There is no such thing as a good boat. There is a boat that fits your waters, your crew, and your way of relaxing. Answer five questions in order: each answer cuts off a part of the models, and the table at the end will tell you 2-3 models to start with. The figures are based on the shipyards' data.
1. Where will you walk
At home on weekends, low draft, easy mooring and quick exit from the marina are important.
The Mediterranean season requires a week's supply of water and fuel without port calls and shade in the cockpit.
Ocean Crossings — Look at the CE category, stocks, and how the boat carries cargo.
Warm shallow waters decide the precipitation: the less it is, the closer you will stand to the shore.
The CE category shows what conditions the boat is designed for. A — wind stronger than 8 points and wave higher than 4 m. B — up to 8 points and up to 4 m. C — up to 6 points and up to 2 m. This is a design calculation, not a permission to go out into a storm.
2. Who will be on board
A couple or a family of up to four people — three cabins: one for you, two for guests. This is often the "owner's version": one building is entirely occupied by the owner's cabin.
Large family and friends, 6-10 people — four cabins or more, each with a bathroom.
Charter — maximum cabins of the same size and easy maintenance.
The number of cabins for one model varies. For example, the Aventura 45 and Aventura 48 models are built with three, four, five or six cabins (according to the shipyard). Choose a layout for the regular team, rather than for one holiday per year.
3. Sail or motor
Sailing catamaran — quiet on the move and low fuel consumption. The price for this is time and willingness to work with sails.
A motor catamaran is less dependent on the wind: it's easier to plan the day. More deck space and a flybridge. Fuel consumption is higher.
Motor catamaran for long—distance trips - small economical engines and enlarged tanks: it goes slower, but it goes far. Aventura has this Explorer series.
Ask yourself honestly: do you like the process of sailing, or is it important for you to be in the bay for lunch?
4. By yourself or with a crew
A couple can handle a catamaran up to 13-14 meters if the gear is brought down to the control post and there is a good view from there. At 15-17 meters, everything is decided by the deck arrangement: electric winches, autopilot, thrusters. Check if you can moor together in a crosswind.
There are boats that are designed for the crew. The SIMBAD 55 model is designed for the owner, who comes on board to relax, and trusts the captain to manage. Then the crew's cabin is included in the budget and in the layout in advance.
5. Catamaran or trimaran
Catamaran — two hulls. There is plenty of room in the cabins, which are spaced along the sides, and a wide deck.
Trimaran — three buildings. The central hull carries the main weight, so the boat sails sharper. The living space is arranged differently: the cabin and cockpit are combined on the main deck.
The trimarans in our portfolio are being built by the NEEL shipyard. If sailing is the most important thing for you and you spend a lot of time in transit, check out the trimaran.
Where to start: Task models
Weekend at home, under the engine — Aventura 38 S, 38 SC, 38 Sedan, 38 FLY
First sailing boat, family vacation — Aventura 37, Seawind 1170
Mediterranean season, family and guests — Aventura 43, Seawind 1270, Aventura 45, Seawind 1370
Large company or charter — Aventura 45, Aventura 48, Aventura 56 MY
Ocean crossings, life on board — Seawind 1370, Seawind 1600, Aventura 48 (all have CE category A)
Long—range trips under the engine - Aventura 37 Explorer, 47 Explorer, 56 MY
Shallow warm waters — Aventura 38 S and 38 SC, Aventura 37 Explorer, Aventura 37; large ones — Seawind 1600
High speed sailing — NEEL 43, NEEL 48, NEEL 52, Seawind 1270, Seawind 1370, Seawind 1600
Vacation with a crew, grand suite — SIMBAD 55
Day trips with passengers — Aventura 37 DC (up to 28 passengers), Aventura 45 DC (up to 60 passengers)
The draft of the Aventura 38 S and 38 SC models is 0.78 m, the Aventura 37 Explorer is 0.94 m, the Aventura 37 is 1.2 m; the Seawind 1600 model has lifting lines (according to the shipyards).
What to check on board
1. Clearance under the bridge — the distance from the water to the bottom between the buildings. The guideline is 5-6% of the length of the boat; 4% is the lower limit (Lagoon shipyard memo). With a small clearance, the wave hits the bottom.
2. Loading — how much cargo the boat carries in excess of its own weight. An overloaded catamaran quickly loses steam.
3. Overview from the control room — whether all four corners of the boat are visible when mooring.
4. Shadow — where you sit at noon: a hard roof over the cockpit, a flybridge, an awning.
5. Access to the engines — is it possible to check the oil and filters without disassembling the cabin.
6. The cabin and cockpit are on the same level — without a threshold and steps between them, it is convenient every day.
Full cost of ownership
The price of the boat is only the first line. Calculate the rest in advance: taxes on purchase and import; flag and registration; delivery from the shipyard to the base; parking in the marina and winter storage; insurance; annual maintenance — engines, sails, underwater part; crew, if necessary; retrofitting for your area of navigation. Ask the dealer to make such a list specifically for your country and marina — the numbers vary greatly.
A new boat or a used one
New — you choose the layout, engines and equipment and receive a shipyard guarantee. The construction needs to wait, the time depends on the shipyard and the model.
With mileage, the boat is already on the water, often with retrofitting from the previous owner. An independent lifting inspection and document verification are required before purchase. What to watch: engine operating hours and maintenance history, age of sails and standing rigging, impact marks and moisture in the hull, condition of electrics and batteries.
What's next
Write down your five answers — where you will walk, who is on board, sail or motor, yourself or with the crew, catamaran or trimaran — and send them in private messages to @Viktor_Volikov on Telegram. I will select 2-3 models for your tasks and tell you how they differ.
The PDF version of the guide (12 pages) is attached to the Telegram channel. t.me/vv_multihulls .
Published 13 October 2026