hh 52 catamaran specs

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HH52 - A catamaran conceived around its electric drivetrain

Article published on 07/09/2022

By Dick Sawyer

published in n°185 sept. / oct.

You can’t accuse them of sleeping on the job at HH... following the brand new HH44, HH60 and HH88, the forthcoming HH52 (as ever, designed by the Californian team of Morrelli & Melvin) has been announced.

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While this model, still equipped with daggerboards, is an assumed evolution of the HH50, the platform has been entirely redesigned with the aim of going electric. The HH solution is a hybrid drivetrain with the possibility of hydrogeneration under sail. The 52 will feature a brand-new coachroof capable of integrating 4,900 Wp of solar panels. The deck layout is also new and the sail area has been increased. The interior layout has also been modified: the HH52 builds on many of the lessons learned from the development of the HH44 and HH60, including the popular L-shaped sofa, a galley island as seen aboard the larger HHs, more openings and even more convincing comfort in the cabins. The yard will also offer two helm station versions – either a forward cockpit accessed by double doors around a central helm station, or twin tillers, aft. Construction of the first HH52 has already begun: launch scheduled for late 2023. Builder: HH Catamarans Architects: Morrelli & Melvin Material: carbon/epoxy Length: 55.94 ft (17.05 m) Waterline length: 48.85 ft (14.89 m) Beam: 24.41 ft (7.44 m) Displacement: 25,550 lbs (11.59 t) Draft: 5.41 ft/11.61 ft (1.65/ 3.54 m) Mast length: 68.9 ft (21 m) Mainsail: 1,059 sq ft (98.38 m²) Solent: 683 sq ft (63.46 m²) Gennaker: 1,194 sq ft (110.96 m²) Speed under motor: 9 knots Range: 540 miles CE Category: A

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• HH Catamarans , 
• HH52 , 
• Morrelli & Melvin , 
• sailing catamaran

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The all new HH52 by HH Catamarans.

Available with either dual aft swing helms or forward helm with optional tiller steering, the HH52 may just be the perfect yacht. Designed to optimize the functionality of the EcoDrive parallel hybrid system and featuring an all-new cabin top with 4,900 watts of solar, a new deck plan, a new interior layout, and an increased sail area, the HH52 brings the latest design features and performance improvements to the HH Catamarans models. The first hull is underway now, and will launch in 2023. Contact us today to secure your 2024 delivery.

Privacy Overview

HH52 Catamaran with Hybrid Electric

Introducing the all new HH52, an evolution of the Award Winning HH50, which has been completely redesigned with electrification in mind. Featuring an all new cabin top with 4,900 watts of solar, a new deck plan, a new interior layout, and increased sail area, this yacht brings the very latest design features and performance improvements to our mid-size luxury cruising catamaran. Check out the video below explaining the new exterior enhancements…

HH52 Dual Aft Helm (OC or SC)

The HH52 dual aft helm configuration can be ordered as an e-glass “Ocean Cruising” or 100% carbon-fibre “Sports Cruising” version and will feel more familiar to those used to monohull sailing. With helms at both aft quarters of the yacht, all sailing and steering is managed with clear visibility of the sails or can be swung inboard for protection from the elements. Meanwhile, a larger interior saloon provides a level of comfort and refinement not found in any other performance cruising catamarans this size.

HH52 Forward Helm (OC or SC)

The HH52 forward cockpit can be ordered as an e-glass “Ocean Cruising” or 100% carbon-fibre “Sports Cruising” version and provide a central, protected location to operate all sail controls from. This is a superb configuration for easy, single handed sailing. Optional aft tiller chairs with push button controls bring back the thrill of sailing typically reserved for a performance monohull. The interior layout is modified slightly to fit the forward cockpit but is equally luxurious and quite spacious given the unique design.

The HH52 has been designed to work with our parallel diesel/electric hybrid, a large solar array on the cabin top and hydro-regeneration while sailing. Our EcoDrive provides all the benefits of an electric boat: silent fume free motoring, instant torque for maneuvering, and hydro-regeneration while sailing; while also providing the reliability of trusty diesel engines as a back up. For the technology shy, traditional standalone diesel engines with shaft drives are also offered.

To receive further information about HH Catamarans visit https://www.multihullcentral.com/hh-catamarans/ or contact the team on 02 9810 5014 or [email protected]

For more media information contact:

Media Contact: Brent Vaughan | M: 0418 670 751 | E: [email protected]

Marketing Contact: Tara Fitzgerald | P: 02 9810 5014 | E: [email protected]

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Did We Choose The Right Boat? (HH44 vs HH52)

How a boat ages says a lot about the build materials and quality.  And, there just so happened to be a three-year-old HH50 on display at the La Grande Motte boat show. Which prompted us to hop in the camper van and drive the 9 hours from Italy to France. (Ok, that plus the temptation of all the other new catamarans we could step foot on.) The HH50 is the closest in fit, finish, and size to our soon-to-be HH44 .  Plus, HH just announced the new and highly tempting HH52 which naturally leads to the question, should we upgrade?

There are seemingly more options than ever when it comes to new boats and that’s both good and bad.  Good because there really is no such thing as “One Size Fits All”.  Bad because all these options can lead to decision fatigue.  (Just wait for next week’s video, the boats just keep getting better!)

Thankfully, we aren’t actually boat shopping.  Because it would be a tough call with all the new options on the market!  We are nearing the end of our build and still feeling solid in our decision.  But let’s be honest, for 99% of us, budget decides what boat we get.

And speaking of budget, let’s talk price for those of you contemplating or simply curious as to what the cost of a new boat is.

We asked for updated pricing because it has gone up significantly, all across the market and on all boats since we signed in early 2022.  This is the beauty of most boat contracts, it locks in the pricing at the current time.  Because inevitably, the prices will go up with inflation.

Base Price vs Fully Equipped

Before I list out the base prices, let’s chat for a second about what that means and thank our Patrons for making informational breakdown posts like this possible.  We’re in the works of conducting interviews with other buyers from other manufacturers so we can really hash out the cost and fun/pain of building a new boat.  So stay tuned.

Because base prices can be EXTREMELY misleading and frustrating.  Some new catamarans will be listed with an attractive low base price of $495k but that will be little more than a polished hull.  The fully equipped price will be drastically different, sometimes double or more than the base price.  Because if you can’t get a decently outfitted 7-year-old used production boat for that price, you certainly won’t get a decently built new catamaran for that price!

Let’s face it, boats are freaking expensive.  Especially catamarans.  There are loads of scrappy sailors who make it work on a shoestring budget and they are mighty impressive.  Captain Fatty Goodlander literally wrote a book on it: How To Inexpensively and Safely Buy, Outfit, and Sail a Small Vessel Around the World

But it won’t be aboard a new boat, especially a new catamaran.  These are 2-4 bedroom off-grid homes that can turn salt water into drinking water, harness the sun for power and use the wind to cross oceans.  And, when it comes to something we expect to carry us safely across an ocean, cheap isn’t our priority, quality and safety are.

Even our 18-year-old Leopard 43 was $380k (granted, she is a well-loved fully set up for off-grid living vessel).  If someone is trying to sell you a new boat for that price, are you sure you want it?

So when comparing boats, do not use base price, and keep in mind you get what you pay for.  Some will ask what the “sail away or fully equipped” price will be.  I don’t like that either because everyone’s idea of fully equipped will be different.  Ask for the price and options sheet, check the boxes you will want, get your total, and then start comparing.  You will notice the seemingly affordable boat starts to become the same price or even surpass the seemingly more expensive boats.

From our experience, most buyers will check off at least $200k in options from any manufacturer.  This isn’t necessarily because a builder is trying to deceive or lure in a buyer (sometimes it is).  Every single sailor’s wants and needs will be different.  Not everyone will be offshore sailing and need a watermaker or heaps of solar on the cabin top.  Some prefer manual winches and the never-ending challenge of grinding a mainsail up while others will want an electric push button.

HH44 & HH52 Pricing

HH44-OC (Ocean Cruiser, no dagger boards): Starts at $957k USD

I will say HH comes with far more as standard than most boats we looked into. (5-year warranty, quality hardware & Karver reefing systems, toughened glass windows, electric dinghy lift, SeaDek, sofa cushions throughout, PowerPlex digital switching, Rocna anchor, anchor chain, blinds for all windows and hatches…and the list goes on). So there are a lot fewer boxes to tick.  The OC version is the version we chose and we’re still happy with that choice for our needs.

HH44-SC (Sports Cruiser, daggerboards, carbon mast, carbon rudder, more racing-oriented gear): Starts at $1.325m USD

At first glance, there is a big price difference between the two models but it’s not just because of the added performance gear. The SC comes standard with paint, the hybrid electric eco-drive, a huge lithium battery bank, a cabin top full of solar, and all the B&G navigation equipment.  All of these options are boxes we needed to tick on our OC.  So again, this is why you want to ask for the price & options lists on whatever boat you are looking at.  We still saved money by not opting for the SC version and we weren’t interested in all of the extra gear and performance upgrades. The OC will already be a massive upgrade for us in comfort, performance, ease, and joy of sailing.  Unlike our friends s/v Endless Playtime who absolutely wanted the extra performance gear.  They will 100% participate in races and rallies and take full advantage of all that the SC offers.  Different sailors, different boats.

HH52-OCF (Ocean Cruising Forward Cockpit): Starts at $1.57m USD –  HH52-OC (Ocean Cruising): Starts at $1.62m USD

Again, the Ocean Cruising versions are more cruiser oriented with standard mini keels and a Carbon backbone with E-glass construction.

HH52-SCF (Sport Cruising Forward Cockpit): Starts at $1.9m USD – HH52-SC (Sport Cruising): Starts at $1.95m USD

It can get a little confusing here:  The HH44 models share the same carbon & E-glass construction.  But on the HH52 when you buy the SC you get a full-carbon boat, which is one of the biggest upgrades.  The Sport Cruising versions also come with curved carbon daggerboards, carbon mast, aramid stays, custom carbon rudders, and other high-performance sailing upgrades.

Final Thoughts

Not that we take our own advice (notice the increase in grey hair over the last 6 years?) but here it is anyway.  New or used, don’t max yourself out on the boat purchase.  There will be unexpected extra costs down the road you simply can’t foresee at the time of signing.  Even “normal” things like registration, documentation, taxes, insurance, and delivery can throw in unexpected curve balls (more on those subjects soon 😤).  So don’t forget to save some cash for the cruising kitty.

Hello there! I honestly don’t know what to say, so I am going to tell you a bunch of random facts instead. I'm a fish eating vegetarian who hates spiders and loves snakes. I almost never took vacations growing up. I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking (still do). I misspell about every other word I write and still struggle with grammar. I love splurging on a good high tea (which is really hard to find these days). And whatever you do, don’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I'll HAVE to do it!

Comments (24)

Thanks for sharing all the details of your journey. It’s fun keeping up with you guys

Matt Ballard

You have both done a great job entertaining my wife and I over the years. Your style reflects our own and I dream of purchasing a used HH 44 a couple of years before retirement. The mix of Carbon fiber and E-glass on the boat make for a much safer boat. I dream of a totally carbon free boat, but have to accept that I will be hauling around a tank of diesel for back up. I am very interested to see how well your HH can stretch out the knots running only solar/wind power! I know that video is on your list to make, and I can’t wait.

Bill Laramore

I think you two are the best ones to judge what boat and size is best for you. Sure there are many options (dishwasher?) but in the end you two know your own needs skills and expectaion. Trust yourselves! I would like to thank you both for the professional yet relatable content you provide in such an estetically pleasing way! Yes, it is obvious you care about your work! Have Fun -N- Smooth Sailing!

Scott Laprise JUST BACK FROM HH

JUST BACK FROM HH LAST WEEK

Hi You guys, great content, we are big fans.

We saw your name up on the order board at HH in Xiamen, they told us you will be in China soon. We are a family of 3 living in Beijing China for last 25 years. We went to visit HH because we are also looking for a boat, we have met with all the boat makers now in China, next we plan to visit France (we are French Canadian) I am a financial analyst and we are getting ready to leave China soon. If you want any feedback on our visit just give me a call. I think you are making a great choice but I highly recommend you go for carbon and dagger boards otherwise not sure why you would get an HH. The 44 is very small inside but I am sure you know all that and you can see a lineup of 44′ at the factory in different stages, well worth a visit. You can even see an 88 footer just for partying being built. Very nice people. We found the 44 too small for us, we even found the 55 pretty small. There is Chinese guy who brought his boat back to the factory to fix it, he has a 55 and told me it is too small. You might see him and can talk to him when you visit.

If you are planning to come up to Beijing you are welcome to stay with us, we have a very very big house so more than enough room. A lot of tea, I have about 40 kinds of tea. You can buy a lot when you come to visit, I recommend you visit a tea planation.

I highly recommend you get WeChat, this is all we use here in China, this will allow you to communicate better and it even has a translation tool. We all 3 speak Chinese so if you need any translation help just call or Wechat, my wechat is the same number.

Good luck with everything. Your new boat will be great. We are cheering for you. Scott, Jing Jing and Luc

By definition a boat is a hole in the water that consumes endless amounts of money. Something is always broken and needs fixing or needs upgrading. Life on a boat is a way of life.

No different than any home. Something is always broken, in need if upgrade or obsolete.

It isn’t just boats….

Michael Hellyar Sr

Congratulations. Have followed since your sailing beginning. You are talents and marketing acumen have been fun to observe. Your new HH investment will expand your reach to another breed of bigger dreamers and doers. Wishing you the best on your new HH. You earned it.

Christopher Rankin

You guys are awesome! Wife and I really enjoy all the content you’ve given over the years and this latest is simply fantastic. I’ll retire in a few years from the airline world and the wife and I plan to start our water adventures. If anything, I think you’re videos have made choosing between monohull and a cat so much more difficult, at least for us. She’s crewed on a mono and doesn’t mind the heeling and neither of us have been on a cat. Sure like the idea of more room, redundant power. Thanks to both of you for being that inspiration to follow our dreams. Best wishes on that new RV for the water, it’s gonna be amazing! Chris & Carolyn

Alan Solomon

Wow. Nikki and Jason. Your excited excitement travels the airwaves. Before I watched this, I was a bit ho hum. Now, after watching my attitude has woken followed by a gleaming personality. 😁 Taa Daaaa.. Those boats look way cool. You guys are definitely joining a league of remarkable quality and excellence. Enjoy your new choices, your excitement and congratulations on your great success. Thanks for letting me tag along. Happiness and Joy,

Great post! We are very interested in the HH44 but that HH52 with forward cockpit is really sweet! Can HH configure the HH44 with a forward cockpit?

Dick Caplis

I just can’t figure out how in the world you two can afford a new boat with no visible income. My and I both worked for GM, she was an engineer in Advaced Vehicles and I was a Software Project Mgr for GM final Assemble Plants. Someb body must have some deep pockets!!

Curious Minion

No visible income? You’re looking at it! Nikki and Jason generally spend 40-60 hours/week filming, editing, writing blog posts & articles, and all the other things that happen behind the scenes to build a YouTube channel with half a million subscribers and thousands of supporters on Patreon. More details here: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/travel-money-wynns and thanks for being a part of the crew! Curious Minion

Mike Wilkshire

You must not know how YouTube works. There are YouTube content creators making millions of dollars based on the number of subscribers they have and how many hits their videos get. Plus, add in the Patreon revenue stream and there you have it.

It’s always great to see people discuss pricing, so we all fully understand costs of owning and operating a boat.

Holly & Stephane

Hey guys, we are currently going through the process for our new Outremer 52. We should have it by August, hull #4. The process this time is very different than with our last boat which surprised us with everything extra we had to do after we got the boat. We do agree that it’s not always clear what kind of boat best fits you until you are on one and figure out how you like to sail and what tradeoffs you are willing to make between comfort, weight and value. – Sailing AWEN, O52

This breakdown really hit home, literally. We’re moving into a “tiny” home; base price $72k. After options (& we aren’t talking fancy or highest grade) – add-ons, land purchase land prep, well, septic, clearing, blah, blah; Right around $300k. There is a marina just down the road. If our job was doable from anywhere in the world we would be on a boat at this price point 🤣. In fact, we’re seriously talking about just living on a boat anyway as we live on an island.

I can understand you’re excitement. Just being able to be in a space that is close to what you’ll have does wonders for the brain and those feelings of “Did I make the right choice?” Feeling the space around you and how you move through it is always vastly better than assumption and hope. I can’t wait until you’re in your new home about as much as I can’t wait to be in mine. We miss your sailing adventures! Stay safe!

Deresky Martin

Great perspective and thanks for sharing the real numbers. Of course, cars, planes, homes and RVs have the same phenomenon of up-pricing in options and frankly, that’s where most of the OEMs make their profit margins. From wrestling this problem over the years, I would add the following to your insight: 1) Check how rarely/often the option is purchased. because if its one that is seldom ordered, the aftermarket support is likely to be sketchy and there is often going to be installation problems as the Yard has infrequent experience with its requirements. 2) I have learned to budget ~10% of the purchase cost for maintenance over a rolling 5 year period. Of course during warranty periods the cost will be less but eventually you will have to pay that amount and the funding needs to come from the earlier years’ budgets where you underspent. Now the US sales process does not either discuss or emphasize the point as most owners are aspiring for their next “toy” within 2 years of its acquisition and leave the deferred maintenance to the new buyer. But this number is generally the case and its a function of all those options purchased when the boat was new and to make matters more challenging, that 10% is a function of the NEW boat/plane/RV/Home/Car cost. Savings can be obtained as you have done by DIY practices together with friends and neighbors. Many do not have that opportunity especially in the US. In addition careful maintenance, Nicki’s cleanliness, risk management and sensitivity to mechanical aberrations can help too but your comments about NEED for options vs. nice-to-have can also have major cost implications in the future.

N&J,Great video and blog post. Yup you can always think bigger is better, it’s the american way ….but 44/48 is huge and as you know it will be 99% just the 2 of you. As you scale up everything gets more expensive, harder to handle, maintain and on…. The sailing weight is a huge performance gauge, the published weights are frequently way less than real life, can you get a true measured weight not just an design estimate ??? Avoiding all the heavy extras and ‘winglet on keel’ and the like should cut the wt and the cost! ( hopefully) if they removed the gelcoat above the waterline before painting otherwise there is no wt saving, did not occur to me they might be painting over the gelcoat??? It could save 500-1000# removing the gelcoat! It’s a performance gain you get forevermore no matter how old your sails get it’s like aerodynamic on a car it always works even when it’s lost it’s shine! To be in a position to have these choices is amazing , cherish every moment! As you are! Cheers Warren PS what racing series are there for ‘racing’ these performance catamarans? Dazcats race but I don’t see the others out there ? What am I missing? W

Peter Drury

Thanks for this! I have sailed with you (in spirit) for a number of years and I can feel the excitement. Wishing you the very best in your future sailing on your new floating home.

Hey guys, I know originally you were supposed to get your new boat in June of 2023 in time for Jason’s birthday. How is that timeline looking? Can’t wait to see your new adventures out on the ocean.

John Hughes

Sailing vicariously has become one of our important daily activities. We are day-sailers and I used to grind for a few west coast Newport-Ensenada races… your undertaking and your sharing the large and the small things provide remarkable insights. Fair winds and following seas!!

As always…great info.

Ron Fleming

Congratulations on buying such a beautiful, seaworthy catamaran. The Interior is as beautiful as the outside, and talk about ‘cruisin in style’…you have done it (or will do it). Also, I feel that the 44 is an almost ideal size for 2 as it will give much more comfort and ease when manuevering in close quarters + there is plenty of room aboard.

Pamela Andringa

Great content with all the pics and model comparisons, wow! And Nikki…I need that black shirt, where did you get it 🙂

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2023 HH Catamarans HH52

The HH52 is an evolution of ourAward Winning HH50, which we have completely redesigned with electrification in mind. Featuring an all new cabin top with 4,900 watts of solar, a new deck plan, a new interior layout, and increased sail area, this yacht brings the very latest design features and performance improvements to our mid-size luxury cruising catamaran. The layout has been reinvented to feature a more social layout with twin L-shaped sofas, seating on all sides of the cockpit, an island galley, forward opening salon windows and safari style aft windows to ensure improved ventilation throughout the boat.

Overall, the changes create a refined vessel with powerful lines and a performance boost that will surely place the HH52 at the top of the category in terms of performance, comfort and desire.

Interior design offers a choice of two different helm positions: Dual Aft-Swing Helms or a Forward Cockpit. Meanwhile, the rig has been lengthened and the longeron extended, as well as a lowered boom. Combined this dramatically increases the overall sail area and improves the yachts performance with a lower center of effort. Without a raised bimini, the coachroof has been designed to include 4,900 watts of solar and to optimize the benefits of our EcoDrive; a 48v parallel hybrid propulsion and power system, offering 20kW of silent fume free electric motoring, instant torque for maneuvering, hydro-regeneration when sailing, 10kW of power generation, and the reliability of two shaft drive diesel engines.

The HH52 is offered in forward helm and dual aft helm versions. Owners choose between the two and then customize the configuration to best suit their needs. Interior fabrics, wood veneers, flooring and countertops are fully customizable by the owner. Two or three cabins, workshop, U-shaped galley or island, BBQ with dive tank storage and tiller steering with a hydraulic mainsheet are all available as options. We welcome you to contact us to design and build YOUR version of this incredible yacht.

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About HH Catamarans

HH Catamarans build state of the art, carbon fibre, high performance yachts for a discerning clientele who seek an exceptional ownership experience. HH Catamarans was formed in early 2012 and set about developing a new brand, something extraordinary. In the years since "HH" has come to represent a commitment to the quality and success of every boat built.

HH Catamarans are designed to exacting specifications and built to reflect each owner’s unique needs, using the most advanced methods in the industry. We deliver luxury yachts that are elegant performance machines, and offer them at unmatched value.

HH Catamarans are soon to release details on their all new HH52 catamaran, inspired by the success and innovations released on the recent HH44 (30 ...

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Performance Catamaran Comparisons

Performance cruising cats are becoming more popular and mainstream. A lot more brands have become available on the market over the last 10 years. Some of the most popular and well known performance cat brands are Catana, Outremer, HH Catamarans, and Balance. These boats’ popularity is not only driven by their amazing sailing abilities but also by YouTube channels like Sailing La Vagabond with their Outremer 45 and Gone with the Wynns who recently bought an HH 50 OC.

We Joined the Performance Catamaran Enthusiasts!

Catamaran Guru acquired a Catana Ocean Class 50. We take possession of the boat in September 2022 at the Cannes Yachting Festival .  After a hiatus for a few years to focus on the Bali range, Catana released in 2022 their Catana OC 50 that has the industry abuzz including ourselves. Its new bulkhead helm station, the open plan design, the comfort, interior spaciousness, and the affordability convinced us to take the leap and buy one. Read our review here>>

Let’s Look at Some Fundamentals

Of course, before we bought the Catana OC 50, we did a little research on the most popular performance catamarans. We wanted to see how these boats compare in performance.  One of the big factors that determines performance is Power-to-Weight ratio (or sail area to displacement ratio). We calculated the Bruce number and SA/D for the Catana OC 50, HH 50 OC, HH 50 Performance, Balance 482, and Outremer 51 . This is not the be-all and end-all but one do get a good indication of performance for these boats in steady sea conditions.

But before we dive down into it, let’s heed this advice from two veterans in the industry. Measuring a multihull’s performance is a complex issue that we all tend to want to boil down to a simplistic solution, which it is not. In the words of Tony Grainger: “…as a species hard wired for optimism, we’re prone to magical thinking, especially in the hands of marketing pros and advocacy scientists delivering theoretical solutions to complex problems.” As he says, “Prediction of performance and actual Observation are two very different things”. Phillip Berman from Balance Catamarans concurs: “Even the most accurate input, polar performance numbers on cruising catamarans are seldom achieved”. So, take this for what it is, simply numbers on a spreadsheet.

Some definitions:

• Bruce Number – a power-to-weight ratio for relative speed potential for comparing boats. It takes into consideration the displacement and sail area of main and jib (100% fore triangle only), no overlapping sails. Light boats are more easily driven than heavy boats and more sail gives you more drive.
• SA/D (sail area / displacement ratio): indicates the power of the sail plan relative to the displacement of the boat, regardless of the length. 

We used the Bruce-SA/D calculator  to calculate the SA/D range of values:

• 16 to 18 Heavy offshore cruisers
• 18 to 22 Medium Cruisers
• 22 to 26 Inshore cruisers, racing boats
• 26 to 30 Extreme racing boats

Catamaran Measurements

Points of consideration.

• We used the published numbers on the manufacturers’ websites to do the calculations and some of those numbers may be slightly off. We tried to verify but have not received feedback. Any input is welcome! 
• We used only the mainsail and jib area on all the boats to get an apples to apples comparison.
• The “Lightship Displacement” quoted in each of the manufacturer’s specifications was used in the Bruce number calculation. Note there is an anomaly in that the Outremer, which is the biggest boat with the least carbon fiber, is quoted as being the lightest boat of the group. We think the lightship displacement quoted on the Outremer website might be inaccurate because it is unlikely that a predominantly E-Glass boat would be lighter than a full Carbon boat such as the Balance or HH performance. If anyone has reliable numbers for Outremer, we would love to hear from you! *We have received new information and have updated the weight of the Balance with new actual published numbers.

Some Observations and Conclusion

For performance cruisers there is a fine balance between speed and comfort and they are not for everyone. Speed does not always make for comfort. Operation of daggerboards, bigger and more powerful rigs and more complex running rigging require more skill, making them not suitable for the average cruising sailor. The conclusion we drew from this exercise is that all these boats are essentially very similar cruisers with very similar performance characteristics, except for the Balance, which stands out as the real performance boat. *Updated information shows that this boat is very similar now to the other boats. We believe that most of these boats are capable of good performance in light conditions, which is of course the beauty of a performance cat. These are our observations:

• The measurements for these boats are all very similar.
• Balance is the lightest boat (full carbon) at 25,353lbs 29321lbs  with a big sail plan at 1,432 sq ft. These boats are super light and fast and moves in very light air.  *We updated the Balance weight with new actual published numbers. 
• According to the SA/D numbers, the Balance is rated in the “extreme racing” category at 26.549 and a Bruce number of 1.292.   The Balance turns out to be very similar to the other boats SA/D “inshore cruisers / racing boats” category like the other boats
• The rest of the cats all fall into the SA/D “inshore cruisers / racing boats” category. So, these boats should all perform similarly and sail well even in light conditions.
• The Catana OC 50 (carbon deck and bulkheads) and the HH 50 Performance (full carbon), surprisingly are rated very similarly. The Catana is heavier but has a bigger sail plan and thus has similar performance to the HH.
• The HH 50 OC has mini keels rather than daggerboards and will likely not have the same performance to weather as the daggerboard boats.
• The Catana is the heaviest boat at 31,164lbs with the biggest sail area at 1469 sq ft.
• The Catana has the highest load carrying capacity of 10,723lbs – great for cruising and living onboard.
• The fuel tanks on both the HH catamarans are 4 times the size of the water tanks which is curious and nearly double the size of any of the other cats. That seems a little odd, but we could be wrong.
• Fuel capacities vary greatly between the boats, with Outremer having the least fuel capacity at 88 gal.
• Water capacity varies slightly, also. Catana and Balance carry around 210 gals while the others carry around 100 gals, which is a bit small for live aboard in our opinion.

We also concluded that while these stats are interesting data, they should not be the overriding factor when choosing a boat in the performance cruising category. Other factors to consider include quality, comfort, livability, equipment, safety, resale value, etc. Price is also a very big consideration. Balance (South Africa) and HH cats (China) are way more expensive than the French-built cats, Catana and Outremer, partly because the Balance and HH Performance are full carbon boats while the others have carbon infused deck and/or bulkheads. We believe that the Catana’s interior volume and comfort make it an extremely livable boat while still having the performance benefits of an express blue water cruiser and it is extremely affordable at around $1.5 million.

Having said all that, with the advancement of technology, more people will be able to sail these performance cats safely and will be able to afford them as more hulls are built and costs come down.

Here is another very interesting analysis Sailing into Freedom. The top 10 performance catamarans – Dazcat 1495, ORC 50, Odisea 48, Balance 526, Outremer 45, Outremer 51, Catana OC, HH 50, OC 50, Balance 482, HH44, Seawind 1370, Seawind 1600, Slyder 49, Privilege, Windelo 50. We would love for everyone to join the discussion. Let us know what you think in the comment box!

Learn how to sail a performance catamaran

Our sailing school facility in Fort Lauderdale will start training on the Catana OC 50 with certified RYA instructors in March 2023. Contact us for more information about our sailing school dates and pricing.

Wanda Anglin

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