Design Brief & Intent
The primary mission of the C-Cat 37 was to deliver genuine ocean-going performance without sacrificing the essential comforts required for extended cruising. To achieve this, Marc Lombard focused heavily on weight centralization and structural rigidity. The boat is built utilizing vacuum-infusion technology with a Corecell foam sandwich, quadraxial fiberglass fabrics, and an epoxy-vinylester resin matrix. Unlike mass-production catamarans that rely heavily on heavy internal counter-molds, the C-Cat 37's bulkheads and structural components are directly bonded and reinforced with composite laminates to minimize deadweight while maximizing stiffness.
To prevent the pitching or "hobby-horsing" common in smaller multihulls, the designer grouped heavy components midship. The engines, fuel and water tanks, and even the anchor windlass and chain locker are pulled back toward the mast step. Structurally, safety is deeply integrated into the hull design; each bow features a dedicated sacrificial "crash box," and the hulls contain four watertight, airtight compartments. This makes the vessel virtually unsinkable. Below deck, the interior features minimal, functional styling executed in natural oak wood and light faux-leather linings. It offers excellent headroom and an abundance of natural light through continuous deckhouse windows, avoiding the dark, subterranean feel of older catamaran designs.
Variations & Configurations
Understanding the secondhand market for the C-Cat 37 requires distinguishing between its primary underwater and interior arrangements. Buyers had a choice between two distinct hull profiles:
- Fixed Keels: The standard cruiser configuration features low-aspect-ratio fixed fins glued under the hulls, drawing a moderate 4.3 feet (1.30 meters). This setup simplifies shallow-water navigation and allows the boat to be easily dried out or grounded without mechanical anxiety.
- Pivoting Daggerboards: For purists seeking maximum windward efficiency, the optional manual or hydraulic pivoting daggerboards increase draft to an impressive 7.3 feet (2.24 meters) when fully lowered. When fully retracted, draft is reduced to just 3 feet, permitting access to ultra-shallow anchorages. Critically, the daggerboard trunks are cleverly integrated so they do not infringe upon cabin space.
In terms of interior layouts, three principal configurations were built by the factory:
- Owner's Version: A highly private two-cabin, two-head layout where both hulls are mirror images of one another, each boasting a large aft double berth and a spacious forward head.
- Club Version: The most popular layout on the market, featuring an owner's suite in the starboard hull (complete with a large aft berth and private forward head) and two guest cabins in the port hull sharing a central, slightly smaller head.
- Charter Version: A symmetrical four-cabin, two-head layout designed to maximize sleeping capacity for commercial operations or large families.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The C-Cat 37’s design translates directly into a spirited and highly tactile experience at the helm. Boasting a generous sail-area-to-displacement ratio (SA/Disp) of 27.15, this catamaran is exceptionally powerful and responsive in light air—a condition where heavier cruising catamarans are typically forced to motor. Under sail, it is not uncommon for the boat to easily match wind speed in light breezes up to 10 knots.
With a displacement-to-length ratio (Disp/LWL) of 109.07, the hulls are narrow, hydrodynamic, and sit high out of the water. This low-resistance hull form is complemented by a generous bridgedeck clearance of up to 2.3 feet (65–70 centimeters), which significantly reduces the exhausting pounding and slamming associated with smaller cruising multihulls in choppy head seas.
Though the capsize screening formula (3.44) and comfort ratio (9.32) are mathematically optimized for monohulls and must be interpreted loosely for catamarans, they reflect the boat’s lightweight, active nature. The C-Cat 37 behaves more like an oversized, high-performance dinghy than a ponderous cruising platform. Rather than relying on heavy hydraulic steering, Comar utilized dual aft helm stations with direct mechanical linkages. This gives the helmsman precise, immediate feedback, allowing them to feel subtle changes in rudder pressure and wind gusts.
Market Snapshot & Economics
The C-Cat 37 occupies a boutique, semi-custom niche in the brokerage market, much like a scaled-down Outremer or a Seawind. Because production numbers were limited compared to massive French builders, pre-owned inventory is scarce and tends to command a price premium among performance-minded buyers.
In late 2023, Comar Yachts updated the design, replacing the 37 with the C-Cat 38. The new version lengthened the hulls by 73 centimeters (29 inches) to further reduce drag, modified the cockpit with an integrated aft bench, and added a carbon-fiber bowsprit and bimini as standard features. Consequently, original C-Cat 37 models are highly prized on the brokerage market, representing an excellent entry point into the European performance multihull class without the steep depreciation of buying new.
Modernization & Upgrades
Owners of older C-Cat 37 models frequently focus their refit budgets on squeezing out additional performance or enhancing off-grid autonomy.
- Spars & Rigging: Standard aluminum mast setups are frequently upgraded to rotating carbon-fiber masts paired with high-performance, square-top mainsails to fully capitalize on the boat's light-air potential.
- Drivetrain and Deck Hardware: Upgrading standard 20-horsepower engines to 30-horsepower Volvo Penta or Yanmar diesels is a highly recommended factory upgrade. Replacing fixed propellers with low-drag Flexofold or Kiwi folding propellers is standard practice to eliminate drag while under sail. Many owners also retrofit multi-speed Karver winches to handle the high loads of the powerful sail plan.
- Energy Management: Given the vessel's weight sensitivity, massive generator sets are avoided. Instead, modern refits heavily favor the installation of lightweight lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery banks paired with high-efficiency solar arrays flush-mounted on the cockpit hardtop.
The Verdict
The C-Cat 37 is a beautifully engineered, fast-cruising catamaran that successfully proves performance and comfort can coexist in a platform under 40 feet. It is ideally suited for seasoned sailors who appreciate helm feedback, light-air performance, and sophisticated composite construction, though it demands more active sailing and trim than its heavier, charter-focused counterparts.
Pros
- Outstanding light-air performance and high top-end speeds compared to standard cruising catamarans.
- High-quality epoxy-vinylester sandwich construction yields a very light, stiff, and unsinkable hull.
- High bridgedeck clearance minimizes wave slamming and improves comfort in a seaway.
- Direct mechanical steering offers excellent helm feedback and control.
- Available with pivoting daggerboards for superior windward performance and shallow draft.
Cons
- Higher price point and limited availability on the pre-owned market compared to mass-produced catamarans.
- Light displacement requires strict weight discipline from the owner; overloading the boat with heavy gear will degrade performance.
- Slightly less interior volume and fewer lounging spaces (e.g., no flybridge) than wider, heavier charter catamarans of the same length.
- Dual aft helm stations leave the helmsman somewhat exposed to weather compared to protected bulkhead helm stations.
