What Separates a Bluewater Cat
| Bridge Deck Clearance | 24+ inches for offshore; 18" is marginal in chop |
| Mast Step | Must be structurally reinforced — failure offshore is catastrophic |
| Tankage | 150+ gallons water; 100+ gallons diesel for offshore passages |
| Watermaker | Standard on bluewater builds; verify capacity (30+ GPH recommended) |
| Daggerboards vs. Fixed Keels | Boards improve pointing; keels are simpler and more robust offshore |
| Entry Price (used, 40–45 ft) | $250,000–$500,000 depending on age and condition |
The cruising catamaran market has matured considerably in twenty years. Where once the choice was limited to a few French builders and some custom South African work, buyers now have a range of production options covering everything from charter-grade platforms to serious offshore performance machines. The challenge is that marketing materials for nearly every production cat describe the boat as "bluewater capable," a term that has become almost meaningless.
Below is a realistic assessment of the production models that have actually crossed oceans in significant numbers, along with what distinguishes the serious ones from the marina queens.
Lagoon 400 / 420 — The Most Popular Charter Cat in History
The Lagoon 400 series, built by CNB in France under the Beneteau Group, became the dominant charter catamaran worldwide through a combination of practical interior design, reasonable price, and massive fleet deployment in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. More Lagoon 400s and 420s have been chartered by first-time cat sailors than any other model by a wide margin.
For bluewater cruising, the 400/420 is capable but requires honest assessment. Bridge deck clearance on early 400 models is adequate rather than generous. The hulls are lighter construction than a purpose-built offshore cat and designed with charter durability in mind rather than offshore performance. That said, Lagoon 400s have crossed the Atlantic, the Pacific, and completed world circumnavigations. The boats work. They are not optimized for 30-day passages in large seas, but they handle trade wind sailing competently.
The best argument for a used Lagoon 400 or 420 is value: the charter fleet cycle produces a steady supply of well-maintained, professionally serviced 7–12 year old boats at prices well below comparable non-charter hulls. A 2010 Lagoon 400 that spent five years in a Sunsail or Dream Yacht fleet often comes with upgraded electronics, good sails, and a recent survey at a price point that makes it accessible to buyers who cannot stretch to $400,000 for a newer boat.
Leopard 45 — South African Build, Global Reputation
Robertson & Caine builds the Leopard line in Cape Town, South Africa, under contract for The Moorings and Sunsail charter operations, then sells excess production on the retail market. The Leopard 45 (and its predecessors, the 43 and 44) earned a strong bluewater reputation through sheer volume of ocean miles — thousands of Leopards have completed Atlantic and Pacific crossings in charter and private ownership.
The South African build quality has historically been a talking point. R&C builds more cats per year than almost any other yard outside France, and the volume has allowed them to refine construction processes that catch up where hand-built yards have traditional advantages. Leopards are not the most refined boats on the inside — the interiors have improved but still show their charter-fleet pragmatism — but the structural integrity of the hulls is well-documented.
Bridge deck clearance on the Leopard 45 is good for a production cat: 24 to 26 inches in most configurations. The daggerboard configuration on newer models improves windward performance meaningfully compared to fixed-keel versions. For buyers who want a proven offshore hull at a realistic price point, the used Leopard 45 market is one of the stronger value propositions in bluewater catamaran sailing.
Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 — French Premium Construction
Fountaine Pajot is the other major French catamaran builder alongside Lagoon, and the Elba 45 (successor to the Helia 44 and earlier Lavezzi) occupies the upper-middle of the production market. FP builds are generally regarded as a step above Lagoon in construction quality — better hull laminate, more attention to structural detail, and an interior finish that holds up better over time.
The Elba 45 sails well for a production cruiser. The hull form is efficient, the daggerboard option significantly improves windward ability, and the boat is stable enough in offshore conditions to be genuinely comfortable on long passages. For cruising couples who want a boat they can handle shorthanded, the Elba 45 is well-proportioned — the helm is manageable solo, the sail plan is not oversized, and the twin-engine maneuvering is predictable.
The premium over comparable Lagoon models is real — Fountaine Pajot holds its asking prices more firmly in the used market — but the build quality difference is also real. Sailors who have owned both typically report fewer osmotic issues, better hardware quality, and longer component life on the FP hulls.
Outremer 45 — When You Actually Want to Go Fast
Outremer is a small French yard from La Grande-Motte that builds performance cruising catamarans for sailors who find production cats too slow and too heavy. The Outremer 45 is not a charter cat. It is a lightly built, performance-oriented bluewater cruiser designed to sail at speeds that make Lagoons and Leopards look like they are standing still.
The differences are meaningful. Outremer hulls are built to tighter weight targets using infused laminates. The sail plans are larger relative to displacement. The daggerboards are substantial and central to how the boat performs upwind. In 15 knots of breeze, an Outremer 45 will be 3 to 4 knots faster than a Lagoon 42 on the same point of sail — not a marginal difference.
The tradeoffs: Outremers cost significantly more than comparable production cats. The interior volume is reduced compared to a Lagoon of the same length because weight savings require sacrifice. The boats reward skilled sailors and punish the inattentive — a fully powered Outremer in 25 knots requires active sail management. For buyers who prioritize sailing performance above comfort volume and are willing to pay the premium, Outremer has built some of the most capable production bluewater cats available.
Gunboat — Performance Without Compromise (or Budget Limit)
Gunboat occupies the extreme end of the production performance catamaran market. Built in the United States (originally, then moved production), Gunboats are large, expensive, and fast. A used Gunboat 55 starts around $800,000. New builds are well north of that.
What Gunboat delivers is genuinely exceptional: offshore performance comparable to racing multihulls in a package that can be handled by a small crew, with enough cruising infrastructure (watermaker, generator, air conditioning, decent cabins) to live aboard comfortably. The boats regularly average 250+ miles per day on offshore passages. They are not practical for most buyers but they represent what is achievable when cost is not the primary constraint.
What to Look for in a Bluewater Cat
Bridge deck clearance is the starting point. Below 20 inches and the boat will be uncomfortable in any meaningful chop. Twenty-four inches is workable; 28 to 30 inches is where offshore passages become genuinely comfortable.
Mast step construction deserves inspection on any used cat. The mast on a catamaran bears compression loads that transfer into the bridge deck — a structure that must simultaneously support the rig and the living accommodations. Poorly reinforced mast steps crack over time and have caused rig losses offshore. A pre-purchase survey on a used cat should specifically include mast step inspection.
Tankage is a practical offshore requirement. Thirty-day passages consume water at 5 to 8 gallons per person per day (more with a watermaker that supplements rather than replaces tankage). Diesel for passages with significant motoring adds up. Before buying any cat for bluewater work, calculate whether the tankage numbers actually support the passages you intend.
New vs. Used: The Honest Calculation
The used market for production cruising catamarans is large and well-developed, particularly in Florida, the Caribbean, and France. A five-to-eight year old Leopard or Lagoon from a charter fleet at half the cost of a new equivalent is a reasonable choice for buyers willing to do the survey work. Charter cats are used hard but maintained on schedule — they typically have known service histories, decent electronics, and sails that are worn but functional.
The case for new is simpler: you know exactly what you are getting, warranties cover the first years, and modern construction and electronics represent meaningful improvements over boats from even five years ago. For buyers who can afford it, a new boat eliminates the uncertainty of someone else's deferred maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What separates a genuinely bluewater-capable catamaran from a marina queen? Bridge deck clearance is the starting point: below 20 inches the boat is uncomfortable in meaningful chop; 24 inches is workable and 28 to 30 inches is where offshore passages become genuinely comfortable. Mast step construction requires inspection — the mast on a catamaran bears compression loads that transfer into the bridge deck, which must simultaneously support the rig and living accommodations; poorly reinforced mast steps crack over time and have caused rig losses offshore. Tankage must support the intended passages: 30-day passages require 150-plus gallons of water capacity and 100-plus gallons of diesel. Marketing materials describe nearly every production cat as bluewater-capable, a term that has become almost meaningless without examining these specifics.
What is the Lagoon 400's reputation for bluewater cruising and what makes the used market for it attractive? The Lagoon 400 series became the dominant charter catamaran worldwide through practical interior design, reasonable price, and massive fleet deployment. Bridge deck clearance on early 400 models is adequate rather than generous, and the hulls are lighter construction than a purpose-built offshore cat — designed for charter durability rather than offshore performance. That said, Lagoon 400s have completed Atlantic crossings, Pacific crossings, and world circumnavigations. The charter fleet cycle produces a steady supply of well-maintained, professionally serviced 7 to 12 year old boats at prices well below comparable non-charter hulls, often with upgraded electronics, good sails, and recent surveys.
How does the Outremer 45 differ from production charter cats like the Lagoon and Leopard? Outremer is a small French yard building performance cruising catamarans for sailors who find production cats too slow and heavy. Outremer hulls are built to tighter weight targets using infused laminates, the sail plans are larger relative to displacement, and the daggerboards are central to how the boat performs upwind. In 15 knots of breeze, an Outremer 45 will be 3 to 4 knots faster than a Lagoon 42 on the same point of sail — not a marginal difference. The tradeoffs: Outremers cost significantly more, the interior volume is reduced compared to a Lagoon of the same length, and the boats reward skilled sailors while punishing the inattentive — a fully powered Outremer in 25 knots requires active sail management.
What is the Leopard 45's bluewater reputation and what makes it a strong value proposition? Robertson & Caine builds the Leopard line in Cape Town under contract for The Moorings and Sunsail, then sells excess production on the retail market. The Leopard 45 earned its bluewater reputation through sheer volume of ocean miles — thousands of Leopards have completed Atlantic and Pacific crossings in charter and private ownership. Bridge deck clearance is good for a production cat at 24 to 26 inches. The daggerboard configuration on newer models improves windward performance meaningfully over fixed-keel versions. For buyers wanting a proven offshore hull at a realistic price, the used Leopard 45 market is one of the stronger value propositions in bluewater catamaran sailing.
What are the key differences between daggerboards and fixed keels on cruising catamarans? Daggerboards significantly improve windward pointing ability — a cat equipped with daggerboards can sail meaningfully closer to the wind than the same hull with fixed keels, which is the performance difference that makes Outremer boats 3 to 4 knots faster than production charter cats on the same angle. Fixed keels are simpler and more robust offshore: there are no moving parts, no risk of board damage from grounding or debris strikes, and no mechanism to maintain. For sailors who prioritize upwind performance and are willing to manage the mechanical complexity, daggerboards are worth the tradeoff. For offshore passage-making with occasional shoal-water exploration, fixed keels are the more reliable choice.
What should buyers inspect on a used cruising catamaran before purchase? Mast step construction deserves specific inspection on any used cat — this is where compression loads from the rig transfer into the bridge deck structure, and poorly reinforced mast steps have caused rig losses offshore. A pre-purchase survey should explicitly include mast step inspection. Tankage should be calculated against intended passages rather than assumed to be adequate. Osmotic blistering in the hulls, particularly on older Lagoon models from the early 2000s, is common and the repair scope can be substantial. The difference between a charter-fleet boat with known service history and a privately owned boat with unknown maintenance is significant: charter cats are used hard but maintained on schedule, whereas private boats may have accumulated deferred maintenance.