Design and Construction
At 37 feet 6 inches overall with a 19-foot-10-inch beam, the Leopard 39 packs saloon, galley, and cabins into less than 12 meters, a constraint the design brief treated as the central challenge rather than a footnote. Displacement sits at 9.11 tonnes (20,073 lbs). The Moorings 3900 and Leopard 39 versions received a polyester bimini molded as a continuation of the coachroof and a rigid cap sheltering the steering position, giving the helm a permanent structure rather than a snap-on canvas. The naval architecture is credited to Morelli & Melvin, the same partnership behind the 2009 Leopard 38 and 2004 Leopard 40, placing the 39 in a coherent generation of Morrelli & Melvin catamarans for the marque.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig steps a mast 62 feet 8 inches above the waterline and carries a 614-square-foot mainsail with a 377-square-foot genoa and an optional 1,012-square-foot gennaker. In a period test, a 31-knot gust with a good wave drove the catamaran to 17.6 knots under full sail, a figure that speaks to the platform’s outright pace when the breeze fills. Twin 21-cv engines provide the drivetrain, a configuration typical of the cruising catamaran format and suited to close-quarters maneuvering without relying on wind alone.
Accommodations
Buyers could choose between three and four double cabins, a layout flexibility that let the same hull serve owner privacy or charter throughput. The 780-liter water tank and 350-liter fuel tank support extended stays away from dock. The coachroof extension and protected steering noted above make the cockpit a usable living space rather than a bare transit zone.
Known Issues
The known physical characteristics from the authoritative record are limited to the construction choices already described — the polyester bimini and rigid helm cap on the 126 examples, and the charter-grade build specification.
Refits and Ownership
Because the Leopard 39 was built to charter-company specification, many hulls entered the market after fleet service, and the 126-unit Leopard 39/Moorings 3900 run with factory hard biminis represents a distinct subset within the model. Owners taking on a former charter boat should expect the wear profile of commercial use. The multiple name variants mean a survey should confirm the actual hull configuration rather than trust the broker’s label.
The Verdict
The Leopard 39 is a purpose-driven sub-40-foot catamaran that turns a tight length constraint into a coherent cruiser, with real speed under sail and a protected helm as standard on the 126-example run. The Morelli & Melvin pedigree and charter-origin discipline give it a sensible backbone, though the multiple name aliases demand careful identification at purchase.
Pros
- 17.6-knot observed speed under full sail in strong gusts
- Three- or four-cabin flexibility in under 12 meters
- Factory hard bimini and rigid steering cap on 126 examples
- Twin engine drivetrain for confident docking
Cons
- Multiple model names complicate hull identification
- Charter-spec origin implies varied service wear
