We compare specifications, dimensions, sail area, and pricing on the most popular 40ft catamarans in 2020.
Since 2016, Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon, Leopard, Bali, and Nautitech all rolled out new 40 ft catamaran models in a similar price range that are innovative, spacious, well-built, and comfortable. The latest model to be added to this 40ft array in 2020 is the Bali Catspace.
Bali has done away with the Bali 4.1 model and has designed the Bali Catspace with much improved and innovative features while Lagoon updated their popular L400 and redesigned it with the mast further back to accommodate a self-tacking jib, open scoops, and updated interior. The FP Lucia 40, released in 2016, has pretty much stayed the same, as has the Leopard 40. They are both very popular and successful cats. While the Nautitech Open 40 is a nice sporty sailing cat, it has not really taken hold in the US market with the aft helm stations.
These 40ft catamaran models are affordable and easily be handled by a coupled. It also has all the amenities suitable for a cruising boat such as an ice maker, washing machine, bigger fridge/freezer capacity, and big living spaces, which is very attractive for live-aboard cruising couples.
The 40ft catamaran holds its value because it is in high demand on the used boat market. The 40ft catamaran size range just makes sense.
Read our previous 40ft comparison article for older models: How Do The Most Popular 40-ft Production Catamarans Compare?
New 2020 40Ft Catamaran Comparison
The five main production catamaran contenders in 2020 for liveaboard couples are:
40ft Catamaran Models Specifications
40ft Catamaran Deck & Flybridge Layout Comparison
40ft Catamaran Deck & Flybridge Layout Comparisons
40ft Catamaran Models Sail Plan Comparisons
40ft Catamaran Cabin Layouts Comparisons
3-Cabin Layout
4-Cabin Layout
READER'S QUESTION ANSWERED: Andy asked: "Which Cat is the best value and what do you budget for upgrades that deliver an above average sailing and comfort experience?"
The pricing for the different brands are generally in the same range since this a competitive space and the manufacturers have to make sure they are not priced out of the market. There are essentially no “bad catamarans”. Most are all built to recognized and enforced codes such as the European CE standard, so it comes down to personal preference. Some boats have Balsa cores and others have closed cell foam cores. Some have large nets, others have small nets and some have no nets.
All the forward deck designs are acceptable and safe, as we have now conclusively seen over the last five years. The current trend is smaller nets and larger foredeck areas for the most part on cruising cats. Performance cats all have nets and longer bows and are a different category to the production cruisers. Lagoon has the biggest living space, Bali has the best live-ability overall and FP and Leopard are very popular for couples with the semi-raised helm position but that too is a personal preference.
In terms of the extras or additional options, I normally recommend the following:
- The largest engine option available – this is important for your exit strategy especially in the US market and of course it is nice to have the extra power since the modern cats have quite a lot of windage.
- The best winch pack available
- All the cleats offered
- Mostly it is smart to take the code zero pack even if you do not order the sail immediately (Difficult and expensive to retro fit)
- Folding props – I really think that if you are going to do any extended cruising the last thing you want is to be dragging fixed props
- Air Conditioning if you want to have it
- Generator unless you are going to go Lithium with all the inverters and electronics to replace the generator.
- Solar – I normally take the factory option and then add aftermarket to increase the array
- If possible cable throttles and not electronic (If you are struck by lightning at least you can still control the engines if they still run)
- Electrically assisted davits at a minimum – your dinghy is your “car” so one needs to have an efficient handling system (we raise our dinghy every night for security)
- Watermaker is fantastic to have. It really makes life so much easier.
- Estelle will definitely opt for the washing machine – we never had one but since she’s had it onboard our Lagoon 450, she will not go without again.
Which Is Your Favorite 40ft Catamaran?
So many cruisers and liveaboard couples choose their dream boats from this new 40ft catamaran market. Which is your favorite catamaran and why? Leave your comment below!
Contact us for more information, price lists, specifications, and available charter management programs.
12 thoughts on “40ft Catamaran Models Comparisons”
Fabulous article and great comparisons, thank you. How do they sail? Is there any real difference?
HI Chrissy thank you! The performance of the boats are all very similar. They are all cruising cats, so not exactly rocket ships but totally adequate for a an average cruising couple. You could get a little more performance out of any of these boats depending on how aggressively you sail the boat and the type of sails you have. We race our boat and almost always end up in the top three boats.
Thank you for your article, I think we will go for the Catspace
Your welcome! I think you will be very happy with this choice. Only recommendation for any of these models, is upgrade the engines to 40hp.
In your opinion, which Cat is the the best value and what would you budget for upgrades that deliver an above average sailing and comfort experience? Obviously upgrades can be all over the map but you mentioned upgrading engine to 40hp – what else do you feel are almost ‘required’ upgrades? Thanks!
Hi Andy
The pricing for the different brands are generally in the same range since this a competitive space and the manufacturers have to make sure they are not priced out of the market. There are essentially no bad catamarans, most are all built to recognized and enforced codes such as CE so it comes down to personal preference. Some boats have Balsa cores and other have closed cell foam cores, others have large nets, some have small nets and some have no nets, all designs are acceptable as we have now conclusively seen over the last five years.The trend is to smaller nets and larger foredeck areas for the most part. Performance boats all have nets and longer bows and are a different category to the production cruisers. Lagoon is good bang for your buck, Bali has the best liveability and space overall and FP and Leopard are very popular for couples because of the helm position.
In terms of the extras or additional options I normally recommend the following:
The largest engine option available – this is important for your exit strategy especially in the US market and of course it is nice to have the extra power since the modern cats have quite a bot of windage.
the best winch pack available
All the cleats offered
Mostly it is smart to take the code zero pack even if you do not order the sail immediately (Difficult and expensive to retro fit)
Folding props – I really think that if you are going to do any extended cruising the last thing you want is to be dragging fixed props
Air Conditioning if you want to have it
Generator unless you are going to go Lithium with all the inverters and electronics to replace the generator.
Solar – I normally take the factory option and then add aftermarket to increase the array
If possible cable throttles and not electronic (If you are struck by lightning at least you can still control the engines if they still run)
Electrically assisted davits at a minimum – your dinghy is your car so one needs to have an efficient handling system (we raise our dinghy every night for security)
Watermaker is fantastic to have. It really makes life so much easier.
Estelle will definitely opt for the washing machine – we never had one but since she’s ahd it onboard our Lagoon 450, she will not go without again.
This is a big subject and there are many opinions, I would be happy to discuss further
-Stephen
We have a 2020 Leopard 40 Owners version. We love it. Just wish it carried a bit more fuel.
Hi Eugene, yes! The Leopards are very popular and we sell many of them. They are definitely a great bang for your buck. Thank you for your input!
The 40 Open has the longest WL, Largest Sail Area and has the lightest displacement… indicating it ‘should’ sail better than the others. Other than the helm position, what are the other differences (drawbacks?) you have observed or can comment on (if any)? It appears to be trying to straddle the ‘performance / cruiser’ designation… would you say it is successful?
Doug, yes you are correct however it is a displacement hull, just like the other cats in this category and while it may be a little lighter and have a bigger sailplan, it sails marginally faster, so that is not too much of a factor. In general they are nice boats but the living space is small and just like the new Excess range from Lagoon, the biggest drawback of these cats in our market is the helm position. The aft helm station have just never caught on, which is the reason that Catana and Outremer also moved their helm stations to the bulkhead rather than on the sterns.
Cat Guru
Any chance on getting a 2024 update of the 40ft-ish Catamaran Models Comparison?
Thanks!
We will look into it for you