I am officially smitten by the New Leopard 45!

[epiic]

Originally Posted by rcscoggin

First post to forums

Really nice boat, like it as well. However, the draft being 5'1" may be a deal breaker for me.

Whoa. That would be a deal breaker for me also. My boat has a 5' 2" draft and it drives me nuts.

I envy the cats that anchor in areas I can only dream about.

[akprb]

This is a tough thread for me :-( I was at the show as well and struck by how Cats have changed over the years. I guess for BVI bound boats etc just fine but for S Pacific et al I have my reservations. The thought that came to my mind at the show was "cats are being built to suit their owners rather than the sea". I was trying to imagine that forward cockpit awning as the boat screamed from Tonga to New Zealand, hard to imagine, assuming the engineers have figured it out.

The 5' draft I didn't realize, our 50' cat was 3' and made a world of difference. I get why the drafts have grown.

I was also surprised not seeing Catana, Voyage, Gunboat and only one Outreamer.

All that being said depending on your goals may be the perfect fit and they sure are set up for entertaining and enjoying the sun and water!

[rosatte]

549grand..us...should have a site here for i .m rich and like to brag forum. ...

[Hoodsail]

957, that is quite the boat. 24' 2" beam, 2 yanmar 45's, 185 gal diesel, berths everywhere, sitting room for more friends than I have...for $550,000....her beam is more than twice mine (monohull). Is the beam of cat's commonly an issue in harbors? I know our town marina could never accommodate that width, but we are a small harbor of 122 slips here in New England. Enjoy her.

[senormechanico]

I took the "Virtual Tour".

All those square countertop corners in the saloon are gut punchers in any kind of sea ! OUCH !!

[sheldon957]

Originally Posted by rosatte

549grand..us...should have a site here for i .m rich and like to brag forum. ...

Definitely not rich, but I have worked my ass off through the last 45 years. 50-60 hour workweeks were the norm. We have not lived high on the hog, and have managed to pay off all debt during this time.

I am currently driving a 1995 toyota and my wife drives a 2006. We did not squander money like so many we see. New car every 2-3 years, new house every 5 years etc...

We have been working towards our retirement goals a long time. This is one of them.

Also, that is why I am talking to several people through PM's that may want to partner up.

[sailjumanji]

Originally Posted by sheldon957

Definitely not rich, but I have worked my ass off through the last 45 years. 50-60 hour workweeks were the norm. We have not lived high on the hog, and have managed to pay off all debt during this time.

I am currently driving a 1995 toyota and my wife drives a 2006. We did not squander money like so many we see. New car every 2-3 years, new house every 5 years etc...

We have been working towards our retirement goals a long time. This is one of them.

Also, that is why I am talking to several people through PM's that may want to partner up.

Sheldon, just ignore those kind of responses. And besides, "rich" is a relative term. Lots of people think sailboat owners are all rich!

[Factor]

Originally Posted by rosatte

549grand..us...should have a site here for i .m rich and like to brag forum. ...

And that is just outright offensively rude

[downunder]

Originally Posted by rosatte

549grand..us...should have a site here for i .m rich and like to brag forum. ...

Yes many of us are similarly jealous.

[aclmck]

Originally Posted by rosatte

549grand..us...should have a site here for i .m rich and like to brag forum. ...

Now thats not required, you need to save save save, and then you can have one to. But bragging ,really their are plenty of people on this forum with boats much more expensive than this, some people will (me included) have worked all their life to get a boat similar to this in retirement,most will have went without a lot of things along the way though, many of these people are just simple workers like yourself, and not from the top end of town. but in an anchorage nothing changes boats are still boats and no one seems to care who has the most or least expensive boat we are all just cruising.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by aclmck

Now thats not required, you need to save save save, and then you can have one to. But bragging ,really their are plenty of people on this forum with boats much more expensive than this, some people will (me included) have worked all their life to get a boat similar to this in retirement,most will have went without a lot of things along the way though, many of these people are just simple workers like yourself, and not from the top end of town. but in an anchorage nothing changes boats are still boats and no one seems to care who has the most or least expensive boat we are all just cruising.

Well said aclmk. I like the way you THINK

[downunder]

Originally Posted by epiic

Whoa. That would be a deal breaker for me also. My boat has a 5' 2" draft and it drives me nuts.

I envy the cats that anchor in areas I can only dream about.

Simply cannot understand the draft of 5ft+ on a catamaran. Designer must be doing something wrong, surely , its a catamaran not a monohull?



Key advantage for a cat in Australia is getting into many great sites and drying out.

Apart from the deal breaking draft leopard appears to be refining their current line although I am still drawn to the earlier M & M hulls.

[pathlesschosen]

Anyone on this forum sail a new L45? The boat looks great but I wonder it's sailing capability. I also like the layout of the new L40 but have the same concern.

I sailed the L44 which did ok. Found tacking slightly more difficult than the average cat but in general it sailed about average.

Not bashing the boat, just curious.

[Barra]

The forward facing cockpit is also a dealbreaker for me. It isnt something I would feel at all comfortable in offshore and lives have already been lost on the 44 with same design.

Of course it depends what you want to do with it but if offshore passages are in your plans have a good hard think about how some of these comfort features would go in a storm...

Would be interested in understanding why all the draft though as this is unusual for sure. No drawings to elaborate on the site....

[CapnBazza]

Me too, especially with the foredeck cockpit. The perfect place to enjoy sundowners when anchored in tropical waters.