Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Excess 11 vs Leopard 50

Two near-neighbours in the 37–50 foot class — here's how they actually differ on the water.

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At a Glance

Excess

Excess 11

The Excess 11 is a 37-foot 3-cabin catamaran launched in 2022. Best for performance, modern lovers, couples. A performance-leaning hull form for sailors who care how it feels on the helm.

Leopard

Leopard 50

The Leopard 50 is a 50-foot 5-cabin catamaran launched in 2019. Best for large group, family, performance. A proven family-friendly layout.

Quick Comparison

Spec	Excess 11	Leopard 50
Length overall	37 ft (11.3 m)	50 ft (15.43 m)
Beam	6.59 m	8.06 m
Cabins (guest + crew)	3 + 1	5 + 2
Max guests	6	10
Year introduced	2022	2019
Best for	performance, modern lovers, couples	large group, family, performance
Standout amenity	AC, watermaker	AC, generator
Charter regions	Caribbean, Mediterranean	Caribbean, Indian Ocean, South East Asia, South America & Galápagos
Indicative price (bareboat low season)	$7,000	$7,000
Indicative price (crewed peak season)	$57,500	$57,500
View full detail	View →	View →

Pricing data drawn from current-season bookings across BVI and Mediterranean bases. Updated quarterly.

What Would Each Boat Actually Cost You?

Design & Comfort Differences

The two boats feel meaningfully different on board, even within the same nominal size class. Three specific differences worth knowing:

Saloon and deck space. The Excess 11 has a classic enclosed saloon with a wide aft deck; the Leopard 50 offers a more conventional enclosed saloon.
Cabin configuration. Both boats offer 3 (Excess 11) vs 5 (Leopard 50) guest cabins. If you need 5 equal cabins for a multi-couple charter, the Leopard 50 is the better fit. Otherwise they're both fine for a single-family layout.
Amenities & kit. Excess 11 comes with AC, watermaker, solar, dinghy. Leopard 50 adds generator, ice maker.

Performance Differences

Neither boat is a racer; both are cruising catamarans. But the Excess 11.

In light air (under 10 knots true wind), the heavier-displacement boat will feel slightly sluggish; in 15–20 knots trade-wind conditions both perform similarly. In big Med Meltemi/Mistral conditions (25+ knots) the Leopard 50's wider 8.06 m beam will initially feel more stable but pushes more water resistance.

For bareboat charters both behave predictably under sail and under power. We rarely see either one out-sail the other in normal charter conditions.

Price & Value

In current-season data, the Excess 11 starts at $7,000/week bareboat (low season, BVI or Greece) and the Leopard 50 starts at $7,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Excess 11 reach $57,500/week and the Leopard 50 reach $57,500/week.

For most charterers the price difference is small (~$500–$1,500/week) compared to the total trip cost — meaning amenities, layout and your destination matter more than sticker price when choosing between two boats this similar.

Which Should You Choose?

If you're a family with kids

Both boats work for families — compare cabin configs in our detail pages and we'll help you pick the better-fitting layout.

If you want performance / a sailing-feel boat

Choose the Excess 11. It was designed with sailing performance in mind — the helm feels more responsive and you'll enjoy being on the wind.

If you want luxury / open-space

Both are mainstream cruising layouts. For a true "luxury first" catamaran consider a Bali 5.4 or Sunreef 60 — but at very different price points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Excess 11 bigger than the Leopard 50? ▾

The Excess 11 is 37 ft (11.3 m) long with a 6.59 m beam, while the Leopard 50 is 50 ft (15.43 m) with a 8.06 m beam. The Leopard 50 is the longer boat, but the difference of 13 ft may be marginal once you step on board.

Which is better for a family — Excess 11 or Leopard 50? ▾

The Leopard 50 is the stronger family pick — designed with large group / family in mind, with 5 guest cabins and a layout forgiving for kids new to sailing. The Excess 11 leans performance / modern lovers — fine for older families with sailing experience.

Which is better value — Excess 11 or Leopard 50? ▾

In our tracking, the two boats are priced within ~$0/week of each other at the low end, so value depends on which features you weight: the Excess 11 gives you AC, watermaker, solar; the Leopard 50 gives you AC, generator, watermaker.

Can the Excess 11 and Leopard 50 charter in the same destinations? ▾

Excess 11: Caribbean, Mediterranean. Leopard 50: Caribbean, Indian Ocean, South East Asia, South America & Galápagos. Where they overlap (often the Caribbean + Mediterranean), they're both well-supported by local charter fleets and you can usually get a checkout sail either way.

How many guests can each boat sleep? ▾

Excess 11: 3 guest cabins + 1 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 6 guests in standard charter config. Leopard 50: 5 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 10 guests. The Leopard 50 sleeps more; pick that one for larger groups.

Keep Comparing

More 37–50-foot Catamaran Comparisons

Excess 11 vs Excess 13 43 ft vs 37 ft · same brand Excess 11 vs Leopard 45 45 ft vs 37 ft · 4 cabins Excess 11 vs Leopard 42 42 ft vs 37 ft · 4 cabins Excess 11 vs Excess 12 41 ft vs 37 ft · same brand Excess 11 vs Excess 14 47 ft vs 37 ft · same brand Excess 11 vs Leopard 40 40 ft vs 37 ft · 4 cabins

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