Live Aboard Power Cat Choices

[Salty_Peanut]

New to the forum, was directed here from The Hull Truth:

I can see there is a wealth of knowledge here...

The time has come for us to start thinking about retirement. The oldest daughter is in the Army now, the youngest graduates this up-coming year, and will be going off to college. I will be retiring from the Army soon, after a 32 year career. My wife is in a very well-paying job that allows her to work from home, or abroad. She has been mentioning living aboard a house boat for years… we are both water lovers and are on the boat every chance we get. So, we started looking at boats we can live aboard. However, in our nomadic spirit, being tied down to one wet slip marina is not in the cards for us. We need to move around. So, we are now looking at Power Cats. I have never sailed, and I am in the process of getting my Captain’s license. We know that to truly travel, a sail boat is really the only logical choice. But, from Florida, we can have the Caribbean in our reach with the new efficient power cats. A few we are looking at are: (Definitely not limited to these)

Leopard 43, 44, 47 and 51 PC.

Lagoon 44

Fountaine Pajot MY 43

Bali 4.3

We really like the wide beam of the cats, and understand the berthing limitations due to the wide beam. Not going into this blind… just doing our due diligence and research now. We will pay for the boat out right, and have no other overhead so we can be truly worry-free travelers. This is a huge lifestyle change, huge commitment but we are both very excited about it. She has set it as a 24 month plan.

Let the fun begin!!!

Thank you in advance for any advice.

v/r

Darren and Lisa

[Factor]

Aquila from Marine Max

[Salty_Peanut]

Originally Posted by Factor

Aquila from Marine Max

The Aquila 44 is on our list...

[Simi 60]

If you truly want to move around, live on the hook and have the ability to stay out for several months at a time and live in actual comfort you need something that can carry weight yet still perform.

As a multihull lover and previous owner we could not find anything to realistically tick those boxes unless it was 60ft plus and a custom build.

Our definition of comfort and essential cruising kit may differ to many.

[Simi 60]

If in the states I reckon this would have to be worth a look

2016 Malcolm Tennant Power Catamaran Power New and Used Boats for Sale

[ranger58sb]

Thanks for your service, Salty.

Ref cats versus monohulls... you might consider that many (not all) cats have berths in the hulls... with in turn means in those instances you throw yourself up onto the mattresses, instead of being able to walk around them. Making up the bed can be an adventure. Or you can use sleeping bag-like things. Just a thought...

Enjoy.

-Chris

[jameswmcleod]

Aquila 44 is a great potential Liveaboard. It is the only that my wife said yes to!
We bought the charter-spec model and to date have spent 12 weeks aboard in three week stents. The huge plus for this boat is the Master Suite with King- Size, walk around bed and full headroom. The other two guestrooms are mid-hull (in front of engines) have Queens with 1/2 walk around, Ensuite Heads with separate enclosed Showers. Great privacy for all. Aquila will custom configure if you don't need three staterooms. Comfortable stairs to large flying bridge and direct access from bridge to bow. All in all, a well thought out boat. Give it a serious look!

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by jameswmcleod

Aquila 44 is a great potential Liveaboard. It is the only that my wife said yes to!
We bought the charter-spec model and to date have spent 12 weeks aboard in three week stents.

3 weeks at a time?
That's a looooong way from living aboard.
.

[jameswmcleod]

Simi 60-Thaaaaaank you for pointing out the obvious. Hence the qualifier "Potential".
I think we are all aware that people have lived aboard much smaller boats for extended periods of time.

[Sirago]

Look at Aspen Power Cat from PNW

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by jameswmcleod

Simi 60-Thaaaaaank you for pointing out the obvious. Hence the qualifier "Potential".
I think we are all aware that people have lived aboard much smaller boats for extended periods of time.

Second post and already takin' swings at people.

[jameswmcleod]

and "looooong" wasn't a swing at a first time poster? I'm out-----

[KidSheeleen]

Don't forget Endevour Cats are made in Sarasota area. They make 36-44 or 46ers. I do not have one myself, however have been on several. nice boat for the money. they make both power and sail Cats.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by jameswmcleod

and "looooong" wasn't a swing at a first time poster? I'm out-----

No
I was simply pointing out that 3 weeks does not a live aboard boat make.
We used to spend six months at a time on our previous boat but there is no way I would call that a live aboard either.

I think we are all aware that people have lived aboard much smaller boats for extended periods of time.

Yes, people do live aboard in smaller boats.
People also live in cardboard boxes, so that argument is mostly irrelevant.

The op probably needs to define what living and comfort is to them and also whether it is just for an "extended - short time" or actual live aboard - full time on the hook as implied.

If spending a million plus on a boat I would have though a full time live aboard/expedition style of vessel would be on the cards, something that can be self sufficient for several months at a time and able to carry tonnes of gear, fluids and supplies without suffering from overloading.


Oh and sorry if you were offended, it was not my intention.

[jmschmidt]

I own a Leopard 474 Power Cat. It's in charter for now but my plan is to take her cruising around the Caribbean two or three months a year, weather permitting. I've owned, raced, cruised and chartered sail boats for the better part of 50 years but at my age it's sure nice to hit those start buttons, cast off and not have to mess with halyards, sails, sheets, travelers, etc. and go 1,000 mules on internal tanks with her 150hp John Deer engines. I don't need to get where I'm going at 18-20 knots, 9 or 10 is fine with me. The Leopard 474PC was plentiful a couple three years ago when I started looking at them but the supply has dried up. Then several got bought up and few were destroyed in last year's hurricanes. Now there is only two or three on the market in the US or the Caribbean and a couple overseas.

Good luck. If you'd like to chat about the breed PM me.