Leopard 40' walkthrough. Is it big enough to consider as a full-time live-aboard catamaran?

In this episode of Cruising Off Duty, we continue our series where we are checking out the Catamarans at the Annapolis Sailboat Show to see what we think would suit us as a full-time live-aboard catamaran as we circumnavigate the globe.
This episode we cover the Leopard 40'. Leopard is one of the biggest Catamaran builders in the world and they make them in many sizes. The 40' was the smallest example at the boat show. Is it too small to be something we would consider as a full-time live-aboard home? Maybe not. It's bigger inside than you would imagine compared to other 40' boats we have seen. Watch and see what you think.
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[@kbob8424]

I've always felt leopards offer the best bang for the buck. being from south Africa they are built well and see worthy. they offer the best layouts as far as cockpit arrangements. you get roomy seating as well as a rear platform area for boarding and fishing. another feature i admire is the reason you have to duck a bit on its sides, double stays. the other production boats are single stays. loose one in bad weather and you still have another one which will help keep the mast up. resale values are also reasonable.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I agree Bob. The Leopards that have been privately owned and well taken care of, seem to keep their value longer which is probably due to the fact that they seem to have less structural or hull issues down the road. I agree, from what I have heard, between the Leopards, FPs and Lagoons, I think the Leopards are at the top in terms of quality. The double Stays is a nice safety feature. I don't mind leaning in a bit to get by. Not really an issue, just something I didn't have to do on some other cats. On the bigger Leopards it wont be an issue.

[@deerfootnz]

They are not built well. And not very seaworthy. No smaller multihulls are. Look up Travel Sketch on KZbin, watch some of that and tell me that Leopards are well built. I have extensive experience delivering yachts,and I wouldn't touch a Leopard or Lagoon unless it was for a very limited use case

[@jackwestech]

We have a Leopard 40 on order, for delivery in June 2019. With most options (including composite teak decking) it was just a hair over $500,000. My wife puts on makeup every day because we will be eating in restaurants and sightseeing. She likes the vanity. A settee is easy to add. The foredeck has a nice overhang where you can place cushion chairs. Love the front door, no need to go down the side decks.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Seems like a great boat Jack and you make a good point. With that front access door the width of passage at the side is not as important. We really like that 40 a lot. $500,000 with teak decking is a great price. I could totally see us living on that 40. Plenty of space for us. The 45 is just a bit bigger and has that front seating area. Whatever we can get the best deal for on the used market will be the deciding factor for which boat we get. At this point we are just eliminating boats we wouldn't want. Leopards are now at the top of our list when it comes to the 3 big production companies.

[@coneryj]

I know I'm 3 years late to this, but I'd like to hear more about the foredeck seating arrangement. Having the stairs as a place to sit seemed to be something that was totally lacking in this new design. Anything that you could relax on up there while the boat was underway in calm waters?

[@deerfootnz]

With any boat the righting moment increases as the 4th power. So double the size of the boat and you have 16 times the righting moment. Which is why any smaller multihull is suspect for blue water.

[@giovannifiorentino8947]

Great review. Although being mostly on ergonomics and comfortability, I suggest prepare a list to include bridge deck clearance, headroom, sharp corners, sink quantities, flush hatches, maybe a little about weigh saving techniques (like on previous videos),, etc. I believe the cockpit table is fiberglass, and if you're living on board it will save you time on maintaining it vs a teak table (in my opinion). I'm not an expert sailor but find these reviews very useful and to the point. Thank you for all the efforts.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Thanks Giovanni. I agree that having a "Plastic" (Fiberglass) table would definitely cut down on any elbow grease to keep it looking nice compared to real wood. But being under a solid Bimini roof should mean that it is not as exposed to the elements as a cockpit table would be in a Mono where it is exposed to the sun and salt spray all the time. If it is not being abused by sun and salt, I think the little bit of effort it would take to give it a rub with some wood oil, occasionally to keep it looking nice, would be well worth it when guests come to eat on the back of your Cat and it is at a beautiful wood table. Like anything, there are some pros and cons to either decision. Remember, with a white fiberglass table you have to worry about stains from things with dye in it. Big example is Red wine getting splashed at night when you don't see it and then noticing the stain the next morning, on you bright white table, could be an issue and you can't just sand it out. A wood table gets a permanent mark you can always give it a light sand and re-stain and your are back to looking like new. :-)

[@g.pearson4726]

I would love that long vanity/desk I’ve been searching high and low for a boat that’s not massive but has enough room for an office. I need space for 47” ultra wide monitor. That space looks perfect. Not in the main living area (away from the rest of the home. Offering privacy for client info. When I have guest ) Ps I have a teenage girl who would love that as a vanity 🤗 Thank you for sharing Stay safe

[@Bowmans-Woods]

The mass production cats like the leopard and the Lagoon models are very spacious for their length.

[@themadgranola]

You can go to the Leopard website and build a cat. It will generate the price for you. You can pick options for the settee, water maker, cushions, faux teak ... I think they have an option for a wood outdoor table too.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

That is awesome! Rarely do the production companies quote you any prices on line. I figured they would think the price would scare people off. If they offer this service on-line it would be cool to mix and match options and see what the price would be. We will be buying used to save some $$$ so we have to hope to get one with all the options we would have chosen.

[@efestian5993]

We bought a 2019. At the 2018 boat show, the price of a Leopard 40 was $459,000. This year they are up 8%. In fact, the day after purchased ours at the show, it went up. I agree with the comments about the owner cabin. That cabin changed in 2018 and it was the only reason we were NOT considering the 40. That change caused us to buy it. We have been looking at new and used boats for almost 1 year before that.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

That is exciting. Congrats.

[@amitsurve]

Regardless of size, Leapord's built quality for both exterior and interior is always better than Lagoon's.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Think you are very right. The floorboards always creaking in the Lagoons speaks to it less than stellar workmanship. It wasn't just one Lagoon. It was every one we filmed this year.

[@thePronto]

The space where the front cockpit would be has been subsumed by the larger saloon space. Also, can you remember to point out the location of the engines. My personal bete noir is the engines under the aft beds...

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Bete Noir? You mean you like them under the bed? Or you hate them under the bed. I personally would prefer they not be under the bed. Who needs the heat and the noise in your bedroom? If the new Leopards are like the older Leopard that the WYNNS have, it IS under the bed. Not a selling feature to me, but not a deal breaker.

[@cartmanrlsusall]

I think under the bunk engine's is a good idea if you need to service them in bad weather

[@flyheli]

just getting started with my research on Cats and love your channel! Which boat show would you recommend to visit to compare cats in the 40ft range? I'm from Canada as well... cheers from Toronto!

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Oh, that’s easy. The best boat show close to Toronto with lots of Cats is the Annapolis show. We go to the show every fall. So maybe we will see you there.

[@curtthompson4503]

Check out the fusion 40.

[@cartmanrlsusall]

I think this is the best 40 footer out there I like it

[@Bowmans-Woods]

It is quite good for a 40'. We probably would feel more comfortable to live on something slightly bigger but if our budget didn't allow it, we could make this work as a floating home. :-)

[@rexlagrosasacain]

Ive seen all your reviews.... cant wait for the diesel-electric hybrid Maverick review - that’s a winner for me...

[@playb4work447]

There was only one Maverick at the show, and they already did the guided walkthru.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Hey Rex. They promised that the Hybrid would be at the show next year. Hopefully that is true. I would be cool to get a guided tour of that boat. Next year we will only film models we haven't film in past years and we will try and get guided tours of each. Less boats means more time on each showing. :-)

[@obidamnkenobi]

"40 ft catamaran", and "is it big enough" in the same sentence????! HAHAHA. It's a beast! Are you going to be 14 people on there??

[@Bowmans-Woods]

To live on full time? With everything we own on board? I stand by my question. :-)

[@rabukan5842]

@@Bowmans-Woods You can absolutely live full time on a 40 cat, especially one this well laid out. I have an older 50' MY and this boat has as much if not more livable space on it. Couples live on 30' monohulls all the time (I have friends who have been living on the 36' mono since 1994,) circumnavigate on those, so why would you not be able to live on a 40' cat? And if you want a heavy boat, just fill up your lockers, etc. The boat will move slower, sit lower in the water, but it can carry the loads. You will just lose on performance, as you will on larger cats as well, especially performance oriented cats, which need to be kept light. Leopards, load them up. Put a dive compressor on it, etc. Don't worry about getting 10-12 knots. Be satisfied with 6-8 and you can carry all you want.

[@glenpeters955]

As you say - a lot of space for a relatively small catamaran, possibly a good comparison would be to imagine the amount of space you have on a 38 foot mono. As a liveaboard the cat would have to win every time.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yes, this 39' Cat is absolutely huge compared to a similar sized Mono. I think you would need a 55-60' Mono to have a comparable interior volume. We will be getting a Cat as our next boat. No doubt.

[@davidward7561]

Exactly... My wife and I would use the vanity as a computer desk.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Most women living on a boat are not super into perfect makeup so I assume most liveaboards just use it as a place to use their laptop. So lets just call it a really small office desk. :-)

[@tedboender]

Love the 45... and I like the pricing on the website. They all should do that.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yes. Rarely does a Cat producer give prices on their website. We did not know that. Good for them!

[@tedboender]

Cruising Off Duty you can “build” your custom cat on the web site. All prices listed.

[@wesleyooms]

I like the front door which other cat brands don't have but it's weird that they didn't put any seating there in this 40 ft version.

[@Kavack]

So even though you like the brightness in the salon and didn’t like the old style of the windows they did have a purpose. Brightness is great but when you are out it means heat. Lots of heat. You will find yourselves putting up something to dim the brightness and that old style did pretty good. Also, on the “nav” station. I’m sure I will take some flak but nobody uses a nav station anymore. It’s your kitchen table, bedroom, outside deck, wherever. Electronics have changed the need. Would be far better as storage with a gauge console so you can store guides, maybe some maps and other necessities. I do like some of the improvements but their history with cheap design and workmanship is concerning.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I agree with a lot of what you say. The front windows are straight up and down with a long overhang for shade so I think that is how they minimize heat in the Salon instead of putting that staircase over the previously sloped windows. I agree with the sloped windows, the stairs did help shade the interior. But it did obstruct your perfect view that most cats have in almost 360 degrees. I also agree that with everyone using their Ipad and other electronics as their "Nav computer" you don't really need a big Nav Station like you did when people were using maps etc. When we crossed the Ocean in a Cat we did rarely sit at the nav station. The Salon table is where most of the planning and work gets done. But this one had a small Nav desk so it wasn't wasting much space and Janice was just commenting that at least it is pointing out the front of your boat, where you are heading, which makes the most sense. Some boats have them pointing backward or sideways, which just makes no sense to us. Might as well not have one at all then if it is in a almost useless spot.

[@Schuedog]

The overhang is HUGE especially on the 45 and bigger. They have roll up shades for the side windows also. The ducking to get past the shrouds is also pretty much insignificant because of the front door. No need to go around unless you are handling a line for something that is not lead back to the helm.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

All good points Jeff. The front seating is a huge bonus on the Leopards and with the front walkthrough you really wont be walking around the outside to get to the bow that often. We have been converted and now think Leopards are our favorite of the 3 big Production Cat companies (Lagoon, FP, Leopard).

[@LordCarpenter]

Helm location and the ability to access the various lines from the helm, rather than moving to different deck locations, are important design points. Perhaps you could point these out, as well. Thanks for the review.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Almost all the modern cats have all lines leading to the helm. So I’d be mentioning it in every video. The video shows the lines at the helm.

[@cartmanrlsusall]

You can't go wrong with a leopard, the older cheap looking ones,can be upgraded for a reasonable price. Plus it's a proven blue water sailboat.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I agree. I have heard few complaints about Leopards quality. The hulls seem solid and that is the most important thing. You can always change some cosmetic things one you live on the boat. By the time we are ready to buy in 4 years there should be a bunch of these newer design Leopards on the used market.

[@Schuedog]

What concerned my wife and I with the 40 is the amount of storage, or the lack there of. I think you would have to get very creative on where to put everything to live aboard the 40.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yes. Pretty much any 40' Cat from any builder is going to lack storage. Like you said, if you got creative and started storing things under every couch and cubby hole, you could make it work but you would need to live a minimalist life. Especially on longer passages when a lot of that space would be needed just to pack enough food to last. Probably why we think the 45' is the perfect size to live full time on. 40' could work if the budget only allowed it.

[@deibertmichael]

Need sound insulation inside of AC cabinets! Climbing side steps in weather? As another comenter big widows would concern me. Leopard claims windows can't break because its plastic. But the frame? I prefer the foreword steps glass is slanted, they offer protection and well need shade. A Bow sprit for a genoa for wing on wing! My 2 Cents! Otherwise I like it!

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Thanks Michael. I do get the benefit of sloped windows. But the overhang at the front for shade while you sit is nice too. Always pros and cons of every decision. Clearly Leopard's thing now is giving people a front lounge area. When I first saw them a couple of years ago, I thought "Who needs a sitting area at the front of their boat?" but when we chartered a Cat in the BVI we often sat at the front, either for a better view while underway or to find some shade while at anchor. So now I have been converted and think I would really like a Leopard for that front shaded seating area and it would get used a lot.

[@deibertmichael]

Cruising Off Duty The foreward seating area is cool with the Door!

[@tjonessc]

You guys are missing the mechanical spaces in your reviews these matter when making an evaluation...

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Next year. Less boats and more detailed walkthroughs on the ones we do film. Hopefully guided tours at each.

[@angelamaganda]

Comment on vanity..... I recommend watching gone with the wynns.

[@chasemixon6327]

Nikki always seems to be "Prettied up"

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ha Ha. Janice has mentioned that when we watch them. She is never on camera without looking totally dolled up. Her career before travelling was Make-up artist so I guess make-up is a big thing for her. But I think she is the exception. Most women that travel full time around the world on a sailboat probably don't put that level of effort in every day to look "Show Ready". There are always exceptions. I like Janice natural so I don't care about make-up.

[@charlesworton4020]

Hey, folks - Charlie here. Can't say I was overly impressed; lots of hard plastic, and from what I could make out, it looked like the interior bedroom cabinets weren't finished; just bare fiberglass. I truly believe you'd find a 40' hull a bit small, particularly if you're going to move any significant percentage of your possessions onboard. This looked like a bottom of the line catamaran for those who can't afford better.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I hear what you are saying Charles. At 39' (real length) it is at the far lower end of what we think we could live full time on. But, for 39' it felt big when compared to the 38-40 Lagoons and the quality of the floors and cabinets felt solid compared to the Lagoons. So if we are just comparing the 3 big production companies against each other, then the Leopards seem to be at the top in quality. If we had to get a 40' though I think we would clearly get the Maverick 400. The 45' Leopard is a good size to live on full time, in our opinion.

[@Happ465]

Have you ever lived on a boat full time?

[@dontsubscribepleaseibeg]

If not boat i will peak caravan

[@gregorymarrone3666]

Are there any production cats out there that use a water jet engine???

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Not that I know of. I don’t think a water jet is efficient

[@trumpetmano]

'Heard some horror stories about the initial quality of Leopards. Many say it's better to get a slightly used boat that has had all the kinks worked out by someone else and discovered and fixed all the problems...

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Hey Paul. I think there are "horror stories" on all 3 of the big production cats (Lagoons, FP and Leopards). There are a lot of things that go into a cat and there are bound to be some issues straight out of the factory. The first owner is the one that finds them and hopefully gets them addressed while the boat is still under warrantee. We plan to buy used, whichever cat we chose, to save money. The most depreciation comes out in the first 3 years. This is yet another reason we will steer clear of ex charter boats because many new owners of Production boats put them straight into the charter businesses to help pay down the boat and the owners don't really spend that much time on their boat to find all the bugs and the charter companies just want to rent them out every week so they aren't looking for issues to have to fix. So the boat never has any of its little issues dealt with until the boat is out of charter service and by then the warrantee is over. If the first owner lived on the boat they will have meticulously gone over everything on the boat and probably found everything that could be an issue and dealt with it. Plus the owner of the Cat will have babied it. Bareboat charter guests don't give a crap and drive the boats like they stole them. :-)

[@Bruski68.]

The only catamaran I'd consider living aboard in the 40' range is the Seawind 1260 it is much better boat all round, with a better design for it's ease of interior and exterior use.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

OK. We may have to take a closer look at them next year. We've looked at them in the past and weren't wowed. But perhaps a second look is needed.

[@davidward7561]

The plus for no wood is much less maintenance... No oiling... Simply clean it and be done with it.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

That is the argument boat builders use for not using a lot of real wood. But I think the real reason the builders decided to cut back on the real wood was to save $$$. Rubbing down the interior wood once in a blue moon is not such a huge chore. :-)

[@michaelrouse627]

I like it! Looks spacious. Was there room for a washer/dryer combo?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ha Ha. It is big for a 39' boat. I did not see anywhere that would be designed for a washer but I am sure we could alter some cabinet for one. I know Trio Travels people have one of those tiny washers that you put over your shower drain and plug it in. That is always an option on a smaller boat. Janice has put her foot down. She is not hand washing clothes in a bucket, no matter how much I say a washer is not necessary and I would help. Remember, "Happy Wife ....."

[@michaelrouse627]

@@Bowmans-Woods For sure my friend...... Call it a floating condo I don't care ;). If my wife is happy then that means more time doing what I know we'll love. Leopard is our #1 pick because they are built to withstand the abuse of being chartered plus they have nice access to those areas you know you'll be working on. I still think the sweet spot will be between the 42 - 45 foot range. Thanks again for the hard work of videoing and editing these reviews. People don't understand the hours that goes into it.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Thanks Michael. You are right. A lot of my free time goes into this channel and it really doesn't pay me anything so I do it as long as it is fun. I agree with your range. I don't think we would want to live on a 40' or less cat. Good size Leopard is 45'. But we think our range will be as big as 42-50'. It will all depend on what Cat, from the ones that we like, that we can find as a screaming deal on the used market when we are ready to jump into the sailing life full time. We can't wait!

[@misstemptation3822]

Thwere is one actually. in the ''bathroom''. i forgot the right word for it xD

[@jihadalsaied1140]

The background music is loud

[@bill2292]

Go to leopardcatamarans.com/ and price it out with your options.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Very cool for anyone thinking of buying new. We will save money and buy used. Thanks for the info.

[@tedboender]

FYI. New ones are asking low $500’s well kitted out.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

OK. Good to know. We probably are looking for 44'-50' but it is an option if the budget gets constrained. Thanks

[@hwntwww]

You are looking for a trailer/caravan, not a sailing boat

[@youtubecomments5951]

The neel trimaran makes no sense.

[@gomerpyle2760]

It's a shit-bucket boat... but why take my word for it - take it out in a Tropical Storm, but make sure your last will & testament are complete...

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Plenty of people sail around the world on Leopards and some have KZbin channels to prove it and I have heard no real complaints. Why the hate?