open concept and twin aft helms – The saloon is smaller than many of her competitors. However, the aft cockpit area is big. – There is less space down below. That is your trade off for slender hulls and faster performance – The boom is low. She is a seaworthy boat in a blow thank to a low centre of effort on the mainsail. – It is also very easy to get to the boom and mainsail. – Nautitech build their boats using foam composite rather than the balsa wood used by many of the competition. – The after sales service can be slow and frustrating. This isn’t a problem that is peculiar to this brand, but it would be an easy one to fix for happier customers. Come on Nautitech!

• Marc Lombard’s Open design gives you a big living space for a forty foot catamaran, the most in her class with the exception of maybe the Bali 4.1. Once you slide those doors open, she has plenty of space under way and at anchor.
• She’s light for a production cruising cat and accelerates quickly compared to other brands. The Nautitech 40 Open is a good compromise between speed and comfort. She’s nippy!
• She points well upwind for a fixed keel cat. You won’t match a dagger-board cat upwind, but the performance upwind isn’t bad, she’ll certainly get you off a lee shore. I can only really think of Seawind as a match for Lombard’s hull design. She’s comfortable at 50-55° TWA with not much leeway. In lighter winds, 60° TWA probably give you the best VMG especially with a Code 0.
• For a 12m boat, she is very seaworthy in heavy conditions. In a real blow, the 3rd reef takes you down to a small centralised mainsail (with no jib) and she handles waves well. With the 2nd reef in and 60% solent you are good up to 35 knots apparent.
• The boom tucks in low over the coachroof which gives her a low centre of effort and means it is easy to access the mainsail and reefing lines. That is one of the reasons why she feels so seaworthy in a blow.
• That helm position is easy for docking if you reverse her in. The person at the helm can throw the lines if he or she wants to and you can keep an eye on everyone if you are under way (important with kids). You are in constant contact with the cockpit from here. I tend to sit facing aft on the steps by the helm and back in.
• At the same time, Nautitech have done a great job of making you feel safe aft under way with those aft helms. There’s a bench that runs along the aft beam and the helm seats are substantial- when you are tucked into one, it feels very secure and there are decent clip on points under the helm seats.
• The flip-side to those aft helms is visibility to the opposite bow. If you can afford it, go for the option of throttles on both helms so that you can easily switch sides. I generally just nip up to the deck every now and then.
• The aft helms can get wet in a blow or in bad weather. If you are offshore, this just means heading inside to helm from the nav station (great visibility here), but you might have to get your wet weather gear on if there is rain coming into the marina. For sailing feel, however, you can’t beat them.
• All the reefing is done at the mast. OK, it’s not far to hop up there, but I would have preferred a similar set up to the bigger 44 where all the lines run aft to the helm. Although the longer I have the boat, the more I like the simplicity of the system, there’s less friction on the reefing lines, less to go wrong. It’s interesting to note that the Marsaudon 57 has the same set-up (bigger sail though!)
• With narrower hulls designed to slip through the water faster, the cabins are not as big as a Lagoon or Fountaine Pajot. That’s your compromise. Personally speaking, I find the cabins very comfortable- they’re big enough for me. I went for speed over fatter hulls, Lombard is a master shaper.
• With so much space given over to the aft cockpit, the saloon is smaller than many other 40 footers. That works well in warmer climes, but if it is colder I would recommend the clear enclosure. Once these are down, it’s cosy.
• I sometimes find it difficult to gauge the position of the mainsheet traveller on the bimini. There is a window in the roof, but t can be difficult to judge without popping up a step from the helm. I have just marked off the centre… not really a big deal.
• The Nautitech after sales service isn’t what I would call efficient. They take a pretty hands off approach – everything is done through the dealers, so it is important to choose your dealer well. The better their relationship, the better the response. I had a faulty heating system which took me a year to fix. This included the Coronavirus lock down period, but still, I expected a faster resolution. Nautitech are not alone in this regard though, I just wish they’d up their game on this front, it would be an easy fix. Keep your your existing customers happy and they might buy another Nautitech in the future.

Charter a Nautitech 40 Open

Are you looking for a Nautitech Catamaran to charter? Browse our extensive selection of Nautitech yachts for rent below ⇓

Find Nautitech Catamarans for charter including the Open 40, Open 44 and Open 46.

This is a cruising cat, but with an eye on performance compared to other boats like the Lagoon 380 and the “Open” concept has proved hugely popular.

She’s Light Nautitech have kept an eye on the weight of the boat (she’s only 8.5 tonnes light) and as long as you don’t go crazy on the gear, she accelerates quickly.

19 Knot Surf Our top speed on our boat so far is 19 knots (OK we were surfing, but even so). In decent conditions, you should hit the early teens. In light winds, we’ll go 6 kts on 10kts of wind just with the mainsail and self tacking solent.

Order the Bowsprit The Nautitech 40 Open comes in all sorts of configurations- it’s worth ordering the bowsprit as this opens up all sorts of options for head sails to complement the efficient square-top mainsail.

We run the 70 sq.m gennaker off there and there is also an option for a 55 sq.m code 0 if you want to point higher. We have heard from other owners that the Code 0 comes out of the bag frequently. We also have a parasailor on our wish list for when we make it to the Trade Winds.

There are also two winches and clutches on the aft beam to help with the traveler and raising the tender.

The main halyard also comes aft to the starboard side and you can order an electric winch as an option to help you raise the mainsail. Or you can use the winch at the mast, a handy back up.

You Reef from the Mast All the reefing lines and the topping lift are managed from the mast which means getting out on deck to shorten sail. I am thinking of reorganising the running rigging on our boat and lead all of the lines back into the cockpit like the bigger boat, the 44.

Or that’s what I thought when I first bought her. I have to admit, the longer I have the boat, the more I am warming to the simplicity of this system. There’s less friction, shorter lines and it’s easier to get tension on the halyard once the reef is strapped in. You need to be organised though to minimise the time you spend at the mast.

There’s a handy winch on the mast for your reefing lines and gennaker halyard and another clutch for the main halyard so that you can manage this from the mast if you like (can be handy if you are sailing single handed). I have added some frictionless rings below the mast winch for the reefing lines to improve the angle that they come onto the winch as I was have problems stripping lines on the clutches.

One thing I have noticed is that there are plenty of places to clip on, and a nice sturdy rail on the coachroof aft. There’s a deep well after that to grab onto as you move forward towards the mast- she feels safe in that respect.

The boom is low and very easy to access from the bimini top. There are some open steps by the mast to climb up.

Helm with the Wind in Your Hair Not everyone is a fan of the Nautitech Open helm position- she sports twin aft helms (read our Excess 11 review for another boat with a similar configuration) and there is an option for helm biminis for improved protection. Personally we love this configuration- it’s similar to a Catana (with more substantial helm seats) and gives you a real sailing feel when you are under way. Because the fibreglass sides are high by the helms, you feel secure tucked in here. There’s a point to clip onto under the seat if it gets rough.

Easy to Trim your Sails It’s easy to keep an eye on the tell-tales on the head sail- just as you would on a Hobie 16. If the weather turns nasty, you either helm with the autopilot in the saloon or tuck in under the bimini close to the helm. Make sure you order the electric winch at the Starboard Helm. Raising the mainsail with that is easy, although I always raise the sail manually to be begin with until the first couple of battens are clear of the lazy jacks.

There is an option for having throttles on both helms. The standard configuration just has them on the starboard side (this is what we went for: the budget ran out.)

She Accelerates Quickly Because she’s relatively light, she gets going quickly and Lombard has shaped those hulls so that they slip through the water nicely below the waterline. Don’t load her up too much though. Narrower hulls means less living space down below, so she’s not as spacious as a Lagoon in the cabins (there’s your compromise). In the cockpit, it’s a different story with that Open concept and the twin helms aft.

Docking the boat is a breeze as well, although, to repeat myself, try and go for the option of having those throttles on both helms if you can afford it. Because you are so close to the transom, one person can theoretically helm and throw the ropes. It’s easier with 2 of course.

She Goes Through the Wind Well She tacks easily and as you come off the wind, she’s fast ! There’s a Youtube clip showing a 40 doing 20 knots doing the rounds (we saw over 19 knots surfing on our delivery trip).

And when you hit those numbers in that helm position, you’ll have a smile plastered all over your face.

A Nippy Boat On average, you’ll see 7-9 knots. The nice thing about her is that she gets moving nice and quickly in light winds and this is where that gennaker option comes in handy. If the wind hits 7 knots, you should be sailing. In a freshening breeze, you should see low and even mid teens on a reach.

Sailing Close to the Wind Upwind, she points well for a fixed keel catamaran- a Seawind is probably the only boat that can match her. She’ll point happily at 50 to true but you are probably better off pointing at 55 (more speed, less leeway). The sweet spot seems to be around 40 to 45 degrees AWA.

In lighter winds the performance drops off, unless you have a Code 0 in your sail locker of course. If your budget ran out on the gennaker, just stick the leeward engine on at low revs to point higher and you will get where you need to go. That would be about 30 degrees apparent, 45 true.

At the end of the day, if you are going to be close hauled all day, every day on a multihull you are best off with dagger-boards, but the 40 Open is no slouch close to the wind, especially if there is a decent breeze. In lighter air, the performance does drop off when compared to a dagger-board cat like an Outremer but that is the case for any fixed keel catamaran.

The Nautitech 40 Open comes with 30 HP engines as standard, but I would recommend the upgrade to the 50s (used to be 40s). One engine will push you along at around 6 knots at 2200 RPM in calm conditions. With both engines going, she’ll move comfortably at 7 depending on the sea state.

If the waves are building, it’s often advisable to power up both engines to help you punch through the waves for a more comfortable ride if you are heading upwind.

Living Space

A Big Interconnected Space The design of the Open 40 is all about giving you more space in the cockpit and less in the saloon, so this boat is particularly suited to warmer climes like the Med. Below decks, the configuration is either three cabins (Owner’s) or four Cabins (charter version).

Slender Hulls with a Chime The hulls aren’t as spacious as a Lagoon (there’s your speed/space trade off), but they are very comfortable and there´s still far more space than you would get on a monohull, although Lombard has sculpted chimes into the hulls (they flare at the top) like the Catana 53 which gives a good performance/comfort balance.

All the cabins have huge windows through which you can watch the world go by.

Option for Night Watch Bed There is an option for a telescopic table in the saloon (port side) which we have gone for. This gives you a night watch berth if you need it.

Why No Double Sink? The galley is to starboard and is nicely designed with everything to hand. We would have liked to have seen a double sink, or a sink and a half. There’s room. The other thing that we find annoying is that the galley tap is very short which means you get a lot of splash back against the doors. We are going to fit a tap with a longer arm.

When you are cooking at the burners, you are facing aft connected to that large outdoor cockpit area. The doors can be thrown wide open to connect the two spaces into one joined up area: hence the name, the Open. The position of the cupboard behind the burners is not great. You have to watch yourself here is you are cooking and leaning over the hob to get stuff out of the cupboard.

There is an option to go for an additional fridge in the aft cockpit and a freezer in the starboard hull, both of which we would recommend.

Construction

The big difference between Nautitech and some of the competition is the use of foam composite , versus balsa core. The hull, deck and roof are built with a fibreglass and polyester sandwich infusion. This allows for significant weight savings.

The process used is: VacuTec a vacuum infusion technology. This helps to keep the boat light, reducing the weight by 20% and emissions from the work processes by up to 80%. You get lighter and stronger hulls, and protection against osmosis by isophthalic acid resin in external systems.

Nav Pack Options

Nav-Pack Cruise 2 x B&G Triton Displays (1 x per helm station) with Speed-, Depth-, Wind-Transducer 2 x B&G Zeus 9” chartplotter (stb & port helm stations) Chartplotter functionality on B&G Zeus 9″ at nav station B&G Autopilot, B&G Autopilot control unit (stbd helm station) B&G V90 VHF incl. Antenna (nav station) B&G AIS Transmitter/Receiver B&G H50 wireless VHF unit (stb helm station)

Nav-Pack Advanced includes Nav-Pack Cruise plus additional 1 x extra B&G Autopilot control unit (port helm station) NMEA Connector for PC at nav station B&G Forward scan

Other Options B&G 4G Radar antenna

Nautitech 40 Open Brochure

View the Nautitech 40 Open Brochure

Nautitech 40 Open Polar Diagram

Issues to Monitor on New Boats

All new boats have teething problems- that is not a problem that is unique to Nautitech. We logged the following issues on our own Nautitech 40 Open, or through the Nautitech Owner’s Facebook Group, so hopefully this will help you to isolate any problems at the handover stage and minimise the work later. Hopefully you won’t have to deal with any of these problems (but you would probably be the first boat owner that happened to 😉 ) The bottom line is, these are niggles, not serious problems. Some of them have been corrected on later models (eg sun damage on the grey roof. They switched to white)

• Batteries. Our boat was fitted with Genois batteries: 5x LPC12-75 for the service batteries and 2x LPC12-100 for the starter batteries. Within 18 months, they were dead 4 hours after fully charged, and that was with light use, due to Covid (mostly connected to shore power). Horizon Yachts have had similar issues with the batteries supplied by Nautitech, and we are still battling to claim the warranty. My advice would be to insist on another brand of battery. You can actually fit 6 service batteries in the trays in the port hulls. The standard upgrade take you to 5.
• Noisy steering – the steering became very noisy on our boat on our delivery passage sailing across the Bay of Biscay. I mean really noisy, like a cat screeching every minute. It was difficult to isolate, but it turns out that the rods that connect the helms under the aft cockpit run through plastic tubes. These weren´t secured properly, and the rods were playing the tubes like a violin. Played by a terrible violinist I might add. An easy fix, once we had isolated the problem, but check the workmanship around the steering.
• Stripped reefing lines. The teeth on the jammer at the front of the boom which secure the reefing lines were very sharp on our boat. If lines are flailing about in heavy weather, this can strip the reefing lines. Make sure you lead the lines through the block you should have been given before wrapping them around the winch. If you don’t do that, the angle will be such that you may strip the lines on the edge of the casing – also very sharp. Check closely around the front of the boom and file stuff down if you need to. We now run our reefing lines through frictionless rings below the mast winch has solved the problem.
• B&G Autopilot disengaging. This seems to only happen in “Nav” mode when you are navigating to a waypoint. We never resolved that one. Faulty wiring somewhere? Software?
• If you ordered the heating system, check the air inlet and exhaust. There should be a bend in this to make sure that seawater does not get into the diesel burner. Ours wasn’t installed properly and failed in big seas crossing the Bay of Biscay. Nautitech fixed this on the guarantee, fair play.
• Sliding Door. Check this closely. We had a problem with the door jumping out of its tracks mid passage in waves – pretty dangerous! On closer inspection, Nautitech had only used one screw instead of two on the plastic wedge which the door comes to a rest on in the open position. Check the door doesn’t slide a little when it is locked- often this is just a case of small adjustments.
• Manual bilges – check the pump handles (at the back of the cockpit benches) work and are properly sealed. Fill up the bilge manually with a bucket of water and pump it out yourself to test the bilges.
• You can test the auto bilges at the same time. We had alarms going off with water running back and forth on our passage as the levels weren’t set correctly. Again, an easy fix, but do it on the handover.
• Owners have reported issues with the bilges running continuously. You should check the fresh water pump (Marco) first to make sure there are no leaks coming from there. Then check the hoses. If there is a loop at the outlet the pump won’t clear all the water  and some is left in the hose. Also if the non return value on the pump has failed it will run back out of the pump and the pump will start up again. Bottom line is, test all the bilge pumps extensively during the handover. When you take the boat speed paddle wheel out to clean, you will get a bit of sea-water in the port bilge. Pump it out manually to make sure the bilge is dry.
• Sun damage on the coachroof (grey strip) on older models. Many owner’s have reported UV damage on the grey strip running around the coachroof. Our boat was no exception: after only 18 months the finish is faded and mottled with the sun. Nautitech are sending out a wrapping to sort this issue. You can also polish them back, but I think the problem will reoccur. Newer boats come with a white coachroof, solving the problem.

In Conclusion

Any boat is a compromise, and we think the Nautitech 40 Open is a great sailing boat at a reasonable price, but they could do with improving their after sales service. Lombard has done a great job of designing a boat with so much living space (the Open concept) that is this quick. The hulls are narrower than other boats in her class, but there is plenty of room upstairs thanks to that big joined up space.

View the Nautitech 40 Open Brochure .

What are good options to go for? We’d recommend upgraded engines (now 50HP) if you can manage it in your budget, plus folding props (giving you an extra knot), electric winch on starboard helm, bowsprit with gennaker, radar, the fridge in the cockpit, freezer in starboard hull, additional service batteries (insist on another brand rather than “Genois”), solar, inverter, Fusion audio system and the salon dining table (lowerable).

What are the “nice to have” options” If you can afford it, go for the throttles on both helms, the anchor windlass control at the helm, freezer in starboard hull, heating system. The Explorer version is the pack to go for if you can afford it. The full aft cockpit enclosure is great too, they have extended it right back to the bench on the transom in the newer boats. The teak looks nice but adds weight. Same with the outside teak table.

What’s the Main Difference Between the Nautitech 40 Open and the 44 Open. Well, the length obviously, but these 2 designs are very similar. In the larger model, all of the lines come aft to the helms which is a plus. The aft cockpits are a similar length (the 44 is beamier), but the saloon in the 44 feels much bigger – it’s probably around twice the size. You can configure the 44 with an overlapping genoa instead of the self-tacking solent. You cannot do this on the smaller boat.

How High Does a Nautitech 40 Open Point into the Wind? You are not going to point as high as a daggerboard cat in light winds, but for a fixed keel cat, the Open 40 points very well into the wind, especially with the weight off and with clean hulls. In a decent breeze (13kts and over), she will point as close to 30 degrees apparent but your speed will drop and you will be losing about 10 degrees on leeway. To maximise your VMG, drop off another 5 or 10 degrees (so 40-45 degrees AWA or around 55-60 TWA and your speed will come up and the leeway will drop off a bit. Sheet in tight and put some twist in the main with the mast track car to windward.

What is the Top Speed you Have Hit on the Open 40? We hit 19.2 knots off the coast of Portugal (surfing). You should hit low teens on a beam reach in the right conditions with the gennaker up.

What size tender can you fit on the Nautitech 40 Open? We have a 3.10 Gala with an 8HP Yamaha Engine (in hindsight I should have gone 9.9 HP). This is about as big as you want to go, although I know another owner has fitted a Brig 330 which is 320 long, but it was tight.

How much does a Nautitech 40 Open cost? What is the price of this catamaran? At the time of writing, the base price was just over €310,000, slightly more for the owner´s version. But then you have to add on all of the options (eg Comfort or Explorer version). Once you add extras like a water maker, heating, engine upgrade, navigation system and so on you can easily add on a extra €100k – 150k or more.

Technical Specification

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Berthon Winter Collection

Latest issue

August 2024

In the August 2024 issue of Yachting World magazine: News Few finish a tempestuous Round The Island Race European rules are eased for cruising to France and Greece Olympic sailing…

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Nautitech Open 40 boat test – this cat will make you purr

• Matthew Sheahan
• October 14, 2015

The many qualities of the Nautitech Open 40 make a compelling case for choosing a catamaran over a monohull, says an impressed Matthew Sheahan

Product Overview

Space, stability, performance and even safety, if you’re a monohull sailor you will be familiar with the key points of the arguments that multihull advocates present for having two hulls rather than one. In the main, their evidence is hard to refute.

For the same overall length catamarans do indeed have much more volume, especially below decks. They don’t heel like a monohull, something that regularly gains favour with many sailing families. And as for safety, the lack of a ballast keel makes it very unlikely that they will sink, even if capsized, something that no Nautitech cat has ever done in 20 years, we are told.

But when it comes to performance, the argument is less compelling, depending on which cat we’re talking about. See our feature on the pros and cons of multihulls .

If they’re not laden with cruising kit, or are one of the latest generation of multi-decked superstructures modelled on wedding cakes with a tiny token rig stuck on the top, they can in certain conditions outpace an equivalent length monohull.

Most of the time they’re better when reaching, but struggle to keep pace upwind and, for the sailing-minded buyer, this can be a compromise too far.

But with the Nautitech Open 40 catamaran you have to think again because this is a boat that challenges a number of common preconceptions.

At first glance she doesn’t stand out as anything out of the ordinary. Yet look a little closer and she’s far cleaner, simpler and, as a result, more attractive than many typical production cruising cats.

There are, however, a few angles from which she looks dumpy and squared off and in places rather slab-sided. But in the main there are many good points in this new model and you can understand why she was the talk of the winter boat shows this year.

Surprising performance

In my opinion her strongest card is her performance under sail, not in the absolute speeds she achieves, but in the feel on the helm and the ease with which she can be handled.

With twin wheels set in each of the aft quarters you are not only enveloped in the security of a deep cockpit wall on the outer flanks, but have a superb view forward and through the wraparound windows in the coachroof. Indeed, the visibility to leeward is better when sailing upwind than aboard most monohulls with large overlapping headsails.

Both engine and sail controls are close to hand on either side with the additional benefit that the leads for the control lines have been well thought out and have far less friction than you would expect. This is particularly impressive given that most of the lines are led back to the cockpit discreetly and produce very little rope clutter.

This, combined with her well-balanced and light steering, makes her fun and rewarding to sail. During our sailing trials we got caught up in the opening stages of the upwind leg of a race in the Solent. Unable to resist lining up against a fleet of fully crewed monohulls, I was surprised at how well she coped.

What she lacked in pointing ability in the 12-16 knot sea breeze she made up for with a typical upwind pace of 6-7 knots. She only really lost out through the tacks when her size and windage slowed her through the breeze, and her self-tacking blade jib didn’t have the power to see her accelerate like the monohulls – hardly surprising. But for cruising, especially short-handed, she was sufficiently nimble and easy to manhandle.

Off the breeze her furling Code 0, flown off a short bowsprit – one of the factory-fitted options – provided plenty of power and her eagerness to sit at 8-9 knots on a reach was clear. Again, she remained light and easy on the helm.

Under engine she’s a very manageable boat, and once again the helming position and the good all round visibility make her simple to manoeuvre in tight spaces. Fitted with the upgrade option of a pair of Yanmar 30hp engines (20hp is standard), along with two three-bladed Gori overdrive propellers, she motored at a brisk 7 knot pace with ease.

Otherwise her layout is pretty straightforward. There is plenty of space between the hulls to stow a dinghy on davits off the back of the cockpit, huge lockers forward to keep fenders and warps and plenty of additional stowage for extra sails such as the Code 0. All of which is very much in keeping with the typical layout of modern production cats.

Outdoor saloon

The arrangement of her main living accommodation is one of the few areas where she differs from the norm. Her saloon, for instance, is more outside than in. The patio-type doors and the main athwartships bulkhead run across the boat at approximately midships making the normal, inside living accommodation smaller than would be typical for this size of boat.

A modest table/navigation station is set to port and the galley is to starboard leaving the main saloon outside, abaft the patio doors where it shares the cockpit space.

While this might sound unusual – and less appealing for colder climates – the layout is certainly comfortable and practical and can be arranged to provide more shelter if required with the awning panels that clip into the underside of the coachroof and the cockpit coamings.

Apart from making the outdoor saloon a more pleasant place to sit while sailing or at anchor, the logic behind the configuration also stems from looking at how people actually use their boats. If it’s warm enough to be aboard that’s fine, but if it’s too cold the pub or a restaurant is a popular option.

The Nautitech comes in either a three or four cabin configuration, the former aimed at an owner’s layout with a spacious heads and shower area in the forward end of the port hull where a cabin would be in the four-cabin version. Both layouts have the provision for single skipper/crew berths in the bows.

There are a couple of areas that may raise an eyebrow or two. The first is her builder, Bavaria. If you didn’t know before you started looking over her you’d be hard pressed to guess. So why would Bavaria want to build multihulls?

The answer lies in their desire to expand in the charter market, which they believe now means having a range of multihulls. So, instead of developing a range from scratch, Bavaria chose to buy into the market with the acquisition of Nautitech in 2014 and keep the production outfit in Rochefort, near La Rochelle.

The transaction has been of benefit to both sides after Bavaria brought its expertise in joiner work to Nautitech and raised the game for the French builders. This catamaran has also been designed as a powerboat. Seeing an identical looking boat passing at twice the speed with no rig and the crew sitting on the coachroof cum flybridge is bound to take the owners of the sailing version by surprise.

Specifications

LOA 11.98m/39ft 4in

LWL 11.94m/39ft 2in

Beam 6.91m/22ft 8in

Draught 1.35m/4ft 5in

Displacement 7,800kg/17,196lb

Engine 2 x Yanmar 20hp

Fuel 2 x 215lt/2 x 47gal

Water 2 x 215lt/2 x 47gal

Jib 28m 2 /301ft 2

Mainsail 678ft 2 /63m 2

Code 0 44m 2 /473ft 2

Sail area:disp 23.5

Disp:LWL 128

Price ex VAT £291,600

Designed by Marc Lombard

Built by Nautitech Catamarans

Marketed in UK by www.keyyachting.com

As is so often the case, once you start sketching out the ideal wishlist for a good, practical family cruiser the sum of the parts can easily point to a catamaran. Yet no matter how compelling the advantages of space and comfort are, factors such as performance and the practicality of berthing, especially in the UK, can count heavily against making a shift to two hulls.

But the Nautitech Open 40 goes a long way to addressing at least one of these issues. She really is a fun and rewarding cruiser to sail, especially as you don’t feel as if you’re perched high above the water and forced to sail from the leeward side on one tack at the only wheel on the boat.

She lends herself well to short-handed sailing thanks to a simple, but intelligent cockpit layout. And when it comes to berthing, at just 40ft LOA she’s sufficiently modest in length and beam to slip into most marinas and harbours.

Her price tag of £291,600 ex VAT will make her feel considerably bigger than a typical 40ft monohull, but then that is because she is, especially below decks.

So, though at first glance you might think she’s just another production cat, the reality is the Nautitech Open 40 is quite different. I was impressed.

17 Best Catamarans for Sailing Around the World

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Catamarans are quickly outstripping single-hull boats for long-distance journeys. They are more stable and comfortable , and some can travel more than 200 miles in a day. In today’s article, I have put together a complete (well almost) list of some of the best catamarans for circumnavigating the planet; the question is, which one is best for you?

The best catamarans for sailing around the world include: 

• The Fountaine Pajot Ipanema 58

These cats focus on speed, safety, and comfort for longer journeys. 

This article will show you the seventeen best catamarans for long journeys, and why they’re the best. You’ll also learn some great tips on what to look for in a Catamaran and how to save money by buying a used catamaran. Let this list be a jumping-off point for your future research!

Pro-tip; here are the actual costs of maintaining a cat and here are considerations on how to circumnavigate .

Table of Contents

The Best Catamarans for Sailing Around the World 

A catamaran is a double-hulled boat with a deck or cabin area in between (bluewater cat definition in this article ). The double hull design means that the boat rocks less, sits higher on the water, uses less fuel to sail, and can be sailed in shallower waters than a single-hulled boat without worrying about grounding. 

Catamarans come in a variety of sizes and can be sail-powered or motor-powered and range from single-person sailing boats to family-sized yachts. Every catamaran design is different, and the twin-hull shape offers many ways to customize the layout of a ship. 

Each boat on this list is a larger catamaran (+40ft, more on size here ), so if you’re going to sail around the world, you want lots of space for provisions and rest.

Of course, there are tons of technical specs for each of these boats, but I’m going to focus on the overall features of each of these catamarans, what makes them stand out, and why they would each be an excellent choice for a transatlantic journey. 

Antares 44i 

The Antares 44i is an excellent option for sailing around the world and was explicitly designed for long-distance cruising. It performs well in any weather conditions, can be sailed easily by two people, and you’ll be able to sail long distances and live in comfort. 

Although it can be easily sailed by a crew of two I believe that a true bluewater cat should be set up for single-handed sailing, more on that in another article .

This catamaran features a stateroom on each hull and a forward cabin with plenty of storage space. The living and entertainment features include a flatscreen tv and a high-end deck speaker system. 

With this model, Antares dedicates itself to high-quality boats with optimal rigging and engine configurations. 

Atlantic 42

Atlantic is no longer building this catamaran, but there are usually a few pre-owned boats on the market. You can also get it made custom if you love the design, but be prepared to spend more money on a custom boat (custom boat also gets custom problems ;)). 

The Atlantic 42 is slightly smaller than some of the other catamarans on this list but is a seaworthy vessel. 42 ft is what most sailors I interview ( in this article ) said was the smallest cat to safely cross big oceans. It is also a decent size to counter the risk of capsizing (more on that here ).

It has a forward cockpit and pilothouse, which gives the owner a better use of space and makes the boat easier to navigate. With single-handed capability, one person can sail it easily and let the rest of the crew relax. 

One of the best-praised aspects of the Atlantic 42 is its galley, more extensive than most 42-footers (12.8-meter) can offer. 

One of the few 50 footers (15.24 meters) that can be sailed by just one person (many would of course disagree on this).

The Catana 50 is a catamaran worthy of an overseas journey. Its size adds to its stability on the open waters and its ability to sail straight through the choppy ocean and windy conditions. 

The Catana is also incredibly spacious on the inside, with substantial cabins and showers. The biggest downside to the Catana 50 is its price, as it’s much more expensive than most of its competitors. 

Catana also holds up well against some of the fastest cruising cats out there, here’s a list of the fastest cruisers if you are interested in that.

However, if you can find a gently-used Catana 50, you can rest assured that this boat will last! 

The Dolphin 42 is unique because of the use of daggerboards instead of fixed keels. This upgrade means that the boat has some pretty decent upwind performance while at the same time being faster downwind.

Centerboards and daggerboards offer some interesting downsides compared to mini keels. This is an interesting discussion and I suggest you read another one of my articles if you want to deepen your knowledge a little.

These catamarans are some of the lightest on the market. Not many Dolphins were made, so they are relatively hard to find. However, if you want a small, lightweight boat capable of going great distances, the Dolphin 42 is an excellent choice. 

Fountaine Pajot Belize 43

The Fountaine Pajot Belize is another well-built cruising yacht. Its core is made of foam instead of balsa, which reduces the risk of structural damage due to a rotten core in case of water intrusion. 

The design of Belize offers many options for customizability, with large open spaces and a combined saloon, navigation, and dinette area. 

There are two styles of Belize catamarans for sleeping quarters. You can either purchase a boat with an entire primary suite on one hull or one with two cabins in each hull. The first option is great if you are sailing the world alone and not expecting many guests, as it increases the storage capacity. 

Understanding what factors to consider when getting a cat can be hard, there are just so many of them (such as the daggerboard discussion above), I have tried to compile some of the most important in this article .

The boat also has wraparound windows to increase the sense of space in the galley. 

Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40

Fountaine Pajot is one of the best sailboat manufacturers existing today, as their boats are well made and highly versatile. The Lucia 40 is no exception – it’s a smaller boat but has a lot of room for moving around and on-board living. 

The living area is remarkably spacious on this catamaran for its size. 

The galley and lounge easily accommodate 6+people. The Lucia 40 doesn’t disappoint when it comes to sailing either, as the narrow hulls slice through choppy waters with ease. 

Most catamarans today are built to withstand rough weather but that doesn’t matter as much if the crew isn’t up for the task, I firmly believe that the most important thing a boat should consist of, is knowledge. Therefore taking online courses ( two free here ) or reading books ( my favorites here ) is imperative.

Gemini 105M

Gemini’s boats have been on the market for years and are solidly built for cruising. This boat is one of the most popular ever made, I personally would consider something different for offshore cruising, but since it has such a good reputation, I felt I had to add it to the list.

If you want to understand why I am hesitant to take this boat around the world, I recommend you read my article: What are trampolines on a catamaran?

The Gunboat 62 is a great catamaran and set the standards for the rest of the impressive Gunboat lineup. It’s sleek and spacious while being robust and capable of transatlantic journeys. You can easily travel the world in a Gunboat 62 with several people and not feel cramped. 

The yacht was made for speed and power and remains one of the fastest catamarans on the market, even rivaling the newer Gunboat models.  GABO

Although the earlier models of the Gunboat 62 weren’t designed for a lot of cargo, you can still find space for everything you need without compromise. 

Lagoon catamarans are known for their reliability and ease of use. If you are considering a catamaran for the first time and are unsure about the technicalities of sailing, a Lagoon boat is a great option. 

The Lagoon 380 is probably the smallest cruiser on this list, which makes it better suited for solo or couple sailing.  

When I go looking to buy something, whether it be a boat, campervan, or whatever, I create a checklist and classify all the things I want either by NEED or NICE to have.

I believe the Lagoon 380 to be sub-optimal for my NEEDS, even though it does check a lot of NICE boxes, there’s a step-by-step article on the NEED and NICE method here .

There are several cabin options available on the Lagoon 380, but if you’re sailing by yourself, you can settle for three cabins and a larger galley and living space. With a smaller cockpit and broader side decks, the Lagoon 380 packs a lot of practicality and ease of sailing into a more compact catamaran. 

If you like the idea of a Lagoon boat but want a little more space, the Lagoon 42 is the upgraded version of the Lagoon 380. With all of the same benefits, it comes with more space for cabins or storage, making it one of the best-selling Lagoons of all time. 

The Lagoon 42 is also a faster cruiser built for strength. While it’s not the fastest on the market, it works well in choppy waters and windy conditions, making it great for the beginning sailor to go on a more extended trip. 

Many people have completed an around-the-world sail with this ship.

Although there is a flybridge version, I would recommend the “open” version due to several factors, some including increased windage and a higher boom. More on flybridges pros and cons here .

For stability, safety, and durability, you can’t beat the Lagoon 42. 

The Leopard 45 performs better with less storage weight because of the relatively low bridge deck clearance. If the boat is fully loaded, you could experience some wave pounding. However, the cockpit is open and airy, with devices that block the sun and provide maximum comfort while sailing. 

The Leopard 45 is an incredibly beautiful boat,   and has a strong reputation for excellent build quality!

Leopard catamarans are one of my personal favorites, as such I have written an entire article about the brand, so if you want to understand its pros and cons then here is the link . Gabo

Designed in South Africa, it features a high rear arch for extra support and very smoothly connected decks. The galley is large and open, and most Leopards offer a four-cabin plan. If you are traveling with another person, this boat is an excellent option for you! 

The Manta 42 is another classic catamaran that you can buy used (at a decent price), as it is an incredibly seaworthy vessel. While still in production, the Manta was one of the most popular catamarans on the market. 

It is still in high demand amongst circumnavigators. Buying a used Manta 42 usually means that you inherit some of the previous owner’s boat upgrades! 

The Manta 42 also made it to my list of the 9 safest catamarans on the market ( link ).

This blue water cat can be sailed by one or two people, making it ideal for liveaboard couples or long-distance shorthanded sailing. The galley is in the saloon ( instead of in one of the hulls ), making the cabins below more spacious and better equipped. 

Overall, the Manta is well equipped for sailing around the world. 

Nautitech 44

Nautitech is an excellent brand of the catamaran, with several different designs per boat. The Nautitech 44 has a unique feature, you can have it with two options for steering: twin wheels or a single wheel.

The Nautitech 44 also features a cockpit on the same level as the saloon. The door between the two is more convenient than a hatch and dramatically reduces the risk of water damage during rain pour. 

This is also the same boat that aeroyacht president Gregor owns, he has offered some great insights into Nautitech in the book Catamarans (amazon link )

Outremer 45

Outremer is famous for being one of the fastest brands of catamarans on the market. If you need speed, the Outremer 45 might be the perfect choice for you. It has a top speed of 16 knots, which is higher than almost every other catamaran of its class. 

While the Outremer 45 is known for speed, it doesn’t compromise on the quality of living. 

You can settle into life on this boat with complete peace of mind. Even as a beginning sailor, the steering is simple and easy to use, and the autopilot is top of the line, so you’ll be able to sail across the ocean in an Outremer without issue. 

Privilege Serie 5

A French-designed catamaran, the Privilege Serie 5 is one of the most comfortable 50-foot (15 m) yachts available. The unique cabin layout includes the master cabin in the boat’s center instead of in one of the hulls. 

The Privilege Serie 5 is also incredibly easy to sail, despite its larger size. 

The sails and controls lead to the helm, where the raised deck makes it easy to see all around the deck. If you want to cross the ocean with a full crew then the Privilege Serie 5 might be perfect for you! 

Seawind 1000

The Seawind 1000 is the smallest boat on this list, measuring 33 feet (10 meters) long altogether. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s not livable. If you are sailing on your own or with a partner, there is more than enough space to live in the Seawind 1000, which includes the option of a centered cabin or two hull cabins. 

Because it’s small, the Seawind 1000 is easy to handle. The mast and sails are all manufactured for extra stability and ease of use. 

Overall, the Seawind 1000 is an excellent example of a simple, safe, and seaworthy catamaran. 

Note: since this is a small catamaran it will also be more sensitive to heavy weather so trip-planning becomes even more important.

The Voyage 44 is one of the oldest cats on this list, having had its hay-day in the mid-1990s. However, this also means that a used Voyage 44 will be cheaper than a newer boat. If you can find a Voyage with previous responsible owners, you will inherit any upgrades and fixes that they’ve made on top of a very seaworthy boat. 

The Voyage 44 has more storage and space than most cruisers of its size and is known for behaving very well in choppy waters. 

This catamaran does its job well while providing adequate space for cooking, sleeping, and living aboard. 

What To Look For in a Long-Distance Cruising Catamaran

If you are planning to sail around the world, you need to be very careful about which kind of catamaran you decide to use. Many of the things you want in a boat really comes down to personal preference, so be sure you know what design preferences you want before you start shopping! 

Size and Payload

The most important thing to consider when buying a catamaran is how much space and cargo you need because the larger the boats are, the bigger the payload it can handle. Decide how long you want the ship to be and how much you’re taking with you. 

It’s vital not to overload a catamaran, this will reduce performance and increase risk of unwanted behavior in heavy seas.

Cabin Placement  

Most catamarans have options for a “Maestro” cabin placement, where one entire hull is the master suite, and the other cabins are located on the opposite hull.

Cockpit and Protection From The Weather

Is the cockpit on the boat you’re looking at covered or open? This can make a difference on the high seas, especially during rainy weather. 

The size of the ship also can affect how many people you need as a crew. If you’re traveling by yourself or with one other person, you don’t want to buy a boat that needs a larger crew. 

Buying Used? 

If you don’t want to spend the money on a brand new catamaran, I don’t blame you. Several of the ships on this list are out of production and can only be found used. However, for circumnavigation, you do want a boat of high quality to keep you safe and dry until you make it to your destination.  

When buying a suitably used catamaran, it’s essential to look at the refit history of the boat more than the year it was made. Catamarans are sturdy, and the general design has been the same for at least the past decade. 

If you find a newer, larger, cheaper boat, you should look into its history. 

Your best bet to save money while buying a catamaran will be to buy an older, probably smaller boat with an excellent refit history and no serious issues. It will still be an investment, and a sturdy used catamaran will serve you well. 

Final Thoughts

No matter which catamaran you decide to buy for your journey, you’ll be able to sail safely and comfortably. Catamarans are great yachts for long-distance sailing, and the ships on this list are the best of the best. These brands are time-tested and ready to accompany you on an adventure around the world! 

Here are Some of My Favorite Catamaran Cruising Resources

Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it helpful as you hopefully start your sailing adventures. Here are some resources that I use as a sailor that I hope you’ll also find helpful. These are affiliate links, so if you do decide to use any of them, I’ll earn a commission. But in all honesty, these are the exact things that I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family. Sailboats: If you’re looking for the best boat to suit your needs, I would recommend a catamaran. If you’re interested, I can show you the differences between catamarans and other types of sailboats .

Books:  For getting started, I really like  Cruising catamarans made easy . It is actually a textbook from the American sailing association; it is used to get a cruising catamaran certification. There are some other great books, and I have compiled a list of books about cruising catamarans that you will find useful.

Communication:  Being out on adventures, whether it be sailing or climbing mountains, good communications are essential to being safe. I recommend two things Google fi (incredibly simple cellular data all over the world) and Garmin inreach mini (for text and voice in remote areas without cell coverage)

Sailing courses: Online sailing courses are great for beginners starting out their sailing career; it’s an efficient way of learning the basics of navigation, throttle controls, and maritime safety. I suggest starting with two free courses from NauticEd .

To see all my most up-to-date recommendations,  check out this resource  that I made for you!

• Wikipedia: Catamaran
• Cruising World: A-Z Best Cruising Catamarans 
• Dreamy Yacht Sales: Four Best Catamarans for New Buyers
• Atlantic Cruising: Good Cat/Bad Cat
• Yachting World: Catamaran Sailing Across the Atlantic
• Boat Affair: What is a Catamaran? 
• Nautilus Sailing: Catamaran Sailing

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

3 thoughts on “ 17 Best Catamarans for Sailing Around the World ”

I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.

Thanks Elisabeth I really appreciate the kind words 🙂

I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.

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open bridgedeck catamaran design

Discussion in ' Multihulls ' started by BobH , Apr 17, 2015 .

BobH Junior Member

Looking for commentary/critique (aside from, "don't design it yourself"). I have put together a design for a catamaran to meet my list of requirements: 1. catamaran, max 34 ft. LOA, 21 ft. beam 2. good bridgedeck clearance…32 inch minimum 3. minimum open bridgedeck, well back from bow and stern 4. center of gravity at or below bridgedeck, with all tankage, engines, food storage near waterline 5. epoxy-cedar strip hull bottom/ply on frame above (as in Woods Sagita/Eclipse) 6. inboard diesels, kick-up drive legs, good fuel capacity (motorsailer…modified Sillette Sonic-sideways mounted engine in each hull-no universal joint) 7. easy-to-handle, easy to balance sailplan...Ketch - main: vertical roller reefing (as in the wishbone gaff rig by Bernd Kohler), freestanding mizzen: sleeved sail with wishbone boom and gaff, jib: roller reefing 8. balanced rudders 9. daggerboards 10. accommodations for four: small galley, drop-down table, enclosed head, two large double berths 11. capable of offshore runs from Alaska to Chile and Hawaii, but mostly summertime sailing in NW Pacific coastal waters I am looking for some helpful observations/advice. I would like to do as much of the legwork of layout and design myself, including the basics of sail CE vs. CLR, distribution of weight, etc., but I do plan to engage a qualified naval architect to finalize the structure. For what it's worth: I enjoy designing what I build.  

Attached Files:

Petros Senior Member

That looks like a very nice design, well thought out. I love the way you integrated the central salon with the hull berths. My personal preference would be on a 34 footer to use a sloop rig, less rigging and stuff to mess with and maintain. And I would also go with a plumb or vertical bow, it will have slightly less tendancy to dive and might give you a dryer ride than the racked back bow. To my eye the rudder sees a bit smallish, though that is without knowing any of the areas or ratios. Good luck.  

snowbirder Previous Member

I'd prefer a sloop on a boat of this type/size as well. Also... if your boards are up, those rudders hit the ground first. They need to be able to deal with hitting the ground and not breaking. Kickup or something.  

waikikin Senior Member

snowbirder said: ↑ I'd prefer a sloop on a boat of this type/size as well. Also... if your boards are up, those rudders hit the ground first. They need to be able to deal with hitting the ground and not breaking. Kickup or something. Click to expand...

John Perry Senior Member

I find this interesting, particularly since about 3 years ago I got some way into drawing a cruising catamaran which shares many features with your design - roughly similar overall dimensions (mine is a little smaller) - very similar proposed construction method (strip plank hull bases, plywood elsewhere) - open bridgedeck but with provision for storage and a wheel with seated helm position - similar continuation of the in-hull accomodation into the bridgedeck - very similar arrangement of the main entrance hatches into the hulls. Differences are that I drew a sloop rig, although I did not get as far as finalising the details of this, also mine was intended to be primarily a sailing boat rather than a motor sailer and as such it would have outboard engines, not diesels. I think your design looks to be well thought out, here are a few comments: Are the lines that run from the windward hull to the outer ends of the wishbone gaffs intended to control sail twist? This is the way 'vangs' were used to control sail twist on the spritsail barges that operated on the Thames estuary in the UK in the early decades of the 20 century. If this is so, it is an interesting idea and one I have wondered about at times. Although most mainsails probably do twist more than the optimum amount, some twist is desirable to lower the center of effort in wind gusts and it can probably also help to reduce induced drag. I suspect that over-restricting twist at the head of the sail would not be good. I also see a potential problem with combining the mizen gaff vangs with an unstayed mizen mast. The unstayed mast can be expected to bend away to leeward in gusts so if the outer end of the gaff is restrained by vangs a wind gust may well cause the angle of attack to be increased towards the top of the sail which I would have thought highly undesirable. With regard to the vangs on the main gaff, I wonder if a simpler way to control that gaff would be a line taken from a sheave at the top of the mizen to the outer end of the gaf, although I realise that would mean that the two masts would be tied together so that if one were to fail both probably would. I dont understand why you have a wishbone boom on the mizen but not on the main. Wishbone booms have been found to work well, so if you are going to have one on one sail why not on the other? Also, if you do want a boom on the mainsail, why does it need both a rigid kicking strap and a near semi-circular mainsheet track - I would have thought one or the other and if you go for just the mainsheet track you could still have a topping lift and possibly also lazy jacks to hold up the boom. I would have thought that you might want a roller foresail, maybe this is just not shown at this stage (my drawings also show very little detail of the rig). The deck area around the base of the main mast is sloped so may not be a good working area, but its no worse than on many other catamarans. Since you dont have accomodation in the area of the mast step I would have thought it would be possible to have at least a small flat working platform to handle halyards etc. at the base of the mast. Your proposed engine arrangement sounds very good for a motor sailer - if the outdrives are steerable you could even make the boat crab sideways into a parking space without the need for any bow or stern thrusters. However, it does sound like an expensive solution requiring quite a lot of custom engineering. I imagine that you will need to have bevel gears between the engine and the input to the outdrive leg, perhaps these would be fitted into streamlined 'blisters' on the inner topsides. The picture attached shows a possible alternative way to drive a retractable propeller from a transverse mounted engine - obviously an old idea! If the bevel gears are fairly near the waterline on the outside of the hull would not need nearly such a long shaft and the perhaps the shaft could swing down on a pivoting bracket. Just a thought. This being a motor-sailer I am surprised that you do not want the helm position fully sheltered, at least from ahead. A fold down windscreen/spray dodger could achieve this if it were not for the curved mainsheet track that would be in the way of it. It looks like you are intending to place the topside stringers on the outside of the boat. Certainly an interesting idea - should avoid the stringers taking up space in the accommodation and they should provide some protection for the topsides, sounds good. The drum mounted rudders should be feasible. At one stage in my rather varied career I worked for a small company that made specialist hardware for racing yachts and sailing super yachts. One of our projects, albeit not one that I was closely involved with, was a rudder in a rotating drum as you have drawn. This was for a monohull race yacht, I think the designer was Julian Everett, he might even have some information about it. As far as I know it worked fine, but it was quite a job to make - I think we had big custom made ball races at the top and bottom of the drum, Torlon balls and I think the races were non-metallic, maybe turned from something like Tuffnell, I cant quite remember the details. I dont want to divert this thread, but for comparison I attach a drawing of my one - not even a finished design at this stage. I got this far with it then started to get ideas for a novel lifting hydrofoil arrangement which would probably be best tested first on a smaller boat, or perhaps I should do like Doug Lord and start with a remote controlled model.  

Dutch barge.jpg

Mr Perry, Apparently we do have some similar ideas regarding design features. Excellent drawings...what software are you using? Yes, those are vangs. I am experimenting with the idea of using a stiff freestanding mast with a vang with a controlled stretch device (like the rubber band links used in exercise machines for resistance in place of weights). The vang would have a slack loop in it held slack by the bands...at full stretch the rope takes over and the vang is full on. I plan on trying a scaled down version of this rig this summer, if I can get the rig and boat done (15' double-ended sail/row boat). Sort of an adjustable, self-resetting circuit breaker for dealing with gusts rather than a quick hand on the vang. The force applied can be adjusted during trials by adding/reducing resistance. I want to avoid having to rebuild a carbon mast because the first try was too bendy. Using a freestanding mast on a multihull is not suggested just because of the huge righting moment...so I thought I should have some safety feature as part of the design in place of the customary engineering safety factor arrived at by tripling the forces designed for. This boat will have a righting moment of approximately 64,000 lb ft. A mast strong enough to handle three times that would be too fat and too heavy. So I want sail controls that will dump wind in a controlled way...adjustable as experience with the boat dictates. Because the mizzen is freestanding I do not want them linked...I agree, it would be a good angle for main twist control to take a line from the mizzen top...but too much stress for the mizzen to bear at the partner. As it is the mast has to be able to lift the leeward hull with a force centered at the CE for that sail. As far as I can calculate, adding the possible force due to the main at the very top would require too much of the mizzen (if it is of reasonable diameter and weight of construction). The rig is an amalgam of a freestanding version of a Wharram cat rig with Bernd Kohler's vertical furling main...hopefully done well. First reef: douse mainsail...40% reduction, CE shifts very slightly aft and down, 2nd reef: roll in some foresail and first reef mizzen...and so on. Hopefully the rig has the reported good manners of cat-ketch rigs like on a Core Sound 20 or Presto 30. Right, spiral bevel gearbox...good friend machinist/mechanic is willing and able to put the drive together. We'll also be able to put together the box cooler and dry stack exhaust system. Regarding the dodger...the freestanding mizzen is able to rotate 360 degrees. I don't want to limit that. The topsides are to be sandwich construction with inner layer 4mm ply, 3/4 in. stringers with core between, finished in 4mm ply, with fir stringer doublers outside then glassed. Sounds complicated, but not really. I hope to build the panels into one piece and attach the inner stringers on the floor, then hang the whole side in one go (with lots of careful measurements and plenty of help). Fill the spaces between stringers, fair, then the outside panel with its stringers already attached providing stiffness to the floppy 4mm panel. We'll see. Rudders...you are right...in drums with plastic bearings. I want to distribute rudder forces over a much larger bearing surface and still have them retractable. Rudders built to break before the drums do...carry spares.  

brian eiland Senior Member

Single-Masted Ketch consideration BobH said: ↑ Looking for commentary/critique (aside from, "don't design it yourself"). I have put together a design for a catamaran to meet my list of requirements: 7. easy-to-handle, easy to balance sailplan...Ketch - main: vertical roller reefing (as in the wishbone gaff rig by Bernd Kohler), freestanding mizzen: sleeved sail with wishbone boom and gaff, jib: roller reefing Click to expand...

BobH said: ↑ Mr Perry, Apparently we do have some similar ideas regarding design features. Excellent drawings...what software are you using? Click to expand...

Roller main Here's a link to an article on the roller main: http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/13/columns/guest/bernd/#.VTkhENJVhHw  

Rudder drum "You dont have the rudder drum axis perpendicular to the hull skin, so when the rudder turns you will have a step in the underside of the hull, presumably you know that and dont mind it." Yes, that is a problem...my solution is to not make the bottom of the drum flat. Rather make it curved in cross-section close to the longitudinal cross-section of the hull bottom in that area...like a bowl bottom. So it presents a fill for the cut out for rudder motion +- 35 degrees  

rudder1.jpg

Rudder2.jpg.

The core will be structural. I am working on the same principles shown in Gougeon's West System book...they often used both stringers and core, apparently (like on Rogue Wave's deck). For the outer layer I may even try laying down a flat fiberglass sheet on a melamine table on the floor in one piece, glue on the outer stringers, and then secure that sheet to the structure so I can visually inspect the bond through the glass (would have to be as thin as workable...probably would need to set up a low vacuum clamp on the whole side). Then, when it is set, overlay an appropriate layer of outer glass (right now I am thinking 40 oz total of uni and biax). So there would be only the inner layer of wood...the outer layer of FRP. I'll have to experiment with that first to see if it has a chance of working. The outer stringer is dual purpose...both protection from damage to the skin and to provide some stiffness in the FRP outer layer...like a hat section stiffener. So it is to be used on both sides of the hulls.  

Anchor lead The bow fittings are for an anchor bridle. The chain and anchor are stowed on a capstan at the rear of the bridgedeck. The idea is to deploy the anchor then bring the last bit of chain up to the bow to secure the bridle. A rope from the capstan to the bow does that last bit.  

Mr Perry, What tool do you have for an FEA analysis? I am new to this forum...I will try to link this thread to the multihull section....not sure how right now.  

Fat-Headed, Squaretop Sails I know they are all the rage, but there are some questions about their use. I think there are some subject threads on this forum about that subject. Here is one: http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/sailboats/squaretop-mains-46803.html Most recently I added a question about which sail resulted in the capsize of the latest foiling Gunboat: brian eiland said: ↑ I would make note of the 'culprit sail' that most contributes to the final capsize.:?: https://vimeo.com/125378004 (I don't think its that big reacher that's almost acting like a genoa at these relative wind speeds,....I think its that mainsail,...that's suppose to twist off to relieve that pressure at its head ) Click to expand...

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tspeer Senior Member

John Perry said: ↑ ...The idea of using elastic elements to relieve sail forces in high winds is one of those ideas that is pretty obvious but doesn't seem to have been looked into much, perhaps there is a reason for that. ... Click to expand...

New Build: KD 860 Open

Light weight big open deck catamaran

Open Source Modular boat system

Open source 12-15m high performance/semi-cruising catamaran design

Kite propoulsed trimaran - open project

Paul L. opens the container. –Is SailRocket V3 coming after a break of ~3 years ?

Open Source Design 20M Cat

Marc Ginisty Catarmaran and Open Design Questions

open 8.5 tri

Side-opening main hatches on a cat- good or bad?

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