Boat Review by Multihulls World of: Catamaran MC60

A one-of-a-kind catamaran

The MC60 from the McConaghy shipyard is a catamaran that looks like no other model in this category. Its design, layout and performance make it a unique multihull with technological solutions directly from racing that are rarely found on board a production catamaran. A concept for fans of high-tech and performance.

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Infos pratiques

Test location: Fort Lauderdale (Florida – USA)
Conditions:6 to 8 knots southeast wind, 10 people on board, slight chop

You may not be familiar with the McConaghy brand... and yet, this shipyard was not born yesterday! The manufacturer was founded in 1967 in Australia by John McConaghy and started its activity with the production of 16 to 18-foot yawls. Then it turned to Moths and other sailing dinghies and Tornado catamarans. The shipyard swapped plywood for fiberglass before opting for foamed sandwich and then Kevlar. In 2000, Jono Morris and Mark Evans, two employees of the shipyard, took over the company and expanded it. The company then partnered with Tiger Group and opened another production facility in China. In nearly 55 years of existence, McConaghy has become a reference in the construction of composite boats and produces very different kind of units, from the famous America’s Cup boats to the Volvo Ocean Racers, including superyachts, cruising multihulls and the already famous AC40, a high-performance hydrofoil boat.

More than 50 years of experience

The range of cruising catamarans extends from 55 to 115 feet; the MC60, now renamed the MC62, is therefore one of the «smallest» in the family. Presented in 2018, the catamaran, which is almost entirely customizable, was built in three examples and even though it is still available for order, it is now changing its name to MC62, with, in the process, some small improvements. Generally speaking, the McConaghy shipyard is far from the concept of mass production, and there is no exception when it comes to its cruising multihulls. The MC60 is therefore a unique catamaran in many aspects. Designed by Ker Yacht Design, it has a profile that, from the first glance, leaves no one indifferent. At 60 feet (nearly 19 m) long, 29 feet (8.82 m) wide and an interminable mast, the tone is set. The long hull windows already suggest a good habitability while the structure of the deckhouse plunging forward gives a sporty character to the boat. This feeling is accentuated by the flybridge placed completely aft - a true raised cockpit - which seems to have been inherited directly from a racing boat. At the front, the inverted bows and the three furling sails confirm that we are on board a catamaran where performance is not a secondary consideration.

A unique deck plan

The MC60 has a quite unique deck layout. It starts in the cockpit, a space usually occupied by one or more bench seats and a table; here, we find a rather cumbersome staircase leading to the flybridge. A somewhat surprising architectural choice, but which shows once again that the catamaran is designed to sail miles with a small crew, and not to comply with charter requirements. Moreover, once at anchor, you just have to put the tender in the water, and you will find yourself with an additional platform creating a beautiful and totally open space. The wide sugarscoops also facilitate access for swimming or boarding. Finally, from there, it’s easy to get to the bow thanks to the surprisingly wide side-decks for the category. To keep the weight down, the McConaghy doesn’t offer a large hard deck in the bow. Also, it does not have a forward beam and has a traditional trampoline. A feature that allows easy access to the bowsprit if needed, but with three sails on roller furlers, this will normally only be necessary to check the anchor or to moor the multihull. Plunging forward, the deckhouse allows easy access to the mast step from the foredeck. A well thought out circulation that also applies to the sheets since everything comes back to the raised cockpit. As a true control tower, this flybridge is accessible from the carbon staircase of the main cockpit. Spanning the full width of the coachroof, it has a long, curved bench seat for six to eight people while there is a helm station at each side with carbon wheel, clutch console, two nice sized winches and enough rope bags to clear the floor. The all area is topped by a hardtop and can be enclosed with a flexible transparent canvas. Offering a 360° view, this place is perfect to steer the multihull. Two small remarks however: no table or shelf is provided to put drinks, food or personal items. As for the circulation between the helm station and the coachroof, it is a bit acrobatic. In front of this double helm station, the carbon rig proudly points to more than 100’ (30 m) high. As for the boom, it is so gigantic that you can literally lie down on it. The standing rigging is also made of carbon, while the mainsheet traveler is electrically assisted, a real plus when you need to tack. This setting allows the catamaran to be sailed with a short-handed crew, as the owner and his wife often do.

An interior full of natural light

Regarding the living area, here again, the MC60 stands out from the competition. The glass doors separating the cockpit from the main deck can be opened almost entirely to abolish the frontier between the exterior and the interior. From there, one discovers a huge open concept with a surface worthy of an 80- or 90-foot yacht. What’s more, the structure that supports the mast has been cleverly concealed and only a strut is visible, which accentuates the interior volume. The nacelle also benefits from a huge glass surface (with tempered glass windows) offering an almost 360° view. If that’s not enough, the boat has three long roof windows, all equipped with a sliding blind. The brightness is further enhanced by the white walls and the light color of the woodwork. This space can be arranged according to the client’s wishes, and in our test model it had a long sofa on the starboard side with a folding table and a very large central island facing the galley, found on the port side. In addition to the latest appliances, this galley benefits from a real plus: an electric sliding side window over almost the entire length, which is quite impressive. Another small lounge area is located on the starboard bow while next to it, the chart table offers all the necessary electronic equipment with, once again, a breathtaking view.

A wide choice of colors and materials available

The MC60 is available in three or four cabin versions, and for this occasion, we were on an owner’s model, i.e. three cabins. Thanks to the imposing width of the hulls, the living space is quite remarkable, and the headroom is 6’9’’ (2.07 m). In the port hull, there is a guest room with a double bed arranged perpendicularly and a private bathroom at the front of the hull. A second cabin is located at the rear and offers two single beds and a bathroom. Of course, this can be arranged differently according to the customer’s wishes. In any case, this entire living area benefits from excellent luminosity thanks to the large hull windows and deck hatches. There is also plenty of storage space, which is very useful when cruising. The starboard hull is dedicated to the owner’s suite, which includes a double berth with space on each side of the bed, a lounge area with a sofa and a large TV screen, and above all a bathroom that is a bit unusual since it includes a bathtub! A rather rare features on this kind of unit. The storage space is again very generous - enough to envisage long stays on board. On Noble House, our test catamaran, light colors were preferred, but once again, a wide choice is available when ordering from the three main proposals to the choice of wall color, kind of woodwork or fabrics. From the standard version, the equipment is rather generous since it includes all the appliances, the bathroom fixtures, the water heater, the Fusion audio system, the jib furlers or USB outlets everywhere... and the list goes on. Plus, this inventory is part of the discussion at the time of purchase.

Performance first

Performance is definitely part of the shipyard’s DNA and this MC60 is no exception. The catamaran is built entirely in vacuum infusion using fiberglass, carbon and Gurit Corecell for the sandwich parts. The whole thing is reinforced with carbon stringers for maximum rigidity. A method which allows to obtain a very solid structure, but also relatively light since the catamaran is only 40,785 lbs (18.5 t) on the scales. Unlike many multihulls in this class, the MC60 has neither light daggerboards that can be raised above the deck nor keels, but a hybrid system. Each integrated centerboard is positioned in the center of the hull and can be partially retracted with a push button when the boat is at the marina or in shallow water. Three preset positions are available. In addition, a safety system allows the centerboards to rise automatically if they touch the bottom. Made of composites, these two fins can dive up to 12’ (3.75 m) underwater and rise up, limiting the draft to 4’5” (1.35 m). Upwind, the MC60 has a sail surface area of 2,260 sq ft (210 m²). However, the sail area is usually custom designed for each owner. For Noble House, it is a North Sails set custom made in Fort Lauderdale (USA) and described as «Performance cruising». Having just returned from a few weeks in the Bahamas, the MC60 confirms its vocation as a long-distance sailor. Thanks to its length, its living space and its sail area, it is capable of long cruises in a reasonable time. When sailing, under mainsail and jib, the catamaran does not require a lot of wind to move. On the day of our test, we had 6 to 8 knots of wind which was enough to pull us between 6 and 7 knots. With the Code 0, performance soars as the McConaghy easily sails between 1 and 1.5 times the wind speed. In fact, with 7 knots of wind, we regularly hit 9 knots in real speed. This is an excellent performance, especially since it is quite comfortable. Thanks to the configuration of the sheets and halyards and the electric assistance, the boat can be maneuvered without too many problems with a crew of three people, or even less for experienced sailors. Not bad for a 60-foot unit. Of course, you can opt for an even more powerful sail set, but the idea here was to find the right compromise between performance and comfort at sea. Another advantage of this model is that the high bows limit the effects of spray as much as possible and, in general, the catamaran’s movements remain very smooth, which contributes to comfort on board. For windless days, the McConaghy is equipped with two 57 HP Yanmar engines. This power can even be increased to 2 x 80 HP as an option, a drivetrain that remains economical while propelling the boat at nearly 10 knots. Finally, thanks to the 148 US gal (560 liter) tank, it has a good range.

Conclusion

Sailing aboard the MC60 is without a doubt a special experience. Combining brilliantly a record habitability and world class performances, this catamaran offers new and innovative solutions. Moreover, the fact that it is almost entirely customizable allows the future buyer to create the catamaran of his dreams while benefiting from all the expertise of the shipyard. A unique offer in an increasingly popular Sport-Cruiser category.

Where many competitors only play the luxury card, this McConaghy has a decidedly original and sporty look.

The carbon mast rises more than 100 feet above the sea... enough to provide a large surface area of sail upwind – 2,260 square feet (210 m²).

Even when securely moored to the dock, the MC60 exudes power and balance.

The cockpit is unfortunately a bit too small and cluttered by the stairs. However, once the tender is in the water, there is a large platform to enjoy.

The flybridge, a true elevated cockpit, offers curved seating and two helm stations.

The two carbon helms look great and, more importantly, give the skipper a clear view of the water and the rig.

Although a bit bulky, the carbon staircase offers easy access to the flybridge.

Thanks to the exceptionally wide side-decks, circulation between the cockpit and the foredeck is very comfortable.

The plunging nose of the deckhouse roof accentuates the catamaran’s sporty look. It also provides easy access to the mast step.

The huge canoe boom is large enough to easily store the mainsail or inspect the profile or reefing lines…

Easy access to the boom and mast step, a real plus for sailing maneuvers.

Three long skylights with sliding blinds provide additional light in the nacelle and an unobstructed view of the rig.

The chart table is both well located and well equipped. An optional interior helm station is also available. Forward, to starboard, a small lounge area is a great space for having coffee.