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If you want to live on the sea, catamarans are probably the most comfortable way of doing it. Unlike monohulls, catamarans have two hulls, giving you a smooth sailing experience and more interior space. There are tons of small catamarans, each with its pros and cons.
The smallest cruising/liveaboard sailing catamaran is the Smart Cat S280. With a length overall of 27.9 feet (8.5 meters), it offers the most economical and spacious living area you can find on any liveaboard catamaran today.
In this article, I’ll talk about the Smart Cat S280, and then ill show you alternatives. This article is meant to give you examples of boats that might be interesting and it’s a jumping-off point for further research into what suits you the best.
How To Pick a Small Catamaran
Small catamarans are great if you’re on a budget. They’re also ideal if you want a modest space without too much going on inside. However, every small-size catamaran varies in features and design. So, if you’re looking for one, there are a few essential factors you have to bear in mind.
Performance
When choosing a catamaran, your decision depends on what level of performance you need from the boat. Your choice will often come from what you’re going to use the boat for.
However, the performance of a catamaran is a critical factor for safety as well. For example, the sail plan significantly affects the catamaran’s stability offshore.
Some performance features you have to keep in mind when choosing a catamaran include:
- Average Speed upwind and downwind
- How much weight can be loaded before performance is impacted
- Sail plan
Interior Layout
Despite their size, small catamarans come with a variety of living spaces. In between the hulls, you’ll find different types of amenities, including a kitchen, lounge, and dining area.
Every catamaran comes with a unique arrangement for its cabins. Usually, you’ll also have cabins in the two hulls and sometimes a master cabin on the deck. The deck may also have a sitting space with trampoline areas to relax.
The cabins on a catamaran are sometimes referred to as berths. Manufacturers modify one or two berths to make a bathroom with a toilet and showerhead or “head.”
Exterior Design
The interior features are essential because they determine not only your living condition while onboard but also how easily the boat can be sailed, are all lines drawn to the cockpit?
Now that we know how to choose sailing catamarans, let’s look at the smallest liveaboard catamarans on the market today, starting with the most compact one.
Smart Cat S280: The Smallest Liveaboard Catamaran
The Smart Cat S280 is the smallest catamaran on the market today. The Korean-made catamaran offers a mix of space, shallow sailing, and affordability.
At the 2020 Miami Boat Show, the starting price of the Smart Cat S280 was $149,900.
It runs on a 19.8 Yamaha HorsePower engine with a 50 Horse Power option. Depending on your location, you can drop down or lift the engine out of the water. It holds a 102-liter (26.94-gallon) fuel tank and a 135-liter (35.66-gallon) water tank.
Interior
The open hard-top version is ideal for summer sailing and boat parties. The cat is also available in a closed “house” version, allowing more privacy and climate protection.
The boat features three queen-sized berths, office space, and a kitchen area. It has two living configurations:
- Three cabins and one head
- Two cabins and two heads
Each cabin berth has a double-sized bed. The bathroom contains a sink, a head and handheld shower, and an electric toilet. The wide lounge area with two trampolines can accommodate at least four seating positions. It also contains a drop-down anchor with an electric windlass.
Furnishing
The interior is fitted with broad windows and drop-down blinds, cabinet lockers, tour-size hanging closets, and LED step lights to guide you when lights are dim. It also has an 18,000 BTU air conditioning system controlled from the inside. The ceiling has a vinyl finishing, an upgrade from the carpet fabric finishing in previous models.
The kitchen space comes with storage cabinets, a DC 12 V 50-liter (13.2-gallon) refrigerator, enclosed refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, electric stove burner, and a sink. It is wired with a Fusion audio system that includes two speakers.
The Smart Cat S280 supplies hot water to the kitchen and bathroom, thanks to an AC 120 V 6-gallon water heater. The head floor is wooden, while the cockpit has a patterned Seadek floor.
Navigation
The boat has a VHF radio, a Garmin sail pack navigation package, and a Garmin GPS Chart Plotter. It also includes wind speed and direction equipment, a depth sounder, and a compass. The rigging is performed with a steering wheel.
Specifications
The dimensions of the Smart Cat S280 are:
| Max Bridge Clearance | 46.2 feet (14.08 meters) |
| Max Draft | 2.82 feet (0.85 meters) |
| Beam | 17.4 feet (5.3 meters) |
| Length Overall | 27.9 feet (8.5 meters) |
| Weight | 4.5 tons (4,500 kg) |
The Smart Cat S280 has made its mark as the ideal small-size cruise cat. However, there are other options on the market.
Other Small Sailing Catamarans
Dean 365
The Dean 365 is suitable for cruising coastal grounds. Made by Dean Catamarans in South Africa, it is 36 feet (10.97 meters) long with single or twin diesel engines. It can be configured to have four cabins and one showerhead or three cabins and two showerheads.
At $50,000, it features:
- A 3-foot draft (0.91 meters)
- A mast height of 46 feet (14.02 meters)
- A Fixed Keels underbody
- Weight of 6 tons (5,443.1 kg)
- Speed of 6 to 7 knots
- A beam of 17.7 feet (5.39 meters)
Gemini 105
The Gemini 105 is one of the flagship boats of Gemini Catamarans. Initially manufactured in Maryland, the compact cat is now made in Florida. It’s 33 feet (10.05 meters) long with a layout of three cabins and one head.
Costing around $100,000, it contains:
- Mast height of 47 feet (14.32 meters)
- Maximum draft height of 5 feet (1.52 meters)
- One diesel engine
- Centerboards underbody
- A beam of 14 feet (4.26 meters)
- Speed of 8 knots
- Weight of 4.8 tons (4,800 kg)
Mahe 36
At 36 feet (10.97 meters), the Mahe 36 has two inboard diesel engines with sail drives. It contains three cabins and one head, or two cabins and two heads.
Commonly found in the Caribbean, it costs about $300,000 and comes with:
- A maximum draft height of 3.6 feet (1.09 meters)
- Mast height of 55 feet (16.76 meters)
- Fixed Keels underbody
- A beam of 19.4 feet (5.91 meters)
- A weight of 5.5 tons (4,989.52 kg)
- A speed of 7 to 11 knots
Endeavor 36
The Endeavor 36 is a three-cabin catamaran commonly found in the United States coastal areas. This catamaran was made for easy handling and comfort. It is powered by twin diesel engines and costs about $100,000.
It is 36 feet (10.97 meters) long and features:
- A mast height of 47 feet (14.32 meters)
- A maximum draft of 2.75 feet (0.84 meters)
- An underbody of Fixed Keels
- A beam of 15 feet (4.57 meters)
- A speed of up to 8 knots
Antigua 37
This catamaran is 37 feet (11.27 meters) long with an interior layout of four cabins. Running on twin diesel engines, it costs about $150,000.
It also has:
- A maximum draft height of 3.35 feet (1.02 meters)
- A mast height of 55 feet (16.76 meters)
- A beam of 19.68 feet (5.99 meters)
- A fixed Keels underbody
- A weight of 4.5 tons (4,500 kg)
- A speed of up to 11 knots
Seawind 1000
The Seaweed 1000 is an Australian-made catamaran that is 37 feet (11.27 meters) long. It’s ideal for bluewater cruising with four cabins, one head, and a twin gas outboard engine.
It costs over $150,000 and features:
- A mast height of 47 feet (14.32 meters)
- A maximum draft height of 3.2 feet (0.97 meters)
- A Fixed Keels underbody
- A beam of 19.42 feet (5.92 meters)
- A weight of 4 tons (4,000 kg)
- A speed of 4.5 knots
PDQ 36 Capella
Designed by Alan Slater, the PDQ 36 Capella is a 36-foot (10.97 meter) long catamaran that costs around $100,000. Its engines can be single or twin gas outboard. It can also run on a twin diesel inboard engine. It contains two or three cabins and one or two heads.
Some of its other features include:
- A maximum draft height of 2.8 feet (0.85 meters)
- A maximum mast height of 47 feet (14.32 meters)
- An underbody of Fixed Keels
- A beam of 18.25 feet (5.56 meters)
- A weight of 4.5 tons (4,500 kg)
- A speed of 7 knots
Lagoon 37 TPI
The Lagoon 37 TPI is 37 feet (11.27 meter) long and costs over $100,000. It is a rare classic catamaran with three or four cabins and two heads. It uses two inboard diesel engines.
It also has:
- A maximum draft height of 4 feet (1.21 meters)
- A mast height of 55 feet (16.76 meters)
- An underbody of Fixed Keels
- A speed of 7 to 14 knots
- A beam of 20.17 feet (6.15 meters)
- A weight of 5.3 tons (5,300 kg)
Catalac 9M
This catamaran is 29.25 feet (8.92 meters) long, making it one of the smallest and most affordable on this list. With either a single gas outboard engine or twin inboard diesel engines, it’s an excellent catamaran for sailing the North Sea.
It costs about $50,000, and features:
- A tabernacle mast
- A Fixed Keels underbody
- Three cabins and one head
- A weight of 4 tons (4,000 kg)
- A beam of 20.17 feet (6.15 meters)
- A mast height of 54.5 feet (16.61 meters)
- A draft of 3.33 feet (1.02 meters)
Prout 37 Snowgoose
The Prout 37 Snowgoose is 37 feet (11.27 meters) long and came after the Prout 35. It’s a great choice for bluewater sailing with three cabins and one head. They cost about $100,000 and run on a single outdrive engine, although some rare models have twin inboard engines.
They also contain:
- A Fixed Keels underbody
- A maximum draft of 2.08 feet (0.63 meters)
- A mast height of 40 feet (12.19 meters)
- A weight of 5.5 tons (5,500 kg)
- A draft of 3 feet (0.91 meters)
- A beam of 6.25 feet (1.91 meters)
Lagoon 380
The Lagoon 380 is a bluewater catamaran that runs on twin diesel engines. Its price is $100,000, and it measures 37 feet (11.27 meters) in length. The boat launched in 1999 and is primarily found in Europe and the United States.
Some of its features include:
- Two or three cabins and two heads
- A mast height of 56.1 feet (17.09 meters)
- A maximum draft of 3.83 feet (1.17 meters)
- A beam of 21.42 feet (6.53 meters)
- A speed of up to 10 knots
- A weight of 7.1 tons (7,100 kg)
Prout Event 34
The Prout Event 34 looks just like the Snowgoose, although the latter is slightly bigger. It has two diesel engines that can support bluewater sailing. At 34 feet (10.36 meters), it costs nearly $30,000.
The Prout Event 34’s interior includes three berths, one head, and office space. This catamaran is not commonly found worldwide, though a few can be located on European and American coastlines.
It contains:
- Maximum draft height of 2.72 feet (0.82 meters)
- Mast height of 30.25 feet (9.22 meters)
- A weight of 4 tons (4,000 kg)
- A beam of 15.7 feet (4.78 meters)
- A speed of 7 to 9 knots
Endeavor 30
The Endeavor 30 is 30 feet (9.14 meters) long with two cabins, a galley, a dining area, and two heads. Manufactured by Florida-based Endeavor Catamaran Corporation, the $80,000 catamaran has:
- Sails that reach 7.5 knots
- Mast height of 48 feet (14.63 meters)
- Maximum draft of 2.83 feet (0.86 meters)
- Headroom of 6.33 feet (1.93 meters)
- A beam of 14.5 feet (4.42 meters)
- A weight of 3.5 tons (3,500 kg)
- A speed of 7 to 9 knots
Maine Cat 30
The Maine Cat 30 is a 30-foot (9.14 meters) long catamaran that costs over $100,000. It features a 26-gallon fuel tank and a 63-gallon (286.4 liter) freshwater tank. It has three double berths and one single berth.
The Maine Cat 30 contains:
- A weight of 3 tons (3,000 kg)
- 18-foot beam (5.48 meters)
- Maximum draft of 5 feet (1.52 meters)
- A speed of 5.5 to 6.5 knots
- A mast height of 48 feet (14.63 meters)
Key Takeaways
The smallest liveaboard catamaran, the Smart Cat S280, is 27.9 feet (8.5 meters) long. However, numerous other options are available if you are looking for a small liveaboard catamaran.
Each of these options comes with different interior designs, exterior features, and performance specifications, so look at all your options to pick the best one for you!