Design and Construction
The Ocean Class is a 51.67-foot catamaran with a 25.69-foot beam and a displacement of 27,999 pounds, riding on narrow hulls with reverse bows and a high bridge deck. Two deep daggerboards give it the shoal 3.84-foot minimum draft and 8.17-foot maximum reach that define the platform’s versatility. The foam-core fiberglass sandwich construction and 75.46-foot mast height from the waterline support a powerful rig and a sail area of 1,657.64 square feet. A capsize ratio of 3.38 and comfort ratio of 11.52 place it among serious offshore multihulls rather than coastal weekenders, and the 9.39-knot hull speed underlines the performance intent.
Rig and Handling
A single helm station combined with the maneuvering station to starboard keeps the driver in command, and the raised helm carries all control lines and sheets within reach so a lone watchkeeper can trim and reef without leaving the wheel. The powerful rig pairs a self-tacking jib with a code zero and uses a double mainsheet purchase for fine control. In a test at Canet-en-Roussillon, France, in 15 knots of wind and a slight to moderate sea, the fast-cruising catamaran demonstrated its intended program of fast bluewater multihull cruising and promises daily runs of 200 to 240 miles.
Accommodations
The standard three-cabin layout places the master suite to starboard and guest cabins to port, a configuration aimed at couples or families voyaging in comfort. The helm’s integration with sail handling means the skipper need not leave the wheel to manage the rig, a meaningful advantage on long passages where short-handed watches are the norm. The 211-gallon fuel and water capacities support extended autonomy consistent with the boat’s circumnaviation-capable lineage.
The Verdict
The Ocean Class is a purpose-built evolution of Catana’s performance-cruising philosophy: narrow hulls, deep daggerboards, and a powerful easily handled rig wrapped around a luxury three-cabin interior. It trades some shoal-water simplicity for a 200–240 mile daily range and a single well-organized helm that suits short-handed ocean passage-making.
Pros
- Narrow hulls with reverse bows and high bridge deck for performance and sea-keeping
- Two deep daggerboards offering 3.84–8.17 ft draft range
- Single starboard helm with all lines led for solo trim and reef
- Self-tacking jib, code zero, and double mainsheet on a powerful rig
- Standard three-cabin layout with master to starboard
- Promised 200–240 mile daily runs for bluewater cruising
Cons
- Single helm station may limit visibility or crew distribution preferences
- Deep daggerboards require careful grounding awareness versus fixed keels
