What is your opinion on these 3 cats?

[Trvlmedic]

Having been in your shoes a couple of years ago, I would go with the Leopard. I too looked at the Gemini and others. I have been so impressed with my Leopard that after one year part time cruising, I went back to the states and sold everything to cruise full time. Approximately 85 of the L-38's were made and made very well. Reading the delivery captain logs was enough to sell me.
These were "Owner Version " boats before owner versions were cool and sought after. Two of us are crazy comfortable aboard.

Bear in mind that this era Leopard (1999-2004) boat could require new sails, engines, and standing rigging at significant expense. Once these are done you will have a great foundation for cruising. She's no Outremer or Gunboat but having raced and sailed multihull since 1985, I have no complaints about performance sailing.

PM me if you have further questions.

Don
S/V Bonzai

[Sand crab]

I saw that AMR boat on eBay and actually it doesn't look that bad. I could only look at the first group of pics because the big group were taking forever to load. The main issue for me would be if there is standing headroom because that is a non-starter at least for me. The other question is if the Universal engines are running. Most marinas will not allow you to sail or be towed in so you gotta have that. It does say make an offer so you could low ball it because it's eBay and you won't really offend someone.

There are also a few hurricane damaged boats that are now running but without a rig that are close to your price range. They have possibilities because you could gradually finish them and then have a nicer newer boat.

[Sand crab]

You should buy this one now!!!
For Sale: 46' Kurt Hughes Sail Cat - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

[ausnp84]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

You should buy this one now!!!
For Sale: 46' Kurt Hughes Sail Cat - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

Not the prettiest cat but a hell of a lot of boat for the money!!

For me, I’d go for the Leopard. Very comfy, decent turn of speed and if you want to go further afield later, you’ve got the right boat for it.

N

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by ausnp84

Not the prettiest cat but a hell of a lot of boat for the money!!

For me, I’d go for the Leopard. Very comfy, decent turn of speed and if you want to go further afield later, you’ve got the right boat for it.

N

Problem is we haven't heard the price for the leopard or OP's budget.

A quick check found similar leopards running $150-200k...If the OP's budget is $50-70k, unless he's found a crazy cheap price like the Gemini he found and is amazingly lucky that it's in decent shape at that price, he ain't getting a leopard for anything close to $55k.

[ausnp84]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Problem is we haven't heard the price for the leopard or OP's budget.

A quick check found similar leopards running $150-200k...If the OP's budget is $50-70k, unless he's found a crazy cheap price like the Gemini he found and is amazingly lucky that it's in decent shape at that price, he ain't getting a leopard for anything close to $55k.

Oh absolutely! And even then, whack another $10-30k on to the purchase price for work... rigging, rework, etc.

That Kurt Hughes could be a bargain depending on a survey and tbh, is a lot of boat for the money.

N

[TDP1]

Regarding the Renaissance AMI 320 There was/is? one for sale on LI, NY. I spent ALOT of time on the boat looking at it, sea trial, Surveying. My wife and I loved the layout. Interior Fit and finish not quiet up to par with the Gemini but topsides was far superior. Not one gelcoat crazing spot and SOLID underfoot. The cockpit was great, the stern steps great. This one had a hard factory fiberglass canopy with fully enclosed screen curtains. It had more bridge deck clearance than the Gemini and while out sailing for 2 hours in 1-2' bay chop did not hear a slap at all. If you've read up on the boat and hear all the BS assumptions of the knuckle being to low and not above the water line, those are false. The boat did sit with the knuckles and stern a few inches above the water line.
Now for the bad. The boat was designed with the water tanks in the keels of the boat with a fiberglass panel that ran the whole length of the keel held down with screws which is the bottom of the bilge?!?!?! WTF who designs this crap. On top of that sat the engines in each hull. So if there was a breech in the water tank hatch AKA bottom of bilge then your whole water supply is compromised. To get to it you would have to pull an engine to remove the panel to get to the tank. Ludacris. My thought was to completely fiberglass the hatch panels and find a spot to put bladders though interior storage areas were minimal.
While I was there with the surveyor we found water intrusion and very wet core in a 20' section on the inbound and outbound side of each hull along with delamination in spots. Spoke to a very reputable Fiberglass shop on LI and he said RUN as fast as you can. Which I ended up doing.
Sailing the boat in 12 to 15 knot wind we averaged 6-7 knots the boat did not want to go upwind at all.
I have the current survey from July if anyone is interested.