Leopard 51 Powercat

Leopard was an early adopter of the power catamaran concept, and this experience clearly shows

Power catamarans are the fastest growing category for several reasons — among them is space and frugality. Leopard has of course known this for many years, and this is reflected in their seasoned range of power catamarans. These include the entry level 43 PC and their most popular model, the 53 PC — which has sold well in excess of 100 since its introduction in 2015. Along with the smaller siblings, the 43 PC and the 2022 53 PC, these boats represent the South African builder’s offering for both the recreational and the charter markets.

The characteristic feature of the entire range — including the competent 2021 Leopard 42 sailing cat I recently took out — is a sturdy build designed to survive the rigours of charterers and cavalier owners alike. The other attractions for the 51 PC in particular lie in seriously powerful V8 motors built into the dedicated hull, which itself can house up to four large cabins plus an enormous flybridge. These are but a few of the reasons why the 51 PC is a bestseller. Leopard Australia dealer David Flynn has supplied several to our region, including the one I have sea trialled.

Three levels of living space plus cockpits, fore and aft, means you could invite your local football team for a barbecue and still have ample room for the opposition as well. Towering over proceedings is the huge flybridge that extends to the aft of the 51 PC. Climbing up here via the wide and gently inclined stairway from safely inside the aft cockpit brings me to a covered area with a lounge that seats eight, alongside a wet bar. The latter includes an electric plate and an optional ice maker and fridge. Offset to port at the front is the steering console, with a lip ahead that is a sunbathing platform and also shades the forepart of the saloon and front cockpit. Sturdy railings are present all round — including on the wet bar — are welcome features, while the tall fibreglass bimini makes it a weatherproof perch and clear plastic can be added if you don't mind the windage.  

At the console, a double bench with reversible back works for both navigation and at rest. The dashboard is dominated by Raymarine instrumentation, which includes the multifunction plotter, autopilot and VHF radio. Throttle controls are twin electronic levers and include high and low power levels for close manoeuvring. To the right of the hydraulic steering wheel is the Yanmar display, which shows fuel burn and temperature. A useful safety feature is the Seafire engine suppression system — a charter market feature that is always great to see on privately owned cats as well. A Fusion system supplies the zonal entertainment throughout the cavernous 51 PC. Our review boat was a harbour boat — so lacked some of the smarts that could include broadband radar and satellite communications.

VERSATILE SALOON

Apartment-like living is revealed when you enter the saloon, courtesy of a 25ft beam creating a vast space in which you can navigate, cook and relax. The galley adjoins the aft deck, making it ideal for balmy outdoor dinners, while at the front the navigation station and lounge are offset to the right. Versatility is a key feature of these boats, and demonstrated well on the 51 PC — the U-shaped saloon benches lower to double as a daybed. My only gripe took form in all the sharp edges on the laminated woodwork — a similar problem I encountered on the 43 PC. The optional throttle on the navigation station avoids a trek to the flybridge.

The Raymarine phone app will give you navigation anywhere on the boat, while the wireless remote will control the autopilot. The L-shaped configuration of the galley allows several cooks to use the three burner stove/oven with deep double sinks — a very useful feature. Perishables are in twin Vitrifrigo refrigeration drawers on the starboard side, with cupboard space all around. Also here is the extensive switchboard featuring shore power, DC, batteries, pumps and optional generator controls (not fitted).

PRIVATE SUITE

Stepping down into the starboard hull brings you to the owner’s suite. Closed off by a sliding door, there’s a crawl-in double berth (1.47m x 2.0m) aft, office table/vanity midships and large bathroom forward. The shaft drive layout dictates that the engines are beneath each aft bunk and are accessed by an electrically powered motor that lifts the bed base — underway, this could disturb the sleeper. Nice touches in the owner’s berth include adjustable reading lights, a spacious hanging locker, and most importantly, plenty of headroom. The aft facing windows is another good feature that the skipper particularly will enjoy.

Quality features are plentiful and can be seen in sturdy fittings and a high standard of joinery throughout. The owner’s bathroom is spacious, with a shower cubicle separated by a perspex door and electric saltwater head. Portside, the layout has two bathrooms central and berths fore and aft. The forward berth contains an inner second bunk, ideal for a young one, while aft is a substantial crawl-in double — plenty of room to avoid crowding. Ample lockers, bookshelves all around and storage under the forward berth are also welcome. Ventilation is good throughout, with Lewmar hatches topside, electric fans and opening portlights. Both 3-cabin and 4-cabin versions have space in the fore peaks to take additional single berths or heads.

FOREDECK COCKPIT

On deck, the entire aft cockpit is sheltered by the flybridge and the elongated hulls create bathing platforms on both quarters. Underfoot, PVC teak-like decking gripped my deck shoes — though given our test day was cool, I’m not sure how heat-resistant this may be. Leopard's trademark electric davits allow for easy retrieval and launching of the dinghy.

Forward in the saloon is a sturdy door leading to the bow cockpit — a signature Leopard feature intended to fully utilise all deck space safely. Here, the waist-deep cockpit has large scuppers and seating to enjoy the thrill of speed safely or for privacy at anchor, and enables quick access from the foredeck and surrounding lockers. The water tank is in one of these lockers, and the vertical Lewmar 1500W windlass is also enclosed to starboard — handy in a choppy sea. Deck fixtures are substantial, including sensible midship cleats and cabin top grab rails. Other good features here include corner seats integrated into the forward stanchions, and flush hatches that leave the foredeck clear for sunbathing and relaxing.

DEDICATED HULL DESIGN

The Simonis-Voogd design is very similar to their previous work, and this is seen in tall narrow hulls optimised to reduce drag — especially at the fine bows where there is fairly high bridgedeck clearance to reduce wave friction. The build includes crash bulkheads plus a thick layup with foam core and monolithic fibreglass in key places. Since these power cats are displacement crafts, reducing drag while supporting a load is a challenge and, unlike monohulls, they are too narrow to respond to trim tabs. Simonis’s solution is to trim the hull by keeping weight inboard — the shaft-driven engines — and reduce drag by encasing them in tunnels. Above the waterline, a pronounced hard chine gives more beam and runs from the bow to stern, offset by rectangular portlights that are a tad small.

As mentioned, main engine access is via the aft cabins bed-top but there is also a hatch for front access here as well, to belts and the impeller, while all filters are located handily at the front. Soundproofing looked good and proved quiet, with the V8s giving plenty of low torque. Optional power for running large whitegoods can come from a generator located in the foredeck hatch. Stored power — two house 210amp AGM batteries — were on the aft deck in a box with space for two more.

ON THE WATER

Easing 20 tonnes of high windage power cat off the dock with a stiff breeze can be stressful for myself and many other amateur level skippers alike — but dealer David Flynn did it with aplomb. “The owner is thinking of having an after-market tunnel thruster fitted,” he told me as I took the helm in clear water. Top catamaran skippers however would be happy with the outboard-located propellers for handling this vast acreage of floating fibreglass, especially combined with the low power Troll mode on the sensitive electric throttles. Pushing down the throttles quickly sped up our views of Sydney Harbour as the Yanmars quietly powered up. It was hard to believe we were doing nearly 20 knots, and I believe if the hull had been totally clean we’d have done even more.

The only real indication of speed was the windage over the front, so I'd be inclined to fit a visor — a feature found on many power cats. At this top speed our consumption showed about 82 litres per hour, which would take us about 310 miles with 10 per cent spare — but slowing down to a more economical 15 knots would add another 100 mile range. Searching for some bumps on a smooth sea had me chasing our wake, which caused little consternation or spray on the decks of the 51. I headed for the wharves at Cockatoo Island for some slow handling. With the 15 knot wind on my side I easily went astern towards the dock using small nudges on the throttles in Troll mode, leaving the rudders centred. Then, with throttles fore and aft, we spun around on our length and accelerated quickly, with no pronounced rise in the bows, as we headed for home. My conclusion: the 51 PC would be a good buy — either new or used — in the competitive power catamaran market. 

LEOPARD 53 PC FOR 2022

The Leopard 53 PC is slated to replace the company’s most popular powercat, the 51. According to dealer David Flynn, Leopard Australia has slots for delivering the Leopard 53 PC in 2022. Specifications are similar, with 370HP V8 engines and displacement of 18,629kg that should give a range of about 500 nautical miles at 17 knots. Inside, that extra two foot has some advantages such as the athwartships double beds forward in the four cabin version. The owner’s three cabin layout uses the entire starboard hull. Amenities include his-and-her sinks and a large separate shower in the bow. A crew bunk is also available in the bow. Two helms again are used in the flybridge and main saloon. Most pronounced is the more angular external aesthetics using plumb bows to maximise deck space. A ‘reinvented’ saloon is indeed the major change on the 53PC to give a more modern open-plan layout. A fully equipped helm is now starboard side, while behind it on both sides are lounge seating. The galley uses both sides of the aft section and much more natural light filters in via larger surrounding windows.

FACTS & FIGURES

Price POA

GENERAL

LOA 15.54m (51ft)

Beam 7.64m (25ft)

Draft 0.98m (3.21ft)

Displacement 18,500kg

CAPACITIES

Load Carrying Capacity 6000kg

Fuel 1500L

Water 780L

Holding Tank Capacity 170L

Berths 6 + 1 or 8 + 2

Heads 3 or 4

Showers 4 or 5

Cabins 3 or 4

ENGINE

Engine 2 x Yanmar 8LV 370 HP with four bladed propellers

DESIGN

Simonis Voogd

W leopardcatamarans.com