cruising catamarans cost

How Much Does a Catamaran Cost? (By Type)

Posted on May 27, 2022

We all want our catamaran or to upgrade our current ones, but keeping up with the prices and knowing whether we’re getting a good deal isn’t always easy. For those of us who already own one, we know they are expensive, but we hope to get a deal.

The online forums are usually of great help with costs. You should check the market before asking to see what’s listed and what recently sold prices are. In the meantime, let’s take a general look at what the prices are out there. Keep in mind that the prices jump significantly every extra 15 feet in length.

For cruising cats, you’ll fork out between $200 thousand and a million dollars to get a new one. The median price is $500K. On the other end of the spectrum, pre-owned cats average $300 thousand. Generally, they cost between $200K and $600K. Looking for something recreational, that’s small? Prepare to spend about $45K to $50K.

Let’s look at the different types of cats, their average prices plus the things that impact their prices. We did in-depth research, but as suggested above, still go ahead and check because getting the right price means being thorough. Let’s take a look!

We are going to tell you what the different types of catamarans cost and what helps to determine their prices.

New catamaran’s average price per foot :

Catamarans get a lot more expensive from 50 feet and up:

$2,835 per ft for under 30 feet
$9,767 per ft for 30 to 50 feet
$18,055 per ft for 50 to 75 feet
$41,737 per ft for 75 to 120 feet

New Cruising Catamarans

A new cruising catamaran is one of the most costly sailboats on the market. It is only topped by the most modern aluminum or carbon yachts. Catamarans for cruising have an average price of $350,000, and you won’t ever find them for less than $100,000 when they’re brand new. According to length, a new cruising cat can fetch up to $1M in cost.

I know what you’re thinking (these prices are ridiculously high. I’ve been there, and I know what you’re thinking.) Why don’t I go with a monohull? You may count on paying about twice as much for a catamaran as you would for a monohull of the same length. It’s worth it, however, for the increased comfort and unparalleled quickness it provides.

Is there a reason why one catamaran costs $170,000, while another costs $340,000? Size alone isn’t the only thing to think about in defining the price difference between two cats. Pricing is influenced by the brand. However, design is the most important factor.

To keep costs down, a basic cruising catamaran uses only simple materials and tools. State-of-the-art cruising catamarans of the same weight and size class have vastly variable equipment, automation, and sailing traits. A pricey catamaran design takes thousands of extra hours to design and build.

The integrity of under-deck accommodation has a big effect on the boat’s final cost. The initial cost of high-end catamarans with central HVAC, innovative energy-saving systems, automation, and all of its related equipment is astronomical. It’s also worth noting that high-end custom interiors need quality fabrics and hours of expert labor.

Catamarans for cruising can be built and marketed for almost the cost of a fancy monohull. There aren’t very many differences in price between the various types of onboard cabins and equipment. Carbon fiber masts, AC, and auto-sailing controls aren’t standard equipment on the majority of cruising catamarans. That means they’re out of reach for most cruisers.

Small Racing Cat Prices

Prices for small racing catamarans are very stable for specific types and makes. There isn’t much of a market for these yachts because they lack cabins. They’re great for weekend boat events.

The make, size, and condition of a small catamaran all play a role in its price. Racing catamarans like Hobie Cats, which are very popular with the sailing community, range in price from $10,000 to $30,000. Generally, an open racing catamaran costs between $10,000 and $20,000 and is readily available for less than $50,000.

The Cost of a Secondhand Catamaran for Cruising

Pre-owned catamaran’s average cost per foot :

The average pre-owned catamaran costs about more than 30% less than a new one:

$2,200 per ft for less than 30 feet
$9,000 per ft for 30 to 50 feet
$16,200 per ft for 50 to 75 feet
$30,900 per ft for 75 to 120 feet

There are certain pros and cons to buying pre-owned catamarans. Around $250,000 is the typical price of a 40-foot secondhand catamaran. In the 1990s, these types of catamarans became popular, and the age of the boat isn’t much of a factor.

A used cat for sale under $100K is about as cheap as you’re going to get. It’s possible to get a tiny vintage catamaran or one that needs repairs, such as new masts or rigging. Fixing a cat can save owners up to $50K. Therefore, the trade-off is worth it for them.

The most expensive pre-owned catamarans typically cost between $700K and $1 million. These 45- to 55-foot-long vessels represent the apex of the industry. They’re typically no more than a few years old.

It’s not uncommon to find a pre-owned 2019 Lagoon 450F for roughly $550,000 to $620,000, or $635,500 brand new, with a wave-piercing hull. The depreciation on late-model catamarans is relatively minor.

There are a plethora of variables at play when determining the price of a secondhand cruising catamaran. The age of the boat is the most important determining factor in its price.

Most newer and late-model catamarans, even those made by reputable manufacturers, are in the $100,000 price range. Many sailors can’t afford to buy a sailboat outright, therefore this is a barrier to entry.

Catamarans Before the ’90s

Used catamarans from the 1970s and 1980s can find for significantly less money, and the main consideration is the boat’s condition. Interior, rigging/hull conditions are all included in this category.

Since these vessels have an enviable reputation for their mythical qualities like speed, seaworthiness, or handling ability, they’ll command a higher price no matter how old or damaged they may be.

It’s important to have a good reputation when buying a secondhand catamaran because of its small size. Catamaran enthusiasts are close-knit and frequent the same web forums. Used catamaran prices are influenced by folks like this.

Why Do Catamarans Cost So Much?

how to pack for children on a cat cruise

Sailing enthusiasts often ponder why catamarans are more expensive than monohulls. Buying a 15-year-old 40-foot catamaran is more expensive than buying a new 40-foot monohull. Construction costs, demand, and ability all play a role in why this is happening.

The handling advantages of catamarans over monohulls cannot be overstated. For starters, they’re rock-solid, which means they’re better for passengers and crew alike when traveling through rough waves. They’re safe, easy to handle, and nearly impossible to capsize when on the water. They also feature a lot more useful interior storage and living space, so they can accommodate a large number of individuals.

When it comes to speed, catamaran vessels have an advantage over their hull-bound counterparts. Catamarans can go twice as fast as monohulls, resulting in lower expenses and a longer usable sailing range.

The cost of designing and building catamarans is significantly higher than the cost of building monohulls. To link the two halves and hold up the mast, catamarans necessitate meticulous engineering and material strength calculations.

A catamaran has two separate hulls with living quarters and an enclosed center cockpit, which consumes a lot more material than a monohull. Greater-quality components, such as winches, navigational systems, and other shipboard controls, all add up to a higher overall cost.

With just the expense of design and materials, a catamaran’s construction can cost as much as three times as much as a conventional boat. Used catamarans are in high demand because of the numerous advantages they offer their owners, and as a result, their manufacturers are unable to keep up with the demand.

What Determines the Catamaran’s Cost?

Numerous factors affect the cost of a catamaran, but the most important is its size and type. Predictably, larger catamarans cost a lot more than smaller ones. As compared to monohulls, the size of catamaran vessels does not vary greatly. There are significant price and use differences between large and small catamarans.

This is because there are two primary varieties of catamarans on the market, and they come in a wide range of sizes. The largest catamaran is the cruising catamaran, which is virtually never less than 30 feet in length or more than 50 feet in length. Catamarans used for leisure or racing have no cabins and are rarely longer than 30 feet.

Identifying an Affordable Catamaran

Is it possible to tell whether or not you’re getting a decent price on a catamaran? A suitable “official” source for boat pricing is a catamaran dealership or yacht appraiser. However, the online catamaran community must not be neglected.

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

Best Cruising Catamarans

By Cruising World Editors
Updated: July 1, 2021

Cruising catamarans have been around for decades, but early models—often plywood and fiberglass vessels built by their owners from plans and kits, kept the boats on the fringes of mainstream sailing. That all changed, though, as big roomy cats were discovered by sailors who went off to charter in the Caribbean, where the multihulls proved their worth as comfortable liveaboard and party boats.

Today’s bluewater catamarans roam the globe, carrying families to exotic destinations across the Pacific and beyond. Just as with their monohull cousins, there is no best catamaran. Instead there is a wide variety of designs, ranging from small catamarans that offer the ease of maintenance a couple might enjoy to performance catamarans capable of easily knocking off 250-mile days. Today, the best catamaran brands offer a range of size models and layouts that can be optimized for an owner sailing with family and friends, or for the charter market, where there’s a demand for four, five and even six cabins worth of accommodations.

The most prolific catamaran manufacturers are in France and South Africa where yards include both large-run production builders and niche companies building fewer than 10 boats a year.

The best cruising catamarans offer good load-carrying ability and respectable performance. As with any sailboat , a modern catamaran’s design is a result of compromises. Daggerboards or keels? Galley up or galley down? Spacious owner’s cabin or extra bunks? There are lots of options to choose from—and that’s what makes looking at these sailboats fun!

Here, then is an eclectic A to Z list of some of the best catamarans that have helped shaped the evolution of how we live and sail on two hulls.

Antares 44i

Now built in Argentina as a full-fledged, bluewater catamaran and cruiser that can be safely operated by a shorthanded couple or family crew, the Antares 44i features a fully covered cockpit with a quartet of big, standard solar panels recessed within the hardtop, one example of a yacht capable of long-range passagemaking.

Atlantic 42

Almost 30 years ago, yacht designer Chris White revolutionized catamaran design with the first in his series of Atlantic cats, the primary feature of which was the innovative mid-ship sailing cockpit forward of the main cabin. The smallest in the Atlantic line, the 42 remains White’s most popular design ever.

Fountaine-Pajot has built so many outstanding cruising catamarans that it’s difficult to narrow down any single boat, but we’ve always been fans of the good-looking, well-thought-out Bahia 46. At 46 feet, the boat is large enough for offshore forays and has plenty of volume; with its simple but powerful sail plan, it’s also an excellent performer.

Beginning around 1996, the French builder Catana was one of the first companies to manufacture fully found cruising cats for private ownership, and this Christophe Barreau design, which enjoyed a nearly 10-year production run from 1997-2006, was emblematic of this first generation of safe, fun, long-legged offshore voyagers.

Click here to see more cats from Catana.

When it comes to speed, light boats are fast ones. And if you wish to save weight, that means exotic modern materials like carbon. Catana now infuses the laminates of their entire production line with carbon fiber, and for this list, we’ve chosen the Catana 50 Carbon, one of the zippiest cats now crossing oceans.

Click here to read about a couple’s charter aboard a Catana 50.

Gemini 105M

Pioneering catamaran sailor, builder and designer Tony Smith launched the first of his 33-foot Gemini 105M’s (10.5 meters = 33′) in 1993, and soon after found a ready and willing stream of sailors enamored of the boat’s compact size, affordable price tag, and such innovations as the nifty lifting rudder and transom steps.

Click here to read about the Gemini Legacy 35.

Built between 2000-2005, the Gunboat 62 firmly established the Gunboat brand: go-anywhere cats that applied race-boat technology to a world-cruising platform. Hull no. 1, Tribe, was built for company founder Peter Johnstone, who then spent a year-and-a-half cruising with his family, smiling all the way.

French builder Henri Wauquiez is best known for his long career building monohulls, but the Kronos 45 cat, which he launched in 1992, was ahead of her time. Classic lines, the aft “targa bar” over the cockpit, the louvered coach roof windows, even the distinctive stripes on her hull: the Kronos 45 remains timeless.

No roundup of cruising cats would be complete without several Lagoon entries, and the best of that impressive bunch might well be the Lagoon 380. Originally launched in 1999, and revered for its combination of quality, volume and performance, with over 740 boats built the 380 is still going strong.

Launched five years after the breakthrough 380, the Lagoon 440 was an evolutionary design that featured a raised flybridge helm station, a unique “gullwing” configuration below the bridge deck, expanded windows in the hull and much more. With 400 boats built in a 6-year production run, the 440 was an unqualified success.

How big can a production cat, still operable by a short-handed crew, really be? The builders at Lagoon discovered that 62-feet hit a sweet spot in the marketplace, and have sold over 70 boats since its introduction in 2010. The centerpiece of this design is the sensational steering station atop the flybridge, with expansive views of the sea and sky.

Click here to see more cats from Lagoon.

With an unmatched pedigree – designed by premier multihull naval architects Gino Morelli and Pete Melvin, built by the prestigious Robertson & Caine boatyard in South Africa, and commissioned by chartering giant The Moorings – the Leopard 40 was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Cruising World ’s Import Boat of the Year in 2005.

Louisiane 37

Based on the famous French racing cat Charente-Maritime, the Louisiane 37, designed by Joubert/Nivelt and launched by builder Fountaine-Pajot in 1983, was a light, fast liveaboard cruiser with full accommodations that represented a radical departure from the hefty British cats that preceded it.

Maine Cat 30

One of the more versatile and clever cats ever created, the central feature of the cool Maine Cat 30 is the open bridge deck/living room sandwiched between the hulls and canopied by a rigid, permanent hard top (the comfortable accommodations/ staterooms are stationed in the hulls). Ideal for a winter in the Bahamas but with the ability to sail offshore, it’s a boat for all seasons and reasons.

Built in Florida and beloved by the owners of the over 120 boats built during the company’s existence from 1993 to 2009, the Manta Catamarans range included 38-, 40- and 44-foot cats. For this exercise, however, we’re heralding the original Manta 42, which won the Best Value Overall prize in CW’s 2001 Boat of the Year contest.

Moorings 4800/Leopard 48

Another Leopard/Moorings collaboration built by the wizards at Robertson & Caine (though this boat was designed by fellow South African Alex Simonis), the Leopard 48 was another CW Boat of the Year winner with all the contemporary bells and whistles: forward cockpit, flybridge helm station and solid hardtop dodger, just to name a few.

Click here to read more about the Leopard 48, and click here to see more images.

Nautitech 441

The Best Multihull Under 45 Feet: So said the CW judging panel in the 2013 Boat of the Year competition, regarding the Nautitech 441. But what makes this versatile platform so intriguing are the different helm set-ups. The 441 employs a single wheel, to starboard, ideal for solo sailors, while the 442 has a pair of helm stations aft.

Click here to see more Nautitech Catamarans.

Outremer 5X

A state-of-the-art all-oceans cat that exemplifies how far multihull design has come, the 59-foot Outremer 5X was a winner on both sides of the Atlantic, taking top honors in the European Boat of the Year competition in 2013, and following up as the Best Full-Size Multihull in CW ’s contest a year later.

Click here to see more cats from Outremer.

St. Francis 50

The flagship of the proud St. Francis line – built in South Africa since 1990 to designs by local legends Lavranos Marine Design – the St. Francis 50 is another “luxury cat” that shares much in common with an earlier 48-foot sister-ship, but packs even more payload into its roomier lines.

Click here to read more about the St. Francis 50

Seawind 1000

Founded by Aussie surfer and sailor Richard Ward in 1982, the 33-foot Seawind 1000 is easily the most popular cruising cat ever built in Australia (the company has since moved its manufacturing and management operations to Vietnam). Roomy and airy, these cats dot the coastline of eastern Oz.

Seawind 1160

If the Seawind 1000 was a minimalist approach to cruising cats, the 38-foot Seawind 1160 is the flip side of the coin, a full-fledged long-range voyager. Among the reasons it was named CW ’s Most Innovative boat for 2007 is the unique “tri-folding” door that stashes overhead to open up the saloon and cockpit into a spacious living area.

Click here to read more about the Seawind 1160.

Sunsail 384

Every sailboat is a compromise, and in the case of the Sunsail 384 (also sold privately as the Leopard 38) that’s a good thing, because designers Morrelli & Melvin and builder Robertson and Caine got the balance just right with this relatively small catamaran. With four cabins, the 384 can carry the same size bareboat charter crowd as her larger siblings, but does so with a decided bounce in her step. Named CW’s Import Boat of the Year in 2010, you can gauge the success of the design by the grins on the crew as they barrel down Sir Francis Drake channel in the British Virgin Islands.

Victoria 67

The French design office of Berret Racoupeau drafted the lines of Fountaine-Pajot’s new flagship, introduced in 2013, a magnificent world-girdling voyaging catamaran. Like other giant cats launched in recent years, the boat features a sensational upper deck with all sail controls, helm and lounging stations.

Click here to see more images of the Victoria 67.

Wharram Tanaroa

No list of influential multihulls would be complete without the work of James Wharram, and while Tangaroa wasn’t a production cat by any means, it showcases the British designer’s respect for ancient Polynesian craft. Wharram sailed this 23-foot-6-inch “double-hulled canoe” across the Atlantic in the 1950s, and sold countless plans for similar boats for decades afterwards.

More: Boat Gallery , catamaran , multihull , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
More Sailboats

Balance 442 “Lasai” Set to Debut

Sailboat review: tartan 455, meet the bali 5.8, celebrating a classic, 10 best sailing movies of all time, kirsten neuschäfer receives cca blue water medal, 2024 regata del sol al sol registration closing soon, us sailing honors bob johnstone.

Digital Edition
Customer Service
Privacy Policy
Email Newsletters
Cruising World
Sailing World
Salt Water Sportsman
Sport Fishing
Wakeboarding

9 Best Luxury Cruising Catamarans: Buyer’s Guide

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.

Have you decided to take the plunge and buy a catamaran? Then, why not go all out and get one of the most luxurious catamarans available? By selecting a top-tier catamaran with awesome performance , you can enjoy the ultimate combination of style, comfort, and functionality to create unforgettable memories with family and friends on the open seas.

The best luxury catamarans include the 80 Sunreef Power Eco, the Lagoon Sixty7, the Fountaine Pajot Power 67, the Saona 47, and the Gunboat 68. Other premium cruising catamarans are the Aquila 79, the MC90, and the Catana 53.

These cruising catamarans all fall into the ‘luxury’ category thanks to their outstanding passenger amenities and impressive sailing features. They are typically larger than mid-range catamarans and can cruise at incredible speeds. This article is the complete buyer’s guide to luxury catamarans. It explores the features of some of the best luxury cruising catamarans on the market today.

80 Sunreef Power Eco

This beautiful vessel offers luxury with a conscience. At 80 feet (24.3 meters), it is a large vessel that has been specially designed to ensure eco-friendly sailing. It was launched in 2020, designed to ensure silent, vibration-free cruising that does not disturb the ocean it cruises over.

The 80 Sunreef Power Eco has luxurious amenities that have been designed with the environment in mind. Some of the most note-worthing features of this vessel include:

A solar power system that covers up to 2152.8 square feet (200 meters square feet) of the vessel allows a large amount of energy production
An ultralight battery bank that allows for silent cruising
A watermarking and purifying water system that can create drinking water
Made with a variety of eco-responsible finishing materials
Room for five cabins with six heads
A hydraulic aft platform

The eco-friendly features of this vessel do not compromise its sailing capability. Some of the most important specifications of this cruising catamaran are:

A beam of 29.4 feet (12 meters)
Four fuel tanks; two with a capacity of 1056.7 gallons (4000 liters) and two with a capacity of 1585 gallons (6000 liters)
Four main engines, two with 180kW and two with 360 kW
Two water tanks, each with a capacity of 211 gallons (800 liters)

The 80 Sunreef Power eco is fully customizable if you buy it new from SunreefYachtsEco.com. You can choose from a wide range of interior design options and finishing materials.

LagoonSixty7

The Lagoon Sixty7 is a stunning vessel that has been called “ a high-end Manhattan apartment on the water.” It has been designed for long-distance cruising and has been especially popular in the Asia Pacific region . At just over 66 feet (20.15 meters), it has been recognized as a vessel that allows for ‘ affordable luxury .’

While it may be a bit more pocket-friendly than other luxury cruising catamarans, the Lagoon Sixty7 does not compromise its features. Some of the most enticing features of this vessel are:

A wide, remote control operated swim platform that connects the two transforms
The choice of a galley up or galley down version with a 385sqft (36sqm) saloon offering 360-degree views
A sunken lounge in front of the saloon offers comfortable lounging space
A raised deck with room for lounging or storing furniture
High quality, solid joinery the offers plenty of storage space
The choice between three flybridge layouts: Standard, Sunbathing, or Tribu
The option to choose between 4, 5, or 6 cabins with a separate cabin for crew

The Lagoon Sixty7 also has a range of high-end sailing features that will appeal to every sailor. These include:

A beam of 32.11 feet (10 meters)
A draft of 3.9 feet (1.15 meters)
A fuel capacity of 4 x 363 gallons (4 x 1375 litres)
A water capacity of 2 x 132 gallons (2 x 500 litres)
The ability to reach a maximum of 19 knots

If you are interested in purchasing the Lagoon Sixty7 new, visit Lagoon.com . You can also check Yachtworld.com to find a used Lagoon Sixty7 to buy.

Fountaine Pajot Power 67

At 67 feet (20.4 meters) long, this power catamaran has lots of space that houses a range of luxurious amenities. This catamaran has received several positive industry reviews , with a particular focus on its design and its long-range sailing capability. Designed by Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design, this model is the flagship of Fountaine Pajot’s motor yacht range.

The Fountaine Pajot Power 67 is customizable; owners can choose from a range of interior designs, finishing materials, and amount of cabins. Some of the stand-out features of the Fountaine Pajot Power 67 are:

A 387.5 square feet (36 square meters) cockpit that houses a galley and plenty of sunbathing spots
A 344.4 square foot (32 square meters) flybridge with direct access to the saloon
A foredeck with an optional jacuzzi add on
The choice to include an owner’s cabin with a dressing room, a private head, and a walk-in shower
Option to choose between three or four cabins in addition to the owner’s cabin

This catamaran’s sailing specifications and prowess are equally impressive. Some of the core specs include:

A beam of 32.38 feet (9.84 meters)
A draft of 3.80 feet (1.15 meters)
A standard power of 2 x 300 HP
An optional power of 2 x 435 HP
Fuel capacity of 105.6 gallons (400 litres)
A freshwater capacity of 277.4 gallons (1050 liters)

To purchase a Fountaine Pajot Power 67 new, visit FountainePajot.com . At present, there are no used versions of the Fountaine Pajot Power 67 available.

Fountaine Pajot Saona 47

The Saona 47 is a 45.7 feet (13.94 meters) long luxury catamaran produced by Fountaine Pajot. It is an elegant model that has been designed by Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design, a team of naval architects that specialize in high-performance catamarans. It has received several industry awards for its performance.

There are two versions of the Saona 47. The Maestro version has an owner’s suite with its bathroom, two double cabins, and two heads. Meanwhile, the Quintet version has four double cabins, one single cabin, and five heads. Other amenities and features that you will find aboard the Saona 47 include:

A beach club on the rear platform
A 96.9 square foot (9 square meters) lounge deck with plenty of spots for sunbathing
A saloon with a galley that has premium equipment and joinery
Excellent visibility from the helm
A lift that can be converted into a swimming platform right above the water

Meanwhile, the sailing specifications of the Saona 47 include:

A beam of 25.3 feet (7.7 meters)
A draft of 3.9 feet (1.20 meters)
Standard power of 2 x 50 HP and 2 x 50 CV
Optional power of 2 x 60 HP and 2 x 60 CV
A fuel capacity of 2 x 124 gallons (2 x 470 litres)
A fresh water capacity of 2 x 92 gallons (2 x 350 litres)

To buy a Saona 47 new, visit FountainePajot.com . To buy a used Saona 47, visit YachtWorld.com .

Gunboat catamarans are known for their ability to reach high speeds while maintaining incredible stability. Designers of the Gunboat 68 have used aerospace design technology and lightweight materials to create a stunning, high-end vessel. It has been engineered by VPLP, who are known as the fastest naval architects.

The Gunboat 68 is 68 feet (20.75 meters) long, which allow space for a range of amenities, including:

An all-carbon composite frame that makes the Gunboat super lightweight and, therefore more easy to maneuver
A semi-customizable layout that allows owners to put their stamp on the vessels
A galley located on the bridge deck with wrap-around countertops, and an integrated gas oven
An aft cockpit with the option to add on a BBQ grill, an ice maker, or a drinks fridge
The opportunity to choose between four, five, or six cabins with en-suite heads
A central helm that allows for easy access to the crew as well as passenger facilities
Furniture in the saloon and aft cockpit can be easily detached, which will enable you to change the interior design relatively easy

One of the most enticing sailing features of the Gunboat 68 is its speed. Depending on the wind power, it can reach up to 30 knots . Other sailing specifications of the Gunboat 68 include:

A bridge deck clearance of 3.3 feet (1 meter)
A fuel capacity of 2 x 100 gallons (2 x 378 litres)
A water capacity of 2 x 100 gallons (2 x 378 litres)
A draft up of 3.90 feet (1.20 meters)

If you’re interested in buying the Gunboat 68 new, visit Gunboat.com . These vessels are also available second-hand – visit Yachtworld.com to see if there are any used ones available.

St Francis 50

St Francis Catamarans produce artisanal catamarans that are customized to suit the needs of each unique owner. The St Francis 50 is the flagship catamaran of the brand and is an elegant, luxury vessel.

Some of the most enticing features of the St Francis 50 are:

A bridge deck that is 32 feet (9.8 meters) above the water reduces wave slapping
A cockpit that has been designed to have extra weather protection
A spacious aft deck with stairs that lead to the foredeck, creating plenty of sunbathing and walking space
Four cabins with plenty of storage space
Each cabin has an attached head with a shower and vanity cabinets
A U-shaped galley with room for a three burden stove and lots of prep counters. The galley also has a fridge, a chest freezer, and a dish dryer.
A navigation station with a built-in table and drawers
A built-in retractable swimming ladder

In addition to these core features, owners can choose their own interior design elements such as countertop finishes, layouts, and wood grains.

The St Francis 50 has an overall length of 50 feet (15.25 meters). Other sailing specifications include:

A maximum beam of 26.3 feet (8 meters)
A draft of 4.2 feet (1.25 meters)
Capacity for 232 gallons (880 litres)
A total water capacity of 360 gallons (1350 liters)
A bridge deck clearance of 2.8 feet (0.85 metres)

To purchase the St Francis 50, lodge an inquiry on StFrancisCatamrans.com .

The Catana 53 is the latest catamaran in the Catana range of vessels. Launched in 2019, it is a 53 feet (16.2 meters) long ship packed with enticing features and luxurious amenities. Industry reviews applaud the Catana 53 for being both fast but also easy to handle.

The Catana 53 has been designed in-house by the expert Catana team and relied on Marc Lombard as an external consultant. Noteworthy features of the Catana 53 include:

An ample bridge deck clearance allows passengers to be comfortable even when the catamaran is traveling at high speeds
The cockpit and the saloon are on the same level making for an extended lounge area with a relaxing day bed
The saloon features an L-shaped settee that extends into the outdoor dining area, creating an open space concept
Three, four, or five-cabin versions available
Cabins filled with convenient features including a desk, mirrors, background LEDs, attached heads, and beautiful views of the sea beyond
A large galley with an island countertop and a wine fridge
Curved daggerboards that allow more room inside the hull
Built with foam and carbon fiber that makes for a stable, but light vessel
A built-in autopilot system, with a secondary autopilot control at the interior navigation desk

The Catana 53’s sailing specifications make it an excellent choice for avid sailors. The specs include:

A beam of 28.38 feet (8.65 meters)
A draft up of 4.69 feet (1.43 meters)
Engines with 2 x 60 CV or 2 x 60 HP
Fuel capacity of 227 gallons (860 liters)
A freshwater capacity of 211 gallons (800 liters)

The Catana 53 is available for purchase from Catana.com .

McConaghy 90

The McConaghy 90 or the MC90 is a massive catamaran. As its name suggests, it’s 90 feet (27.4 meters) long. It has been designed by Jason Ker , a designer with over 20 years of experience designing premium yachts.

Thanks to its size, it is equipped with all the amenities you would expect to find in a luxurious home. Some of the stand-out features of the MC90 include:

Space for five cabins plus separate cabin space for the crew
Individual seating and dining areas in the cockpit which flow into the interior areas
A well-equipped galley and multiple dining areas make this catamaran the perfect location for a party
The ability for owners to customize the interior design and the color of external design features such as the topsides, the pilothouse, and the sofas
Interior constructed with hand-painted surfaces and lightweight, premium wood
Each catamaran has a Bureau Veritas classification for bluewater sailing
Glass panels in the hulls and saloon add to the open floor plan

The size of the MC90 does not slow her down. This catamaran can reach over 20 knots. Other necessary specifications of the MC90 include:

A beam of 40.4 feet (12.3 meters)
An engine power of 2 x 220 HP
A fuel tank capacity of 792.5 gallons (3000 liters)
A freshwater capacity of 264.2 gallons (1000 liters)

The MC90 is built on demand; register your interest on McConaghyBoats.com if you’re interested in purchasing one!

Aquila 70 Luxury Power Catamaran

This Aquila 70 is another large vessel that is the crowning catamaran of the Aquila range. It has carried forward some of the earlier Aquila models’ most popular features and has also included innovations based on customer feedback.

The Aquila 70 boasts plush, versatile interiors. Some of the features of the Aquila 70 are:

A large master suite with designer furnishings, intelligent appliances, and panoramic windows
Aft with comfortable seating, a large beach area, and a swim ladder
Access to the foredeck from the flybridge creating more spaces for lounging
High bridge deck clearance allows for comfortable sailing even at high speeds
Carbon fiber construction allowing for lightweight sailing
Plenty of different spaces for entertaining, including the Skydeck and the saloon
Flexibility to choose between 4,5 and 6 cabins

The Aquila 70 is a power catamaran, which means that it can travel at extremely high speeds. It can reach 27 knots when the optional engines are running. Other sailing specifications of this catamaran include:

A draft of 4.8 feet (1.45 meters)
A water capacity of 412 gallons (1560 liters)
A fuel capacity of 1447.7 gallons (5480 liters)
A draft of 4.9 feet (1.45 meters)

The Aquia 70 is available for custom order on Aquilaboats.com .

Conclusion

If you are planning on buying a catamaran, why not opt for one of the most luxurious ones available? If you’re after large, impressive vessels, consider the MC90, the 80 Sunreef Power Eco, and the Gunboat 68. If you’d like a slightly smaller but equally luxurious catamaran, take your pick from the Lagoon Sixty7, the Fountaine Pajot Power 67, and the Catana 53. You may also wish to consider the St Francis 50 and the Saona 47.

The next step in your catamaran finding journey is to contact the dealers and take a few of them out for a trial run.

AquilaBoats: Power Catamaran 70
BoatDB: Best Luxury Catamaran Brands
BoatSales; Top 10 Catamaran Makes
CrusingWorld: St Francis 50
CataLagoon: Sixty7
Catana: Catana 53
Catamarans: Saona 47
FountainePajot: Power 67
Gunboat: Gunboat68
Katamrans: Gunboat 68
Katamrans: St Francis 50
Katamarans: Catana 53
KerDesgin: Ker Yacht Design
Luxuo: Lagoon Sixty7 Powercat Review
McConaghyBoats: McConaghy 90 MultiHullsSolutions: Award Winning Catamaran
MultiHullsSolutions: St Francis 50 Boat Review
MultihullsWorld: Lagoon Sixty7 Almost Affordable Luxury
PassageMaker: Top Cats
SailMagazine: 10 Great Cruising Cats
StFrancisCatamarans: Overview
SunreefYachts: 80 Sunreef Power Eco
YachtWorld: Lagoon Boats for Sale
YachtWorld: Gunboat 68

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!

Living on a Catamaran

Living on a catamaran has both advantages and disadvantages when compared to living on a monohull sailboat. That said, most of the challenges of living aboard a catamaran are mitigated on larger and higher-quality vessels.

Catamarans feature two hulls placed side-by-side and connected by a deck. As a result, the cabins are split between the two hulls, and you may have to go outside to get to the other cabin. Thankfully, most modern cruising catamarans have a center cockpit that connects the two hulls and often features living spaces.

Some vessels have facilities (such as the galley and table) in one cabin and sleeping areas in the other. However, some catamarans have sleeping and cooking facilities in both hulls. The configuration you choose depends on how many people attended live aboard and what layout you prefer.

Catamarans offer superior stability and motion comfort, which is a big advantage when living aboard. Overall, conditions under sail and in the harbor are likely much better aboard a properly-proportioned catamaran.

How to Choose a Liveaboard Catamaran

What qualities make a catamaran ideal for living aboard, and how do you choose the best boat? Attributes such as size and interior layout are the most important, but others such as fit and finish and seakeeping abilities should also be considered.

The best liveaboard catamarans range in size between 30 and 50 feet, width 40 feet being the comfortable average. In general, vessels smaller than 30 feet simply lack the space to include a practical interior layout.

Interior Layout

Interior layout is largely a matter of personal opinion. The most popular liveaboard catamaran features a spacious center cockpit with access to both hulls. Master bedrooms are often found in the stern and the bow of each hull, with heads in between and a galley in the center cockpit. Some catamarans feature one or more additional settees, along with storage in all areas.

Tech and Convenience

The majority of monohull sailboats were produced between the 1960s in the 1980s. This isn't the case for catamarans, as their popularity is more recent. As a result, you're likely to find considerably more modern amenities aboard. Everything from autopilot systems to bathtubs are available aboard newer catamarans.

How Much does a Liveaboard Catamaran Cost?

Catamaran prices vary widely based on age, length, and overall quality. Older vessels cost anywhere between $30,000 and $100,000. Newer and more comfortable liveaboard catamarans generally start above the $100,000 mark and extend up to $500,000 or more.

Best Catamarans to Live On

We chose the following six liveaboard catamarans based on size, interior amenities, handling, and price. These vessels are popular amongst liveaboard sailors and make exceptionally comfortable floating homes both in port and at sea.

1. Manta 42

The first vessel on our list is an exceptional cruising catamaran that's also a comfortable place to live. The Manta 42 can be found on the used market, and it features great handling and a spacious cabin.

Unlike most catamarans, which are built overseas, the Manta 42 was produced entirely in the United States. The Florida-based company produced these vessels in the 1990s and 2000s, and they proved extremely popular with offshore cruisers.

The Manta 42 is known for its stability, hull strength, and speed. However, its cabin layout is also smart and livable. Most Manta 42s feature an asymmetrical cabin layout. The cabin has two heads located in convenient places; one on the port side across from a master berth and one on the starboard side, which is easily accessible from the cockpit. It features three berthing areas and one large sitting area, with seating and storage throughout.

The Manta 42 also has exceptional storage capacity. The vessel stores 125 gallons of fuel and a whopping 100 gallons of freshwater. It also has generous gray and black water tanks to service both heads and the galley sinks.

Overall, the Manta 42 is an excellent choice for cruising liveaboards. It's a fast, nimble, and safe vessel with ample headroom and space throughout the cabin.

Quick Facts:

42-foot overall length
Large master cabins
Built for long-term living and cruising
High storage capacity for fuel and water
High hull strength
American-built
Production ceased in the 2000s, so equipment may not be up-to-date

2. Nautitech 44

The Nautitech 44 is the obvious choice for the number two spot on our list. This well-known cruising catamaran has a unique Center cockpit design which makes it stylish and functional.

The futuristic cockpit of the Nautitech 44 allows the crew to enjoy ample ventilation even in wet conditions. This makes it ideal for living abroad in tropical climates where rain and heat often accompany each other.

Nautitech, which is a French company, continues to produce this model due to its popularity and excellent seakeeping abilities. Prices almost always exceed $100,000, both new and used, making it one of the costlier models on the list. For the price, you get a fine interior fit and finish along with the latest comforts and conveniences.

The Nautitech 44 is available in several cabin layouts. The most popular configuration features an expansive center cockpit with below-deck living spaces, along with three berthing areas and a galley. Additionally, most of these vessels feature a large master head and several smaller heads in each of the hulls. Access to each hull through the center cockpit is easy, and the headroom is excellent.

The Nautitech 44 is a fast boat, and it's great for offshore cruising. However, hull width was sacrificed for speed and handling. This means that the hulls are slightly narrower than some of the competition. That said, it doesn't seem to bother most Nautitech owners.

44-foot overall length
Large center cabin
All-weather control cockpit
Great ventilation
Ample room in the hulls
Wide hallways
Spacious heads
Excellent seakeeping abilities
Expensive on the used market
No open cockpit

3. Voyage 44

Here's a popular and spacious catamaran with some unique characteristics that make it ideal for living aboard. The Voyage 44 is a wide and stable multihull sailboat with a large center cockpit and an attractive interior layout.

The cabin of the Voyage 44 is modern and airy, taking advantage of light colors and thoughtfully designed furniture to make the most out of limited space. This is conducive to a pleasant living environment that's also easy to clean. The center cockpit also features a large, full galley.

The center cockpit stands out, as the voyage 44s exceptionally wide beam gives it plenty of room for tables, sitting areas, and other amenities. The windows let in plenty of light, in the cabin is completely weatherproof.

Below decks, the Voyage 44 features up to six separate heads and several sleeping areas. The master head, located in the bow, is one of the largest available on sailboats of this size range. The vessel features up to eight individuals sleeping areas, which is remarkable for a 44-foot boat.

The Voyage 44 is an excellent liveaboard catamaran due to its wide beam and extremely spacious living accommodations. Out of all the boats on this list, the Voyage 44 is likely the best value overall as it's relatively affordable. The Voyage 44 may be the perfect long-term liveaboard catamaran under 50 feet in length.

Unusually wide beam
Full master head with two showers
Very high speeds
Sturdy construction
Very large center cabin
Eight sleeping areas
May be too wide for some marina slips

4. Privilege 435

The Alliaura Marine Privilege 435 is a simple and elegant catamaran with a comfortable interior, smart design, ingrate offshore handling characteristics. This speedy vessel is constructed with some of the finest materials available, and the overall fit and finish are excellent. Behind the center cabin, the Privilege 435 features a strong fiberglass canopy to protect the crew from spray and son.

The majority of Privilege 435s on the market were built recently, so you can expect the latest navigation and safety equipment. Additionally, the vessel is efficient and includes amenities such as multiple heads, modern utilities, and easy access to the hulls through the center cabin.

The vessel features four separate bedrooms and enough bathrooms and showers for each person (or couple). The center Cabin is wide and features comfortable seating areas, along with a full galley with a stove and a fridge. Stepping inside the Privilege 435 is like stepping inside of a vacation house, and it feels purpose-built for long-term living.

The vessel is available in relatively high numbers, though its popularity means you're likely to pay top dollar. On the used market, the vessel sells for between $250,000 to $350,000 on average. This puts it on the upper edge of our price range. But for the price, you got a long-lasting and desirable catamaran that's ready to live aboard almost immediately.

The Privilege 435 is ideal for cruising liveaboards with families or sailors who need space for guests. The interior is very comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. It has several great spaces for entertaining multiple people. On short-to-medium voyages, the Privilege 435 should be adequate for up to eight or more adults.

43-foot overall length
Full-size berthing areas
Large center galley and sitting area
Spacious interior
Large showers
Great offshore handling
Expensive, even on the used market

The Fountain Pajot Elba 45 is a modern and luxurious cruising catamaran with a high freeboard and all the living amenities you'd expect. It's a high-caliber vessel that sails as good as it looks, and it's still produced by the original manufacturer in Europe.

The Elba 45 has one of the largest center cabins of any catamaran in its size range. It features a large settee, a full galley, and access to both hulls. The cabin layout is flexible, and you can order one of several different designs. One of the most popular is the classic 'mirror' layout, where each hull has two master berthing areas, a V-berth in the bow, and two separate heads.

However, other versions are available with attached bathing facilities and additional room for storage, cooking, and other activities. One of the unique features of the Elba 45 is the addition of a V-berth bow. This berth connects directly to the master Beds, which makes for a unique but flexible sleeping arrangement.

If purchased new, the Elba 45 will set you back around $430,000 to $450,000. For the price, you get the latest technology and the finest interior and exterior materials. This is important in the long run as the best liveaboard catamarans should be built to last.

The fit and finish of this vessel are ideal for those looking for a luxurious living environment. Its accommodations are closer to that of a luxury yacht than a sailboat. As a result, the Elba 45 is a great place to live long-term and entertain guests.

45-foot overall length
Multiple layouts available
Luxury fit-and-finish
Four cabins
Six full-size berths
Luxurious amenities
Additional V-berths in bow
Highest build quality
Upper end of the price range

6. Lagoon 380

The majority of suitable liveaboard catamarans are over 40 feet in length. This is because it's difficult to fit comfortable accommodations in a smaller vessel. However, the Lagoon 380 is a notable exception. This 39-foot catamaran is one of the most comfortable vessels in its class, and it features a spacious interior and excellent design.

The Lagoon 380 is a newer vessel that features modern conveniences and adheres to high safety standards. Modern manufacturing techniques make this vessel stronger and easier to maintain than its older counterparts. Additionally, owners praise its sailing characteristics in both rough and calm weather.

The spacious center cabin features a full galley and sitting area with a notably wide walking room in between. It also boasts excellent visibility, which also increases the amount of natural light in the living areas. Additionally, the center cabin features easy access to the hulls, and the mirror layout provides comfortable accommodations for eight adults.

The interior space aboard the Lagoon 380 is almost indistinguishable from catamarans between 44 and 50 feet in length. The primary difference is that, instead of the traditional two heads per hull, the Lagoon 380 only features one. That said, the heads include a large shower and plenty of room to move around.

The Lagoon 380 is the perfect solution for sailors looking for big boat accommodations in a small package. Due to its shorter length, the Lagoon 380 avoids additional fees for docking and servicing vessels over 40 feet overall.

39-foot overall length
Full galley
Under 40 feet in length
High construction quality
Customizable options
Great handling
Fewer bathrooms than some similar vessels

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

by this author

Best Sailboats

Most Recent

What Does "Sailing By The Lee" Mean?

October 3, 2023

The Best Sailing Schools And Programs: Reviews & Ratings

September 26, 2023

Important Legal Info

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home

September 13, 2023

Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom

Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K

Can a Novice Sail Around the World?

Elizabeth O'Malley

June 15, 2022

Best Electric Outboard Motors | Life of Sailing

4 Best Electric Outboard Motors

How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England?

10 Best Sailboat Brands | Life of Sailing

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

December 20, 2023

7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat

9 Best Trailerable Sailboats

Get the best sailing content.

Yearly Catamaran Cruising Costs

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Last Updated on September 23, 2021 by Amy

We (and every other blogger/vlogger/participant in online forums) see a ton of questions about cruising costs. Answers can vary so widely, but we thought we would at least share some basics of what our first years of cruising looked like financially.

Note: all amounts are in USD!

Table of Contents - Click to Jump

I’ve been a big fan of Mint for many, many years (longer than I’ve known David actually). Mint works incredibly well to help us track our spending. Plus, it really helped us track our savings prior to cruising and help us save for our trip!

While we can use our credit card a lot, often it makes more sense to use cash. David and I each keep track of our cash expenses in our phones or by keeping receipts. Typically, before we leave a country, I go through and reconcile our notes with Mint. A cool thing Mint does is take our cash spending and deduct it from the ATM withdrawals. If we track correctly when we leave a country, we will have no more of their foreign currency left, and the ATM withdrawal category will be $0.

What About the Rest?

We don’t share costs outside of this perspective. The remaining costs – like health insurance, food, travel – are 100% based on personal preferences. In this lifestyle, you can eat out as much as you want, or as little as you want. You can travel home three times a year, or not at all. You can take outside, land-based trips, or not. Health costs are going to be very dependant on an individual’s age and health.

What Does it Cost to Sail Around the World?

As you’ll see below, our average yearly costs for all the marine items was $36,250 . That includes repair & maintenance, boat insurance, dockage, customs & immigration, gas & fuel, and communications. Our world circumnavigation took us four years and three months.

$36,250 x 4.25 = $145,000 total

The only thing missing is factoring in the cost of our boat. We will take a fairly large hit since we bought our boat new. Someone who’s bought a used boat is going to fare much better financially than we did.

Docking Around the World

Here’s a look at a breakdown of how we spent our nights while sailing around the world. Keep in mind that we are a 44′ catamaran.

It’s also really interesting to look at a breakdown by year for our docking costs:

We spent way more time at the dock in 2019 than we did any other year. Most of that was in Seychelles and South Africa. Also, these long stays meant we could pay a monthly rate instead of a daily rate, which significantly drops the per night price.

In Seychelles, we got stuck. The winds shift in July to come from the SE, which means the conditions to sail to Madagascar are really unfavorable. They didn’t shift back until late September. This also coincided with some personal difficulties and overall malaise over the cruising life, and we were very happy to sit for a few months in a very cheap marina (~25 USD/night).

In South Africa, there are very few protected anchorages and some extreme weather conditions. Most cruising boats marina-hop the coast. We spent almost six weeks in Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront Marina, a glorious stay in one of our favorite cities and another very cheap marina (~$40 USD/night).

So how much does a nightly marina cost for a boat of our size?

We were quoted $200 by two different marinas in Nassau Bahamas (Lyford Cay Club Marina and Atlantis Marina) and one in Sydney (d’Albora Marinas Cabarita Point). In both cases, we were able to find free anchorages and take taxis or public transit as needed.

One 15 Marina in Singapore was $120 a night, but also one of the best marinas we’d ever been to. To be on Sentosa Island with so many amenities was amazing. We had free transport to central Singapore, a huge Western grocery store, a pool, a gym, beautiful shower facilities, and anything else we could need.

Alternatively, we paid around $100 USD a night for some marinas that were totally not worth it: Royal Phuket Marina in Thailand, St Francis Marina in South Africa, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Australia. These places tended to be too far away from town and minimal amenities. This usually is because they just aren’t catering to transients.

On the other hand, moorings were typically incredibly cheap. Most of the time we flew home, we left Starry Horizons on a mooring where it was much cheaper and easier access to land didn’t matter as much.

Formalities Around the World

Here is what we wrote down for our formality costs around the world. Please note that this is NOT perfect. Often if we paid in cash, we forgot to write it down. The best source for information is Noonsite .

Cruising Costs Year 1

The locations.

Location plays a big part in every single category. For this first year, July 1st, 2015 through June 30th, 2016, we started in the Bahamas, sailing to Canada, Maine, Bermuda, spent three months in the Caribbean, went through the Panama Canal, and then sailing through French Polynesia. June 30, 2016, found us in the Leeward Islands of French Polynesia.

Repair and Maintenance – $16,500

We are surprised by how high this number is for a new boat, but not surprised that it is the biggest category for our cruising costs. About $4k is the bottom job in the BVIs , which we will have to do every year. The other major expenses were fixing our spinnaker in Canada , fixing the leaking mini keel in Nanny Cay , and our prop that fell off in the USVI . Half the money ($8,250) is smaller charges of less than $400.

Vessel insurance – $10,000

When we left France we were using Pantaenius for our vessel insurance, at $4,800 a year. However, that covered the Atlantic only, so we had to change our policy to cover the Panama Canal and Pacific. Pantaenius was going to cost $14,000 instead, so we shopped around and switch to Jackline at $8,400 a year.

Read about our vessel insurance .

Customs – $4,000

There is no charge for clearing into some countries, like French Polynesia. We paid $5 in Dominica, $52 in St Lucia, $40 in Grenada, $47 in St Martin. The Galapagos was $1,355. This category also includes our canal transit at $1,970. These two stops really increased our overall cruising costs for our first year.

Docking – $3,500

Moorings in the Caribbean are typically $25-30 a night. Moorings in Tonga are $6 a night. Dockage in Maine and Bahamas was $200 a night. Most of the Caribbean was $75 a night for a slip. Tahiti was $71 a night. Shelter Bay marina in Panama was $78 a night. Halifax $68.

In one year we spent 51 nights in a mooring (14% – including two times we left the boat to fly back to the states), 31 nights at dock (8% – 14 of those in Shelter Bay, Panama) and 7 nights on the hard (2%) for a grand total of 89 nights (24%) paying for our location.

This is higher than we thought it would be. Our biggest error in planning this expense out was we didn’t think about where we would be storing the boat when we left it. It’s easy to think that when we are onboard, most of the time we will be at anchor. When we are gone though, we want to feel secure with where we leave Starry Horizons. Thus, docking expenses becomes a higher part of our cruising costs.

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $3,700

We are not one of those boats that refuses to turn on the engine. While we prefer to sail the entire way, we turn our engines on in order to arrive during daylight or when the wind dies and our autopilot can no longer steer. We also run our generator at least every 5 days to run our watermaker. With our 125 gallon tank, plus our 50-gallon fuel bladder and 4 jerry cans (20 gallons), we’ve topped up/filled up 11 times in that year, with our most expensive being close to $500 in the Bahamas.

Communications – $2,000

Total Cruising Costs & Boat Expenses: $39,700

Cruising costs year 2.

Here’s a summary of our second year, covering from July 1 st , 2016 to June 30th, 2017.

July 1 st of 2016 we were in French Polynesia. We made our way through the South Pacific and spent cyclone season in New Zealand. We took a trip back home and then did a 35-day road trip in New Zealand. This year also includes the time we spent away from Starry Horizons crewing on S/V Julia, about 35 days where our expenses were covered.

Repair and Maintenance – $16,500

As expected, the repair & maintenance section is the largest part of our cruising costs. The difference between R&M this year and R&M our first year is a mere $88! This includes 2 haul outs – one in New Zealand where we did a ton of projects including a bottom job and one in Tonga to fix a leaking thruhull and corrosion on our sail drives. Again, half the money ($7,950) is smaller charges of less than $400.

Vessel insurance – $8,300

We are still covered by Jackline for the Pacific region. Read about our vessel insurance .

Customs – $370

The fees for entering countries this year were small – $25 for New Zealand, $50 for Niue, $100 for Tonga, and the most expensive, Fiji, was $160. A big change from our cruising costs last year!

Docking – $2,900

Most of this category is docking in New Zealand. We paid usually about $30 USD for a dock in New Zealand, which is pretty amazingly cheap. Starry Horizons was docked at the Bay of Islands Marina in Opua, at the Whangarei Town Basin, and part of our storage in Norsand falls into this category as well.

We did not pay for any docking in French Polynesia during this year (but the previous year we paid for docking in Tahiti). We did pay for a mooring in Niue, and also paid for moorings in Tonga. The Beluga Dive moorings in Neiafu are $15 TOP ($6.75 USD) a night in the peak season and $12 TOP ($5.40) a night in the offseason. This made Neiafu an incredibly cheap place to leave our boat for 7 weeks while we crewed on Julia ($330 USD for all 7 weeks).

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $2,300

Starry Horizons didn’t move as much this year as she did in our first year. She was sedentary for over 4 months, so as expected our diesel costs were significantly lower than the previous year.

Communications – $2,350

Total Cruising Costs: $32,720

Cruising costs year 3.

Here’s a summary of our third year, covering from July 1 st , 2017 to June 30th, 2018.

July 1 st of 2017 we had just arrived in the Ha’apai group of Tonga. We spent the rest of the season in the South Pacific, especially in remote locations, which means we didn’t spend much money. In December we arrived in Australia, a country that has a cost of living comparable to, if not more than, the US. Also in this time frame is nearly three months at The Boat Works in Coomera near the Gold Coast. For a majority of that time, we spent 6 weeks traveling around Australia while Starry Horizons stayed on the hard.

Repair and Maintenance – $13,000

We saw a significant decrease in our Repair & Maintenance expenses this year. Our first and second years were nearly identical at $16,500. This year outside of our battery project , we spent $13,000 dollars. This includes the haul out at the Boat Works and new bottom paint and a majority of the projects we tackled there.

If we’d chosen to just replace the AGM batteries instead of going to Lithium-Ion batteries, the cost for the batteries would have been roughly $4,500 instead of the $27,500 for our electrical refit.

Vessel insurance – $9,500

We are still covered by Jackline for the Indo-Pacific region. Read about our vessel insurance .

Customs – $1,200

The biggest expense for customs was our Australian Visa and clearing into Australia. The visa was expensive because we had to travel to get our medical exams done. The clear in itself was roughly $400.

Docking – $3,250

From July 1, 2017, to December 1st, 2017, we did not stay the night on a dock at all. There are just so few marinas in the South Pacific, and even if we wanted to, they were full. We stayed on moorings for a total of 14 nights in the South Pacific.

In Australia, being at a dock has become much more common. This category includes storing Starry Horizons on the hard during our 6-week Australia trip and storing her in a marina during an 8-day trip back to the states. While we tried to get a slip in the marinas near Sydney around the holidays, they were all full. If we’d been able to find one near the city center we would have paid roughly $200 a night. Instead, we anchored for free. Elsewhere, docking has cost us less than $60 a night, with the exception of Hamilton Island Marina, which was nearly $100 for one night.

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $3,000

We filled our diesel tank 6 times this year, three of which were in Australia. Part of this was our decision to motor in light winds (like from Lake Macquarie all the way to Southport) and running the generator more often (our watermaker was at half production for a while).

Communications – $2,500

Total cruising costs: $32,450, cruising costs year 4.

Here’s a summary of our fourth year, covering from July 1 st , 2018 to June 30th, 2019.

July 1 st of 2018 found us in Cairns, Australia, getting ready to join the rally and depart for Southeast Asia. We cruised through Indonesia , Malaysia , and Thailand , all of which are very inexpensive places to visit. We had a short stay in Singapore and Sri Lanka , and then two months in the Maldives , the most expensive cruising ground we’ve been to. We ended the year in Seychelles .

Repair and Maintenance – $16,000

Well, if we are anything….we are consistent! Our first two years of cruising, our R&M cost was just over $16,000 – this year it’s almost exactly that number. This includes two haul outs in Thailand, one at G&T Ship Yard and one at PSS. The haul-out at G&T included a bottom job.

We are still covered by Jackline for the Indo-Pacific region. Read about our vessel insurance .

Customs – $2,660

Half of our customs cost for the year was the Maldives. It is a very expensive place to cruise (and a bureaucratic mess). Most of the other countries were a few hundred dollars each.

Docking – $4,100

Our docking expenses were unusually high this year because we made three visits back to the states (two being for family memorial services). Starry Horizons stayed on a mooring in Lombok (the only dockage we paid for in 100 days cruising Indonesia). In Thailand, we left her at Royal Phuket Marina, and in Seychelles at Eden Island Marina.

Our most expensive marina was One 15 Marina in Singapore for roughly $120 a night, which we absolutely loved. Looking at the cost of hotels on Sentosa Island with comparable amenities, clearing into Singapore and staying at the marina was the right call for us. We did pay for docking a few times in Malaysia and the Maldives at the town wharf for roughly $25 a night. Royal Phuket Marina was overpriced for the amenities and location at nearly $100 a night.

In total, we paid for docking/mooring 70 nights (19%).

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $5,200

As expected, crossing the Indian Ocean and cruising around the equator so much blew a lot of diesel. We filled up three times in the Maldives alone (at over $500 a pop), plus big fills in Singapore and Seychelles.

Communications – $2,700

This covers our expenses for our satellite phone, our InReach tracker, and running our website and email for Out Chasing Stars. For a more in-depth look at communications expenses, check out our blog post Communications . This year our expenses went up as we have had to upgrade our website hosting service (good problems to have!).

Total Cruising Costs: $40,160

Looking to the 5th year.

I’m not sure if I will post the 5th year costs – it depends on how the year shapes out for us. You can read about our 2020 plans . I hope that this information is helpful to you!

46 Comments

Thank you for sharing! I was honestly shocked, hoping we could do on 3-4k$ a month avg with 2 adults 2 kids including food etc. Now I read that is what it takes without having eaten a bite.

BTW, you paid for repairs of a throughhull and saildrive in your first year of a brand new boat? What about warranty?

Hi Daniel! The corrosion on our sail drives was an environmental issue. As far as the thruhull, we didn’t feel like it was worth the hassle as it’s a cheap part, an easy repair, and we were hauling the boat out anyway.

Boats are not cheap!

I’m surprised by the insurance premium. I’ve been looking at boats in the Helia 44 range and brokers tell me 2-3% of the cost for insurance.I just had quote on a 2021 Leopard 45 of 5k and was skeptical but your $ makes me feel much better. Thanks for sharing!! Plan to sail east coast US, Maine to Florida and Bahamas

Yes, our insurance is global. There are a lot of plans you can get that’s only cover certain areas for cheaper.

One quick question, how difficult did you find locating dockage on the East Coast US for a catamaran? We’re you able to find availability when/where you wanted or was it difficult due to your beam?

We’ve always been able to find a dock when we want one, although we don’t look for them very often since we prefer to anchor.

This is a great post! My husband is very concerned about the maintenance costs and how much to budget for them. Did you do most of the work yourselves or did you pay to have it done?

You know, we didn’t realize how much work we do ourselves until you talk to other boaters who are unwilling to tackle many of the projects we have. We do a lot of work ourselves.

I published an article linking your post about cost of living on a catamaran.

I invite you to add one of your pictures, updates to the budget, or add additional context to my quote. Feel free to contact me via email and I can add your content.

Always good reading your inspirational and informative articles.

Respectfully,

Marco Sison

My article: https://www.nomadicfire.com/sailboat-life/ Your article I linked to: https://outchasingstars.com/cruising-budget-first-year-new-catamaran/#Cruising_Costs_Year_4

Pingback: Inspiring Adventures Of Sailboat Life, FIRE, & World Travel
Pingback: Buying a boat can be overwhelming. Follow these 8 steps...

Super helpful to see your numbers, thank you! We are in our first year now currently hauled out for bottom paint and saildrive repairs (there goes the maintenance budget). Very helpful to see what is realistic for docking/mooring. We are also eating our way too much in our first year 🙂

I struggle with that sometimes too….I love trying local food! Thankfully after we left Australia dining out has been really cheap.

Hi Amy are your figures in Australian Dollars?

No, everything is USD! I will update the post to clarify.

Wonderful info thanks you.i just started an excel document to begin tracking live aboard costs. We hope to be live aboard sooner than later

You are welcome! Good luck, and happy saving 🙂

Thanks Amy and David, we love your posts and your video’s. Very informative. We hope to sail in 2 or 3 years with our 3 children. Looking forward to being on the water. What an adventure your are having. Enjoy.

Thanks yall! We are glad you are enjoying them.

My name is Jan and I love your stories and videos …

Looking myself to buy a Helia very soon but need to split cost with 1-2 moore persons. Just will use it like 3-4 month a year… If you know anyone ….

Anyhow my question is does it cost anything to lay by anchor when you are outside the islands ?

Take care ,,,

Hi Jan! Good luck finding people to share the boat with. That’s got to be challenging.

Most places, anchoring is absolutely free.

This was short, sweet and informative! Thanks for the breakdown – helped me start thinking of a couple categories I didn’t consider before.Can’t wait to follow y’all and see what 2017 brings! Safe travels!!

Thanks Becca! Glad it was helpful.

Thanks David and Amy, we are awaiting our new Helia Evo at the end of Feb . we plan to continue living aboard in Newport RI for 2 years, while working/saving and fitting out the boat – Solar, Hydronic Heating, and ocean prep. It’s great to have your expenses itemized and allow us to budget for our trip. we hope to cruise “till we drop”. we live for you blogs and videos which keep us focussed and excited.

Aw thanks guys! That’s so sweet of you to say. Congrats on your Helia, drop us a line if you have any questions!

So, what was the total? I didn’t see it listed znfdoung the rough math myself it looos like ~$40K/year but I think I’m missing something?

I didn’t want to post a total, I think everyone has different things they would pay for. We have a lot of yearly expenses we didn’t list because they are not expenses every cruiser would have. For examples; doctors, storage units, other insurances, etc.

Hi there, I think those expenses would be great to list, i.e. doctors, storage, insurance, ect. Those are all perfectly legitimate expenses that can easily be over looked. My husband and I are 42 now and will be 46 when we start cruising. We will still be relatively young but health insurance is a huge concern since we will no longer be employed and way to young for Medicare. Does medicare even carry over in foreign countries?? In summary, if you could include the full spectrum of your expenses, that would be that much more helpful! And thank you so much to take the time to write this. It is a great help in the planning stages.

Greetings Admiral Amy, Captain Dave and the star of the show Starry Horizons. Thank you for such an informative coverage of your travel expenses. And thank you, Amy, for answering my similar question earlier this week. If it helps to make you feel any better, my wife & I privately own & operate a “Beechcraft Kingair 350 twin-engine turboprop aircraft. I like to average around 10 to 15 hours flying each week. But at $2700 per hour, well what can I say, it’s like sailing, once you’re hooked it’s difficult to stop! Cheers.

That is an expensive hobby! I’m glad you found the post helpful.

Great roll up of the expenses. I am surprised about the maintenance too. We have a 2002 Hunter 326, so about half the size of Starry Horizons, and spent 14K on maintenance for 2016. Hopefully now that you have worked out the bugs this year will be much kinder to your wallet.

Thanks for the numbers. This info always helps those of us still waiting to finally get away for good.

Thanks! I am feeling pretty good about maintenance being less this year. Plus we haven’t had many major things happen. I think we are past broken in and into smooth running. Knock on wood!

Love your blog and videos. Thank you for letting us “tag along”.

Aw thanks!! We are glad you are following along!

Thank you Amy and David! Somehow, these figures and comments are good news. After reading so many stories where people mostly says that whatever your budget, you will spend more, the projections I made were much higher than what you got (fuel, maintenance and insurance)! With 2 engines and genset, looks like you did good on fuel (i believe the number was for main engines and all related dinguy oil and gaz)

Thanks again for this great 1 year read point !

Thanks Cyrille! You are right on the fuel. Hopefully this will help you plan a bit and I will update you once we finish this second year of cruising!

Wallet…Grave…turning…ouch!!!

Great detailed report you two! Hope to cross paths again. Cheers Nils S/V Aggressive

Thanks Nils! We will be keeping up with you via Facebook and it may be a few years, but I’m sure paths will cross again.

That was great info to have, my wife and I are planning on making the leap in the next 9 years so getting a feel for true(within reason) cost of living is some great knowledge to have. Especially the insurance side of it. That is the one area that I can’t get good info on. Like where the boat can be and for how long and hurricane season etc. The one question I have is- With it being a new boat was none of those needed repairs covered under any kind of warranty? I keep seeing people buying “new” boats and then having all kinds of stuff breaking, like Chase The Story/Cheeky Monkey’s ice maker and the auto pilot. All of this is making me start to lean more towards a used/BROKEN in boat.

Hi Mark! A couple things:

Here’s a blog post I wrote about the insurance issues:

https://outchasingstars.com/insurance-for-cruising-boats/

The contract covers warranty time lines, but the best bet is to ask a broker (talk to Frank!).

Cheeky monkeys issues have not been from the factory. I think that after a “break in period” on our boat, we are having very minimal issues. Keep an eye out for a post in march about the projects we have tabled till NZ. I think there are plenty of blogs out there hat detail costs while cruising on a used cat.

Thank you for this info. I have not found a blog with this much detail. Very helpful for our future planning!

BTW – My wife and I have been following your videos since before you left France. Very informative.

Thanks Joaquin! Glad you found it helpful!

Look for s/v bebe- also very informative while Amy’s details are super valuable as applying to a new cat.

Thank You! This is beyond helpful for those that are interested in following your footsteps.

Thanks Ben!!

How Much Sailboats Cost On Average (380+ Prices Compared)

Turns out that owning a sailboat is pretty affordable. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. In this article, I'll show you exactly what to expect.

Sure, super yachts are expensive, but so is everything super (except for maybe supermarkets). But a modest, used sailboat can be as cheap as $2,500 and an additional $1,400 per year.

It may come as a surprise to you that you can get a decent sailboat for as little as $1,500 on Craigslist.

Average sailboat costs at a glance

We've compared thousands of listings, so you don't have to. If you just want the ballpark figures, here they are:

The average price of new sailboats is $425,000 ($127,000 to $821,000). The average price of used sailboats is $278,000 ($67,000 to $555,000). Maintenance costs are on average $2,000 - $3,000 per year, and the average total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000.

Of course the price of a sailboat depends on our choices. We decide whether sailing is a rich man's game, or actually a very good holiday investment. (It beats driving to a bungalow park for sure - both cost-wise and the experience itself.)

How Much To Charter a Superyacht? (Less Than You Think)

Why you should trust us These figures are based on our latest research which was last updated September 26th 2023 . We do this research every year, giving us very accurate numbers and clear insight into the trend of sailboat prices. We've literally compared thousands of sailboat listings over the years, and we've done so methodically. The research is done by our researcher Tay, who is an engineer by trade.

This will be a long article because there are so many aspects to cover. I'd like to spend some time exploring the costs of actually buying the boat. Then I want to go into recurring costs , like mooring, maintenance, and insurance.

To really drive home what you're getting into , I'll give four real-life examples. These examples include every expense as a separate line-item. And we'll go over them line-by-line together.

Then I'll share our exact research results with you . This will include all our numbers: new vs. used, average price per foot, and much more. These are extremely detailed numbers (you don't have to read this if you don't want to).

At the end of the article, we'll discuss why a boat doesn't just cost money: she can actually make you some if you wanted.

A used family week-ender with a small cabin will cost roughly $30,000 (all-in for the first year).
If you dream of sailing around the world, expect to spend around $100,000.
New sailboats on average cost twice as much as used boats.
Maintenance cost are 5-10% of the boat's value per year. Docking costs are roughly $800 - $2,500 per year.
Sailboat prices have gone up 30% this year.

Lean sailboat in blue, protected waters with just the mainsail up

Buying a sailboat

Small boats are up to 30 foot long . They'll be very capable and great for solo sailors or small families who want to go on day trips, or short week-end trips on inland waters. Some of them will have cabins and sleeping quarters, although small.

Medium boats are between 30 and 50 foot long . They'll host larger parties and will be more suited for longer trips, coastal sailing, or even bluewater cruising. Sailboat length isn't necessarily the most important feature for that, though.

Large boats are 50 foot and up . This is proper yacht territory, and they'll be a lot more luxurious, and also exponentially more expensive.

If you buy via a broker, you typically get more reliable boats, but also pay more. If you buy off of Craigslist, you get a fat discount, but there are more lemons on there too.

You could hire a boat surveyor who will inspect the boat before you buy it (much like when you buy a house). Those surveys are not very expensive and can be worth your money.

Owning a sailboat

There are a lot of costs involved with simply owning a boat. The biggest expenses will be docking and maintenance.

Those two alone will account for roughly 80% of your yearly expenses.

Maintenance : 5-10% of the boat's value
Docking : $800-$2,500 per year on average, depeding on location

If we want to know what we're getting ourselves into, we should know every expense to the dot.

Below, we'll go over four very different case studies. I'm hoping one of these will relate to your specific situation. It'll show you what to expect and how to budget for your purchase.

The four sailboat case studies

What does it cost if you want to keep your boat in good shape and have a good sailing experience? - aka: most people
What does it cost if you ONLY spend the absolute minimum amount to keep her floating?
If I want to sail the world on a budget, what's the absolute minimum?
If sailing is more of a status thing to you, how much money COULD you spend?

There are a lot of great boats out there for a good price and there are also some boats that are so expensive (or so cheap), it's not even fun to look at them.

But one thing's for sure: there are plenty of boats available, and even if you're on a very tight budget, you could absolutely still make it work. Sailing in and of itself is actually not that expensive: wind is free, water is free, boats can be cheap - if you're willing to look around a bit. It's all the little extras that add up quickly.

Listed below are 4 boats that make great beginner boats. Since more than 80% of all boats that are bought are second-hand, I'll use the prices of used boats I found on Craigslist.

If you want to know exactly where the numbers come from, don't worry, I'll explain them after the 4 examples.

1. Island Packet 26' for stressless weekends on the lake

The one-time costs are $24,860 Your total recurring costs are $5,650 per year, or $471 per month

Let's say you're like me and most other people and just want a nice boat without too much hassle. So you pay people for complex maintenance. You do the required maintenance and save up for future repairs. You do a little yourself, which saves you a couple of hundred of bucks a year. You also join a (cheap) sailing club to learn how to not trash the boat. You get the right trailer, and you save up some money for future repairs. You don't want to buy a bad boat, so you pay a fair purchase price

One-Time Costs:

Recurring costs:, 2. extreme low budget catalina 22'.

Ok, I'm very interested in how cheap you could actually go (in theory). Is it do-able to buy a very cheap sailboat and just keep her afloat, never change sails, and only pay for maintenance that is absolutely necessary to not sink?

In this scenario, I don't care about speed, so I don't change sails. I certainly won't join a sailing club, and I try to save some money on the marina by boondocking. I also happen to live in a cheap state registration and tax-wise.

Docking costs can get out of hand For an average sailboat, depending on your area and wishes, up to $5,000/year . Read everything about docking costs

I try to pay as little as possible for the boat itself (and I've actually found a Catalina 22 for $2,250 on Craigslist today!). I don't save up for rigging and hardware (tomorrows' worries). I try to get an extra 2 years out of my bottom paint and I only do the essential repairs, and I do them myself. But because I saved so much on the purchase, this little boat needs a lot of maintenance.

Luckily, I have time on my hands and know my way around engines and rigging, so I do all of it myself (with the help of YouTube).

I don't bother with winterizing my boat, I'll just sail somewhere warm. Oh, and I'll use the engine as little as possible to save on gas.

Will your boat be happy? Definitely not, but your wallet will be (for now). Can it be done? It's optimistic, but yes, I think it can be done. But you have to be mechanically inclined, and pretty creative.

The one-time costs are $2,428 Your total recurring costs are $1,380 per year, or $115 per month

Recurring Costs

3. low budget 35' ocean cruiser for traveling the world.

If you dream of crossing oceans, you need a comfortable ride. Usually, most sailors pick a boat that's between 32' - 50' for two person ocean cruising. Anything under 32' gets pretty uncomfortable in high waves, although it can be done.

But this is also the range that gets expensive - quickly . So if we're on a tight budget, but also need a good and reliable boat: how much will it cost?

The boat will cost you $35,000. For this price, I've seen a beautiful 1983 wooden cutter (by Robert Tucker), multiple Beneteau Oceanis from '88 - '89, multiple Bavarias ... plenty of solid choices on the second-hand market here.

In this example, you don't join any sailing clubs (I assume you're pretty experienced if you want to cross oceans). You also don't winterize (you're sailing the Caribbean by now). No trailer, as you won't haul it out of the water any time soon.

You do pay a fair price for the boat because you don't want any surprises during your Tour du Monde. In need of a lot of bottom paint , since you're in saltwater most of the time. It's also a good idea to invest in at least SOME navigation equipment, so for $500 I've added a simple but capable GPS chartplotter and compass.

You can get a cheap but reliable chartplotter and compass for less than $500 - in total. If you want to learn more, head over to the recommended gear section .

The one-time costs are $37,590 Your total recurring costs are $5,425 per year, or $452 per month

4. Powerful 40' Yacht (and everything that goes with it)

Let's say you're in the game for the fame. What does it cost me to own a grande yacht with all luxuries (and costs) that go with it?

I join an expensive sailing club, hire pros that maintain the thing beautifully, and I also pay for winterization, the best trailer I can find. I replace my sails and running rigging every 5 years - since speed matters to me. Because she's my pride, I paint her every year. I spend an additional 500 bucks a year on special soaps and waxes.

I want a prime mooring location, so I pay a premium. I also get a small boat to hang from the large boat, to get to shore more quickly.

The one-time costs are $166,400 Your total recurring costs are $15,150 per year, or $1,263 per month

There are a couple of important factors that determine how much money you end up spending.

Size - length determines mooring costs, insurance, amount of paint on your hull, literally everything gets more expensive with every foot of length
New vs. used - of course, it makes all the difference whether you buy new or used. Typically, the price of a 25-year old used sailboat vs. a comparable new one is 3-4 times lower ($60,000 vs $200,000).

With used sailboats, I find that the price generally increases rapidly from 30 feet onwards

It's the same with new sailboats - or actually, it keeps increasing with every extra couple of feet. The reason is that as the boat gets bigger, it also gets more luxurious (upholstery, finishing, equipment).

The average price of a new sailboat per foot in USD:

under 30 ft: $3,217 per ft
30 - 50 ft: $7,625 - $11,128 ft
over 50 ft: $14,927 - $78,033 per ft

On average, second-hand sailboats go at 1/3 - 1/4 of the cost of a new boat:

under 30 ft: $1,773 per ft
30 - 50 ft: $6,473 per ft
over 50 ft: $10,091 - $36,889 per ft

If this is too much for you, you could always rent a boat instead. I recommend chartering. You can get great sailboats at great prices. Check out my charter recommendation here .

Cost of buying a sailboat

Price of new sailboats.

I've looked at the prices of thousands of yachts (really) on one of the largest yacht marketplaces in the world (- not manually, don't worry: with the help of their search function). This is what I came up with:

Source: Yachtworld.com Q3 2023

The price of new sailboats ranges from roughly $1,765 - $78,033 per foot. I've used these numbers to calculate the following list:

Prices per foot in USD

Here's the detailed price per foot for all lengths from 20 to 100 feet:

Price of used sailboats

We did the same for used sailboats, comparing thousands of listings. Here are the complete data:

Source: Yachtworld Q3 2023

The price of used sailboats ranges from roughly $882-$36,889 per foot . Here's the detailed price per foot for all lengths from 20 to 100 feet:

Prices on Craigslist

The price of used sailboats ranges from roughly $476-$2,098 per foot.

To get an average of the price of a used sailboat, I went over to Craigslist. I took the first 20 relevant search results for sailboats under, and over 30 feet.

Of course, the averages here are very speculative, as prices vary from day to day. But it gives a broad range of what to expect.

Over 50 feet, listings become meagre. I believe people tend to not place their 80-ft sailboats on Craigslist, but sell it through a broker instead.

Median Craigslist price of a used sailboat:

under 30 ft: $11,065
over 30 ft: $87,020

I've calculated the median price , not the average. The median is the price that's most common within the price range. This way the highest and lowest prices don't have as much impact.

Average Craigslist price-per-foot of a used sailboat:

under 30 ft: $476 per ft
over 30 ft: $2,098 per ft

This is what I found on Craigslist under 30 feet:

Washington dc.

Source: Craigslist Washington DC Q3 2023

Los Angeles

Source: Craigslist Los Angeles Q3 2023

Source: Craigslist Houston Q3 2023

South Florida

Source: Craigslist Miami Q3 2023

Source: Craigslist New York Q3 2023

Here's what I found for 30 feet and up:

Sailboat price development.

Compared to our 2022 research, the median price of new sailboats has gone up 22.5% (from $251,000 to $307,500). The average price has gone up 33.6% (from $248,000 to $331,250).

The average price of used sailboats under 30 ft on Craigslist has gone up 30% (from $8,500 to $11,000).

Sailboat prices research archive

You can check our earlier research data here:

2022 average sailboat price data
2019 average sailboat price data

Catamarans are 60% more expensive

If you dream of owning a catamaran, you should expect to pay roughly 60% more for the boat, and 60% more on annual cost like upkeep and mooring. There are exceptions, of course, and for some boat lengths, new catamarans may be slightly more affordable than a monohull.

I've researched thousands of catamaran listings as well to come up with those numbers. The exact numbers are summarized in my guide on the average cost of buying and owning a catamaran. It's very similar to this article, so if you like this and are curious about catamaran prices as well, I encourage you to check it out.

Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Catamaran (With 4 Examples)

So let's take a quick look at the costs for owning a sailboat.

One-time costs:

Registration : costs of registration differ per state, but usually run anywhere from $3 - $10 per foot.
Taxes : differs per state and country. Most governments want you to pay property tax and sales tax. Sales tax is usually about 5%. Property tax varies and is more complex, so I'll leave that up to you to figure out.
Trailer : $1,000
Sailing club initiation fee : $1,500 - $4,000

Recurring costs:

Mooring : $10-15 per foot per year (can be much higher for prime locations)
Insurance : typically 1.5% of the total value of the boat. So a $50,000 26' cruiser will cost 750 bucks.
Maintenance : a good rule of thumb is 10% of the boat value. Expect to spend anywhere between $500 - $2,500 per year for small to mid-sized boats.
Fuel : depends on how much you use the boat and the engine, but on average something between $100 - $150. - Find out how much fuel a sailboat uses in my article here (opens in new tab).
International License : if you want to sail on international waters, you have to get your ICC (International Certificate of Competence ). Plan on spending anywhere between 400 to 500 dollars.
Safety equipment : plan on spending anywhere between 150 to 600 bucks for lifejackets, first aid kit, and distress signals.
Winterize boat : $2,000
Sailing club: $800 - $1,500

Cost of owning a boat

Maintenance

Your average maintenance cost will be roughly $144 dollars per month for boats under 30', or just under $2,000 per year.

Maintenance involves a lot of hidden costs We took an in-depth look at everything . The result is a comprehensive article that lays it all out for new boat owners. Read all about maintenance costs

Gas engines run for about 1,500 hours, diesel engines run for 5,000. After that, you'll need to change them out.

Most engines will last you about 20 years.

A standard 15HP or 20HP outboard gas engine will cost you about $5,000 - $6,000 and needs replacing every 20 years or so. If you do the work yourself, it's more something like $1,000 - $1,500.

A smaller engine uses less fuel, reducing your total cost You can actually use a pretty small engine for most sailboats. To learn how small (and efficient) you can go, I've written a guide on how to calculate it yourself. Read all about outboard engine size

Replacing the sails and rigging

Most people that own a sailboat will have to replace the sails and rigging at least once in their lifetime. Replacing the mast is uncommon, but if you're unlucky and get demasted, it will need to be fixed. So I've added it to the "be aware this might happen" list - but won't add it to the monthly recurring costs.

If you need to replace the mast and boom, prepare to spend anywhere between $15,000 - $25,000.

I won't go into detail, but I have written a long article about the cost of new sails (opens in new tab). It's a really helpful post (with a formula) if you want to know what to expect.

Good quality cruising sails will need to be replaced every 10 years or so.

The cost of new sails is on average:

26' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $1,000 - $2,500.
34' Bermuda Sloop rig will cost you about $3,000 - $5,000.

The cost of the new rigging is on average:

Standing rigging - every 10 years at $4,000
Running rigging - every 5-10 years at $5,000

Bottom Paint

Your boat will need bottom paint roughly every 2 years (could be longer, but to be safe, let's keep it at two). It's also called antifouling paint because it helps to protect your hull from weeds, barnacles, and so on. Barnacles can slice through your boat's bellow! So you don't want them on there.

On average, it costs about $15 to $20 per foot to get your sailboat hull painted professionally.

For a 26' sailboat, that's just 500 bucks. Money well spent.

Replacing safety equipment

USCG safety regulations require you to replace safety gear regularly.

Lifejackets have to be replaced every 10 years.
Flares have to be replaced every 42 months. You could consider buying a LED electric distress light instead, which will last you a lifetime.
If you carry a life-raft you'll need to replace that every 12 years as well.

Adhering to the minimum safety requirements shouldn't cost you more than 150 - 250 dollars every 5 years. But if you want the good stuff, need more fire extinguishers, plan on spending more like $600. If you want a life raft, that's another $1,500.

To avoid you have to go cheap on your safety gear, I've put it in the budget for $500.

If you want to know exactly what the USCG safety requirements are, including checklists , definitely check out my article here.

Winterizing your boat

Winterization is an often overlooked cost, but it can be one of the largest expenses each year. If you're like me, and not so lucky to live in Florida, you need to winterize your boat.

Failing to winterize it will increase your maintenance cost over time, as the engine wears out more quickly, and your plumbing and equipment will fall apart. Winter storms and ice can damage the hull and mast as well. Learn all about the dangers of failing to winterize here .

It's the best way to protect your boat in wintertime, period.

It consists of two parts:

Winterizing - costs $500 to $1000 - This is the preparation for winter storage. You flush the cooling system with anti-freeze, and the boat gets wrapped in a shrink wrap cover.
Winter storage - costs $50 per ft on average

Some other maintenance costs:

Batteries: deep cycle batteries need replacing every 4-6 years at $600
Deck hardware: every 20-30 years (bullseyes, tiller, eye straps) at $1,500

Joining a Sailing Club

If you're new to sailing, you might want to consider joining a sailboat club. This might help you to get tips, make friends, and learn in a safe environment. Most clubs also organize races, which are a great way to quickly improve your sailing skills.

But it comes at a cost. Sailing clubs are very expensive.

Initiation fees range anywhere between $1,000 - $4,000. But that's not all.

Then there's an annual fee of $500 - $1,000 per year. And lot's of additional fees: for dining, lockers, etc.

If you're willing to skip Christmas, go for it.

How about making up for some of those losses? There's just no better feeling than earning back all that cash with the same thing that you've spent it on in the first place.

There are lot's of ways to earn a little extra with your boat - if you're willing to put in the effort. Here are a few ideas:

hire yourself out as the captain of a personalized cruise (for families, newly-weds, groups of colleagues)
take people to go fishing
hire your boat out to yacht charter companies
teach someone to sail
take photographers, film crews, and artists on tours
organize dolphin and whale watching tours
delivery of cargo - some places just can't be reached by car, for example, the city center of Giethoorn (Dutch Venice). So you have a competitive edge here!

Giethoorn, farmers manors standing besides water way (no road)

Some ideas to save money:

install solar panels (no more dock power)
buy a and cheap small boat (kayak or someting) to get to offshore anchorage (which are cheaper)
shop around for insurance
get gas at the gas station, not the marina
do your own maintenance as much as possible
find a friend with water access to avoid mooring
use it a lot (prevents stuff from breaking)
fix things that are broken immediately
keep your sails out of the sun
do your own upgrades

For example, convert your winches to self-tailing yourself. I was really surprised by how cheaply this can be done yourself. Read my article on how to do it here (opens in new tab).

How much does it cost to paint a boat hull? Painting a boat hull with antifouling paint will usually cost between $15 - $20 per feet. For example, a 25-foot sailboat will cost roughly $500. A 35-foot sailboat will cost $800 to repaint. You can get premium paints and services, which can quadruple the cost. Typically, a boat needs to be repainted every two years.

Why are used sailboats so cheap? Sailboats require a lot of skill and patience. They can be quite expensive to maintain and to keep in slip. Some people find they can't afford the marina rent, upkeep, and other costs; sometimes they simply don't want to; others don't want to sail anymore. In some cases, expensive and important parts are missing.

How much does it cost to charter a sailboat? The price of a charter depends on location, size of the vessel, crew or bareboat chartering, and so on. However, on average, a bareboat yacht charter will cost anywhere from $5,000 - $10,000 per week. Crewed charters cost anywhere between $10,000 - $15,000 per week. Superyachts may cost up to $150,000 per week.

Thanks to Jean-Pierre Bazard for letting me use his wrapped boat photo under CC BY-SA 3.0

Pinterest image for How Much Sailboats Cost On Average (380+ Prices Compared)

Excellent write up. This is honestly the type of information that’s hard to find as you’re trying to get into sailing. I’m a car guy. People think of car collecting like Jay Leno, but it can be done cheaply. I get the impression sailing is the same way.

Shawn Buckles

Hi Stephen, thanks a lot for your kind words, really appreciate it! It really is kind of the same, it’s all about how much time and effort you’re willing to put in. As with anything, lots can be achieved with energy and attention.

Thanks again.

Serious question. Why are you buying a trailer for a 40 ft yacht? That doesn’t even make sense.

Hi Christian, thanks for the remark. 40 ft boat trailers do actually exist, although I agree that most people probably won’t trailer a 40 ft yacht.

Thank a lot for the very useful information„ now you caused me to start thinking why don’t I start sailing lessons to do round the world in a sail boat ( instead of an aircraft)

Hello Hatem, you’re very welcome. Smooth sailing, or flying.

Hi, I am not familiar with boats. My boss just asked me to find a nice boat for him. Thank you for this informative post, this helps me so much. By the way, I already found a site selling yachts here in the Philippines, here’s the link https://rayomarine.com Do you have any suggestion with brand and boat type. Thank you! More power!

Very good information, but I am having a hard time matching these number here in Southern California. Cheapest slip I found so for is $375/month, on a very run down and far from the ocean marina. At the harbor that I want, the cheapest I found is $800/month. Even if I was given a boat for free, just keeping it in place would cost me almost 10k/year

Excellent writeup, Shawn! Thank you very much for all your hard work and I look forward to reading your other articles on the subject.

Great info! We are in the market for our first sailboat and this answered many of our questions. Although I do agree with Rafael that slip prices in Southern California our much higher than what you listed. The marina we like will run about $1000 a month.

Thank you for your artical…a LOT of useful information included in it sir. I have been thinking about buying one for two years now, since I moved to a harbor town near where I grew up. We always had motor boats when I was young. But, I always loved sailing MUCH much more! I love the quiet of it, and always something to do, rather than just sit, drive, gas it up, dock, repeat. Laugh!! It’s about a ten min walk to the marina from here..and I have nothing but time. However my health is pretty bad. I just don’t know if I could handle it all alone. I’m thinking maybe a 25-30 foot cruiser. Thanks again sir!! I look forward to reading your other articles. Sincerely, Gary Heaton Olcott, Ny

Thanks a million! First time I come across an article that complete and with so much effort. For people thinking about buying a boat the info you provide is priceless.

John Callahan

Good information, but any article on prices should have a date associated with it. I see no indication of when this article was posted.

Thank you so much for this well done article. We’re looking at getting a boat and you’ve answered questions we didn’t even know we had.

Awesome article good job i am from Slovenia and thinking about buyng sailboat and sail for 6 monhs per year.I hawe bean looking on Holland sites too buy one can i maybe find auctions too buy a sailingboat i bawe wach Troswijk but they do t hawe any up ther?

Many of the costs quoted look very low to me, especially in the first article. Was this written a long time ago?

Excellent article. Am wondering though how do I dispose of a used boat if I get tired of it and can’t sell it or possibly run it aground. Maybe a 40 ft sloop?

Chris Kenny

Thanks for this infor.

Peace sailing.

Benjamin Sklar

Extremely helpful and interesting article! Thank you!

John Wallace

This is the most accurate information I have ever seen about boat ownership costs.

Many thanks!!!!

You may also like, how much does it cost to dock a boat for a year.

Before buying your first boat you probably want to know how much it will cost you each year. So did I, so I checked hundreds of slips, and here are the numbers I …

Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Catamaran (With 4 Examples)

Cost of Catamaran vs. Monohull: Which is more expensive?

9 Ways to Learn to Sail for (Practically) Free

How To Live on a Sailboat: Consider These 5 Things

Own your first boat within a year on any budget.

A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. If you want to learn how to make your sailing dream reality within a year, leave your email and I'll send you free updates . I don't like spam - I will only send helpful content.

Ready to Own Your First Boat?

Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to:

13 Best Small Catamarans For Cruising 2024

The best small catamarans for cruising are affordable and comfortable, making great sailboats for a number of different purposes. If you’re looking for the best small catamarans to start your cruising life then look no further!

When searching for a catamaran for our adventures we scoured the internet for any and all information we could find on just about every size, shape, and model!

Although in the end, we opted for a bigger catamaran, in the hopes of having more family and friends on board, we did heavily research the best small catamarans as an option.

One of the best small catamarans for cruising out at anchor.

Each small catamaran has different pros and cons. As with every sailboat, there will be compromises, but hopefully, this post will help you firm up what you’re really looking for in a multihull and find the right smaller catamaran for you!

Here are what we consider the best small cruising catamarans out there, costing anywhere from $40,000 to $300,000. You can also read up on the average costs of sailboats here.

Why choose a small catamaran for cruising?

The downsides to small multihulls for cruisers

The best small catamarans for ocean sailing

The best small catamarans for coastal cruising

Why Choose A Small Catamaran For Cruising?

a small multihull on an ocean passage, cutting through the water.

The main advantage to choosing a small catamaran for cruising has to be the cost. Not only are smaller sailboats cheaper to buy initially, but they are also cheaper to maintain and to dock in marinas or dry storage.

Why buy a small catamaran over a monohull? This isn’t the post to go into the pros and cons of multihulls vs monohulls, but a few of the main reasons you might prefer to buy a small cat over a bigger, cheaper monohull is the living space and the comfort underway and at anchor.

Living on a sailboat is very different from taking the boat out for a sporty sail every now and again. Having a catamaran over a monohull means you won’t be heeling or rolling at anchor half as much, you can leave out your coffee cup, and you have the space you need to spread out a little.

A small catamaran will enable the more comfortable lifestyle you’re seeking at a more reasonable price tag. So what’s not to love about small cruising multihulls?

The Downsides To Small Multihulls For Cruisers

a sailboat with its sails up, goosewinged.

Of course, just with everything in sailing, there are always compromises to be made when it comes to small multihulls.

One of the biggest downsides for cruisers is the weight issue smaller catamarans present. You won’t be able to carry half as much as you would on a larger catamaran or monohull, which might be a problem if you live onboard full time.

The other negative is that smaller boats usually aren’t quite as seaworthy as larger ones. You might find you’re limited to coastal cruising if you choose a small catamaran, so make sure you have your cruising intentions in mind before you buy.

the sails of a sailboat against the blue sky.

Another big thing to look out for when it comes to choosing the right small cat for you, is the bridge deck clearance. This is often worse on smaller catamarans, and can cause nasty slamming in any sort of sea, both when sailing and at anchor.

With these downsides in mind, we’ve split this post into the best small catamarans for ocean sailing and the best for coastal cruising. Obviously this is a little subjective, as many people have sailed around the world in much smaller and less seaworthy vessels!

The Best Small Catamarans For Ocean Cruising

#1 wharram tiki.

Suitable for: Bluewater sailing
Fixed Keels
Draft (max): 2.08′
Engines: Single outboard, though some versions have twin inboards
Price: Roughly $100,000

small catamarans sailing with the sunset behind

We have lusted after the Wharram catamarans since our adventures began and would have opted for one of these if we had found one for sale this side of the pond.

Designed by the legendary James Wharram, these small multihulls are pretty unique. They are based on the Polynesian catamaran design, and the plans enable you to self-build these boats if you have the time, money, and space for a project of this magnitude.

If you aren’t keen on taking on a project then you can commission a boat builder to complete the design for you, or buy one second-hand. The advantages of having one made yourself are that you can tweak things to your personal taste, and you can even contact the Wharrams themselves to see if they can adjust the designs for individual requests.

The Wharram catamarans have a lot of charm dues to their traditional design, and the old-fashioned appeal continues inside the boat too. You won’t find the same huge hull space as some of the modern design catamarans now have, but the outside entertainment space is perfect for entertaining.

One of the best small multihulls for ocean cruising

These small catamarans don’t have an inside space across the hulls, so all of your inside living space is below. If you’re used to monohulls then this won’t be a problem but if you like the idea of a galley-up then these boats aren’t for you.

Wharram catamarans, especially the Tiki 38, have great reputations as around the world, bluewater boats. They have fantastic bridge deck clearance so slamming is minimum and they sail well.

Most models have a double cabin and two singles, a galley, a head, and a small salon area below. They are smaller catamarans than many newer 38ft multihulls but this does make them more affordable.

small catamarans in the Caribbean with a beautiful white sand beach behind

A big appeal for us was the fact these boats are designed to be self-made. Although a secondhand model could potentially come with a lot of problems (get a decent survey before you buy!) it does mean that almost everything onboard can be self-fixed. This is a huge bonus if you plan on sailing your small catamaran around the world.

Another thing we loved about these smaller catamarans is the fact they have outboard engines, which we felt would be easier to maintain and replace if necessary. This is a personal choice though so consider this before you get your heart set on one!

One of the downsides to the Tiki 38 is that there aren’t many of them around. These are unique boats and they don’t come on the market frequently. When they do, they tend to be scattered all over the world so you’ll have to be prepared to travel to find one!

#2 Prout Snowgoose 37 : Small Catamaran For Ocean Cruising

a sail on a cruising catamaran and the ocean in the background.

Prout catamarans are a popular choice for cruisers, and you’ll find many owners who have circumnavigated in them. The Snowgoose is no exception. Prout no longer exists as a company, as it was bought by Broadblue in the 90s.

Broadblue still makes catamarans today, and they have very similar features to the original Prouts, though obviously they are far fancier and have all the benefits of a more modern design!

The Snowgoose is a great small multihull to go for as you get quite a lot of space inside and out. We weren’t sure about the berth in the salon area, but it might make a great space for a baby or small child while underway!

The compromise in the Prout Snowgoose is the bridge deck clearance and this was something that put us off these smaller cruising catamarans. A low bridge deck clearance makes the boat slam in waves, both at anchor and underway.

#8 PDQ 36 : A Small Catamaran Without Too Much Slamming

Suitable for: Bluewater
Draft (max): 2.82′
Engines: Twin inboard or outboard
Price: Over $100,000

These small catamarans have an excellent reputation among cruisers because of their solid build and use of decent materials. They come with either outboard engines for coastal cruising or inboard engines designed to withstand offshore use.

If you like the sound of the PDQ 32 but need a little more room then you’ve got that here! It’s also a boat that people have crossed oceans in, though you might want to consider something more tried and tested like the Prout Snowgoose or the Wharram if you’re planning longer ocean sails.

The boat has three cabins, a galley, salon and head, but there’s a more spacious feel compared to the smaller model. Again, the bridge deck clearance is good so you shouldn’t experience too much slamming.

#9 Lagoon 380 : One Of The Most Popular Small Multihulls

Fixed keels
Engines: twin diesel engines
Price: from $100,000, used

The Lagoon 380 is one of the most popular catamarans out there, and you’ve probably already spotted a lot of them in your search! This is a great option if modern cats appeal to you, as it’s pretty ‘with the times’ as far as smaller catamarans go!

There are lots of different layouts of this boat available all over the world. Some were built for charter with numerous berths and others were commissioned for couples or families with differing cabin and head options.

This is a proven catamaran from a reputable company, but obviously with so many of these boats out there, they come in a range of conditions. Make sure you get a thorough survey done before purchase!

Lagoon 37 TPI

Draft (max): 4′
Engines: Twin inboard diesels
Price: Over $100,000 USD

This is the smallest catamaran built by Lagoon, and unfortunately there aren’t many of them out there. These boats were built mainly for the charter market, and have a smaller rig than some similar sized catamarans.

There are two big queen-size forward doubles port and starboard and a smaller double in the starboard hull aft. The galley and salon are designed to be simple and timeless, with none of the fancy trims you’ll find in the newer Lagoons.

As this boat was intended for charter it probably wouldn’t make a great ocean-going vessel. For starters, it isn’t designed to carry too much in the way of provisions. That’s not to say it won’t be a suitable bluewater boat with a few tweaks. Sailors who have circumnavigated in them have increased sail area and added folding props to get more speed from the vessel.

#11 Catalac 9M/30

Draft (max): 2.5′
Engines: two outboard engines or one diesel engine
Price: from $50,000

The Catalac 9M is a little different to a lot of the catamarans on this list, as it was built for sailing in the North Sea! This is a great small catamaran for anyone wanting a boat built to be safe!

The bridge deck clearance is reasonable but the boat is light, which can make it more prone to slamming. The unique feature of this small sailboat is the hard dodger, designed as somewhere safe and dry to stand in bad weather.

It sails well, though like a lot of catamarans there is technique involved in getting it to tack smoothly. Once you’ve got the hang of though, this boat will make good speeds for its size.

The Best Small Catamarans For Coastal Cruising

Suitable for: Coastal
Draft (max): 3.62′
Engines: Twin inboard
Price: Up to $300,000 for a newer model

The Mahe 36 is the smallest of the Fountaine Pajot range, and these small catamarans can go for a heafty budget if you find a newer model!

This tiny multihull packs a lot into a small space, and because of its modern features, you’ll feel like you’re in a much bigger boat when you step aboard.

This boat is a fast mover, with an ok bridge clearance and some attractive upgrades compared to their last small catamaran design. Most notably the full-length hard top bimini which has the reviewers raving!

If you have the money to splash out on a newer, more expensive small catamaran then this should definitely be on your list to consider! Although they come with a large price tag, these small catamarans are considerably cheaper new than some of the bigger models.

#4 Gemini 105Mc (34ft)

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Centreboards Draft (max): 5′ Engines: Single inboard Price: from $80,000

The Gemini 105Mc is still in production in the US, which speaks to its popularity. Obviously if you buy new you’ll pay a much higher price! This is one of the smallest catamarans on the list, but it’s still a great option for coastal cruising (or some have even successfully completed ocean passages on them in relative comfort).

For a small multihull this boat sails pretty well and is fast for a coastal cruiser. The living space is decent with good headroom. It has two double cabins and a master bedroom, and the interior finishes are nice too.

A big negative to this boat is the bridge deck clearance which really isn’t amazing, but as we said at the start, there’s always a compromise! This is a sporty-looking little catamaran that’s a good contender for the top smallest catamarans out there!

#5 EndeavourCat 36

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Fixed keels Draft (max): 3′ Engines: two inboard Price: from $100

Designed and built by Endeavour Catamaran, these American built boats are great cruising catamarans. A big advantage to this little multihull is that it will fit into most monohull slips, so if you anticipate using marinas a lot then this might be the small catamaran for you!

This isn’t a slow boat, and owners report speeds of 8-9 knots. Bear in mind though that the narrow beam does make it less suitable for any offshore passages. It has good interior space with 6′ standing headroom throughout, three double cabins, and a decent-sized galley below. The salon area can seat 6 people comfortably.

This cat is great for single-handed sailors, as all the lines lead to the cockpit and the main and jib are completely self-tacking.

#6 Prout Event 34

Suitable for: Coastal/bluewater Fixed keels Draft (max): 2.72′ Engines: Single inboard Price: from $30,000

These multihulls are quite hard to find, but if you like the Snowgoose but are on a tighter budget then they might be just what you’re looking for. They share lots of features with the Snowgoose and look very similar, only smaller!

There are three cabins, one head, a salon, and a galley, only they are rather squeezed in compared to the larger model. Personally, we thought there was plenty of space for a smaller sailboat but it’s worth seeing them in person if you’re keen on this model.

They do have the same downsides as the Snowgoose though, with limited headroom and low bridge deck clearance. These boats are known for their slamming!

Coastal Engines: twin outboards Price: from $80,000, used

The PDQ 32 is a great budget option catamaran and should be cheap(ish) to buy second hand and maintain. With two outboards that are easy to replace on a smaller budget, you’re looking at some of the usual pinch points on a boat becoming a lot more affordable!

This small catamaran only has two cabins, so sleeps less than a lot of the boats on this list, but it is roomier than you’d imagine inside with a decent galley and salon area. It has decent bridge deck clearance so shouldn’t slam too much in any waves.

This isn’t a boat for longer passages as it is a little small (and perhaps underpowered) to face serious weather. If you’re searching for something to potter around in then this is a fun boat to sail and live in!

#12 Dean 365

Crew Application Freebie

Exactly what you need to write to get accepted as sailboat crew, and some top tips to help you have the adventure of a lifetime!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Suitable for: Coastal cruising
Draft (max): 3′
Engines: one or two inboard
Price: from $45,000, used

These South African catamarans are great little coastal cruising catamarans that are hard to come by anywhere other than South Africa!

They’re pretty tiny, but have enough space for a galley, 3 or 4 cabins, and 1 or 2 heads. Some of the designs even have a bathtub, which speaks of their liveaboard suitability rather than their sail performance!

These boats are some of the smallest multihulls on this list, so don’t expect much in terms of headroom or bridge deck clearance. That being said, if you’re looking for a tiny catamaran to live on and you are prepared to compromise on sailing ability then these are a solid choice.

We have heard that the build quality can vary somewhat with these multihulls, so make sure you do some solid research and get a good surveyor when buying one of these. If you get a good version then they can make really solid boats.

#13 EndeavourCat 30

the lines of small catamarans tied off to a cleat

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Fixed keels Draft (max): 2.1′ Engines: single or twin outboard Price: from $70,000

This is a boat built for comfort over all else, so if you’re looking for a budget catamaran to live in then take a look at the endeavourcat 30. Some people don’t like the boxy design, but we quite liked how it looked in the water. I guess it’s personal taste!

This sailboat has two double cabins, a decent sized galley and salon for the size of the boat, and a head. The bridge deck clearance is low so that’s something to bear in mind before you buy, but the headroom is good (another reason why this would make a good liveaboard catamaran).

Hopefully this has given you some inspiration when searching for small catamarans for cruising, and helped you to find your dream boat!

We’re passionate about helping people live this incredible cruising lifestyle, so if you’re planning your dream liveaboard life make sure you check out our guide on how to run away to sea, with everything you could possibly need to know before, during, and after starting this adventure of a lifetime!

How to Make Money While Living on a Sailboat

101 Awesome Boat Puns And Yacht Captions For Instagram 2024

Cobb bbq review: the best bbq for sailing.

7 Large Cockpit Sailboats: When Size Matters

The Best Hot Chocolate Recipe For Sailing!

13 Best Sailing Lifejackets 2024

Such small mention of probably the best catamaran for overall cruising, focusing on ease of helming, speed and livability. Simple rig, great ergonomic features, style and definitely a pedigree on the water. The FP Mahe duo! Sea proven. Most delivered on their own bottoms from France. Wide beams and light. Beautiful interior arrangements and easy to maintain. I’m confused about so little mention of probably the best entry level and beyond real cruiser out there.

You forgot the edelcat 35. Great boats, and have circumnavigated!

I wonder why Broadblue 346 is not on the list.

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Sailboat or Catamaran for Your Sailing Adventures

C hoosing between a sailboat and a catamaran for your sailing adventures is a significant decision that depends on various factors, including your sailing preferences, experience level, budget, and intended use. Here's an ultimate guide to help you make an informed decision:

1. Sailing Experience:

Sailboats: Typically require more skill and experience to handle, especially in adverse weather conditions. Ideal for sailors who enjoy the traditional feel of sailing and are willing to invest time in learning and mastering the art.
Catamarans: Easier to handle, making them suitable for beginners. The dual-hull design provides stability, reducing the learning curve for those new to sailing.

2. Space and Comfort:

Sailboats: Generally have a narrower beam and less living space. However, some sailboats may offer comfortable cabins and amenities.
Catamarans: Wider beam creates more living space. Catamarans often have multiple cabins, spacious saloons, and expansive deck areas, providing a more comfortable living experience.

3. Stability:

Sailboats: Monohulls can heel (lean) while sailing, which some sailors enjoy for the thrill but can be discomforting for others.
Catamarans: Greater stability due to the dual hulls, providing a more level sailing experience. Reduced heeling makes catamarans suitable for those prone to seasickness.

4. Performance:

Sailboats: Known for their upwind performance and ability to sail close to the wind. Some sailors appreciate the challenge of optimizing sail trim for efficiency.
Catamarans: Faster on a reach and downwind due to their wide beam. However, they may not point as high into the wind as monohulls.
Sailboats: Typically have a deeper draft, limiting access to shallow anchorages and requiring deeper marina berths.
Catamarans: Shallow draft allows access to shallower waters and secluded anchorages, providing more flexibility in cruising destinations.
Sailboats: Generally more affordable upfront, with a wide range of options available to fit different budgets.
Catamarans: Often more expensive upfront due to their size and design. However, maintenance costs may be comparable or even lower in some cases.

7. Mooring and Docking:

Sailboats: Easier to find slips and moorings in marinas designed for monohulls.
Catamarans: Require wider slips and may have limited availability in certain marinas, especially in crowded anchorages.

8. Intended Use:

Sailboats: Ideal for traditional sailors who enjoy the art of sailing, racing enthusiasts, or those on a tighter budget.
Catamarans: Suited for those prioritizing comfort, stability, and spacious living areas, especially for long-term cruising and chartering.

9. Resale Value:

Sailboats: Generally have a more established resale market, with a wider range of buyers.
Catamarans: Growing in popularity, and well-maintained catamarans often retain their value.

10. Personal Preference:

Consider your personal preferences, the type of sailing you plan to do, and the kind of lifestyle you want aboard your vessel.

In conclusion, both sailboats and catamarans have their advantages and disadvantages. Your decision should be based on your individual preferences, experience level, budget, and intended use. If possible, charter both types of vessels to experience firsthand how they handle and to help make a more informed decision based on your own preferences and needs.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Sailboat or Catamaran for Your Sailing Adventures appeared first on Things That Make People Go Aww .

Choosing between a sailboat and a catamaran for your sailing adventures is a significant decision that depends on various factors, including your sailing preferences, experience level, budget, and intended use. Here's an ultimate guide to help you make an informed decision: 1. Sailing Experience: 2. Space and Comfort: 3. Stability: 4. Performance: 5. Draft: 6....

CRUISING CATAMARANS FOR REAL SAILORS

Seawind Catamarans have long been Australia’s most popular cruising catamaran designs. With over 35 years experience in building the highest quality blue water catamarans. As already discovered by our growing family of adventurous and like minded Seawind fans the world over, a Seawind boat could be the ideal sailing catamaran for you and your family!

STATE OF THE ART COMPOSITES

What's in a seawind .

Seawind Catamarans is in continuous development with every new boat model, building on the knowledge and success of previous designs. Every catamaran yacht is the result of hundreds of collective years of multihull experience, and the best construction techniques the world has to offer. Seawind Catamarans uses Resin Infusion Technology to produce a lighter, stronger, and cleaner product. In partnership with High Modulus and DIAB technologies, the complex infusion implementation process was developed using a 3D simulated flow model (pictured here) to ensure that best quality and consistency is achieved with every new Seawind sailboat.

PROVEN RELIABILITY FIRST & FOREMOST

Every Seawind sailing catamaran is built for cruising practicality, but delivered on a platform of fast, performance hulls with a fine bow entry and strong stiff construction. Poise is combined with power in the shape of a relatively powerful sail area, providing a power to weight ratio to set pulses racing. This additional power delivers the speed to bring significantly more destinations within reach, satisfying a modern market which may need to fit “extended” cruising into only a few weeks or months. But in all of the 600 catamaran boats launched, not one has ever suffered a rig failure or have we ever experienced a capsize. Seawind catamaran yachts are built on a track record of success.

ERGONOMIC & PRACTICAL

Seawind Catamarans’ sustained success over so many years is built on key features which are part of our DNA. Huge cockpit doors open to combine the saloon and cockpit – a feature unmatched in the market, and which provide expansive and versatile living space. The new Seawind 1260 enhances this feature further by adding a modular cockpit arrangement. Move chairs and seats to arrange the space as you need it, as circumstances demand. Seat 8 people inside, and another 8 outside. Or bring everyone in and make that a dozen inside or easily clear the cockpit for a long passage. Every Seawind catamaran sailboat provides flexibility and luxury while sacrificing none of the practicality that made previous Seawind Cats models the success they are. Seawind boats also provide unparalleled entertainment space while sacrificing nothing in offshore safety.

PROTECTED SAFE STEERING

Dual helm stations are found on every Seawind Catamarans sailboat, and they offer 360-degree visibility, even on the largest Seawind 1600 model. This allows the skipper to sail safely in crowded harbor conditions, and to keep an eye on the crew when offshore. Large targa tops offer protection from the harsh offshore conditions, both sun and rain, while panoramic opening windows provide ventilation as well as visibility. Seawind Catamarans boats offer the protection of a pilothouse yacht, with the visibility and helming advantages of a sailing catamaran.

INDOOR/ OUTDOOR LIVING

The famous Australian indoor / outdoor, open lifestyle is entrenched in Seawind Catamarans designs, with an unbeatable living area complimented by brilliant natural ventilation, protected cockpit lounge, and social helm seats putting the skipper in control as well as in the conversation. Best of all, you can enjoy what many catamaran sailboats compromise on… visibility – for the skipper and crew, with 360 degree views from the helm and saloon seats all within the protection of the fiberglass coachouse and targa top.

Seawind 1370 Hull 1 Test Report by Skipper & Thailand Customer Service Manager, Phil Harper.

Seawind Catamarans to open Production Facility and European Service Center in Izmir, Turkey.

Beachability: Mini-keels or fixed rudders

Seawind 1370 Hull 1 Test Report
New Production Facility and European Service Center in Izmir, Turkey.
Seawind 1600 Reviewed by Pacific Yachting
Seawind Blog
Charter A Seawind
Find A Dealer
Français ( French )

Tel +84 28 3873 3630

Sales Enquiry:

[email protected]

Customer Service Enquiry:

[email protected]

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser .

Moscow St. Petersburg Cruise

Moscow Cruise Route

Frequently asked questions from our travelers, what is the best time of the year to go on a moscow - st. petersburg river cruise.

The cruises are operated from the month of May until the beginning of fall. The best weather conditions during this period are usually from June through late July, but if you are looking for a trip at a more relaxed pace with less tourists in the cities on the route, we highly recommend to take a look at the months of May and September. For more info, please see our useful tips .

Which cities and towns will I visit on a Moscow - St. Petersburg cruise?

The cruise itinerary covers all the main and the most important locations on the route. During the cruise you will have a chance to get acquainted not only with Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also with smaller towns and villages like Goritsy, Kizhi, Yaroslavl, Mandrogui. The number of cities and towns to be visited and the exact itinerary vary depending on the duration of the cruise.

Is it better to start the cruise in Moscow or in St. Petersburg?

The starting point of the cruise is totally up to you. You won’t miss any important sights whether you start the cruise in Moscow or in St. Petersburg. We always recommend checking the flight schedules from your city first in order to decide whether it is more convenient for you to fly into Moscow or St Petersburg.

A Russian Land Tour or a River cruise - which is better?

This decision completely depends on your preferred way of travelling. During the Russian river cruise you will not only visit the two largest cities of Russia, but also small towns and villages along the route and you will have a chance to participate in master classes, learn a little Russian language and dive into local Russian culture and hospitality. For those who prefer custom-made programs and more free time in the cities of their choice we recommend a land tour, both are excellent options. To find out more about the differences click here .

Do I need a visa for a Russian River Cruise?

If your citizenship is not on the list of countries with visa-free access to Russia, you will need a valid Russian visa. Please make sure to start the process in a timely manner, so as to avoid any last-minute pressure. More details on Russian Visas can be found here .

Our travel brands include

Express to Russia

Join us on Facebook

We invite you to become a fan of our company on Facebook and read Russian news and travel stories. To become a fan, click here .

Join our own Russian Travel, Culture and Literature Club on Facebook. The club was created to be a place for everyone with an interest in Russia to get to know each other and share experiences, stories, pictures and advice. To join our club, please follow this link .

We use cookies to improve your experience on our Website, and to facilitate providing you with services available through our Website. To opt out of non-essential cookies, please click here . By continuing to use our Website, you accept our use of cookies, the terms of our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service . I agree

Bahasa Indonesia
Slovenščina
Science & Tech
Russian Kitchen

Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such option offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!” wrote (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as this offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This website (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other website sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center: Hotel Ukraine and Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

What to do in Moscow City, if you’re not mega-rich
Moscow after dusk: 10 places to drink, dance, and groove
5 things you must do in Moscow in 2018 between football matches (or without them)
Sandwiched between Moscow and St. Petersburg: How to spend a perfect weekend in Tver
24 or 48 hours in Moscow: Where to go and what to do in 2019

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

THE 10 BEST Moscow Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in moscow.

Boat Rentals
Scuba & Snorkeling
Fishing Charters & Tours
Water Sports
Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing
Kayaking & Canoeing
Waterskiing & Jetskiing
Parasailing & Paragliding
River Rafting & Tubing
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Speed Boats Tours
Submarine Tours
5.0 of 5 bubbles
4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
3rd Transport Ring (TTK)
District Central (TsAO)
Garden Ring
District Northern (SAO)
Good for Big Groups
Good for Couples
Good for a Rainy Day
Budget-friendly
Good for Kids
Hidden Gems
Honeymoon spot
Good for Adrenaline Seekers
Adventurous
Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Flotilla Radisson Royal

2. Moscow River Boat Tours

3. Sup-Club

4. Akvanavt Diving Centre

5. Diving Center Crocus City Oceanarium

6. CheapRussia Tours

7. Kite School Kiteclass

8. SUP Center

9. Erwin. Reka

11. Easy Russia Tour Guide

12. Lovely Russia Tours

13. Capital River Boat Tours - Moscow Centre

14. Alfa Centr

15. Diving Club Divers

16. Sup Outdoor

17. MORE MOSCOW

19. Soho Sailing Style

20. Mosparokhodstvo

21. Diving Center Crocodile

22. Dive-Project

24. Kosinskiy Children Marine Club

25. Kayak Moscow

26. DIVECLUB CHE

27. FLOW Moscow

28. Moswake

29. Morskiye Volki

30. S-cruises

What travelers are saying

CheapRussia Tours
Easy Russia Tour Guide
Lovely Russia Tours
MORE MOSCOW
Insider Moscow Tours
Flotilla Radisson Royal
Moscow River Boat Tours
Capital River Boat Tours - Moscow Centre
Diving Center Crocus City Oceanarium

They moved into floating homes and houseboats — and discovered a world of adventure and hidden expenses

Forget buying a home on land — some people are heading for rivers and lakes instead.
They're investing in floating houses, houseboats, and narrowboats.
While the lifestyle has perks, it's not necessarily cheaper than owning a house on land.

Moving into their 360-square-foot floating home a year ago was a dream come true for Sarah Spiro and Brandon Jones.

The house, located on Fontana Lake in North Carolina, has loft-style interiors with high ceilings and windows all around.

"I just love that no matter what you're doing, you can look out the window and have this super peaceful view — even if you're just doing dishes," Spiro, 27, told Business Insider.

Spiro and Jones spent $90,000 building their floating home and say it would have been difficult to buy a house on land for that price. They pay a $5,000 annual mooring fee for their floating home.

Now, they can't imagine returning to life on land.

"I guess it depends on the person, but for us, we would never go back," she said. "It beats living on land."

Embracing life on the water

Living on water is big on social media, where it's spawned popular hashtags like #houseboat and #narrowboatlife , and helped push creators like Adam Lind of @adam.floatinghome to extreme visibility.

It's also a part of the alternate living movement that sees people choosing to stay in tiny houses , homes on wheels , or other forms of housing over traditional brick-and-mortar homes.

National data on the number of people who live in floating homes, houseboats, and narrowboats is hard to come by as there isn't a single authority responsible for tracking all these housing forms across the US.

However, regional data suggests the lifestyle is still quite niche.

In 2023, there were 70 floating home sales reported on the Regional Multiple Listing Service, or RMLS, which covers the Portland area and a significant part of northwest Oregon, Portland Floating Homes real-estate broker John McPherson told BI.

In the case of houseboats, US inventory is highest in the cities of Portland and Seattle, with an average of 47 and 23 monthly listings in 2023 respectively, per data provided by Realtor.com.

The cities with the next highest houseboat listings are Scappoose, Oregon, Sausalito, California, and Johns Island, South Carolina — each had between five and 10 houseboat listings per month in 2023, per data from Realtor.com.

Comprehensive data on the trend abroad is similarly hard to find.

The Canal & River Trust, which looks after 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England & Wales, told BI there are about 34,760 boats along its waterways. Of those, 21% describe themselves as "liveaboard."

A punishing housing market is driving people to alternatives

Elizabeth Earle lives in a narrowboat that she bought for £35,000, or about $44,000, in 2022. She previously told BI's Jordan Pandy that the lifestyle was the least expensive way for her to buy a home in the UK.

"The price for a house in England is a bit ridiculous at the moment," Earle, 34, said. "Even if you're able to save £200 a month, how on earth are you going to save £20,000 towards a mortgage? It feels so unattainable compared to how our parents did it."

Earle's comments echo true across much of her generation around the world.

Millennials are saddled with debt, struggling to build up their net worths , and getting priced out of cities. Some are moving in with their parents because they can't afford to live on their own.

Houses are also getting more expensive . In the US, most major forecasts predict that home prices could rise between 1.4% and 4.1% in 2024.

And while millennials might be suffering the most in the real-estate market, people of all ages are among those seeking out a life on the water.

"What I have observed is that a lot of buyers seem to be in their 40s, 50s, or 60s. Some are in their 70s," McPherson said.

Hidden costs

But if slashing expenses is the goal, life on the water might not be the answer.

"I wouldn't say that owning a floating house is much cheaper than owning a typical house on land, but it is a much lower-priced alternative to owning waterfront property in Portland," McPherson said.

Home insurance for a floating house tends to be about double what it is for a regular house on land, McPherson said. Most floating-home owners also have to pay a monthly fee to either rent or maintain the slip their house is in.

Additionally, the float — the part of the floating house that's equivalent to a foundation — deteriorates over time, McPherson said.

"Depending on what needs to be done, maintenance could cost around $10,000 or so," McPherson said. If a float is too old, it needs to be replaced — and it's not a do-it-yourself kind of job.

"Currently, to replace a float it could cost approximately $80,000 to $130,000 — or even more, depending on the size of the house and what exactly needs to be done," he said.

Laura Woodley, 35, took out a loan to buy a narrowboat in the UK in 2020. Her repayments cost about £650, or $810, a month.

"Many people think that I'm living on a boat to save money, but I actually spend more than I did when I was renting, although I now live alone instead of with roommates," Woodley previously told BI.

A boat license, heating expenses, and maintenance costs add up to roughly another £425 a month — and that's without emergency payments.

"A couple of winters ago, half of my chimney fell off, and my heating broke, and I had to pay £700 to fix it," Woodley said. "Living on a narrowboat is not as simple as having a set of fixed monthly expenses like you would if you lived in a house."

Value in the lifestyle and the community

Money aside, the lifestyle has perks.

"It's a very serene and calm way of life compared to downtown," Kate Fincham, 35, told BI . Her houseboat is moored in Bluffers Park Marina, about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto.

"There are lots of woodlands and trails by the water, and two beaches as well," Fincham added. She spends her summer mornings kayaking on the lake.

Lily Rose, 32, lives on a houseboat on Lake Union in Seattle with her husband Dylan.

"Having ducklings and goslings pay us visits in the late spring and early summer months has been a big highlight of our time on the houseboat," Rose said.

"We enjoy taking our paddleboards out for a quick lunch break during the week or cruising down to the south end of Lake Union in our little 11-foot Boston Whaler to watch the Duck Dodge sailboat races in the summer," Rose added.

For Fincham, there's value in the community and freedom she's found through the houseboat lifestyle.

"I think it's always kind of inspiring for people to think, 'Oh, I don't have to save up to buy a condo,' or whatever. There are alternate avenues and ways to live, too," Fincham said.

Houseboat life has helped her bond with her neighbors.

"The neighbors, we're all very close, and there are always activities and game nights, movie nights, or people going for dinner together," she said. When she lived in a house downtown, she barely knew the people who lived around her.

"You need to be able to roll with the punches," Fincham said. "Sometimes it's not the easiest way of life, but I always think, for me, it's the best way of life."

Watch: Inside the most expensive neighborhoods of Singapore, home to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew

Main content

The Dali was just starting a 27-day voyage.

The ship had spent two days in Baltimore’s port before setting off.

Share full article

The side of a large ship, painted blue, with the words “Dali” and “Singapore,” sitting at a port.

By Claire Moses and Jenny Gross

March 26, 2024 Updated 8:41 a.m. ET

The Dali was less than 30 minutes into its planned 27-day journey when the ship ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday.

The ship, which was sailing under the Singaporean flag, was on its way to Sri Lanka and was supposed to arrive there on April 22, according to VesselFinder, a ship tracking website.

The Dali, which is nearly 1,000 feet long, left the Baltimore port around 1 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday. The ship had two pilots onboard, according to a statement by its owners, Grace Ocean Investment. There were 22 crew members on board, the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore said in a statement. There were no reports of any injuries, Grace Ocean said.

Before heading off on its voyage, the Dali had returned to the United States from Panama on March 19, harboring in New York. It then arrived on Saturday in Baltimore, where it spent two days in the port.

Maersk, the shipping giant, said in a statement on Tuesday that it had chartered the vessel, which was carrying Maersk cargo. No Maersk crew and personnel were onboard, the statement said, adding that the company was monitoring the investigations being carried out by the authorities and by Synergy Group, the company that was operating the vessel.

“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,” the Maersk statement said.

The Dali was built in 2015 by the South Korea-based Hyundai Heavy Industries. The following year, the ship was involved in a minor incident when it hit a stone wall at the port of Antwerp . The Dali sustained damage at the time, but no one was injured.

Claire Moses is a reporter for the Express desk in London. More about Claire Moses

Jenny Gross is a reporter for The Times in London covering breaking news and other topics. More about Jenny Gross

IMAGES

6 Best Performance Cruising Catamarans (Buyer's Guide)
6 Best Performance Cruising Catamarans (Buyer's Guide)
6 Best Performance Cruising Catamarans (Buyer's Guide)
16.75m Performance Cruising Catamaran For Sale : Owen Clarke Design
2002 PERFORMANCE CRUISING Gemini 105Mc (34ft)-Sold Catamaran: -Vessel
9 Best Luxury Cruising Catamarans: Buyer's Guide

VIDEO

Are Performance "Cruising" Catamarans Safe?
Windelo 50 Yachting
Catamaran Sailing in 40 knots
Sailing Catamaran Escape S2 E63
Catamaran Sailing Very Fast
Privilege Catamarans

COMMENTS

13 Best Catamarans for Cruising (Buyer's Guide With Prices)
Some of the best catamarans for cruising are the Sunreef 60, the Leopard 45, the Saona 46, the Manta 42, and the Antares 44i. A good cruising catamaran offers plenty of space, extended range and is optimized for comfort and safety. A cruiser is slower and less exciting to sail than a performance cat.
Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Catamaran (With 4 Examples)
A new catamaran costs $144,000 on average at 30 foot, while a used one will cost between $29,000-$134,000 on average. New catamarans cost $751,000 at 50 foot, while a used one ranges from $203,000-$690,000. The average annual cost ranges from $2,805-$10,950. Of course the price of a catamarans depends on many factors, like the size for example ...
Sail Catamaran boats for sale
Catamaran sailing vessels for sale on YachtWorld are listed for a variety of prices from $54,231 on the relatively moderate end all the way up to $6,913,082 for the biggest, most advanced vessels. Catamaran By Condition. Used Catamaran 1,349 listings . New Catamaran 477 listings .
How Much Does A Catamaran Cost?
New cruising catamarans never sell for less than $100,000, and the average price is around $350,000. A new cruising catamaran, depending on the length, can sell for up to $1,000,000. New monohull sailboats are much less costly. A premium monohull built by a well-known manufacturer sells for between $175,000 and $250,000, with some outliers ...
How Much Does a Catamaran Cost? (By Type)
We are going to tell you what the different types of catamarans cost and what helps to determine their prices. New catamaran's average price per foot: Catamarans get a lot more expensive from 50 feet and up: $2,835 per ft for under 30 feet. $9,767 per ft for 30 to 50 feet. $18,055 per ft for 50 to 75 feet. $41,737 per ft for 75 to 120 feet.
10 Affordable Cruising Catamarans
A list of 10 older cruising catamarans that offer good value and liveaboard comfort including models from Leopard, Catana, Lagoon, Privilege and more. ... might sail just as well—or even better—than the same-size new cat that will cost considerably more. Yes, the older model might have less room inside and lack the latest condo-on-the-water ...
6 Best Performance Cruising Catamarans (Buyer's Guide)
The Outremer 4x is a stable and comfortable high-speeding cruising catamaran that performs ocean crossings and confronts any weather with remarkable ease. Named the European Boat of the Year in 2017, this 48-foot (14.6 m) bluewater cruiser sails faster than wind speed and attains maximum cruising speeds of 20 knots.. The 4x is an upgrade of the extremely popular Outremer 45, thus retaining ...
What's the Best Price for a Cruising Catamaran? (Examples and Tips)
The best price for a used cruising catamaran around 45ft is between $300,000-$600,000. The best price for a new catamaran is $500,000-$800,000. Price depends on the boat's size, age, and design. New vessels with a flybridge are more expensive. Though fixer-uppers might seem convenient at first, the price of yacht renovation is unpredictable.
Best Cruising Catamarans, Sailing Catamaran Brands
Gunboat 62. Gunboat 62 Courtesy of Gunboat. Built between 2000-2005, the Gunboat 62 firmly established the Gunboat brand: go-anywhere cats that applied race-boat technology to a world-cruising platform. Hull no. 1, Tribe, was built for company founder Peter Johnstone, who then spent a year-and-a-half cruising with his family, smiling all the way.
9 Best Luxury Cruising Catamarans: Buyer's Guide
The best luxury catamarans include the 80 Sunreef Power Eco, the Lagoon Sixty7, the Fountaine Pajot Power 67, the Saona 47, and the Gunboat 68. Other premium cruising catamarans are the Aquila 79, the MC90, and the Catana 53. These cruising catamarans all fall into the 'luxury' category thanks to their outstanding passenger amenities and ...
Catamaran Vs Monohull Cost
The average cruising catamaran costs between $350,000 and $500,000 new, depending on the size, speed, and level of interior fit-and-finish. Catamaran Vs Monohull Repair Costs. Catamarans can cost significantly more to repair if there's structural damage to any part of the vessel.
Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats
How Much does a Liveaboard Catamaran Cost? Catamaran prices vary widely based on age, length, and overall quality. Older vessels cost anywhere between $30,000 and $100,000. Newer and more comfortable liveaboard catamarans generally start above the $100,000 mark and extend up to $500,000 or more. ... This well-known cruising catamaran has a ...
Yearly Catamaran Cruising Costs
As you'll see below, our average yearly costs for all the marine items was $36,250. That includes repair & maintenance, boat insurance, dockage, customs & immigration, gas & fuel, and communications. Our world circumnavigation took us four years and three months. $36,250 x 4.25 = $145,000 total.
How Much Sailboats Cost On Average (380+ Prices Compared)
Best-value ocean cruiser (40') $166,000. $1,300. The average price of new sailboats is $425,000 ($127,000 to $821,000). The average price of used sailboats is $278,000 ($67,000 to $555,000). Maintenance costs are on average $2,000 - $3,000 per year, and the average total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000. Of course the price of a sailboat depends ...
Catamaran boats for sale
Ideal for overnight cruising and day sailing these Catamaran boats vary in length from 28ft to 80ft and can carry 5 to 50 passengers. There are a wide range of Catamaran boats for sale from popular brands like Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon and Bali with 495 new and 1,475 used and an average price of $562,736 with boats ranging from as little as ...
13 Best Small Catamarans For Cruising 2023
Price: Roughly $100,000. The Wharram Tiki is one of the best small catamarans for cruising. We have lusted after the Wharram catamarans since our adventures began and would have opted for one of these if we had found one for sale this side of the pond. Designed by the legendary James Wharram, these small multihulls are pretty unique.
Catamaran Sailboats for sale
How much do catamaran sailing vessels cost? Catamaran sailing vessels for sale on Boat Trader are available for a variety of prices, from $25,379 on the relatively more affordable end all the way up to $9,238,753 for the biggest, most advanced vessels.
HH Catamarans
Nov 20, 2023. HH44 Awarded Breakthrough Launch of the Year. Nov 16, 2023. HH 44SC: SAIL Magazine Top 10 Best Boats Nominee. Nov 14, 2023. Explore HH Catamarans, the premier builder of luxury performance cruising catamarans. Discover award-winning designs and innovative carbon construction.
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Sailboat or Catamaran ...
Cost: Sailboats: Generally more affordable upfront, ... Choosing between a sailboat and a catamaran for your sailing adventures is a significant decision that depends on various factors, including ...
Seawind Catamarans
Seawind Catamarans have long been Australia's most popular cruising catamaran designs. With over 35 years experience in building the highest quality blue water catamarans. As already discovered by our growing family of adventurous and like minded Seawind fans the world over, a Seawind could be the ideal catamaran for you and your family!
Moscow St. Petersburg Cruise
8 days and 7 nights. Enjoy a short Russian river cruise on a comfortable 4-star ship. Our program includes all the most important sights on the Moscow to St. Petersburg route. Besides the Two Capitals, you will visit the ancient towns of Uglich, Goritsy, the island of Kizhi, and Mandrogui village. $ 811 From/Per person.
Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia's
Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.
Boat tours and river cruises through Moscow: where to take them
1.5. What's the cost of a boat tour of the Moskva River. Prices differ according to the company, the type of boat and the service offered, but you can find tours from 400 to 2,000 rubles. If you include the lunch or dinner service you have to add at least about 1,500-2,000 more rubles. 1.6. Where do boats sail from and what routes do they take?
THE 10 BEST Moscow Boat Rides & Cruises (Updated 2024)
Explore the scenic and historic attractions of Moscow from the water with the best boat tours and cruises. Enjoy the views of the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and the Sparrow Hills on a relaxing or informative boat ride. Or, spice up your trip with some water sports and activities in Moscow. Find out more on Tripadvisor.
What Living in Houseboats, Floating Houses Is Really Like: Costs, Perks
Houses are also getting more expensive. In the US, most major forecasts predict that home prices could rise between 1.4% and 4.1% in 2024. Advertisement. And while millennials might be suffering ...
Dali Ship That Hit Key Bridge Was Destined for Sri Lanka
March 26, 2024, 5:18 a.m. ET. The Dali was less than 30 minutes into its planned 27-day journey when the ship ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday. The ship, which was sailing under ...
Disney Cruise Line Reveals Name and Theme of Next Ship, Sailing in 2025
The Disney Destiny, sister to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, will have a first-of-its-kind design theme, "Heroes and Villains," drawing on the legacies of beloved Disney stories, characters and theme park attractions.. The Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering teams were inspired by the dynamic duality of every great Disney story when developing this new ship, where ...

How Much Does a Catamaran Cost? (By Type)

New Cruising Catamarans

Small Racing Cat Prices

The Cost of a Secondhand Catamaran for Cruising

Catamarans Before the ’90s

Why Do Catamarans Cost So Much?

What Determines the Catamaran’s Cost?

Identifying an Affordable Catamaran

Best Cruising Catamarans

Antares 44i

Atlantic 42

Gemini 105M

Louisiane 37

Maine Cat 30

Moorings 4800/Leopard 48

Nautitech 441

Outremer 5X

St. Francis 50

Seawind 1000

Seawind 1160

Sunsail 384

Victoria 67

Wharram Tanaroa

Balance 442 “Lasai” Set to Debut

9 Best Luxury Cruising Catamarans: Buyer’s Guide

80 Sunreef Power Eco

LagoonSixty7

Fountaine Pajot Power 67

Fountaine Pajot Saona 47

St Francis 50

McConaghy 90

Aquila 70 Luxury Power Catamaran

Conclusion

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Recent Posts

Living on a Catamaran

How to Choose a Liveaboard Catamaran

Interior Layout

Tech and Convenience

How Much does a Liveaboard Catamaran Cost?

Best Catamarans to Live On

1. Manta 42

Quick Facts:

2. Nautitech 44

3. Voyage 44

4. Privilege 435

6. Lagoon 380

Most Recent

What Does "Sailing By The Lee" Mean?

The Best Sailing Schools And Programs: Reviews & Ratings

Similar Posts

Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home

Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom

Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K

Can a Novice Sail Around the World?

4 Best Electric Outboard Motors

How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England?

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat

9 Best Trailerable Sailboats

Yearly Catamaran Cruising Costs

What About the Rest?

What Does it Cost to Sail Around the World?

Docking Around the World

Formalities Around the World

Cruising Costs Year 1

Repair and Maintenance – $16,500

Vessel insurance – $10,000

Customs – $4,000

Docking – $3,500

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $3,700

Communications – $2,000

Total Cruising Costs & Boat Expenses: $39,700

Repair and Maintenance – $16,500

Vessel insurance – $8,300

Customs – $370

Docking – $2,900

Diesel, Petrol, and Propane – $2,300

Communications – $2,350

Total Cruising Costs: $32,720