Catana 52 Ocean Class

Catana’s 52-footer was not unknown to us; we had the good fortune to test the 522 version in 2003. But the boat we were to test was a completely new version of this splendid ocean cruising catamaran. The weather was not exceptional on the Saturday morning of the test. Little by little the port of Genoa was being emptied of the boats presented at the Boat Show. On the pontoon, we could spot the instantly recognisable Catana silhouette from a distance – harmonious, fluid, elegant… We had only just set foot aboard but were already struck by the differences between the older models and this one, christened the Ocean Class.

Very distinctive lines : here is the latest arrival from Catana…

New accommodation

In the 52 OC, the new accommodation is much warmer, with notably use of alcantara on the ceiling and cherry for the woodwork, giving a feeling of elegance and modernity. According to the builder, cherry has the advantage of developing a warm-coloured patina with time… In the meantime, the result is impressive and the feeling of well-being immediate. On entering the saloon of this long-distance cruising boat, we find a real living room with, first of all, the table, where friends can be welcomed in comfort. To port, along the cabin bulkhead, is the particularly well-designed galley: wide work surfaces in granite-like resin, which is both aesthetically pleasing and practical to maintain, lots of stowage and everything you could possibly need for preparing meals, of at least the same standard as ‘at home’ (cooker with oven by Force 10, 200l fridge, 100l freezer, etc…). Opposite the galley is the new chart table, which looks more like a director’s desk than an ‘everyday’ space to read the charts. This ‘office’ space is big, practical, aesthetically pleasing and particularly successful. Finally, the electric switch panel and the cold storage are to starboard on entering. The boat we tested was the ‘Family’ version, which has four double cabins, each equipped with a real bathroom. Here again, the space and stowage available show that we really are aboard a boat designed and organised for living aboard… The joinery and general finishing are of an excellent standard. We noted the portholes in the cabins, which are big enough to provide excellent ventilation in warmer climates as well as an unobstructed view of the sea… All the systems are carefully fitted under the floors and labelled: the builder has really thought about the maintenance of these big ‘technological’ craft. With this Ocean Class boat, Catana has created a catamaran with remarkable design and interior decoration, whose intelligently laid out volumes are very pleasant to live in.

A big hand for the sails and especially the very effective lightweight genoa on its bowsprit.

Still more…

The new accommodation is a great success, but there have been as many important changes to the exterior: the 52 OC is equipped as standard with a 21.5m carbon mast by Alu Carbon, finished in an immaculate white gloss. Very impressive and allowing many kilos to be saved where they are most detrimental: up aloft! Elsewhere, we find everything that has made Catana so successful, namely top quality fittings (including six winches – of which three are Lewmar electrics – Harken genoa and mainsheet tracks, etc…), a bowsprit for the lightweight genoa (very effective – see later) and sails which proved to be perfect… In short, this is a cruising boat which would not be completely ridiculous around the buoys… The proof? On the test day, the wind never got much above 5 or 6 knots, which isn’t much to push a boat weighing nearly twenty tons!

Here you are at the helm of the Catana 52 OC, a real pleasure…

At sea…

We were ready to go to sea: the weather was changeable and despite what had been forecast, we had neither sunshine nor wind… But it would have taken more than that to spoil the day. Despite is width and size, the 52 OC extricated itself from its berth with disconcerting ease. The leather-covered wheels are very pleasant to use, but the sensitivity of the engine controls can be a bit disconcerting at first. Once out of the port, we took advantage of a few rays of sunshine to launch the dinghy and get a few photos before it started to rain, as it surely would… Launching was a mere formality, thanks to the various well-positioned winches: there are nine in all, making boat handling much easier. This really is one of the boat’s ‘pluses’: short-handed, even solo cruising poses no problems, thanks to correctly-sized and perfectly suitable fittings. All the control lines return to the cockpit and the large central winch positioned vertically on the aft crossbeam is as practical as ever - even more so as the long rope tails fall naturally into the cross beam lockers, leaving a clear space in the cockpit. Using this winch, we hoisted the main in less time than it takes to write about it. It is simple and effective, though its power (size 53) means that great care must be taken to make sure everything is going up cleanly with no blockages, to avoid the risk of serious damage… As the gentle breeze was unstable in both force and direction, (less than 7 knots), we decided to unroll the lightweight genoa next, to try and get the boat moving. The Catana 52 OC showed a potential that we had not suspected. It must be said that when we tested the 522, we had much better conditions: 25 to 27 knots of sea breeze and boat speeds of between 13 and 20 knots in a seriously choppy sea. The boat’s ability to surf was quickly evident, though the impression of speed was attenuated by its freeboard and size. Today was nothing like that… In the very light breeze off Genoa, the Catana accelerated gently to reach 4.5 knots… To keep this speed up, we had to play with the helm and sail trim constantly, but the catamaran showed willing in conditions which were far from ideal. Note that the rigid bimini is of a moderate area, giving sufficient shelter whilst not obstructing the view of the mainsail. All good things come to an end, however, and the wind finally died completely. We made the most of this opportunity to carry out our tests and measurements on the engines, on a perfectly calm sea. Here again, the Catana showed willing: with both engines flat out at 3,000 rpm, top speed was 10.3 knots, whilst at cruising revs, 2,600 rpm, the 52 OC reached 9.4 knots. More than adequate…

The famous Catana central winch - practical and above all, very reassuring. On future OCs, the winches will be from Lewmar.

Up-market construction

You don’t change a winning team… The 52 OC is built using the same method that made Catana’s reputation: the hulls and bridge deck come from a first mould. From the exterior to the interior: the gel-coat, high strength tri-axial tissues and the 20mm, 75Kg/m3, PVC foam core. The interior skin, the last protection in the case of a major impact, is made of tri-axial aramid tissues (Kevlar). The deck is also in sandwich, of varying thickness (20 to 40mm!). These two main components are assembled under vacuum, with vinylester resin. The builder laminates about twenty bulkheads to the hulls and bridge deck to act as stiffeners; these structural elements are in honeycomb, reinforced with unidirectional carbon and are joined to the deck and the cabin roof after assembly. This homogenous structure gives a particularly rigid platform which can be lifted up by its chainplates!

The galley is particularly well-designed; it is functional and aesthetically pleasing…

Conclusion

With the new Ocean Class versions, Catana demonstrates its expertise once again. The 52 OC is undeniably a seaworthy, rapid, reassuring catamaran. With its daggerboards, carbon mast and strong, high-performance Dacron sails, it is built for fast cruising in comfortable, luxurious accommodation, which is nevertheless perfectly suited to life at sea. A prestige boat, aboard which a circumnavigation with the family or friends would be a very pleasurable experience.

WE APPRECIATED :

- its seaworthiness - its overall seriousness - the battle against badly-positioned weight - the quality of its fittings - the quality of life aboard

WE APPRECIATED LESS

- The overall budget (purchase + maintenance expenses and skills)

Engine speeds

R.P.M. speed in knots 800 3.8 1000 4.5 1200 5.3 1400 6 1600 6.8 1800 7.2 2000 7.8 2200 8.5 2400 9 2600 9.4 2800 9.9 3000 10.3

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Overall length: 17.30 m Hull length: 15.80 m Waterline: 15.30 m Beam: 8.60 m Unladen weight: 20 T Draft: 1.35 m/2.60 m Air draft: 24 m Mast: 21.50m Elvström Dacron mainsail: 76 m2 Elvström Dacron self-tacking roller-reefing jib: 36 m2 Elvström Dacron lightweight genoa with furler and bowsprit: 92 m2 Engines: 2 x 75hp Water: 800 l Diesel: 1380 l Builder: Catana Designer: Christophe Barreau Price : 1,101,396 Euros ex. tax