Leopard 40 (2005-2009) Sailboats for Sale

The design brief that shaped this catamaran was explicitly different from Robertson and Caine's earlier Simonis-designed models. Morrelli and Melvin brought higher bridgedeck clearance, lighter displacement relative to length, and a livelier sailing character. The sail area-to-displacement ratio sits firmly in performance territory for a cruising cat, and the shallow twin-keel draft of under four feet opens up anchorages and careening options that deeper-draft competitors cannot reach. These qualities made it popular with liveaboards and bluewater cruisers as well as charterers, and that diversity of use is reflected in the variety of configurations that turn up for sale.

Layouts on the Used Market

Two cabin arrangements circulate widely. The owner's version concentrates accommodation in three double cabins — typically a larger owner's suite forward in one hull and two guest cabins in the other — preserving more storage and a slightly more generous saloon layout than the charter configuration. The four-cabin arrangement fills both hulls symmetrically with equal-sized cabins and two heads per side, maximising berth count at the expense of storage and the sense of spaciousness. Ex-charter four-cabin examples are common on the brokerage market, particularly in the Caribbean and Mediterranean where the Moorings fleet once operated in numbers. Neither configuration is inherently inferior; the choice comes down to whether you are buying for private cruising or plan to offset costs through charter yourself.

Galley placement is uniformly in the saloon on this model, opening onto the main living space and toward the cockpit — a practical arrangement that keeps the cook integrated with crew and guests. Headroom throughout the saloon and cabins is generous for the era and size class.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used examples are almost universally fitted with air conditioning, a reflection of the boat's charter-market origins and its popularity in tropical regions. Solar panels, a bimini, autopilot, chartplotter, dinghy davits, and electric winches are routinely present — the kind of kit that charterers expect and that previous owners have found essential for passagemaking. A cockpit shower and hardtop enclosure turn up on a meaningful share of listings, the hardtop often replacing the original bimini frame and adding structural rigidity and shade.

Among owner upgrades, a watermaker is a frequent addition, as is an inverter, a dedicated freezer separate from the standard refrigerator, and a dodger forward of the cockpit for offshore work. Owners who have kept these boats in northern or high-latitude anchorages sometimes add diesel heating. A growing number of examples that have changed hands recently have received lithium battery banks, typically paired with expanded solar capacity and a proper battery management system — a worthwhile upgrade but one that warrants scrutiny of the installation quality. Life raft brackets and cradles are commonly fitted, though whether a current, certified raft accompanies the boat is always worth confirming. Hot water systems, where fitted, vary from simple engine-heat heat exchangers to more complete setups with an electric immersion element backed by solar.

What to Inspect

The Morrelli and Melvin design introduced a higher bridgedeck than previous Leopard models, but bridgedeck slamming in steep short chop remains something to assess on sea trial — it is a function of both sea state and loading, and how pronounced it is varies between hulls of this series. Pay attention to how the boat has been trimmed and loaded.

Charter-use catamarans at this length routinely accumulate wear in ways that are not always visible in a walkthrough. Focus inspection on the structural bulkheads at the hull-deck joint in both bows, where hobby-horsing and docking loads concentrate stress over years of use. Osmotic blistering on fiberglass hulls of this era is always possible; a moisture survey of both hulls below the waterline is not optional.

The twin Volvo Penta diesel installations each produce modest horsepower, adequate for maneuvering but not for charging in port without shore power or solar. Inspect both engines independently — hours, service records, impeller replacement history, heat exchanger condition, and raw-water strainer maintenance. Stuffing boxes or shaft seals on both hulls deserve attention. The standing rigging on boats of this age is typically beyond its service interval; budget for replacement unless documentation proves recent renewal. The fractional sloop rig is straightforward but check the mast base and compression post carefully, particularly on any boat with a charter past. Running rigging, clutches, and electric winch motors all wear at an accelerated rate in charter service.

Air conditioning compressors, seacocks, and through-hulls are the other systems that accumulate wear silently. Confirm that every seacock operates freely; this is a class of boat where multiple through-hulls are installed per hull. The freshwater tankage is substantial and the tanks themselves, along with hoses and fittings, should be inspected for condition.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Leopard 40 from this production period circulates broadly across the brokerage market. Listings appear consistently in the United States — particularly Florida and the mid-Atlantic — and across the Caribbean basin, with the French and British island groups well represented. European listings concentrate in Croatia and the broader western Mediterranean. The boat's Moorings charter association means ex-fleet examples surface periodically as those programs cycle inventory, occasionally in clusters.

This is a well-supported model: Robertson and Caine continued producing Leopard catamarans, and parts, experienced surveyors, and knowledgeable mechanics are not difficult to locate in the main sailing hubs. The owners' community is active.

Before making an offer, confirm or budget for:

• Independent marine survey with moisture readings on both hulls
• Full engine service records and independent inspection of both powerplants
• Standing rigging age and documentation; replacement cost if due
• Seacock and through-hull condition and operability
• Air conditioning system service history and compressor condition
• Layout verification (three-cabin owner vs four-cabin charter) and storage assessment
• Watermaker, if fitted: membrane age and service history
• Battery bank type, age, and installation quality — especially if lithium
• Life raft certification date
• Charter use history and any associated structural inspection records