leopard catamaran history

€ 0.00 0 items

Leopard Catamarans were born from the charter market: Robertson & Cain was briefed to design and build specially designed yachts for The Moorings: a global charter company.

6 years later, the company branched out into developing catamarans for Private use, and in 2000 the Leopard brand was born.

Lex Raas jumped ship from the Beneteau and became operational director accelerating the growth of the company.

The History of Leopard Catamarans: a Timeline

1997 – Leopard 45
1998 – Leopard 38
2000 – Leopard 47
2001 – Leopard 42
2003 – Leopard 62
2004 – Leopard 40, 43
2006 Leopard 46
2009 Leopard 38
2010 Leopard 39, 44
2012 Leopard 48, 58
2014 Leopard 40
2016 Leopard 45
2018 Leopard 50
2020 Leopard 42

1997 Leopard 45

The first Leopard Catamaran model was the first 45. Shown here is “Wolf Pack”. The earlier designs have a lower bridgedeck than the later boats. This is a strong, sturdy boat, but it is susceptible to slamming going upwind in waves.

1998 Leopard 38

An example includes “Ant Legs”. The 38 was redesigned by Morelli and Melvin in 2009. The first 38 was the second model out of the south African yard. This blog gives a great summary of the boat: SV Rover .

Leopard 47 2000

Basically a 45 with lengthened sterns. The extra length allows the 47 to soak up more as cruising weight is added. Very seaworthy, strong boat although you will experience more slap with that lower bridgedeck.

2001 Leopard 42 (Moorings 4200)

Designed by South Africans Simonis-Voogd who are the architects behind Kinetic Catamarans . They continued along the same sleeker lines for this tough cruising boat. The mainsheet traveller is overhead on the trademark wing arch at the aft end of the cockpit.

Leopard 62 2003 (Moorings 6200)

The 62 was pitched against the up and coming Sunreefs – large luxury yachts with flybridges which were starting to become popular at the time. This 60 footer has plenty of living space.

Leopard 40 (2004)

Designed by Morrelli and Melvin, the 40 remains one of the most popular leopard Catamarans on the second hand market. The hulls have chines to increase the living space while maintaining a good speed through the water. This catamaran had a hard top bimini as standard.

Leopard 42 2004 (Moorings 4200), Leopard 43

A comfortable and decent passage maker that can be sailed short-handed. The bridgedeck is low, so some reports of slamming going into the weather.

The 43 is an evolution of the Leopard 42, built by Robertson and Caine. If you watch sailing channels on Youtube, you may have come across this yacht on the “ Gone with the Wynns ” channel. They had a 2005 Leopard 43 which they sold in 2022.

The next boat? An HH Catamaran . I guess the sailing channel is going well! Built from 2004 to 2007. 74 Units built.

Leopard 46 2006

Designed by Morrelli and Melvin with the familiar cat like eyes when seen from the side. The hulls are narrow at the waterline- then flare to a chine above the water to maximise living space (an old Catana trick).

Built with vacuum-bagged E-glass over balsa core.

Leopard 38 (2009)

Morrelli and Melvin next turned their design pens to the 38, available in 3 or 4 cabin layout. The designers continued with their mission of increasing the bridgedeck clearance on the 38, reducing the wave slap issues of earlier models. Also known as the Sunsail 384. This isn’t the prettiest design, in my opinion, but is a very capable boat.

Leopard 39 2010

Easily recognisable as a Morrelli and Melvin design, the Leopard 39 was an evolution of the Leopard 38 with a single level bimini over the cockpit, and a hard top over the helm. The 39 was in production until 2014.

Leopard 44 2010 (Sunsail 444)

The overhanging roof over the new forward cockpit is not to everyone’s taste, but it is a popular feature with owners.

Once again designed by Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin, this boat is famous for introducing the forward cockpit to the cruising catamaran market. Perhaps it was their Gunboat designs that inspired them?

Let’s just say that Leopard haven’t looked back since they introduced this new space forward. It’s very popular with charter customers and private owners alike.

Development on the exterior styling, forward cockpit, and interior, the 45 is more angular than her predecessor and prettier than the 40.

A complete upgrade from the 48, the Leopard 50 manages to look pretty sleek despite that forward cockpit overhang. A seaworthy boat with a huge amount of living space that performs well when the wind is up.

Read our Full Leopard 50 Review

Like the 50, the 42 manages to look sleek, even with her boxy design and the forward cockpit overhang. Designed by Simonis Voogd. Construction is foam-cored vacuum infusion covered with a single nacelle mould. SA/D is 22, D/L is 179.

Read our Leopard 42 Review

if you enjoyed that summary of Leopard, take a look at some of our other catamaran histories:

Balance Catana Dazcat Fountaine Pajot Gunboat HH Kinetic Lagoon Marsaudon Nautitech Outremer Prout Sunreef

Showing all 3 results

Leopard 48 For Sale

Xquisite Yacht News
Lagoon Sea Trials
Excess 11 Special Offer June, July 2024
How Do You Break the World Speed Sailing Record? SP80 Team.
Lagoon Teams Up with Uvoji for Purified Water
Excess Catamarans Starlink Offer May 24
Cure 55 Catamaran Build Update
Webcam – Club Marítimo Castelldefels
Lagoon World Escapade 2024
First Vaan Yacht in “Vivid Alu”

Browse, search and find your perfect catamaran!

Privacy Overview

Custom Cats
Performance Cats
Cruising Cats
Luxury Cats
Owner Reviews
YT Channels

BOAT OF THE YEAR
Newsletters
Sailboat Reviews
Boating Safety
Sails and Rigging
Maintenance
Sailing Totem
Sailor & Galley
Living Aboard
Destinations
Gear & Electronics
Charter Resources

Leopard 42 Boat Review

By Herb McCormick
Updated: July 23, 2021

Mick Jagger was not singing about boat tests and wind speeds when he belted out the title lyrics to the classic Rolling Stones tune “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Far too often during many years of conducting sea trials on new boats—when you’re locked into a tight, non negotiable schedule for getting on the water—I’ve shown up just in time for a languid spell of very light air or, even worse, zippo breeze whatsoever. Definitely not what you want.

But there are also those lucky afternoons when you get what’s required for a sweet sail. Which pretty much describes the conditions this past spring when I rolled into a marina near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a test run aboard the new Leopard 42 catamaran , and was greeted by windswept palm trees and a stiff 20- to 25-knot easterly whipping up whitecaps on the deep blue Atlantic.

What’s the line, “When you try sometimes…you get what you need”? Exactly. And in this instance, then some.

Generally speaking, cruising cats are different than their spindly racing siblings: more tankage, more machinery, more furniture, more stuff. Which means they don’t maximize sailing performance in lighter conditions (nor are they attempting to…that’s why they’re cruising boats). But give a well-designed, well-built cat with liveaboard capabilities some legitimate air pressure to play with, and the results can be eye-popping. (Or not, frankly. Lots of wind can be too much for some lesser vessels.) Which was most certainly the case with the latest Leopard under sail in the double-digit gusts. Where she thrived.

Naval architect Alex Simonis—based near the wild, windy waters off Cape Town, South Africa—is the longtime designer of Leopard cats, and a man who relishes drafting solid boats that sail and perform exceedingly well (for proof, have another look at this month’s cover shot of a Leopard 42 hauling the mail in the shadow of iconic Table Mountain). His willing partners in this crime of nautical passion are the artisans at Robertson & Caine, the boatyard that in 2022 will build approximately 120 to 130 sailing cats ranging in size from 42 to 50 feet. It’s true that the company could probably expand production based on the current and ongoing demand for Leopards, but that would run counter to the builder’s very ethos: Quality is the aim here, not quantity.

As we motored out of the inlets and into the open sea for the trials, I’ll admit that I was so relishing the sail that it never occurred to me to jot down the relevant statistics—speed, high and low RPM, etc.—for the twin 45 hp Yanmar diesels. My bad. Let’s just say we got out there smoothly and quickly.

Leopard was conducting a mini boat show at its docks in Dania Beach that upcoming weekend, so there was an all-star crew of sailmakers and company reps aboard, including Franck Bauguil, an executive at travel conglomerate Travelopia, whose brands include the privately owned Leopards, and chartering giants Sunsail and the Moorings, and whose duties include product development—a fancy title that actually means he spends a lot of time hanging with Simonis while sailing around and dreaming up cool boats. As we powered into the chop, I mentioned something about a reef, and Bauguil gave me a sidelong look of disappointment, like a resigned parent inspecting a horrible report card. Full hoist it was. As the full-battened, deeply roached, square-topped mainsail was raised, I had a brief thought about singer/songwriter Cat Power, for it was abundantly clear what was powering this darn cat.

It’s interesting to note the difference between the Leopard’s sail plan and, say, the current approach from one of the big French production-cat builders like Lagoon. In recent years, Lagoon, as a brand, has made a conscious decision to slide the entire rig aft, depending more on an expansive foretriangle for drive and grunt, and taming the entire arrangement with a self-tacking headsail. With the Leopards, including the 42, the rig remains comparably forward, and it’s the mainsail, with a relatively longer boom than a Lagoon, that supplies the muscle (we’re talking basically a low-aspect main and rig on a Leopard versus a high-aspect one on the Lagoon), aided and abetted by an overlapping 110 percent headsail that’s tacked like a traditional sailboat. I honestly can’t say if there’s a right or wrong answer here, but it’s fascinating to recognize and compare the differing philosophies.

Back in the real world, I’d ascended the four steps to the starboard helm station, which is where you’ll find the wheel on every Leopard; in such matters, these guys are unabashed creatures of habit. The surrounding view was expansive but, more pertinently, within arm’s length I had everything—and I mean everything —required to sail and command the boat: a trio of electric winches (two of which are standard), mainsheet and jib sheets and rope clutches, a nifty traveler setup, dual engine controls, chart plotter and related sailing instruments, and so on. For the most part, across the board, catamaran designers these days lay out decks with the notion and objective that it takes only one sharp sailor to run the whole bloody show, and the Leopard 42 certainly perfects that concept.

After motoring off the coast for sea room, we hardened up to a close reach, and matters became extremely interesting, not to mention noisy and blowy. Which was great. The cat trucked along at a solid 8.5 knots, but what struck me the most was how solid and steadfast she felt as she cleaved through the chop; the sensation of the twin hulls of a fine cat in exquisite balance really does feel like a freight train on its rails.

But the real fun happens when you crack off and free up the wind angle, and the Leopard leaped at the course change and eased sheets, flirting with 10 knots on a screaming reach. We did have a bit of a fire drill when a blast of wind caught the corner of the furled code zero—which then, of course, started to totally unfurl—and I got my day’s cardio helping drop and corral the beast on the trampolines. Extremely good times.

Back at the dock, all systems once again calm and shipshape, I had a chance to wander the decks and interior. The look and feel of the features and accoutrements are totally modern, as in ultra-contemporary (more than once in my notebook the word “angular” appears). The profile is enhanced by tinted, continuous side windows in the hull, and the coach roof segues into the hard Bimini that’s carried aft and canopies the cockpit. Up top—on the penthouse, so to speak—there’s an inviting lounge space. There’s a marvelous afterdeck and swim platform, features for which I have an extremely soft spot. The cockpit has a fine-dining area to port, opposite the helm.

The galley is forward in the roomy central cabin, with the dining table aft to port. The 42 doesn’t have the forward cockpit employed on larger models, but there is a watertight front doovate owner’s cabin to starboard (with desk, vanity, flat-screen TV, huge head, etc.) and a pair of staterooms to port, but you can spec out the interior in multiple ways: tr that leads to a pair of sun lounges, the tramps, and an optional fixed bowsprit if you’re going with the performance package that includes the code zero. Our test boat had the pretty awesome private owner’s cabin to starboard (with desk, vanity, flat-screen TV, huge head, etc.) and a pair of staterooms to port, but you can spec out the interior in multiple ways: three or four cabins, three or four heads, six or eight berths, three or four showers. The four-cabin, four-head configuration is likely what you’ll find if you charter one; about half the production run is bound for the bareboat fleets.

The Leopard 42 replaces the Leopard 40 in the brand’s quiver, and is certainly a more substantial ride in every notable way. The only problem, really, is that as the world emerges from these pandemic times, they’re going fast. The 42 might be quick, but if you want one, you need to be even quicker.

Specifications Leopard 42

LENGTH OVERALL	41’7″ (12.67 m)
WATERLINE LENGTH	40’10” (12.4 m)
BEAM	23’1″ (7.04 m)
DRAFT	4’7″ (1.4 m)
BRIDGEDECK CLEARANCE	2’6″ (0.75 m)
SAIL AREA (STANDARD)	1,217 sq. ft. (113 sq. m)
DISPLACEMENT (Light ship)	27,485 lb. (12,467 kg.)
DISPLACEMENT/LENGTH	179
SAIL AREA/DISPLACEMENT	21.4
WATER	174 gal. (660 L)
FUEL	158 gal. (600 L)
MAST HEIGHT	67’10” (20.7 m)
ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS	Twin 45 hp Yanmars with saildrives
DESIGNER	Simonis & Voogd
PRICE (fully equipped and delivered)	$689,000

Wind speed	20 to 24 knots
Sea state	Choppy
Sailing	Closehauled 8.5 knots/ Reaching 9.8 knots
Motoring	Cruise: N/A/ Fast: N/A

Herb McCormick is CW ’s executive editor.

More: Boat Reviews , catamaran , leopard , multihull , multihulls , print June 2021 , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
More Sailboats

For Sale: 2015 Dufour 500 GL

New Sailboat Brand: Mishi Yachts

For Sale: 2005 Tayana 48

For Sale: 2015 Catalina 355

Pro-Grade Sailing Eyewear

Le Boat and Groupe Beneteau Ink Deal

Hurricane Beryl Relief Efforts: How You Can Help

Digital Edition
Customer Service
Privacy Policy
Email Newsletters
Cruising World
Sailing World
Salt Water Sportsman
Sport Fishing
Wakeboarding

Are Leopard Catamarans Still Worth The High Price?

South African boat builders Robertson and Caine worked with international naval architects Morrelli, Melvin, and Simonis Voogd to design their Leopard Catamaran range.

These catamarans are known to be spacious, comfortable, and performance-driven bluewater cruising catamarans. In addition, Leopard catamarans are the only catamaran brand certified in Europe (CE certification) and the US (NMMA Certified).

These South African-built boats have a reputation for being robust enough for ocean crossings, extremely spacious, easy to handle, and expensive.

Here’s Why Leopard Catamarans Are Worth Their High Price:

Leopard Catamarans are worth their high price because they are extremely well-built with high-quality finishes. Initially designed for the charter market, they became so popular that the company expanded into the private market offering a choice of layouts and semi-custom options.

Table of Contents

A Brief History Of Leopard Catamarans:

In 1991, John Robertson and Jerry Caine started a boat building company in Woodstock, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The company earned a solid reputation for building custom racing yachts and production cruisers.

By 1994, as the company became known, Robertson and Caine were approached by the leading global yacht charter company, The Moorings, to produce specifically designed, spacious catamarans for its charter fleet.

The company successfully delivered 100 new catamarans to The Moorings in less than 4 years!

Plus, they sailed every catamaran from Cape Town to various charter destinations worldwide, proving their robust design and blue water capabilities.

Six years later, Robertson and Caine started to manufacture catamarans for the private market, and in 2020 the brand Leopard Catamarans was introduced. Sailors worldwide were impressed with this new line of catamarans. The custom ‘owner’ versions became very popular for private use, with owners able to choose their layout, plus any optional equipment and even their delivery location.

In 2007, Leopard Catamarans tested the luxury power catamaran market by introducing the Leopard 47 power catamaran. The Leopard 47 power cat was a great success with its stylish, good looks and remarkable fuel efficiency.

Today Leopard Catamarans offers a range of both sailing and power catamarans from 40 to 53 feet, and the company has delivered more than 2,500 Leopard Catamarans worldwide. They have become one of the industry’s leaders in producing and delivering quality catamarans for private use and charter fleets worldwide.

Catamaran Or Monohull? Check out our 27 Important Facts to know!

How Much Exactly Do Leopard Catamarans Cost?

Leopard Catamarans don’t come cheap.

If you are in the market for a new catamaran, then a Leopard will set you back anything from $569,000 for their smaller 42-foot 2023 basic sailing catamaran model, and that’s if you pick it up in Cape Town! A new Leopard 40 power catamaran will cost $769,000 for the basic 2023 model.

However, second-hand catamarans are available if you can’t afford a new model. A quick search on Yachtworld.com came up with a Leopard 38 from 1999 that is on the market for $198,000. Plus, Leopard Catamarans themselves have a yacht brokerage for their second-hand models. At the time of writing, prices there start from $219,900.

In general, 85% of all Leopard Catamarans go into the charter market for their first 5 years. Charter companies prefer the 4 cabins with 4 heads version because they generate more income than the owner’s version, which only has 3 cabins.

The new market for most boats is the 4 cabin version.

The second-hand market for Leopard Catamarans generally prefers the owner versions because they normally have had less use and are in demand by live-aboard cruisers. As fewer of these owner versions are around, they tend to go for higher prices.

Do Leopard Catamarans Cost More Than Similar Brands?

Similar brands of catamarans include Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Nautitech, and Catana. The prices of new catamarans are not widely available and will come down to the layout, the basic boat package, and any added-on options.

However, we can make a price comparison of similar second-hand models from the same or similar years.


Fountaine Pajot Orana 44	2009	$435,600
Catana 42 Owner’s Version	2009	$419,000
Leopard 46	2009	$449,000
Lagoon 420	2009	$499,000
Nautitech 47	2007	$375,000

[Info Courtesy of Yachtworld.com, July 2022]

At first glance, the Leopard Catamaran is not the most expensive, but it is the cheapest. As for value, you would have to take a more in-depth look at the inventory and the boat’s overall condition to get a better idea of whether these boats are good value for money.

In addition, if you are buying a second-hand catamaran, or indeed any boat, it is always recommended to have an independent marine survey carried out to identify any unseen problems.

Why Do People Choose Leopard Over The Competition?

The following are reasons why people choose Leopard over other catamaran brands:

Leopard Catamarans claim that their boats are of a superior and more solid construction compared to other brands.
The boats are beautifully and practically designed for simple sailing and living aboard.
Leopard Catamarans boasts a finish that is in a class of its own.
They deliver excellent performance in all conditions – under sail, under motor, or at anchor.
The boats are spacious and comfortable, with ample storage and space for family and friends to stay aboard and socialize.
Leopard Catamarans score big on safety with plenty of handholds, grab rails, and attachment points. Plus, all lines return to the cockpit, so you don’t have to go on deck in bad weather.

Do Leopard Catamarans Keep Their Value Better?

The value of a catamaran largely depends on how well the boat has been maintained and looked after. However, catamarans tend to hold their value well, particularly Leopard Catamarans.

This can be attributed to the availability of new catamarans being fairly limited as there are not so many catamaran manufacturers around. Most manufacturers have full order books and waiting lists for their boats, which keeps the resale value of catamarans much higher than monohulls or other yachts.

Each year the price of new catamarans tends to increase more quickly than the equivalent monohull. So this also helps to keep the value on second-hand catamarans.

In addition, roughly 85% of Leopard Catamarans are built for the charter market. While some people may be averse to buying an ex-charter boat, they tend to be of great value as they have been professionally serviced and maintained throughout their charter life.

If a Leopard Catamaran has been well looked after, it will keep its value and will possibly be better than other brands.

What Are Typical Alternatives To Leopard Boats?

While you might be in the market for a Leopard Catamaran, there are good alternatives to consider:

Lagoon Catamarans

Lagoon Catamarans are one of the main alternatives to Leopard Boats.

The French company has been building sailing and power catamarans since 1984 and has produced more than 5,800 multihulls.

Today the company still offers both sailing and luxury power cats from 40 to 78 feet.

Fountaine Pajot

Fountaine Pajot is another famous French boat builder who was founded in 1976.

They launched their first cruising sailing catamaran back in 1983 and began with their line of luxury power catamarans in 1998.

Today Fountaine Pajot offers a range of sailing and power catamarans ranging in size from 36 to 67 feet.

Catana Catamarans

Catana Catamarans is an additional French catamaran manufacturer on a much smaller scale than the previous two brands.

Catana has been a leader in producing high-performance catamarans since 1984. Over the years, they have built catamarans ranging in size from 42 to 70 feet.

As a smaller boatyard, they offer personalized services, and each new boat is designed in close collaboration with its future owner.

Nautitech Catamarans, also based in France, build around 80 catamarans annually.

Again, they are not one of the big-volume French manufacturers like Lagoon or Fountaine Pajot. Instead, Nautitech has positioned itself as a manufacturer concentrating on quality over quantity.

Today they offer a range of sailing catamarans from 40 to 46 feet and a 47-foot power catamaran. They have a reputation for building performance catamarans that combine comfort in their boats.

While all of the above are French catamaran builders, there are catamaran manufacturers based in the UK, the USA, and Australia. These other, mainly smaller boat builders offer high-performance catamarans that are not an alternative to a comfortable, robust cruising catamaran like a Leopard.

Do You Pay Full Price, Or Do Dealers Offer Discounts?

It’s a seller’s market for catamarans, with manufacturers having full-order books for the next 2 years. Most dealers have waiting lists of clients for catamarans, and Leopard is no different.

To get a discount, you may be able to negotiate with a dealer at a boat show, or the dealer may be able to offer discounts on any additional equipment or upgrades you might want to order.

However, don’t expect huge discounts as the dealers have little room to maneuver their prices. And with catamarans in such high demand, why should they offer discounts?

If you are looking for a great deal, you should take the time to look at the second-hand market. You might find a Leopard catamaran that is only a couple of years old with many upgrades and for a good price.

References:

Leopard Catamarans

Leopard Brokerage

Click to share...

SAILING BLOWN AWAY

Nov 22, 2020

Why We Bought a 2015 Leopard 44 Catamaran - Tame the Cat

My wife Eileen and I searched Leopard catamarans almost exclusively because they represent a combination of blue water cruising capabilities with production efficiencies. In other words, they were a good affordable catamaran to sail around the world. As proof of their seaworthiness, most have been delivered to their owners by sea from Cape Town, South Africa either by their owners or a delivery captain. Because of their outstanding reputation, we also considered the 450 Lagoon; however, we steered away from them mainly as a result of their fly bridge helm positions which we think is less ideal for ocean crossings.

WHY WE CHOSE THE LEOPARD 44 OVER THE 39, 40 AND 48

Check out our Leopard catamaran's video below on our first day touring Leopard catamarans with our buyers broker Bill Regan and be prepared to be entertained and informed of the specifics on why we chose the Leopard 44 and in the process learn more about the rest of their line.

On this crazy busy day, we toured a 2014 Leopard 39 and were glad we had rescinded on our contract last spring on one in the Moorings / Sunsail Belize fleet. We loved it's design, price ($215K) and sailing reputation; however, it was too small for us as a full time home. For someone who lived in Ft. Lauderdale and took one to two-week sailing trips to the Bahamas this would definitely be a boat to consider.

After we let go of the 39, we latched onto a 2018 Leopard 40 ($225K) with contract that had been damaged and repaired in Irma and included had a new mast, boom, standing rigging and generator and we by far the cheapest of the limited Leopard 40 lot being phased out by Moorings / Sunsail. After having toured it, we realized that it too was too small for us as a live aboard and in addition we were leery that there might be some undetected trauma from from Irma that might compromise our blue water safety so we released that contract also.

Reluctantly we drove 2 1/2 hours north of Ft. Lauderdale to the Ft. Pierce Marina where we looked at a 2015 Leopard 44 with owners cabin on the hard for sale for $575K which was MUCH more than we were willing to pay but at least we could see the layout. Initially, we didn't like this model because we thought it has wet bathrooms but were soon relieved to find that that wasn't the case and were delighted to discover the front cockpit whose innovation catapulted this popular sized 44 footer to a dual "Best Boat of Year" fame with both Sail Magazine and Cruising world in 2012. Most importantly it seemed to have enough from for our new permanent life at sea and was affordable purchasing from Sunsail Charters for $315K on a model we found in St. Lucia so we quickly placed this cat in a cage with a contract on an no hurricane damaged model which had just been released from the Grenada Sunsail fleet and was heading to Sunsail St. Lucia to undergo phase out repairs.

Make sure you also click on the following links to read critical reviews about this special boat:

Sail Magazine - May 2011

Cruising World - December 2011

Boats.com - July 2011

Ultimately, the Leopard 44 was the boat we chose, but let's learn more about the Leopard 48 which we REALLY liked and the main reason we did not chose it.

We loved the Leopard 48 because it was so enormous compared to the previous one and almost seemed to be as large as our apartment in China. Not only did the rear cockpit seat 10 and have plenty of room for all of our water toys, but the combined saloon and galley with nav station was cavernous and in our opinion, leaving nothing to be desired. Add to that a large front cockpit and full size rooms and bathrooms in the hulls, this cat had us in a trance and all we wanted to do was to stroke and pet its luxurious fur while it purred with delight. Our only issue was that the price on these are mid $450K for the cheapest non hurricane damaged and older with the medium cherry veneer interior which we liked the least and will touch on a bit more later. That extra $135K+ represented a lot of cruising kitty (perhaps 3 years) and this being a larger cat means that both repairs, upkeep and insurance are all part of what comes with owning this pampered puss. Add to that the opportunity cost of investing what we save in a lively stock market over the next 5 to 10 years, and the price of this one increases way more than we care to spend especially when the Leopard 44 has everything we need, albeit it's smaller size.

At the end of the video, we tour the Leopard 58 which was due to be surveyed the next day. As you can see from our comments and reactions, it was pure joy touring this regal feline because the 58 was an ocean palace nicer than most homes, but just way out of range for our pocketbook and limited knowhow.

DESIGN AND COLOR

One of the reasons we LOVE and chose the 2015 Leopard 44 year is that it was the first year of only two years (2015 & 2016) out of seven years total that the Leopard 44 was made which incorporates the new modern sophisticated, yet casual light gray aged driftwood interior which is now standard on all Leopard catamarans which certainly inspired by Restoration Hardware's sophisticated modern, yet casual neutral shaded gray color pallet. Also special, as shown below, is the generous use of LED lighting which makes the salon below sparkly, dazzling and uplifting as well as easy on the energy being supplied by DC power. The pre 2015 versions with the traditional medium cherry cabinetry and finish just seemed too outdated and spending an extra $15K for this new boat and overall look and feel was totally worth if for us. In addition, we think it will eventually add to its resale value.

INSIDER INFORMATION FROM EXPERIENCED SUNSAIL TECHNICIAN

Once we arrived in St. Lucia and took possession of our boat, we was further reassured of buying Leopard after talking with Moorings / Sunsail St. Lucia base long term employed technician affectionately nicknamed "Small Change".

This beloved senior maintenance manager of 35 years is chief Leopard tamer and is master of the ins and outs of Leopard repair and maintenance. I mean, he even meets with senior management and technicians of Leopard South Africa to provide valuable feedback that help Leopard's renowned manufacturer Robertson and Caine make manufacturing improvements to future models that will require less maintenance, ultimately leading to less warranty work and resulting in unnecessary repairs from busy bases saving both time and money for everyone. For these reasons, I really trusted and took to heart every nugget that left his mouth.

WHY VERY FEW LAGOONS ARE IN THE ST. LUCIA FLEET

First, he said their company used have a lot of Lagoons in the fleet but switched to Leopards almost exclusively because of their improved build quality and performance. Leopards more narrow stepped hulls allow them to perform better under sail and overall they require less maintenance over their charter tenure.

HOW THE LEOPARD MODELS COMPARE - BUILD QUALITY

When asked to rank his favorite Leopard catamaran models, Short Change pays with big bills as he draws from his wellspring of experience and knowledge that goes back to Robertson and Caines inception back in 1991. He ranks his favorite Leopard models by build quality and gives the following reasons.

In his opinion, the best made Leopard (10 out of 10) is the Leopard 43, known to Moorings as the 4300 and made famous by Nicki and Jason Wynn of the popular YouTube channel Gone with the Wynns has the highest quality build in the history of the company with regards to hull strength.

In addition the Leopard 46, made from 2006 to 2012, is a 10 out of 10. Not affected by the devastating Irma, St. Lucia has more in use than any other base in the world so he should know.

I was happy to know that he considered our Leopard 44 an 8 out of 10 with regards to build quality and used the fact that most all along with the older models such as the 43 have been delivered at sea by a delivery captain and then put to grueling charter use and then sold to private owners.

When asked about the Leopard 48 and current, Leopard 40 and 45 he gives them all a 4 out of 10 backing that up with the assertion that they now are almost exclusively delivered from the factory to their owners by ship because they cannot stand the grueling 7700 mile sail without substantial repairs before delivered to the owner. It seems that possibly the bean counters have taken over in their attempt to balance new design innovation with profitability.

Sailboat specifications

Last update: 24th February 2020

Leopard 58's main features

Leopard 58's main dimensions, leopard 58's rig and sails, leopard 58's performances, leopard 58's auxiliary engine, leopard 58's accommodations and layout, leopard 58's saloon, leopard 58's fore cabin, leopard 58's aft cabin.

Robertson and Caine Leopard 58 Picture extracted from the commercial documentation © Robertson and Caine

Similar sailboats that may interest you:

Did You Know That We Offer Contract to Closing Services? Click Here to Find Out More.

Need Marine Financing? Apply Here With Our Partner, First Approval Source

Catamaran Interviews
Catamaran Reviews
Buying Advice
Selling Advice
Woods Design Advice
Admiral 38
Admiral 40
Admiral 50
Americat 3014
Antares 44
Aquila 44
Aquila 48 Power Catamaran
Aventura 37
Balance 526
Bali 4.0
Bali 4.1
Bali 4.2
Bali 4.3
Bali 4.4
Bali 4.5
Bali 4.6
Bali 4.8
Bali 40 Catspace
Bali 5.4
Bali Catsmart
Beneteau Blue II
Broadblue 346
Broadblue 38 Prestige
Broadblue 385
Broadblue 435
Broadblue 46
Rapier 400
Rapier 550
Catalac 10M
Catalac 11M
Catalac 12M
Catalac 8M
Catalac 900
Catalac 9M
Catana 381
Catana 39
Catana 401
Catana 40S
Catana 411
Catana 42
Catana 42 S
Catana 431
Catana 44
Catana 471
Catana 50
Catana 521
Catana 531
Catana 55
Catana 581
Catana 65
Catathai 44
Chris White
Chris White 48 Voyager
Chris White 55
Condor 40
Contour 34
Corsair F28 R
De Villiers
Dean 365
Dean 400
Dean 440
Dean 500
Dix DH550
Dolphin 380
Dolphin 460
Edel 35
Endeavour 30
Endeavour 35 Victory
Endeavour 36
Endeavour 44
Endeavour 44 TrawlerCat
Endeavour 50 Pilothouse Trawler
Excess 11
F-41
Fastback 43
Fastcat 445
Fisher 28
Fisher 32
Fortuna 36 Island Spirit
Fortuna 401 Island Spirit
Fountaine Pajot
FP 32 Maldives
FP 35 Tobago
FP 36 Mahe
FP 37 Antigua
FP 38 Athena
FP 39 Fidji
FP 40 Isla
FP 40 Lavezzi
FP 40 Lucia
FP 40 MY
FP 40 Summerland MY
FP 41 Lipari
FP 42 Astrea
FP 42 Venezia
FP 43 Belize
FP 44 Helia
FP 44 Orana
FP 45 Elba
FP 46 Bahia
FP 46 Casamance
FP 48 Salina
FP 50 Saba
FP 56 Marquises
FP 57 Sanya
FP 58 Ipanema
FP 60 Eleuthera
FP Saona 47
Fusion 40
Gemini 105
Gemini 3000
Gemini 3200
Gemini 3400
Gemini Freestyle 37
Gemini Freestyle 399 Power
Gemini Legacy 35
Grainger 420 Mystery Cove
Gunboat 55
Hirondelle 7M
HopYacht 30
Island Packet
Island Packet Cat 35
Kennex 420
Knysna 440
Knysna 480
Knysna 500
Knysna 550
Lagoon 35
Lagoon 37 TPI
Lagoon 380
Lagoon 39
Lagoon 40
Lagoon 400
Lagoon 410
Lagoon 42
Lagoon 42 TPI
Lagoon 420
Lagoon 421
Lagoon 43 PC
Lagoon 44 Power Cat
Lagoon 440
Lagoon 450
Lagoon 46
Lagoon 470
Lagoon 50
Lagoon 500
Lagoon 52F
Lagoon 55
Lagoon 560
Lagoon 570
Lagoon 620
Lagoon Seventy 8
Leeuwin 42
Leopard 38
Leopard 39
Leopard 39 PowerCat
Leopard 40
Leopard 42
Leopard 43
Leopard 44
Leopard 45
Leopard 45 Classic
Leopard 46
Leopard 46 Lion PowerCat
Leopard 47
Leopard 47 PowerCat
Leopard 48
Leopard 50
Leopard 51 PowerCat
Leopard 53 PowerCat
Leopard 58
Lidgard 73 Executive
Looping 50
Maine Cat 30
Maine Cat 38
Maine Cat 41
Manta 40
Manta 42
Matrix 450 Vision
Matrix 760 Silhouette
Maverick 400
Maverick 420
Maverick 440
Moxie 61
Nautitech 40
Nautitech 40 Open
Nautitech 44 Open
Nautitech 442
Nautitech 46 Open
Nautitech 47
Nautitech 47 Power
Nautitech 65
Neel 45
Outremer 40
Outremer 45
Outremer 50 Standard
Outremer 55
Outremer 5X
PDQ 32
PDQ 36
PDQ 42 Antares
Privilege 37
Privilege 39
Privilege 42
Privilege 43
Privilege 435
Privilege 45
Privilege 465
Privilege 48 Transcat
Privilege 482
Privilege 495
Privilege 510
Privilege 65
Privilege Serie 5
Prout 31 Quest
Prout 33 Quest
Prout 34 Event
Prout 35 Snowgoose
Prout 37 Snowgoose
Prout 37 Snowgoose Elite
Prout 38
Prout 38 Manta
Prout 39 Escale
Prout 45
Prout 46
Royal Cape 45
Royal Cape 500 Majestic
Royal Cape 530 Majestic
Sailcraft 30 Iroquois
Sailcraft 32 Comanche
Sailcraft 35 Cherokee
Sailcraft 41 Apache
Sailcraft 44 Apache
Scape 39
Wildcat 350
Seacart 30
Seawind 1000
Seawind 1160
Seawind 1200
Seawind 1260
Seawind 1600
Simpson 48
Solaris 36 Sunrise
Solaris 36 Sunstar
Solaris 42
St Francis 44
St Francis 48
St Francis 50
Stealth 11.8
Sunreef 60
Sunreef 62
Sunreef 70
Sunreef 74C
Sunreef 82 DD
Sunreef 88 DD
Switch 51
Switch 55
TRT 1200
Heavenly Twins 26
Ocean Twins 38
Vaan R5
Vision 444
Voyage 380 Maxim
Voyage 400 Norseman
Voyage 430 Norseman
Voyage 440
Voyage 450 Cabriolet
Voyage 47 Mayotte
Voyage 480
Voyage 500
Voyage 580
Voyage 590
Kronos 45
Wharram 38 Tiki
AMI 320 Renaissance
Woods 22 Wizard
Woods 35 Banshee
Woods 35 Flica
Woods 36 Scylla
Woods 36 Vardo
Woods 38 Transit
Woods 40 Meander
Xquisite X5
Xquisite X5+

Leopard 40 Review and Common Problems

Post author By River B
Post date September 22, 2020
No Comments on Leopard 40 Review and Common Problems

Leopard began their sailing catamaran line-up with a cruise-worthy 45-foot catamaran. When the charter industry took notice, they requested smaller sailing cats for their fleets, so Leopard provided the 38-foot model, as well as a 42-foot model.

In 2004, Leopard partnered with designers Morelli & Melvin for their Leopard 40 model. Between 2004 and 2009, Leopard produced 136 Leopard 40s before replacing it with the Leopard 39. Then, in 2014, Leopard engaged with Simonis Voogd Design to launch a newer Leopard 40 model that is still in production today with over 210 vessels produced.

The Leopard family is known for award-winning designs, and the Leopard 40 is no exception, having earned the following awards:

Cruising World’s “Best Overall Import Boat in USA 2005”
Cruising World’s “Best Multihull 40 Feet and Under” 2005
Sail Magazine´s “Best Boats 2005”

The Leopard 40 was also honored for innovative achievements by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and judges for Boating Writers International.

It may be best to talk about the features of the earlier Leopard 40 models separate from the current model due to some key changes. But let’s start with some of the similar characteristics, including:

30-HP Volvo Engines. The Leopard 40 holds twin 30-horsepower Volvo Penta diesels that can get you moving at 7 knots to avoid foul weather. (Note: you may find a few older Leopard 40s with 21hp engines).
Flare Hulls for Extra Storage Capacity . While the narrow bows cut through waves with ease, the hulls flare as they move aft for extra stowage capabilities and larger cabin spaces.
Stock Hardtop Over Cockpit & Helm Station . With stock hardtops on the L40, you can say goodbye leaky canvas biminis. An integrated window provides ample views of the mainsail without having to step into weather or a mid-day tropical sun.
3 or 4-Cabin, 2-Head Layout. Unlike many catamarans built for the charter market, Leopard doesn’t try to cram 4 bathrooms into their 4-cabin models. This is great for cruisers who end up with a lot of wasted space with heads they don’t need.

Both the early and late model L40s have spacious interiors with over 6’ of headroom in the salon and cockpit areas. The provide good flow from the sugar scoops to the interior making it unnecessary to step on cushions to get into the cockpit. They also come with a wide walkway between the dinghy davits and the cockpit for safe travel around the vessel or a little extra storage space for jerry cans or dive tanks.

With a bridgedeck clearance of 54 cm, one would expect quite a bit of slamming. However, clearance is not the only factor in whether a catamaran slams. According to Linda and Paul Blackbeard , who crossed both the Atlantic and Pacific in their Leopard 40, they remember only three slams during the entire trip.

Many of the features mentioned in the Leopard 38 Leopard 39 articles apply to the early Leopard 40, from the wide, flat decks, sail controls led to the helm, to the warm interior appointments. As with all Leopard models, galley is up, allowing for better chef-crew interaction. In the early models, the galley is located aft with a pass-through window to the cockpit.

When the Leopard 40 was re-launched in 2014, some notable changes were made to the overall layout, including:

Removal of the louvered portlights in favor of a more vertical window profile and a pass-thru door to the forward deck.
Raised helm station
Replacement of L-shaped dinghy davits with a pivot-down stainless-steel davit system
U-shaped outdoor seating area to replace the rounded seating area of the older model
Opening of the salon for unfettered access from aft to forward living areas
Increased bridgedeck clearance to 3’ – almost unheard of in cruising cats

The effect of many of these changes made the new Leopard 40 far more attractive to the charter market than to the cruising market. Let’s discuss.

What to Watch Out For

Having experienced both the old model and new model L40s, I like the visibility that the new model brings with the removal of the louvers forward. In the older models, the only place you have an unfettered view of your surroundings is in the helm station. However, the addition of the pass-through door and forward, deep sitting area gives one pause about taking the newer model offshore due to the possibility of swamping in that area. While all Leopards are said to have been delivered on their own bottoms, I would want to choose my weather windows extra carefully with the new design.

The newer model also boasts a raised helm seat for added visibility. The drawback is that the design forces the boom higher, thus reducing mainsail area, raising the center of effort, and making it difficult to wrangle the sail while underway.

As with most of the Leopard models, many vessels found on the secondary market will have been in a charter fleet at one time. Watch for excessive moisture in the hulls and deck, which are vacuum sealed with a balsa core. Rot and delamination are possible. Some owners have also complained of excessive condensation and leakage associated with the refrigeration lines. As these are located adjacent to your electrical panel, it’s not something you want to ignore.

Leopards are solid, reliable boats with a strong comfort factor combined with some decent Morelli & Melvin performance. As long as you understand how you want to use the vessel and ensure it is maintained, you will find the Leopard 40 to be a great vessel for couples and small families.

Tags Catamaran Reviews

River is a licensed USCG Captain with a lifetime of experience on the water. From the San Francisco Bay to the South Pacific, blue water to clear water, he’s sailed a wide variety of catamarans and crawled around in the bilges of more than he can count. You can follow his misadventures at www.tilted.life.

Your Cheat Sheet to the Leopard 51 PC

If you want to learn more about the Leopard 51PC, you have come to the right place. The crown jewel of our powercat fleet brings with her innovative features that are sure to impress!

Before you keep reading be sure to check out the models that led up to the Leopard 51PC .

Did you know that while sailing catamarans (in their modern form) have been around for about 50 years, power catamarans did not enter the scene until the mid-90s? Naval architects and Leopard Catamaran designers, Simonis Voogd Yacht Design, stepped into the powercat game in 1997 and took it upon themselves to create the perfect hull configuration. What makes the perfect hull configuration on a powercat? They decided on a list of the following attributes:

Low resistance through a large speed range,
Good sea keeping abilities,
Good motion behavior in a seaway,
The ability to maintain performance through a large range of displacements.

Our designers were able to produce these qualities in the design of the Leopard 51PC. How were they able to manage this? Designer Alexander Simons explains that this was accomplished through eight months of extensive studying and testing with NUMECA, the current market leader in the industry for CFD which stands for “Computational Fluid Dynamics” (sometimes called Virtual Tank Testing). NUMECA’s testing programs have been used by Oracle Team USA and Emirates New Zealand in the America’s Cup to optimize catamaran design.

It was 15 years of research and design that led us to the Leopard 51PC.

The Leopard 51PC is equipped with efficient Yanmar V8 diesels engines which are smooth and quiet. She also boasts the best fuel economy when comparing mile/ gallon versus speed. And the design of the propeller tunnel provides a dynamic lift under the stern.

Entertain your friends and family on the expansive flybridge, which is the heart and soul of this yacht. It includes a hard top, ample seating, a sunbathing platform and a standard wet bar with options for a fridge, icemaker and grill.

Technical Specifications:

Cruising Speed: 17.4 knots

Top Speed: 25 knots

Draft: 3 ft. 2.6 in.

Engine: 2 x 370 hp

Displacement: 40,785 lbs

Cabins/ Heads: 3/3 or 4/4

Beam: 25ft. 1 in.

Want to discover more about the Leopard 51PC from the designer himself, including the performance of this yacht versus the competition? Click the button below and fill out our form to receive a technical document written by Alexander Simonis to your inbox instantly!

-Alexander Simonis, Simonis Voogd Yacht Desgin

Download the Document

Topics: Product Details , Leopard 51 PC

Katie Campbell

Subscribe here.

ACHIEVEMENTS
MANUFACTURING

SAILING RANGE

Power range, introducing the, leopard 50 catamaran, the next generation of leopard catamarans.

Designed as a versatile replacement for the award-winning Leopard 48 (Boat of the Year 2012), the new Leopard 50 is an exciting new cruising sailing catamaran taking the best of Leopard Catamarans’ previous features yet boasting new innovations and design elements both on the exterior and interior.

With naval architecture by Simonis & Voogd Yacht Design, and with exterior and a fresh new look on the interior design by the world-class design team at Robertson and Caine, the Leopard 50 proudly ushers in the next generation of Leopard Catamarans’ style and functionality.

29+ Years of Production Expertise

While the exterior of the yacht has been enhanced, Naval Architect for Simonis Voogd Design, Alexander Simonis, tells us this:

“Most of the work has been done ‘under the bonnet’ so to say by advances made in the construction geometry of the new 50. To create the beautiful open plan layouts and the nearly 360-degree view from the saloon area while at the same time have a strong and stiff yacht which is not too heavy requires advanced engineering solutions.

The new Leopard 50 makes use of carbon-infused ring frames in the most critical areas to achieve this. This type of construction has been pioneered on the larger all carbon racing catamarans and is now successfully being applied in this Leopard cruising catamaran so that we can offer the best possible mix between comfort, space and performance.”

The perfect blend of comfort and style.

“Stepping onboard the L50 will reveal an interior that is contemporary in style, with a focus that blends aesthetic detail with functionality.

Cabins are more open and spacious than ever before thanks to widening bulkhead openings as much as possible. This is achieved by combining exotic materials with new modern construction techniques.

One can appreciate the sense of ease and comfort while moving throughout the boat. This is a product of our team’s passionate approach stemming from initial sketches, to detailed 3D models, and finally life-size replicas of each area where we physically and meticulously tweaked every single feature until we were 100% satisfied that we had the best product available.”

- Michael Robertson, Tampa Design Team

The innovative flybridge on the Leopard 50 includes a lounge area, a sunbed and shade awning. Access to the flybridge is provided by floating stairs leading up from the aft cockpit. While under sail, passengers can move about the flybridge with ample headroom and never worry about interference from the boom.

The next generation of

LEOPARD CATAMARANS

She incorporates a heritage of Leopards spanning twenty five years of production expertise.

	15.4 m	50 ft 6 in
	14.9 m	48 ft 11 in
	8.04 m	26 ft 5 in
	1.61 m	5 ft 3 in
	23.51 m	77 ft 2 in
	1.01 m	3 ft 4 in

Engine Specifications

	2x 57 hp Yanmar Diesel
	4
	920 L / 243 gal
	3‐blade: 460 x 356 mm / 18 in x 14 in

Sail Specifications

	90.3 sqm	972 sqft
	95.5 sqm	1028 sqft
	63.9 sqm	688 sqft
	90.1 sqm	970 sqft
	154.2 sqm	1660 sqft

Load Specifications

	700 L	185 gal
	20600 kg	45415 lbs
	5400 kg	11905 lbs
	170 L	45 gal

3 Cabin + Utility Cabin Layout
4 Cabin Layout
5 Cabin Layout

Visit our Popular Forums

Monohull Sailboats
Multihull Sailboats
Powered Boats
General Sailing
Antares Yachts
Fountaine Pajot
Lagoon Catamarans

Cruising Business

Boat Classifieds
General Classifieds
Crew Positions
Commercial Posts
Vendor Spotlight

Life Aboard a Boat

Provisioning: Food & Drink
Families, Kids, & Pets Afloat
Recreation, Entertainment, & Fun
Boat Ownership & Making a Living
Liveaboard's Forum

Seamanship, Navigation & Boat Handling

Seamanship & Boat Handling
Training, Licensing, & Certification
Health, Safety, & Related Gear
Rules of the Road, Regulations, & Red Tape

Engineering & Systems

Const. / Maint. / Refit
Product / Service Reviews
Electronics: Comms / AV
Electrical: Batts / Gen / Solar
Lithium Power Systems
Engines & Propulsion
Propellers & Drive Systems
Plumbing / Fixtures
Deck Hdw: Rigging / Sails
Aux. Equipment & Dinghy
Anchoring & Mooring

Recent Photos

		> >

Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums.

12-03-2020, 16:23
Boat: 34' Crowther tri sold 16' Kayak now	through the years. For instance they have had 39' and 40' at the same time or almost. Are these mostly the same but with a different name? Also I think I read here recently that the strictly versions had shorter masts so the newbies could handle them. And I also read here recently that the L47 was stretched version of the L45 which was news to me. There's nothing on their website about this btw. Please add what you can to this thread. Thanks everyone.

12-03-2020, 23:52
Boat: Catana 47 hull no 1 ex Leopard 40 (2009) & Crownline 250CR	forum has many details. The 39 and 40 was a crossover period in late 2009/2010. The 39 was the 2010 onwards shape... If you look at the nos it tells you a lot They have the model no, no in that model and date of manufacture in the no. My 40 was built in sept 09 and at was the 132th 40 built out of 134. Where I'm hauled out there are 3 other 40s One july 07 (46) and one sept 09 (128) Rgards MikeF

13-03-2020, 16:00
Boat: 34' Crowther tri sold 16' Kayak now

16-03-2020, 22:10

17-03-2020, 11:59
Boat: Catana 47 hull no 1 ex Leopard 40 (2009) & Crownline 250CR

, ,

Thread Tools

Rate This Thread
:

Posting Rules
post new threads post replies post attachments edit your posts is are code is are are are

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale:	SV Tender	Boats For Sale and Wanted	6	05-10-2023 12:17
	thirds	Multihull Sailboats	16	15-04-2019 23:15
	mavasu	Leopard Catamarans, Robertson & Caine	48	14-12-2014 23:10
	Portiate	Multihull Sailboats	0	16-11-2014 19:34
	nettlesbe	Multihull Sailboats	5	02-08-2009 03:35

- - - - - - -

Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time.

LOOSE CANNON

Leopard Horror Show Spotlights Resin-Infusion Pitfalls, Experts Say

Widely adopted method has several advantages, but....

“Some of what I am seeing is definitely overblown bullshit by the owner. But regardless of that, the boat is seriously fucked up and the factory is in big trouble.”—American fiberglass construction expert Ken Fickett

Last week, Loose Cannon reported on a horrific warranty claim involving a Leopard 45 sailing cat and her despondent owners who had hoped to launch a YouTube sailing channel but ended up living in repair yards for more than two years—and still are.

Instead of aspirational videos of life cruising aboard Liger, three Australian friends ended up documenting the multiple defects and repair efforts. (The name of their channel is Travel Sketch .)

Expert observers interviewed for this article were generally in agreement about the kinds of defects found on Liger’s fiberglass parts. Her hull is made from sandwiched layers of fiberglass laminated with a polyester resin infusion in a female mold—a process that has gained wide acceptance among boatbuilders over the past two decades.

According to these experts, the many examples of dry fiberglass, voids in the fiberglass and delamination were indicative of a badly executed infusion process and problems at the Robertson & Caine factory where Liger was built in South Africa. The fact that this article has been written at all is evidence that there was a serious quality-control failure at the factory—at least in the case of this one boat.

Big Catamaran Builder Offered $250,000 as Hush Money, Unhappy Buyer Says

Since 1971, Ken Fickett has built more than 1,200 fiberglass boats at Mirage Manufacturing in Gainesville Florida. The aviation world knows him for his Tango line of fiberglass experimental aircraft, and back when American energy titans looked to replace a lot of the metal on their offshore oil rigs with fiberglass, they hired Fickett as their consultant.

“I watched a few of the videos,” Fickett said. “The problem is definitely bad infusion. Some of what I am seeing is definitely overblown bullshit by the owner. But regardless of that, the boat is seriously fucked up and the factory is in big trouble.”

Materials company Easy Composites describes the infused-resin manufacture of fiberglass 1 parts this way:

In resin infusion, (fiberglass) is laid into the mould “dry,” i.e. without any resin, and then enclosed in a specially configured stack of bagging materials (such as peel ply, infusion mesh and bagging film) before being subjected to vacuum pressure using a composites vacuum pump. Once all the air has been removed from the bag and the (fiberglass) has been fully compressed under this pressure, liquid epoxy resin (mixed with hardener) is introduced to the (fiberglass) through a pipe which then infuses through the (fiberglass) under the vacuum pressure. Once the resin has fully infused through the (fiberglass), the supply of resin is cut off (using a pipe clamp) and the resin is left to cure, still under vacuum pressure.

In response to the Liger case, Fickett and other experts echoed the words of surveyor Roby Scalvini, 2 who wrote an article a June 2016 Professional Boatbuilder article, headlined “ Infusion Gone Wrong Made Right ,” about the same issues but on a different boat. Scalvini said:

Infusion issues are most likely to occur, and usually remain undetected, in the outer skin of female molded structures. This is because infusion feed lines are placed against the inner skin, which normally is easily saturated, but resin sometime struggles to flow to the outer skin through the small, purposely designed holes of the core. Furthermore, any unlikely dry patches on the inner skin are easily visible when the vaccum bags are removed, while the more common dry patches on the outer skin remain concealed by the female tooling first and by the gelcoat ever after.

According to the Travel Sketch videos, the defective areas were mostly on Liger’s outer skins.

Early in the millenium when Fickett was considering adoption of resin infusion to build his line of heavy, full-displacement Great Harbour trawlers, he decided to experiment by starting small and working his way up to minimize the material costs that come from ruined parts.

First, he had his crews build some canoes using resin infusion. Then they built a line of flats fishing boats. In neither case did they apply that first gelcoat layer, so there would be nothing preventing them from seeing any voids, dry fiberglass or hints of possible future delamination. Sans gelcoat, the idea was to finish the hulls by faring and spraying them with two-part Awlgrip paint.

Based on the experience, Fickett decided to forego resin-infusion for his trawler line for quality-control reasons. “When typical wet laminates are done, you get to inspect each layer, layer by layer. Infused parts cannot be inspected, and you can end up with situations just like this,” he said, referring to Liger. “ Professional Boatbuilder recently called it ‘the blisters of a new day,’ or something like that.”

Because resin-infusion is a “one-shot deal,” Fickett said, infusion builders need to be willing to throw away a fiberglass part costing tens of thousands of dollars to make after an infusion failure occurs.

“You wouldn’t want to throw away half of an entire Leopard,” he said. “No matter how much you do to make sure it’s done right, you can end up in that situation.”

Advocates for resin infusion say it can make for stronger, lighter hulls and fewer visible imperfections. They ask us to infer from this that infused hulls can somehow improve speed, maneuverability and fuel efficiency. And the process does lessen VOC emissions, making it easier to comply with environmental regulations.

‘Culture’ Benefit

Fickett acknowleges these arguments to a point, but says the truth is that the boatbuilder benefits more from infusion than his or her customers. Infusion, he said, “changes the culture of the shop dynamically.” Instead of a labor force consisting of guys willing to get dirty in a grimy, sticky environment with noxious fumes, the factory floor can be transformed into a place so clean it is almost like a lab.

In a world in which good help is hard to find, the promise of a clean workplace opens up staffing possibilities to include men and women who might otherwise work in health-care or office settings, Fickett said.

Unlike resin infusion, vacuum bagging calls for the fiberglass cloth to be wetted out first, by hand using a roller or some other method. Then special sheets of plastic (the bag) are taped down around it and penetrated by a tube attached to a pump that sucks out the air, compacting the glass layer and forcing out excess resin.

Mirage Manufacturing is not the only shop that has adopted vacuum bagging but not infusion. The famed Boston Boatworks does the same thing in its own state-of-the-art facility in the Charlestown section of Boston, where boats like MJMs are made—luxury Downeast-style power craft.

According to Aaron Porter, editor of Professional Boatbuilder magazine, Boston Boatworks has sophisticated machinery for prewetting pre-cut fiberglass cloth with precisely the right ratio of resin prior to vacuum bagging.

No matter what method is used, better glass crews will produce better results, but those interviewed for this story agreed that resin-infusion is less forgiving for a less experienced glass crew, and possibility of error increases with the complexity of the part being made.

Like, for example, the bridge-deck of a Leopard catamaran.

Nigel Calder is an author and technical expert on boat systems. A few years back, he toured the Robertson & Caine factory in South Africa. “Robertson & Caine mold the bridge deck and the inside halves of the two hulls in a single mold, mold the hulls’ outside halves separately, and then bond the outside halves to the inside halves,” Calder wrote in a July 2019 piece in Professional Boatbuilder.

Irma Reveal

Loose Cannon interviewed a veteran American surveyor intimately familiar with Leopard construction who declined to be quoted by name for fear of professional repercussions. He described the bridge deck/inner hull part of the Leopard as large and very complex due to compound curves and extrusion structure necessary for strength and stiffness.

He was among several surveyors who spent months in Tortola in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, which wiped out The Moorings fleet when it passed directly over British Virgin Islands in September 2017. Until recently, Robertson & Caine and The Moorings were subsidiaries of the same travel company, and R&C supplied The Moorings with all its sailing and power cats (and still does).

(The Moorings business model calls for individual buyers to purchase a Leopard cat, say, and then put that boat into the charter fleet to earn money for the company and buyer. 3 )

Apparently, few or none of The Moorings catamarans of Irma had been resin-infused, having been built before Robertson & Caine adopted the practice, but this surveyor said dealing with insurance matters during the Irma aftermath provided a window into quality control at the R&C factory at the time. Irma had literally cracked open some of those boats to reveal a litany of factory defects, which he said had to be differentiated from actual hurricane damage.

What needs to be said here is that in mid-2023 Robertson & Caine was spun-off by the company that owns Travelopia, and which continues to own The Moorings. So the Robertson & Caine of Irma and more recently the warranty mess with the Travel Sketche trio has a new master.

It is now owned by Vox Ventures, a subsidiary of PPF Group, a Czech investment firm. In 2021, PPF Group partnered with Groupe Beneteau, the world’s biggest recreational boatbuilder (including Lagoon Catamarans) to buy two other big charter companies, Dream Yacht Charter and Navigare Yachting. Together these two companies account for about a thousand boats, compared to 400 in The Moorings fleet.

So, you might say that Beneteau/Lagoon are now corporate cousins to Robertson & Caine. What that could possibly mean for quality control of the R&C factory in South Africa is beyond the scope of this article.

We are still waiting for comment from Robertson & Caine on the first story, but if anybody reading this has any insight, please share it with us in the comments section below.

LOOSE CANNON is dedicated to hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Subscribe for free to read more stories like this. If you’ve been a free subscriber for a while, consider upgrading to paid.

The Easy Composites explainer used the word “reinforcement” instead of “fiberglass” because the process is used for both glass and carbon fiber construction.

Roby Scalvini is best known for his expertise in non-destructive testing to diagnose flaws in fiberglass construction.

To purchase a vessel through The Moorings, a buyer must begin by putting down a downpayment for 20 to 50 percent of the purchase price. Then the boat will become part of the charter fleet, providing the new owner with:

A fixed guaranteed monthly income that will exceed the boat’s loan payment, based on traditional financing.

Up to 12 weeks a year on the buyer’s own yacht or a sistership at one of our exotic destinations worldwide.

No operating expenses such as dockage, insurance and professional yacht maintenance.

At the end of six years of charters, the owner will have the boat free and clear.

Ready for more?

European Union
South Africa
Photos & Videos

Virtual Tour

Cabins: 4 or 5
Heads: 4 to 6
Berths: 6 to 12
Showers: 4 to 6

SPECIAL OFFER

LOA: 50 ft 6 in / 15.4 m
LWL: 48 ft 11 in / 14.9 m
Beam: 26 ft 5 in / 8.04 m
Draft: 5 ft 3 in / 1.61 m
Mast Height: 77 ft 2 in / 23.52 m
Bridgedeck Clearance: 3 ft 5 in / 1.03 m
Engine: 2x 57 hp
Propeller Dimensions: 3‐blade 18in x 14in
Engine No. Cylinders: 4
Fuel: 243 gal / 920 L

EXTRA DETAILS

Bunk Dimensions: View Leopard Range Bunk Dimensions
Headroom: View Leopard Range Headroom Dimensions
Water: 185 gal / 700 L
Mainsail Area (Standard): 964 sqft / 89.6 sqm
Mainsail Area (Square Top): 1019 sqft / 94.7 sqm
Genoa Area: 688 sqft / 63.9 sqm
Spinnaker Area: 204 sqft / 2199 sqm
Code 0 Area: 970 sqft / 90.1 sqm
Code D Area: 1690 sqft / 157 sqm
Total Upwind Area (Standard): 1652 sqft / 153.5 sqm
Polars: View Leopard 50 Performance Documents
Displacement: 41888 lbs / 19000 kg
Load Carrying Capacity: 15432 lbs / 7000 kg
Holding Tank Capacity: 45 gal / 170 L

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Related Boat Reviews

Leopard catamarans feature - passagemaker, leopard 50: a most hospitable boat, leopard 50 review by multihulls world, related blog posts, lifetime partners in work and play: kevin and elizabeth's owner profile, product profile: leopard 50, owner reveal and test sail of the leopard 50p.

Make an appointment for a boat show, a sea trial, or simply receive a phone call from our expert agents.

Other Leopard 50 Buying Options

Check for current availability of used Leopard Catamarans and new Leopard Catamarans in charter programs on our sister sites

IMAGES

Leopard 50
Leopard catamarans
Leopard 50
Leopard 45
Leopard 53 Powercat
Leopard 53 Powercat

VIDEO

Leopard catamaran captured doing an aqua U-turn 💦↩️ #yachtingwithchristos
This Leopard Catamaran Smells Like Luxurious Teen Spirit 🤪
Leopard 48 owner's version
Leopard 40 PC Test & Features Video 2023 by BoatTEST.com
Leopard 44 Catamaran For Sale: Part 1
The Leopard 50

COMMENTS

About Leopard Catamarans
The Leopard 51PC replaced the Leopard 47PC and includes a multitude of exciting features such as a forward cockpit. Skyrocketing Growth. In early 2012 the 1,000th Leopard Catamaran was launched, further establishing Robertson and Caine's position in the catamaran market. Today, more than 2500 Leopard cats have been delivered around the globe.
Leopard Catamarans
leopard. In 1991, John Robertson and Jerry Caine started a boatyard at Woodstock in the suburbs of Cape Town, in South Africa. Leopard Catamarans were born from the charter market: Robertson & Cain was briefed to design and build specially designed yachts for The Moorings: a global charter company. 6 years later, the company branched out into ...
Leopard Catamarans US
The Leopard Identity. Leopard Catamarans pushes the boundaries of catamaran design. Evolving from 50 years of customer feedback, Leopard Catamarans has pooled their expertise with builders Robertson and Caine to design today's Leopard range: spacious, robust, performance-driven blue water cruising catamarans. As the worldwide distributor, we ...
Building Excellence: A Catamaran Production ...
Building Excellence: A Catamaran Production Tour at Robertson and Caine. 19 May, 2023. The opportunity to visit the place where the world's best sailing and power catamarans are produced was the experience of a lifetime. I found myself immersed in the extraordinary exploration of the hidden artistry behind building a catamaran—a journey that ...
Leopard 44 Catamaran Review
The Leopard 44 results from another successful collaboration with American catamaran designers Morrelli & Melvin. The goal was a solid, affordable mid-sized catamaran capable of blue water sailing and good for the charter market. Multiple awards and the boat's enduring popularity show how well they hit the target.
Sea Trial and Review of the Leopard 53 Power Catamaran
(Leopard Catamarans and The Moorings are part of the same ownership group.) The new Leopard 53 Powercat made its world debut at the Miami International Boat Show. Built by Robertson & Caine in Cape Town, South Africa, the Leopard 53 PC replaces the 51 PC, touted by the company as "the best-selling powercat of all time in its size range."
Boat Review: Leopard 48
Overall joinery quality and workmanship is excellent. Under Sail. While you'd never mistake the Leopard 48 for a racing cat, the boat still provides more than enough get-up-and-go for some very fun sailing. In 10 knots of wind, we managed a respectable 8-knots-plus close reaching through a light chop and were able to maintain 6 knots of boat ...
The Relationship Between Leopard and The Moorings Explained
The History of Leopard and The Moorings. In 1994 the world's largest charter company, The Moorings, was looking for a company to build catamarans for their charter fleet. After a successful background of custom and racing yachts, Robertson & Caine of Cape Town, South Africa was chosen by The Moorings to build a rugged catamaran up to the ...
The Leopard 51 Powercat Makes History
1. The Leopard 51 PC was the first Leopard Powercat designed by Simonis-Voodg Yacht Desgin. 2. The flybridge of the Leopard 51 PC is the largest in its class. 3. The flybridge of the 51 PC can be fully enclosed for maximum comfort. 4. The Leopard 51 PC is highly favored by delivery skippers for comfort and reliability. 5.
PDF Discover
The making of a Leopard HISTORY Soon after, the Leopard 37PC was introduced to satisfy demand for a smaller powercat, and in 2011 this model was replaced with the Leopard 39PC. Each and every power cat is also delivered on its own bottom all over the world. In early 2012 the 1,000th Leopard catamaran was launched, further establishing
Leopard 42 Boat Review
Leopard 42 Boat Review. The new Leopard 42, is a versatile, family-cruising catamaran. Mick Jagger was not singing about boat tests and wind speeds when he belted out the title lyrics to the classic Rolling Stones tune "You Can't Always Get What You Want.". Far too often during many years of conducting sea trials on new boats—when you ...
Are Leopard Catamarans Still Worth The High Price?
A new Leopard 40 power catamaran will cost $769,000 for the basic 2023 model. However, second-hand catamarans are available if you can't afford a new model. A quick search on Yachtworld.com came up with a Leopard 38 from 1999 that is on the market for $198,000. Plus, Leopard Catamarans themselves have a yacht brokerage for their second-hand ...
Chris Caswell Examines the Leopard 53 Powercat
Leopard 53 Powercat. Power for the Leopard 53 Powercat comes from a pair of 370-hp Yanmar diesels that reportedly are good for just under 25 knots maximum speed, and an economical cruise at 17.5 knots. Cruising with one engine, range jumps to nearly 2,000 nautical miles at just shy of 7 knots, according to the builder.
Why We Bought a 2015 Leopard 44 Catamaran
DESIGN AND COLOR. One of the reasons we LOVE and chose the 2015 Leopard 44 year is that it was the first year of only two years (2015 & 2016) out of seven years total that the Leopard 44 was made which incorporates the new modern sophisticated, yet casual light gray aged driftwood interior which is now standard on all Leopard catamarans which ...
Leopard 58 (Robertson and Caine)
Sailboat specifications. Last update: 24th February 2020. The Leopard 58 is a 57'7" (17.56m) cruising catamaran designed by Simonis Voogd Design (Netherlands). She is built since 2011 by Robertson and Caine (South Africa). The Leopard 58 has also been marketed as Moorings 5800.
Leopard 40 Review and Common Problems
Leopard 40 Review and Common Problems. Leopard began their sailing catamaran line-up with a cruise-worthy 45-foot catamaran. When the charter industry took notice, they requested smaller sailing cats for their fleets, so Leopard provided the 38-foot model, as well as a 42-foot model. In 2004, Leopard partnered with designers Morelli & Melvin ...
Leopard Catamarans Identity
The Leopard Catamarans Identity Spacious and robust cruising catamarans with superior performance. Evolving from 50 years of customer feedback, Leopard Catamarans has pooled their expertise with builders Robertson and Caine and Naval Architects Simonis Voogd to design today's Leopard range: spacious, robust, performance-driven blue water cruising catamarans.
Your Cheat Sheet to the Leopard 51 PC
It includes a hard top, ample seating, a sunbathing platform and a standard wet bar with options for a fridge, icemaker and grill. Technical Specifications: Cruising Speed: 17.4 knots. Top Speed: 25 knots. Draft: 3 ft. 2.6 in. Engine: 2 x 370 hp. Displacement: 40,785 lbs. Cabins/ Heads: 3/3 or 4/4. Beam: 25ft. 1 in.
Leopard 50 Catamaran
The new Leopard 50 makes use of carbon-infused ring frames in the most critical areas to achieve this. This type of construction has been pioneered on the larger all carbon racing catamarans and is now successfully being applied in this Leopard cruising catamaran so that we can offer the best possible mix between comfort, space and performance.".
The History Of Leopard Catamarans
Registered User. Join Date: Mar 2015. Location: Currently cruising in SE Asia. Boat: Catana 47 hull no 1 ex Leopard 40 (2009) & Crownline 250CR. Posts: 383. Re: The History Of Leopard Catamarans. The Leopard forum has many details. The 39 and 40 was a crossover period in late 2009/2010.
Sail Leopard Catamaran boats for sale
Find Sail Leopard Catamaran boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld. Offering the best selection of Leopard boats to choose from.
Leopard 42
Leopard 42. Built by Robertson & Caine and designed by naval architects Simonis Voogd, the Leopard 42 utilizes superior finishes and materials, creating a one-of-a-kind vessel that balances comfort, performance and ease of handling. A thoughtful design process ensures every feature and function has been anticipated, with minimal customization ...
Leopard Horror Show Spotlights Resin-Infusion Pitfalls, Experts Say
Last week, Loose Cannon reported on a horrific warranty claim involving a Leopard 45 sailing cat and her despondent owners who had hoped to launch a YouTube sailing channel but ended up living in repair yards for more than two years—and still are. Instead of aspirational videos of life cruising aboard Liger, three Australian friends ended up documenting the multiple defects and repair efforts.
Leopard 50
Leopard 50. Designed to replace one of the best-selling Leopard Catamarans of all time, the Leopard 50 is the reincarnation of the award-winning Leopard 48. With no detail overlooked, the Leopard 50 embodies luxury sailing at its very best. Sea trialed and tested off the coast of South Africa, its performance, comfort and handling are a ...