Boating USA — February 2018

SCAN ME

fridge. The Leopard bridge still has ample space

for deck chairs or kayaks. A walk-through next

to the helm leads to a sun pad on the forward

bridge for lounging.

The Sea Ray 400 Fly has a single helm chair

and a double companion seat, as well as a dinette

and mini galley, but no extra space.

Our take: The Catamaran’s extra width off ers a

more spacious fl ying bridge.

TRANSOM PLATFORM The Leopard

Power Cat has smaller transom platforms,

but there are two of them. Leopard created a

clever electric davit that can launch or retrieve

a tender and provide secure stowage while

underway, making tender operations easy. The

Sea Ray off ers a standard transom platform or

an optional hydraulic platform, either of which

serves as a terrifi c “beach” for your crew while

at anchor. It can carry up to a 500-pound tender

such as a Sea-Doo Spark PWC.

Our take: The monohull’s single wide swim

platform is superior for tender handling,

swimming and socializing

FIT AND FINISHThis last item is empirical,

and the fact is the two boats are fi nished to

diff erent standards. The Leopard ($459,000

MSRP), like many catamarans, is designed for

minimal maintenance for tough charter service,

with expanses of fi berglass and Formica-like

materials. The Sea Ray ($809,542 MSRP), on

the other hand, uses fabrics and fi nishes that

create a more opulent, yachtlike interior.

Engine access on the Sea Ray 400 Fly is good

via a gas-lifted cockpit deck, while the Leopard

engines are under the berths in the two aft

cabins, which rise on gas lifts, but there is some

upheaval of two cabins to check the oil. Again, a

personal choice: one engine room or two.

Our take: Finish is not strictly a cat or mono

attribute. Any boat can be fi nished to any level,

depending upon the builder’s target market.

Catamaran or monohull? Both are right for

certain owners and, just like apples and oranges,

both taste good for diff erent reasons. Boating’s

position for decades has been and continues

to be: There is no perfect boat, but there is

probably a boat that is perfect for you.

Looking for some performance numbers in the

cat-versus-monohull debate? We’ve got you

covered. We once pitted a Regulator 26 Center

Console against a Glacier Bay 26 Canyon

Runner and collected hard data with our test-

ing tools and an accelerometer. Scan this tag

or go to boatingmag.com/boats/catamaran-

versus-v-hull-which-rides-better. PHOTOS: (COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT) COURTESY LEOPARD CATAMARANS, COURTESY SEA RAY BOATS, COURTESY LEOPARD CATAMARANS, COURTESY SEA RAY BOATS

The Sea Ray

off ers a standard

transom platform

or an optional

hydraulic

platform, either

of which serves as

a terrifi c “beach”

for your crew

while at anchor.

98 | BOATINGMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2018