8 Best Catamarans That Are 30 Feet or Less
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site.
Large-sized catamarans are appealing due to their ample spacing and comfort. Therefore, a cruising family or couple looking to buy a boat is more likely to go for one of these. But are there small cruising catamarans that provide the performance, comfort, and amenities found in larger boats?
The best catamarans under 30 feet (9.14 m) include the TomCat 6.2, Cadillac 27and 30, Gemini 30, Endeavour 30, and Maine Cat. These time-tested cruising cats are easy to handle, premium built, and are great for daytime sailing, overnight trips, and some even suitable for long-range sea passages.
In this article, you’ll find a list of the best cruising catamarans below 30 feet (9.14 m). Keep reading to discover which catamarans make this list, what they have to offer, their pros and cons, and how much they cost.
If you are unsure whether or not 30ft is too small for your needs, then I suggest you check out another article I wrote named Best Size Catamaran , it will discuss why length matters and how it affects safety.
Unlike most catamarans designed for racing purposes, the TomCat 6.2 is a medium-sized cat that’s well-suited to daytime cruising. It boasts high-quality construction, vacuum-bagged hulls, and a plywood-reinforced deck.
This 20 footer (6.09 m) comes with an 11-foot (3.35 m) beam and not only offers you safety and comfort but performance and versatility as well.
This boat has a centrally placed outboard engine and two rudders that allow it to turn quickly and maneuver confidently into and out of marina slips. The 9.9 hp outboard propels it to speeds of around 8 knots (9.21 mph or 14.8 kph), though the boat has the potential to move faster if desired.
This simpler type of cat (just one engine as an example) also allows for cheaper and easier maintenance. Maintenance costs are something most people underestimate when getting a cat, if you want to get some real numbers from actual sailors then I suggest you read this article (How much does it cost to maintain a cat).
The boat sails with minimal heeling, comfortably accommodate 6-8 people, and you can sail it single-handed or take a crew.
High and narrow hulls bearing arched bottoms allow for a low wetted surface. The hull design provides low resistance and a great deal of reserved buoyancy and also enables you to drive through closely spaced waves.
On most 20-footers (6.1 m), driving through waves generates a smooth but wet ride, but with the TomCat’s enclosed deck (link to parts names explained here ), you are safe and protected behind a windshield and the high bulwark.
The TomCat makes an excellent cruiser because it performs impressively well both under sail and power. It combines the performance of a modern sailing cat with the comfort, style, and convenience of a powerboat. It’s also trailerable since you can detach the hulls from the deck , winch up the deck on a trailer, and slide the hulls underneath.
But the best part is that it’s easy on the pocket, with the price ranging between $36,750 and $44,580 .
Catalac 30 (9M)
The Catalac brand consists of strongly built vessels that sport thick hulls, glass windows, narrow beams, and vertical transoms . Catalac 30 was the first vessel in this popular British cruising line designed by Tom Lack in the late 60s. The boat’s appeal was attributed to its safety, ample spacing, well-built interior, and load-carrying abilities.
These characteristics are extremely important on a safe catamaran, overloading your cat makes it sit lower in the water, increases drag, reduces handling and speed, there is stuff you should know about this (so that you can make an educated buy). I have created an article where I try to explain the basics of a safe cat ( link here )
Sporting 5 berths, a massive galley, plus a cockpit with a sheltered steering position, the 30-foot (9.1 m) Catalac makes an excellent floating home for a cruising family. It sails exceptionally well, doesn’t heel ( heeling explained here ), and delivers a reasonable motor-sailer level of performance.
Furthermore, the hulls provide adequate headroom, allowing those on board to move around comfortably, and there’s enough space on the deck for sunbathing.
The Catalac’s structure features solid fiberglass, chined hulls, and a staggered sheerline that allows easy aft access. With a modest rig that’s easy to handle, the Catalac can deliver top speeds of up to 12-14 knots (13.81-16.11 mph / 22.22-25.9 kph) under sail.
Given that the boat’s design focuses more on comfort than speed, this is a spectacular performance.
Catalac 9M requires a skilled hand when turning into the wind as it is prone to blowing sideways. This is because the boat lacks ballast (which helps in keeping momentum during a tack) but also centerboards ( explained here ).
Skills are always the most essential things to bring aboard and you can acquire them in many ways, my two favorite ways are through NauticEd courses (two free courses here ) or by reading books (my top 15 books here )
Back to the boat! This model came in two versions; the standard layout contained a 30-40hp outboard, while the second option had duo engines. The latter is easier to maneuver into a marina.
These cats retain their value pretty well. However, they might not be easy to come by since most owners find it challenging to get their hands on a larger boat with similar qualities and performance.
A Catalac 30 (9M) goes for between $33,000 and $55,000.
Catalac 27 (8M)
The Catalac 27 8M is a pocket cruiser that boasts a strong reputation for high quality, durability, and strength. Besides, the boat’s design makes it somewhat suitable for bluewater sailing ( understand why the small size is an offshore problem).
Built like a battleship, the boat contains solid fiberglass hulls. Additionally, it comes with double engines, a large cockpit fitted with cushions all around, and features standing headroom in each hull.
Like the Catalac 9M, this boat comes with two different layouts; a twin inboard diesel engine or an outboard engine. The twin-engine models can motor up to 1000 km (621 miles, read more on cat fuel consumption here ) without needing to refuel, while the 70 amps of charge plus water tanks (70 gallons / 265 liters) make these vessels remarkable coastal cruisers.
Catalacs equipped with outboard engines sail faster since you can raise the engine during sailing and are also lighter. This helps to minimize drag . Catalac 8M sports a short but thick mast that helps make the boat stable.
Though small in size, this catamaran packs a lot of features in its small frame. It has a full-sized berth, a large galley that’s almost 8 feet (2.4 m) long, a quarter berth, head, and navigation station.
What’s more, the cockpit is as large as that of a 38 to 40-foot (11.5 to 12.1 m) cat.
Catalac 27 costs about $31,836.
The Endeavour 30
The Endeavour 30 catamaran is a boat characterized by stability, ample deck space, and a spacious interior. It boasts fast cruising speeds under both sail and power.
The boat has mini keels and rudders plus symmetrical hulls separated by a hydra-cell. The latter is a center section with a characteristic V-shape.
The boat’s vacuum-bagged construction helps enhance strength and stiffness while reducing weight. Furthermore, the interior has a fiberglass mold, providing extra strength and rigidity. With sufficient breeze, this vessel can deliver reasonable off-the-wind and doable upwind speeds.
As such, you can expect to attain speeds of about ~10 knots (11.51 mph or 18.5 kph) on power reaches. Below is a video showing a panoramic tour of the Endeavour 30:
This vessel has the internal capacity of a 40-foot (12.1 m) monohull. And you can tell this from the unique layout merging the cabin and cockpit with wide doors to the numerous features packed into this 30-foot (9.14 m) vessel.
It has a spacious salon, an enormous galley, two queen berth staterooms with plenty of storage space, a head with separate showers, and a sizable U-shaped dinette.
You can get this boat for under $50,000 .
The Geminis by Tony Smith were the United States’s first production cruising cats. Today, these vessels remain the most appealing American-built cruising catamarans. Built between 1981 and 1990, the Gemini 30 does not have a contemporary design, but it works remarkably well for cruisers desiring generous living space in a small affordable sailboat.
At only 14 feet (4.2 m) across, Gemini cats are somewhat narrow. But this mean s they can easily fit into most of the regular marina berths.
Besides, the boats still contain enough interior space for a queen-size double berth and two smaller doubles housed in separate guest rooms.
There’s also a modest but serviceable saloon with duo settees and a collapsible table that can transform into an additional double berth.
For the Gemini 30, this translates to a cruising cat with standing headroom that can comfortably accommodate 3 couples in private cabins or a family with small children. A good-sized galley, a spacious head with a shower, nav desk, and a large comfy cockpit make up the Gemini 30’s cruising palace.
Catamaran layout is highly personal and if you want to learn more about different characteristics then I suggest you read my article Designing the perfect catamaran layout ( Link )
While not that fast, the Gemini 30 will easily outsail the Endeavor 30 discussed above. Its daggerboards (which are explained in detail here ) can point well, and if you keep it light, it can do 7-8 knots (12.9-14.8 km/hr) under sail.
Besides, raising the daggerboards reduces the wetted surface area, and increases the speed downwind.
The Gemini 30 tends to pound and hobbyhorse a little when sailing in choppy waters – particularly when overloaded (more on load carrying capabilities in this article ), but the deep pivoting daggerboards provide stability and lift underwater.
Furthermore, the Gemini’s retractable rudders enable it to venture into shallow waters.
This is a very popular cruising cat that’ll give you a lot of bang for your bucks.
You can find a Gemini for less than $65,000.
Maine Cat 30
The Maine Cat 30 combines premium quality construction materials with the most advanced building techniques to create a lightweight vessel capable of handling most offshore conditions. What’s more, this boat can remain trouble-free for years on end with little effort.
If you are in the market for a simple liveaboard cruiser that you can use for a short weekend getaway or a cruising voyage, this is it.
The boat has a sizable primary stateroom berth with ample overhead space and a dresser fitted with a hanging storage cabinet. The enormous head includes a toilet, sink, 20-gallon (75.71 L) holding tank, vanity, and a pressurized shower.
Covering the open bridgedeck is a permanent hardtop. This spacious bridgedeck can hold quite a crowd and comes with a convertible dinette that turns into an extra berth. If need be, you can even enclose the entire space using acrylic windows or screens. Gabo
The 360-degree visibility from the cockpit allows the captain plus the crew a panoramic view, and all sail controls go back to the cockpit, which is very useful if wanting to sail single-handedly.
I believe that most boats should be set up in this way since sooner or later you might be in a situation where there is only one person to handle the controls, such as in an emergency. But more on that in another article ( Link ).
The Maine Cat 30 is a classic boat that delivers on high-performance multihull sailing. Designed to offer much better performance than catamarans bearing tall and heavy bridge decks, this cat weighs less and suffers less windage thanks to the acrylic windows.
The boat’s interior layout allows for easy cleaning as surfaces sport a smooth gel coat and satin-finished cherry trim. The solid but lightweight furniture bears the same Core-Cell foam core employed on the hull, deck, and hardtop. Plus, there’s ample storage for all your sailing equipment, cleaning supplies, and provisions.
A Maine Cat 30 can cost up to $110,000.
Heavenly Twins 27
The overall design of this well-equipped catamaran makes it a superb pocket cruiser.
Heavenly Twins 27 manages to fit not one but two coachroofs on hulls that are only 27 feet (8.20 m) long. Canoe sterns and a central cockpit separating the duo coachroofs form the boat’s other prominent features.
Famous for their excellent build quality, medium-depth draft, and narrow beams, Heavenly Twins 27 appeals to a wide range of boating enthusiasts.
These include solo sailors, weekend sailors, cruising families, circumnavigators, beginner sailors, and experienced liveaboards such as this famous Youtube channel “Kittiwake”.
The vessels house double cabins in the hulls while the forward starboard contains the heads and, to port, the galley. You can easily access the bar from the well-protected cockpit while the Comfordesk accommodation converts into a double dock.
A stoop through allows access from below-deck to the aft compartment without going through the cockpit. There’s ample storage space throughout the boat, plus you can section off the large stateroom into smaller double compartments if desired.
The price range for this boat is $ 20,098 to $24,193. (I believe that kittiwake is for sale too)
The last cruising catamaran on my list is the Aquilon 26 . This French-built cruising vessel is light in weight and trailerable, which means you can disassemble it in a few hours or transport it as-is.
Designing a boat that is possible to disassemble usually means that it is structurally less strong, which by no means is a problem during coastal sailing but the Aquilon 26 is mostly attractive to sailors who prefer inland lake sailing. It’s also suitable for beginner sailors.
Although there are no real “beginner cats” there are specs to consider if you are a beginner with catamarans, most of them I have listed in another article ( here ). Gabo
This 26-footer (7.92 m) has the potential for good speed though its layout is anything but conventional- which forms part of its appeal.
The cockpit works as the saloon, and a full bimini protects the crew from lousy weather. The starboard hull contains a dinette and galley, and the port has a double berth stateroom. The windows are quite unusual, but they provide lots of light, remarkably enhancing interior visibility.
Aquilon 26 can deliver an average cruising speed of 10knots (11.51 mph or 18.5 kph).
On a beam reach, you can expect around 25 knots (28.77 mph or 46.3 kph) with an adequate breeze ( I have never sailed at 25knots but researching this boat supposedly it is possible).
You can get this boat for under $50,000.
What Makes Small Cruising Cats Attractive?
Small cruising cats are ideal for sailing along the coast. But that’s not all. Under capable hands, properly fitted smaller cats can also deliver spectacular offshore passages similar to their larger counterpart (Heres a list of full-sized bluewater cats).
They can operate over long cruise ranges, cross oceans , and circumnavigate the globe . Smaller cats are also suitable for day sailing, overnight trips, and coastal or inland voyages.
For most sailors, comfort on board is crucial, so they’ll look for a vessel that guarantees a comfortable cruising experience. The good thing is that smaller vessels provide almost the same qualities and amenities that bigger vessels offer. Plus, you can do quite a bit with the available space, especially if it’s well laid out.
You’ll find that most 30-footer (9.14 m) or more miniature cruising cats comprise a galley, head, bunks, navigation and entertainment electronics, and refrigeration.
Sailors usually talk about these benefits of smaller cats:
- They’re less expensive. Large boats are costly to buy. They also cost more to hire, maintain, and dock. You can buy a small-sized boat at a much lower price, and parts tend to cost less too. Besides, you get to use smaller sails, winches, and lighter lines than those applicable on a larger boat. And since marine services such as moorings and haul-outs get billed via boat length, a smaller cat makes sailing more affordable.
- They boast superior builds. Most cruising boats under 30 feet (9.14 m) feature designs that are 30+ years old. In those days, weather forecasts were hard to come by and not as accurate, so boat builders used hulls with thicker fiberglass than the type found in today’s builds. Furthermore, everything in the boat, including rigs, rudders, hulls, keels and decks, was designed to withstand strong winds and high waves.
- They have simpler systems. This means less time spent fixing and maintaining your boat. For instance, most small cruising cats often lack water-makers, hot water systems, or electric anchor windlasses.
- They’re easier to handle. Smaller cats are simpler to sail than larger cats. It’s also easier to sail one single-handed or with a small crew.
What is the largest cat on person can sail?
The Disadvantages of Smaller Cruising Cats
Below are some of the most discussed downsides of small cats:
- They have limited living space, storage, and amenities.
- Though they don’t heel much, they are less comfortable than larger boats since they get tossed around much more easily in big ocean swells.
- It’s not easy to accommodate crew for extended periods; hence there are fewer hands to share work.
- They are slower and take longer to get to their destination.
Though fewer are on the cruising trails than their larger counterparts, small catamarans make ideal cruisers because they are simple, seaworthy, and pocket-friendly.
When choosing the best cat for your needs, focus on quality rather than size. A well-planned 30-footer (9.14 m) is reliable and provides ample space for your accommodation, dining, and relaxation, plus a storage room for provisions and any spare parts you might need.
And if you want even more info than I have presented to you in this article I would recommend a book from Serj, he makes it easy to understand why size matters and how to find a cat suited for your needs (amazon link )
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!
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.
Recent Posts
Must-Have Boat Gear for Catamaran Sailors!
Sailing is probably the most gear-intensive activity I've ever done; there are so many decisions to be made about what gear to buy now, for tomorrow, and what to definitely never buy. The gear on...
6 Best Trailerable Trimarans For Bluewater and Coastal Sailing
Having a boat costs a lot of money, even when you are not using it, marina fees, etc. And once it is in the water most sailors never go very far from their "home marina" and sailing will be somewhat...
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The best catamarans under 30 feet (9.14 m) include the TomCat 6.2, Cadillac 27and 30, Gemini 30, Endeavour 30, and Maine Cat. These time-tested cruising cats are easy to handle, premium built, and are great for daytime sailing, overnight trips, and some even suitable for long-range sea passages. In this article, you'll find a list of the best ...
Listings range in size from 30 feet long to 80 feet long, with an average sail area of 1,323 square feet and a maximum sail area of 3,630 square feet. Listed hull types include catamaran, monohull, trimaran and other. Constructed by a wide variety of yacht makers, YachtWorld presently offers a selection of 1,846 catamaran yachts for sale.
These sailboats have a minimum total sail area of 180 square feet, a maximum total sail area of 3,630 square feet and an average of 940 square feet. Boat Trader currently has 238 catamaran sailboats for sale, including 113 new vessels and 125 used and custom yachts listed by both private sellers and professional yacht brokers and boat ...
2003. Irene J is offered for sale for the first time since she was purchased new in 2003. Her owner and his wife have had 21 wonderful…. Sydney, New South Wales. AU $199,000 View Listing. Gemini Legacy 35. 35' 0" - 10.67m. 2015. "Neptune" has been successfully chartered and is ready for her next cruising adventure!
catamarans for sale preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Home. Register & Post. View All Sailboats. Search. ... Sailboat Added 30-Jun-2024 More Details: Leopard 42: Length: 42' Year: 2002: Hull: catamaran: ... 18' Hobie Cat 18 ft Sterling Heights, Michigan Asking $2,000. 41' Catana 411 Charleston, South Carolina
Preowned sailboats for sale under 30 feet preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Home. Register & Post. View All Sailboats. ... 18' Hobie Cat 18 ft Sterling Heights, Michigan Asking $2,000. 28' Parkins Herreshoff 28 Indiantown, Florida ... 43' CSK Catamarans Polycon Cabrillo way Marina, California Asking $115,000.
30. 1. Manufacturer Specification. Save This Boat. Balance 580. 2024. ... There are a wide range of Catamaran boats for sale from popular brands like Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon and Bali with 494 new and 1,494 used and an average price of $548,688 with boats ranging from as little as $45,679 and $6,225,109. ... so a 40-foot catamaran has about as ...
There are presently 37 yachts for sale on YachtWorld for Catamaran. This assortment encompasses 14 brand-new vessels and 23 pre-owned yachts, all of which are listed by knowledgeable yacht brokers predominantly in United States, Spain, French Polynesia, South Africa and France. Models currently listed on YachtWorld vary in size and length from ...
Brand: Sailcraft 30 Iroquois. The Iroquois 30 Mark 2 is a weatherly and seakindly catamaran. She has a feather-light helm, a useful sail plan and a tabernacle mast that make her easy to handle both in and out of the water. Windward ability is excellent, aided by kick-up rudders and pivoting centerboards.
2009. Roger Simpso Formula One fast coastal cruising catamaran. Professional build and fitout launched Dec 2009 limited use…. Batemans Bay NSW, New South Wales. AU $59,000 View Listing. Found 9 listings, now displaying 1 - 9. 1. Refine Search. Sail Catamarans 25ft > 30ft Used Yachts For Sale in Australia.
Used Boats For Sale - 30-39. Explore used boats and yachts for sale worldwide between 30-39 feet. 30-foot boats are great for, but not limited to, families and couples looking to cruise the waterways in complete relaxation or anglers who enjoy inshore and offshore fishing.
Designed and assembled by a wide variety of manufacturers, there are currently 1,846 catamaran yachts for sale on YachtWorld, with 469 new vessels for sale, and 1,377 used and custom yachts listed. These vessels are all listed by professional yacht brokerages and new boat dealers, mainly in the following countries: United States, France, Spain ...
30. Contact. 0030 6948379262. Custom Trimarine GP 70. Mallorca, Spain. 2023. $7,593,950. The GP 70 "Catch Me" is a VPLP designed carbon epoxy performance, cruising catamaran built by Trimarine in Portugal. She is an exquisite sailing machine built to the owner's specifications that can to be sailed by two experienced sailors or a family.
The Maine Cat 30 is arguably one of the best pocket cruising catamarans ever built. These boats are in class by themselves, delivering the promise of real high performance multihull sailing. ... 30 ft 0 in: Lwl: 29ft 3in: Beam: 18ft 0in: Headroom: 6 ft 3 in: ... There are no catamarans currently for sale of this brand.
The Xquisite 30 Sportcat innovative and trailer transportable, designed to deliver the ultimate sailing experience. Easily handled by even non-seasoned sailors, and it can accommodate up to 8 persons onboard. Very light weight construction, carbon beams, rotating carbon mast and high performance sails are part of the standard package and assures the sporty sailing experience.
Find catamaran sailboats for sale near you by owner, including boat prices, photos, and more. Locate boat dealers and find your boat at Boat Trader!
Sales Specialist: 1 (954) 449 4611. Charter Specialist: 1 (800) 262 0308
Find Endeavour Catamaran 30 boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld. Offering the best selection of Endeavour Catamaran boats to choose from.
A variety of cruises are offered aboard the Genesee Belle Paddlewheel riverboat throughout the summer. Reservations are required for all meal cruises. Lunch cruise tickets must be purchased in advance. Reservations for the lunch cruise are accepted until the preceding Wednesday (based on availability). Specialty cruise tickets may be purchased in advance or on the boat based on availability....
Le Tigre is a Hilton Head, South Carolina based 2019 Lagoon 42 Catamaran For Sale By Broker. Photos & Details Contact Catamaran Broker. New Arrival! (2024-07-11) LE TIGRE is a 42-foot catamaran that has been highly upgraded and is in better-than-new condition. ... Discover the ultimate sailing location with this 2004 Lagoon 380 Catamaran ...
Welcome to the 628DirtRooster website where you can find video links to Randy McCaffrey's (AKA DirtRooster) YouTube videos, community support and other resources for the Hobby Beekeepers and the official 628DirtRooster online store where you can find 628DirtRooster hats and shirts, local Mississippi honey and whole lot more!
A residential and industrial region in the south-east of Mocsow. It was founded on the spot of two villages: Chagino (what is now the Moscow Oil Refinery) and Ryazantsevo (demolished in 1979). in 1960 the town was incorporated into the City of Moscow as a district. Population - 45,000 people (2002). The district is one of the most polluted residential areas in Moscow, due to the Moscow Oil ...