Edel Cat 33 Buyer's Guide
The Edel Cat 33 is a French-built cruising catamaran from the mid-1980s, designed by Yvonne Faulconnier with Maurice Edel and offered originally in kit form. With fewer than 100 built, it is an uncommon boat on the used market, and its dismantlable aluminium-beam construction and bilge-keel layout reward a careful, structure-focused survey rather than a glance at the cosmetics.
Layouts on the Used Market
Examples on the brokerage scene preserve the original deck plan in which each hull has its own companionway and the central nacelle is bordered by two ample side decks anchor. The upper structure divides into three distinct volumes, so buyers should expect two independent hull interiors around a separate central space rather than a single open saloon. Berth count is six, fresh water is 250 liters, and headroom is above average for the type anchor. Keel configuration is a key variable: the boat was built with different keel alternatives, and the bilge-keel version is a twin keel that allows the boat to be beached anchor.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The as-found inventory is minimal by modern standards. The engine is a simple outboard protected by a cover, so the most consequential buyer consideration is whether a reliable, well-mounted outboard and its electrical supply are present anchor. Beyond that, the compact fractional rig and semi-offshore cruising equipment define the boat’s intent, and any rig or sail-handling upgrades should be judged against that shoal-draft, light-racer character rather than as additions to a bluewater motoring cat anchor.
What to Inspect
The defining structural feature is the aluminium-beam assembly that lets the hulls and cockpit or bridgedeck be dismantled; inspect those beams, their fastenings, and the hull-to-beam interfaces for corrosion or movement anchor. Because the boat was delivered in kit form, review the quality and continuity of the original assembly and any later reassembly. Confirm the solid fibreglass hull and deck are sound, and check the bilge-keel twin-keel attachment points if the example is so equipped anchor. The outboard installation should be examined for water intrusion around the cover and for secure mounting.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
For a buyer, the practical checklist is short: verify the aluminium beam assembly and fastenings, confirm which keel alternative is fitted and its condition, assess the kit-build quality of the hulls and bridgedeck, and test the outboard and its protection. A sound Edel Cat 33 rewards the shopper who values a roomy, beachable light cat over a polished production cruiser.