Although described as a 55-footer, the Catana measures just over 61 feet overall, with a 26-foot beam. It’s a large-volume platform, but its defining features are a hull form that maximizes waterline length and a powerful sail plan intended to shorten passage times.
Design and Construction
The Catana 55 measures 61.92 feet overall, with a 58.58-foot waterline. Cruising World credited that long waterline as central to the boat’s pace. The yacht uses Catana’s carbon-infusion process, a construction method the same reviewer described as unique to the marque.
Daggerboards give the Catana 55 a wide draft range. With the boards raised, she draws only 1.20 meters; lowered, they increase draft to 2.95 meters. That gives the owner a choice between shoal-water gunkholing and deeper, more weatherly grip.
Steering is through two balanced spade rudders mounted on JP3 self-aligning bearings. The cockpit has two Catana-designed GRP pulpits and a pair of stainless steel wheels wrapped in leather.
Rig and Handling
The rig consists of a white-lacquered aluminium mast and boom. The mainsail luff runs on a ball-bearing batt-car system, and a double windvane sits at the masthead.
Seven winches divide the work:
- Two handle the genoa and spinnaker sheets.
- Two handle the mainsail sheets.
- Two control the daggerboards and furler lines.
- One mast-mounted winch handles the foresail halyards.
Mechanical engine controls are at the starboard helm. The daggerboard winches allow a short-handed crew to manage the foils from the helm area.
Together, the long waterline and generous sail area address what Cruising World called the most demanding cruiser’s need for speed.
Accommodations
The saloon is spacious, comfortable, and finished to a high standard, with panoramic views outside. A sliding door separates it from the passage.
The seating combines high-resilience foam with Suedine on the seat backs and Sunbrella on the armrests. It surrounds an extendable saloon table with a built-in bar. Stainless steel handrails at the steps in each hull provide secure handholds when moving through the boat.
The U-shaped galley is to port and has a large worktop. In the owner’s version, the layout also includes a vanity or desk with a seat. The bathrooms are large moulded units, and the shower stall has teak grating and a built-in seat.
Outside, two glass-composite benches provide easier access to the roof.
Equipment and Systems
The electrical system separates engine starting from the service bank. Two 120 Ah gel batteries start the diesels. Charging equipment includes a 60 A / 24 V shore charger, twin 80 A / 12 V engine alternators for the start banks, and twin 75 A / 24 V alternators for the service bank.
A 55-liter black-water tank is standard. The builder provides a five-year structural warranty.
Verdict
The Catana 55 is a serious offshore catamaran that trades some simplicity for speed and volume. Barreau’s long-waterline hull and the carbon-infused structure produce a performance-oriented boat with real passage-making reach. The daggerboards’ broad draft range is a genuine dual-mode advantage, allowing both shoal-water access and deeper, more weatherly sailing.
The accommodations are polished rather than merely functional. On the other hand, the elaborate electrical arrangement, numerous winch circuits, and deep board-down draft call for an engaged owner.
Pros
- Long waterline and generous sail area provide the speed that Cruising World said would meet demanding expectations
- Carbon-infusion construction described as unique to the builder
- Daggerboards provide either 1.20 m shoal draft or 2.95 m deep draft
- Panoramic saloon with refined fabrics and an extendable table with a built-in bar
- Separate alternator arrangements and 24 V service-bank charging
Cons
- Complex winch and electrical systems demand owner attention
- The 2.95 m board-down draft limits access to some anchorages
- The five-year structural warranty is shorter than those offered by some rivals
