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Outremer 52 review: Exclusive 200-mile test

• Toby Hodges
• June 15, 2023

After an exclusive first test, sailing 200 miles over two days and nights, does this Outremer 52 prove the new benchmark for fast bluewater cruising?

Product Overview

Price as reviewed:.

They seem preternatural, our navlight giving the dolphins an oily reflection as they launch like dark green torpedoes in unison with our surfs. The fizzing noise when they clear the water helps communicate their effortless speed, while the boat hums as it accelerates into the mid teens. Subconsciously I count the surfs, 6, 7, 8… seconds; psychologically I’m wired, absolutely buzzing. But physically I notice I’m shivering, with numb fingers from being on the helm of the Outremer 52 so long, not willing to relinquish the wheel for a single minute even to don extra layers.

It’s exhilarating. Two days and nights aboard the Outremer 52 in March made for some of the most enjoyable sailing I’ve done in 20 years of testing yachts. That’s not to say this new model is faultless or that it’ll suit everyone – there are of course compromises that come with this performance. Then consider spending a seven figure sum yet still having to wait four years for one.

But there are very few production yachts I can think of that offer this amount of cruising space and comfort coupled with such engaging performance, and arguably no yards that are as successful in doing it as Outremer. Which makes me wonder, could this be my ultimate world tourer?

With its four decades of fast bluewater experience, Outremer (‘overseas’ in French), has been able to tap into the recent maelstrom of multihull demand perhaps better than any yard.

Together with design partners VPLP, Patrick Le Quément and Franck Darnet, Outremer proved with the Outremer 55 two years ago that it could produce a modern, fast catamaran with real wow factor and a particularly bright, open plan main deck layout.

The Outremer 52 is very much in that guise, yet carries the heavy task of replacing the fabled 51 – the 101 of them Outremer built have clocked over 2.3 million miles. That’s a lot of owner feedback. Where the Outremer 51 is minimalist for today’s tastes, the Outremer 52 brings that instant boat show appeal. It sports a large cockpit, which links via retracting bulkhead doors to the galley and saloon, combined with an enormous amount of glazing, but in a more manageable size and layout to the 55.

‘As a gust ruffles the water you can harness it to catch a wave and really feel the 52 surge’. Photo: Robin Christol

For years we discussed conducting a multi-day test that might better suit Outremer’s ocean-oriented designs and thankfully we were given just such an exclusive opportunity on this freshly launched Outremer 52. It was a long, intoxicating couple of days. I arrived at 11pm and we departed at 4am to catch the best of the breeze for our 90-mile outward south-west sail across the Gulf of Lion

Outremer 52 – the sailor’s boat

Despite the rude awakening, the cold, early start was worthwhile. Once out of La Grande Motte’s marina, which is overlooked by the burgeoning Outremer yard, the full main and genoa were hoisted under headtorch light and we were soon averaging over 9 knots in 15, reaching at 120° true. By first light, the gennaker was unfurled, upping our average speed to 11-12 knots, with heady surfs up to 17 knots.

What an introduction to helming this boat! It felt so sporty: direct, with palpable acceleration. As a gust ruffles the water you can harness it to catch a wave and really feel the Outremer 52 surge before the forward buoyancy kicks in and drives those streamlined reverse bows up and through the waves. It quickly instils confidence, while bringing real pleasure.

The large forward-facing navstation, with its really comfortable swivel chair, makes for a great desk and chart table. Photo: Robin Christol

With the breeze dropping and backing further astern later that morning, we furled the gennaker and hoisted an A2 on a snuffer. Deep reaching in just 12 knots true we could still make a respectable 8 to 9.5 at 150°, but heat up 20-30° and it nudges into double figures and almost matches the wind.

These are such easy, pleasant passagemaking speeds. Three steps down from the helm and you’re onto the single level main deck to check on progress from the navstation, while making a brew as the crew dozes in horizontal comfort.

The owners of this first Outremer 52 opted for a versatile sail set up, choosing a genoa over the standard self-tacking jib, a removable inner staysail and the downwind furling gennaker. Upgrades to help get the most out of the boat also include Incidence DFi filament sails and a carbon Lorima mast. In the early afternoon sun I helmed for another lengthy spell under gennaker, and was again struck by how unwilling I became to leave the helm, only doing so to swap between the wheel and tiller.

View from the helm, as we plane and surf while I try to log the highest speed! Photo: Robin Christol

Best of both?

Unlike the dual wheel setup on the 55, this has a single wheel to starboard with control lines led to it, but there is also an option for a tiller on the portside. It’s a unique combination on this size craft, but tillers are part of Outremer’s DNA, and still a draw for sailors wanting the big kid, breeze-in-the-hair experience.

Tiller sailing proved a work out, particularly as I was heating it up at the time making a steady 12-12.5 knots at 110° true in 15 knots. It needed both hands firmly on the carbon rod and is perhaps better suited to light wind sailing. To activate the tiller you have to disconnect the steering wheel or vice versa – the Jefa steering is all mechanically linked directly to the rudders hence there is good feedback.

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With the cold spring breeze blowing off the snow-capped Pyrenees, I preferred the option of swinging the pedestal right out and sitting on the leeward bench in the sun with clear views of the tell-tales. It’s a comparable feeling and position to helming a performance monohull, though distinctly more comfortable!

The swing pedestal may not be an innovation, but it’s used to triumphant effect. It’s set back from the coachroof, leaving good space for working the winches and access between side deck and cockpit. The ability to cant it 180° gives the option to stand with views of the four corners, sit out on the side deck or steer from the cockpit. This, together with a bracing perch, which includes an arm for the throttle controls, windlass and autopilot controls inboard, works brilliantly.

Sailing from dawn till dusk – the Outremer offers multiple positions to enjoy fast cruising in comfort. Photo: Robin Christol

The winch layout is equally superb. Two starboard coachroof winches are used for the headsail sheets, mainsheet and reefing lines. However there are also inboard cockpit winches for daggerboard controls and kite sheets each side under the bimini. All lines have been designed to be cross-sheeted or led to these protected winches. A sheave by the coachroof winches allows you to lead the mainsheet or genoa sheets down to the inboard winches, for example. Couple this with the ability to swing the pedestal inboard, with views forward through the coachroof windows and of the main, and you can steer and trim while completely protected (especially with the fabric dodgers down).

Then there’s another trump feature in the large forward facing navstation, from which you can also stand a watch in inclement weather.

The social boat

Twelve hours after leaving the boat’s French home port we arrived in a tiny little cove on the Costa Brava for a photoshoot along with the 55, raising the daggerboards to anchor in 2m of clear water.

It was time to relax, launch the toys and enjoy the serious amount of real estate. That’s what the luxury side of this premium priced cruiser brings – a speed and space balance, together with easy circulation, light and surround views.

The davits can carry a proper working tender, up to 3.6m; the Outremer 55, for example, had an 3.4m aluminium hulled Highfield RIB (70kg) with 20hp outboard, which is a seaworthy people carrier-cum-recreation craft that can transform time at anchor.

The helm setup is superb. The swing pedestal allows you to stand. Photo: Robin Christol

The Outremer 52’s cockpit is the social heart of the boat, linking with the saloon and galley to create one zone. The crew of the 55 joined us, showing how 8-10 can sit around the table alone. The cockpit enclosure is a must-have option on this size boat to get the most out of this layout in colder climates, but removes completely to open it out.

The decor is simple but practical. The addition of lightweight removable outdoor furniture provides versatile stools, while a step box seat helps enclose the cockpit in the port quarter. A similar approach is taken with the lighting and sound system – on the test boat, for example, the addition of domestic style LED lamps and portable Bluetooth speakers avoids the need to hard wire such systems in. Keeping furnishings minimal helps emphasise the large open living area, with the focus on natural light and the environment around.

I particularly like the forward vertical windows, which minimise glare yet provide horizon views while standing in the saloon, and their four opening sections which help provide excellent natural ventilation. The polycarbonate panels (lighter than glass) are all individually glued and then bolted so can be replaced.

The bluewater boat

With the bulkhead doors fully retracted, the galley connects seamlessly to the cockpit.

The galley’s double bin with its sweep-in top and a separate chute directly through to the sea for compostable goods/peelings are pragmatic features clearly born from liveaboard feedback, as is the space for a herb garden. That said the huge single sink wastes water, where a second or 1.5 style draining sink would be more practical. The layout of the hob is also somewhat awkward, as only one person comfortably can use this or the worksurface at the same time. A solution might be to swap the sink to that outboard position.

The winch layout makes shorthanding easy and facilitates trimming from inboard as well. Photo: Robin Christol

Galley stowage is quite spread out when you include the essential tall locker to starboard and the useful tins and dry goods storage below the saloon sole. And the extra freezer aside the 130lt fridge should perhaps be included as standard on this type of craft. But the space is all used well.

We raised anchor that evening, motoring the short distance round to Cadaques to pick up a buoy for the night, and opted for the more intimate saloon table for dinner.

Once down in the hulls it’s a similar layout to the 55, in that you can choose three or four cabins with the main decision concerning the adaptable forward port cabin. This involves five different options, the most popular being a combination of desk, folding bunk and stowage.

In terms of finish, it’s a lot of Alpi beige veneer – nice and bright, but a wipe clean look that says more volume production than seven figure pricing. This is arguably the Outremer 52’s main payoff: the accommodation is kept simple and relatively easy to reproduce in favour of keeping weight down and speed up. The effort and labour goes into the structure and foam sandwich furniture.

‘The galley connects seamlessly to the cockpit’. Photo: Robin Christol

Living aboard

Despite the comparatively narrow hulls, accommodation is plenty comfortable enough to live aboard long-term and with abundant natural light. The aft berths are queen size (1.6m wide), with shelving and alcoves inboard, which I found really practical for storing books, water, and personal items. Reading lights with dual power USB ports in them proved equally useful.

Stowage is abundant, particularly below the aft berths, while space below the sole boards has been maximised and includes trays to keep items out of the bilges. Those choosing a full owner’s hull also get a bank of wardrobes, with room for a washing machine, plus a vast bathroom and shower area forward.

In a sensible use of space, the portside separate heads and shower areas are shared by the two cabins. However, the shower area is a sparse cubicle, so drying it – and towels – could be an issue. Equally there’s no sliding door on this side, so no privacy between that and the aft cabin.

Space, light and ventilation, together with surround horizon views from standing (1.98m headroom) are formidable. The compact saloon area to starboard suits cosy family breakfasts or off watch napping. Photo: Robin Christol

The access to systems for maintenance or diagnosis is a discernible improvement over the 55. The batteries and solar controllers are below the forward saloon settee, for example, while plumbing is neatly installed with intelligible manifolds colour-coded.

Outremer’s sister company Gunboat helped it to add stiffness, using full carbon bulkheads below the mast, sliding doors, and traveller bench aft. The weight savings gained help allow for all the additional glazing on the Outremer 52. It’s the same in the hulls, where modern structures allow for much less inhibitive bulkheads and therefore a more open feel compared to Outremers of yesteryear.

The three cabin version includes masses of stowage and a sizeable heads area

Weight is key to sound insulation of course, so when you strip as much as possible you have to accept the acoustic penalty. In the silence of a night time anchorage for instance the noise of a water pump activating sounded like a chainsaw in the aft cabin (mounted on the bulkhead directly behind the headboard of the aft berth), and you certainly know about it when the heads flush or there is anyone on deck above. I also found the creaking noises of the vast hull window in the aft cabin of the test boat disconcerting.

Despite these irritations, however, I still felt highly confident in the boat’s structure – to perform to this high ability you know it’s been built strongly in the areas that really matter. These are proven catamarans built to circle the globe for decades.

Easy speeds

After a late lunch stop in Cala Culip cove, we departed Spain for the return leg. With no wind inshore we elected to motor out to the east for over 20 miles to try to hook into the forecasted southerlies, preferring the use of one engine (for less wear and tear) at 2,000rpm for 7.4 knots.

The test boat had an optional 2,050W of solar panel power feeding a battery capacity beefed up to 2 x 6,000W of lithium ion. Veteran Outremer sales manager Matthieu Rougevin-Baville feels that this, together with high power alternators and a short period of occasional engine use to keep the batteries topped up, is still the most prudent power generation method for bluewater cruisers.

Remember that Outremer has already built a fully electric 45 for Jimmy Cornell and a 5X made from 50% flax fibre for Roland Jourdain, so its eco skillset is there.But it deems its focus on making its production yachts as efficient as possible, thereby minimising the need for engine use (the largest cause of C02 emissions), as still the most sensible for ocean cruising.

Just when I feared a long motor back the wind showed up right on cue, increasing from 5 to 17 knots in a couple of minutes and bringing with it a nice following swell (and the accompanying dolphins). The gennaker was unleashed and we were straight into full-bore deep reaching for the next eight hours straight.

‘This is what it’s all about!’ I noted after helming for hours in 16-20 knots breeze from our aft quarter. When you connect a gust with a wave, you feel the acceleration, then the rudders bite and give you that control as you bear away and the apparent wind shoots forward. You play the wave, watching with anticipation as the speedo rises.

Queen size berths in the aft cabins show there’s volume enough in the hulls. Photo: Robin Christol

Most good waves saw the log rise from 11 or 12 to the late teens. Our top speed was 20.5 knots, a record we chased well into the darkness of that night.

Even at 3am with less than a mile to run to the marina, I was still revelling in the last small surfs, selfishly clinging onto the wheel. It’s addictive sailing alright.

Size or price?

The Outremer 52 costs over €1.5m with options. That’s premium pricing, but something Outremer can do thanks to insatiable demand. It has already sold 69 boats, so you can’t currently get one till the end of 2027! Is this model a victim of its own success already? And despite opening a new facility just for the Outremer 52 production line, will it be able to maintain quality at this volume?

A friend commented that for the price of the Outremer 52, why not go for the 55? The logic being if you have that money maybe you can afford the larger version (from €1.6m).

Sailing alongside us for part of our test sail, the 55 was consistently a notch quicker on passage and offers that bit more entertaining space and payload carrying potential. But for me, the crucial difference between these new models is that the Outremer 52 is just that bit more manageable – less weight, less loads, less sail area, winch sizes etc. And it’s set up for easier short-handing.

If you enjoyed this….

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I’ve spent a lot of time looking at cars recently, searching for something small enough to zip into town, large enough for load and people carrying, sporty to drive yet economic to run. My conclusion? There’s no such thing. Nor is there with boats – except this comes pretty close to offering all the values I’d want. The Outremer can delight on the helm and tick off ocean miles easily at high average/double digit speeds – speeds that could help you avoid weather systems. Then it can tuck into the shallows. While you may be able to tell I revelled in sailing this cat, that’s not to say it would suit everyone. Were money no object, perhaps this might be my ultimate bluewater boat, but in all honesty, I’d probably choose something smaller... the 45 (or next version of it) perhaps! Niggles include the galley layout which could potentially be improved, as could the finish and noise insulation. Nevertheless, this has the space, speed, and style to bluewater cruise for years. Coupled with the sail handling layout, living area and emphasis on natural light and ventilation, the Outremer 52 offers reaching fun and the ability to enjoy single-figure windspeed sailing. In short, it sets a new bar for bluewater cruising.

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OUTREMER 42 - "THE OUTREMER SPIRIT" AS A 42-FOOTER

The Outremer was long-awaited by multihull aficionados, and has not disappointed us…completely the contrary!

Cockpit, boat handling, steering: the pleasant and efficient ergonomics aboard the 42.

Light, spacious and easy to maintain; the standard Outremer for long-distance cruising…

Practical info

• Builder : OUTREMER YACHTING
• Technical specifications
• Finance your Outremer 42
• Articles about the Outremer 42

Boat Test price $5.00 Inc. tax

Add several tests to your cart

and get an extra discount!

Gérard Danson’s fertile mind continues to mark catamaran development with its originality and inspiration; this discreet, talented architect’s designs attract praise from both his peers and enlightened amateurs – quite an achievement! The charismatic boss of the Grande-Motte based yard was a tireless amateur who prepared his team for today’s changes in technology; a creative designer who mapped out the future and left his mark on the next successful models to come from the Atelier Outremer: the 60 and the 42. Respect, and welcome aboard!

The 42’ in the Outremer family.

The Outremer saga began with the 40’, whose simple, effective and original matrix contained the fundamentals of all the future ‘Danson’ catamarans. The 38, then the 38 – 43’ and 40 – 43’ developments integrated the inboard engines, solar panels and other ‘essential’ ocean cruising equipment, the list of which grows longer every year. These catamarans, with their characteristic features and sensitivity to excess weight are today aimed at purist fans of narrow hulls and that emblem of the light displacement boat, the tiller! The rest were left to imagine the successor! Its silhouette, its performance and its character would be 100% Outremer, but the 42’ would be more tolerant to loads, have more volume and its tooling would be suited to ‘infusion’ technology. As a preview to the Paris Boat Show, we were able to sail aboard n°3 of the series.

With its high nacelle, fluid superstructure and streamlined rig, the 42 asserts its ‘comfortable and determined’ personality!

Design and architecture

In 1985, Ville Audrain imposed its 42’on the Grand Pavois and its size surprised the public; twenty years later, ORANGE II surfs at 40 knots… but a 42-...

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Outremer 45 catamaran.

Outremer strives to build fast-cruising catamarans while also not compromising on safety and comfort. First launched in 2015 and still in production, Outremer 45 is designed for sustained offshore cruising for extended periods of time – much like its predecessors Outremer 51 and Outremer 5X .

Table of Contents

DESIGN – INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR

The Outremer 45 is a product of architecture by Barreau-Neuman, style by Partick Le Quement and interior design by Darnet Design. Outremer offers different options to the owners to truly customize the look of the interior according to their wishes. One such option is teak wood finishing, which gives Outremer 45 a gorgeous look.

The cockpit of the Outremer 45 is accessed via two big steps and built asymmetrically. It is wide and spacious and protected by a rigid bimini and canvases stretched to each of its sides. It comes with a built-in table and L-shaped bench, which, along with an opposing bench, can comfortably accommodate up to 8 people. The cockpit table is convertible and can be transformed into a berth if needed. The seats also have storage lockers underneath them. The cockpit is at level with the saloon and is accessed via a sliding glass door. The galley has access directly into the cockpit, so serving food and drinks is easy and efficient.

To aft is a single, raised helm station on the coachroof, which is accessed via three steps. It has a wheel to port and is complete with the engine control and mainsail halyard. All the lines for the mainsail and self-tacking jib are controlled from the helm, allowing shorthand sailing. The visibility from the helm station is excellent, and all four corners of the catamaran can be seen from the station, which allows for safe maneuvering. Outremer 45 also offers carbon-fiber tiller and a space-pod chair to experience steering of a different kind.

The side decks of Outremer 45 are wide and well-protected by grab rails and toe rails. The Outremer 45 also features daggerboards that optimize its performance for better upwind and downwind sailing. The lockers along the side decks are deep and spacious enough to not only store all the sails and ropes but any other equipment such as kayaks that a family might want to carry along.

The foredeck is long yet narrow and has no seating available, with space was taken over by two long trampolines. This allows the catamaran to cut back on its weight and offers exceptional hydro-dynamic performance – something also achieved by placing the bow length forward of the mast.

Movement from the cockpit to saloon and vice versa is easy and smooth. Inside the saloon, the large slanting windows give a complete 350-degree view of the world outside. This, along with multiple opening hatches and portholes inside the saloon, also makes the saloon bright and well-ventilated.

The settee, facing aft, is comfortable and large and is compounded by an additional bench stowed away under the table. Altogether, up to 8 people can be seated inside the saloon around the built-in table. The table can also telescopes down to become a berth.   

The galley on the Outremer 45 is L-shaped and ergonomic. It is also stylish, with a sleek countertop and stainless steel sink. It offers a 3-burner stove, which is rather compact, and also has a refrigerator on the opposite side. The galley also features ample space for storage in the form of a pantry with sliding drawers.

The navigation station faces forward and takes advantage of the panoramic view offered by the windows to provide a great view while on watch. The station itself is well-equipped, and the desk is spacious enough for charts or a laptop to be placed. 

  ACCOMMODATIONS

The Outremer 45 offers two different versions – a 3-cabin layout with the entire starboard dedicated to the owner and a 4-cabin layout, which has an additional cabin in the starboard hull.

The owner’s version has a large 1.6 x 2.0 meters double berth in the cabin but no access around the berth. There is storage and wardrobe space to the side, and the cabin is secured with a sliding door. The corridor beyond has ample storage space in the form of cupboards and shelves. The forward section has a large bathroom and a separate shower. The cabin has good air circulation and is also bright with a lot of light filtering through its many windows.

There are two cabins to port in the guest hull with the aft cabin symmetrical to the owner’s cabin. The key feature of the aft cabin is the large, fixed, rectangular porthole, which gives a great view of the outside. The forward cabin is slightly smaller than the aft cabin and has a smaller berth. The shared bathroom in the corridor is compact yet functional with a sink, head, and shower.

ENGINE ROOMS

Outremer 45 is powered by two Volvo 30 HP diesel engines that can acquire a top speed of 8.5 knots. The engines are accessible from outside, through a deck hatch located on the transom.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS   

The overall length of Outremer 45 is 14.62 meters while the draft is 2.15 meters. The maximum beam of 45 is 7.1 meters, and a maximum displacement is 11,100 kg.

PRICE RANGE

The price of Outremer 45 ranges from $700,000 to $750,000.

In conclusion, Outremer 45 is an above-average Outremer built with a focus on improved performance and increased speed. It is sturdy and durable yet also easy to manage with a small crew, making it ideal for a family seeking to take multiple trips around the world.

Outremer 45 Specs

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Outremer 51

Description

The Outremer 51 was developed from the 49, of which more than 20 were built. The new styling includes axe bows to keep the bouyancy high up front and a refresh of the profile and interior. She’s a very pretty cat, sleeker than some of her competitors like the Marsaudon Composites TS5 which has a more ´muscly´look.

Designed by the Christophe Barreau and Frederic Neuman, this boat is the most popular model in the Outremer range. It’s a great performing cruising cat with daggerboards for upwind performance. There is an option for a rotating carbon rig like the sportier 5X – but many owners just opt for the static rig.

One of the signature features of the design are the huge trampolines and large freeboard that sets the superstructure further back and helps to centre the weight. This helps to give the 51 her smooth, comfortable ride which is something that the French manufacturer prioritises over living space. She’s a star performer downwind offshore with all that bouyancy in the hulls: she cuts through the water, a real sailing boat.

Read Seth Hynes’ Outremer 51 Owner’s Review for some interesting insights on this blue water catamaran.

• Fast with a comfortable ride. If you want to get from A to B safely at Speed, the Outremer 51 has to be on your shopping list. An average of 9-10 knots should be your target on long passages and you will see speeds well in excess of that
• These boats are very popular on the second hand market and hold their value.
• Those bucket seats and tillers – a must have option for any Outremer owner!
• She will sail upwind as well as a monohull
• Excellent finish quality in the interiors
• This yacht will get going quickly in light winds.
• The trade off for that performance is reduced space down below. The extended bows give you lots of buoyance, but the flip side is that you lose living space. You will also lose some width with those boxes that house the dagger-boards.
• The helm position can feel exposed. Many owners install a dodger and bimini
• Once you start adding options, the 51 can get expensive.

She has a self tacking jib and all the lines are straight back to the helm as standard, which is situated on the bulkhead- visibility is excellent from here. Electric winches are a must for short handed sailing- raising the main and reefing are that much easier with a short handed crew.

There’s an option for a helm canopy to protect yourself and of course you have those Outremer bucket seats behind so that you can sail with a tiller for maximum feel of the boat. You can opt for twin helms if you want, but most people free up some space with a single helm – particularly if they have gone for the tiller and bucket seat option.

The tillers make a good back-up system, a nice safety feature as well as giving you the boat feel.

It has to be said though – in really rough weather you’ll be inside the saloon at the navigation table. Those helms are pretty exposed unless you have installed a dodger.

We also have to give a big thumbs up to the life raft location which is positioned forward in the nets away from any potential fire hazards in the engine bays and galleys – again, showing that the priority for Outremer is safety.

Walking down from the bulkhead helm on the starboard side, you drop into the big cockpit with its wrap around sofa around a dining table. Once you drop down curtains and clears, you can extend your saloon all the way back aft although this won’t include the helm.

Living Area

The views are panoramic with a couple of opening hatches for ventilation.

Down below, the cabins are light and airy with a queen sized berth aft with big long windows, a hatch at the stern and a hatch above. The headroom is good, although the hulls might feel narrow with that daggerboard box and the slim, fast hulls. The owner’s version has a separate shower (easy to stand up in) forward in the port hull and a head. It feels a lot more spacious than the 45, her smaller sister.

On the starboard hull there is a guest cabin up forward (with an option for fold down bunks). Aft, the guest cabin has a queen sized bed going athwartships if you went for that option (you can choose fore and aft if you wish)

Outremer are famous for their build quality and attention to detail- you’ll notice clear water between this boat and cruising cats in a more modest price range.

With all the lines coming back to the helm, she’s a well organised boat that is safe to sail with a limited crew. With those high freeboards and generous volumes in the hulls, she sails well in confused seas. And once you are in those bucket seats with a tiller in hand, you’ll have a smile plastered all over your face.

If you are cruising, you will see more light winds than heavy on average, and the Outremer 51 will sail fast in light air. And she will sail well with reduced sail area which reduces the stress levels on longer passages. Those narrow hulls and the smaller saloon means that the side decks are wide, so moving around is safe. Sail handling is just plain easier on that huge foredeck.

After Sales

Another thing you should consider is the Outremer after sales service. This is something to be commended: Outremer have made a real effort to excel in this area, and that goes for owners of second hand boats too.

This sets them apart from much of the competition and in particular the volume manufacturers who offload communication to their dealer network. They have built a real community between the company and owners and that means loyal customers. Hats off to them on this front.

This is a fantastic blue water cruising boat – it’s probably the out and out leader. For all of that performance, you are going to have to trade off space and comfort though, so it depends on where your priorities lie.

Competitors include the Catana 47 and the Marsaudon TS5. They all have there pros and cons of course. You might also want to take a look at our Seawind 1600 review which is another boat that competes with the Outremer.

The 51 is a very comfortable boat, particularly when the sun is shining. And she’s one of the safest in her class.

Why did Outremer add 2 feet to the 49? By lengthening the sugar scoops by 60cm, Outremer improved the sea-motion of the yacht and smoothed out the wake. This allowed them to power up the rig.

How much is an Outremer 51? What´s the price range This will depend on the options you go for (a carbon rig will increase your costs significantly, for example). You can expect a reasonably spec’d new boat to cost around €850-900k. They do hold their value though. You will probably pay €700-750k for a decent second hand boat. They don´t come onto the market very often.

Related Catamarans

Outremer 55

Outremer 45

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Characteristics, technical specifications.

The ultimate family cruiser

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The benchmark for blue water cruising

With a load capacity far greater than that of the Outremer 45, this best-selling family boat from the Outremer range, twice awarded European Yacht of the Year and Boat of the Year in the United States, is the benchmark cruising catamaran for families sailing around the world. Powerful yet easy, with unequaled resilience, it has proven itself on all the seas of the globe.

A perfectly protected and comfortable cockpit

The rigid bimini allows the whole cockpit to be protected and to completely isolate external elements thanks to protective covers. The U-shaped cockpit is particularly well protected, especially for young children. The cockpit table, in two parts, is easy to install, but it can also be transformed into a bed while keeping a table that can be used for meals on the side.

A customizable sail plan

You will enjoy a large choice of sails and rig: self-tacking solent, genoa, staysail, carbon or aluminum mast, fixed or rotating. To better adapt to your tastes and preferences, your sail plan can also be adapted! For sailors who want to favor ease of handling and simplicity, the self-tacking solent and a downwind gennaker will allow you to go to the far side of the world with the greatest of ease. Demanding sailors may prefer a genoa combined with a staysail, a gennaker or even a spinnaker. To lower the center of gravity and further improve performance in light airs, a carbon mast, possibly a rotating mast, is a good choice.

A comfortable payload

The hull is designed to accommodate all the comfort elements needed for blue water cruising. A beautiful tender, a watermaker, a washing machine, of course, but with more than 3 tons of possible payload, you can also add a generator, air conditioning, a dive compressor or heating, and beyond that, bikes, surfboards and paddleboards will keep you busy at stopovers, and children will be able to take all their favorite toys with them…

Testimonials

« Saga Voyage » The Héliès family

A family of passionate sailors from Brittany, with four children: the father, an airline pilot and the mother, a company manager, have been sailing all around the globe. After a round the world adventure onboard their Outremer 51 Moby, they have recently switched to a 55ft catamaran named Saga!

Do you have any questions?

What changes has the outremer 51 undergone, is sailing on a 51' as easy as on a 45'.

Beyond building your boat, Outremer brings your dreams to life by being by your side at every stage of your project. To always better support you, we have created Outremer Services. This structure, integrated within Grand Large Services is able to meet all your needs, from the start of your project to the resale of your catamaran.

Seminars on the theme of blue-water cruising, training on land and at sea, charter, concierge services, refit, a network of approved partners around the world, OCM ™ e-maintenance and lastly brokerage. We offer complete and personalized support according to best fit your needs.

Impatient, not sure you can invest in a new catamaran or simply curious? See our latest second-hand boats on offer. Please note that the demand is high, don’t wait to contact us.

Charter an Outremer

SHORT TERM CHARTER WITH SKIPPER

From the legendary Outremer 45 to the acclaimed Outremer 55, not to forget the 51 and the 4X, you will find a wide range of Outremer catamarans to charter, depending on your model of interest.