36 Multihulls Quarterly Volume 10, summer
multihullreview
LIVING ABOARD
While an owner might choose the Leopard 50 for
it’s overall ease of handling and performance, there is
no question that at the top of the list of positive quali-
ties will be the boat’s spaciousness, accommodations
and dedication to comfortable living.
The main cockpit is huge but it is only one of three
outside cockpits. The U-shaped dinette will seat up to
eight and will be the spot for most
meals in warm weather. There is a
drawer style fridge in the cockpit
and easy access to the staircase
that leads to the lounge.
Aft, between the hulls there
is a platform that rises and low-
ers mechanically that doubles as a
massive swim platform and a dinghy
dock, with a folding cradle, that will
hoist the dinghy clear of the water
when underway.
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another cockpit with a roof with
a sliding hatch over it where one
could sit in the shade and read or
simply watch the world go by. This
can be accessed through a large,
weather-proof door from the saloon.
Just ahead of the cockpit is a large
sun bed that runs across the bridge
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the generator, the water tanks and
the windlass and chain locker.
There are large storage lockers
on the forward ends of both hulls for
fenders, lines, downwind sails, a sec-
ond dinghy and other spares. The
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as crew’s quarters with a single bunk
and a head.
The saloon is set up for indoor-
outdoor living with the door in the
front and a large sliding door and slid-
ing window aft. When everything is open, the breeze
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to stern.
As you enter the saloon from the aft cockpit, there
is another eight-person dinette that will be the spot for
meals in rainy or cool weather when the boat can be
buttoned up. The chart table is forward and to port
while the huge galley takes over the whole starboard
side of the saloon. With giant win-
dows all around, the saloon is a very
bright, airy and inviting space.
The hull accommodations can
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The boat we were sailing had the
normal four-cabin layout with two
comfortable cabins in each hull.
Access is via a single stairway into
the port hull or via two stairways into
the starboard hull. The master cabin
in the four-cabin layout is the aft star-
board cabin.
The cabins are large and have
plenty of ventilation and light. Plus,
the boat can be rigged with air