The new Leopard 46 Powercat will have its world premiere at the Museum Park Marina during the big Miami show starting February 16. The 46 comes two years after Leopard launched its prize-winning 53 Powercat, and has many of its larger sibling’s design and seakeeping characteristics.
Leopard cats are made by Robertson and Caine in South Africa, and they’re sold to individual owners as well as to The Moorings charter fleet, where the 46 will be labeled The Moorings 464PC. The Leopard 46 comes with either three or four staterooms, with three or four heads. Private owners will probably opt for the three staterooms, where the owner’s cabin occupies the entire starboard hull, while the four-stateroom version, with two staterooms in each hull, will be more popular in the charter fleet.
The company says the new 46 is made in a more powerboat-oriented style, with simple, clean lines. The hull-side windows are full length, admitting lots of natural light. There are windows all around in the salon, providing 360 degrees of visibility.
One nice feature on the new 46 is that the engine rooms are completely sealed off from the living spaces, and accessed via a large deck hatch and a step ladder. Power comes from twin 250-hp Yanmar diesels, producing a top speed of 22 knots, a cruising speed of 15 knots, and a range of 1,600 nm.
At any speed, the Leopard 46 offers a variety of outdoor and indoor living and entertaining spaces, all made larger by the cat’s 24-foot-plus beam. The foredeck has a large lounging area with adjustable recliners; you can get there from a door in the salon.
The cockpit has a U-shaped settee and a large dining table, seating eight. The flybridge, protected under a hardtop, has the main helm station on the starboard side, with large seating areas and tables on the port side. A console holding a grill, fridge, sink and bar is aft a bit on the starboard side, while more seating is aft to port.
The salon has an optional helm station, several seating areas and a dining table. The galley is aft to port with an L-shaped counter, while a galley serving area is to starboard.
Below, the staterooms all have queen-sized or larger berths, and the beds are all accessible from the sides with generous amounts of walking-around room.
Specs.: LOA: 46’4”; Beam: 24’1”; Draft: 3’1”; Disp.: 36,945 lbs.; Fuel: 488 gals.; Water: 185 gals.; Power: 2×250-hp Yanmar 4LV250 diesels. Read more:
