Leopard 38: Leopard / Moorings 38 / 39

[Camp Director G]

Just saw the Leopard 39 at the boat show">Miami boat show. They had a bare bones version at $275k - very nice number, but I saw a guy signing on the dotted line with one that had $115k of extras for a total of $390k. Can't imagine what you need that has that many extras, but I imagine it's pretty much everything. I'm wondering how cheap you could get away with a new one if you started at $275k (although that was a 20k boat show discount). It seems pretty heavy, but the review in multihulls said they had some pretty decent speeds. Perhaps that was an empty boat, though. I thought they were nicely laid out and my five foot tall fiance likes the lower winches at the helm. Seems like a great boat for not that much money compared to the others in the same category. I would like to know what people thought of this versus the lagoon 380 or just about the L39 in general.

[Catkid]

Suggest you contact David on Unity. I've seen and talked with him as he's sailing in the Virgin Islands. He'll have lots of first hand info.

[Barra]

I too was impressed by the layout but posted on this forum awhile back as on paper it seemed way too heavy at 9tonnes on a less than 38 foot waterline length. The price certainly ticked all the right boxes too basically looking at under $350k AUD delivered into oz with most of the options you need (no ac as that made it even heavier!)

So i did a test sail.

Couldnt tack without backwinding jib everytime - tiresome one up even with the lines led to helm.
rolly motion in 1.5 to 2m seas with plenty of stalling from wave action
lucky to get 8 knots on a beam reach in 25 knots.
heavy vague steering

In short it sailed like it looked on paper.

If performance isnt your thing then the layout and price take alot of beating I reckon. Really innovative layout.

[cmac]

The 39 was my target boat until I learned that some of the extra's are not really "extras" such as delivery from South Africa, commissioning, etc. So the price ended up being out of the range we were comfortable with.

I also started looking at used Leopard 40s and found the 40 was 4000 pounds lighter over 2 ft longer and slightly wider 20.1 ft. beam.

You may want to consider an L40. We were lucky in that we found an owner's version that had never been chartered and in excellent condition.

Good luck with your search.

[Cruising Couple]

Originally Posted by cmac

The 39 was my target boat until I learned that some of the extra's are not really "extras" such as delivery from South Africa, commissioning, etc. So the price ended up being out of the range we were comfortable with.

I also started looking at used Leopard 40s and found the 40 was 4000 pounds lighter over 2 ft longer and slightly wider 20.1 ft. beam.

You may want to consider an L40. We were lucky in that we found an owner's version that had never been chartered and in excellent condition.

Good luck with your search.

CMAC ..... Are you saying the L40 weighs 4,000 pounds less than the L39?

[cmac]

Ah, my error. According to the previous owner, during haul out the boat weighed 18,640.

I believe the 39 weighs 20,000 per the Leopard rep at the Annapolis boat show, who mentioned that the shoal keels are heavier and the AC adds more weight to the 39.

I'll work on digging up the exact numbers instead of going from memory, but it stuck in my head from that show there was a 4000 lb difference, sorry!

I do enjoy how my 40 sails, but I also have to declare that I have limited experience on cruising cats.

[Cruising Couple]

Originally Posted by cmac

Ah, my error. According to the previous owner, during haul out the boat weighed 18,640.

I believe the 39 weighs 20,000 per the Leopard rep at the Annapolis boat show, who mentioned that the shoal keels are heavier and the AC adds more weight to the 39.

I'll work on digging up the exact numbers instead of going from memory, but it stuck in my head from that show there was a 4000 lb difference, sorry!

I do enjoy how my 40 sails, but I also have to declare that I have limited experience on cruising cats.

I was not correcting you! My point was to confirm that the 40 weighs less than the 39, which you confirmed. Interesting.

We looked at the 39 at the show, because we thought that was enough for the two of us. However, as we look at the used market .... we've found a couple of 40's that are appealing. Some posters here on CF say the 40 handles better and points better than the 39.

Thanks!
Darby

[Blc7]

So someone who is very seriously looking at the 39, I'm somewhat bewildered by the diametrically opposed reviews on this thread by Maytrix and Privleoplag vs. Barra. How can the same boat be both wonderful in performance and horrible in performance? How does one account for the differing accounts?

[maytrix]

Originally Posted by Blc7

So someone who is very seriously looking at the 39, I'm somewhat bewildered by the diametrically opposed reviews on this thread by Maytrix and Privleoplag vs. Barra. How can the same boat be both wonderful in performance and horrible in performance? How does one account for the differing accounts?

Great point.

To clarify just so there's no confusion, our sailing was on the Leopard 38. Nearly the same boat as the 39, but there are differences. The Leopard 38 we were on was the 4 cabin 2 head charter version with no generator. I know the Leopard 39 (owners at least) has a generator - 4 cabin version may as well - so clearly that adds weight. I also know the way the bimini has changed would clearly add some weight as well. Not sure what else would though..

I wouldn't have raced it, but we found it did move well in good wind.

[Cruising Couple]

Originally Posted by Blc7

So someone who is very seriously looking at the 39, I'm somewhat bewildered by the diametrically opposed reviews on this thread by Maytrix and Privleoplag vs. Barra. How can the same boat be both wonderful in performance and horrible in performance? How does one account for the differing accounts?

I cannot speak for any one of these posters. However, I find this in nearly every thread. There is little agreement, but if you get enough postings you MAY see a trend or a consensus.

I think much of this has to do with past sailing experience, expectations and preconceived ideas. Pretty much the same as any other evaluation/review. I was looking to purchase another product (not sailing related) recently and started reading all the reviews on several different web pages. The reviews were all over the place. I quickly discovered that it was all about what people were expecting this product to accomplish for them ..... it was ALL about their expectations.

With regard to purchasing a sailboat -- MUCH is based on your needs: the intended use and sailing location (geography). Some people just cruise around the islands and spend more time on the hook, while others need a serious blue water boat that can handle weather and long crossings. Again .... it goes to expectations.


Darby

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Cruising Couple

I cannot speak for any one of these posters. However, I find this in nearly every thread. There is little agreement, but if you get enough postings you MAY see a trend or a consensus.

I think much of this has to do with past sailing experience, expectations and preconceived ideas. Pretty much the same as any other evaluation/review. I was looking to purchase another product (not sailing related) recently and started reading all the reviews on several different web pages. The reviews were all over the place. I quickly discovered that it was all about what people were expecting this product to accomplish for them ..... it was ALL about their expectations.

With regard to purchasing a sailboat -- MUCH is based on your needs: the intended use and sailing location (geography). Some people just cruise around the islands and spend more time on the hook, while others need a serious blue water boat that can handle weather and long crossings. Again .... it goes to expectations.


Darby

very well put.

[catabroker]

as for the sea worthiness of the Leopard 39, have a look at this facebook posting of a delivery trip from Cape town to Australia through the southern oceans:


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2030712&type=1

this is more blue water than most sailors will see in a life time

fair winds, Peter Wiersema / Leopard specialist / Yacht broker

peterw@yacht.com

[smj]

Originally Posted by catabroker

as for the sea worthiness of the Leopard 39, have a look at this facebook posting of a delivery trip from Cape town to Australia through the southern oceans:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2030712&type=1

this is more blue water than most sailors will see in a life time

fair winds, Peter Wiersema / Leopard specialist / Yacht broker

peterw@yacht.com

No doubt the Leopard is a well built seaworthy boat, just wished they performed a little better.