Leopard is building what it calls “a completely new” 53 power catamaran that will have its worldwide debut at the Miami International Boat Show next February. The new 53 PC will succeed the successful 51 PC (135 boats sold) and will have a new interior and more motoryacht features than any other Leopard so far.
The 53 PC will be the fourth generation Leopard, built by Robertson and Caine in South Africa. Started in 2002, Leopard is one of the most successful catamaran builders in the world. The 53 PC will be available to private buyers as well as to charterers in the Moorings power fleet.
“The Leopard 53 power cat is not just a replacement for a previous model, but an evolutionary change in the Leopard power cat range,” said Franck Bauguil, the company’s VP of sales and development. He said the 53 was designed “to appeal to the more traditional motoryacht market with a modern, reimagined interior that offers the comforts of home as well as plenty of outdoor entertaining space.”
The boat will be easy to use and to maintain, and will be up to 50 percent more fuel efficient than a similarly sized monohull. It will have all the space and stability of a cat (with a 25-foot beam) and the luxury and comfort of a contemporary motoryacht.
The flybridge has a fixed hardtop and spacious seating offering panoramic views. The helm is to starboard. On the main deck, the large aft cockpit has a table with walkaround seating. Sliding glass doors lead into the massive salon, all on the same level. It has an L-shaped settee to port and a two-person settee to starboard. A lower helm is optional. The salon flows seamlessly through a forward door to the foredeck.
The new 53 has both three- and four-cabin layouts, with optional crew quarters. In the three-cabin version, the owner’s cabin has a large walkaround bed, a walk-in closet and a double vanity.
Powered by twin 370-hp Yanmars, the 53 PC has a top speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 17.5 knots. Range at cruising speed is 463 nm. Dialed back to 6.8 knots, the range increases to 1,330 nm under both engines, and to 1,995 nm using one engine.
Specs.: LOA: 53’1”; Beam: 25’2”; Draft: 3’2”; Disp.: 41,070 lbs.; Fuel: 581 gals.; Water: 185 gals.; Power: 2×370-hp Yanmar diesels.
