Design and Construction
The Leopard 58 is solidly built with balsa-cored fiberglass hulls that are vacuum-bagged to minimize voids and precisely control resin content, a process that speaks to structural consistency rather than mere weight saving. The keels are filled with closed-cell foam to increase buoyancy and limit moisture migration, a detail that matters on a twin-keel catamaran expected to spend time in shallow anchorages. The bridgedeck takes up about 80 percent of the lateral deck plane area, with a clearance underneath of just 3ft 3in at half load weight — a tight figure that prioritizes accommodation volume over the slatting clearance some offshore cats pursue. Empty, the boat weighs a tad over 53,000lb, climbing to 73,000lb with a full payload of nearly 20,000lb, so the structure is asked to carry serious cruising load without a corresponding draft penalty at 5ft 11in.
Rig and Handling
The spars are good old-fashioned aluminum, with a masthead standing 96 feet above the water and a boom 20 feet high. All control lines, including the single sheet for the self-tending jib, are led to a trio of electric Lewmar winches right by the helm, which keeps short-handed trimming within reach. Testers found little tactile connection between the hydraulic helm and the wetted surface of the hulls three stories below, and advised keeping a close eye on wind instruments and the rudder-angle indicator — a fair caveat on a boat of this bridge height. Under sail, the afternoon's best speed was 9 knots at a 60-degree apparent wind angle in 20 knots of apparent breeze, while close-hauled in flat water the boat managed 7 knots at a 40-degree angle in the same breeze. Bearing away onto a broad reach, speed dropped to under 5.5 knots at a 120-degree angle in over 15 knots of apparent wind, a reminder that the flat bridgedeck and modest sail-area-displacement ratio of 20 trade some offwind sparkle for volume. The displacement-length ratio of 178 places her firmly in the loaded-cruiser camp.
Power and Propulsion
The standard power plants are a pair of 75hp Yanmar diesels turning three-blade fixed props on saildrives, and under power the boat hit 8.9 knots with both engines at maximum revs of 2,800, settling to just over 7 knots at a cruising 2,000 rpm. Owners report the most efficient setting is to turn just one prop at 2,000 rpm, which testers measured at 5.7 knots and which reportedly results in a fuel-consumption rate of just over one gallon per hour. For a 61,730 lb catamaran, that single-engine cruise figure is a genuine operational advantage on long passages.
Accommodations
The galley/saloon area is enormous at 750 square feet, and the interior finish features cherry laminate on the bulkheads and a nice Austrian walnut on the cabin sole. Headroom runs 6ft 6in throughout. Berth dimensions are specific: forward berths measure 4ft 9in x 6ft 6in, aft berths 5ft 1in x 6ft 6in, and bridgedeck berths 4ft 9in x 6ft 6in — the aft cabins being the slightly more generous of the set. An enormous flybridge with a targa top stretches across almost half the overall length of the boat, and the stern opens on to a unique hydraulically controlled aft swim/tender-storage platform that can be lowered into the water, a feature that doubles as dinghy handling and sea-access infrastructure.
Equipment and Options
Beyond the standard electric winches and self-tending jib, testers suggested you'd be well advised to pony up for the optional sprit and screecher, the latter addressing the offwind shortfall noted in broad-reach conditions. The house battery bank is 6 x 210AH with 2 x 100AH engine start batteries, supporting the electrical load of a boat with air conditioning, a watermaker, and a 238-gallon fuel / 412-gallon water / 67-gallon waste capacity envelope. The standard sail area of 2,010ft2 and LWL of 54ft 2in round out a specification built for sustained liveaboard cruising rather than regatta pace.
Known Issues and Ownership Notes
The published survey record is notably quiet on defects, which for a boat of this complexity suggests the documented record centers on structural choices rather than systemic faults. The principal operator caution is the hydraulic helm's detached feel and the need to monitor the rudder-angle indicator, plus the broad-reach speed drop-off that makes the optional screecher more than a luxury. The 3ft 3in bridgedeck clearance at half load is a design fact rather than a fault, but it is the sort of number a prospective owner should understand before committing to choppy anchorage routines. No drainage, flooding-path, or quantified-defect items appear in the source material, so nothing in the documented record warns of structural rot or recurring hardware failure.
The Verdict
The Leopard 58 is a volume-maximized, professionally engineered catamaran that carries its payload with composure and offers a flybridge and aft platform arrangement few rivals match at the length. It is not a nervous performer off the wind, and the helm feedback is muted, but the single-engine cruise economy and the 750-square-foot saloon make it a compelling private version of a proven charter hull.
Pros
- Balsa-cored vacuum-bagged hulls with closed-cell-foam keels for buoyancy and moisture control
- 750 sq ft galley/saloon with cherry and Austrian walnut finishes
- Hydraulic aft swim/tender platform and half-length flybridge targa
- Single-engine 5.7-knot cruise at just over 1 gph reported by owners
- Self-tending jib on electric winches at the helm for short-handed sail handling
Cons
- Bridgedeck clearance of only 3ft 3in at half load prioritizes volume over slatting clearance
- Broad-reach speed drops under 5.5 knots in moderate breeze per tester observation
- Hydraulic helm offers little tactile connection to the rudders, requiring instrument cross-check
