Catamarans are still exotic in our part of the world. Although there are thousands of them in the world's charter fleets, they are not very popular as owner-operated boats in Germany. Existence in the shadows. The reason is obvious: with a width of more than 6 metres, catamarans overtax most people. Harbours and marinas in this country.
Only XXL boxes or a berth at the jetty. However, once this problem has been solved, everything speaks in favour of this type of boat. It is more spacious and at the same time more economical than comparable monohulls. What's more, modern Motorised catamarans are generously motorised and can compete with their single-hulled colleagues, even gliders, on the test track in terms of speed.
A good example of this is our test boat Leopard 43 PCwhich is called 433 PC in the Moorings charter version we drove. Equipped with two 260 hp Yanmar engines, the Leopard reaches around 22 knots and consumes around 108 litres of diesel fuel (total consumption of both engines) per hour.
This results in a range of 170 nm plus 15 % reserve. If you want to cover long distances and reduce the speed accordingly to a cruising speed of 9 knots, the 1000 litre tank is sufficient for respectable 365 nm plus reserve.
A good Compromise between speed and range is achieved according to our measurements at 16 knots with a consumption of 55 l/h and a range of 250 nm.
Due to the great distance of the Flybridge The driver's ear remains virtually undisturbed by engine noise at all speeds due to the fact that the driver's cab is located in the engine compartments in the fuselage.
Wind and Shafts are much louder up there than the sonorous roar of the Yanmars in the basement. During our week-long test cruise in the Bahamas (see also page 86), we had ample opportunity to test the Leopard 43 PC in various conditions. Sea state- and Manoeuvring situations to get to know them.
It was noticeable that the boat was more stable at wave heights of over 1.5 metres with increasing speed than at lower speeds. In plain language: we feel comfortable in the Sea state much more comfortable at 16 knots than at 7 knots. One disadvantage of all catamarans: the foredeck gets wet quickly in rough seas.
The traditional Spray however, does not reach the driving position, which is around 3 metres higher. If you want to make sharp turns under these conditions, the previously good straight-line stability becomes a disadvantage. If you want to bring the boat into an acceptable turning circle, reduce the Speed of the motor inside the curve.
The Leopard 43 PC makes harbour manoeuvres much easier for the skipper. Thanks to the widely spaced drive shafts, the 13 m boat turns almost on the spot with the engines engaged in opposite directions and can be manoeuvred with decimetre precision. The driver benefits from the high flybridge position with a perfect all-round view. It should also be noted that the spacious flybridge, which has a wet bar with barbecue and a sunbathing area in addition to the driving position and seating area, can also be closed off all round with foil windows.
However, there is no fixed windscreen in the conventional sense, meaning that longer journeys in bad weather are unlikely to be much fun. The comparatively small steering wheel, which is more reminiscent of a car steering wheel than a maritime steering wheel and directs the steering commands very directly to the rudder, is also noticeable at the helm. All controls such as the throttle, navigation instruments and switches are well positioned.
On the main deck, you can enjoy the benefits of a catamaran to the full. The boat's 87 m2 of available floor space is divided between the spacious foredeck, the saloon with galley and dining table as well as a stern seating area that offers enough space for six people. Thanks to the sliding door and window between this and the saloon, the two areas can be merged into a covered "open-plan space" if required.
Naturally, the two 1.7 metre wide hulls are narrower. In the three-cabin version we drove, the starboard hull has a double cabin and a spacious bathroom in addition to the hallway with built-in cupboards and a kind of office workstation. Two double cabins and a smaller bathroom are integrated into the port hull. In the maximum configuration (four cabins plus crew cabins), up to ten people can be accommodated.
Access to the foredeck is a good solution. You can reach it directly from the saloon through a door and do not have to take the route via the side decks. Important: In rough seas, this door should always be closed, otherwise splash water and sea spray will quickly find their way inside the boat. The design of the technical installations reflects the decades of experience of the South African shipyard and gives no cause for criticism. The workmanship and equipment of the test boat were good, although it should be emphasised that our test boat is a charter boat. Private owners would certainly opt for a more dignified version.
Conclusion
All in all, the Leopard 43 PC is a fully developed space miracle with high speed potential and reassuringly safe handling characteristics. If you need a lot of space and want to cover long distances, this boat is the perfect choice.
The article appeared in the BOOTE issue 04/2017
