What is the price of a sailing catamaran ?

Before purchasing a catamaran, the question of price necessarily arises. Do you know the average price of a multihull, larger or smaller, new or used, to sail as you envision? How is the price of a catamaran determined, and what are your options for buying your future boat? Nautitech takes a look at the subject.

When talking about the price of a multihull, there are two situations to be differentiated. The first concerns the purchase of a new catamaran, just out of the shipyard or "delivered". The second case involves acquisition of a boat that has already sailed, that has received passengers on board and that has, perhaps, been lived in: this is a pre-owned catamaran. In this article, we will examine the price of a sailing catamaran, new or pre-owned, and we will voluntarily disregard any motor catamaran.

The price of a new catamaran

If you're wondering how much a new catamaran costs, you've probably done some research already. You must have noticed that the purchase price of a catamaran varies enormously, and this is normal: there are many very different lines of multihulls, which do not correspond to the same owners or the same ways of sailing :

There are brands such as Bali, Excess or Lagoon which, above all, want to offer comfort and volume in catamarans, for the purpose of living on board. There are also shipyards that build very performance-oriented catamarans, such as HH Catamarans, Catana, Gunboat, Fountaine Pajot or Outremer catamarans. And then there are Nautitech catamarans, which want to be positioned in the middle, balanced between comfort and performance. Often, the range of Nautitech vessels is compared to the monohull ships of the Amel or Grand Soleil plans.

In this article, we could have stated the average price of a new catamaran. But it is, in reality, an amount that is very difficult to assess and, above all, very unrepresentative. There are catamarans available for 350,000 €, 500,000 €, and some for more than a million euros...

Let's say that the first price of a new habitable multihull, with no particular option, is about 350,000 €. Also, many catamarans are offered by their shipbuilders at a price of between 450,000 € and one million euros. Beyond 1,000,000 €, a catamaran can be considered very high-end. As for the price of a luxury catamaran, it can easily reach several million euros !

For several months, the Nautitech yard worked on evolution of the commercial offer proposed to amateur sailors. With the help of the brand's resellers, the sales, marketing, product and purchasing teams, as well as the Nautitech design office, worked together to develop new commercial proposals based on customer profiles.

"We have relied on the recurrence of options chosen by Nautitech customers in recent years, to create a new standard that makes sense. Our goal was to design a commercial offer that is better suited to demand, with which future owners will be able to identify more easily. explains Laura Gobbo, Sales Administration Manager at Nautitech Catamarans.

Thus, since the first quarter of 2024, the Nautitech teams have been happy to be able to offer a richer commercial offer, including solutions that are more in line with the needs of amateur sailors. And, a highlight of this new offer, each Nautitech catamaran model – the Nautitech 40 Open, the Nautitech 44 Open and the Nautitech 48 Open – is now delivered in a "Ready To Sail" version !

No need to add a significant number of options before you can actually take control of your boat: anti-fouling, preparation of masting, supply of essential equipment such as the anchor or the autopilot... all the essentials have been taken into account by the shipyard teams.

Of course, owners are always free to add one or more options to their vessel, depending on their future sailing program and wishes. Three "packs" exist today and are available in addition :

Thinking of buying a Nautitech catamaran? You have the choice between three different models, first, from the standpoint of dimension. From the smallest to the largest: the Nautitech 40 Open, the Nautitech 44 Open and the Nautitech 48 Open.

If you want to buy a pre-owned catamaran, you still have the opportunity to invest very different amounts.

First, you should understand that it is very difficult to find, even used, a catamaran for under 20,000 € that is habitable. Catamarans under 50,000 € are usually sport catamarans, or very old vessels that require major repair work before they can sail.

The prices of pre-owned habitable sailing catamarans start at around 70,000 €, for vessels measuring 10 to 12 metres in length. At this price, the vessels have already sailed for several decades.

Pre-owned catamarans going for 100,000 € to 200,000 € are generally newer, slightly larger, more habitable or more efficient.

From 250,000 €, one can expect to buy a pre-owned catamaran for long cruises delivered, at the earliest, in the late 1990s or early 2000s.

From 350,000 €, pre-owned catamarans of 15m or more enter the price range.

There are also pre-owned catamarans for more than 500,000 €. At this price, the boats have often been delivered very recently and still have little sailing experience. In most cases, they come from a reputable shipyard or offer particularly high performance.

You should also know that the price of a pre-owned catamaran is determined according to the number of models available on the market: the more a catamaran has been produced in small volume, the rarer and more difficult it will be to acquire this model. Thus, there is a good chance that the resale value of a Nautitech catamaran will be higher than that of a Lagoon catamaran, for example. This is another aspect to be taken into account if you want to buy a catamaran and you already have plans to resell it in a few years !

The amount to be invested to buy a catamaran varies depending on several elements :

The dimensions and volumes of the vessel :

As you can imagine, the price of a catamaran of 15m or of more than 30m, for example, is not the same. Generally, the larger the ship, the larger the interior volumes, and the greater the cost !

Catamaran engine and performance:

The cost of a catamaran is also related to its capacity. It takes into account, for example, the engines that equip the ship, their power and their modes of operation, as well as the set or sets of sails with which it is equipped.

The age and general condition of the vessel : 
It makes sense that you don't invest the same amount to buy a new or pre-owned catamaran. Thus, for example, the price for a 30-metre catamaran will not be the same, if it has just left the yard or if it has already sailed for several years. A recent ship will surely present more modern fittings and materials, a more environmentally friendly construction process, and will require an investment of a larger amount. A catamaran that is old, less maintained, damaged or that requires specific work will normally be available at a lower price.

Spaces on board the boat : 
Beyond the deck plan, which is decisive, the interior spaces also play a big role in the price of a boat. It’s necessary to consider the number of cabins and toilets, the configuration of the kitchen and mess areas, the presence or absence of a proprietary suite, an office space or, for example, special storage solutions.

Equipment and options : 
The cost of a catamaran also depends on how it is equipped. A unit with specific fixtures or equipment, for example, suitable for long cruises, with technical rigging elements or capable of sailing in total energy autonomy, will be more expensive to acquire than a catamaran without distinctive on-board equipment. It all depends, therefore, on the sailing program for which the catamaran was designed, and on its level of customization !

To estimate the price of a catamaran, it is also necessary to calculate the costs of delivery of the boat, launching, handling, and possibly transport. Some shipyards, such as Nautitech, include these services as part of the purchase of a new catamaran. But this is not always the case !

Finally, beyond the purchase price of a new or pre-owned catamaran, it is necessary to take into account recurring annual costs such as mooring, maintenance, boat insurance, fuel... as well as any occasional repair costs.

There are different solutions to finance the purchase of a catamaran. The right choice will mainly depend on your financial capabilities, your program and your navigation plans.

Thus, as a future owner, you will have the choice between several options :

The purchase of a catamaran for cash, which allows a quick purchase, but requires a significant financial investment
Traditional financing, via a bank loan, more suited to those who prefer to keep cash for other projects

Lease with Option to Buy, or LOA, for sailors who want to preserve their cash flow and benefit from more flexibility.

The choice of how to finance a catamaran is not to be taken lightly! Before making your choice, it is necessary to be well informed about the different possible options, and to consider all the possibilities.

Catamaran financing solutions

Beyond the price of a catamaran, you may still have a few questions. Let's make sure that you have taken all the important aspects into account...