The Off-Grid Island

2013 Leopard 48 — $499,000

If you want to cross the ocean in absolute comfort, but you also want to anchor in two feet of crystal-clear Bahamian water, a monohull or a deep-draft trawler won’t work. You need a premium cruising catamaran.

And in the world of South African-built catamarans, the Leopard 48 is absolute royalty.

Leopard revolutionized the catamaran industry by inventing the “Forward Cockpit.” Instead of having to walk around the dangerous outside edges of the boat while at sea, the Leopard 48 features a massive watertight door in the saloon that opens straight onto a sunken front porch. It provides massive ventilation through the boat and gives you a completely safe, secondary outdoor living room.

A brand-new 50-foot catamaran with this level of equipment will easily cost you $1.5 Million today.

The savvy buyer hunts for the “Owner’s Version” legacy hulls that have already been converted into off-grid powerplants. Currently listed in South Carolina is this 2013 Leopard 48.

But before you wire the half-million dollars and move aboard, you need to read the broker’s description with absolute ruthlessness. If you buy a 2013 catamaran without understanding the “SD50 Saildrive Trap” or how to translate broker-speak regarding the rigging, your South Pacific dream will turn into a financial nightmare.