Design and Construction
At 68 feet 5 inches overall with a beam of 31 feet 2 inches and a displacement of 58,422 pounds, the Catana 70 is a substantial platform, yet one engineered around a carbon-reinforced fiberglass structure with solid hulls and a daggerboard keel type. The interior surfaces carry an elegant grain of sycamore laminated to sandwich panels, where the core is glass or carbon depending on location anchor, a construction choice that lets the yard place stiffness and weight precisely where the structure demands. The boat was drawn to combine genuine athletic performance with luxury below, and that brief explains the semi-custom nature of the series — hull number one was already a bespoke expression of the type.
Rig and Handling
The sailplan is ambitious for a cruising catamaran, sitting on the limit of being overpowering yet delivering real fun in light airs anchor. The mast rises to about 94 feet above the waterline, carrying a 1,539-square-foot mainsail, a 1,001-square-foot genoa, and a 2,153-square-foot gennaker for downwind work. Sail handling is concentrated to port at arm’s length, and the leads for the reefing lines, mainsheet, and topping lift were laid out with careful attention so the whole system reads clearly to the crew anchor. That clarity matters on a boat of this sail area, where a confused lead can turn a routine reef into a chore.
Accommodations
Below, the Catana 70 provides three or four double cabins, a layout count that underscores its role as a private or lightly chartered passage boat rather than a high-density charter hull. The semi-custom framing means interior appointments could be tailored, but the core volume is fixed by the 31-foot beam and the long waterline, giving room for the sycamore-faced panels to read as warm rather than utilitarian. The 423 gallons of water capacity and 325 gallons of diesel sit within a 58,000-pound displacement that the daggerboards and spade rudders translate into a lively, directionally positive hull.
Equipment and Power
The spec record lists a twin-engine drivetrain of 2 x 150 horsepower diesel, a configuration that supports redundant propulsion and confident maneuvering under power. Tankage splits as two 400-liter water tanks and a 2,000-liter fuel tank, figures that suit long independent cruising. The fractional sloop rig and the large gennaker area extend the boat’s light-air range, reinforcing the review observation that the type can make way when lesser catamarans sit becalmed.
The Verdict
The Catana 70 is a serious offshore catamaran that refuses to trade performance for comfort. Its Lombard lines, carbon-glass sandwich construction, and overpowered-but-fun rig make it a standout among large cruising multihulls, while the semi-custom Arcadia pedigree means early hulls were built to a high individual standard.
Pros
- Capable of creating a wake in light conditions where many cruising cats stall
- Sycamore-laminated sandwich panels with location-specific glass or carbon cores
- Clear, port-side-centered sail-handling layout for a large sailplan
- Twin 150 hp diesel drivetrain with substantial fuel and water capacity
Cons
- Sailplan described as on the limit of overpowering for a cruising catamaran
- Semi-custom series means variability between individual hulls
