Design and Construction
The project drew on a high-flying trio that had already worked regularly for the brand, notably on the 5X, and the result is a VPLP-designed efficient hull shape that allows the boat to match wind speed up to around 12 knots in the right conditions. The coachroof is now stiffer, despite being lighter and having more openings than before, a detail that speaks to the structural refinement worked into this generation rather than mere cosmetic change. Outremer's aim with the new 55 was to deliver the same level of performance as her illustrious predecessor while providing the volume and comfort expected by anyone signing on for ocean cruising in the 21st century.
Rig and Handling
A fractional sloop rig of 1,636 square feet carries her through a documented test window of slight seas and winds from 8 to 25 knots off La Grande Motte, France. Daggerboards give 15-degree better windward performance, and the boat is set up for short-handed bluewater sailing, with tillers still offered as an option for those who prefer direct feel. Outremer worked hard to give the wheel better feedback than earlier efforts, and a swing helm pedestal lets the helmsman sit up on the side deck in fine weather or shelter under the hard top when conditions turn inclement.
Accommodations
The rear of the saloon completely opens to unite the cockpit and the interior, a layout move that extends the social footprint of the boat without resorting to a high flybridge mass overhead. Buyers can choose three or four good-sized double cabins, and the volume brief was explicitly aimed at modern ocean-cruising expectations rather than stripped racer minimalism. The saloon-to-cockpit unity and the cabin-count flexibility together define the boat as a liveaboard-capable passage maker rather than a charter-simple platform.
Equipment and Energy
Powered winches are electric rather than hydraulic, saving kilos and supporting the weight discipline that keeps performance intact. A 2.3kW array of solar panels sits on the coachroof, and the builder claims the 55 is electrically self-sufficient — a claim rooted in the panel and electric-winch choices rather than a generator-dependent scheme. For a 54-foot catamaran, that positions her toward quiet, motor-light cruising under a solar-first house system.
The Verdict
The Outremer 55-2 is a deliberately evolved catamaran that pairs a proven VPLP hull efficiency with a lighter, stiffer coachroof and a genuinely open indoor-outdoor saloon. She is built for couples or small crews who want 21st-century volume without surrendering the upwind bite of daggerboards or the short-handed capability the builder engineered into the helm and winch package. The swing pedestal and optional tillers show a design that respects both weather protection and tactile control.
Pros
- Daggerboards deliver 15-degree better windward performance
- VPLP hull shape matches wind speed to around 12 knots
- Saloon fully opens to the cockpit for expanded living space
- Stiffer, lighter coachroof with more openings than prior builds
- Electric winches and 2.3kW solar support claimed electrical self-sufficiency
Cons
- Tiller option aside, helm feedback engineering is a manufacturer-stated effort rather than independently measured here
