Catana 55 Buyer's Guide
Shopping a Catana 55 on the brokerage market means looking at a 55-foot Christophe Barreau performance cruiser whose carbon-infused build and long waterline were pitched to fast-passage sailors. Most used examples trace to the design's showcase era, and the boat's layout and equipment picture is consistent enough across the fleet to guide a inspection-minded buyer.
Layouts on the Used Market
Charter four-cabin layouts appear more often on the used market, though owner-version boats with a vanity or desk and seat are also available, and ex-charter examples are common. The owner version trades some cabin count for a private suite feel, while the charter layout maximizes berths. Either way the salon keeps its panoramic outlook and sliding door, with the U-shaped port galley and moulded bathroom with teak shower seat.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Catana 55s commonly carry a watermaker, air conditioning, chartplotter, autopilot, AIS, radar, and a life raft, which together mean a buyer can step aboard ready for bluewater without immediate major spends. Power and energy is the strongest cluster: lithium batteries, an inverter, solar, and a generator are commonly fitted, reducing reliance on shore power during extended cruising. Sail-handling comfort is boosted by electric winches and a self-tacking jib, both commonly seen, and a bimini plus dinghy davits with swim platform round out the cockpit-living upgrades. A washing machine and cockpit shower appear on many boats, speaking to the liveaboard lean of the design.
What to Inspect
The known specification points worth a close look are the daggerboard systems and their dedicated winches, since the boards define both the 1.20 m and 2.95 m draft states anchor. Check the JP3 self-aligning bearings on the two balanced spade rudders for play, and confirm the ball-bearing mainsail luff cars run cleanly on the white-lacquered mast. The 24 V service alternator pair and 60 A shore charger should be tested under load, and the 55-liter black-water tank and moulded shower pans inspected for odor or crazing. The five-year structural warranty has long expired on these boats, so a survey of the carbon-infused hull is the buyer's responsibility.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Catana 55 are Martinique and Sint Maarten (Dutch part). For a buyer, the checklist is: confirm board-up and board-down draft operation, survey rudders and bearings, verify the dual alternator and lithium or gel banks, and decide between ex-charter four-cabin volume and owner-version privacy. A well-kept example is a fast, roomy cruiser; a neglected one hides complexity in its foils and wiring.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Catana 55. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 1 | $550,000 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $1,046,419 | +90.3% |
Where they're listed
Catana 55 listings appear across 1 country. Martinique has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinique | $1,046,419 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagoon 55 | 54.33' | $ 2,096,114 | 95 | 33 |
| Outremer 51 | 51.35' | $ 1,129,000 | 65 | 19 |
| Catana Catamarans 50 | 49.87' | $ 1,204,494 | 21 | 7 |
| Outremer 50/55 | 55' | $ 349,900 | 16 | 2 |
| Outremer 55-2 | 54.89' | $ 2,125,227 | 13 | 2 |
| Catana 58 | 62.34' | $ 660,000 | 13 | 2 |
| Catana 53 | 53.08' | $ 1,650,000 | 13 | 7 |
| Catana 65 | 66.6' | $ 1,095,000 | 10 | 10 |
| Catana Ocean Class | 51.67' | $ 1,243,112 | 6 | 0 |
| Catana 55You are here | — | $ 1,045,728 | 1 | 0 |