catamarans under 300k

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150' Custom 2025 |

107' Custom 2023 | CUSTOM 107 CATAMARAN

85' Mares 1997 | White Lightning

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70' Sunreef 2021 | ANIMA

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10 Affordable Cruising Catamarans

• By Phil Berman
• Updated: May 24, 2024

So, you want to get a catamaran , sail off into the sunset, and capture some magic with your lover or family for a few years. You have no ambition to sail around the world or to live aboard forever, but think a one- or two-year sabbatical might be life-changing. You’d like to sail the US East Coast, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, perhaps the Med—or up and down the West Coast and on to Mexico and Central America. You have $300,000 or less to spend and want a catamaran you can sell at the end of the journey without consuming a bottle of Tylenol to blunt the pain. 

The good news is that this is quite achievable. The bad news is that there is a vast wave of baby boomers who are all looking for the same thing—and for right around the same price. This makes finding a good deal on a great used catamaran a lot of work, even working with a broker. But, it’s possible. You just need to keep an open mind.

The other good news, which might seem surprising, is that an older catamaran, besides being more affordable, might sail just as well—or even better—than the same-size new cat that will cost considerably more. Yes, the older model might have less room inside and lack the latest condo-on-the-water styling, but it was designed and built before the current trend to supersize the newer generations of multihulls at the expense of sailing performance.

Here’s my advice to the cat hunter on a budget: Don’t get too hung up on the length of the boat. Instead, focus on the spatial and payload requirements you seek and which can be achieved within your budget. And best not get too focused on must-have features—what I jokingly call “surround-sound beds.” Catamaran designs and interiors have gone through massive changes in the past 10 to 20 years, and most older designs simply cannot compete with the new ones in terms of space and high-end amenities.

None of the cool cats I have in mind are over 47 feet. This is not because there aren’t bargain boats out there that are 47 feet and longer, but because any larger multihull that you can buy for $300,000 or less will most assuredly need a significant refit or is either very old or very odd. Buying a fixer-upper is, to my mind, the most dangerous thing a budget-minded consumer can do. It’s just too easy to underestimate the cost of yacht refits and repairs due to the extremely high prices charged in most boatyards. 

RELATED: 20 Best Cruising and Sailing Destinations

Nearly any cat you buy over 10 years old is fully depreciated. What we were selling a Lagoon 440 for eight or 10 years ago is nearly the same as what they sell for today. The difference between a good deal and a bad deal is tied solely to a yacht’s condition and refit history. As they joke in private-equity circles, “Any idiot can buy; you deserve congratulations only when you sell.”   

So, when your search gets underway, focus on ­condition—it is far more important than the year, brand or features you might crave. And when you find the cat of your dreams, the best way to remove financial-downside risk is to get a great survey and to choose the newest, smallest cat that will work for your agenda, not the oldest and biggest.

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

And a word of caution: Your problem will be knowing a good deal from a bad one after the survey is over if you are not well-schooled in pricing. Besides steering you toward potential boats to consider, this is where a broker, working on your behalf, can provide knowledgeable advice. It’s been my experience that this is the point when so many yacht sales come apart: a dispute over the value of a given yacht when the survey results come in. All too commonly we see buyers reject yachts they should have accepted and purchase cats they should have rejected. Remember, a used yacht is a used yacht—not a perfect yacht. A catamaran need not be perfect to remain a perfectly good deal. Here, then, are 10 cool cats to ­consider in the ­$300,000-or-less range:

1. Fountaine Pajot Orana 44 (above)

Fountaine Pajot had the misfortune of tooling up this boat just before the global financial crisis, so not that many of them were built between 2007 and 2012. But these were the first of the larger-space charter cats in this size, but not yet so porky that they still could not sail decently. In the three-­cabin owner’s version, they designed the living space very nicely; even in the four-cabin version, the aft starboard bed was very well-done. 

During this period, Fountaine Pajot had problems with the resin it was using, which led to blistering on the hulls and undersides. Affected models therefore had new bottoms done at approved shipyards throughout the world. Make sure the one you are considering had this done or that it doesn’t show evidence of significant blistering. Honestly it is only cosmetic, but it will impact resale if not repaired. Many consumers think blisters are the end of the world; frankly, they are not.

2. Catana 431

Built in France by a long-­standing yard, the Catana 431 was always a very viable vessel because it is big enough to go anywhere, but not too large for a competent owner to handle. And because the 431 has good underwing clearance and daggerboards, it sails smartly to windward. 

That said, there are a few things to watch for. The primary bulkheads on many of these boats were not tabbed on the outer ends, and over time tended to distort. Often this led, or will lead, to a costly replacement of some bulkheads. So be careful to survey these areas properly. 

The 431′s furniture is all foam-cored and handmade, but the banding on the outer edges in some cases slowly starts to peel, which allows moisture to infect the wood veneer. This can create a somewhat unsightly appearance in the cabinets and drawers. It is only a cosmetic issue, but it can make the interior feel a bit worn out. 

During the period when the 431 was being built, Catana used a distributive electrical card system, and the boats had several modules, each a zone, to which electricity was run. If one thing in a zone stops working, the only solution is to jury-rig a wire from that nonworking item back to the main breaker panel. Replacing the modules or getting them repaired can be done, but it is getting harder by the year. For this reason, the best 431 is a boat that someone else had rewired at some point along the way.

3. Lagoon 470

If you need a larger escape pod, the Lagoon 470 is one of our favorites. This model of older Lagoons was built at CNB’s yard in Bordeaux, France, and the build quality was high. The 470 was the first design to have the more-vertical windows that are a Lagoon signature, and ample saloon headroom. The 470s are also old enough that the hulls were not so supersize that it compromised sailing performance. They have decent underwing clearance, so they are not persistent pounders to windward. Many were built with a galley-down layout, some in galley-up style. You will always pay more for an owner version of this or any model. 

The big thing you have to concern yourself with on Lagoons of this vintage is that the hulls and decks are made with a balsa core, so it is not uncommon to find moisture problems, especially around deck fittings or hatches. This can sometimes require rebedding or recoring areas, and this sort of repair, in North America, can be a costly undertaking. Make sure you get good moisture-meter readings near all deck fittings and, of course, on the hulls. Hulls, however, tend less often to have moisture issues because there are few fittings through which water can enter the core. Were that to happen below the waterline, it is a real mess that must be repaired immediately and properly.

– CARRY A BEACON – Satellite beacons such as EPIRBs or PLBs allow boaters to transmit distress signals and their exact coordinates from anywhere on the planet, no cell service required. It may be the best $400 you ever spend. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

4. Privilège 435

Back when the Privilège 435 was built, Privilège catamarans were constructed by Alliaura Marine in France, and they were truly the Mercedes of the multihull world at that time. While not a performance cat by any means, the 435 was a super-solid yacht, built with great care and the finest components. The 435 is large enough to go anywhere but small enough to handle easily. 

The largest negative of this model—and many cats of this vintage—is that the saloon windows slope dramatically, so the interior gets very hot unless the windows are covered most of the time. When they legalize growing pot on catamarans, here’s the perfect greenhouse for it! Seriously, if you should buy a used 435, you really have to get strong sunblocking external UV covers, as well as interior blinds or shades to inhibit heat buildup. 

Some of the 435s were laid out with the galley down in one hull, and these days most people want a galley-up arrangement, where cooking and food preparation are done in the saloon. A three-cabin galley-up owner version will be far more sought after and cost more than a four-cabin galley-down version. 

5. Leopard 46

This was the first of the Morrelli & Melvin collaborations with South African builder Robertson and Caine and the charter companies owned at the time by TUI Marine to create a catamaran that could be sold both into charter under the Moorings brand and also privately as a Leopard, so effort was made to design a boat with good sailing performance. Gino Morrelli did a good job creating a lot of underwing clearance, the 46 has a powerful rig, and yet its interior still offers spacious sleeping areas and nice flow from the cockpit to the saloon. These can be bought as ex-Moorings charter boats for less than $300,000 but are more costly in the sought-after Leopard owner version.

Because these are balsa-­cored boats, you must inspect deck fittings carefully for moisture incursion. Some of the earlier ones also experienced structural problems on the aft bulkhead and over-door-frame areas between saloon and cockpit. Also, during this period, the windows in the main saloon had a tendency to leak and, when they did, required rebedding or replacement. This was a costly job, so check this out carefully during survey.

6. St. Francis 44/Knysna 440

If you wish to spend under $250,000, the older Saint Francis 44 and Knysna 440 are worth a look.

Back in 1990, Duncan Lethbridge started St. Francis Catamarans in South Africa with the St. Francis 43. The boat was meant to be a fast, strong bluewater voyager—and it was. The 43 was made with foam core, keeping the structure light, and it was very strongly built, with a powerful rig. The 43 loved to sail. And so too did the St. Francis 44, an updated version of the original. 

The boat did have a couple of negatives, however, the first being its sloped windows that built up interior heat. And the boat wasn’t a great fit for tall people, having less than 6-foot-2-inch headroom in the hulls. Also, the engines were installed amidships, which made the boat noisy inside under power. It also made the amidships areas of the hulls too narrow to have centrally located heads and showers, which in turn meant the only layout available was a four-­cabin, four-head design. In the forward cabins, the heads and showers had to be far forward; in the aft cabins, the heads and showers were located far aft.

St. Francis sold the tooling for the 44 to Knysna Yachts in 2004, and Knysna raised the headroom in the saloon and moved the engines aft to each stern. The hulls remained fundamentally the same, but the design was improved nicely. 

The largest negative of both the Saint Francis 44 and the Knysna 440 is that they have very low underwing clearance. Things can get pretty noisy when pushing against ­washing-machine seas. 

But you cannot have it all and still pay less than $250,000 in a midsize cat; compromises must be made. And these boats do sail quite smartly compared with many in their size range.

7. Lagoon 440

This was the most popular catamaran ever made, and it started the catamaran flybridge craze, which helped to convert many powerboaters to sailors. 

What I like about the 440 is that it is an infinitely better sailer than some of its peers, and has decent underwing clearance, vertical windows, and nice cabins for sleeping and living. While the aft cockpit is rather small, the saloon is quite large.

Flybridges are a bit of a love-hate thing. There is no question that in a cat of this size, the windward performance suffers a bit due to the boom positioned so high off the water. When piloting, the skipper is separated from those on the bridgedeck. Part of the reason flybridges are so popular in charter is that most of the parties take place up there while sailing and at anchor. In private ownership, however, it is seldom that everyone is hanging out on the flybridge during a long passage. 

As always with Lagoons, these are balsa-cored boats, so a careful survey is in order. Pay attention also to bulkhead ­tabbing to make sure they have not separated from the hulls.

Because so many of the 440s were built to go into charter, there are a lot of four-cabin, four-head models for resale. These will sell for considerably less on the ­brokerage market than a ­coveted three-cabin, ­private-owner model.

– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

8. Leopard 40

When you get into the 40-foot size range, a four-cabin layout can become pretty cramped and claustrophobic below, but the three-cabin owner version of the Leopard 40 is a very nice pocket cruiser. A Morrelli & Melvin design, the 40 has good underwing clearance and nicely shaped hulls. Not a large cat, per se, and less-suited for significant distance sailing than others because its payload is limited, the 40 is still well-suited for a couple and a child or two for near-coastal and ­island-hopping action.

9. Manta 42

If you are searching for a cat in the $200,000 range, the Manta 42s were well-built in Florida, and their electrical systems were very well-done compared with many other multihulls of that era. While many of the features on the boat are quite dated, these Mantas sail very well, and easily, and have been popular with coastal cruisers for two decades. 

The largest negative of the Mantas is that people taller than 6 feet will find the saloon headroom right on the edge, and the berths are not especially large. Also, forward visibility from the saloon windows is not particularly panoramic, so the interiors are a bit darker inside than current-­generation catamarans.

10. Lagoon 410

The Lagoon 410 was quite a popular cat in its prime, and for good reason. It offers lots of visibility thanks to its vertical windows, good headroom for a cat of its size, nice berths, and a workable, though smallish, galley-up design. The 410 has decent underwing clearance, can sail nicely over the waves, and its singlehanded operation is super easy. In the three-cabin owner’s configuration, it’s just a very cool little cat.

As always, a balsa-core boat must be surveyed carefully, especially on deck, for moisture incursion near fittings and hatches. It can be costly to repair rotted core and to rebed deck fittings. But find a dry one, and it should definitely be counted as a contender for a buyer with a limited budget. 

Phil Berman is the president of the Multihull Company and the founder of Balance Catamarans. He has managed the sale of more than 900 catamarans.

• More: catamaran , lagoon , leopard , multihulls , print june july 2020 , Sailboats
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Used Yachts For Sale Between $300,000 and $400,000

Price Reduction

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Description

Finding a used yacht for sale between $300,000 and $400,000 that fits your needs when it comes to number of passengers, horsepower, inside accommodations, and other features on board can be a challenge with so many options available on the market today. There are many types of boats available between $300k and $400k like  center-consoles ,  cruising yachts , and  fishing boats , with many good options across all length ranges Still, there are plenty of opportunities with brands like  Sea Ray ,  Carver ,  Princess ,  Grand Banks ,  Meridian ,  Boston Whaler ,  Viking ,  Hatteras ,  Bertram , and others. Let the team at United Yacht Sales help you find the right vessel that fits your needs under $400k.

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A Review of the Best Value Cruising Catamaran

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Catamarans are one of the best cruising vessels in the world as they provide improved stability with their double hulls , reducing the risk of heeling and haphazard motion on the water. But as much as we love the appeal of a brand-new cruising catamaran , the most important thing to consider when choosing one is its value for money.

The best value cruising catamaran for under $300k is the Nautitech 47, coming first in speed, stability, performance, and overall design. However, the Manta 42 MKII and the Fountaine Pajot Lavezzi 40 are also great options. The Catana Jadimean 50 is the best value cruising catamaran over $300k.

This article will comprehensively review the best value cruising catamaran under $300k and those over $300k. I will also show you why you should buy a catamaran and what to look for when choosing one. 

Table of Contents

Best Value Catamarans Under $300K

When looking into purchasing a catamaran, you ideally want something good looking, fast, comfortable, and that gives you value for your money. This is not a small purchase, so in this section, we’ll review the best value catamarans under $300k. 

These cats are the most advantageous in terms of respectable performance, speed, and load-carrying ability.

Nautitech 47

The 47.5 feet (14.5 m) long Nautitech is a sleek combination of comfort and speed. Its interior is not only cozy and stylish, but it’s also spacious enough to accommodate eight people or more. 

Although the Nautitech 47 is a large catamaran, it is lightweight, and its interior is not heavy or clubby. Its design has a bright modular mahogany-finish woodwork. A fixed canopy casts a shadow over the cockpit and extends beyond the bridge-deck saloon.

There are two layout designs in Nautitechs, and both versions have a port hull with two private cabins, each containing a large twin-berth. The galley is located at the aft side of the saloon, looking out to the cockpit. 

Meanwhile, the saloon has a U-shaped dining area which you can configure in various ways to meet your needs for any event or meeting. 

The Nautitech 47 has two 54 hp Volvo engines with sail drives housed under deck hatches, aft of the accommodations. These engines are the reason behind their speed which can be up to 9.2 knots, each powering forward at 3,000 rpm. 

Its water and fuel tank capacities are 237 gallons (897 L) and 116 gallons (440 L), respectively.

Its beam that ensures balance and stability is 24.9 feet (7.6 m), and with a displacement of about 24,441 lb (11,086 kg), it’s easy to maneuver with its high-powered sails.

Technical Data

Fountaine Pajot Lavezzi 40

Compared to other catamarans, the Fountaine Lavezzi 40 is not the most beautiful. However, its innovative designs make it one of the most desired sailboats by sailors. 

One of its most notable unique features is its contoured cockpit area. The benefit of this design is that it makes the mainsheet easily accessible.

Also, the passage aft of the bench helps to prevent passengers from stepping over the cockpit coaming. 

Its saloon features cozy cushions arranged in a semi-circle for ample room when dining or spending time inside and also boasts two private cabins that can easily accommodate eight people. Each hull has two spacious and comfortable cabins and an oversized head with a shower.

It has two bathrooms, a kitchen that looks across the saloon from the galley, and comes equipped with every accessory you can think of; shower, gas stove, oven, BBQ grill, CD player, and other elements that will allow you to relax and have the best experience on your cruise.

The twin engines, which are 30 hp each, are mounted in the aft hold away from the cabins. This design helps to minimize noise and odors from the engine.

Its beam, responsible for stability, measures about 21 feet (6.4 meters), and its whole length is about 39 feet (11.89 meters). 

With its two engines, maneuverability is not a problem, and the fuel tank and water tank capacities are 66 gallons (250 L) and 148 gallons (560 L), respectively.

You can get this catamaran at a fair price, typically between $160k – $210k.

Manta 42 MKII

The Manta 42 MKII has two powerful Volvo engines that are rated 30 hp on each hull. It also has a fuel tank that takes 125 gallons (473.18 L) and a water tank that holds 100 gallons (378.54 L) of water to keep the catamaran running.

It features all the necessary conveniences that you’d expect, such as bathrooms, TVs, DVD players, air conditioning vents, fans, and more.

From the galley, you can see the saloon easily, and if you need privacy, there is a retractable screen at the main cabin’s entry door. The galley is also fitted with kitchen accessories as required.

Manta 42 MKII will comfortably accommodate six people in its three cabins. The owner’s suite comes with adequate storage, a fan, a queen-size mattress, an overhead hatch, and many more features.

The Manta 42 MKII is available for purchase within a price range of $220K to $310K.

Technical Data  

Best Value Catamarans Over $300K

If you have a bigger budget and are looking for something above $300k, here are several options with the best value for money.

Privilege 495

The Privilege 495 takes the definition of comfort to another level. It is probably the world’s finest cruising catamaran with unrivaled luxury, incredible stability, superb performance, and impressive durability and safety.

Once you step aboard this catamaran, you’ll immediately notice the spacious cockpit and the fine details in its design. It is built with the best materials to withstand the harsh conditions of the ocean for several years.

This catamaran comes in three layout varieties: four cabins, five cabins, and the Owner’s layout, which features a prominent owner’s suite. Each design has generous cabins with plenty of handholds, light, and proper ventilation.

The Privilege 495 also has a beautiful salon, including a separate lounge and a dining area. It comes with every home essential, such as air conditioning, cooking accessories, refrigerator and freezer, generator, inverter, solar panels, and more.

The cat has two 54 HP engines which carry almost 11.3 tonnes (24,912.24 pounds) weight. Still, it effortlessly meanders around narrow ways despite its total length of over 49.2 feet (15 meters) and beam length of over 22.9 (7 meters).

It is equipped with a fuel tank of 601 liters (158.77 gallons) and a water tank of 579 liters (152.96 gallons) to supply fuel to the engine.

Its price range is between $373K and $580K.

The Alibi 54 was made in 2011, and it has some of the recent comfort utilities in a catamaran. 

It is pretty sizable and employs the power of two diesel Volvo engines to move it around. The engines, which are each rated 40 hp, are both inboard, sail drive engines that use three-blade propellers.

The Alibi is lightweight, and features stepped transoms and dreadnaught bows. The cat’s hulls are foam-cored and further protected with carbon fiber, particularly around the high load areas in case of impact. The rig also has plenty of carbon fiber for added strength.

This cat measures 54 feet (16.46 m) in length, its beam is 30 feet and 6 inches (9.29 m), and its waterline length is 53 feet and 10 inches (16.4 m). In essence, it is a spacious catamaran that has high-performance features and two steering wheels, each at the different hulls.

Its cockpit is large, and you can even turn it into a makeshift outdoor salon. It has a hardtop bimini to cover the cockpit and carbon fiber table with accompanying semi-circular seats for guests. It comes with other innovative features, with the hybrid-electric drives being one of the most notable.

With three cabins apart from the owner’s, the Alibi can accommodate at least six people. The cat is available in four versions, including Greenie, Stripped Out, Tailormade, and Worldfaring.

Catana Jadimean 50

Catana Jadimean is a 50 feet (15.24 meters) long spacious vessel catamaran designed to give the comfort cats are known for. In a Catana Jadimean, you can eat, walk around, and sleep with as little heeling as possible. It has a 26 feet (7.92 m) beam that ensures all these activities are possible.

The comfort this boat provides starts from the upper deck, where the saloon and galley are located. In the saloon, you’ll notice added luxury from the couches made with velvet covers. The sofas are arranged in an L shape and partially surround an oak table. 

The galley is fully equipped, and it has three double cabins, which translates to a total living capacity of six people. 

Its twin diesel engines are rated at 75 hp each and are made by Volvo to help the boat maintain a cruising speed of 7 knots. Its fuel tank capacity and water tank capacities are 860 liters (227.19 gallons) and 800 liters (211.34 gallons), respectively. 

Its price ranges between $650K to $850.

Lagoon Nibiru 440

The Lagoon Nibiru 440 is a catamaran that justifies its high price. It has a spacious lounge and is designed with modern and luxurious features like refrigeration, air conditioning, stereo system, microwave oven, TV, etc., in all its cabins and saloons.

It also features a flybridge that allows navigating the boat from a raised position. Its electric winches ensure more convenience when sailing.

In terms of technicalities, the Nibiru 440 has two powerful engines, each rated 54 HP, that help it maintain cruise speed and sail effortlessly through the waters. This 44-feet (13.41-meters) cruise catamaran has engines that power other boats bigger than themselves.

These engines allow it to reach a maximum speed of 10 knots and a cruising speed of 7 knots. Its navigation station comes with features such as a depth sounder, autopilot, chart plotter, GPS, and more, perfect for an angler.

Why You Should Own a Cruising Catamaran

While many vessels can help you get out in the open sea, none compares to a catamaran. From their added luxury to their ample social areas, they’re perfect for family trips, fishing weekends, or parties at the marina. 

Some of the most significant benefits of owning a cruising catamaran include:

• Enhance comfort
• Better stability
• Consistent speed
• Improved maneuverability

Catamarans are designed to give you the best stability on the water, along with lots of living and storage space. Their double hulls give you more cabin and living spaces than monohulls , making them a great family-friendly option.

Let’s take a closer look at those benefits to see if a cruising catamaran is right for you.

Enhanced Comfort

Catamarans provide you with the best comfort you can get on any cruise boat. Expect a lot of living space that includes beautifully designed countertops, fridges, water makers, etc. 

This space is only possible because of its double hull layout, which is unique to this type of vessel. The two hulls are usually connected by simple webbing to create more space for you and your family. 

The layouts are usually comfortable and well-spaced to give you more headroom, and the extra hull provides more opportunities for private cabins. 

Better Stability

The most pronounced advantage of catamarans over monohulls is their stability . While monohulls are designed to balance on their keels, catamarans have a flatter bottom and broader beam. 

This design eliminates or reduces heeling, which creates a more comfortable sailing experience for those on board. 

Less tilt also means that food and drinks will stay on the table, sleeping doesn’t require a balancing act, and the deck won’t be slippery when you’re reefing in heavy weather.

Consistent Speed

Catamarans are generally 25% to 30% faster than monohulls. They typically have lesser hull volume and smaller displacement, making them glide faster and effortlessly through the waters. 

Also, they have a lesser draft than monohull boats of the same length, and with the absence of a keel, cats are lighter and easier to propel into speed than monohulls.

Improved Maneuverability

Catamarans allow for easier and more stress reduced maneuvering because they have two engines, meaning you have more control over steering your vessel in any direction.

By setting one engine forward and the other backward, you can change the cat’s direction in one move. The twin engines gives you more control, so there is little risk of the bow being pushed by the wind to the left or right.

Final Thoughts

Catamarans are the go-to cruise boats when it comes to comfort and performance. However, not all cats are made the same, and some give better value for money than others. For example, some have excellent comfort features but lack the necessary power needed, which reduces their overall appeal.

The best value catamaran should offer incredible performance, comfort, speed, great accommodation, stability, and good load-carrying ability. Based on these parameters, the best value catamaran under $300k is the Nautitech 47, while the best value catamaran above $300k is the Catana Jadimean 50. 

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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