Story by Will Miller / March 1, 2023
In early 2023, Cruising World approached us to seek our opinion on recommending a couple of brokerage catamaran options for first time catamaran buyers to consider when they first stepping into the catamaran market. Here are six boats hand-picked by The Multihull Company’s president and CEO, Capt. Will Miller, as excellent choices for brokerage-catamaran seekers. These are all worth a look whether you’re a first- time buyer or an experienced monohull sailor converting to a catamaran.
Bear in mind with these recommendations that these do not consider personal cruising agendas, budgets or preferences.
Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41 – The Lipari 41 is an ideal choice for those looking for an affordable liveaboard cruiser. Its deck layout is ergonomically designed for convenient sail handling and al fresco entertaining, blending excellent sailing characteristics with comfort. The Maestro version offers an owner’s suite full of cabinets and lockers complimented by a large master bath. On deck, there is ample storage space in the forepeaks and anchor locker for all of your cruising essentials. Whether you are a seasonal cruiser or full-time liveaboard, the Lipari 41 can fulfill those demands at an affordable price point.
Lagoon 42 – The Lagoon 42 (or 420 as a budget friendlier option) is a top pick for those who prioritize comfort onboard. This catamaran offers unparalleled volume and storage capacity in its size category, making it an excellent choice for those with large families or frequent guests. With a self tacking jib, and simple deck organization, this yacht can be easily single-handed. The semi-raised hem station provides great sightlines and the vertical salon windows offer panoramic views from inside. The spacious design, simple sail management, and excellent payload capacity are great features that will attract many first-time catamaran buyers.
Catana 431 – For performance-minded sailors the Catana 431 boasts a number of desirable traits. Upwind performance is dramatically enhanced with the use of daggerboards, an aerodynamic cabintop, tulip-shaped bows, and well thought out weight distribution. The Twaron reinforced layup further strengthens the vinylester foam core construction,making these yachts extremely light and stiff. Creature comforts were not an afterthought. The interior fabrics and finishes are very high-quality, turning this into a very aesthetically pleasing platform inside and out. This generation of Catanas continues to retain resale value and marketability 20+ years after they were originally launched. If you grew up racing, and are now transitioning to the liveaboard lifestyle, this yacht will give you the responsiveness and speeds that you became accustomed to in your youth.
Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 – One of the most coveted models from Fountaine Pajot is the Helia 44. Its modern Euro-styling strikes a unique balance of comfort, storage, and space utilization. The peninsula shaped berths make climbing in and out of bed all too easy, and the rest of the interior flows together creating a very livable space. The exterior combines a generous sailplan with a cockpit designed for entertaining your buddy boat crews. It’s no surprise this model transitioned seamlessly from a popular charter design into a capable offshore cruiser. The Helia is an excellent option for those who appreciate a sophisticated look with above average sailing characteristics.
Leopard 46 – For the experienced sailor who wants a larger boat that balances performance, value, and comfort, the Leopard 46 hits the nail on the head. Leopard prides themselves on system design and accessibility, making this a very user-friendly yacht. Her spacious cockpit and salon come together to create an optimal social flow. The helm and cockpit can also be easily enclosed to extend your sailing season. Beefy davits with an integral step make loading and unloading the dinghy exponentially easier, and are complemented by extra wide sugar scoops. Whether you’re planning an offshore passage or just island hopping in the Caribbean, the Leopard 46 should be considered as a top contender.
Seawind 1260 – The Seawind 1260 is the perfect boat for beginner sailors who want a high-performance option without sacrificing interior volume for daggerboard trunks. The vinylester resin and foam coring ensures superior build quality, lighter weight, and improved performance. Garage-style salon doors give the boat a unique interior/exterior feel, with unparalleled ventilation. With a galley down configuration, the saloon lives like a much larger yacht. This yacht can sail with ease in light air, conserving fuel and shortening passage times. If you’re just starting out and want a boat that provides a great sailing experience with excellent build quality, the Seawind 1260 has a track record of proven success.
Capt Will Miller is the CEO and Senior Broker at The Multihull Company. He has been a yacht broker, ASA instructor, and delivery captain for over two decades. He has sailed aboard dozens of catamarans in locations all over the world, and has managed the sale of over 100 yachts throughout the course of his career. For more information, visit www.multihullcompany.com
We had an outstanding experience working with Andrew Hodgdon to find our dream boat, an Outremer 52.
We were actually referred to him by several different people—clients who had been very happy working with him, as well as boat owners who were planning to use him to sell their own boats. After working with Andrew ourselves, we completely understand why he came so highly recommended.
We worked with him for several months, and from start to finish, he was exceptional. Andrew is incredibly knowledgeable and truly an expert when it comes to performance catamarans. He took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for, was always responsive and organized, and never made us feel pressured throughout the process.
Andrew went above and beyond to arrange showings for us in multiple states and even traveled to another state to be there with us for the sea trial. His expertise and guidance gave us tremendous confidence as we evaluated such a significant purchase.
The entire process could have been overwhelming, but he made it remarkably smooth. He was on top of every detail and made the paperwork and closing process easy, working seamlessly with his team at The Multihull Company.
What impressed us most was that he genuinely had our best interests in mind. And his support didn’t end when the sale was completed. He has continued to stay in touch and has made it clear that he is still available to help us if we ever need him. That kind of follow-through is rare and speaks volumes about the kind of broker he is.
Buying an Outremer 52 was a huge decision and a major investment, and having someone with his knowledge, experience, responsiveness, and integrity made the entire experience so much easier and more enjoyable.
We couldn’t recommend Andrew Hodgdon more highly. If you’re looking for a yacht broker—especially if you’re considering a performance catamaran—we would choose him again without hesitation. The fact that so many people recommended him to us was the reason we called him, and after working with him, we would be one of those people recommending him to others.
I highly recommend Andrew Hodgdon. He served as our buyers broker. He is responsive, highly knowledgeable and very experienced. He is also an excellent guide and counselor before, during and after the boat purchase process. If you are looking for a good-sailing cat, he seems to collect most of the available boats on the better-sailing side of the market. Top marks.
Andrew did an excellent job getting me started on my new adventures. Worked with my conflicting schedule. Is very knowledgeable in the catamaran industry. 😎
I recently sold my Lagoon 450 with the Multihull Team. I would highly recommend their services. The professionalism and personal treatment I received was greatly appreciated.
Great Service, Great People
Helped me through the process.
I would go through them again in a future purchase.
Successful relationships cannot exist without it. At The Multihull Company we base every relationship on a firm commitment to earning and retaining our client’s trust.
Advice of any kind is valuable only when grounded in hard-won expertise. It too, must be trustworthy. Trust and expertise define the heart and soul of The Multihull Company. We are a team of skilled professionals who thrive on providing expert, trustworthy advice and service to catamaran and trimaran sailors around the globe.
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