TOP 10 Best Catamaran 2024: Motor and Sailing
This time we put together the list of best catamarans in our opinion: most daring, interesting and exciting models that the yachting industry has to offer. After all the testing that we conducted, we based our picks on overall quality, price to comfort ratio, performance, design and overall impression of driving the vessel.
Aventura 37
- Brand: Aventura
- Overall length, m: 10.80
- Overall length, ft: 33
- Width, m: 5.94
- Displacement, T: 12.8
- Water tanks, l: 2 x 250
- Mainsail type: Fully battened
- Jib type: Furling genoa
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 94
- Jib area, sq.m.: 36
- Engine: 2 X 20 HP
- Fuel tanks, l: 2 x 250
There are multiple reasons we decided to put this particular Aventura model this high in our list.
First of all, this yacht is just gorgeous. STGi shipyard went full out on combining making this spacious yacht look like a luxurious palace on the water with its large windows, convenient bimini and lots of space on upper deck. You get a grill and dining table in the cockpit, with shelves, comfortable furniture and cupboards – like you never left the shore.
It makes sense why this boat got dozens of orders from enthusiastic yachtsmen way before it was revealed at any boating show.
As you enter the saloon, you see how those windows come into play – the interior created by Lasta Design Studio is fully lit with natural light in any weather conditions, providing passengers with most comfortable social spaces. Here you have a coffee table with cushy sofa and fully equipped galley with sink, oven, stove, refrigerator, cutting table and everything else a chef might need. When it comes to cabins, this yacht is surprisingly spacious too – especially the owner’s cabin, which takes the entire right hull.
When it comes to performance and handling the yacht, we can say for sure that the responsive helm is one of the most important things on board. Aventura 37 not only has that, but also a special area for handling the lines with high-quality Harken winches at your fingertips. The helm station has a Garmin charplotter nearby and it’s very easy to look up and immediately assess the situation thanks to great visibility from the helm, except for a small blind zone to the right of the helm.
Multivariance of this boat is, probably, one the most attractive features of this boat: you get 4 different layouts, allowing you to tailor the yacht for your personal needs:
- Standard version – 3 cabins & 2 bathrooms;
- Trio version – 3 cabins & 3 bathrooms;
- Quatro version – 4 cabins & 2 bathrooms;
- Charter version – 4 cabins & 4 bathrooms.
Of course, the Aventura 37 is made using the most efficient way possible: Airex foam, fiberglass and polyester are poured into molds to create a sandwich matrix. And with sails from Elvström, mast equipment from ZSpars and yacht rigging from Harken and Spinlock you can be sure that you will get the best yachting experience.
Excess 12
- Brand: Excess
- Overall length, m: 11.80
- Overall length, ft: 36
- Width, m: 6.73
- Displacement, T: 10.1
- Water tanks, l: 300
- Mainsail type: Square-top
- Jib type: Self-tacking
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 50
- Jib area, sq.m.: 32
- Engine: 2 X 29 HP / 2 X 45 HP
- Fuel tanks, l: 2 x 200
Compared to Lagoon 40 this model’s weight was reduced by a ton, interior and exterior optimized and the equipment was modernized. Excess 12 offers a great sail plan with a flattop main, self-tacking jib and optional sprit, allowing you to get to 8 knots without any handling problems in 25-30 knots of wind. Powerful twin Yanmar engines working at 2000 RPM alone will give you 6-7 knots, so this cat is definitely much sportier than most catamaran of this size with high level of comfort on board too.
Starting from the transom, this boat is already optimized towards a large company on board: swimming ladders, davits for tender, spacious cockpit with a dining table, two large photos and bimini allow a family or charter passengers to feel as free as possible on this 12-meter boat. A freezer for drink and ice-cream is a great addition. And if you need more equipment, you can always browse for any additional products at topRik marketplace.
There are two helm station, allowing you to have excellent visibility all around. On the right station you have your lines and devices, with nice wide steps leading to the sidedeck. The sailing wardrobe is provided in two versions: Standard and Pulse, which has additional 5 m² and a mast that is almost a meter higher. Square top mainsail and self-aligning boom are featured in both versions and the mainsail is easier to manage alone thanks to aft mast.
Passing a large sliding door into the saloon, you end up inside a cozy looking living room (or so it seems) with curved edges everywhere to increase safety, big windows and hatches, tons of storage and refrigeration space. The control post here allows the skipper to enjoy his meal and control the route at the same time.
After visiting this boat once, it makes sense that this boat received the Best Midsize Cruising Catamaran for 2020 award. This model will be perfect for those, who don’t want to be restricted in terms of comfort but still want to dabble in sport rigging and handle the boat themselves from time to time. Charter businesses should also pay attention to Excess 12 as it will definitely attract many clients over time.
Lagoon 42
- Brand: Lagoon
- Overall length, m: 12.8
- Overall length, ft: 39
- Width, m: 7.7
- Displacement, T: 12
- Water tanks, l: 300
- Mainsail type: Fully battened
- Jib type: Self-tacking
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 55
- Jib area, sq.m.: 35
- Engine: 2 x 45 HP
- Fuel tanks, l: 300 (+300 opt.)
The Lagoon brand took the world by storm with its new model 42, taking the inspiration from its predecessors and introducing new design from Patrick Le Quement and VPLP Design with rounded smooth curves of the hull and very straightforward-looking cockpit structure. It doesn’t look like it tries to scare or impress you, but instead invites you on board with its reliable layout, sunbathing lounge at the cockpit, shade from the bimini and wide tri-sliding door between saloon and the cockpit.
Mast was also moved aft here for the same reasons: to ease the handling, allow for more downwind sail choices and improve maneuvering. Self-tacking jib makes driving even easier. It’s not as sporty as some other vessels though – so if you are looking for a challenge, this boat might now be for you. The shipyard’s priority was to make this model as comfortable as possible for its price and segment. And they did a great job when it comes to this!
Just look at this saloon – it looks so classy and noble. You can invite the pickiest business partner in here and be confident that they will enjoy the trip. Control station is incredibly comfortable for the skipper to use from a comfortable sofa, windows are huge and abundant, galley has all you need to prepare tasty meals. Thanks to the number of hatches, the airflow is great too, which will be a boon on a hot day.
Overall, it is one of the best boats out there for a family cruise or charters. The main reason why it got third place is due to a certain lack of storage place that should, in our opinion, come with such price tag. It will still be incredible for those, who want to go on a cruise without worrying much about untangling dozens of halyards manually or constantly working together like a regatta team to squeeze good speed out of it. Solar panels on board are another plus of this boat – they will provide you with additional charge for all your electrical equipment on board, so the circuit needs will be easier to manage.
Aventura 45S
- Brand: Aventura
- Overall length, m: 13.5
- Overall length, ft: 43
- Width, m: 7.5
- Displacement, T: 12
- Water tanks, l: 2 x 400
- Mainsail type: Fully battened
- Jib type: Furling genoa
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 74
- Jib area, sq.m.: 51 / 85
- Engine: 2 x 45 HP
- Fuel tanks, l: 2 x 350
This one is so hot it burns – straight out of Lasta Design’s drafting board and onto the yachting market, this vessel is the most modern variation of 13.5-meter sailing elite catamaran with sharp strict lines, very high boards and, as a result, ceilings in the cabins. Compared to model 44, the cheekbone in exterior design is more pronounced, but the wetted area and weight of the boat were reduced. Mast was moved to the saloon, which allows for more efficient sail plan with gennaker, additional asymmetric or symmetrical spinnaker.
The platform at the transom is perfect for swimming, sunbathing or attaching a dinghy. There are wide steps on both sides with solid metal railing, leading to the side decks. As for the cockpit, it has good old dining table with seating on both sides. Bimini will hide you from scorching sun, and the flybridge on top will allow you to enjoy more pleasant weather. Sometimes such flybridges are a safety hazard, but in this case the sofa up there is also surrounded with reliable railing.
The saloon interior is always good on Lagoons, this one is not an exception. Note the lighter interior gamma, interesting solution with a seating place right next to the beam, skylight allowing to observe the sails right from here. This yacht has a lot of possible options: starting from electric winches and davits to air conditioning systems and a whole dinghy directly from the manufacturer. Feel free to use our price calculators for any boats features on our website to estimate the additional price.
Speaking of customization – Aventura 45S is like a Swiss Army knife of yachting, as it comes in whopping 6 possible layouts and has an option for a Comfort pack (additional amenities, such as upholstery and batteries).
We are sure that this boat, if customized right, will fit everyone except those, who prefer complete minimalism and even asceticism on board – this boat just can’t help being flashy and convenient. Don’t forget about the modern solar technologies used by the shipyard, which allow 3 possible version of panels installed – such innovations always make our planet just a little bit happier.
Astrea 42
- Brand: Fountaine Pajot
- Overall length, m: 12.58
- Overall length, ft: 39
- Width, m: 7.2
- Displacement, T: 12.7
- Water tanks, l: 2 x 350
- Mainsail type: Fully battened
- Jib type: Furling genoa
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 70
- Jib area, sq.m.: 41
- Engine: 2 x 30 HP (2 X 50 HP)
- Fuel tanks, l: 470
Right away, we are going to mention that this model snatched one of the best yachting awards out there - Multihull of the Year 2018, so it completely deserves a place in this list. Even more so, in 2019 it won another award - European Yacht of the Year.
The reason for that is huge amount of space on board for family, friends or charter passengers. You probably noticed, that the cat looks almost square-shaped, and thanks to 7.2 beam you can throw a party here without any limitations. Great sunbathing area at the bow is one the best social areas we visited – it doesn’t have any steps or pits and just feels so non-restrictive because of pure open space.
Of course, as a cruiser, this model has CE certification A and is prepared to take on a long voyage with its 700 liters freshwater capacity (with enough room for a productive watermaker), 600-liter max fuel tanks and twin Volvo Penta engines (3x30 HP or 2x50 HP). Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design tried their best to marry long-term cruising ability with sufficient performance and Astrea 42 is what came out of it.
The saloon here is extremely smart-looking – immediately put into serene and productive mood. Huge skylight in the roof allows you to always keep your eyes on the sails, large refrigerators ensure that your cooking needs are always satisfied. The full-fledged galley even has a dedicated exhaust hatch for convenience.
As for controls, the starboard helm station provides direct access to all the winches, which are thoughtfully collected in one place, making the boat easy to manage alone with a decent chartplotter. After climbing up to the flybridge, look out for the boom – the head room here is not infinite, but sunbathing area is large enough for several people and will be frequently used in summer. Here you will notice solar panels, so popular nowadays in the yachting community.
The reason why we put this one lower than Aventura 45S is that it has slightly less customization options. And yet it still is very similar in this regard (don’t forget that this list compared the best cats in the world). You can choose between Maestro and Quatuor versions, move bathroom positions, pick between Oceanic and Comfort version – check our price calculator to learn more about all possible options.
Lagoon 46
- Brand: Lagoon
- Overall length, m: 13.99
- Overall length, ft: 46
- Width, m: 7.96
- Displacement, T: 15.77
- Water tanks, l: 2 x 300
- Mainsail type: Square-top
- Jib type: Self-tacking
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 80.5
- Jib area, sq.m.: 46.5
- Engine: 2 x 57 HP
- Fuel tanks, l: 2 x 520
How can bigger Lagoon be lower in the list than its smaller brother? The answer is simple – price. If it would have the same price tag as model 42, we would put it at the first place right away.
But if you can handle such a hit to your wallet, Lagoon 46 is one of the best options out there. French taste and love for quality shows in every single feature on board this yacht: imposing exterior design (Patrick le Quément’s child), truly luxurious interior developed by VPLP, 1040 liters of fuel, 80 m² mainsail area and powerful 2 x 57 HP engines. All that allows for ocean crossings with the comfort of best hotel suites and without worrying about supplies – tons of storage space is also included.
The transom with its cockpit sofa and dining table has an already classic look for Lagoon line-up, but everything is bigger and there’s more room thanks to always 8 meters of yacht’s width.
True to it’s easy to manage approach, Lagoon moved all the winches right to the left side of the helm, with a bimini with skylights covering the skipper from rain. The access to flybridge is provided from both decks and the cockpit. The overall sailing area was increased by 10 m² due to moving the mast aft and optimizing its center of gravity. Even though the yacht is 14 meters long, it can achieve 9 knots of speed with full mainsail and gennaker.
Here's how the interior looks – the cabins are executed in the same manner. The line between high comfort and luxury is crossed here, since the saloon on the picture above is way above normal. Just the ceiling height is already unusual, and when it comes to cabins, this height is even more surprising. As a skipper, you will get a large owner cabin with writing desk, multiple cupboard and drawers, shelves, sofa and large island bed. This yacht also boasts huge number of beds: enough for 12 people, which is great for charter businesses.
We are sure that this model will be a great pick for financially stable individuals who are interested in long-range cruising, huge number of options available, automatic control system and luxury level accommodations.
Isla 40
- Brand: Fountaine Pajot
- Overall length, m: 11.39
- Overall length, ft: 36
- Width, m: 6.63
- Displacement, T: 9.5
- Water tanks, l: 2 x 265
- Mainsail type: Fully battened
- Jib type: Furling genoa
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 75
- Jib area, sq.m.: 49
- Engine: 2 X 20 HP (2 x 30 HP)
- Fuel tanks, l: 300
Replacing legendary Lucia 40, this model had large shoes to fill – and Fountaine Pajot made sure that the yachtsmen were not disappointed with the new kid on the block.
The threatening sci-fi design of this boat contrasts a lot with home-like sweet beige tones and rounded shapes of the interior. It is not as large as a 14-meter boat but the price is also much more affordable. Cockpit has a lunge, L-shaped sofa around the dining table and a hardtop above. All seating places have usual storage lockers underneath, there is a small refrigerator for drinks in the cockpit and you can even get and additional grill, which is impressive for a 40-footer. There’s not as much space at the bow though.
The saloon provides you with enough comfort to forget that you are at the sea at all, making it easy to hop from one marina to another, relying on 2 x 265 l water tanks and 2 x 30 HP engines, just in case. The control station here doesn’t have a proper seating place right next to it, but this solution reward good eyesight – the screen is visible from saloon and cockpit sofas, so you can just glance at it from time to time, controlling the situation. Overall, the interior is very ergonomic and well worth the investment.
There are 4 possible layouts: Maestro 2, Maestro 3, Quatuor 2 and Quatuor 4. Make sure to visit our full review of Isla 40 or use the price calculator to know more. There are also 3 version of the boat: Grand Large (cheapest and providing basic amenities), Oceanic (has lazy bag, electric winch, pressurized seawater system and more), Comfort (includes previous two version and adds TV/HIFI pack, freshwater pump and more). You can add a washing machine, gas oven, a microwave etc. – if you have any questions regarding possible equipment, feel free to message us anytime.
Some people prefer thrill, some prefer comfort. This one is definitely not for thrill lovers – this convenient boat is made for family vacations, parties on the water, charters and tourism. You will not set a sailing speed world record on it and you don’t really need to anyway.
Tanna 47
- Brand: Fountaine Pajot
- Overall length, m: 13.94
- Overall length, ft: 46
- Width, m: 7.7
- Displacement, T: 14.7
- Water tanks, l: 2 x 350
- Mainsail type: Fully battened
- Jib type: Furling genoa
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 77
- Jib area, sq.m.: 52
- Engine: 2 X 60 HP (2 x 60 HP)
- Fuel tanks, l: 2 x 470
This is another powerful, luxurious, yet expensive beast from Fountaine Pajot – Tanna 47 is the winner of prestigious Boat of the Year 2023 award in the category Best Cruising Multihull. It is, indeed, the best is business thanks to 14 meters of length and 7.7 meters in beam, resulting in large amount of space, which is also well organized (you can check out the virtual tour around the boat on our Tanna 47 sales page). This yacht has almost the same features as Aura 51, even though its smaller in size and is more affordable.
Clean and sophisticated design of this yacht is evident in both exterior and interior, which is very fitting, considering various advanced electric devices available (winches, outlets, audio packs, 220V main grid option, 2000W inverter/charger etc.) It is truly the marvel of modern yachting engineering. If other yachts of this size try to be a home on the water, this one wants to be your smart home: everything is automated to the max, with best chartplotters, autopilot, forward scan, second VHF, solar panels and other useful equipment purchasable.
The minimalism and hi-tech feel don’t leave you inside the saloon thanks to predominating white tones, tons of natural lights and very glassy surroundings: you are surrounded by windows, hatches and skylights all around. Galley here is better than most kitchens on shore, with conveniences like garbage disposal section and larger than average table, oven and refrigerator.
With all these futuristic amenities the designer didn’t forget about sailing performance: Tanna 47 is capable of reaching 7 knots with winds of 14-15 knots. The helm location is slightly away from the winches, but the boat can still be managed alone, even though a small crew is recommended. Also, many yachting journalists expressed their surprise after experiencing how good a large boat like this is in terms of handling.
Remember: if you get confused in all the devices of this boat, you can ask us what’s the best for your use case.
Elba 45
- Brand: Fountaine Pajot
- Overall length, m: 13.94
- Overall length, ft: 46
- Width, m: 7.7
- Displacement, T: 14.7
- Water tanks, l: 2 x 350
- Mainsail type: Fully battened
- Jib type: Furling genoa
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 77
- Jib area, sq.m.: 52
- Engine: 2 X 60 HP (2 x 60 HP)
- Fuel tanks, l: 2 x 470
Yet another island-named yacht from Fountaine Pajot – but don’t think they are overly represented here, based on our experience and tests, FP just happens to make very good multihulls.
For this particular model the shipyard went with a sleek limited version of flybridge, which allows the yacht to avoid looking like a wedding cake and also reduces its weight and price. Some only prefer a full-fledged flybridge, but this solution will be praised by those who don’t go up the flybridge much anyways, and seek for balance between comfort and sportiness.
Other than that, this boat comes with unusually powerful 2 x 50 HP optional engines (2 x 60 HP as an option), 75 m² mainsail and 49 m² of jib area. With such equipment the cat easily gets to 6 knots and all the way to 10 knots with strong winds. For a cruiser with CE A, this is quite impressive. Helm station is also at the starboard side, between seating area under bimini and lower cockpit deck. You would need to bend over a little to see the left hull, but other than that, the visibility here is more than enough. And since its so close to dining table and fridge, you can always refresh yourself with a drink while driving.
Unfortunately, the winches are quite far from the helm, so you’ll have to leave to adjust them – we at topRik prefer more convenient placement, and that’s one of the reason this yacht is lower in this list than some others.
There is no lounge here, but plenty of comfortable seating, dining and storage space. The design of the cockpit is very inviting, the same goes for saloon and the cabins. But the most special thing about this yacht is, surprisingly, the displacement – it is only 14 tons, achieved by a lighter bridge and hull optimizations. It is no wonder that it was acknowledged as Best Boat 2020 in Best Multihull Cruising Boat 2020 category.
Lagoon 55
- Brand: Lagoon
- Overall length, m: 16.56
- Overall length, ft: 52
- Width, m: 9
- Displacement, T: 27.7
- Water tanks, l: 960
- Mainsail type: Fully battened
- Jib type: Self-tacking
- Mainsail area, sq.m: 107
- Jib area, sq.m.: 74
- Engine: 2 x 115 HP
- Fuel tanks, l: 1100
We would like to finish with the largest catamaran out of 10 in this list – Lagoon 55. Even though it’s a great representative of Lagoon multihull range, it’s sheer size and materials used in production make it difficult for most people to afford, with some premium pricing included for bragging rights.
In year 2021 this yacht won prestigious British Yachting Award and since then conquered the hearts of many yachtsmen with its sheer size (16.5 x 9 m) and excellent long cruise capabilities (960-liter water tanks and 100 liters of fuel on board). Sure, for that you have to pay with high displacement, which ends up being 27.7 tons. To move such a mansion a lot of sailing area is needed, and mainsail of 107 m² and self-tacking jib of 74 m² will do the job. You can also replace standard twin 80 hp engines with 115 hp optional ones.
Here we get a full bridge, of course – roomy, comfortable magic carpet flying above the water surface with large sunbathing area, separate galley, perfectly usable control station and comfortable sofas. The hard top has skylights in it, and the area is well protected with metal railing.
The cockpit is incredibly large too, with tons of space for 8-10 people at once. In case of bad weather conditions, it can be protected with a waterproof tent, going around the perimeter. The cockpit too has a separate galley with the refrigerator (that’s the premium we were talking about – galleys for everyone).
Overall, the space is the single most important feature of this yacht, resulting in more free movement and larger number of passengers on board. There are 3 layouts available: with 4, 5 and 6 cabins. You can also choose between Essential and Comfort equipment packs (more information in our price calculator).
If price is not an issue and you want a really large catamaran, Lagoon 55 will definitely be a great choice.
This concludes our top 10 list – we hope it was at least somewhat helpful to you. Good luck in all of your yachting adventures!
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