Yachting Life

What Size Catamaran Do You Need for Liveaboard Cruising?

Kate Hampton

Jul 18, 2025 — 2 min read

Short answer: it depends on what you're looking for (or what your minimum requirements are for comfortable living). Here's a quick comparison, from absolute minimum up to roomier sizes:

30-ish ft (9.2 m)

Examples: Fountaine Pajot MY4.S.

The low thirties is generally where "liveaboard" starts (this is true for monohulls, too), and most people would probably find the 35-foot mark, as in the Fountaine Pajot MY4.S, to be more realistic.

Typical features:

1–2 cabins — room to sleep only — and 1 bathroom (head)
Small galley (kitchen), "kitchenette"-style in the lower 30s
Outboard or small inboard engines
Basic navigation electronics
Limited storage and tankage (fresh water ~80–100L, fuel ~100L)
Narrower beam (width)

There is one advantage, despite its limitations to this small size: as catamarans are wider than monohulls, they can be more difficult to find space for — so the smaller (and therefore narrower) the catamaran, the easier it'll be to find a marina.

40 ft (12.2 m)

Examples: Leopard 40 Powercat, Bali 4.2, Lagoon 43

This is where you'll start to see more standard-size living features, although usually not with extra comforts. The simplest and most likely expansions will be in dining areas and possibly galleys.

Typical Features:

Maximum 4 cabins and 2 bathrooms — but at this size, the fewer the better
Full galley
Indoor/outdoor living
Larger fresh water (~300–400L) and fuel tanks (~300–400L)
Solar panels, battery bank upgrades possible
Autopilot, chart-plotter

You may also be able to get higher-end models with air conditioning and creative space-saving solutions that won't impact (squish?) your quality of life.

50 ft (15.2 m)

Examples: Lagoon 51, Fountaine Pajot Aura 51, Leopard 50

The low fifties is where you'll find the beginning of luxury spaces (and $1m+ prices). If you're new to yachting, you may find this size to be the minimum for non-cramped comfort.

Typical Features:

4–6 cabins, often with en suite heads
Spacious saloon (dining area) and cockpit with high-end finishes
Full-size galley with island or separate counters
Optional crew quarters
Washer/dryer, dishwasher optional
Full electronics suite, watermaker, A/C
Tender lift platforms, solar arrays

60 ft (18.3 m)

Examples: Sunreef 60, Privilège Signature 580

Both comfort and space increase here, the latter notably for crew.

Typical Features:

4–6 large cabins, each with en suite
Separate crew quarters
Dedicated lounging spaces
Premium galley with full-size appliances
Expansive deck for entertaining
High-end electronics, security systems, advanced navigation
Performance upgrades
Hydraulic swim platform, possible garage storage
Full solar arrays and other eco-friendly features

70 ft (21.3 m)

Examples: Sunreef 70, Gunboat 72

"Standard" catamarans — that is, non-custom — tend to top out in the 70s-to-80s, and this is where you'll find builds with room for large families and crew, interiors that look like they've been plucked out of a high-end hotel, and extra features that the most discerning buyers often ask for, like all-electric systems and carbon construction.

Typical Features: