Designed for warm-water cruising, the 43 combines well-balanced hulls with comfortable accommodations and reasonable passage speed. It’s also a capable passage-maker that can be sailed short-handed.
Design and Construction
The Leopard 43 measures 42.49 feet overall, with a 22.74-foot beam and a displacement of 19,026 pounds. Its hulls are well balanced, and the finish is excellent throughout the structure.
Practical deck and cabin-top details reflect a thoughtful cruising brief. Grab rails along the cabin top provide handholds when moving forward, while pulpit seats offer a relaxed place to sit. The trampolines are sized for both comfort and safety.
A seaworthy raised bulkhead separates the cockpit from the saloon. Entry is through a large opening door, with adjacent folding panels that swing out to increase ventilation and space. Forward, louvered windows shade the cabin and incorporate opening hatches. Removable ceiling panels throughout the boat provide easy access for inspection and maintenance.
Rig and Handling
Most control lines lead aft to the cockpit and helm, where an electric winch supplies the muscle for sail handling. Additional winches are mounted on the mast. This arrangement supports the boat’s reputation as a short-handed passage-maker.
The steering position is to starboard, with excellent visibility and protection. A windscreen bimini links the cabin roof to the hardtop, while a rigid bimini shelters the helm. The entire cockpit sits beneath a solid hardtop, with clears that can be rolled down quickly in poor weather.
The aft gangway is practical both under sail and at anchor, making it easy to move from side to side. Underway, the Leopard 43 can deliver respectable passage averages in excellent comfort. One design limitation tempers enthusiasm for open-ocean sailing, however: the bridge deck has low clearance above the water and is known to slam in rough seas, a characteristic Multihulls World also recorded during its test.
Accommodations
The Leopard 43 came with two interior plans. The owner’s version has three cabins and three heads. The owner’s berth occupies the entire starboard hull, which can be closed off from the saloon with a door for privacy. A single V-berth sits in the bow.
The charter-oriented Moorings 4300 has four double berths and two single bow berths. Each spacious double cabin includes a private head and storage beneath a queen-sized bed.
Throughout the boat, berths have shelving, cabin and reading lights, ventilation fans, and hanging lockers. The owner’s area also includes a desk.
In the saloon, a starboard lounge seats six and includes a movable seat. Cushions stored in the port V-berth allow the table to convert into an additional sleeping berth. Storage beneath the lounge provides space for provisions.
The U-shaped galley sits up and forward to port. It has a large worktop, two sinks, a recessed dish-drying rack, separate fridge and freezer, and a two-burner stove with oven. To starboard, the chart table and navigation station house a comprehensive switch panel, with wiring that’s easy to reach behind it.
Cockpit and Deck Life
The cockpit table seats eight, using a wraparound lounge and two additional seats, all sheltered beneath the hardtop. The solidly built hardtop also carries the solar panels and traveler, helping to keep the cockpit uncluttered.
At the transom, strong davits hold the dinghy above a full walk-around duckboard. Large sugar-scoop steps and a port-side outdoor shower make water access straightforward. The aft rail provides space to mount a grill, while the gangway simplifies movement between the hulls.
Known Issues
The principal documented shortcoming is the bridge deck’s low clearance above the water, which causes slamming in rough seas.
The Verdict
The Leopard 43 is a well-finished, thoughtfully arranged cruising catamaran. Its two editions balance owner privacy with charter practicality, while the protected helm, led-aft control lines, and hardtop make short-handed tropical cruising comfortable. Both the saloon and cockpit can accommodate eight with ease.
The clear penalty is bridge-deck slamming in heavy seas due to the low clearance. Buyers should weigh that limitation against the boat’s comfort and build quality.
Pros
- Well-balanced hulls, excellent finishing, and easy inspection access
- Short-handed-capable rig with control lines led to the helm and an electric winch
- Protected starboard helm and full hardtop cockpit shelter
- Choice of flexible three-cabin owner’s or four-cabin charter layouts
- Practical transom duckboard, davits, and sugar-scoop water access
Cons
- Bridge deck slams in rough seas because of low water clearance
