Design Brief & Intent
The primary mission of the MC68 is high-speed, long-range ocean voyaging for owner-operators who refuse to sacrifice the spaciousness of a luxury cruiser. Unlike typical charter-configured catamarans that rely on heavy, high-volume hulls, the MC68 utilizes an advanced structural design to keep weight in check. Naval architect Jason Ker optimized the hull forms with a continuous chine, fine-entry bows, and high bridgedeck clearance, creating a platform that slices through sea states with minimal slamming.
Indoors, the design philosophy emphasizes seamless indoor-outdoor living. The saloon features full-length, frameless glazing and retractable bi-fold glass doors that open completely to the aft cockpit, creating a singular, expansive social pavilion. The interior joinery reflects McConaghy’s grand-prix heritage; rather than heavy solid timbers or thick plywood, the cabinetry is constructed from lightweight, foam-cored panels finished in real wood veneers and high-end laminates. This meticulous weight-saving engineering allows the yacht to carry the heavy amenities of modern luxury—such as multi-zone air conditioning, gourmet galleys, and watermakers—without suffering the severe performance degradation that plagues heavier cruising multihulls.
Variations & Configurations
The MC68 is highly customizable, particularly regarding layout and deck arrangements. The standard accommodation layout features a three-cabin configuration, with an expansive owner’s suite occupying an entire hull, two en-suite guest cabins in the opposite hull, and a dedicated crew cabin. For owners intending to run high-end charters or sail with a larger crew, the shipyard offers a four-cabin layout (all en-suite) and two variations of a five-cabin layout.
Under sail, the boat can be configured with or without an open flybridge. The flybridge version features dual aft-facing helm stations, offering exceptional sightlines over the coachroof for tight harbor maneuvers and a commanding view of the sail plan.
For the appendages, McConaghy employs its signature retractable centerboards. Unlike traditional vertical daggerboards that penetrate the deck and consume valuable cabin space, these curved boards are neatly integrated into the hulls. They are hydraulically operated and designed to swing upward into their trunks upon impact with a submerged object, providing a significant safety margin during blue-water passages. With the centerboards fully down, the draft reaches 12 feet 4 inches (3.75 meters) to maximize lift and minimize leeway; with the boards raised, the draft is reduced to just 4 feet 7 inches (1.4 meters), allowing access to shallow anchorages.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Under full sail, the MC68 performs with a level of responsiveness and agility that belies its 68-foot length. With a lightship displacement of approximately 31.5 tonnes, the yacht boasts a highly favorable power-to-weight ratio. In light air, where traditional cruising catamarans struggle and resort to motoring, the MC68 routinely sails at or near true windspeed, slipping along at 10 to 12 knots in a mere 10 knots of breeze.
The upwind performance is particularly impressive. Thanks to the deep profile of the extended centerboards and the fine entry of the hulls, the yacht points efficiently and tracks with the positive feel of a high-performance monohull, rather than sliding sideways as keel-bound catamarans do. Off the wind, when flying a code sail or gennaker from the carbon-composite longeron, the boat easily climbs into the high teens and low twenties, keeping its bows elevated and dry.
Handling is engineered for short-handed or owner-operator control. All major halyards, sheets, and traveler lines are led aft to centralized winch stations at the helms. With electric winches, a self-tacking jib, and push-button hydraulic controls for the mainsheet and centerboards, a couple can easily manage the massive sail plan from the safety of the helm stations.
Market Snapshot & Economics
As a highly specialized, semi-custom performance multihull, the MC68 occupies the top tier of the luxury yacht market. It is built in limited numbers, which ensures that pre-owned examples are scarce and command a significant premium on the brokerage market. It trades as an exclusive asset, retaining its value far better than mass-produced cruising catamarans.
However, prospective buyers must understand the long-term economics of owning a carbon-composite machine of this caliber. The high-tech systems—including carbon fiber masts, high-load standing rigging, hydraulic centerboard rams, and intricate 48V electrical grids—require professional servicing by technicians familiar with grand-prix racing yachts. Refit and maintenance costs are closer to superyacht standards than production boat standards, meaning that keeping the MC68 in peak operational condition demands a substantial annual operating budget.
Known Issues & Triage
While the MC68 is an engineering triumph, owners must navigate several technical realities inherent to its high-performance, semi-custom nature:
- Weight Creep Vulnerability: Despite its carbon-fiber construction, the MC68 remains highly sensitive to added weight. Overloading the boat with aftermarket additions—such as heavy tenders, extensive dive gear, or excessive personal effects—will lower the bridgedeck clearance, cause the boat to sit below its designed waterline, and significantly degrade its light-air sailing performance. Strict weight management is a continuous requirement.
- Centerboard Trunk Maintenance: The retractable centerboards operate on high-load bearing surfaces inside their trunks. Marine growth or debris trapped inside the trunks can cause the boards to bind. Regular diver inspections are required to clear growth, and the bearing surfaces must be monitored for wear to prevent play or mechanical binding.
- Complex Rig Tuning: The carbon mast utilizes an internal hydraulic mast jack to achieve the high shroud tensions required to keep the rig stiff under load. Tuning this rig is a precise science; improper tensioning can lead to structural mast compression issues or poor sail shape, requiring professional riggers to periodically adjust the system.
- Electrical System Integration: To support its extensive luxury systems without a continuously running generator, the MC68 relies on sophisticated high-output alternator systems (such as Integrel Systems) coupled with complex lithium-ion battery banks. Triaging faults in these integrated 48V networks requires advanced diagnostic tools and specialized electrical expertise.
Modernization & Upgrades
Owners of the MC68 often invest in specific modernization programs to maximize off-grid autonomy and reduce fossil-fuel reliance:
- Advanced Solar Arrays: Many owners retrofit the expansive hardtop bimini and coachroof with flush-mounted, high-efficiency monocrystalline solar panels, integrating them directly into the composite structure to support the continuous house loads without aesthetic compromise.
- Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Transitions: Early builds or standard factory configurations are frequently upgraded to larger, high-density LiFePO4 battery banks, allowing the yacht to run its heavy air-conditioning loads overnight entirely on silent battery power.
- Hydrogeneration Systems: Upgrades to the propulsion and sailing systems now include hydrogeneration capabilities. When sailing at speeds above eight knots, the folding propellers can be set to spin in reverse, generating substantial electricity to keep the house batteries fully charged during long ocean passages.
- Smart Alternator Systems: Retrofitting high-output alternator networks onto the twin diesel engines has become a standard upgrade, allowing the main propulsion engines to act as highly efficient DC generators, eliminating the need for a heavy, dedicated auxiliary diesel generator.
The Verdict
The McConaghy MC68 is an elite, high-performance ocean voyager that successfully marries the speed of a racing multihull with the architectural luxury of a modern luxury apartment. It is not a boat for those seeking a simple, low-maintenance weekend cruiser, nor is it a budget-friendly option. Instead, it is a highly specialized, technical masterpiece designed for experienced sailors who want to cover vast ocean distances at double-digit speeds while enjoying superyacht-level comfort. For the owner who understands and can support its sophisticated systems, the MC68 offers an unparalleled blend of velocity, style, and blue-water capability.
Pros
- Exceptional light-air and upwind performance for a cruising catamaran.
- Advanced carbon-composite construction ensuring high structural rigidity and low displacement.
- Retractable centerboards that maximize upwind pointing while allowing shallow-draft coastal cruising.
- Expansive, light-filled saloon with seamless transitions to the cockpit.
- Highly customizable accommodation layouts, including crew quarter options.
Cons
- High sensitivity to weight creep, requiring disciplined loading.
- Extreme complexity of integrated electrical and hydraulic systems.
- Substantial maintenance overhead, requiring specialist yards and professional riggers.
- Centerboard trunks require regular underwater maintenance to prevent binding from marine growth.
