Boating USA — February 2018

(Jacob Rumans) #1

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
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