Leopard Catamarans · Catamaran

Leopard 42

The name Leopard 42 covers two different cruising catamarans from Robertson and Caine in Cape Town, both drawn by Simonis Voogd and both run in charter as the Moorings 4200. The first was built in the early 2000s (the builder’s standard list of December 2002 is already revision 17) and was replaced by the Leopard 43 by the end of 2004; it has beech joinery, rudders behind full-length skegs, an arch over the cockpit, two 40 hp Yanmar diesels, 780 l of water and gear from Lewmar, Lofrans, Raytheon and Profurl. The second was presented in August 2020, first sailed in December 2020 and was offered until 2026: 12.67 m long and 7.04 m wide, with a coachroof lounge, a door to the foredeck, island berths, three or four cabins each with its own head and shower, and two 45 hp Yanmars with saildrives; the four-cabin charter boat was also sold as the Sunsail 424, it replaced the Leopard 40, and the new Leopard 43 followed it in 2026. Hardly a part is shared between the two, so check the build year before you order, and compare the boat with the charter lists below: a privately ordered 42 often has much less equipment.

Manuals & documents

The links go to Leopard Catamarans’s own documents — some as archived copies of pages the maker has since taken down. We host no manuals or drawings.

Equipment & its manuals

Standard equipment as the builder’s documents list it. Boats were ordered with options and refitted since — check what is actually aboard.

ItemModelManual / pageNote
EngineYanmar 40 hp × 211st generation: builder’s standard list of December 2002—The list gives only make and power, not the engine model and not whether each engine drives a shaft or a saildrive. Read the engine plate before you order filters, impellers or belts.
EngineYanmar 4JH45 × 22,3,4,52nd generation: 45 hp each, with saildrivesYanmar 4JH45 / 4JH57 Parts & service pageThe builder’s pages and brochures and the Moorings and Sunsail lists say only “2 × Yanmar 45 hp”; the model 4JH45 appears in the Simonis Voogd performance sheet of May 2019, which is marked preliminary. Check the engine plate before ordering parts.
SaildriveYanmar SD60 × 22,32nd generation: the model is named only in the Simonis Voogd sheet of May 2019Yanmar SD50 / SD60 Parts & service pageAll other builder documents and the charter lists just say “saildrive”. Read the plate on the leg before ordering anodes, seals or oil.
Propeller3-blade fixed × 211st generation: 2002 list—
PropellerFixed blade × 24,5,2,62nd generation: standard in the Moorings and Sunsail lists—The Simonis Voogd sheet was calculated with 18 × 13 in propellers. Folding propellers came with the performance package, together with upgraded rigging (review of hull no. 1).
WinchesLewmar 50 CST × 2, 44 CST × 2, 40 CST11st generation: the 50s as primary sheet winches, the 44s for the halyards on the mast, the 40 for the travellerLewmar Ocean & EVO winches Parts & service pageLewmar also supplied the mainsheet traveller (size 3), genoa cars and tracks (size 2) and two winch handles.
WinchesElectric primaries × 2 + mainsheet winch4,5,7,82nd generation: make and size not named—The Moorings and Sunsail lists print the two electric primaries as a charter upgrade and the black anodised mainsheet winch as standard; Cruising World’s test boat had three electric winches, two of them standard. All lines lead to the raised helm.
WindlassLofrans Tigres 1000 W11st generation: horizontal windlass with hand-held remoteLofrans Tigres Parts & service pageThe list prints “Tigress”. Today’s Tigres has a 1500 W motor, so read the plate before ordering a motor or brushes. Ground tackle in the list: a 27 kg CQR with 50 m of chain and a 15 kg Bruce with 8 m of chain and 61 m of warp.
WindlassVertical, 1000 W / 1600 W · 10 mm gypsy9,5,42nd generation: with hand-held remote; make not named—The Moorings list of July 2020 and the Sunsail 424 list of 2025 give 1000 W, the Moorings 4200 lists of March 2025 1600 W, always as standard. Bow roller and chain stopper; the charter boats carry a 25 kg (55 lb) stainless anchor.
FurlerProfurl11st generation: genoa furler; model not namedProfurl furling systems Parts & service pageMast and cross beam by SparCraft (natural anodised, with an Antal mast slider system); sails by Quantum: full-batten mainsail with two reefs, 120 % furling genoa and stack pack.
SteeringEdson chain and wire11st generation: bulkhead steering unit with brake, destroyer wheel, stainless emergency tiller—The rudders are protected by full-length skegs.
SteeringChain and wire · bulkhead steering unit with brake9,5,42nd generation: make not named—Destroyer wheel and stainless emergency tiller; balanced spade rudders on 17-4 PH stainless stocks in self-aligning bearings.
ToiletJabsco manual, large bowl11st generation: one per cabin (2002 list)Jabsco Twist ’n’ Lock (29090 / 29120) Parts & service pageThe list says only “Jabsco large bowl manual toilets”; compare the pump with our page before ordering a service kit.
ToiletElectric × 3 or 4 (charter boats)9,4,52nd generation: printed as a charter upgrade “instead of standard toilets”; make not named—The 2020 lists call them large-bowl electric toilets. Which toilets a privately ordered 42 has is not stated; look at the label before ordering parts.
AutopilotRaytheon ST700111st generation: autopilot control head (2002 list); drive unit not named—Raytheon is the earlier name of Raymarine.
AutopilotRaymarine p709,52nd generation: colour autopilot display in the Raymarine pack of the charter boats; drive unit not namedRaymarine p70 / p70s / p70R / p70Rs commissioning and operation instructions 81402
ChartplotterRaytheon Raychart 42511st generation: 2002 list—VHF in the same list: Raytheon Ray 215 at the switch panel; steering compass at the helm.
ChartplotterRaymarine Axiom 9 / Axiom 129,52nd generation: Raymarine pack of the charter boats: Axiom 9 (Moorings list, July 2020), Axiom 12 at the helm (Sunsail 424 list, 2025)Raymarine Axiom Parts & service pageSame pack: a Raymarine VHF with AIS receiver at the chart table and a second handset at the helm, and a forward-facing Raymarine camera.
InstrumentsRaytheon ST60 Wind + ST60 Tridata11st generation: wind instrument and speed, log and depth at the helmRaymarine ST60 / ST60+ Parts & service page
InstrumentsRaymarine i7092nd generation: colour instrument at the helm with depth and wind transducers, Raymarine pack of the charter boats (July 2020 list)Raymarine i70 & i70s Parts & service page
Remote monitoringDigital monitoring with 7-inch display9,5,10,62nd generation: printed as standard in the Moorings and Sunsail lists—The builder’s 2025 range brochure calls Raymarine digital monitoring with a touchscreen an option, and the Multihull Sailor review mentions Raymarine digital switching. Check which system is fitted before replacing a display.
FridgeSeafrost 12 V · 225 l11st generation: chest fridge/freezer with two adjustable damper slides—
FridgeVitrifrigo 212 l · 12 V9,4,62nd generation: two-drawer fridge/freezer by the aft saloon door—Charter boats add a fridge in the aft cockpit and, in the 2025 lists, an extra 12 V freezer.
StoveForce 10, 2 burners with oven and grill11st generation: gas; solenoid valve switched at the panel, warning light at the cooker—
StoveENO 3-burner hob + ENO oven9,4,112nd generation: gas—Gas solenoid valve switched at the panel with a warning light at the cooker; cylinder and regulator in a cockpit locker. The 2025 three-cabin list prints hob and oven without the make; charter boats add a microwave.
GeneratorNorthern Lights 6 kW9,5,4,62nd generation: charter upgrade (Moorings list July 2020, Sunsail 424 list 2025; the 2025 Moorings lists say only “Genset”)Northern Lights M673 / M773 / M843 Parts & service pageThe lists give only make and power; check the plate for the exact set. The Multihull Sailor review names the locker under the foredeck sunbed as the place for a 6 kW genset.
Air conditioningCruisair 2 × 16000 BTU11st generation: two units on shore power, 32000 BTU in total—
Air conditioning2 units · 32000 BTU9,5,12,102nd generation: charter upgrade, run from the generator; make not named—The 2025 range brochure describes upgraded air conditioners with touchscreen controls, soft start and sound enclosures.
Watermaker117 l/h (31 US gal/h)9,5,82nd generation: charter upgrade; make not named—Standard on every boat: a water purifier with its own tap at the galley sink.
Batteries3 × 180 Ah gel + 2 × 95 Ah gel11st generation: three deep-cycle gel house batteries and one gel starter battery per engine—Charger: Sentry 40 A. Two 90 A high-output alternators, upgraded from 55 A.
Batteries2 × 100 Ah lead-acid starter + house bank9,5,4,62nd generation: two starter and two house batteries standard; the charter boats have four house batteries and AGM throughout—Charter upgrades in the same lists: a 12 V inverter/charger, a Sterling alternator-to-battery charger with a button at the helm to link starter and house batteries, and two 100 W solar panels on the hardtop. Lithium batteries were an option (review).
DavitsStainless davits with electric winch9,4,52nd generation: charter upgrade (custom stainless davit system with tackle and electric winch)—
Hatches & portsLewmar hatches size 10, 40, 60 · portlights Atlantic 40/60, Ocean 1, size 2 and 511st generation: 2002 list—Hatches: 6 × size 10 (7 on the three-cabin boat), 2 × size 40, 2 × size 60 and a size 60 escape hatch. Portlights: 4 × Atlantic 40, 4 × Atlantic 60, 2 × Ocean size 1 (1 on the three-cabin boat), 4 × size 2 (5 on the three-cabin boat) and 4 × size 5.
Hatches & portsFlush hatches size 10 and 44 · portlights size 5 and 19,42nd generation: maker not named—2 × size 10 and 6 × size 44 flush hatches; portlights 2 × size 5 in the windscreen and 10 × size 1 in the hull sides and transoms. Measure the frames before ordering glazing or seals.

Specifications

Versions1st generation (early 2000s): beech interior, rudders behind skegs, arch over the cockpit, 3 or 4 cabins, charter version Moorings 4200. 2nd generation (2020–2026): coachroof lounge, door to the foredeck, island berths, 3 cabins and 3 heads or 4 and 4, charter versions Moorings 4200 (3 or 4 cabins) and Sunsail 424 (4 cabins). Different hulls, decks and interiors1,13,3,11,4,14
Years built1st generation: in production by 2002 (the builder’s standard list of 5 December 2002 is revision 17); replaced by the Leopard 43, whose list is dated 29 November 2004. 2nd generation: presented in August 2020, first test sail in South Africa in December 2020, offered until the Leopard 43 replaced it in 20261,15,16,17,18
DesignerSimonis Voogd (Alex Simonis), both generations19,13,8
BuilderRobertson and Caine, Cape Town (South Africa)13,20
Length overall2nd generation: 12.67 m (41 ft 7 in)3,20
Waterline length2nd generation: 12.44 m (40 ft 10 in)3,20
Beam2nd generation: 7.04 m (23 ft 1 in)3,20
Draft2nd generation: 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in); the 2026 comparison page gives 1.43 m3,20,18
Displacement2nd generation, light ship: 12467 kg (builder’s pages 2020 to January 2023, charter lists) or 13691 kg (builder’s pages from June 2023, 2025 brochure); design sheet: 14.3 t half laden, 16.5 t fully laden3,21,22,10,2,5
Max. payload2nd generation: 4701 kg (until January 2023) or 5015 kg (from June 2023)21,22
Sail area2nd generation: 113.1 m² upwind with the standard mainsail, 116.6 m² with the square-top mainsail (the 2026 comparison chart gives 1259 sq ft)3,23,6
Mainsail2nd generation: 66.6 m² standard, 70.1 m² square top (option)3,10
Genoa2nd generation: 46.5 m², overlapping furling genoa (about 110 %)3,7
Light-air sails2nd generation: spinnaker 154.5 m², Code 0 62.8 m², Code D 94.9 m²3
Air draft2nd generation: 20.68 m (67 ft 10 in)3,9
Bridgedeck clearance2nd generation: 0.75 m (2 ft 6 in)3,7
Engine1st generation: 2 × 40 hp Yanmar (model and drive not named) · 2nd generation: 2 × 45 hp Yanmar with saildrives (Simonis Voogd sheet: 4JH45 with SD60)1,3,2
Fuel tank1st generation: 360 l (95 US gal) in two aluminium tanks · 2nd generation: 600 l (158 US gal) in two tanks1,3,4
Water tank1st generation: 780 l (206 US gal) in two tanks, hot water 45 l · 2nd generation: 660 l (174 US gal) in two tanks low in the hulls, hot water 46 l in two cylinders1,3,4,6
Holding tank1st generation: 170 l (four cabins) or 100 l (three cabins) in two tanks · 2nd generation: 166 l (44 US gal) on the builder’s pages of 2020 and from June 2023, 120 l (32 US gal) on its pages of December 2022 and January 2023 and in the charter lists1,3,21,22,9,5
Cabins1st generation: 4, or 3 with an owner’s study, each with its own head · 2nd generation: 3 cabins and 3 heads or 4 and 4, each head with its own shower, plus a transom shower1,3,11
Berths1st generation: double berths plus single berths in the forepeaks · 2nd generation: 6 or 8; the saloon table converts to a double1,3,4
Berth sizes1st generation: 1.4 × 2.0 m · 2nd generation: forward berths 1.50 × 2.14 m, aft and owner’s berths 1.57 × 2.04 m, all island berths1,11,4
Hull2nd generation: GRP, multi-stage resin infusion (builder); foam-cored, with a one-piece coachroof, a stainless “H” frame and GRP bulkheads (review)23,6
CE category1st generation: CE certified (2002 list) · 2nd generation: NMMA and CE certified; the design category is not given1,20,9
Awards2nd generation: Cruising World Boat of the Year 2022, Multihull of the Year 202224
Predecessor2nd generation: it replaced the Leopard 407,25
Successor1st generation: Leopard 43 / Moorings 4300 (from late 2004, developed from the 42) · 2nd generation: Leopard 43 (2026, debut at Cannes in September 2026)19,15,18

Good to know

  • Two different boats carry the name, and The Moorings called both of them Moorings 4200 in charter. The early-2000s Leopard 42 has beech joinery, skegged rudders, an arch over the cockpit and two 40 hp Yanmars; the 2020–2026 boat has a coachroof lounge, island berths, a 7.04 m beam and two 45 hp Yanmars with saildrives. Each was followed by a Leopard 43 (2004 and 2026), so give the build year when you ask for parts.1,13,3,19,18
  • No builder equipment list names the Yanmar model: the 2002 list says “Yanmar 40hp”, the current pages “2 × Yanmar 45 hp with saildrive”. Only the preliminary Simonis Voogd sheet of May 2019 names the 4JH45 with the SD60 saildrive. Read the plates on engine and leg before you order filters, impellers, anodes or seals.1,3,2
  • The Moorings 4200 and Sunsail 424 lists print the charter upgrades in bold: electric primary winches, electric toilets, AGM batteries, inverter/charger, the Raymarine pack, generator, air conditioning, watermaker, solar panels, davits and an automatic fire-suppression system in the engine rooms. A privately ordered Leopard 42 may have none of these, or other makes, so check the boat itself rather than the list.9,4,5
  • Engine access on the 2020–2026 boat: the engine-room hatches open inboard, so you do not step out towards the swim platform, and you move the steering tie-rod aside before climbing down; then there is good room around the engine for routine service (review of hull no. 1).26,6
  • Each new boat came with an owner’s operating manual (a standard item in the charter lists). Leopard does not offer it as a download: its owners’ page points to the Leopard Catamarans Owner app by Boatclick, which holds the owner’s manuals and the equipment makers’ documents for each model, and links the warranty claim form and the Leopard service centres.27,9,28
  • Some figures changed during the run of the 2020–2026 boat: the windlass is 1000 W in the 2020 Moorings list and the Sunsail 424 list but 1600 W in the 2025 Moorings 4200 lists, the builder’s light displacement rose from 12467 kg to 13691 kg in 2023, and its holding-tank figure is 166 l or 120 l depending on the year. Read the plates or measure rather than trusting a single sheet.9,4,21,22,3

Videos & how-tos

Links to YouTube, nothing embedded. The maker’s own channel comes first; the rest are channels we found clear and correct for this model.

On the marketplace

Looking for a part for the Leopard 42? Post a wanted ad in the app — it is free, it sits on the live map, and boaters nearby who have the part aboard can answer.

Got spares you no longer need? List them in a minute. No commission, ever.

Get the app

Sources

  1. web.archive.org/web/20031123102420/http://www.moorings.com:80/images/paraimages/2500.PDF
  2. leopardcatamarans.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Leopard-42-Polars_Consumption.pdf
  3. web.archive.org/web/20200810105516/https://www.leopardcatamarans.com/catamarans/leopard-42
  4. assets.moorings.com/uploads/2022/11/Moorings-4200-4-cabins-EN-04.03.2025.pdf
  5. assets.sunsail.com/uploads/2023/09/Sunsail-424-EN-04.03.2025.pdf
  6. sailmagazine.com/multihulls/boat-review-leopard-42/
  7. cruisingworld.com/story/sailboats/leopard-42-boat-review/
  8. robertsonandcaine.com/brochures/2021-leopard-42-brochure.pdf
  9. web.archive.org/web/20240627010828/https://www.moorings.com/sites/default/files/documents…
  10. leopardcatamarans.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Leopard-Range-Brochure-EN-Digital.pdf
  11. assets.moorings.com/uploads/2022/11/Moorings-4200-3-cabins-EN-04.03.2025.pdf
  12. moorings.com/yachts/sail-fleet/catamarans/4200-4-cabin
  13. leopardcatamarans.com/about-robertson-caine
  14. sunsail.com/yachts/catamarans/sunsail-424
  15. web.archive.org/web/20050812013921/http://www.moorings.com:80/images/paraimages/l43.PDF
  16. youtube.com/watch?v=3Tk3apbW1RI
  17. youtube.com/watch?v=xt06P0dLISY
  18. leopardcatamarans.com/compare-catamarans/leopard-42-vs-leopard-43
  19. web.archive.org/web/20060510224509/http://www.moorings.com:80/images/paraimages/3839.pdf
  20. web.archive.org/web/20260116151249/https://www.leopardcatamarans.com/catamarans/leopard-42
  21. web.archive.org/web/20221205023012/https://www.leopardcatamarans.com/catamarans/leopard-42
  22. web.archive.org/web/20230602181752/https://www.leopardcatamarans.com/catamarans/leopard-42
  23. leopardcatamarans.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/L42-vs-L43-Comparison-Chart-2026-1.pdf
  24. leopardcatamarans.com/about-leopard/awards-recognition
  25. multihulls-world.com/review/catamaran/leopard-42-an-efficient-and-affordable-catamaran
  26. leopardcatamarans.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MHS_Sum21_NB-Leopard-42.pdf
  27. leopardcatamarans.com/owners
  28. leopardcatamarans.com/contact-us/our-offices

Leopard Catamarans is a trademark of its owner; boatparts.app is not affiliated with it. Part numbers are quoted for identification only. Spotted an error? Write to mail@boatparts.app.