I'm Old Chen.
I’ve been living in California for fifteen years.
I specialize in helping people find used boats.
Don’t trust those heavily edited photos.
Rotten wood underwater.
You can’t spot it with the naked eye.
Search for “catamaran for sale usa.”
Your screen will be flooded with brokers.
They hype up dilapidated boats as luxury yachts.
I’ve seen way too many newbies.
They just dive in with their budget.
But once they get the boat,
The repair costs end up being more than the boat itself.
That feeling is really awful.
It’s like my heart is bleeding.
Let’s talk about this today.
No beating around the bush.
I’ll just share some hard-learned lessons.
It’s 2026 now.
The market has long since changed.
It used to be a seller’s market.
Now?
There’s so much inventory it’s overwhelming.
Yet prices haven’t dropped.
Why?
Inflation follows ship prices.
Parts are both expensive and hard to find.
Labor costs are off the charts.
Find a reliable mechanic.
You’ll have to wait until next year.
You need to be mentally prepared for this.
Don’t just be fooled by the shiny deck—
There are a lot of novices.
People usually judge a car by its looks first.
Is the paint shiny?
Is the interior new?
That’s a mistake.
A huge mistake.
The hull of a catamaran.
is beneath the deck.
That glue.
Soaked in seawater for ten years.
It’s long since crumbled.
Tap it.
Listen to the sound.
It sounds muffled.
It hums.
It’s hollow.
This is the most critical part.
To repair it, we’ll have to open the hull.
We’ll have to tear up the deck.
Tens of thousands of dollars down the drain.
Don’t sweat that little down payment.
Save on the little things.
Spend on the big things.
I looked at one for a friend last year.
A Lagoon 42.
It was a 2018 model.
The photos looked absolutely stunning.
But when I got there and took a look,
At the seam between the foredeck and the hull,
There were clear signs of water seepage.
Although it had been freshly painted,
the wood had already softened.
He almost signed the contract.
Luckily, I stopped him.
Otherwise, it would have resulted in a huge fine.
That’s the value of experience.
You can spend money to buy a car.
But you can’t buy your way out of trouble.
A Strange Phenomenon in the U.S. Market
Buying a boat in the U.S.
There are significant regional differences.
The water in Florida.
It’s extremely corrosive.
The salt content is alarmingly high.
Boats there
Generally have a shorter lifespan.
Unless you maintain them extremely well.
Otherwise, stay away from old boats.
What about the West Coast?
The water temperature is low.
Corrosion is slower.
But the boats are all older.
People replace their boats frequently.
High idle rate.
Conversely, you can find some real bargains.
But logistics can be a hassle.
You have to haul it back yourself.
Or pay a hefty shipping fee.
That’s something to consider.
You also have to consider insurance.
2026.
U.S. insurance companies have gone crazy.
Insurance premiums for catamarans
They’ve skyrocketed.
Especially for older boats.
Some companies are flat-out refusing to insure them.
You bought a boat.
Would you dare take it out on the water without insurance?
No way.
So you’ll just have to keep it moored.
Docking fees aren’t cheap either.
Especially in popular marina areas.
Places like Miami.
Berthing fees are charged monthly.
Several thousand dollars is the norm.
This fixed expense
Many people overlook it.
This leads to a cash flow crisis.
Eventually, they have to sell the boat at a fire-sale price.
Losing everything they’ve got.
Let the data speak for itself—don’t rely on gut feelings.
Let’s take a look at a table.
Here’s a simple comparison.
It’s a bit more intuitive.
| Region | Florida Region (Southeast) | California Region (West Coast) | Northeast Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Advantages | Long sailing season (available year-round) | Boats are in relatively good condition (preserved with anti-corrosion treatments) | Lowest prices (intense competition) |
| Major Disadvantages | Severe salt corrosion; repairs are extremely expensive | Cannot sail in winter; remains idle for long periods | Extreme heat in summer, risk of hurricanes |
| Average Insurance Premium | Extremely high (old vessels are difficult to insure) | High | Moderate |
| Berthing costs | $15–25 per foot per month | $10–18 per foot per month | $8–15 per foot per month |
| Suitable for | Year-round vacationers | Weekend travelers who prioritize vehicle condition | Budget-conscious beginners |
Take a look at these figures.
There’s no perfect option.
Only solutions that address your specific needs.
You’re in New York.
Buy a boat in Florida.
Shipping alone will cost $5,000.
Plus, you’ll have to pay out-of-state taxes.
It’s one hassle after another.
The same goes the other way around.
So decide first:
Where are you setting sail from?
That’s where you’ll find a boat.
Don’t try to save money by crossing provincial borders.
The money you save
will end up being spent anyway.
My personal selection method
Here’s what I usually do.
Step 1.
Check the boat’s history.
Use BoatHistoryReport.
Check for any accidents.
Check for any major repairs.
Don’t take the seller’s word for it.
Trust the stamp on the paper.
This thing costs a few dozen dollars.
You’ve got nothing to lose.
Step 2.
Hire an independent surveyor.
Don’t skimp on this.
The inspection fee is a few hundred dollars.
It can save you tens of thousands of dollars in potential pitfalls.
The surveyor will crawl under the keel.
They’ll inspect every screw.
Every weld.
They see what you can’t.
Step 3.
Take it for a test run.
Don’t just test it at the dock.
Head out to sea.
Go full speed.
Check for engine vibration.
Check if the steering is responsive.
Catamarans tend to heel.
Is it stable?
You’ll know after one lap.
If it feels wobbly,
Get out of there fast.
The draft might be off.
That’s very dangerous.
Especially in rough seas.
Common pitfalls—have you fallen for any of them?
A lot of people ask me,
What size should I buy?
My advice:
The smaller, the better.
For beginners.
Under 26 feet.
Easy to handle.
Inexpensive to maintain.
Easy to dock.
Don’t expect to get everything you want right away.
Buy a big yacht.
That’s just a financial burden.
It’s not for fun.
The fuel costs for a big boat
It’ll make you question your life choices.
Catamarans have a deep draft.
You can’t enter many shallow bays.
You think you can go off the beaten path.
But you end up running aground at the dock.
How embarrassing, right?
And then there’s the interior.
Don’t be fooled by the “leather” seats.
That’s faux leather.
It’ll crack after two years in the sun.
Replacing them costs 2,000.
You’re better off buying canvas covers.
They’re cheap.
Easy to wash.
You won’t feel bad if they get ruined.
Storage space on a catamaran.
It’s actually not very big.
Because there’s empty space between the two hulls.
If you need to find a place to put your things,
You’ll have to plan carefully.
Don’t bring too many odds and ends.
It’s exhausting just getting on board.
Time for a tough question
Q: Should I buy a new one or a used one right now?
A: Unless you have more than 100,000 in spare cash.
Otherwise, stay away from brand-new ones.
The depreciation is too steep.
It loses 20% of its value the moment you drive it off the lot.
Buy a nearly-new car that’s less than three years old.
It offers the best value for the money.
The technology hasn’t become outdated yet.
The price has hit rock bottom.
Q: Should I choose a single-cylinder or twin-cylinder engine?
A: Twin-cylinder—it has to be a twin-cylinder.
Single-cylinder engines have a high failure rate.
And if one breaks down,
you’ll be stranded at sea.
If one cylinder in a twin-cylinder engine fails,
You can still row home slowly.
That little bit of peace of mind.
It’s worth every penny.
Don’t try to save that little bit of money.
Don’t gamble with your life.
Q: When is the best time to buy?
A: In the winter.
When no one is out on the water.
Sellers are desperate to sell.
You can haggle the price down to rock bottom.
Especially from February to March.
Everyone’s desperate to recoup their losses.
If you negotiate during this time,
Your success rate will be extremely high.
Don’t go just to join the crowd in the summer.
That’s the season for suckers.
Q: Do I need to hire a captain?
A: If you’ve never driven one before,
Hire an instructor for a day.
Three hundred bucks.
Learn the basics.
Don’t skimp on this.
Don’t expect to learn just by watching videos.
Conditions out at sea.
It’s much more complicated.
If you happen to hit a buoy,
It’ll cost even more to repair.
Author’s Note: *
My name is Old Chen (Chen "Skipper" Wang). I have 15 years of experience in yacht charter and management along the U.S. Southeast coast and in California waters, I have helped over 200 first-time buyers complete the entire process—from selecting a boat and inspecting it to handling the transfer of ownership—during which I have reviewed more than 500 vessels, and I have an in-depth understanding of the hidden costs and pitfalls associated with catamarans in the North American market. The content of this article is compiled based on data gathered from first-hand, real-world experience, with the aim of providing authentic, ad-free guidance for boat buyers. All perspectives are drawn from the lessons I’ve learned over many years in the industry, and I strive to help readers avoid costly sunk costs.