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Financing a Catamaran Q&A with First Approval Source

Catamaran for sale by owner

In this Q&A with First Approval Source, they cover the basics of marine financing as well as some specific details related to financing a catamaran in the current lending environment. Apply for financing via this link. What is First Approval Source? First Approval Source is a recreational loan company that specializes in finding the most competitive rates and terms for our customers. If you’ve never financed a boat before, don’t worry we’ll handle all the necessary paperwork and walk you through the entire process. People like working with us because we have a wide network of lenders, so we can always find a loan package that really fits their needs. How did First Approval Source get started? First Approval Source was founded with the customer in mind. Buying a boat is fun right? And we think that the finance process should also be fun. One of the biggest struggles that […]

Privilege Builder Interview with Rob Poirier

Rob Poirier with Privilege Catamarans was kind enough to talk with us about what is happening with their new builds. We talk about the most popular model their 510, their new 580, and the changing demographics of catamaran buyers. Rob has 20 plus years of experience selling catamarans and is a wealth of knowledge on the industry with a very straightforward and honest approach you will see. Rob has an excellent YouTube channel with numerous educational videos about Privilege catamarans. You can reach out to him there or via the Privilege Americas website. I’m Deidre Jordan from CatamaranSite.com, a great website where you can buy or sell your boat, as well as access resources such as these videos, where we are interviewing different people from across the industry of catamarans. Today, we are meeting with Rob Poirier from Privilege Catamarans. Welcome Rob, how are you doing? Hi Deidre, I’m very […]

Xquisite Builder Interview with Tamas Hamor

We met with Tamas Hamor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 9th aboard newly delivered Hull # 14 of his Xquisite X5 series. Also Hull #11 also was docked adjacent and undergoing preparation work to be shipped to Italy. Tamas spoke to us about the history of Xquisite, key features of the model, and future plans including the new X5+ and new 60 sail and power catamarans designed by Bill Dixon. The company won Sail Magazine’s Best Boat of 2017 award and Best Boat System 2017 award, and Cruising World’s 2017 Best Boat award. The maximalist philosophy of Xquisite is very contrasting to other builds we have reviewed here especially minimalist performance catamarans such as Outremer. Please read below and directly contact Tamas for more information on his website ( https://xquisiteyachts.com ) to get in line to purchase a very high quality luxury catamaran. Tell us about yourself and how […]

Jimmy Cornell Interview: The Elcano Challenge / Outremer 4X Custom “Aventura Zero”

We are very excited to publish our interview with legendary sailor Jimmy Cornell. Jimmy is in London currently while some modifications are being made his Outremer 4X to restart the Elcano Challenge. Listen here for an update about the Elcano Challenge as well as hear more about details of his choices and customizations as well as why this is such an important journey. Jimmy is an inspiration to us all and talking to him was a huge pleasure. For more on the Elcano voyage see Jimmy’s website: www.CornellSailing.com Today, I’m honored to introduce Jimmy Cornell. Jimmy, as you know, is a legend to so many of us in the sailing world, really excited to have you today. How you doing Jimmy? Very well, thank you. I’m in London. Still cold, but the winter is going, and spring has come, so I’m very happy about that. Good, good. Thank you for […]

Antares Builder Interview with Mark Silverstein

Welcome to another episode where we interview builders and designers across the industry of catamarans. Today, we present Mark Silverstein from Antares Catamarans. The Antares 44 is a legendary catamaran first introduced by legendary catamaran builder PDQ in 2004. The model was built by PDQ until 2008 when the molds were moved to Buenas Aires, Argentina and production continued under different management. Since then they have made numerous updates to the design and continue to build one of the premier cruising catamarans in the world. For more news, information about exciting new models, and to put in your build order, please see the website for Antares Catamarans and contact Mark. Thanks so much for joining us. I know you’re in Malaysia, tell us what brings you to Malaysia for work. We have a very unique story. We’ve been an owner of an Antares 44 catamaran now, for just over nine […]

David de Villiers Interview – Aluminum Catamaran Design

We spoke with David de Villiers about catamaran design. David is especially interesting because he is at the forefront of a number of design trends including aluminum construction and the push away from condomarans and towards a focus on lightweight, efficient designs. We talk to him about his famous 62 foot ketch catamaran and his DVD 525 version which is being built all over the world currently. He discuses his time in South Africa under Dudley Dix, his transition to designing in New Zealand, and what he sees as the future for himself and the catamaran design world in general. Please visit his website ( www.devilliersmarinedesign.co.nz ) for additional information about David and get in touch with him about building an aluminum catamaran. Can you tell us a little about yourself? Yes sure. I am from South Africa originally. Whilst in my early teens my father, who was a medical […]

Celtic / Admiral Catamarans Builder Interview with Tim Duncan

Celtic 45

We talked with builder Tim Duncan of Celtic Yachts who tells how he acquired the Admiral catamaran molds in South Africa, and what the current build status is like. He covers what models they are building now, what modifications they have made to the molds, and hints at a new all electric Celtic 45 to come. Please contact Tim via the Celtic Yachts website. Put in an order for his new electric 45! Today we’re meeting with Tim Duncan from Celtic yachts. Tim, welcome. How are you doing? I’m very well, thank you, and how are you? Good, good. Thanks so much for joining us today. Can you just start by telling us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved in Celtic Yachts? I’ve been involved in sailing since I was a kid. About 20 years ago, I built an Admiral 38. For about 10 years, I […]

Derek Kelsall Interview

We spoke with legendary catamaran designer Derek Kelsall. We cover his history and innovations in catamarans design and construction such as the foam coring, KSS. We ask him why his designs and build techniques are so heavily criticized. He talks about what size of a catamaran that a couple or family should purchase and where catamaran design is likely to go in the next decade. Please find out more about Derek Kelsall on his website. You can email him to ask questions and purchase plans or built kit. Thanks for joining us, just start by telling us about yourself. Designing and boat building is my second career. I spent 10 years in survey work and in oil exploration that took me to Kenya, to Libya, and to Texas. It was in Texas that I built my first boat.. When I left school, I wanted to travel. I discovered hitchhiking and […]

Schionning Design Interview with Robert Quinn

Schionning

We talk to Robert Quinn of Schionning Design about how their company is navigating Covid-19, their most popular models, and the future of catamaran design. We discuss the Arrow series, G Force, and Waterline / Wilderness designs. Robert tells us why their Arrow series is their most popular and why the Arrow 1200 is the most popular model. He talks about their most common build locations in Australia, Thailand, and South Africa, and their growth plans for the USA market. A big thank you to Robert and Schionning Design for participating in our series of interviews with catamaran designers, builders, and owners. Don’t exactly know why, but I think people are seeing them as escape pods. Robert on why Covid-19 has improved catamaran sales. To find out more information or to purchase design plans or a build kit, please visit the Schionning Design website. Tell us about yourself and how […]

Broadblue Builder Interview with Mark Robert Jarvis

New 12 M Broadblue

This interview is with Mark Jarvis, the owner of Broadblue catamarans out of the UK. He gives insight into how Covid-19 as well as Brexit is affecting Broadblue, myth busts Broadblue’s connection to Prout, and tells us about their new 12 meter model. For more information and to directly from the owner-builder, please go to their website, Broadblue.com. Tell us about yourself and how you got involved in Broadblue. My background is manufacturing. I’ve worked in aerospace, and the automotive industry. The last real job I had was running a division of a design consultancy designing cars particularly engines and transmissions for most of the world’s motor manufacturers. I had a brief excursion into mobile telephone businesses in the UK, and then a friend of mine was operating a multi-held business here in Emsworth. He invited me to come along through that process. We got involved with the then owners […]

Dudley Dix Interview on Catamaran Design

Below is our interview with Dudley Dix about his DH550 catamaran, 43 and 47 foot sisterships, and a future 38 foot version. He talks about catamaran design, why he is popular in Russia, the problems with reverse bows, and why, for most people, the ideal catamaran length is 38 to 40 feet. World renown for his beautiful and surprisingly fast designs, it was a great pleasure hearing directly from this naval architect. It’s bad to design a boat that looks fast and isn’t, but it’s great to design one that looks slow and is actually fast. Dudley Dix on yacht design Please contact Dudley for information about his plans or to purchase one of his build kits. His website is www.DixDesign.com Tell us a little bit about yourself. Okay I am South African born in Cape Town. My dad was a provincial champion in Flying Dutchman. We lived on the […]

“S/V Dora’s Dream” – Admiral 40 For Sale By Owner Interview

Today we have a special interview with Sean of S/V Dora’s Dream who is selling his Admiral 40 on CatamaranSite.com and agreed to talk about the benefits of the model. Sean discusses the strengths of the Admiral 40 model, why he choose to purchase it, and what a buyer and new owner would need to update on Dora’s Dream. Please click on the for sale by owner link above for more information and to inquire to Sean directly. For additional owner, designer, and catamaran builder interviews, please go to our interviews page. S/V Dora’s Dream Owner Background Sean and his wife live in Cozumel Traveled all over for about a year to 18 months looking for a boat Bought in Bocas del Toro in northern Panama 14 months ago Chose Admiral 40 because of sleek style that stands out from the predominant Caribbean charter catamarans Plans to go and buy […]

“SV Tusitala” Leopard 43 Review and Owner Interview

Kevin owns a 2007 Leopard 43 named S/V Tusitala which he purchased through the for sale by owner listings on www.CatamaranSite.com. He talks to us about the Leopard 43 and also more general topics about sailing with five kids, why the ocean is like a desert, and his thoughts on how to prepare for a world cruise. You can follow him on his YouTube channel or website or blog all under the handle “Seven on the Sea.” Thank you so much to him for participating in our series of interviews with catamaran owners. Executive Summary Sailing with his wife and five kids ages 6 to 18 on a Leopard 43 Sailing out of San Diego and preparing to head offshore Tusitala is the nickname of author Robert Louis Stevenson and means “teller of tales.” Chose Leopard 43 because of space and affordability. He considered monohulls but accommodations were smaller and […]

Gemini 3000 Owner Interview “The Wayward Travelers”

This interview is of Roan and Karrie who have a Gemini 3000 catamaran and are sailing the Great Loop. Please follow along their adventures on their YouTube channel here. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the boat? Roan and Karrie Poulter, The Wayward Travelers – we’re on a 5 year Adventure plan that consists of Motorcycles across the U.S. Trans America Trail, Van from Prudhoe Bay to Ushuaia on the Pan American Highway, Sailing the Great Loop and Bahamas in our 1988 Gemini Catamaran, Backpacking Europe and taking the Trans Siberian Railway before Backpacking Asia. Why did you choose a Gemini 3000? Fits in a single wide slip, massive online community for questions and wisdom, we got a great price and with an ample salon we felt we gained liveability. When was she launched? In 1989 as a Charter. When we got her she was on the Hard […]

Prout 35 Snowgoose Review with Carl Michael

We interviewed Carl Michael who owns a Prout 35 Snowgoose which he bought from our for sale by owner listings. He kindly answered our questions about the Prout 35 after his Solo Atlantic Crossing in 2020 which is available to see on his YouTube channel. Please subscribe to his channel to follow for more awesome adventures. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the boat? I’m a 30 something adventure motorcyclist turned sailor. Having returned from a 6 month motorcycling tour of South America, I was looking for my next adventure. Whilst cycling in France, I saw a number of boats cruising slowly along the Loire with their mast unstepped and drink in their hand and seemingly without a care in the world. Having been wild camping in the high altitude of the Bolivian Altiplano, the humidity of the rainforrest, and the harshness of Patagonia, a boat looked […]

Is a catamaran better for seasickness?

Unfortunately not based on my personal experience and watching others. That catamarans especially help with seasickness is a myth. In fact some catamarans seem to make seasickness worse because of their awkward, more unpredictable motion. I have sailed regularly the last decade thousands on miles in a variety of sea conditions on a variety of types of boats with a variety of crew. I also am prone to seasickness. While there is a difference in the motion of catamarans versus single hulled boats, the result for those who get seasick is usually the same. If you get seasick on one type of boat, you will likely get seasick on the other types. The more determining factors are the ocean conditions and whether you are taking anti-nausea medicine. I remember one of my early offshore deliveries from Fort Lauderdale to Annapolis on a Lagoon 440 and how I hoped I would […]

Catamarans are Better Than Monohulls

Frozen snot Description of fiberglass boats by Lewis Francis Herreshoff It is not a debate anymore. People used to consider the advantages and disadvantages of cruising catamarans versus monohulls. Now it is simply a price consideration. “I don’t have enough money for a catamaran, so I am buying a monohull,” they lament. Catamarans have gone from 20% of the market in my home location of Fort Lauderdale to 50%. In the next decade they will go to 80% share of sailboats. They own the charter market. They own the coastal racing world. And someday soon they will own the bluewater racing and cruising worlds (ask Jimmy Cornell). And as their production surges and prices continue to drop, less and less people will be unable to afford them. It is not a debate anymore. It is a present reality; it is a future certainty. Traditional sailors including me (I own a classic […]

OceanVolt ServoProps – Perfect for catamarans but are they ready?

Not yet. But advancements are coming in the next decade, and the long awaited emissions free cruising dream is nearly reachable. It has been a long time coming. Countless sailors have pursued the impossible over the last decade as lithium batteries have been advanced and costs lowered. How many sailors have attempted to power the air conditioning from lithium and ended up with failure or anemic units which act more like dehumidifiers? With power hogs like air conditioners and electric motors, how many wind and solar keep up? The new ServoProp saildrives from OceanVolt especially when doubled on a cruising catamaran give us hope. What They Are OceanVolt’s new ServoProp sail drives do the impossible, free wheel while you are sailing, harness the power your motion through the sea, and push that hydro generated energy back into you lithium power bank. Amazing and great idea executed finally in one integrated […]

What are the best practices for escrowing funds when selling for sale by owner?

Please note that since publishing this article CatamaranSite has started offering a high quality contract to closing service at the lowest price in the industy. Please see more at this link and read more below about all options. One of the most uncomfortable aspects for a buyer and seller in a for sale by owner catamaran transaction is the escrowing of funds. We see that purchase and sale paperwork is formalized and examples are available online. Closing paperwork is easily handled by a marine documentation agent for a reasonable fee. But escrow services has more complicated options, costs, and risks involved. In a for sale by owner situation, escrowing can take many forms. A buyer may not provide a deposit which then exposes the seller to costs incurred in the case the buyer disappears without paying the haul out, survey, or any other costs as agreed upon. A second dangerous […]

How much is a 45 foot catamaran? 5 Great Options.

Lagoon 450

Quick answer is $300,000 to $600,000. But you could also pay as much as $1 million for a fully loaded catamaran like La Vagabonde’s brand new Outremer 45 or as little as $150,000 for a late 1990’s Prout 45 or Leopard 45. These prices are all considering you are asking about a catamaran in reasonable condition and with appropriate cruising equipment. Project catamarans could end up costing much less initially although very likely much more eventually as typically you pay a premium in sailing for the “refit experience.” The upside is a long escape working in a boatyard that allows you to escape from your wife and children if that is your goal. We do not recommend the approach and this website while offering a wide selection of catamarans prefers to advertise that are in good condition at great prices to our visitors. Another budget aspect to consider is maintenance […]

What are the parts of a catamaran called?

Catamaran for sale by owner

This article is a dictionary of sorts of common terms used whether slang or professional among catamaran sailors. balsa cored (adj.) – description of a type of building technique common on catamaran used for weight saving purposes. End grain balsa is sandwiched between two layers of fiberglass to stiffen, lighten, and insulate the hull and deck of many catamarans. Usually balsa coring is discussed in terms of concerns about water logged or “wet” coring material which is a significant expensive as well as a common issue especially as catamarans get older. beach platform (n.) – a type of platform at the back of catamaran in particular the Voyage 440. The platform runs the whole back width between the swim platforms and function as a place behind the cockpit combing to layout, fish, and dangle your feet. beachable (adj.) – describing a class of catamaran which can safely be run aground […]

Top 10 Common Mistakes When Selling Your Catamaran FSBO

A great first photo is key to a great first impression when you sell your catamaran FSBO

After a decade of watching sellers and their success on selling catamarans themselves, we now often provide advice to sellers on how to best market their catamarans for sale by owner. We see our success of our boutique FSBO services directly linked to our reputation of quickly and smoothly selling catamarans. Please see our listing page for information on how to sign up for our service and advertise on this website. 1. Price: Obviously a primary determinant of your success in selling your catamaran is picking a proper price. And all boats especially cruising catamarans are prone to what behavior psychologists called the “endowment bias.” Essentially humans are wired to value more what items that they own that have significant memories associated with them than the market does. It is very hard to justify a premium versus comparable catamarans even when your boat deserves it. We can help by providing […]

Why You Should Sell Your Catamaran For Sale By Owner

Catamaran for sale by owner

When a new salesperson starts in catamaran sales, often they start their journey to building a clientele by contacting for sale by owner sellers and trying to convince them into listing their catamaran on a brokerage basis. The process involves searching online for sellers on FSBO sites like this one and cold calling owners. In an ever more sophisticated internet world, this article questions the viability of brokering as a value additive for do it yourself sellers. Can these salespeople really offer something more than you can achieve on your own? We doubt it and argue the real vulnerability of a seller is a lack of patience and confidence in the FSBO process. Further this article seeks to educate you and provide you additional confidence in your ability to sell FSBO especially with the service and support of the webmasters here at CatamaranSite.com. Why Brokers No Longer Offer Non-Exclusive Listing […]

Lagoon 42 Review: Week Charter in Antigua

My wife and I took 5 friends down to Antigua this year to do some quantitative easing in that fine country. This review of our boat, the Lagoon 42, is based on my experience showing and moving them in Lauderdale as well as from this 7 day charter with Dream Yachts out of Jolly Harbor. Let me get this done with at the start. Lagoons are not the highest quality catamarans. They or as a close second to Fountaine Pajot might be near the bottom of quality for mass production catamarans depending on the model. But for what they lack in quality, they make up for in outstanding space and light inside. They have gotten better and better at maximizing space, so much so that in the 2018 Lagoon 42 we chartered there were 4 good sized heads along with the 4 cabins and 2 pilot berths forward. The salon […]

Leopard 46 Review: Better than a Lagoon?

Clients often debate about which of the production catamaran brands to purchase. Is there a significant difference between a Fountain-Pajot, Lagoon, and Leopard? After an 11 day delivery of a Leopard 46 from Fort Lauderdale to Cartagena, Colombia and a delivery of a Lagoon 440 in March from Fort Lauderdale to Annapolis, in many respects the Leopard out classed the Lagoon including performance, durability, and comfort. My colleague and super star sailor Kevin Bray lauded the Leopard throughout the delivery. “After working on this boat for 3 months and now sailing her, I can honestly say I like this Leopard 46 design, and there are not a lot of boats that I can say that about,” shared Kevin. In a few areas, I give the edge to Lagoon. Read on to see which.

Lagoon 440 Review: Delivery to Annapolis

I wish I could take delivery of every yacht I review here, but I am usually restricted to a short seatrial at best. Hearing from owners the qualities of a vessel is one thing, but experiencing them yourself makes the unique qualities more vivid and altogether leads to a superior review. I hope that is the case here as I am still yearning to be offshore after my 12 day delivery of a Lagoon 440 catamaran from Venice Isle, Fort Lauderdale to Gibson Island, Annapolis. Lagoon was established in 1984 as a development of the legendary Jeanneau Advanced Technologies racing division. Lagoon went on to achieve fame for building the trimarans for the blockbuster movie Waterworld starring actor and inventor Kevin Costner. Lagoon’s first era of production ran from 1987 to 1996 and included production of 55, 47, 57 and 67 models meant as bluewater cruising catamarans for private purchase […]