Design and Construction
Catana builds the 53's hulls and decks in foam sandwich infusion, applying a stiff build policy that the yard backs with carbon fibre around critical areas like chainplates, stiffeners and the mast base as well as for the coachroof. The infusion layup with carbon reinforcements around the chainplates and the mast step was carried over with a measurable dividend: on the 53 this approach cut nearly a ton of weight compared to its predecessor. Below the waterline the hulls are narrow with knife-sharp bows that help them cleave waves and glide through a tack with impressive ease, while a high bridge deck starts well aft to minimize the pounding that plagues many cats going to weather, and the aesthetics and high topsides help create good bridgedeck clearance. Reverse bows and long, curved daggerboards define the profile, and a flush-level bridgedeck ties the structure together. Even the headliner sits over an air cushion above the composite structure to minimize condensation, a detail that speaks to the boat's interior finish intent.
Rig and Handling
The 53 carries twin helms set well aft, providing a great view of the rig, with engine controls at both helms so the boat can be docked in tight spaces from either side. With a nearly 29ft beam the 75hp turbo Volvo Penta diesels — or, per the builder's spec line, two 60hp Volvo engines — are set far apart, making it easy to maneuver this large boat. Under sail, a nearly 1,200ft mainsail and self-tacking jib drive the platform; a long bowsprit carries a top-down furler for a Code 0 or A-sail. Six Harken winches on the sides of the cockpit control both the sheets and dinghy davits, and once a sailor learns the leads, that setup allows this large cat to be easily singlehanded. Test sailors found her sailing at 4-plus knots in 7 knots of true wind at a 40-degree apparent wind angle, and cracking off to 60 degrees still produced 5 knots. Owners report logging a number of 200-plus mile days crossing the Atlantic and averaging 9 knots, and one owner group even recorded a video of the boat doing 22 knots with long rooster tails astern and the saloon wine glasses hardly disturbed. At wide-open throttle and 3,000 rpm testers motored at 9.4 knots, while a calmer 2,200 rpm yielded 7.4 knots; for long passages the boat can motor at 6 knots on one engine.
Accommodations
The saloon, galley and cockpit share a wonderfully spacious open-plan layout on the bridgedeck, with the saloon itself spacious and the nav desk placed in the forward port corner — a small forward-facing navstation in the tour description. An L-shaped settee to port flows smoothly to the outside dining area when the doors are opened, and enlarged coachroof windows provide clear sightlines to the opposite bow via the saloon, supplemented by hatches in the bimini positioned so the mainsail can be viewed from the cockpit center without going out into the weather. The Catana 53 is available with three or four cabins and a fully customizable head layout; the test boat carried the owner's suite in the starboard hull with an oversized shower compartment, while the bows can be made into crew cabins or simply used for gear. The as-tested layout devoted at least half the main deck interior to the galley, with four Vitrifrigo refrigeration drawers, a bottle cooler and extensive counter, the galley offered in island or U-shape form. Even the stowage area under the master berth is finished on both sides.
Known Issues
The trade-off for the aft twin-helm arrangement is that visibility directly forward and especially of the opposite bow is not what it is on a cat with a single elevated helm or flybridge. Catana mitigates this through the enlarged coachroof windows and the bimini hatches rather than through a raised helm station, so a buyer should understand that close-quarters sightlines to the far bow depend on interior glazing rather than a flybridge vantage. No structural or systemic defects are documented in the review material.
Refits and Ownership
The 53 is a semi-production boat, which means a buyer gets a repeatable structure with room for owner-specified equipment — the test boat arrived with an 11 kW Cummins genset and 50,000 BTU of six-zone climate control, and the builder offered a secondary autopilot control at the interior nav desk so adjustments can be made without leaving the saloon. Because the cockpit, saloon and helms are all on the same level, any task that needs quick attention is only a few steps from the helm. The documented weight savings and carbon-reinforced structure suggest a platform that wears its upgrades well without penalizing performance.
The Verdict
The Catana 53 is a thoughtfully engineered performance cruiser that trades a little forward visibility for shorthanded simplicity and a level cockpit-to-saloon flow. Its narrow, knife-bowed hulls and curved daggerboards give it a genuine close-wind ability rare in cats, while the carbon-infused infusion layup keeps weight down without sacrificing the stiffness owners prize in a squall. For a couple or family planning long passages, it is a compelling blend of speed and liveaboard comfort.
Pros
- Sails shorthanded with six cockpit winches and self-tacking jib
- Narrow hulls and curved daggerboards deliver 40-degree wind-angle performance
- Carbon-reinforced infusion layup cut nearly a ton versus predecessor
- Level cockpit-saloon-helm layout aids quick movement and autopilot control
- Documented 200-plus mile days and 22-knot surf under owner reports
Cons
- Helm visibility forward and to opposite bow weaker than flybridge cats
- Sources differ on engine: review notes 75hp turbo Volvos, builder spec lists two 60hp Volvos
- Semi-production status means layout and equipment vary by ordered spec
