Used catamarans: plentiful listings, opportunities and pitfalls

1. Abundant supply: what the figures actually show

Within its dataset, Boats Group reports boat sales down 9% in 2025, with an improvement late in the year. Its August 2026 observation instead reports volumes up 25.6% year on year. These are particular periods and observed markets, not a measurement of catamaran supply alone.

We have not identified a recent, sufficiently comparable public series quantifying a worldwide surplus of used catamarans. Claims of a general catamaran crisis or uniform price drops would therefore be excessive. Useful analysis is by model, version, area, use and condition.

Boats Group: 2025 market report, published 5 March 2026Boats Group: August 2026 observations, published 2 September

2. Why ex-charter boats deserve a specific search

Moorings' public schedule consulted in September 2026 lists several Caribbean catamarans leaving its fleet, with different availability dates and asking prices. This is a concrete example of concentrated supply at one operator, not a world statistic or a guarantee of a bargain.

Request the last charter date, handover date and written phase-out work list. Moorings' described process encourages an independent survey; do not assume all charter companies follow it. A boat advertised before phase-out may remain in use and change before delivery.

Charter use is neither a condemnation nor a quality label. Compare proven maintenance, incidents, repairs and equipment hours. An owner's version may suit your plans better than a many-cabin version, even at a higher purchase price.

Moorings Brokerage: Caribbean fleet phase-out scheduleMoorings Brokerage: fleet phase-out preparation

3. Reconstruct the real cost of an opportunity

Compare a price ready for your project: boat, work, survey, possible taxes, transport, insurance, berth and reserve. Confirm marina accommodation and yard lift-out capacity for a catamaran. Beam can change both available options and quotations.

Entirely fictional example, not a valuation or market estimate: a €180,000 catamaran with €45,000 of work, €12,000 of logistics and a €15,000 reserve already totals €252,000, before any taxes and other excluded costs. A higher purchase price can mean a lower total cost. Replace each amount with a quotation for the actual boat.

• Compare the same version and genuinely equivalent equipment.
• Check both engines, drives and energy systems.
• Cost structural work before treating a discount as a saving.

4. What to include in the survey

Use a surveyor familiar with multihulls and the proposed model. Agree appropriate inspection of hulls, bulkheads, structural bonds, appendages, rig-load areas, leaks and previous repairs. Identify inaccessible areas and possible further investigations: no online checklist certifies a structure.

Document both engines, drives, any generator, electrical installations and safety equipment separately. For an ex-charter boat or one from a storm area, request damage and repair history without inferring current condition from origin alone.

5. Lagoon 450: a documented case, not a brand blacklist

Lagoon documents a protocol for the 450's forward bulkheads. The communication includes information from August 2021, not a current statistic. It does not diagnose every boat and must not be generalised to an entire brand.

Before making a firm offer, also consult our warranty guide. A seller's statement does not replace your own checks of the file and boat.

Lagoon: support and questions about 450 bulkheads

6. If a defect or structural doubt arises

Pause the purchase decision and seek professional safety advice before a trial or delivery passage. Obtain a photographic report and detailed quotation. With the owner's permission, contact the manufacturer or its network, then get the proposed method, covered and uncovered costs, and schedule in writing.

A repaired boat may remain attractive if the method, execution, acceptance and insurability are documented. Conversely, a low price does not compensate for an undefined repair or unquantifiable budget. Do not finance a purchase on an assumed manufacturer contribution.

7. Three possible decisions after investigation

Proceed if the boat suits the plan, records are coherent, the survey satisfactory and the budget acceptable. Renegotiate conditionally if work is identified and costed with written responsibilities and acceptance. Withdraw if identity or sale rights are uncertain, a survey is refused, serious damage lacks a validated solution or costs exceed your capacity.

We do not label any individual boat or model a certified bargain. Opportunities must be confirmed at viewing. EkyNavy demonstration listings, when visible for testing, are neither real offers nor price references for this study.