Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Excess 15 vs Leopard 42

Two near-neighbours in the 42–50 foot class — here's how they actually differ on the water.

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At a Glance

Excess

Excess 15

The Excess 15 is a 50-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2023. Best for performance, luxury, modern lovers. A performance-leaning hull form for sailors who care how it feels on the helm.

Leopard

Leopard 42

The Leopard 42 is a 42-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2020. Best for performance, couples, modern lovers. A performance-leaning hull form for sailors who care how it feels on the helm.

Quick Comparison

Spec	Excess 15	Leopard 42
Length overall	50 ft (15.2 m)	42 ft (12.67 m)
Beam	8.07 m	7.06 m
Cabins (guest + crew)	4 + 2	4 + 2
Max guests	8	8
Year introduced	2023	2020
Best for	performance, luxury, modern lovers	performance, couples, modern lovers
Standout amenity	AC, generator	AC, generator
Charter regions	Caribbean, Mediterranean	Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, Northern Europe & Baltic
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 15 has a classic enclosed saloon with a wide aft deck; the Leopard 42 offers a more conventional enclosed saloon.
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 Leopard often offsets the galley aft. Worth seeing both layouts before deciding for a couples-only trip.
Amenities & kit. Excess 15 comes with AC, generator, watermaker, solar, dinghy, ice maker. Leopard 42 adds a similar kit, with the same core list.

Performance Differences

Neither boat is a racer; both are cruising catamarans. But the Excess 15.

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 15's wider 8.07 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 15 starts at $7,000/week bareboat (low season, BVI or Greece) and the Leopard 42 starts at $7,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Excess 15 reach $57,500/week and the Leopard 42 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 15. 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 Excess 15. It's specifically tuned for indoor-outdoor living and the finish is the more premium of the two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Excess 15 bigger than the Leopard 42? ▾

The Excess 15 is 50 ft (15.2 m) long with a 8.07 m beam, while the Leopard 42 is 42 ft (12.67 m) with a 7.06 m beam. The Excess 15 is the longer boat, but the difference of 8 ft may be marginal once you step on board.

Which is better for a family — Excess 15 or Leopard 42? ▾

Neither boat is purpose-built for families; both lean performance / luxury. For family charters we typically point you toward the Bali 4.4, Lagoon 46, or Astrea 51. Speak to a 2Hulls expert for a specific recommendation.

Which is better value — Excess 15 or Leopard 42? ▾

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 15 gives you AC, generator, watermaker; the Leopard 42 gives you AC, generator, watermaker.

Can the Excess 15 and Leopard 42 charter in the same destinations? ▾

Excess 15: Caribbean, Mediterranean. Leopard 42: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, Northern Europe & Baltic. 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 15: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests in standard charter config. Leopard 42: 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 42–50-foot Catamaran Comparisons

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