Comprehensive Comparison of High-Performance Catamarans: Outremer, Gunboat, HH, and Panther 48.
by Gregor Tarjan, Founder/CEO Aeroyacht
High-performance catamarans are designed for speed, efficiency, and luxurious sailing experiences, often catering to adventurous sailors seeking both comfort and thrill. Among the most notable brands in this category are Outremer, Gunboat, HH catamarans, and the recently launched Panther 48 catamaran by McConaghy Boats. (56, 68,75’models coming soon). Below, I will delve into a detailed comparison of these catamarans, considering their design philosophy, performance, construction, and onboard features.
1. Outremer Catamarans
Overview:
Outremer is a well-established French brand known for producing highly capable and fast long-distance cruising catamarans. Their range includes the Outremer 45, Outremer 4X, Outremer 55, and Outremer 64. I personally owned an Outremer as well as sailed 3 models transatlantic – hence relatively familiar with the brand.
Design Philosophy:
Outremer catamarans are built with a clear focus on performance under sail, long-distance cruising, and comfort. Their hulls are designed for speed, with sharp, sleek lines and lightweight polyester structures. Outremer boats have gained a reputation for being strong in rough seas and fast in a wide range of conditions.
Performance:
- Speed: Outremer catamarans are known for their exceptional speed due to lightweight construction long waterlines, and powerful sail plans.
- Handling: The balance of comfort and performance in sailing conditions is an Outremer hallmark, and these boats excel in both coastal and offshore passages. All lines are lead back to either a bulkhead steering (some models only) or twin aft tiller helm stations.
Construction:
- Materials: Outremer use mostly polyester sandwich for enhance durability.
- Hull Shape: The hulls feature a fine entry for improved speed, while the central hull beam and high bridgedeck clearance minimize wave impact.
Features:
- Interior Layout: Modern, functional, and stylish, with a focus on easy handling and quick access to all areas. These yachts often come with custom options for layout. Franck Darnet did a great job styling the clean interior.
- Comfort: Despite being performance-oriented, Outremer focuses on creating comfortable living spaces, especially for long-term cruising.
2. Gunboat Catamarans
Overview:
Gunboat is a premium performance-oriented catamaran brand, initially founded by our friend Peter Johnston and now owned by our (other friend) Xavier Desmaret. Gunboats are part of the Grand Large Group and are known for creating luxurious, fast, and innovative boats. Their line includes models like Gunboat 68, Gunboat 72, and the upcoming Gunboat 80.
Design Philosophy:
Gunboat emphasizes both speed and luxury. They are renowned for their stylish VPLP design, modern aesthetics, combined with state-of-the-art construction techniques, ensuring speed does not come at the cost of comfort. Gunboat catamarans are built to be raced or cruised in high performance and luxury.
Construction:
- Materials: Gunboats are made from advanced composite materials, including carbon fiber, which reduces weight and improves stiffness. These boats often feature foam-cored hulls, ensuring both buoyancy and durability.
- Hull Shape: Gunboat designs prioritize aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, with smooth hull lines to reduce drag and maximize lift. Their hulls are wider and flatter to enhance stability.
Features:
- Interior Layout: Gunboats have highly luxurious interiors with a focus on comfort. They typically feature high-end furnishings, spacious salons, and private cabins.
- Technology: These yachts are equipped with cutting-edge sailing technology, including advanced navigation systems, automated sail handling, and premium entertainment setups.
3. HH Catamarans
Overview:
HH Catamarans, known for their HH44, 50, 55 and HH66 models, are a newer but highly respected player in the high-performance catamaran market. Built in China, they focus on creating lightweight, sleek boats with high-performance capabilities. HH did a great job in expanding this competitive market niche.
Design Philosophy:
HH focuses on combining racing capabilities with cruising comfort. They use a high-tech approach to design, incorporating lightweight construction and cutting-edge materials. Performance is at the heart of the brand, but HH doesn’t compromise on livability.
Construction:
- Materials: HH Catamarans use a combination of carbon fiber and epoxy resin to ensure strength, durability, and lightweight construction.
- Hull Shape: HH’s hulls are optimized for efficiency and stability, with narrow entries and a low profile to reduce drag while maintaining high stability.
Features:
- Interior Layout: Modern and stylish, HH catamarans are luxurious but focused on the needs of performance sailors. Spacious salons, light and airy interiors, and optimized space usage make these boats highly functional for cruising.
- Comfort: The focus on performance doesn’t come at the expense of comfort, but the interiors are more utilitarian and performance-oriented than those of Gunboats.
4. Panther 48 catamaran
Overview:
The Panther 48 catamaran comes from the most experienced builder with over 50 years of experience in building the world’s most advanced carbon structures and race boats. The Panther is a newer entrant to the high-performance catamaran market. It is designed for both speed and luxury, similar to the brands mentioned above, but with a focus on solar autonomy, affordability and innovative solutions.
Design Philosophy:
The big difference is that the Panther is specifically designed to be a solar powered yacht. She is conceived to be simple and lightweight with not too much volume. These features allow her to stand above the rest in renewable autonomy. The Panther 48 seeks to strike a balance between performance and price, targeting both the cruising and racing market. Its design is more modern, with a sharp focus on fast sailing while ensuring that the back-up genset is used as little as possible.
Performance:
- Speed: The Panther 48 all carbon structure is designed with performance in mind, featuring lighter materials, aerodynamic hulls, and an emphasis on speed. It competes in a similar space to Outremer and HH, aiming for excellent performance on both offshore and inshore passages.
- Handling: The catamaran is agile and easy to handle, with a well-balanced sail plan and responsive rudders. The goal is to offer a high-performance experience without requiring extensive experience to operate. As her competitors all sail handling lines are led to the twin steering stations.
Construction:
- Materials: The Panther 48 utilizes all carbon composite materials to ensure durability and lightness. McConaghy Boat’s 50 years of experience is reflected in her advanced engineering and build uality.
- Hull Shape: The design emphasizes a fine entry and good overall stability, suitable for a variety of wind conditions. The hulls are designed to be efficient while maintaining comfort.
Features:
- Interior Layout: The interior of the Panther 48 features a modern layout with functional space. Unlike the more luxurious Gunboat or Outremer, the focus is on space optimization for longer passages without the super-luxurious finishes.
- Comfort: While not as extravagant as Gunboat, the Panther 48 offers a comfortable cruising experience, with modern amenities and an airy salon that makes it suitable for extended stays. Unlike her competitors she has very large side opening windows doubling the amount of opening hatch space.
Key Comparisons:
| Feature | Outremer | Gunboat | HH | Panther 48 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Focus | Performance & cruising balance | High-speed performance with luxury | High-performance, cruising-focused | High-Performance with highest autonomy |
| Speed | Fast, optimized for long-distance | Very fast, race-oriented | Fast, performance-driven | Very Fast, highly competitive. |
| Construction | Polyester Composite, carbon options | Carbon fiber, foam-cored construction | Carbon and composite materials | 100% Carbon composite construction |
| Hull Shape | Sleek, fine entry, narrow hulls | Aerodynamic, optimized for speed | Narrow, low profile hulls | Fine entry, stability-focused hulls |
| Interior Finish | Quality simple finishes. | Ultra-luxurious, high-end materials | Modern, functional luxury | Modern, function, High-tech, luxurious |
| Cruising Comfort | Designed for long-term comfort | Luxurious but performance-focused | Comfortable but performance-first | Most airy, practical, cost-effective |
| Price Range | High-end, luxury pricing | Premium, top-tier pricing | High-end but more affordable than Gunboat | Mid-Top range, more affordable |
| Target Market | Long-distance cruisers, adventurers | High-net-worth individuals, racers | Serious cruisers who want speed and luxury | Tech- Performance enthusiasts looking for autonomy |
Conclusion:
- Outremer excels in creating fast, simple, seaworthy boats that focus on cruising comfort, making them perfect for sailors looking for a performance cruiser.
- Gunboat represents the pinnacle of luxury and performance, making it an ideal choice for sailors who prioritize style, speed, and the finest amenities.
- HH catamarans are performance-driven, targeting sailors who want the thrill of fast sailing while still enjoying a comfortable, modern lifestyle on the water.
- Panther 48, the newest design, from the most experienced builder. Delivers very impressive performance for its price range, targeting those looking for a high-performance catamaran with the ultimate in solar autonomy and regeneration abilities.
Each of these brands brings something unique to the table, and the best choice will depend on a sailor’s specific needs, whether they are cruising long distances, engaging in high-speed racing, or looking for a combination of both. Our advice is, check out each yard and try to test sail every candidates.
