Design and Construction
The Rapier 400’s defining trait is its weight. At 5,000 kg displacement, Multihulls World notes it is close to half the mass of most multihulls its size, and that lightness is the foundation of its performance brief near enough half the weight of the majority of multihulls this size. The hulls and deck are a vacuum-built foam-core sandwich, while the underwater hulls are deliberately monolithic polyester for shock resistance and straightforward repair. That split construction lets the boat stay light above the waterline yet shrug off grounding or collision damage below. Structural watertight bulkheads and added skegs round out the safety picture: the skegs are fitted to provide extra flotation if a hull takes water, and because they are attached separately, damage to a skeg from a coral head leaves the hull itself untouched. Each hull can also be sealed with a sliding watertight hatch, a detail that limits flooding paths in a casualty.
Rig and Handling
Broadblue pairs the light hull with a fractional sloop rig stepped aft and carrying a bowsprit, and the boat is light and well-canvassed. The self-tacking solent keeps maneuvers simple and, importantly for a catamaran, barely impedes the helmsman’s forward sightline. Multihulls World found the Rapier 400 perfectly balanced under sail and more pleasurable on the wind than under power once breeze reaches 5–6 knots better under sail than under power from 5-6 knots of wind. With twin 20 hp diesels with saildrives for docking and calm mornings, the sailing itself is where the design is meant to reward.
Accommodations
Broadblue’s trademark single saloon and cockpit configuration places the living space and helm together for a shared-family footprint, and the boat carries RCD Category A (Ocean) rating. Two roof layouts were offered: a short-roof version with open helm and galley down in the port hull, and a long-roof version with fully enclosed helm and bridge-deck galley. The long coachroof helm gives good protection and genuinely excellent forward visibility. Inside, the owner’s layout lists three double cabins and two heads with shower; the owner’s hull holds a king-size berth, large head with separate shower and dressing room, hanging locker, berth-side lockers, and a navigation area, with a midships option of a single berth or cupboards. Aft cabins have 1.60 m-wide bunks. The main saloon is large with panoramic windows, 185 cm headroom, and seating for six to eight; it converts to a double berth or TV lounge. Hand-built light-oak joinery, teak-and-holly flooring, and a full-width galley with twin recessed sinks, stainless fridge, and oven/grill complete a practical interior. A chart table sits in the hull opposite the galley on the down-version, and static plus opening ventilation handles condensation.
Known Issues
The separate skegs protect the monolithic polyester hulls, and the watertight bulkheads plus sliding hatches contain any ingress.
The Verdict
The Rapier 400 is a thoughtfully engineered light catamaran that delivers on its promise of performance without abandoning family cruising comfort. Its half-weight hull, watertight compartmentation, and separate skegs show a builder solving real offshore problems, while the open-plan accommodation and convertible saloon keep the whole crew in the conversation.
Pros
- Near-half-weight construction versus comparable multihulls aids speed and balance
- Watertight bulkheads, sliding hull hatches, and protective skegs limit flooding damage
- Self-tacking solent simplifies handling and preserves helm visibility
- Flexible owner’s layouts with three double cabins and convertible saloon
- RCD Category A (Ocean) rating for offshore use
Cons
- Light foam-core sandwich above water needs disciplined impact survey
