The Exclusive Bahamian Oasis
1995 Mares 58 Power Cat — $325,000
When high-earning W2 professionals picture the ultimate Caribbean escape, they imagine flying into Nassau, turning the keys on a massive yacht, and blasting down to the Exumas for a weekend of secluded anchorages and private beach clubs.
But if you try to do that in a traditional 58-foot monohull sportfish, you are going to spend your entire trip terrified of the bottom. A 58-foot monohull draws nearly six feet of water, meaning you are locked out of the best, most exclusive shallow-water sandbars in paradise. You are forced to anchor a mile offshore and take a tiny dinghy to the beach.
If you want the offshore speed of a sportfish but the VIP shallow-water access of a flats boat, you need a high-performance Power Catamaran.
Mares builds asymmetrical power cats designed to slice through heavy offshore chop at nearly 30 knots. Because the weight is distributed across two massive hulls, they draw a fraction of the water. You can back a 58-foot Mares right up to a pristine Bahamian beach where the traditional yacht owners simply cannot follow.
A brand-new 60-foot power cat will set you back well over $3,000,000.
Currently sitting in Florida is this custom 1995 Mares 58 Power Cat. After a massive recent price drop, it is listed for an incredible $325,000.
But before you wire the cash and start plotting a course for Staniel Cay, you need to understand the terrifying maintenance bills of twin 840-horsepower MAN diesels. If you buy a high-performance power cat without reading the engine history correctly, your island dream will stay bolted to the dock.
The Specs
Builder: Mares Catamarans
Model: 58 Power Cat (Sport Fish Convertible)
Year: 1995 (Massive 2015/2016 Refit)
Price: $325,000
Location: Fort Myers, Florida
Engines: Twin MAN D2840 (840 HP each)
The Green Flags (Why We Love It)
The Asymmetrical Speed Advantage: Unlike sailing cats with round displacement hulls, Mares uses asymmetrical planing hulls that create a cushion of air beneath the boat. This means you can cruise comfortably at 22 knots and hit a top speed of nearly 30 knots, all while sitting perfectly flat. You can blast across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas in under three hours, maximizing your weekend time in paradise.
The 2016 “Blank Check” Refit: A 1995 boat usually means rotting wood and outdated electronics. The previous owner already absorbed a massive six-figure shipyard bill in 2015/2016 to completely repaint the hull, replace all the hatches, install new Garmin glass-helm electronics, and completely restore the interior.
The Starboard Engine Jackpot: High-horsepower marine diesels are incredibly expensive to rebuild. The listing states the Starboard MAN engine underwent a complete rebuild in 2021 and has less than 100 hours on it. You are getting a completely fresh mechanical heartbeat on the right side.
The Red Flags (The Reality Check)
The “Port Engine” Liability: While the starboard engine is practically brand new, the Port engine has over 3,300 total hours (with 1,400 hours since a major overhaul in 2000). MAN 840s are high-strung, high-performance engines. You must hire a certified MAN mechanic to pull oil samples and scope the cylinders on that port engine. You need to aggressively stash $30,000 to $40,000 in cash in case the older port engine requires a matching rebuild.
The Fuel Burn: To push a 58-foot yacht to 30 knots takes a massive amount of fuel. While it holds an incredible 890 gallons of diesel, if you run this boat fast, you will be swiping your credit card for thousands of dollars at the fuel dock. This is the ultimate financial trade-off for high-speed VIP access.
The Verdict:
This is the ultimate high-speed VIP island hopper. By finding a heavily refitted legacy Mares 58 where the previous owner already absorbed the devastating cost of a starboard engine rebuild and a full hull repaint, you are stepping into an amazing opportunity and completely bypassing retail depreciation. Just make sure your engine surveyor aggressively tests the port engine, use the mismatched engine hours to negotiate the price down further, and blast over to the Exumas.