Top 5 Best Sailing Catamarans under 500.000 Euro in 2024

Catamarans are deservedly praised for their safety, lack of pitching, high level of comfort and amenities on board. They provide much more usable areas and personal space for each of the passengers, so it is not surprising that this way of sea recreation has so many fans.

We present to your attention an overview of the catamaran models that have caused the greatest demand, pre-orders and interest from private owners and charter companies in their price category of vessels. Some of the boats already have their own success story. Others don’t even have a prototype built, yet the shipyard was already flooded with orders nevertheless. We will try to figure out why skippers, passengers and shipowners liked them so much, and what manufacturers pay special attention to design and development.

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Ok, let's go. List of top 5 Best Sailing Catamarans under 500.000 Euro

Excess 12

In 2020, Beneteau Group's Excess 12 won the 2020 Boat of the Year according to the American Cruising World, and since then the brand’s goal was to maintain its reputation as a sporty cruising boat. This is greatly facilitated by the fact that the sail area to displacement ratio of this shipyard’s cats is higher than that of standard cruising double-hulls. Model 12 is a fast-sailing cruising catamaran with a length of up to 11.89 m (36.1 feet) and a draft of 1.3 m (3.3 feet).

At the time Excess appeared at Beneteau's exhibitions, the order table for Lagoon catamarans was packed for several years in advance, and therefore many paid attention and decided to purchase a boat from then little-known line.

The brand was created taking into account trends and changes in the market. The age of potential customers is now getting younger, and for many of them the need for a more dynamic and active holiday, including one spent on a yacht, comes first.

According to dealers and manufacturers, the hull and floats are traced from Lagoon 40. Everything else has been extensively reworked as a result of the collaboration between VPLP design, who designed the naval architecture, Patrick le Quement, who was responsible for the exterior styling, and Nauta Design, who took over the cruiser’s interior design.

And we see that these are not cosmetic changes at all, because the first serious difference from most catamarans is two full-fledged control stations on the stern, where the features of starting, stopping and controlling both engines are duplicated. The absence of a flybridge for cruiser cats is also atypical.

But such a design and arrangement of the helms provide the skipper with an excellent view of the entire length of the float’s cheekbone and greatly simplifies the mooring of the vessel side-to, makes it possible to observe the mainsail and control it from the helmsman's position. The cabin windows are also designed with an emphasis on ease of control, allowing to observe the front edge of the float on the opposite side.

The cockpit area is spacious and free space is not inferior to other catamarans, where 6-7 people can easily accommodate at the dining table with a nice freezer for drinks or ice cream next to it. But the places for storing things and aft lockers were occupied by folding double chairs for the skipper, an electric winch and davits with a load of 120 kg. This will allow you to carry an inflatable dinghy with a good engine and fuel supply.

The designers also protected the helmsman from the sun and rain with two side biminis, one above each helm station. As an option, a folding canopy can be installed over the cockpit instead of the standard roof. This makes it possible to soak up the sun, for example, during a spring charter, when it is quite cool, and gives a better view of the sails and their condition. In this case, some parts of the roof will be inaccessible, and in order to fix something, you will have to go along narrow guides, but this does not look like a difficult task.

The absence of a flybridge and a low boom allowed the developers to significantly increase the sailing area and the sailing characteristics of the vessel, but now during sailing, the recreation area on the roof becomes very unsafe and it is worth sunbathing there only during docking - it is better to lie on bow sunbeds or on a trampoline during a voyage.

The saloon on the Excess 12 is designed with the same goal - to increase visibility and facilitate visual control of what is happening in any part of the surface of the yacht. A large number of portholes offer excellent visibility, but even here it was necessary to sacrifice the possible dimensions of kitchen cabinets and shelves.

Together with the cockpit, we get a large and comfortable unified space for relaxation for a large, easy-going group, for those who value mobility, speed, new places and travel more than the ability to fill up all lockers and mezzanines with different clothes and accessories.

We notice the same approach in the interior of the cabins - large and comfortable beds that will allow you to sleep sweetly without hitting your elbows, yet with a certain lack of wardrobes.

In the layout, when there is one bathroom for each cabin, we get rather cramped shower rooms. Perhaps, the option when you have to share one bathroom with passengers in other cabins will seem more preferable. This way, you will get one bathroom for two rooms, but it is large, bright and comfortable.

The interior of the Excess 12 sailing catamaran is distinguished by excellent natural lighting, elegant simplicity and convenience of layout, a fairly large selection of interior finishes, including those using natural wood. Speed, freedom and comfort have become the hallmark of this brand in many ways, and the shipyard continues to maintain this image.

Lagoon 42

A spacious and versatile 2016 catamaran, especially popular with charter companies thanks to the living space, ease of handling and comfort it can provide to passengers for its price. The 42 became the sweet spot between 2 popular models - the Lagoon 450 and Lagoon 400, with the dimensions of is 12.8 (42 feet) in length and 7.6 m (25.3 feet) in width.

Now, after the update, Lagoon 42 has become even more comfortable and approached the comfort level of the model 45. The designers of the catamaran gave it a modern design, in particular, the shape of the front part of the hulls changed - they became more chopped off and visually more aggressive. A large trampoline net is stretched between the bow floats, which has long become a hallmark of this brand, where you can relax and sunbathe both during the course and while at anchor.

The helmsman's station is located on the left side of the vessel and is elevated, which offers a good view of the left float and the entire stern, greatly simplifying the mooring in the Mediterranean. Large and convenient tools panel made it possible to place a lot of additional electronic equipment there. The view at the side of the right float is rather problematic and not very convenient. Also, the skipper's post in case of rain or high solar activity is protected by a canopy, which has a hatch for monitoring the mast and the sails.

The model is equipped with an automatic staysail and is largely designed to be controlled by one person - the shipyard is trying to help the skipper to the max. The skipper always has manual and electric winches at hand, as well as organizers, through the clamps of which all sheets pass and allow you to quickly switch between halyards, boom sheet, reefs. Standard equipment includes two Yanmar 45 horsepower engines that put a folding three-bladed propeller in motion, and the manufacturer provides the option of replacing engines with more powerful ones.

The cockpit has an impressive width, several sofas and seating, a comfortable lounger and a dining table for 6-7 people, where the family can dine outdoors, if the weather allows. Next to the table there is a refrigerator for drinks, ice and ice cream, as well as a branded davit for launching an inflatable boat or raft. You release the halyard, and the structure tilts, lowering the dinghy into the water, it is also possible to control the davit from the navigator's post in the cabin of the catamaran. The stern is very spacious, there is enough free space both for moving and even dancing, and the lockers under the seats are roomy also.

The galley is located in the saloon, which is accessed by a large sliding door from the cockpit, and when open creates a single space with the aft part of the catamaran. The kitchen is equipped with everything you need: there is a gas stove, sink, large refrigerator, oven and a microwave. Within walking distance there is another dining table for 5-6 people and a navigational post with communication equipment.

Large windows provide plenty of natural light, the ability to enjoy the views and overview what is happening on the bow and sides.

The layout of the interior is available in two versions: a charter version with 4 cabins and a three-cabin version with one large master cabin occupying the entire float. In the latter case, the owner gets a large spacious room with a huge bed in the stern, a comfortable shower room with a high ceiling and good lighting, a spacious wardrobe and a sofa with a small dressing table.

Not much inferior in terms of bed size is the aft cabin from the opposite float with a nearby comfortable shower and toilet. The remaining cabin in the bow, which is perfect for children or teenagers, got a smaller bed and a much more modest bathroom than the aft one.

As a result, loaded with furniture, baggage, generators, desalination plants, air conditioning and many more things for a more pleasant pastime, the yacht turns out to be a little heavy, but all this interior and equipment makes it into a comfortable country cottage on the water. Therefore, the catamaran deservedly received four prestigious awards just by the end of 2016, including the “Boat of the Year” in its category.

Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42

Astrea 42 by Fountaine Pajot was first presented at the end of April 2018 at the Grande Motte Multihull Boat Show in France.

The new model from the famous French company immediately won two regional awards, and in January 2019 the yacht was recognized as the catamaran of the year in Düsseldorf. In a very short time, the Astrea 42 gained great popularity, and the shipyard received orders for two years in advance in a few months.

The width of the catamaran is 7.2 meters (23.6 feet), which made it possible to find a balance between free space on board and avoid making it bloated – this way, vessel retained the good sailing characteristics of a sailing yacht.

One of the most interesting and winning decisions was the location of the control post, where you can instantly get directly from the cockpit. Now the helmsman doesn't get bored alone and can be joined in the double seat or by allowing friends to relax side by side on the spacious overhead platform with sunbeds. The skipper's post is shifted to the starboard side, and the helm is about a meter away from the winches and organizers. Therefore, in order to correct something, remove the sails or tighten the halyard, you need to put the ship on autopilot and take one step forward.

The plan to spread the dashboard and winches at such a distance at first seemed ambiguous to many, but over time everyone became convinced that it was much more convenient than constantly unraveling the cables, getting tangled in the ends of the sheets yourself, untying them from the helm, and the like. And this inevitably happens when many ropes lead to one place. Now everything is in neat bags, not mixed up and very convenient.

A mainsheet traveler fitted to the cockpit roof just aft of the helm station helps to bring the mainsail into optimal shape. And one of the best options for sail control is the boom, which is at a relatively low level. With such an extended deckhouse roof, it is easy to stow the mainsail in a bag. On many catamarans equipped with lazy jacks, you need to be a gymnast to lay the sails. It is possible that such maneuvers are easy for young people, but with age, you definitely don’t want to deal with this. It can be said that the entire ship control system was developed taking into account the convenience of the skipper and the ability to handle the catamaran by one person.

Another Astrea 42 find is the optional swimming platform aft. With the help of hydraulics, it lowers smoothly and quietly and can be completely submerged in water. It significantly increases the space for recreation when docked, helps to move between the floats outside the cockpit, and also allowed to get rid of the davit - now the inflatable dinghy can be located on this platform when sailing.

Illuminated by panoramic windows, the saloon is conducive to communication and relaxation. On the port side there is a navigation station with a seat, the galley itself has a comfortable layout with a three-burner stove, a double sink, two refrigerators and a freezer. Above the galley there is a long hatch that illuminates the ship's kitchen until dark and provides a view of the mast and sails. In general, the saloon came out very cozy and homely.

A large sliding glass and aluminum door leads from the saloon to the cockpit, which provides a single social space with the aft part of the catamaran and the skipper's station, allowing for influx of fresh air. The cockpit itself is replete with armchairs, sofas, lockers and looks spacious and comfortable, and as one of the options, a grill is offered at the stern.

The interior layout of the Astrea 42 floats is available in several configurations, including three- and four-cabin options. In the Maestro version, the entire hull on the starboard side is at the disposal of the owner. In the Quatuor design, on the starboard side, there are two cabins, mirroring the opposite float. Traditional double cabins have been turned into real hotel rooms, and here, unlike the deck, which is largely created for close communication and joint relaxation, on the contrary, privacy and comfort reign.

The owner's suite has a large double bed at the stern and a very spacious bathroom with a separate shower in the bow. They are separated by a wardrobe that also functions as an office.

Astrea 42 is a place to relax, to party with friends and cruise with family, it is a place to live. Fountaine Pajot says that we don't have to compromise between space and speed, that this is the next generation of cruising yachts that has everything that a person wants and expects from sea travel.

Aventura 45S

When STGI presented a new project of its sailing multihull at La Grande Motte, a large number of customers rushed to pre-order this not yet launched yacht. They haven't even released a prototype of this boat yet! The reason for the excitement, of course, was not the sudden mass hysteria among yachtsmen and charter companies, but the reputation of the shipyard, the Aventura Catamarans brand itself, the Lasta Design studio and the positive experience of previous models from this manufacturer.

The company's main shipyard is located in Tunisia, which allows STGI to significantly reduce costs and offer more for the same price - this sets them apart from many competitors. Mass production of the Aventura 45S is scheduled to begin in 2024.

The boat will be designed for longer cruises and longer sailing times than her predecessors. The company plans to install two fuel tanks, increased to 350 liters each, and a water supply of 800 liters. It is also planned to equip the catamaran with two 45 hp engines in the standard version with the optional ability to replace them with more powerful 57 hp. The weight of the new sailing flagship from Aventura Catamarans will be 12 tons in the lightest of its options.

The layout and interior design of the 45S has become more similar to their motor catamarans than previous sailing models, which means they will become even more sybaritic and comfortable. If the increase in the size of the vessel really allows you to create the same luxurious conditions as on the Aventura 14, then this version of the sailing multihull has every chance of becoming a real hit.

A large choice of layouts for the interior of the hulls has been announced: options are offered from three cabins to a charter version with six cabins and a place for the skipper. The ship will easily accept a company of 8-10 guests, and they will not feel cramped - the deck, bow and flybridge are lined with sofas, sunbeds, armchairs.

The cabin promises a cozy corner, plenty of natural light, a comfortable kitchen equipped with everything you need and a 600-liter refrigerator. A transparent sliding door will lead to the spacious cockpit with a large dining table, and it will be possible to climb to the helmsman's position both from the side and by the stairs leading to the wheelhouse from the cockpit.

Well, if Aventura Catamarans can replicate its 2022 success and deliver the same impressive product in the 13.7 m (45 ft) multihull category, then buyers have made the right decision.

Excess 14

Following the success of their previous models, Excess decided to further focus on the niche of fast and mobile sailing catamarans for millennials, young couples and families. If in their first projects they used Lagoon hulls, now the shipyard began to design boats from scratch. The serial production of their new yacht Excess 14 begins in 2023.

The developers from VPLP design have kept all the features loved by yachtsmen, but also added a number of major changes and minor highlights. The vessel has retained its elegant style, sporty lines, low mast boom and double helm at the stern, but now, thanks to a lower freeboard, the shipyard has reduced sail area while maintaining the performance of the catamaran.

The Excess 14 also features an asymmetric hull with a platform that is as far back as possible, but also raised up to 70 cm above the water with a low center of gravity. All this is done to reduce the backlash, the influence of the wave on the speed and maneuverability. Unlike its predecessors, the boat has a standard genoa with an overlap for more power in front and a square top mainsail.

Depending on the type of bowsprit, the total length of the catamaran will be from 14 to 16 meters (46 to 19.7 feet), and the sailing area of the mainsail will be 79 m² (850.3 ft²). The company also offers the Pulse Line option with a longer mast and increased sail area, which gives a very high SA/D ratio, high even in the standard version. All ends are brought to the winches near the helmsman's station and allow you to quickly and conveniently manipulate them. The body design is enhanced with carbon-reinforced sandwich technology.

This yacht is largely designed for those who, in addition to the amenities on board, also want to get more thrill from sailing, speed and helm. The boat has two engines with a capacity of 45 hp each, with the possibility of replacing them with a more powerful version of 57 hp.

But the Excess 14 is first and foremost a double hull catamaran, and it certainly offers the level of comfort and coziness that such boats are famous for. The spacious saloon has large windows around its entire perimeter, and in addition to natural light, this allows the skipper to visually control the entire deck space and the edge of the float opposite from the steering float. In case of bad weather, the helm, instrument panel and the skipper's seat are protected from rain by a folding bimini canopy.

A family with children or a group of friends can easily be accommodated at the dining table both in the saloon and in the cockpit. The dinner can be prepared in the comfortable kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, stove, sinks, oven and a microwave.

The Excess 14 has sacrificed a flybridge since its very first model to provide better performance and added sails, but you can still enjoy sunbathing on the roof when docked.

The company offers a choice of two layouts of the internal space of the floats: three cabins with three bathrooms and a four-cabin version with four bathrooms. The charter version of the layout is more standard and unlikely to cause a wow effect. Yet the innovative three-cabin version on the other hand, offers customers a master cabin with walk-in closet, central bathroom and a spacious living area with a king-size bed and a work desk.

The owner's cabin can also be used as an office for working remotely, which can be relevant for a group of friends, family or couple who are not tied to a specific place - modern digital nomads.

This yacht is the embodiment of the Excess DNA and the direction in which the ideas of the developers and designers of this line were initially moving since 2019. The new boat fits the bill if you are looking for a sporty and fast catamaran for your cruising or sailing adventure, yet very comfortable and stylish one at the same time.

This concludes our top 5 best picks of sailing catamarans under 500.000 euro and we hope you got some new information out of it. Thanks for reading!