LEOPARD 48 Catamaran REVIEW - Finding the PERFECT USED CAT | SailAway Tours

We start BIG with our USED CATAMARAN REVIEW SERIES with the AMAZING Leopard 48. Is this the PERFECT USED CRUISING CAT in this price category? Step aboard with us for a full detailed tour AND REVIEW complete with CATEGORIZED SCORING. This is the first of MANY cat tours to come. Enjoy!! And be sure to SUBSCRIBE for WEEKLY CONTENT EVERY WEEK! Cheers!!

Our boat is FOR SALE!! -    • We're SELLING Our BOAT!  - Big Changes Com...  

SEARCH PARAMETERS IN THIS USED CAT GROUP:

1) Under $400k
2) From approximately 10 - 20 years old
3) 4 Cabins
4) Engine Hours under 4000

While we are searching for our own used cat and have particular extras we're looking for, add-ons like watermaker, solar, etc. won't be part of the scoring.

OUR SCORING CATEGORIES

1) BUILD QUALITY - This encompasses both the interior and exterior and the overall quality and durability of items like deck hardware, mechanical systems, decking, windows, cabinetry and hardware, flooring, overall surfaces and materials.

2) SAILABILITY - This focuses primarily on the ergonomics of operating the vessel: the location and orientation of sail handling hardware, helm position and visibility, plus overall performance as reported (these are tried and tested boats, so there is plenty of info out there). We believe from our personal experience with many cat owner friends that these boats are capable of sailing quite well when sailed properly, especially on well-planned passages...does this boat make it easy for the crew to do so?

3) TRAMPOLINE! - We approach this with some humor because obviously young kids LOVE the trampolines, and it's Rivers' PRIMARY reason for wanting a cat. That said, the attributes of the foredeck on a cat play heavily into the enjoyment of the boat at anchor. We've been guests on many cats where the kids enjoyed not only bouncing and rolling about on the tramps, but just hanging out and doing their thing, while the adults hang out on the perimeter. This is one of those "extra" spaces on a cat which make it as much a home as a boat, especially if the kids enjoy it.

4) LIVEABILITY - This category encompasses those things that make living on a boat a joy as opposed to a chore. Overall space, intelligent layout, comfort in the lounging areas and the cabins, plentiful storage in numerous areas, a generous galley, easy access to maintenance areas, and simple dinghy lifting for night security and for underway.

5) THE X-FACTORS - This is NOT a typical review category but it should be. This is all about human connection with what is not just a boat, but possibly a home. Do we get the "feels" when we first walk inside? Can we immediately imagine life here and does it makes us smile? A lot of factors play into this and most are not quantifiable. But there are definitely boats that can tick most or even all the boxes, yet still have ZERO X-Factor. If you don't love it, it doesn't matter how perfect it may be on paper.

All of these categories will be scored by Loren and I base on 5 thumbs (yeah, it's dumb, but it's also fun) then added together. Rivers alone gets to score all 10 points for the trampoline. :-)

We hope you enjoy these tours and we hope they're helpful to you in some way! But don't take them too seriously...this is obviously based on a lot of personal opinion and you'll never know for sure until you see the boat yourself. So get on it!!

Thanks for watching SailAway, the travel documentary of an adventurous sailing couple, plus toddler and dog, sailing the world!

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