Design and Construction
The Catana 70 measures 68 feet 5 inches overall, with a beam of 31 feet 2 inches and a displacement of 58,422 pounds. Its carbon-reinforced fiberglass structure includes solid hulls, daggerboards, and spade rudders.
Inside, sycamore veneer is laminated to sandwich panels with glass or carbon cores, depending on their location. This allows the yard to place stiffness and weight where the structure requires them while giving the interior a warm, elegant finish.
The boat was drawn to deliver genuine performance without giving up luxury below. That brief also explains the series’ semi-custom nature: hull number one was already a bespoke version of the design.
Rig and Sail Handling
The fractional sloop sailplan is ambitious for a cruising catamaran. It was described as on the limit of being overpowering, but genuinely fun in light airs.
The mast rises about 94 feet above the waterline and carries a 1,539-square-foot mainsail and a 1,001-square-foot genoa. A 2,153-square-foot gennaker provides additional power downwind and extends the boat’s light-air range. The result supports the review’s observation that the Catana 70 can keep moving when lesser catamarans are becalmed.
Sail handling is concentrated to port and kept within arm’s reach. The reefing lines, mainsheet, and topping lift were led with care so that the entire system is easy for the crew to read. That clarity matters with this much sail area, when a confusing line lead can turn a routine reef into a chore.
Accommodations
The Catana 70 was offered with three or four double cabins. That cabin count suits its role as a private or lightly chartered passage boat rather than a high-density charter catamaran.
Although the semi-custom format allowed buyers to tailor the interior appointments, the boat’s 31-foot beam and long waterline provide the underlying volume. The sycamore-faced panels make those spaces feel warm rather than utilitarian.
Machinery and Tankage
The listed drivetrain consists of two 150-horsepower diesel engines. This twin-engine arrangement provides redundant propulsion and confident maneuvering under power.
Published specifications give the boat 423 gallons of water capacity and 325 gallons of diesel within a roughly 58,000-pound displacement. The specification record also lists two 400-liter water tanks and a 2,000-liter fuel tank. These figures suit long periods of independent cruising.
Together, the daggerboards and spade rudders give the boat a lively, directionally positive character.
Verdict
The Catana 70 is a serious offshore catamaran that doesn’t trade performance for comfort. Its Lombard-designed lines, carbon-and-glass sandwich construction, and powerful—sometimes nearly overpowering—rig distinguish it among large cruising multihulls. Its semi-custom Arcadia pedigree also means that early hulls were built to a high individual standard.
Pros
- Can raise a wake in light conditions when many cruising catamarans stall
- Sycamore-laminated sandwich panels with glass or carbon cores selected according to location
- Clear sail-handling layout concentrated to port
- Twin 150 hp diesel drivetrain
- Substantial fuel and water capacity
Cons
- Sailplan was described as being on the limit of overpowering for a cruising catamaran
- The semi-custom series allows variation between individual hulls
