The boat’s defining feature is its deliberate emphasis on saving weight, from the hulls to the rig. The result is a light, beamy cruiser intended to combine passagemaking comfort with good speed and pointing ability.
Design and Construction
The 435 takes a radical approach to multihull cruising, with weight reduction evident throughout its structure. The solid-fiberglass hulls and deck were built using an epoxy-resin vacuum-infusion process. Lavranos gave the cabin roof fairly sharp angles and large picture windows, creating a silhouette distinct from softer-edged competitors.
The boat measures 43 feet 2 inches overall, with a beam of 24 feet 4 inches and a displacement of roughly 14,330 pounds. Its fine hull entries favor performance, both in speed and pointing ability, but don’t favor load-carrying capacity.
The forward part of the nacelle sits slightly lower than the aft section. Even so, its clearance above the water is clearly greater than average, so waves can’t strike it too often in choppy seas. Reviewers writing in Multihulls World judged the finish of a very high level, consistent with a boat aimed at serious passagemaking rather than charter abuse.
Rig and Performance
The 435 carries a fractional sloop rig with a carbon mast, reinforcing its lightweight approach without sacrificing the sail area needed to drive 1,281 square feet of canvas. Period reviewers described the boat as light and fast, noting that it sails well and quickly in practice, not merely on paper.
With a hull speed of around 8.6 knots and a displacement-to-length ratio near 91, the platform is built to move. Its fine-entry hull form rewards a crew that keeps the boat properly trimmed and lightly loaded.
Auxiliary power comes from two 29-horsepower Yanmar diesels. Each is backed by a 2nd alternator and 2 smart regulators, providing robust electrical recovery at anchor or under way.
Accommodations and Cruising Equipment
Belowdecks, the 435 favors liveaboard comfort over maximum berth count. It has two huge staterooms and two additional single cabins, with heating in each hull for cold-weather cruising.
The panoramic saloon provides plenty of light and visibility. A complete chart table offers a proper workspace for passage planning. Multihulls World described the boat as comfortable, and the combination of private staterooms, single cabins, and a dedicated navigation station supports extended offshore use.
A full Ocean Crossing Pack and two AIR Breeze wind generators on the stern complete a specification clearly oriented toward self-sufficient voyaging.
Refits and Ownership
One documented 435 was undergoing renovation when it was listed and was expected to be ready beginning in 2015. The scope of that refit illustrates the type of mid-life work these boats may receive. The boat was being completely spray-painted, including the mast, and was receiving new ropes, a new stainless-steel davit, a new lazy bag and bimini, and a new wind generator.
For an owner, such a program shows that the structure takes paint and hardware upgrades well, while the modular deck equipment is straightforward to renew.
Verdict
The FastCat 435 is a purpose-built ocean-cruising catamaran that trades payload for pace and polish. Lavranos’ fine-entry hulls and carbon rig deliver the light, fast behavior praised by Multihulls World. A high-level finish and panoramic saloon also make it a genuine home afloat.
Its radical weight discipline is the boat’s defining trait—and its one real compromise.
Pros
- Epoxy vacuum-infusion construction with a high-level finish
- Light, fast hull form with good pointing ability and speed
- Carbon mast and full Ocean Crossing Pack for self-sufficient voyaging
- Panoramic saloon, two staterooms plus single cabins, and heating in both hulls
Cons
- Fine entries limit load-carrying capacity
- Weight-focused design demands disciplined provisioning
