Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Excess 13 vs Nautitech 40 Open

Two near-neighbours in the 40–43 foot class — here's how they actually differ on the water.

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At a Glance

Excess

Excess 13

The Excess 13 is a 43-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2024. Best for performance, modern lovers, family. A proven family-friendly layout.

Nautitech

Nautitech 40 Open

The Nautitech 40 Open is a 40-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2020. Best for performance, open space lovers, couples. A performance-leaning hull form for sailors who care how it feels on the helm.

Quick Comparison

Spec	Excess 13	Nautitech 40 Open
Length overall	43 ft (13.13 m)	40 ft (11.98 m)
Beam	7.2 m	6.8 m
Cabins (guest + crew)	4 + 1	4 + 2
Max guests	8	8
Year introduced	2024	2020
Best for	performance, modern lovers, family	performance, open space lovers, couples
Standout amenity	AC, generator	AC, generator
Charter regions	Caribbean, Mediterranean	Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, Northern Europe & Baltic, US East Coast & Florida
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.

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 13 has a classic enclosed saloon with a wide aft deck; the Nautitech 40 Open offers a more conventional enclosed saloon. The Nautitech 40 Open specifically targets open-space lovers — the indoor/outdoor flow is the headline feature.
Cabin configuration. Both boats offer 4 symmetrical guest cabins. What differs is cabin shape — the Excess typically uses a forward-galley / island-berth layout, while Nautitech often offsets the galley aft. Worth seeing both layouts before deciding for a couples-only trip.
Amenities & kit. Excess 13 comes with AC, generator, watermaker, solar, dinghy. Nautitech 40 Open adds a similar kit, with the same core list.

Performance Differences

Neither boat is a racer; both are cruising catamarans. But the Excess 13.

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 Excess 13's wider 7.2 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 13 starts at $7,000/week bareboat (low season, BVI or Greece) and the Nautitech 40 Open starts at $7,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Excess 13 reach $57,500/week and the Nautitech 40 Open 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 13. 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

Choose the Nautitech 40 Open. It's specifically tuned for indoor-outdoor living and the finish is the more premium of the two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Excess 13 bigger than the Nautitech 40 Open? ▾

The Excess 13 is 43 ft (13.13 m) long with a 7.2 m beam, while the Nautitech 40 Open is 40 ft (11.98 m) with a 6.8 m beam. The Excess 13 is the longer boat, but the difference of 3 ft may be marginal once you step on board.

Which is better for a family — Excess 13 or Nautitech 40 Open? ▾

The Excess 13 is the stronger family pick — it was designed with performance / modern lovers in mind, with 4 guest cabins and a layout that's forgiving for kids new to sailing. The Nautitech 40 Open leans performance / open space lovers — fine for older families with sailing experience.

Which is better value — Excess 13 or Nautitech 40 Open? ▾

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 13 gives you AC, generator, watermaker; the Nautitech 40 Open gives you AC, generator, watermaker.

Can the Excess 13 and Nautitech 40 Open charter in the same destinations? ▾

Excess 13: Caribbean, Mediterranean. Nautitech 40 Open: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, Northern Europe & Baltic, US East Coast & Florida. 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 13: 4 guest cabins + 1 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests in standard charter config. Nautitech 40 Open: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests. Both sleep the same number — your choice depends on layout and amenities.

Keep Comparing

More 40–43-foot Catamaran Comparisons

Excess 13 vs Excess 12 43 ft vs 41 ft · same brand Excess 13 vs Nautitech 44 44 ft vs 43 ft · same cabins Excess 13 vs Nautitech 46 Open 46 ft vs 43 ft · same cabins Excess 13 vs Excess 11 43 ft vs 37 ft · same brand Excess 13 vs Excess 14 47 ft vs 43 ft · same brand Excess 13 vs Nautitech 47 47 ft vs 43 ft · same cabins

→ Excess 13 detail page → Nautitech 40 Open detail page → All comparisons

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