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Boat Review: Leopard 40 Power Cat

• By Mark Pillsbury
• October 23, 2023

Sitting at the flybridge helm station aboard the new Leopard 40 power cat, taking in the view of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline, was an excellent way to spend a sunny February morning. It was the day after the 2023 Miami International Boat Show, where the latest model from South African builder Robertson and Caine had made its world debut. I was thoroughly enjoying my allotted time at the helm.

Did I mention that I was a thousand or so miles from the snow and ice back home in New England? Or that the three-person helm seat was far comfier than a similar-size chairlift on any ski hill? Or that the table, surrounded by an L-shaped couch directly behind me—never mind the adjacent chaise abutting a counter with grill, sink and fridge—promised nothing but fun times for both skipper and crew?

With another nine hulls already in the works, and more to come by year’s end when production is fully ramped up, the boat will soon be available for charter vacations with The Moorings. At first, it will be in the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas , Croatia and Greece, and eventually, it will join the company’s bases worldwide.

Off the Florida coast, we monitored miles per gallon at 500 rpm increments. In slow motion (1,000 rpm), the twin 370 hp Yanmar diesels sipped fuel at an estimated rate of 4.8 miles to the gallon. The boat’s sweet spot—3,000 rpm, where we cranked along at 17 knots—came at a cost of 0.8 miles per gallon. Any more or less, and efficiency dropped, according to onboard gauges. Top speed was a little better than 22 knots.

At cruising speed, the boat’s hydraulic steering felt nimble and responsive as I cranked the wheel into a turn. Conditions were fairly calm, but crossing our own wake, the 40 PC plowed on through the chop without missing a beat.

At low speed, the 40 PC turned easily when I adjusted the twin fly-by-wire throttles and shifted between forward and reverse. The sailor in me wondered if the builder really needed to include a bow thruster in the port bow, though the feature had made getting out of the tight slip at the marina a simple enough maneuver. For extra-tight quarters with a shorthanded crew, cameras can ­monitor the stern and bow, and deliver the imagery to either of the twin Raymarine displays at the ­upstairs helm station.

The 40 PC joins a lineup that includes the Leopard 46 PC (also sold as the Moorings 464) and Robertson and Caine’s flagship on the power side, the Leopard 53 PC. 

A word of explanation here: Robertson and Caine enjoys a somewhat unusual relationship with Travelopia, which owns The Moorings and Sunsail, and oversees the Leopard sales team. All of Robertson and Caine’s sailing catamarans go into the charter companies’ fleets or are sold to private owners as Leopard Catamarans. Robertson and Caine’s power models are branded as Leopards or Moorings models, depending on how an owner plans to use the boat. All of Robertson and Caine’s current models—power and sail—are developed by the in-house design team, along with Alex Simonis of naval architecture firm Simonis and Voogd, and Franck Bauguil, vice president of yacht ownership and product development at Travelopia. Bauguil also manages sales of all three brands.

At present, he says, approximately half of Robertson and Caine’s sailboats are sold for charter, and half are for private use. The same is expected to be true for the 40 PC. Robertson and Caine plans to build 20 of the boats this year and increase the number to 31 next year. A well-equipped model, delivered from South Africa to the United States ready to go, comes in at under $1.2 million. 

The three current power models comprise the fourth generation of power vessels from Robertson and Caine in terms of design. Previous generations shared some furniture modules with boats from the sail side, but Bauguil says that this new line started with a blank sheet of paper. The result is increased volume for interior accommodations without disturbing performance.

The boat in Miami was powered by optional twin 370 hp Yanmar diesels. Charter models are fitted out with 350 hp Yanmars, and 250 hp Yanmars are also available. Tankage is cruiser-friendly, with 370 gallons of fuel and 170 gallons of water.

Aboard the 40 PC, the owner’s stateroom occupies the starboard hull. It has a queen berth aft and a head ­compartment forward with a shower in the forepeak. Amidships are a desk and ­television, hanging lockers, and a fair amount of stowage.

The port hull includes guest staterooms fore and aft, each with a queen berth, and a shared head between them.

It’s bright and airy in the salon, thanks to windows that offer a near 360-degree view, a sliding door that opens to the cockpit, and another door forward that leads to the foredeck, where a couple of cushioned sun beds await. The cockpit is shaded by the flybridge, with a cushioned seat across the transom, and a dining table.

The salon itself is well-laid-­out, with an indoor helm station tucked into the forward starboard corner. To port, an L-shaped couch surrounds a coffee table (a dining table is optional); opposite is an upholstered chair. The galley is adjacent to the cockpit, with a full-size, home-style fridge to starboard and an L-shaped counter to port that includes an induction stove top, a convection microwave oven, a sink, and a dishwasher.

On deck, a solid stainless-­steel rail around the boat provides secure handholds for moving about underway.

Inside and out, the lines of the 40 PC are sharp and stylish. Bauguil says early orders indicate that the boat is appealing not only to multihull sailors who want to make a jump into power, but also to powerboaters looking for the efficiency gained by two hulls. As for charterers, I can state it pure and simple: Put me on a 40 PC somewhere warm and sunny for a week, and I’ll guarantee a good time.  

Leopard 40 Power Cat Specifications

• More: Boat Review , catamaran , leopard catamarans , power cat , Print August 2023
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• Power Catamarans

Embark on a journey to new horizons from the power and beauty of Leopard Catamarans. Sea trialed and tested offthe coast of Cape Town, South Africa, Leopard Catamarans are known the world over for extraordinary craftsmanship and optimal performance. Leopard powercats are built with flexibility for the modern seafarer and offer a range of equipment and layout options designed with your journey in mind. Embark on your adventure today in a Leopard Powercat.

Power CATAMARANS DNA

• World leader in power catamarans
• Built for comfortable blue water power cruising
• Spacious flybridge
• Stepped hulls allow performance and interior volume
• Easy to maneuver for single-handed operation
• Reliable and easy to use davit system
• Great water and fuel capacity
• Comfortable, robust, and easy to maintain
• Economical consumption

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The power cat range.

Introducing the Leopard 40 Powercat. Unveiled in Cape Town, South Africa, our newest addition to the fleet celebrated rave reviews from the press and media, earning the title “European Multihull of the Year”. Reinvented from bow to stern, the Leopard 40 Powercat delivers outstanding volume and comfort. And you can rest assured knowing this yacht meets the highest standards of seaworthiness, making it the epitome of blue water cruising excellence.

The Leopard 46 Powercat is the embodiment of elevated living on the water. As part of the new generation of Leopard Powercats, the Leopard 46 Powercat marries comfort and performance in a cruising catamaran designed to fit your every need. From ambient lighting to optimized spaces, the Leopard 46 functions like a home, with intuitive touchpoints and efficient functionality. Make no mistake, theLeopard 46 Powercat offers power and agility for those bold enough to seek it. Get ready todiscover the exhilarating promise of a Leopard Catamaran.

The Leopard 53 Powercat, flagship of the Leopard Catamaran Fleet and recipient of the Multihull of the Year Award, now boasts over 110 yachts in service worldwide. This, among other accolades, has solidified the vessel’s standing as a leader in its class. The Leopard 53 Powercat is easy to maintain and up to 50% more fuel efficient than any monohull motor yacht counterparts. A reincarnation of her predecessor, the Leopard 53 Powercat has been reimagined to provide greater speed, comfort, performance and luxury. Live your passion aboard the Leopard 53 Powercat and enjoy the journey ahead.

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Leopard 47 Powercat Review

Robertson and Caine – Leopard 47 Power Cat

The Leopard 47 Power Cat is a yacht born from many innovations, and a design that has won over many owners (even sailors) and charter companies too.

The Leopard 47 PC is a collaboration between South African boatbuilder Robertson and Caine and California sail- and power-catamaran designers Morelli & Melvin.  Debuting in 2009, the 47-footer forms the basis for island charter fleets and is found in private ownership all over the world.

The Leopard 47PC was designed from the ground up to be an open water yacht with the displacement necessary to carry endless cruising gear, and maintain its waterline.  Being a multihull means it’s very comfortable on the move and also stable at anchor, a feature that monohull power-yachts cannot compete with unless equipped with expensive active stabilizers. 

For the power plant of this vessel, the early model of 47PC were fitted with the Volvo 150’s.  These were then switched to the amazing Cummins 150’s, which powers the majority of the four cabin 47PC’s built.  Then due to EPA compliancy regulations they switched to the John Deere 150’s the last year of the run.

Of the yachts powered by two straight drive Cummins 150HP turbo charged four cylinder engines, this yacht offers high reliability and efficiency, especially in the 12-15 knot cruising speed.  Higher speeds (17-18 knots) are achievable, at the expense of higher fuel consumption, though still massively lower than equal size power boats.  If you chose to cruise at maximum fuel efficiency, you can run on just one engine at half-throttle (2000 rpm), which gives a healthy 8 to 9 knots.  At this speed you’re only using 2-3 GPH, which means you have  range of roughly 1000 nautical miles using the built-in 320 gallon tanks only.  With these numbers, suddenly a stable and comfortable power-boat makes sense, for those looking to make the jump from sailing to power, or those looking for a more efficient power-boat.

For those looking for more power, there was the option to upgrade the engines to 2 x Volvo D4-260’s.   These are found more often in the three cabin owners layout.  Powered by these engines, the yacht can reach speeds of 22-23 knots, cruising at 15-18 knots.  Cruising using the same one engine running trick, at 2000rpm also only burns 3 GPH, which is remarkable.

Being a wide beam catamaran hull, means this yacht has really generous space for both living areas and storage.   There are two layout versions for the 47PC, an owners three cabin layout (where the starboard hull is very open plan, and features a study/lounge area and huge forwards head/shower), and a more conventional 4 cabin/4 head version.  The main salon has plenty of natural light through the large side and forward windows, with galley aft and table seating forwards.  There is a full sized nav station in the starboard forward part of the salon, and the option to fit a second internal helm here.  The yacht is fully air-conditioned and is powered by a 9kw Northern Lights generator, proving quiet cool living on the water.  There are crew quarters on both sides, with the starboard side having its own head, sink and bunk. 

The side decks are extremely wide, for a yacht this size, with a solid deck between the bows giving immense floor space, and high stainless tube guard rail providing safety whilst under way.  The fixed GRP dinghy davits are an ingenious design, where the forward facing bench seat can be folded flat and then lowered into the water to become a boarding platform.  The aft cockpit is very spacious, with comfortable seating for ten around the table to port and additional seating to starboard, for al fresco dining.  Where this yacht really shines is the flybridge, which becomes the living area in all but the most adverse conditions.  Here you have a commanding view of your surroundings, and can helm the yacht from the three person helm seat, whilst also being able to socialize with your guests sitting in the forward area.  The forward area of the flybridge features luxurious wrap around seating to port and an additional bench seat facing forward.  There is also a wet bar to prepare food and drinks, and there is provision to fit stove/BBQ and fridge/ice-maker, so you have all you need to make the flybridge your elevated home on the water. 

The Leopard 47 power cat is unquestionably one of the more exciting power-cats out there, and today offers tremendous value, being priced at a third of the cost of a similar new design, whilst also being an incredible strong and efficient design.  Speaking with delivery crews and owners they all talk highly of the performance, sea-worthiness, build quality, and livability of the yacht. Those with a family looking to explore this blue planet under power, should check out the value that the brilliant Leopard 47 power cat gives.

View current used Leopard 47 PC listings.

Richard Vass

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Power range, leopard 40 catamaran, the success of the leopard 53 powercat and leopard 46 powercat has reinforced leopard catamarans’ world leadership in the cruising/blue water/offshore power catamaran market..

The Leopard 40 Powercat completes a modern range, entirely reinvented, and specifically designed to meet the highest requirements of comfort and seaworthiness.

KEY FEATURES

• New Styling
• Interior Upgrade
• Additional Area at Aft End of Saloon
• Larger Cabins
• Separate Engine Rooms

Saloon Features

• Seating and Inside Helm Station (optional)
• Coffee Table or Dining Table Options
• Forward Access to Deck
• New Soft Furnishings for Settees

Galley Features

• Forward Facing L-shaped Galley to Port
• New “Galley Serving Area” to Starboard
• Improved Interior Lighting

Accommodations have been enhanced to make you feel at-home with new soft furnishings, very comfortable beds and great use of space. The Leopard 40 Powercat comes in a three or four-cabin layout. The three-cabin owner’s suite boasts large walk-in closet, desk, and a double vanity.

Forward VIP guest cabins offer spacious, island berths and en-suite heads.

The next generation of

LEOPARD CATAMARANS

Built to provide pure comfort and performance

Engine Specifications

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Who Makes The Best Power Catamaran?

By Robert Bowman | Posted On Sep 15, 2022 Updated On May 03, 2023

The story of the evolution of the power catamaran can be broken down to a simple act of marital duty. it was the 1940's and Ray Leger loved to fish off of the California coast with his wife Evelyn. Ray had been a carpenter and capitalized on the booming Southern California housing market after World War 2, later using his skills and equipment to construct fishing boats. Evelyn would routinely suffer from seasickness, a problem that Ray needed to solve in order to keep fishing. Knowing that a catamaran offered greater stability, Ray set out to build one with outboard motors. The first one, an 18-foot cabin cruiser, was outfitted with twin 33hp outboards. By the 1960's, construction had moved to fiberglass hulls and the popularity quickly soared.

Today, power catamarans are among the fastest growing segments in the marine industry, as are sailing catamarans . A recent report shows that the global catamaran market as a whole is worth over $4 billion and has an annual growth rate of over 6%. That's nearly double what the average CAGR (compound annual growth rate) is for the boating industry in total.

The transition to power cats really came from charter customers in the Caribbean that would vacation on sailing cats in the BVI's for weeks at a time. The catamarans offered greater stability, but also an incredible amount of space on board thanks to the wider beams. But people on vacation enjoying the trip would end up using the small engines most of the time as sailing comes with a certain amount of effort. Now it's common to see power catmarans in charter in the Caribbean, as well as privately owned boats behind someone's house.

As more boaters get exposed to the benefits of power catamarans, the number of builders has grown as well. Power cat brands like Aquila Boats , as an example, weren't around in the early 2000's, but are now a common boat to see all over Florida or the Northeast. Prestige Yachts also just released their very first power cat into the market, the M48. Trying to claim that one power catamaran builder is the "best" among all of the others is a tough decision as there are many factors. If judged by number of units sold over the last 10 years, then Leopard is the best power catamaran builder in the industry. Looking at boats sold globally in the MLS over the last decade, Leopard Catamarans sold 40% more vessels than the second leading power cat builder, Fountain Pajot . Other notable power cat brands that led in overall sales were Endeavor, Lagoon, and Aquila.

(Below: On the extreme luxury power catamaran market, the Sunreef 80 is among the best.)

Video by: @NautiStyles

While the number of boats sold into the marketplace is a sign of strength in a builder, it also may not necessarily equate to 'being the best power catamaran' in terms of quality. Like with monohulls, there are varying degrees of both quality and price when it comes to the subsects of the power cat industry. Both Sunreef and Horizon Yachts have expanded into large luxury power cats that, even when more than 10 years old, can still command more than $2 million as an asking price.

One way to tell if the catamaran you're buying is well-recognized for its quality is to look at some of the recent award winners. Many of the editors of multi-hull focused magazines are experts in this category and have real-life experiences on dozens of different models. Here are a few notable ones:

• Fountaine Pajot MY4.S won the 2022 Multi-Hull of the Year Award for its category (36.1' and reaches 22 knots!)
• The Aquila 54 won 2021 Multi-hull of the Year 
• The Leopard 53 Power Cat won 2020 Multi-Hull of the Year
• The Lagoon 55 won the 2021 British Yachting Awards

(Below: The new Fountaine Pajot MY4.S offers a new 'sport top' style for the longtime catamaran builder.)

Whether you're purchasing a new or pre-owned power catamaran, its resale value is of the utmost importance. Nothing can stifle your enthusiasm when you are trying to sell your existing yacht only to have it sit on the market for a long time while diminishing in value. If this is of concern to you, the best advice is to stick with the more mainstream, reputable catamaran builders. Boats with odd layouts, underpowered engines, outlandish decor, and other out-of-the-norm equipment can cause your boat to sit on the market longer than anticipated.

The market demand has also improved in recent years. Over the last decade, power catamarans took roughly 330 days to sell. Almost a full year! Since 2020, however, that amount of time has decreased by 19%. Among the builders that sold within 100 days of hitting the market, Aquila, Endeavor, Fountaine Pajot, Leopard, and Robertson & Caine were prominent. 

(Below: The Aquila 54 Power Catamaran has a tri-deck design with a beam of over 25-feet.)

At United Yacht Sales, we have over 250 experienced yacht brokers worldwide. Many have years of real hands-on experience with power catamarans, sailing cats, sailboats, and other similar vessels. We can assist you in the sale of your current yacht, or represent you in the purchase of a new one. Call us today at 1-772-463-3131 and we will connect you with the right sales professional that perfectly sits your needs and situation.

Also Read: Are Power Catamarans Good In Rough Water?

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Circumnavigating in a Power Catamaran – A Leopard 53 PC Owner Story

[july 19, 2024].

When boating folks talk about circumnavigating the globe, they generally think about doing so under sail. Sailboats use wind for fuel and handle well in offshore conditions, right?

Many who consider circling the globe on a power assume that a trawler or other slow-displacement boat is the way to go. How else can you do it without massive fuel tanks and a slow, efficient hull design?

Well, you know what happens when we assume.

Don Richards and his wife, Anja, are currently making a circumnavigation in their Leopard 53 Powercat. We caught up with them in Tahiti as they prepared for the next leg of their journey.

Coming from a monohull

This is Don and Anja’s second circumnavigation. That first experience, made in a monohull sailboat, shaped their plans for their current adventure, including the decision to make the odyssey in a Powercat.

“Mainly, I got tired of sailing and grinding winches,” Don told us. “I’m nearly seventy. I’m done raising the mainsail.”

He also noted that while sailors spend a great deal of time under sail on longer transits, once they arrive at a destination, most of their shorter trips—between islands, for example—are under power. So why not just motor all the time?

“The biggest difference once you arrive at a destination,” he adds, “is the Powercat is a floating apartment compared to a monohull. It’s a lot more comfortable.”

Powercat passage making

The Richards picked up their new Powercat 53 at the Leopard facility in Cape Town, South Africa. They spent a lot of time there making measured runs, logging fuel consumption and building realistic performance curves for passage making. Their work paid off, and their load and consumption tables were accurate throughout their Atlantic and Pacific crossings.

The couple travels at a leisurely pace to maximize range. Don and Anja do most of their crossings and passages at seven knots, which gives them a range of close to 1,700 miles. At nine knots, by comparison, their range drops to 1,000. They’ve installed reserve tanks with an extra 100 gallons (400 liters) of fuel but never needed those reserves for cruising. The Richards filled two 290-gallon (1,100L) fuel bladders carried on deck for a few very long passages.

Of course, the Powercat’s ability to cruise at 18 knots comes in handy when rough weather looms, the customs office is closing, or nightfall approaches.

“A big difference between powering and sailing is knowing when you’ll get there,” Don says. Since you’re not subject to the vagaries of light air and wind direction, planning is much more accurate and predictable under power.

The passage west

The Richards are Australian and may eventually bring their Powercat back to Australia. Like most cruisers, however, they write their plans in wet sand at low tide, so they’re still determining when or if they’ll finally get it Down Under.

Of course, the shortest straight-line distance from Cape Town to Australia is east, across the Indian Ocean, but that is not a recommended route. Prevailing wind patterns, currents, and weather make a passage east from Cape Town unpleasant and possibly dangerous.

“We spoke to a lot of experienced delivery captains and skippers. And they all said clearly, do not go east,” says Don.

Instead, they headed north and west across the South Atlantic. They envisioned heading up through the Caribbean to the U.S. East Coast and over to Europe to cruise the Mediterranean. But the realities of hurricane season and insurance needs kept them south, and they found themselves headed towards Panama and passing through the canal.

On their last circumnavigation, Howard and Anja didn’t make it to Central America or Mexico, so they headed north after coming through the Panama Canal to see it this time. Eventually, they set out from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for French Polynesia, where they made landfall after a 2,710-mile leg to Hiva Oa. Almost all of that was powering straight on the rhumb line.

Cruising differences

The most notable differences when cruising with a Powercat instead of a monohull are the onboard space and comfort. There’s no comparison with a monohull for the comfortable living space on a stable platform with a full-sized galley. The other is redundancy. You’ve got two engines in two hulls, so there’s always a second engine if one has trouble.

The Powercat also changes where and how the Richards anchor since they can tuck in closer to shore inside the keelboats. Anchoring in shallow water with more protection from shore is almost always better, and moving short distances between anchorages is quick and comfortable.

Hauling the Powercat out of the water takes a little more planning. Like a sailing catamaran, you have a lot more beam and need a travel lift to handle the size. But the bridge deck and cross beams are stout, and Robertson and Caine, builders of the Leopard Powercat, were always available with helpful instructions for where to best place the straps for the safest lift.

Where to next?

The Richards’ current plan is to head to Samoa and likely spend the cyclone season in New Zealand. Next year, they may visit Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and stop at Norfolk Island. Like all their plans, these may change with the conditions.

“We’d also love to head over the top of Australia back to southeast Asia,” Don says. “Maybe the Solomons, Papua New Guinea. Australia’s always an option, too. Who knows?”

When asked one thing potential Powercat cruisers should know, Don’s answer was unequivocal: “You need to know that you can get almost anywhere with the standard tanks. Sure, you’ve got to slow it down. But don’t think you’ll be limited by fuel if you don’t want to be.”

No limits. Sounds like the perfect mantra for world cruisers.

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