Leopard Catamarans has a brand-new “cub” for the Miami Boat Show, the Leopard 40PC. But its birth wasn’t without difficulties…
Looks like a case of “Honey, I shrunk the cat”. Cape Town-based Leopard Catamarans is broadening its oh-so-popular powercat line-up, presently consisting of the flagship 53PC and Leopard 46PC. But rather of going big, it’s presenting a brand name brand-new 40-footer, the Leopard 40 Powercat, that’s getting its international launching at the 2023 Miami Boat Show.
Seems diminishing the cat isn’t such a simple job. Designer Alex Simonis, of Simonis Voogd Design says developing the 40PC was his studio’s “biggest challenge”. All the weight that enters into a top-heavy, family-friendly, three-cabin cruiser tends to tinker the trim, balance and basic seakeeping when you make the hulls much shorter.
But a 28ft 8in (6.6m) beam does aid with stability, as does an entire lot of style time invested with Computational Fluid Dynamics software. And stability is quite crucial when you’re building the Leopard 40 Powercat for The Moorings’ charter fleet under the name Moorings 403PC.
Article continues listed below…
Leopard has actually definitely squeezed a lot into this brand-new 40PC. The flybridge is reckoned to be the most significant ever seen on a 40-footer and includes an upper helm, huge L-shaped dinette, compact galley, and a hardtop filled with solar panels for energizing your house batteries.
Up on the bow there’s a wide variety of sun loungers, plus hassle-free access to the interior through a forward door. On the rear deck, full-width sliders open into the galley and saloon, while actions lead down to double swim platforms. It all feels much larger and roomier than that 40-foot length recommends.
Below decks, there’s the master suite using up the complete starboard hull, with 2 doubles in the port hull with a shared head. As for power, choose of Yanmar diesels, either 250, 320 or 370-horse, with the 370s offering a spirited 20-knot-plus leading speed and comfortable 17-knot travelling.
Leopard 40 Powercat requirements
LOA: 40ft 0in (12.2m)
Beam: 21ft 8in (6.6m)
Engines: Yanmar 250hp base
Top speed: 20 knots (with 370s)
Starting cost: TBC
