42 foot leopard catamaran

NEW Leopard Catamarans 42

New yachts for sale, sail catamarans 40ft > 50ft,        leopard catamarans boats for sale, leopard catamarans 42 boats for sale.

• ACHIEVEMENTS
• MANUFACTURING

SAILING RANGE

Power range, leopard 42 catamaran, the new leopard 42 has the unmistakable dna of the brand.

Proof that you can have it all. The Leopard 42 is the organic evolution into the new generation of our award-winning line of yachts.

Built by Robertson & Caine and designed by Naval Architects, Simonis & Voogd, together we have created a revolutionary design that has exceed expectations by offering far more than anticipated.

This was accomplished all while maintaining our signature balance of comfort and uncompromised performance.

The exterior styling has adapted to the modern appearance of the award-winning Leopard 50, which features continuous hull side windows, a continuous hardtop, and what has quickly become our signature, an upper-lounge area.

Available in 3 cabin / 3 heads and 4 cabin / 4 heads, all cabins include their own private en-suite heads. All heads include their own designated shower area; a feature not currently found on catamarans in this size range.

The Leopard 42 has the unmistakable DNA of a Leopard Catamaran with plenty of new technology and building techniques used to make it a magnificent ocean-going yacht with a feel of space, comfort and performance only previously found in significantly larger models.

In the saloon, we have added a generous skylight, as well and an additional window in the aft starboard corner facing the helm seat. The forward-facing L-shaped galley is sure to entice any chef!

All bunks are now island berths that allow access from both sides. With windows everywhere space permitted, the natural light is amplified.

The progressive generation

LEOPARD CATAMARANS

Functional elegance and performance sailing

Engine Specifications

Sail specifications, load specifications.

• 3 Cabin Layout
• 4 Cabin Layout

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sailing Totem
• Charter Resources
• Destinations
• Galley Recipes
• Living Aboard
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology

Leopard 42 Boat Review

• By Herb McCormick
• Updated: July 23, 2021

Mick Jagger was not singing about boat tests and wind speeds when he ­belted out the title lyrics to the classic Rolling Stones tune “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Far too often during many years of conducting sea trials on new boats—when you’re locked into a tight, non negotiable schedule for getting on the water—I’ve shown up just in time for a languid spell of very light air or, even worse, zippo breeze whatsoever. Definitely not what you want.

But there are also those lucky ­afternoons when you get what’s required for a sweet sail. Which pretty much describes the conditions this past spring when I rolled into a marina near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a test run aboard the new Leopard 42 catamaran , and was greeted by windswept palm trees and a stiff 20- to 25-knot easterly whipping up whitecaps on the deep blue Atlantic.

What’s the line, “When you try sometimes…you get what you need”? Exactly. And in this instance, then some.

Generally speaking, cruising cats are different than their spindly racing siblings: more tankage, more machinery, more furniture, more stuff. Which means they don’t maximize sailing performance in lighter conditions (nor are they ­attempting to…that’s why they’re cruising boats). But give a well-designed, well-built cat with liveaboard ­capabilities some legitimate air ­pressure to play with, and the results can be eye-popping. (Or not, ­frankly. Lots of wind can be too much for some lesser vessels.) Which was most certainly the case with the latest Leopard under sail in the double-­digit gusts. Where she thrived.

Naval architect Alex Simonis—based near the wild, windy waters off Cape Town, South Africa—is the longtime designer of Leopard cats, and a man who relishes drafting solid boats that sail and perform exceedingly well (for proof, have another look at this month’s ­cover shot of a Leopard 42 hauling the mail in the shadow of iconic ­Table Mountain). His willing partners in this crime of nautical passion are the artisans at Robertson & Caine, the boatyard that in 2022 will build approximately 120 to 130 sailing cats ranging in size from 42 to 50 feet. It’s true that the company could probably expand production based on the current and ongoing demand for Leopards, but that would run counter to the builder’s very ethos: Quality is the aim here, not quantity.

As we motored out of the inlets and into the open sea for the trials, I’ll admit that I was so relishing the sail that it never occurred to me to jot down the relevant statistics—speed, high and low RPM, etc.—for the twin 45 hp Yanmar diesels. My bad. Let’s just say we got out there smoothly and quickly.

Leopard was conducting a mini boat show at its docks in Dania Beach that upcoming weekend, so there was an all-star crew of sailmakers and company reps aboard, including Franck Bauguil, an executive at travel conglomerate Travelopia, whose brands include the ­privately owned Leopards, and chartering giants Sunsail and the Moorings, and whose duties include product ­development—a fancy title that actually means he spends a lot of time hanging with Simonis while sailing around and dreaming up cool boats. As we powered into the chop, I mentioned something about a reef, and Bauguil gave me a sidelong look of disappointment, like a resigned parent inspecting a horrible report card. Full hoist it was. As the full-battened, deeply roached, square-topped mainsail was raised, I had a brief thought about singer/songwriter Cat Power, for it was abundantly clear what was powering this darn cat.

It’s interesting to note the difference between the Leopard’s sail plan and, say, the current approach from one of the big French production-cat builders like Lagoon. In recent years, Lagoon, as a brand, has made a conscious decision to slide the entire rig aft, depending more on an ­expansive foretriangle for drive and grunt, and taming the entire arrangement with a self-tacking headsail. With the ­Leopards, including the 42, the rig remains comparably forward, and it’s the mainsail, with a ­relatively longer boom than a Lagoon, that supplies the muscle (we’re talking ­basically a low-aspect main and rig on a ­Leopard versus a high-aspect one on the ­Lagoon), aided and abetted by an overlapping 110 percent headsail that’s tacked like a traditional sailboat. I honestly can’t say if there’s a right or wrong answer here, but it’s fascinating to recognize and compare the differing philosophies.

Back in the real world, I’d ­ascended the four steps to the starboard helm station, which is where you’ll find the wheel on every Leopard; in such matters, these guys are unabashed creatures of habit. The surrounding view was expansive but, more pertinently, within arm’s length I had everything—and I mean everything —required to sail and command the boat: a trio of electric winches (two of which are standard), mainsheet and jib sheets and rope clutches, a nifty traveler setup, dual engine controls, chart plotter and related sailing instruments, and so on. For the most part, across the board, catamaran designers these days lay out decks with the notion and objective that it takes only one sharp sailor to run the whole bloody show, and the Leopard 42 certainly perfects that concept.

After motoring off the coast for sea room, we hardened up to a close reach, and matters became extremely ­interesting, not to mention noisy and blowy. Which was great. The cat trucked along at a ­solid 8.5 knots, but what struck me the most was how solid and steadfast she felt as she cleaved through the chop; the sensation of the twin hulls of a fine cat in exquisite balance really does feel like a freight train on its rails.

But the real fun happens when you crack off and free up the wind angle, and the Leopard leaped at the course change and eased sheets, flirting with 10 knots on a screaming reach. We did have a bit of a fire drill when a blast of wind caught the corner of the furled code zero—which then, of course, started to ­totally ­unfurl—and I got my day’s ­cardio helping drop and corral the beast on the trampolines. ­Extremely good times.

Back at the dock, all ­systems once again calm and ­shipshape, I had a chance to wander the decks and ­interior. The look and feel of the features and ­accoutrements are ­totally ­modern, as in ultra-­contemporary (more than once in my notebook the word “angular” appears). The profile is enhanced by tinted, continuous side windows in the hull, and the coach roof segues into the hard Bimini that’s carried aft and canopies the cockpit. Up top—on the penthouse, so to speak—there’s an inviting lounge space. There’s a marvelous afterdeck and swim ­platform, features for which I have an extremely soft spot. The cockpit has a fine-dining area to port, opposite the helm.

The galley is forward in the roomy central cabin, with the dining table aft to port. The 42 doesn’t have the forward cockpit employed on ­larger models, but there is a watertight front doovate owner’s cabin to starboard (with desk, ­vanity, flat-screen TV, huge head, etc.) and a pair of staterooms to port, but you can spec out the interior in multiple ways: tr that leads to a pair of sun lounges, the tramps, and an optional fixed bowsprit if you’re going with the performance package that includes the code zero. Our test boat had the pretty awesome private owner’s cabin to starboard (with desk, ­vanity, flat-screen TV, huge head, etc.) and a pair of staterooms to port, but you can spec out the interior in multiple ways: three or four cabins, three or four heads, six or eight berths, three or four showers. The four-cabin, four-head configuration is likely what you’ll find if you charter one; about half the production run is bound for the bareboat fleets.

The Leopard 42 replaces the Leopard 40 in the brand’s ­quiver, and is certainly a more substantial ride in every ­notable way. The only problem, really, is that as the world emerges from these pandemic times, they’re going fast. The 42 might be quick, but if you want one, you need to be even quicker.

Specifications Leopard 42

Herb McCormick is CW ’s ­executive editor.

• More: Boat Reviews , catamaran , leopard , multihull , multihulls , print June 2021 , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
• More Sailboats

Meet the Bali 5.8

Celebrating a Classic

New to the Fleet: Italia Yachts 12.98

Leopard 40 Prelude Listed For Sale

The Moorings Expands in Croatia

C-Map Updates North America Charts

St. Vincent Court Orders Deportation For Hijacking Suspects

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Florida Travel + Life
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Cruising World. A Bonnier LLC Company . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

• United Kingdom
• South Africa
• Photos & Videos

Virtual Tours

Technical specifications.

• Cabins: 3 or 4
• Heads: 3 or 4
• Berths: 6 or 8
• Showers: 3 or 4 (plus transom)

SPECIAL OFFER

• LOA: 41 ft 7 in / 12.67 m
• LWL: 40 ft 10 in / 12.44 m
• Beam: 23 ft 1 in / 7.04 m
• Draft: 4 ft 7 in / 1.4 m
• Mast Height: 67 ft 10 in / 20.68 m
• Bridgedeck Clearance: 2 ft 6 in / 0.75 m
• Engine: 2 x Yanmar 45HP Diesel engine with saildrive
• Fuel: 158 gal / 600 L

EXTRA DETAILS

• Bunk Dimensions:  View Leopard Range Bunk Dimensions
• Headroom:  View Leopard Range Headroom Dimensions
• Water: 174 gal / 660 L
• Mainsail Area (Standard): 717 sqft / 66.6 sqm
• Mainsail Area (Square Top): 755 sqft / 70.1 sqm
• Genoa Area: 501 sqft / 46.5 sqm
• Spinnaker Area: 1686 sqft / 156.6 sqm
• Code 0 Area: 676 sqft / 62.8 sqm
• Code D Area: 1022 sqft / 94.9 sqm
• Total Upwind Area (Standard): 1217 sqft / 113.1 sqm
• Polars:  View Leopard 42 Performance Documents
• Displacement : 30183 lbs / 13691 kg
• Load Carrying Capacity : 11056 lbs / 5015 kg
• Holding Tank Capacity : 44 gal / 166 L

Related Boat Reviews

Leopard catamarans feature - passagemaker.

Make an appointment for a boat show, a sea trial, or simply a phone call to our expert agents.

Other Leopard 42 Buying Options

Check for current availability of used Leopard Catamarans and new Leopard Catamarans in charter programs on our sister sites

42ft Catamaran Models Comparisons

We compare the specifications, dimensions, sail area, and pricing on the most popular 42ft catamarans in 2020. The Lagoon 42 , Bali 4.2 , FP Astrea 42 , and Leopard 42 are within a similar price range and dimensions, but there are major differences. Let’s compare apples to apples to see how the match up.

42Ft Catamaran Model Specifications

42ft catamaran deck layout comparisons, 42ft catamaran flybridge layout comparison, 42ft catamaran sail plan comparisons, 42ft catamaran cabin layouts comparisons, 3-cabin layout, 4-cabin layout, compare 42ft catamaran interior features.

• The Bali 4.2 has all the popular and successful trademarks expected of the Bali catamaran range. It has the huge open platform which provides a convertible indoor/outdoor living space using tilting “garage door” that lifts up into the ceiling. The convertible door is a unique feature on the Bali. When open, it look like a much bigger catamaran. The Bali 4.2 also features a door in the front of the salon that opens up onto the expansive forward cockpit. With the 4.2 Bali has adopted the newer trend of “Jack & Jill” bathrooms in the 4-cabin version which creates more space in the cabins. The big American-style refrigerator is another popular feature especially for families and liveaboards.
• The Lagoon 42 is one of the most popular models for cruising couples. She is a beefy and a very comfortable liveaboard catamaran with an oversized cockpit. The mast is centered in the salon which could be a deal breaker for some, but considering how many L42s we have sold, it does not seem to bother the people who own and adore them. The galley lacks storage, but there is space available to add cabinets and baskets. The cabins are ample with island beds and plenty of storage, particularly the owner’s cabin. It features the “Jack & Jill” bathrooms in the 4-cabin version, a great use of space.
• The Leopard 42 features all the popular and successful trademarks of the hugely successful Leopard 50. Like its big sister, it features the opening door to an intimate forward cockpit. The semi-raised helm station and “upper lounge area” is a very well done and a great feature for cruisers. It is luxuriously finished and all bunks are island berths that allow access from both sides. The forward-facing galley is well-designed.
• The Fountaine Pajot Astréa 42 is plush and comfortable catamaran with a well-appointed galley and sliding doors that open the salon up to the very big cockpit. The cabins are a nicely sized and spacious with island beds.

For more information, price lists, specifications, or available programs, contact us to let us know what boat you are looking for

What are your thoughts?

The Bali 4.2 and Leopard 42 models are brand new and not actually built yet while the Lagoon 42 and FP Astrea 42 models have been around for a few years now and both are very popular models for cruising couples. So how will the two newbies stack up?

Estelle Cockcroft

Join our community.

Get the latest on catamaran news, sailing events, buying and selling tips, community happenings, webinars & seminars, and much more!

4 thoughts on “42ft Catamaran Models Comparisons”

I have two specs that I would like to see on all four of these. The first is holding tank capacity. I find the holding tank capacity on most boats insufficient for live aboards. The other is air draft. The 42 foot and below range are ones that in the Southern US we have bridge anxiety. I would like to know if any of these have an ICW friendly mast option and what the height is.

Jay thank you for the comments! They are all good questions. We will have a good spec sheet and hopefully all the answers you may have during our Zoom Bali discussion on August 27th. Join our newsletter to receive a notice about the Zoom discussion in your mailbox.

Thanks for the comparison chart… It’s a great start!

In addition to Jay’s request… I would like to see some sort of price/performance/construction comparison too.

I’ve been a mono-hull sailor and live-aboard all of my life, but really am a novice with catamarans. I’m fairly familiar with the Leopard 44, having chartered them several times and really like them. I’m anxious to find out about what else is out there so I can make the best decision possible for my next boat. I’m really interested in a cat because I feel like I can sail a catamaran further into my later years then a mono hull.

Ron, I suggest you join the Bali Discussion if you can on the 27th of August [2020] on Zoom. Many of these questions will be answered during that discussion. As regards to your question about “price/performance/construction comparison” – I am not too sure what you want to know. I have added base prices in the comparison charts for all the models. The weight vs sail area (power) has some impact of course but for hulls of similar water length and hull shapes as these models have, performance for all four models will be similar, give or take a knot or so.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

First-annual virgin islands boating exhibition (vibe).

VIBE – It’s a Destination Boat Show! Join us May 10 – 12 at

BALI Catamarans Unveils The New Bali 5.8 Flagship

CATANA GROUP launches its 14th BALI CATAMARAN model, the BALI 5.8, for the brand’s

Love Stories At Sea…because it’s valentine’s day

Because it’s Valentine’s day, we wanted to celebrate all the couples that we helped

Your Go-To Resource for all your Catamaran Needs!

Check out our brochure to learn about all we have to offer and why

For more than 30 years, we have been a part of the catamaran community and created Catamaran Guru™ to encourage and educate all the aspiring sailing out there. We understand the dream of traveling the world by catamaran and created a one-stop-shop to make that dream a reality for you.

• Stephen & Estelle
• Testimonials

Get Started

• Yacht Sales
• Used Yachts
• Charter Management
• Boat as Business Programs
• Seminars & Events

• € 0.00 0 items

Description

The Leopard 42 is the new “baby” of the range now that Leopard have stopped producing the 40. Designed by Naval architects Simonis Voogd and built by South Africans Robertson and Caine, the new 42 sports the new boxy, muscly look but still manages to look sleek even with that forward cockpit overhang.

They have done a great design upgrade job here, and this new model is proving to be wildly popular with buyers. In a competitive market between boats like the Lagoon 55 and the Fountaine Pajot Isla 40, Leopard are punching above their weight with this cat.

This boat has evolved from the Leopard 45 and 50 models.

Photos: Leopard Catamarans.

Lounge King

As well as the ever popular forward cockpit that is accessible directly from the saloon, the 42 has a fly-lounge (“coach-roof lounge”) with an L-Shaped setee and back-rest, plus a table giving you the benefit of an additional relaxation area without pushing the boom too high. This has inspired other manufacturers to follow suit (like the Excess 14 for example, which also has a lounge option). Sun Downer anyone? I don’t mind if I do…..

• Good value for money for a design that has evolved from years of customer and charter feedback
• The connected forward cockpit is a game changer for accessing the foredeck and windlass safely
• The fly-lounge is a neat compromise. More living space and the boom is still kept low
• The living space is huge. The Leopard 42 feels like a 48 footer.
• Decent performance for a cruising catamaran when the breeze freshens
• The Leopard is sluggish in light airs and will slip sideways close to the wind. You might need an engine to help if the wind drops off
• This yacht is definitely sleeker than her predecessor, but that forward cockpit overhang lends the boat a chunky look.
• There are some blind spots from the raised helm. You will need to duck and dive a bit coming in.
• With the overlapping genoa, she takes more effort to tack than other yachts that fly self tacking jibs.

Charter a Leopard 42 Catamaran

Are you looking for a Leopard 42 to charter? Browse our selection of high quality yachts for rent below ⇓

Rent a Leopard 42

Find Leopard Catamarans for charter. All | Leopard |

This boat, like the 50 and the 45, looks like it could handle a sea and like a Fountaine Pajot, she is powered with a 110% overlapping genoa rather than a self tacking solent. What you lose in ease of tacking, you win in lighter airs. The mainsheet is configured in a bridle set up like a Catana (no traveller) which gives you lots of control in setting your sail shape.

The helm station is raised on the starboard side with all lines easily accessible. Visibility of all 4 corners of the boat is good from up here.

The sail plan should get you punching through the waves at 8 to 9 knots in a decent breeze, and with a Code 0 or gennaker flying off the bowsprit, she’s lively enough in calmer conditions. In a really light breeze, you might need to stick the leeward engine on like many cruising catamarans. That is your space/performance trade off.

If you opt for the Performance Pack (bigger Square Top Mainsail, Folding Props), you should squeeze an additional 1-2 knots out of her.

The Leopard 42 comes into her own when we start talking about living space. Up top, you are on one level all the way from the aft dining area through the saloon and into the forward cockpit through the forward door. The aft seat back-rest can be switched so that you are facing forwards or aft- a nice touch.

There are no seats in the 42 forward cockpit area unlike the 45, but big sunbeds with storage below for sails or a generator.

Up front, the 42 has crash-boxes in the hulls with watertight bulkheads forwards of the cabins.

The helm is situated on the main starboard bulkhead like many South African cats. There’s a hard bimini with a window overhead, so you can trim the mainsail. Head up from the helm at anchor and you are in the L-shaped fly-lounge.

The saloon has big wrap around windows and a skylight strip. The saloon sofa is set aft so that you are connected with the aft dining area, and the galley is placed forward. There is a nav station to port

The space and light continues down below. Like many production cats, the Lagoon 42 is available as a three-cabin owner’s version, with the master suite to starboard. The space down here is huge, from the wide berth all the way forward to the shower. Fibreglass bulkheads ensure a strong open structure in the hulls.

The cabins are larger and lighter then her predecessor.

There is also the charter configuration with four cabins and four heads. The Leopard 42 is big enough to soak up the extra berths and heads.

The saloon is also spacious with  sofas, a forward galley to starboard corner and a nav station to port. Headroom is now just over 2m, or 6ft 7in in the saloon.

One nice feature is the purifying tap in the galley which will help keep your plastic bottle count down to a minimum. Options include lithium batteries, a  generator, air conditioning, fresh water maker, solar and so on. You’ll have all of the usual difficult decisions to make when balancing your budget.

The standard set up is twin 45hp Yanmar diesels with sail drives that give a  cruising speed of around 8-9 knots in flat condition.

Leopard 42 Polar Diagram

This is a strong design update from Leopard and Simonis Voogd. It’s prettier than her predecessor, a solid looking boat that moves well in a decent breeze with market leading living space.

What is the price of a Leopard 42? How much does this catamaran cost? We will qualify this with the usual “it depends on your options”, but to give you a ball park sail away price with an average fit level, you are looking in the region of €600k  ($700k) plus taxes. You get a lot for your money with this cat.

Technical Specification

Related Catamarans

Nautitech 40 Open

Knysna 500 SE

Nautitech 46 Open

Browse, search and find your perfect catamaran!

Privacy Overview

• Custom Cats
• Performance Cats
• Cruising Cats
• Luxury Cats
• Owner Reviews
• YT Channels

• BOOK ONLINE
• GET A QUOTE
• How It Works
• Islands & Anchorages
• After you’ve booked

Fleet / Sailing Catamarans

The leopard 42 exudes luxury with a lavish master suite, an upper sundeck lounge and a spacious cockpit..

Description

The Leopard 42; the very latest model comes with luxury upgrades to all you would expect from Leopard and more. New to this model is the innovative upper lounge entertaining sundeck – ideal for enjoying the vista & sunsets after a tough day cruising the Whitsundays. The forward walk-though door gives easy access to the foredeck with lovely airflow though the saloon.

Meal preparation is a joy, with a forward facing “L Shaped” galley and plenty of natural light from large windows and a unique skylight.

She can accommodate up to 8; three spacious cabins with easily accessible island beds, including a lavish master suite. The saloon table will convert to another double if needed.

Ideal for three couples, families and mixed groups and those seeking a luxurious experience. For easy sailing; she has a self-tacking headsail and you can trim effortlessly from the helm.

* Internal photos from manufacturer, actual photos to come soon*

Customer Reviews

We spent two beautiful weeks on Kiana Rose.

We found Kiana Rose was the perfect size for cruising around the Whitsundays. We had a great time walking to the viewpoints at Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet was not to be missed.

As an owners version, she’s ideal for a family. The owner hull is spacious and the walk-in shower is divine. The other hull has two generously sized cabins with ensuite heads.

The upstairs living space is very open with wrap around windows. We absolutely loved these. You won’t miss any of the magnificent view, whether stirring up something special in the galley or lounging on the super comfortable couches.

We fell in love with the boat the moment we stepped foot on her and look forward to enjoying another vaca on her in the future!

Modern & Luxe… Trip of a Lifetime on Kiana Rose!

We spent a glorious 7 nights on Kiana Rose, and we cannot speak more highly of this vessel and the whole experience. It exceeded our expectations!!

Travelling as 3 couples we found the cabins spacious, with plenty of storage on board…including great fridge/freezer space. We had plenty of room to move, as well as many places to lounge around…our absolute favorite feature being the rooftop lounge!

Having the walk-through door from the saloon was perfect, it made the front area so much more accessible. The level of finish of Kiana Rose is pure luxury, and with such a new boat…everything is immaculate!

Luxurious cruising on board “Kiana Rose'

Our charter in July this year was our 3rd bareboat charter with Whitsunday Escape. Whilst our other experiences have all been great, I can say that cruising the Whitsundays aboard "Kiana Rose," a sleek luxurious 42-foot Leopard Catamaran, was an absolute dream and the best boat we have ever charted.

As always, the team at Whitsunday Escape were incredibly helpful and accommodating, making the entire experience seamless. Our experience on “Kiana Rose” was nothing short of exceptional. “Kiana Rose” was immaculate—clean, spacious, and furnished with all the modern amenities that made the week-long journey incredibly comfortable.

At this time of year, we were fortunate to spot some wildlife along the way. It was an absolute thrill to have numerous sightings of majestic humpback whales and their young calves – often breaching in the distance.

Our 7-night bareboat cruise aboard the luxurious "Kiana Rose" was an unforgettable escapade.

Similar Vessels

The Leopard 50 radiates extravagance with five ensuite cabins, numerous entertaining areas and a swim platform.

The Leopard 40.1 offers an open and airy layout highlighted by the foredeck walkthrough and a spacious cockpit.

The Leopard 40 3 Cabin boasts a deluxe master suite, an expansive cockpit and the saloon to foredeck walkthrough.

Technical specifications - Leopard 42

Photos of the boat, technical features.

• Length HT : 42ft (12.67m)
• Max. width : 41ft (12.44m)
• Weight : 13.7 tons
• Draft : 5ft (1.4m) to 5ft (1.4m)
• Max. sleeping capacity : 8
• Number of cabins : 3 to 4
• Bathrooms : 3 to 4
• Water capacity : 660L

Standard motorisation

• Engine Power : 45hp
• Fuel capacity : 600L

Standard canopy

• Total sail area : 371sqft (113.1m2)
• Mainsail area : 219sqft (66.6m2)
• Genoa/jib area : 153sqft (46.5m2)

Ideal destinations for renting a Leopard 42

Did You Know That We Offer Contract to Closing Services? Click Here to Find Out More.

Need Marine Financing? Apply Here With Our Partner, First Approval Source

• Catamaran Interviews
• Catamaran Reviews
• Buying Advice
• Selling Advice
• Woods Design Advice
• Americat 3014
• Balance 526
• Bali 40 Catspace
• Beneteau Blue II
• Broadblue 346
• Broadblue 38 Prestige
• Broadblue 385
• Broadblue 435
• Broadblue 46
• Catalac 10M
• Catalac 11M
• Catalac 12M
• Catalac 900
• Catana 42 S
• Chris White 48 Voyager
• Chris White 55
• Corsair F28 R
• De Villiers
• Dolphin 460
• Endeavour 30
• Endeavour 35 Victory
• Endeavour 36
• Endeavour 44
• Endeavour 44 TrawlerCat
• Fortuna 36 Island Spirit
• Fortuna 401 Island Spirit
• FP 32 Maldives
• FP 35 Tobago
• FP 37 Antigua
• FP 38 Athena
• FP 39 Fidji
• FP 40 Lavezzi
• FP 40 Lucia
• FP 40 Summerland MY
• FP 41 Lipari
• FP 42 Astrea
• FP 42 Venezia
• FP 43 Belize
• FP 44 Helia
• FP 44 Orana
• FP 46 Bahia
• FP 46 Casamance
• FP 48 Salina
• FP 56 Marquises
• FP 57 Sanya
• FP 60 Eleuthera
• FP Saona 47
• Gemini 3000
• Gemini 3200
• Gemini 3400
• Grainger 420 Mystery Cove
• Hirondelle 7M
• Lagoon 37 TPI
• Lagoon 42 TPI
• Lagoon 43 PC
• Leopard 39 PowerCat
• Leopard 45 Classic
• Leopard 47 PowerCat
• Leopard 51 PowerCat
• Leopard 53 PowerCat
• Maine Cat 30
• Maine Cat 41
• Matrix 450 Vision
• Matrix 760 Silhouette
• Maverick 400
• Maverick 420
• Maverick 440
• Nautitech 40
• Nautitech 442
• Nautitech 46 Open
• Nautitech 47
• Outremer 40
• Outremer 45
• Outremer 50 Standard
• Outremer 55
• Privilege 37
• Privilege 39
• Privilege 42
• Privilege 43
• Privilege 435
• Privilege 45
• Privilege 465
• Privilege 48 Transcat
• Privilege 482
• Privilege Serie 5
• Prout 31 Quest
• Prout 33 Quest
• Prout 34 Event
• Prout 35 Snowgoose
• Prout 37 Snowgoose
• Prout 37 Snowgoose Elite
• Prout 38 Manta
• Prout 39 Escale
• Royal Cape 45
• Royal Cape 530 Majestic
• Royal Cape Majestic 500
• Sailcraft 30 Iroquois
• Sailcraft 32 Comanche
• Sailcraft 35 Cherokee
• Sailcraft 41 Apache
• Sailcraft 44 Apache
• Wildcat 350
• Seawind 1000
• Seawind 1160
• Seawind 1200
• Seawind 1260
• Seawind 1600
• Solaris 36 Sunrise
• Solaris 36 Sunstar
• St Francis 44
• St Francis 48
• St Francis 50
• Stealth 11.8
• Heavenly Twins 26
• Ocean Twins 38
• Voyage 380 Maxim
• Voyage 400 Norseman
• Voyage 430 Norseman
• Voyage 450 Cabriolet
• Voyage 47 Mayotte
• Wharram 38 Tiki
• AMI 320 Renaissance
• Woods 22 Wizard
• Woods 35 Banshee
• Woods 35 Flica
• Woods 36 Scylla
• Woods 36 Vardo
• Woods 38 Transit
• Woods 40 Meander
• Xquisite X5
• Xquisite X5+

Leopard 42 Review

• Post author By River B
• Post date September 24, 2020
• No Comments on Leopard 42 Review

The Leopard 42 emerged in 2001 to replace the Leopard 45. Designed by Alex Simonis, the L42 extended the lines of the Leopard 38 and offered a 3-cabin, 3-head model and a 4-cabin, 4-head model. Approximately 50 Leopard 42s were made before being replaced by the Leopard 43 in 2004.

Despite its heritage of award-winning catamarans, the Leopard 42 won no awards. However, the L42 is still highly sought-after by cruisers worldwide. Let’s look at why.

Since Leopard announced their next iteration of the Leopard 42 in July 2020, we’ll talk first about the original model and then provide a few words on the updated version.

• Spacious Living Spaces. Like its predecessors, the Leopard 42 offers spacious accommodations disproportionate to their size. The cockpit on the L42 is quite large, accommodating more than 17 people on one lucky cruiser’s birthday off the Magnetic Islands, Australia.
• Skeg-Hung Rudders. These are practically unheard of on catamarans these days and with the added protection they offer, it’s hard to imagine why that’s the case. Leopard pairs these with a direct, shaft driven transmission which, for cruisers especially, eliminates the need for frequent haul outs to service a sail drive.
• Flared Hulls and Hard Chines. Though it has relatively low bridgedeck clearance, the L42 reduces the incidence of slamming with a hull design that is narrow at the bow to cut through the water, and flared astern for added buoyancy (and storage). Combine that with a hard outer chine that pushes water away from the boat and you’ve got a recipe for a more comfortable ride in rough conditions.
• Watertight Crash Compartments. In models not utilizing the most forward compartments for crew, the L42 cats come with watertight crash compartments to maintain the integrity of the rest of the vessel if an impact occurs.

The early model Leopard 42s are powered by 40-horsepower Yanmar diesels to get you moving through the doldrums or ahead of bad weather. Accessible via hatches just forward of the sugarscoops, there is adequate room for repairs and maintenance. While many vessels of this vintage have been updated, you may still see remnants of the well-marked wires, hoses, and seacocks from the factory.

Inside, even the tallest crew member will enjoy over 6-feet of clearance in the salon and cabins. Galley and settee are forward, with a top-loading fridge located aft in the salon. When this item fails, many cruisers replace with forward-opening drawer units. The settee can seem a bit crowded, so most larger gatherings will occur in the cockpit.

In the owner’s version, the starboard hull is dedicated to owner comfort, with a queen size bed aft, private sitting quarters amidships, and a large head forward. The port hull contains two cabins and two (smallish) heads, with the forward cabin boasting an island bed. In the 4-cabin version, both forward cabins contain island beds.

Compared to earlier models, the L42 davit system has been improved, allowing users to lift dinghy’s higher in rough seas and reducing bulk.

What’s new in 2020?

Leopard announced in July 2020 , the launch of an updated Leopard 42, designed by Naval Architects, Simonis & Voogd. This vessel is a huge departure from the early model, with modern finishes, an open salon plan with galley forward and a pass-through door leading to a forward cockpit area and the ample trampolines. Designers created padded sun beds to cover the forward cockpit as well. Some additional changes you’ll find include:

• Flush hatches
• Raised Helm + upper deck seating
• Fridge under helm stairs
• All line handling from helm, not cockpit
• Forward facing nav station up in salon
• Forward facing galley w/ pull out fridge/freezer
• 360-degree views
• Island beds
• Yanmar 45HP Diesel engine with saildrive
• Headroom 6’4” in cabins, 6’7” in salon
• Bridgedeck clearance 2 ft 6 in

The view is definitely an improvement on the new model, as the layout of the old L42 made it near impossible to see anything unless you were at the helm or forward of the cabin. One has to wonder whether the raise helm was an improvement (at least for serious cruisers), given the amount of stairs to navigate and the higher center of effort that comes with it.

What to Watch Out For

The earlier model L42 catamarans are reliable and comfortable, but they are aging. If you find yourself looking at one that was previously in charter, you may find yourself having to repower, re-rig, and generally update some of the more hard-used features of the boat.

In addition, because these boats are balsa-cored, you may find your new boat with varying degrees of water intrusion into the hull and deck. Prior to purchase, look for signs of delimination, and, if it’s the boat you absolutely want, budget for surprises.

Overall, the Leopard 42 has great space for larger cruising families and is set up for double-handing, or single-handing for the experienced sailor.

• Tags Catamaran Reviews

River is a licensed USCG Captain with a lifetime of experience on the water. From the San Francisco Bay to the South Pacific, blue water to clear water, he’s sailed a wide variety of catamarans and crawled around in the bilges of more than he can count. You can follow his misadventures at www.tilted.life.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

With clever interior design, this new cruising cat feels bigger than 42 feet

L eopard Catamarans has 25 years of cruising catamaran experience. The result is this new 42-foot model that builds off the success of the Leopard 40 model along with advances in styling made with the Leopard 50. The design work was done by Robertson and Caine with Simonis & Voogd Yacht Design. From what I can tell from the promotional material, this new design is aimed at the Moorings charter fleet, but I’m certain that the boat will be available to individuals.

To start with, this is a big boat. If I multiply the beam max by the DWL I get a “footprint” of almost 1,000 square feet. Then add another 50 square feet for the area of the coachroof lounge, more on that later, and you get a lot of acreage to work with. The D/L is 180, about the same as a medium displacement modern, monohull cruising boat. If I take just one of the hulls, the L/B is 5.81­—4.00 would be considered very narrow for a monohull. For fun, the L/B of the overall boat is 1.8. Beam is 23 feet 1 inch. Draft is a reasonable 4 feet 7 inches, giving this cat the chance of going to weather well. The keel fin is a low-aspect-ratio type, but not as low as you see in many of the cruising cats. There is a full length chine with a slight spring to it about 14 inches above the DWL. The critical bridgedeck clearance is 2 feet 6 inches. The designers have worked hard to insure performance in this design.

The deck is complex. This is really a quadruple decker. There is the main deck with a molded-in bulwark. Then you step down into the “cockpit” or “aft veranda” level with a large dinette to port. Next you step up to the coachroof lounge level with an L-shaped dinette to port. It looks to my eye like this dinette is sunken below the deck level of this raised area. Then you go up more steps to the control station. The wheel is here along with all the sail controls. It really is a flying bridge and gives very good visibility over the large main house. There is a hard top over the control station. Like I said, it’s complex. It does keep all the working function of the rig away from the “passengers.” You can access the forward lounging area and bow trampoline through the main cabin. The bottom line is this design offers unprecedented lounging area for a crew of six. If you count the large swim steps port and starboard, this is really a quintuple decker.

The layout is designed for three couples. There are two stateroom in the port hull and each has its own head and shower. The owner’s stateroom is in the starboard hull and is very spacious with an extra large shower. If you mirror-image the layout in the port hull over to the starboard hull you would have accommodations for four couples. But, I’m not sure if this is an option. 

The main cabin has the galley to starboard with the nav station to port forward. There is an L-shaped dinette to port and a white rectangular shape aft to starboard. Not sure what it is. None of the dining areas are big enough to seat everyone but there are three dining areas so that should not be a problem. Maybe after all day with your friends dining alone would be a treat.

The first thing that jumps out at me when I look at this sailplan is the height of the boom. My estimate is that the boom is 11 feet 6 inches above the DWL. That stacking mainsail system is going to come in really handy. Not sure it really matters, though, given the stability of the catamaran. The SA/D of this cat is 21.38 using what the promo material calls the “upwind sail area” of the standard rig. This includes the roach area of the mainsail. There is an option for a square-top mainsail that adds 38 square feet to the total sail area and raises the SA/D to 22.

I have quite a few 3D renderings of this design. The styling is very well done using sharp facets where radii would usually be. I like the way the entire top of the coachroof appears to float above the deck reducing the appearance of bulk in the deck structure.

Obviously this new Leopard will make a very attractive charter boat if space is what you are after.

LOA 41’7”; LWL 40’10”; Beam 23’1”; Draft 4’7”; Sail area 1,217; Water 174 gal.; Fuel 158 gal.; Auxiliary twin 45-hp; D/L 180; SA/D 21.38

Our best estimate of the sailaway price: $619,000

Leopard Catamarans

850 NE 3rd St., Suite 201

Dania Beach, FL 33004

954-925-8050

www.leopardcatamarans.com

Also in Perry on Design

• Wallyrocket 51
• Clubswan 28
• Beneteau Oceanis 37.1
• M.A.T. 12.2
• Jeanneau Yachts 55

Also from Robert H. Perry

• European Union
• South Africa

Sail Catamarans

Set sail to new horizons from the power and beauty of Leopard Catamarans. Sea-trialed and tested off the coast of South Africa, Leopard Catamarans are known the world over for extraordinary craftsmanship and optimal performance. Both sailboat and power catamaran lines are built with flexibility for the modern seafarer and offer a range of equipment and layout options designed with your journey in mind. Embark on your adventure today.

Experience even greater livability on the Leopard 45 with an expanded lounge. Like the larger Leopard 50, the lounge in the Leopard 45 includes a seating area, a sunbed and a table. Relish the journey just a little bit longer in the comfort of this expanded space. Here, the helm station remains protected and integrated into the cockpit of the boat. See how the Leopard 45 accommodates everyone on board.

Live out your sailing dreams aboard the Leopard 50. This catamaran is everything you envisioned, plus so much more. With a never-before-seen lounging flybridge of this size, the Leopard 50 incorporates the best attributes from its predecessor and 2012 Boat of the Year, the Leopard 48. Now, with even more living space and options, your journey ahead is boundless.