Leopard 40 PC (2023-)

Brief Summary

The Leopard 40 PC is a luxurious and captivating catamaran, expertly designed to deliver the ultimate seafaring experience. With a length overall (LOA) of 40 feet, an impressive 21'8" beam, and a shallow draft of just 3'7", this vessel effortlessly navigates even the most remote and enchanting destinations. The Leopard 40 PC offers an abundance of space, both indoors and out, ensuring ample room for gatherings and relaxation. Its sleek and modern design is complemented by top-of-the-line amenities, providing unmatched comfort and convenience for all aboard.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	40' 12.19 m
Beam	21' 8" 6.61 m
Dry Weight	30,488 lbs. 13,829 kg
Tested Weight	32,808 lbs. 14,881 kg
Draft	3' 7" 1.1 m
Bridge Clearance	18' 5" 5.61 m
Fuel Capacity	370 gal 1400 L
Water Capacity	170 gal 640 L
Total Weight	32,808 lbs. 14,881 kg

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2x370-hp
Std. Power	2x250-hp
Opt. Power	2x370-hp

Captain's Report

Brief Summary

At 40 feet LOA, with her 21’8” beam, and draft of only 3’7”, there are very few places the Leopard 40 PC cannot take you. While some may find her sharp, angular lines a bit out of the ordinary, they are an integral part of this third generation—meaning not a reimagined sailboat—purpose-built vessel, one which now joins the successful fleet of other Leopard powercat builds.  And one step aboard this three-stateroom, two-head cruiser will have you wondering why you haven’t considered a traveling live-aboard boat like this before.

Mission

Built to provide excitement while underway, at that favorite or newly-found anchorage, or making a blue water passage, the Leopard 40 PC takes her cues from the previously launched and successful Leopard 46- and 53-foot power catamarans. Carrying all the distinct and necessary design characteristics including superior craftsmanship and attention to detail, livable onboard space, and plenty of storage areas, is all purposefully intended to allow her owners and guests memorable cruising opportunities. She is equally at home for day trips, extended weekends, or some serious time away.

Major Features

• Efficient design for maximizing interior volume throughout
• Robust construction
• Spacious fly bridge
• Excellent access to foredeck with safe transit aft
• Easy to maintain
• Stress-free handling with twin diesel inboards and bowthruster
• Exceptional headroom in all areas
• Built by Robertson & Caine and designed by naval architects Simonis & Voogd

Performance

A pair of Yanmar 250-, 320-, or 370-hp diesel inboards provide power, and reliability, on the Leopard 40 PC.  The 250’s are standard while the others are optional. The separate engine room hatches are located aft and to port and starboard on the main deck and each provides direct access to the spaces. Designed for ease of maintenance there is plenty of room for all necessary checks on fuel filters, oil levels,  and batteries. The port side engine compartment is where the 9-kW genset is located.

Our test weight of 32,808 pounds saw the optional twin 370-hp engines, turning 3720 rpm, reach a top speed of 20.3 knots with a 38.5 gph and a nautical mile range of 178.5. At 3000 rpm, we saw 15.5 knots, 22.3 gph and a range of  225.9. And after bringing her down to 2400 rpm she made 10 knots at 14.0 gph and a 238.7 nm range. With this wide range of speed, fuel consumption, and range, you can dial in your voyaging needs according to the prevalent sea conditions.

Handling

There have been a lot of discussions on the pros and cons of catamaran design. In general, and given their beam-to-length ratios, they offer a stable platform, a reduction in rolling and heeling, a more efficient ability with wave action, and one which, because of the wider stance with the engines far apart, and quite maneuverable, especially around the dock. Plug in a bow thruster, and as the saying goes, ‘slow is the pro’, you should be able, under a wide variety of wind and current circumstances, to make eggshell landings with little or no problem. Getting used to using differential thrusts with the engines, and not the steering wheel, is a short learning curve. But just remember, bad weather is bad weather and will produce bad conditions no matter how many hulls you have.

Underway in open water, with conditions on test day seeing rather calm seas with little wind, our Leopard 40 PC was rather well-behaved with no ‘sneeze effect’ when hitting bow-on waves; that is the air, and therefore the water, between the hulls is not getting forced up on the forward deck and getting things wet up there. When we put her into a series of turns, we noted she maintained a level and comfortable attitude. 

Features Inspection

Let’s jump right aboard and see what the Leopard 40 PC has to offer as far as accommodations go. Starting topsides, on the fly bridge, accessed via a staircase to port from the main deck, with grabs on both sides for safety, the wide-open spaces finds the helm area forward and over to starboard. 

Helm 

The first thing we noticed is the sufficient space provided for a pair of interactive displays; these are 12” but 16” can easily fit should you need a bigger screen. Beneath them are toggle switches and a Fusion stereo panel. Just to the right of the tilt/adjustable steering wheel are the throttles, Yanmar engine and Raymarine monitoring systems, bow thruster controller, autopilot and engine start/stop push buttons. With the overhead covering most of this area, there are excellent views all around and in addition, a 2400W array of solar panels is on top.  The fixed helm bench seat offers 70” of seating.

Fly Bridge

Leopard is known for its expansive fly bridge design on all its models and on the 40 PC, it is totally realized. The space is much more than a driver’s delight and for everyone to enjoy the scenery. It is also a well-planned and functional entertaining area complete with shaded seating and dining just aft of the helm.  An electric barbeque console is to port and includes a sink, prep area, and optional refrigerator. A couch sits just forward.

Cockpit

Back down those stairs puts you in the cockpit area where a 7’7” bench seat aft of the table and other amenities for outdoor dining are provided. The entire aft area is surrounded by high bulwarks for added safety as well as having a shaded area thanks to the overhead.

Safe access from shoreside, or from the water after a day of sports activity,  is via wide stairs to either side with 29”-wide walkways and study rails, again with safety in mind. Note the solar panels on top of the overhead and the walkway behind the main deck seating. In addition, the Leopard 40 PC has a boarding ladder on the aft port side and a 440-pound lift capacity davit with a winch recessed into the hardtop to make launch and retrieval of a tender safe and easy.

Salon

Entrance to the salon and standard lower helm, also forward and to starboard, is through a smoked-glass sliding door. When in the open position, it allows the salon and aft deck area to be joined. With the fully-found galley, including a convection oven, full-size double-door refrigerator, dishwasher, stainless steel sink and induction cooktop, located right inside, food prep and service to both areas is quite convenient. The breaker panel, with generator controls, is also located in its own dedicated cabinet on the aft port side.

Bow

Accommodations

Master Stateroom

Just forward of the galley and on the starboard side are the three stairs leading to the master stateroom. With a sliding door for privacy, the berth in these quarters measures 6’5” by 5’3”. Headroom above the sleeping area is 4’1”, there are windows all around, indirect lighting, and more than enough storage, including large hanging closet and drawer space for spending time aboard. The ensuite head also has storage, hull side windows, and an overhead hatch in the shower. 

VIP Staterooms

Portside access gets you into the well-appointed and roomy aft and forward guest berths, with both sharing a head in between. 

Both aft (Top) and forward guest berths (Second) have opening hatches in the overhead as well as large windows allowing each to have great ambient light and soft, indirect lighting. Privacy doors close off each of the rooms and each has more than enough storage for all your needs.

Options to Consider

• Twin 320- or 370-hp Yanmar inboard diesel engines

• Teak dining table aft

• Fly bridge refrigerator

• Joy stick control for bow thruster

• Dinghy/tender

Observations

Taking its cues from the successful launches of her 53- and 46-footer sisterships, the Leopard 40 PC is equipped with some serious room for a powercat of this size. With sharp lines and a contemporary design along with elegant comfort and fuel efficiency, she is what Leopard needed to even out its lineup of long-range cruising boats. 

We found her quite spacious in all critical areas; the salon with its L-shaped galley, a three stateroom, two head living accommodations, cockpit, and the all-important fly bridge deck. Her sensible layout allows for safe and easy movement from place to place whether at anchor or underway.

Easy to maintain and kind around the docks, the Leopard 40 PC is a must-see.