10 Essential Tips for Buying a Catamaran (What Smart Buyers Know First)

Buying a catamaran is exciting, but knowing which boat fits your cruising plans and budget isn’t always straightforward. Most buyers scroll through dozens of listings without understanding what actually matters—whether that stunning 42-footer truly works for liveaboard life, if the asking price is fair, or which brands hold their value. Smart buyers follow a proven process that leads them confidently to the right catamaran without overspending or overlooking critical details. From defining your real needs to working with experienced brokers and getting proper surveys, there’s a clear path to finding your perfect boat. Here’s exactly what you need to know before making an offer.

Table of Contents

• Define How You’ll Use the Catamaran
• Choose Between Sailing and Power Catamarans
• Pick the Right Size and Layout
• Understand the True Cost of Ownership
• Decide Whether to Buy New or Used
• Research Proven Catamaran Brands
• Get a Professional Marine Survey
• Sea Trial the Catamaran in Real Conditions
• Work With an Experienced Catamaran Broker
• Plan for Ownership Beyond the Purchase
• Ready to Find Your Perfect Catamaran?
• FAQs

Define How You’ll Use the Catamaran

Before buying a catamaran for cruising, you need to figure out exactly how you’ll use it. Your intended use will determine everything from hull construction to layout requirements.

Coastal cruising means you’re never more than a day from safe harbor—hopping down the Intracoastal or island-hopping in the Bahamas. You can duck into port if the weather turns bad, so lighter-built cats work fine.

Bluewater cruising involves open ocean passages where you’re committed once you leave. Your cat needs better bridge-deck clearance, beefier construction, and serious load capacity for extended offshore sailing.

Living aboard full-time changes your needs completely. The catamaran lifestyle requires thinking beyond weekend trips. Charter fleet layouts maximize berths but sacrifice storage—fine for week-long vacations, but challenging for liveaboard use.

Key considerations when defining your use:

• Climate control and comfortable workspaces for daily living
• Layout flow that makes sense for your actual time aboard
• One larger master cabin versus multiple small guest cabins
• Proper galley setup for cooking actual meals, not just reheating
• Storage for tools, spare parts, and provisions

Be honest about whether you’ll really cross oceans or mostly sail coastal waters. Your answer drives every other buying decision.

Related: 9 Best Liveaboard Catamaran: Sail Away and Explore the World in Style!

Choose Between Sailing and Power Catamarans

The sailing versus power decision fundamentally changes your entire ownership experience. Power catamarans run on engines exclusively, giving you higher speeds and straightforward operation. Sailing cats use wind as primary propulsion with smaller auxiliary engines for maneuvering and when there’s no breeze.

Power cats are perfect if you want to cover distance quickly and aren’t interested in the hands-on sailing experience. They typically cruise at 15-22 knots compared to a sailing cat’s 6-10 knots under power. However, you’ll burn significantly more fuel—power catamarans need larger fuel tanks, and you’ll be filling them regularly.

Sailing catamarans offer virtually free fuel when the wind’s blowing, making them ideal for extended cruising. They’re quieter underway and provide that traditional sailing experience. The trade-off? You need sailing skills, deal with more maintenance on sails and rigging, and accept slower speeds when motoring.

Key factors in your decision:

• Fuel consumption: Sailing cats use minimal fuel except for battery charging, while power cats consume fuel constantly
• Speed requirements: Power cats deliver consistent 15+ knot cruising regardless of conditions
• Range considerations: Sailing cats can travel indefinitely with wind, power cats are limited by fuel capacity
• Maintenance complexity: Sailing rigs require periodic inspection and replacement every 7-10 years

Think about your cruising style—are you covering long ocean passages or making quick island hops?

Pick the Right Size and Layout

Size and layout directly impact your comfort and capability. Most cruising couples start looking at 38-42 foot cats, while families typically need 44-48 feet. Anything under 35 feet lacks proper storage for extended cruising, and over 55 feet becomes difficult to dock and expensive to maintain.

The layout decision boils down to the owner’s version versus the charter version. Charter layouts maximize cabins—typically four small cabins with four heads. They’re designed for eight guests on week-long vacations, not long-term living. Owner’s versions sacrifice a cabin or two for one truly comfortable master suite with proper storage, workspace, and a real bathroom.

Beam matters more than you’d think. Wider cats offer more interior space and better stability, but finding slips becomes challenging. Most marinas cap beam at around 24 feet, so anything beyond that limits your docking options.

Critical layout considerations:

• Galley location: Galley-up (in the saloon) is vastly preferred over galley-down in a hull for liveaboard use
• Storage capacity: Look for dedicated spaces for tools, spare parts, provisions—not just clothing
• Saloon and cockpit flow: The best layouts create seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces
• Number of heads versus cabins: Three cabins with two heads often works better than four cabins with four tiny heads

Don’t get seduced by maximizing sleeping capacity if you’re actually living aboard—prioritize livability over berth count.

Understand the True Cost of Ownership

The purchase price is just your entry fee. Annual ownership typically runs 5-10% of the boat’s value, and that’s before considering depreciation or major refits.

Insurance averages 1.5% of hull value annually, but location matters enormously. Hurricane zones (Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas) run 1.5-1.7%, while areas outside the hurricane belt drop to 0.8-0.9%. Mediterranean insurance sits around 1.0%, and crossing oceans adds one-time fees of $500-1,000.

Marina fees vary wildly by location. A slip for a 40-45 foot cat might cost $3,000-7,000 annually in the U.S., but can hit $20,000+ per year in premium locations like the French Riviera. Smart cruisers invest in quality ground tackle and a good dinghy to anchor out more often—this pays for itself quickly.

Budget for these ongoing expenses:

• Haul-outs and bottom paint: plan for yearly haul-outs at $500-1,500 plus bottom paint and cleaning
• Engine maintenance: annual servicing for twin engines runs $600-2,000, depending on complexity
• Rigging replacement: budget to replace standing rigging every 7-10 years at high cost
• Unexpected repairs: always maintain a cushion—boats find ways to need fixing

The 10% rule exists for a reason. On a $400,000 cat, expect $40,000 annually for all ownership costs combined.

Decide Whether to Buy New or Used

New catamarans offer warranties, the latest features, and the ability to customize everything to your specifications. You’ll pay premium prices—expect $500,000-1,500,000 for popular 40-50 foot models. The big hit comes from depreciation; new boats lose 15-25% of their value in the first few years.

Used catamarans provide significantly better value. Well-maintained 5-10 year old cats sell for 60-75% of their original price, meaning someone else absorbed the depreciation. The catch? You need to thoroughly inspect everything and budget for potential refits or upgrades.

Charter boats deserve special attention. Ex-charter cats from reputable companies like Moorings or Sunsail have been professionally maintained and are available at attractive prices. However, they’ve been sailed hard by hundreds of charterers and typically need updating—systems are worn, interiors are dated, and everything’s been used heavily.

Important decision factors:

• Warranty coverage: New boats include comprehensive warranties covering major systems for 2-5 years
• Customization options: New builds let you choose layouts, equipment, and finishes from the factory
• Survey requirements: Used boats require professional marine surveys costing $20-30 per foot
• Refit budgets: Factor in 10-20% of purchase price for immediate upgrades on used boats

Work with a qualified marine surveyor before buying used—they’ll find issues that could cost you tens of thousands down the road.

Research Proven Catamaran Brands

Brand reputation matters because you’re trusting this boat with your life offshore. The big three—Lagoon, Leopard, and Fountaine Pajot—dominate for good reason. Parts are available worldwide, thousands of units are cruising, and you’ll find mechanics who know these boats in every major port.

Lagoon catamarans are the market leader with the most boats sold globally. They’re built solidly for charter use, which means they can take a beating. The trade-off is they’re on the heavier, more conservative side performance-wise. Leopards (built by Robertson & Caine) offer excellent value and are purpose-designed for both charter and private use.

Fountaine Pajot builds more upscale cruising cats with beautiful interiors and better sailing performance than typical charter boats. They’re pricier but deliver refined living spaces. For performance-oriented buyers, brands like Outremer, Gunboat, and Catana offer faster sailing but at premium prices and with narrower, less spacious hulls.

Key brand considerations:

• Production volume: higher production means better parts availability and resale value
• Build quality reputation: research owner forums and surveys for common issues with specific models
• Dealer network: strong dealer support helps with warranty work and finding parts internationally
• Resale market: popular brands like Lagoon and Leopard sell faster and hold value better

Avoid obscure brands unless you’re prepared to fabricate your own parts and troubleshoot everything yourself.

Get a Professional Marine Survey

Never skip the survey. This is your only protection against buying someone else’s expensive problems. A qualified marine surveyor will spend a full day inspecting every system, structural component, and piece of equipment on the boat.

Surveys typically cost $20-$ 30 per foot, so budget $1,000-$ 1,500 for a 40-50 foot cat. You’ll also need to pay for a haul-out so the surveyor can inspect the hulls, running gear, and check for osmosis or damage below the waterline. Short haul-outs run $300-800, depending on location.

The surveyor uses moisture meters to detect water intrusion in composite structures—a critical check on catamarans since wet core in the bridgedeck or hulls means expensive repairs. They’ll test all through-hulls, inspect rigging terminals, run engines under load, and check all electrical and plumbing systems.

What surveyors examine:

• Structural integrity: Bulkheads, hull-to-deck joints, and any signs of stress or impact damage
• Engine condition: Compression tests, hours on engines, condition of saildrives or shafts
• Electrical systems: Proper wiring, corrosion, battery condition, and charging systems
• Rigging inspection: Standing rigging, turnbuckles, chainplates, and mast condition

Use survey findings to negotiate price reductions or require sellers to fix issues before closing. A good survey often pays for itself in negotiating leverage.

Sea Trial the Catamaran in Real Conditions

Reading specs doesn’t tell you how a boat actually performs. You need to get underway in real conditions to evaluate handling, comfort, noise levels, and how systems perform under load.

Push for a comprehensive sea trial—at least 2-3 hours in varied conditions if possible. Run the engines at different RPMs, test both under power and sail if it’s a sailing cat, try sharp turns and backing down, and see how the boat handles in chop. Listen for unusual noises from engines, transmissions, or hull impacts.

Pay attention to how the boat feels. Does the helm respond predictably? Can you see properly from the steering position? Is there excessive pounding in the bridgedeck when going into waves? These comfort factors matter enormously when you’re living aboard or making long passages.

Essential sea trial checks:

• Engine performance: Both engines should run smoothly at all RPMs with no excessive smoke or vibration
• Steering response: Helm should feel balanced with both engines, controllable in reverse
• Systems under load: Run watermaker, generator, and air conditioning simultaneously to verify electrical capacity
• Sail handling: If a sailing cat, test how easily sails raise/lower and how the boat points and tacks

Don’t accept excuses about skipping the sea trial due to weather or “the engines just need warming up.” If a seller won’t conduct a proper sea trial of the boat, walk away.

Work With an Experienced Catamaran Broker

A qualified catamaran broker working on your behalf isn’t just helpful—they’re essential for navigating the buying process. Good brokers know the market, have access to listings before they’re public, and understand which models have issues versus which are solid.

Buyer’s brokers typically don’t cost you anything directly since they split commission with the seller’s broker. They’ll help you evaluate boats, arrange surveys, negotiate price and terms, and handle the mountain of paperwork. More importantly, they’ll stop you from making expensive mistakes.

The best brokers specialize in catamarans specifically and have sold dozens or hundreds of multihulls. They know which survey findings are deal-breakers versus normal wear, fair market values for different models, and can spot red flags in listings that you’d miss.

Benefits of using a broker:

• Market knowledge: they know what similar boats have sold for recently and can identify overpriced listings
• Negotiation expertise: experienced brokers negotiate better terms on price, repairs, and closing timeline
• Contract protection: they ensure purchase agreements protect your interests and deposits
• Survey coordination: they’ll recommend qualified surveyors and coordinate the entire inspection process

Interview multiple brokers before choosing one. Ask about their catamaran experience specifically, recent sales, and request references from past clients.

Related: Catamaran vs Pontoon — Facts Buyers Should Know

Plan for Ownership Beyond the Purchase

Buying the boat is the beginning, not the end. Successful owners think long-term about maintenance schedules, potential upgrades, and eventual resale from day one.

Create a maintenance calendar immediately. Engines need annual service, zincs need checking every few months, rigging requires inspection every year, and replacement every 7-10 years. Bottom paint lasts 1-3 years, depending on your cruising area. Ignoring scheduled maintenance doesn’t save money—it creates expensive failures at the worst possible times.

Smart owners also plan strategic upgrades. Maybe the boat needs a watermaker for extended cruising, or better battery capacity for anchoring out, or improved ground tackle for storm season. Prioritize upgrades that improve safety and self-sufficiency first, creature comforts second.

Long-term ownership planning:

• Maintenance reserve fund: Set aside 5-10% of boat value annually for routine maintenance and unexpected repairs
• Upgrade priorities: Focus first on systems critical for safety and self-sufficiency before luxury additions
• Resale considerations: Popular features like a generator, a watermaker, and upgraded electronics improve resale value
• Documentation habits: Keep detailed records of all maintenance, repairs, and upgrades for future buyers

Think about your exit strategy, too. Well-maintained boats from popular brands sell faster and for better prices. Every upgrade and maintenance record adds value when you eventually sell.

Ready to Find Your Perfect Catamaran?

Buying a catamaran requires making smart decisions that’ll serve you well for years. Start by getting honest about how you’ll really use it, whether that’s coastal weekends or bluewater passages. That clarity drives everything: sailing versus power, size and layout, and realistic budgets. Don’t skip the professional survey or sea trial, no matter how good a boat looks. Stick with proven brands like Lagoon, Leopard, or Fountaine Pajot, and work with an experienced broker who specializes in multihulls. Budget 5-10% of the boat’s value annually for ownership costs, including insurance, maintenance, and marina fees. Do your homework upfront by defining your needs, getting proper inspections, and understanding true costs. You’ll find a catamaran that truly fits your cruising plans and budget.

FAQs