The Search For Meaning Starts Here

The Multihull Company is thrilled to unveil the new Tao 452, an exciting addition to the world of blue-water performance cruising catamarans. Meticulously engineered and crafted to perfection, the Tao 452 is set to redefine the catamaran experience for sailors worldwide.

If you’ve been left wanting more from the sailing performance of current production charter catamarans or have been unimpressed by the confined and unwelcoming living spaces of racing vessels, the Tao 452 is your answer.  It has been expertly crafted to achieve the perfect equilibrium between on-anchor comfort and on-water performance. She’s swift, robust, secure, incredibly comfortable for extended stays, user-friendly to operate, and straightforward to maintain.

The Tao 452 represents the evolution of Hill’s earlier 421 design, which later became the Balance 451. With a slimmer hull fineness ratio, extended and sleeker bows and sterns, and the addition of dual high aspect ratio daggerboards alongside two shallow fixed mini-keels guarding her rudders and sail drives. She is engineered to be the swiftest yet most spacious and luxurious mid-sized performance production catamaran available today.

The quality of the Tao 452 exudes yacht-grade excellence in every aspect and becomes evident the moment you step inside our factory or inspect one of our yachts at an upcoming boat show. For those who harbor a genuine passion for sailing, for those who revel in the art of mastering all points of sail, and for those who seek unwavering reliability, even in the most adverse weather conditions—the Tao 452 is unequivocally your vessel of choice.

Specifications

  • Base Price$649,000
  • Overall Length44.8ft / 13.6m
  • Waterline Lengthapproximately 39.53ft (~11.98m)
  • Beam 23.33ft / 7.07m
  • Draft – Fixed Keel3.83ft / 1.16m
  • Draft – Centre Board Up2.75ft / 0.85m
  • Light-ship Displacement 10,500 kgs (estimate, no optional equipment)
  • Steering StationHydraulic Steering
  • Underwing Clearance2’6" / 0.80m (light-ship estimate, no optional equipment)
  • Diesel Sail Drives2 x Beta Marine 38hp (Kubota) engine + TwinDisc 60 saildrive
  • Fuel110 gallons / 417 litres
  • Fresh Water84.5 US gallons / 320 litres

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EXTERIOR / LAMINATE:

  • Finish: Full female moulded hulls & decks, exterior gelcoat finish with moulded non-slip surface on deck areas.
  • Hull Laminate: 100% Vinyl Ester (Modified epoxy) resin infusion laminate. 100% structural foam core composite.
  • Deck Laminate: 100% vinyl ester resin and e-glass, vacuum bagged. 100% foam core. No structural wood or balsa core used. High density foam core and aluminum backing plates used for mounting deck hardware. Vacuum bagging or resin infusion is used extensively in the build.
  • Bulkheads 100% vinyl ester resin E-Glass laminate / foam core vacuum bagged or resin infused

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Mast/Boom/Sails

  • Selden Mast: Clear anodised aluminium mast and boom. Single Spreader, 7/8 rig
  • Halyards: Main halyard Main halyard 2:1 in 12 mm Dyneema rope: Heavy duty shackle; Jib halyard: 12 mm Dyneema rope; Screacher Halyard (12 mm 2:1 Dyneema); Topping lift: 10 mm dyneema rope, Heavy duty shackle; Spinnaker Halyard: 12 mm Spectra rope with snap-shackle spliced to end.
  • Boom outhaul
  • 2 x mainsail slab reefing fitted (3rd reef available)
  • 3 Block mainsheet system (port & starboard mainsheets)
  • 140% Genoa to adjustable lead tracks. Jib sheet leads aft to starboard cockpit aft winch (electric) winch station (both genoa sheets) for easy tacking . Furler by Selden.
  • Self-tacking headsail (blade) deck hardware available. Curved headsail traveler track with end stops.
  • Sails by Neil Pryde:
  • Dacron Mainsail, fully battened. Luff adjustable batten end caps. Fibreglass sail battens (5). Roller bearing batten cars.
  • Dacron Genoa
  • Lazy bag cruising mainsail cover with integrated lazy jack system is optional (not supplied as standard equipment. Choice of colors from Neil Pryde)
  • LED deck spreader lights
  • LED mast up-lights from spreader
  • LED navigation at deck
  • LED tri-color navigation light at mast-head
  • LED anchor light
  • LED steaming light
  • LED foredeck light
  • Self-tailing winch (#45) at mast for spinnaker, screecher, jib halyards and topping lift

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The salon area on the Tao 452 offers comfortable accommodations with a spacious galley, ergonomic couch, and ample headroom throughout.

452

Deck Equipment

  • Recessed Deck Hatches (10 in total)
  • 2 x Foredeck hatches, 2 x Forward cabin hatches, 3 x Saloon cabin hatches (plus opening windows), 2 x Aft bathroom hatches, 2 x Aft Cabin hatches
  • Fiberglass Deck Hatches: Forward anchor & storage hatches x 4
  • Cockpit storage hatches (x3)
  • 8 x docking cleats
  • 1 x Heavy duty mooring cleat on catwalk
  • 2 x Heavy duty bow chocks (port, starboard)
  • Mast base turning blocks. Main halyard & sail controls to cockpit.
  • Spinnaker sheet bow blocks
  • Rope clutches – Lewmar or Spinlock brand
  • Sheet winches: 3 x 50EVO (Lewmar)– 2 speed self-tailing (electric winch for main halyard & jib optional)
  • Stanchions/Rails: High quality stanchions, bow rails and stern rails with 2 life-lines.
  • 2 x transom access gates with pelican hook releases.
  • Aft swim ladder (1) folding stainless ladder
  • Aft swim shower with hot/cold water (1)

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FORWARD BEAM, CATWALK AND TRAMPOLINES:

  • Alloy Forward beam (Selden)
  • 1 x Mooring chock above forebeam
  • 1 x Anchor roller under forebeam
  • Catwalk in fiberglass composite
  • Plastic coated trampolines with dyneema lines

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AFT BEAM & COCKPIT & DECK

  • Moulded cockpit sole with large opening doors to saloon
  • Carbon fiber reinforced, foam core bimini top with helm opening
  • Bimini overhead lights
  • Non skid deck with water tight engine hatches with SS gas struts
  • UV quality vinyl seating for 8 people.
  • Built in storage box under cockpit seat
  • Aft cockpit sink with hot & cold water
  • Cockpit refrigerator (optional)
  • Walk up transom entry port & starboard.
  • Davits with pulley system for dinghy (optional)
  • BBQ mounting compartment (BBQ is optional)

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Spacious beds with athwartship layout allows you to comfortably get off the bed from either side.

HELM & RUDDER SYSTEM

  • Raised helm station with twin helm seat
  • Hydraulic steering
  • Stainless Steel Steering Wheel (Carbon fiber optional)
  • Compass with dedicated back-light switch
  • Engine gauges
  • Fuel gauge
  • Engine controls (throttles/gear shift)
  • Digital engine NMEA 2000 interface (optional)
  • Fuel gauge NMEA 2000 interface (optional)

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INTERIOR FINISH

  • Cabinetry in matte finish maple wood honeycomb composite construction
  • Hull sides and cabin top lined with soft vinyl
  • Floors: Common area soles simulated timber. Cabin soles simulated timber.

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SALOON

  • LED lighting with dimmer
  • Matte finish timber dining table
  • Upholstered surround settee
  • Matte finish timber chart table
  • Windows in UV grey toughened glass
  • Overhead hatches (3), window hatches (2)
  • Saloon / cockpit doors: polished stainless steel framed glass sliding doors

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GALLEY

  • Spacious galley with composite counter surfaces, timber finished light-weight honeycomb composite doors and drawers
  • Three (3 ) burner LPG stove. Stainless steel pot holders.
  • LPG Oven
  • Sink (rectangular deep single sink)
  • Pressure hot & cold fresh water system. Single lever mixing tap.
  • Refrigerator / Freezer: Double door Fridge-Freezer.
  • Under bench storage with polished timber door fronts & cutlery drawers.
  • LPG solenoid control in galley

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CABINS

  • Timber doors on all private cabins (lightweight honeycomb composite construction), stainless steel hardware
  • Port & Starboard fwd cabins : queen sized island bed in each
  • Aft Port cabin : Queen sized bed or Single bed if office option
  • Mattresses 150mm (6” ) quilted foam upholstered.
  • Cabins lined with vinyl or gelcoat surfaces
  • Recessed 24 volt lighting (LED)
  • Courtesy lighting (LED)
  • Reading lights (LED)
  • Storage compartments and drawers (lightweight honeycomb composite, timber veneer)

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HEADS

  • Polished lockable doors
  • 2 heads full size electric (quiet flush optional)
  • Holding tanks discharge by deck pump out (to shore vacuum pump) or by ships’ pump directly overboard (note: lockable Y-valve selector)
  • Pipes, skin fittings and sea-cocks are easily accessible built to ABYC recommendations
  • Vanity basin with pressure hot & cold water
  • Wall mounted shower head & mixer tap
  • Shower with direct overboard discharge by electric diaphragm pump – no bilge pump to clog or clean
  • Cupboards / shelves in each head
  • Toilet roll holder, towel rack & mirror mounted

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LIGHTING/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  • DC electrical switch panel (Blueseas) with circuit breakers, LED indicator lights and voltage & battery monitoring display.
  • Marine grade tinned electrical wiring with extensive use of heat sealed connectors
  • Engine start batteries: two independent batteries (AGM glass mat), emergency parallel
  • House batteries (24v): Lithium (Victron LIPO 10kw optional and recommended), standard AGM 4800 watt deep cycle
  • Remote controlled heavy duty battery isolation switches
  • LED lighting throughout including dimmable down lights in cockpit and a red/white dome light in cockpit
  • LED courtesy lighting in cockpit (optional)
  • 3 x 12V accessory outlets (Helm, Nav Station)
  • USCG approved LED navigation lights on bow/stern, steaming light on mast
  • USCG approved LED mast tri-color navigation light
  • Foredeck floodlight mounted on spreaders (LED)
  • Mid-deck spreader down lights (LED)
  • Mast up-light (from spreader) (LED)
  • Mast head anchor light (LED)
  • 30A 110v/60hz (or 15A 230v/50hz) shore power

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PLUMBING/FRESH WATER TANKS

  • Pressure hot & cold water system. Hot water storage system (40 litre / 11 gallons) . Hot & cold water to galley and both bathrooms.
  • Galley fresh water tap is lever type
  • Deck fill for fresh water tank
  • Fresh water pump with pressure accumulator (Jabsco)
  • Automatic electric bilge pumps (4 x 2000 gph + 2 x 1000 gph + 1 x 750 gph)
  • Bronze through-hull fittings, bonded
  • Electric sump pump for shower drains
  • LPG bottles aluminum (optional)
  • Fresh water tank gauge
  • Black water tank gauge
  • City water connection (optional)

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ENGINES

  • Twin 38hp saildrive diesel engines. Fresh water cooling, rubber isolation mounts on reinforced fibreglass bed (24v secondary alternators)
  • Sound insulation to engine rooms
  • Two bladed propellers (optional folding 3 blade propeller upgrades available)
  • Engine controls at helm station. Remote electric start at engine controls.
  • Fuel tanks: Total 417 litres in pressure tested aluminum tank. Fuel gauges fitted.
  • Water intakes for engines protected by large strainer with easy access (1 per engine)
  • Primary Racor ( or similar) water separator / fuel filters, secondary engine fuel filters
  • Console mounted engine instruments with electric tachometers, engine monitoring & warning systems, engine hour meters
  • NMEA 2000 engine interface optional

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NAVIGATION

  • Steering compass (Ritchie Helmsman)
  • Raymarine instruments and marine radios optional available

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ANCHORING / MOORING

  • Lewmar CPX-3 electric anchor winch with chain & rope gypsy. Easily accessed in bow anchor locker
  • Storage for primary anchor is provided in a specially designed anchor roller under the forward beam.
  • Anchor winch has foot switch at the bow plus an optional remote up / down control

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ANTIFOULING / STRIPING

  • Hull and waterline striping
  • Epoxy barrier coat and antifouling paint (optional)
  • Decals on each hull and stern.

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Layouts

Tao 452 Deck Layout

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Tao 452 Owners Layout

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Tao 452 4 Cabin Layout

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Your team delivered on every mark. You’ve got an amazing broker in Mark Wattrus and I’m confident you will have continued success moving forward together. He was available 24/7 whenever I had questions. We had a great initial visit on the boat and his marketing plan and photos were superb

— Jimmy

I bought a yacht that I had never seen. I did this because I trusted my broker Andrew Holland. It was not an easy job for Andrew, as I am an experienced boat builder and owner of previous yachts, but work in West Africa. Imagine how hard it was to communicate what I was looking for. Andrew came up with exactly what I wanted. He dealt with time delays, all my questions at odd hours, and was there for the survey. He reported honestly and professionally. After buying the yacht, I arrived at the boat on a Sunday night, after dark, after travelling from West Africa to the Caribbean, and found it was better than expected. He never pulled punches and made me aware of shortfalls. I expected to spend my one month leave working on the boat, but actually spent less than one week, and was able to spend 3 weeks sailing – wonderful bonus.

Thank you Andrew for putting up with all my questions, all my worries and all my crazy out of the time zone concerns – you were totally professional, but also I know that if and when we meet up, it will be like a friend finally meeting. You are always welcome on Aseka.

 

— Beverly Cory

Outstanding company with professional subject matter experts. If I were to buy or sell cruising sailboat, particularly a catamaran, Andrew would be my go to broker.

— JT

I have been sailing since I was a child and attended Massachusetts Maritime Academy. But when my wife and I began the process of purchasing an ocean cruising/racing catamaran, I realized that this is a world unto itself. Obviously, we needed to find someone knowledgeable to help us make an informed decision. More importantly, we needed someone honest and willing to put our interests before his or her own. I was lucky to work with Phil Berman at The Multihull Company. He repeatedly shunned the fast buck, choosing instead to work the long road to connect us with the “perfect boat”. I would be glad to recommend Phil and his company to anyone planning to purchase or sell a performance sailing machine.

— Eric Boutiette

Andrew Hodgdon was our broker when we bought our 2018 Lagoon 450F in Antigua in April 2922. He provided great service and was very attentive to our needs. We would highly recommend Andrew and the Multihull Company.

— Jim

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