Leopard Catamarans, South Africa's Charter-Proven Cruising Cats

Built in Cape Town, delivered across an ocean

Every Leopard is built by Robertson and Caine, a Cape Town yard that now employs more than 2,400 people, and the two companies describe a 30-year exclusive relationship. Because Cape Town is far from the main markets, most Leopards are sailed or shipped across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and the US, so the boats have to be robust from day one. Sea trials take place off the South African coast, which is not gentle water.

Leopard's other defining relationship is with The Moorings and Sunsail. Charter versions, often sold under Moorings model numbers, filled Caribbean bases for decades and introduced thousands of Americans to catamaran sailing. Many of those guests later bought their own Leopard, often a boat that came out of the same fleet.

Leopard 40, 44, 45, 46, 50 and the 53 Powercat

Six Leopards are covered on this site, and they trace the brand's move from Morrelli and Melvin designs to Simonis Voogd. The Leopard 40 is a compact, easy-to-handle cruiser and one of the best-value cats on the used market; the Simonis Voogd version built from 2014 is the one most buyers find for sale.

The Leopard 44, drawn by Morrelli and Melvin and built from 2011 to 2016, is where the forward cockpit first appeared in the Leopard line. It won Cruising World's import award for 2012, served Sunsail fleets as the Sunsail 444, and today is a value-priced bluewater cruiser. The Leopard 45 (2017 to 2024, 379 hulls) replaced it, and the Leopard 50 (2018 to 2025, about 246 hulls) took the same idea larger. Both carry the forward cockpit with a door through the front of the saloon, a feature that changes how the boat lives at anchor, and both are now used-market boats, succeeded by the new Leopard 46 and the Leopard 52.

The Leopard 46 name spans two generations, the 2006 to 2012 Morrelli and Melvin design and the all-new Simonis Voogd model that debuted in 2024. The Leopard 53 Powercat shows the brand's growing power range, now including the 40PC and 46PC.

The current sailing lineup includes the Leopard 43, 46 and 52.

Ex-charter Leopards, US resale and the survey list

Leopards are among the most liquid catamarans in the US, alongside Lagoon. Charter-exit boats come with documented maintenance from large fleets but also plenty of wear. Owner versions with three cabins command a premium, and boats that left charter recently often need a refit budget for sails, upholstery and systems.

On any used Leopard, check these items closely.

• Saildrive seals, engine hours and engine room condition
• Bulkhead and furniture bonding, especially around the mast beam
• Forward cockpit door seals and saloon window leaks
• Rudder bearings, steering cables and autopilot drive
• Trampoline, forward crossbeam and bridle fittings
• Generator, watermaker and air conditioning hours