Independent guide: Not affiliated with Leopard Catamarans or their builder. Details vary by model; confirm with your documentation and a rigger.

Quick answer

Leopard catamarans are widely used in charter fleets, including in Queensland's Whitsundays, and many come onto the Australian second-hand market after charter. Their rigs follow the cruising-catamaran pattern: deck-stepped aluminium mast, no backstay, swept shrouds, a forestay on a beam or bridle and a large mainsail, often with the mainsheet on the hardtop. Priorities are forestay attachment, chainplates, mainsheet and traveller mounting, and wear from high charter hours.

Inspection priorities

  1. Forestay, furler and lower attachment
  2. Shroud chainplates and deck penetrations
  3. Mast step and compression structure
  4. Hardtop mainsheet traveller and its mounting
  5. Halyards, reefing lines and winches at the helm

Services

Things to check on a Leopard

  • Hardtop-mounted mainsheet. Where the traveller sits on the hardtop, the mounting fasteners and the structure beneath carry large, cyclic loads.
  • Helm-station line runs. Lines led to a winch at the helm pass through several turning blocks; friction and chafe build up.
  • Furler and forestay. Charter use means frequent furling, sometimes under load.
  • Reefing systems. Late reefing on charter boats overloads reef lines and cringles.

A re-rig plan for a Leopard catamaran

  1. Gather the records. Rig installation date, previous inspection reports and, for ex-charter boats, the operator's maintenance log.
  2. Book an inspection aloft to check the masthead, spreaders and upper terminals before committing to scope.
  3. Decide what else happens with the mast out: furler service, running rigging, masthead lights and instruments, and mainsail track and car.
  4. Check crane and berth capacity for the boat's beam and mast height before booking the lift.
  5. Inspect chainplates and the mast step while the rig is off.
  6. Restep, tune and sea trial, then re-tension after the first sail in a breeze.

Costs

Catamaran re-rigs usually cost more than a monohull of the same length. See catamaran re-rig costs, and ask for an itemised quote that shows the forestay attachment, bridle and mainsail systems as separate lines.

Frequently asked questions

What rigging wear is typical on an ex-charter Leopard?

Charter use tends to wear furlers, winches, halyards, reefing lines and the mainsheet system faster than private use. Rig age may be well documented by the charter company, which helps, but high sailing hours mean a thorough inspection is worthwhile before purchase.

Should I re-rig an ex-charter Leopard after buying it?

It depends on the documented rig age and inspection findings. Charter companies often keep good records, which helps, but charter use means high hours. A pre-purchase rig inspection and the operator's records together are the best basis for deciding.