CatamaranSiteBe notified first when new cataramans for sale are added. The majority of catamaran owners want cash and will not consider trades. Trades will not be considered unless their advertisement specifically says otherwise.
Since 1982, Australian owner and experienced sailor Richard Ward has built Seawind from the ground up, focusing on innovative designs that improve the safety and comfort of the entire Seawind line. They began with “off the beach” catamarans in the 9- to 12-foot range, slowly evolving into larger, cruise-worthy vessels. Their first, the Seawind 24, was a 24-foot cruising catamaran that sold over 350 boats.
Between 1991 and today, Seawind has built over 600 vessels, first in Australia. In the mid-2000s, after partnering with Corsair, they moved manufacturing to the Corsair factory in Vietnam. Models include the:
• Seawind 850
• Seawind 1000, 1000XL
• Seawind 1050 Resort
• Seawind 1200, 1250, 1260
• Seawind 1160, 1190
• Seawind 1370
• Seawind 1600
Seawinds were built to allow couples and families to cruise in safety and comfort. The Seawind design philosophy can be summed up by its company-designated acronym:
Sails like a real sailboat
Engineered to endure
Anyone can operate
Weather protected at the helm
Indoor/outdoor living
Natural ventilation
Don’t waste space
Originally built to withstand the harsh coasts of Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, Seawind catamarans can be found sailing the seven seas, either as a charter boat or decked-out cruising vessel.
What Makes Seawind Special?
Catamaran designs have come a long way over the past three decades, so it isn’t much to say that innovation is the company’s unique hallmark. With that said, Seawind has distinguished themselves through thoughtful innovations not typically seen on more budget-conscious catamarans.
Construction
As the Seawind line evolved, they moved from traditional hand-lay-up GRP construction to a high-tech resin infusion process that utilizes closed molds, vacuum pressure, and a controlled environment for curing. This process significantly improves the strength of the Seawind hulls and reduces weight.
Additionally, all seating areas and shelves are integrated into the mold to increase strength and minimize squeaking and groaning while underway.
Living Space
Even before the integration of the unique trifold door found between the salon and cockpit area of the 1160 model and beyond, Seawind put significant thought into the living spaces of its catamarans. Through the use of thoughtful design, the Seawind provides a more open layout so guests and crew aren’t sitting on top of each other. In addition, the places where you would normally congregate in the worst weather, like the salon or berths, are located along the areas of the vessel with the least amount of pitch.
Safety
In alignment with their design and mission statements, the Seawind models provide safety features that include protected helm stations, three lifelines that stand 36-inches, the placement of sail controls that allow for reefing from the cockpit, and wide, flat decks for ease of movement in weather.
Sailable, Livable Vessels
Overall, Seawinds are known to be solid sailing vessels that don’t compromise a lot of comfort for performance. With a wide range of models to take a beginning or seasoned sailor around the world, the Seawinds should not be overlooked in the search for your next catamaran.
S/V Katabatic is a 2012 Seawind 1000 XL2 catamaran, decked out and ready to sail anywhere, for sale by owner.
Katabatic was surveyed thoroughly and passed October 2022. She had some very recent upgrades in 2023, including performance sails and Victron energy management system.
Katabatic is very fast, almost windspeed on some points of sail and sails flat on the water with little heel. She is ready for you to sail away.
We talked with Terysa and Nick of Ruby Rose, and they have an interesting story about how they are coming to their catamaran. They are working with Seawind Catamarans to design the first Seawind 1370. They have a tremendous following on their YouTube channel, so please check their videos out and subscribe. They video taped their search for their catamaran and reviewed many different catamaran models on the market. Could you start off with telling us how you got into cruising, and then what took you from monohulls to catamaran? We started sailing back in the UK. Nick started about 15 years ago and I started when I met Nick, so 10-11 years ago. We were just weekend sailors. We used to be part of a club and we would do weekend cruises and races, and it was all very low-key, just fun. We were, at the time, thinking about […]
We talked with Shane Grover of sales and marketing over at Seawind Catamarans who is located onsite at their Vietnam manufacturing facility. We are really happy to have him participate in our series of interviews with catamaran owners, builders, designers, and service groups. Thank you! Please visit www.SeawindCats.com for more information about what they are currently building and marketing. How many Seawinds are you building per year? Over the last few years we’ve been building an average of about 25 catamarans a year. We also built the Corsair so in total we’re doing about 60 yachts a year, but in the Seawind range, we’re doing about 25. That’s probably a good average over the last 20 years as well. That’s a pretty solid number for us. At the moment though our sales demand is far greater than that, so we’re in the process of a three to five year plan […]
We talk to Kristin and Fabio who recently purchased a brand new Seawind 1600 named “S/V Wanderlust.” Follow them on their YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram channels all under the handle “Harbors Unknown.” In this interview they tell us about the new order process, why they chose the Seawind 1600, what they would change about the boat, and where they have been. A big thank you to them for sitting down with us! Executive Summary Live aboard their Seawind 1600 in Fort Lauderdale where catamarans are much more suitable than monohulls because of shallow waters. Used to have Beneteau 473 and Dragonfly 35 Chose 1600 because they wanted daggerboards, protected helm, and great visibility from helm. Considered also Catana 53, Outremer 45, Balance 526. Catanas have exposed helms. Outremer 45 is much smaller than you would expect from watching La Vagabonde. And the Balance is too spartan down below for their […]
The Seawind 1000, designed by Richard Ward and Scott Judson, was first built in Australia in 1994. The debut model was the first catamaran ever to be awarded “Australian Cruising Sailboat of the Year.” Over 225 Seawind 1000 series boats have been built, and while many might scoff at a sub-35’ catamaran tackling long ocean passages and 80+ knot storms, this light, nimble catamaran just might surprise you. History After initially launching with an inboard Bukh diesel engine, charter companies requested a model with twin outboards for ease of maintenance and maneuverability. This outboard model was a clear success and so became the standard for the 1000 model family. Since then, the Seawind 1000 was placed in Australian charter companies in the Whitsundays, Pittwater, Sydney Harbour, the Gold Coast, Darwin, Perth and Melbourne. The 1000 series has also been placed into charter in the U.S., Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Brazil, and […]
Perhaps the rarest of all Seawind models, the 39’ Seawind 1200, first produced in Wollongong, Australia in 1998, saw roughly 25 produced in its 5-year run. The model was primarily popular among charter companies in Australia, with only a few known to cruise privately. As with all Seawind models, the 1200 is a strong sailor with a spacious layout, but there may be more than a few reasons the company replaced it with the wildly-popular 1160. History Seawind was founded by Richard Ward in the early 1980s. Over the course of two decades, the Seawind factory pushed out the Seawind 850, launched in1991, the 33-foot Seawind 1000, launched in 1994, and the Tony Grainger-designed Seawind 1200 in launched in 1998 for the Australian charter company Whitsunday Escape. Though briefly replaced by the Seawind 1160, the 1200 model line continued in 2011 with the 41-foot Seawind 1250, which launched in 2011, […]
First launched in 2004, the 38’ Seawind 1160 has been a popular, award-winning vessel for cruisers and charterers alike. Whether due to good design or simply good marketing, the Seawind 1160 seems to have a bit of a cult following, bringing the vessel into high demand. We sort out the reality from the hype to help you make the most informed decision you can before purchase. History Seawind was founded by Richard Ward in the early 1980’s. Over the course of a decade, his Seawind designs matured to include the Seawind 850, launched in 1991, the 33-foot Seawind 1000, launched in 1994, and the Seawind 1200 in launched in 1998 for the Australian charter company Whitsunday Escape. In 2000, Ward purchased Venturer, a luxury power catamaran builder. In 2004, the Seawind 1160 emerged, a culmination of the best elements of its predecessors. The 1160 series includes the standard 1160, the […]
