How Much Does a Catamaran Really Cost? Hidden and Obvious Expenses Explained
The purchase of a catamaran is an important project, one which should be well planned. But do you know exactly what your budget will be?
July 30, 2025
Beyond the purchase price, additional fees for a catamaran can be significant.
In this article, our crew will guide you through building a complete and realistic budget to anticipate all the fees – from the classic purchase price to expenses that are generally forgotten.
Purchase Price and Hidden Costs of Purchasing a Catamaran
When you purchase a new or pre-owned catamaran, establishing a budget that is as accurate as possible is essential. You should evaluate the various costs – those which seem obvious, like the purchase price of a catamaran, but also occasional or unforeseen costs. It is indispensable to create a balanced budget, for the short term and for the intermediate and long terms.
Purchase Price of a New or Pre-Owned Boat
The purchase price of a catamaran is perhaps the first element to consider. Good news – there are about as many catamarans as there are different budgets!
- The cost of a new catamaran varies according to its characteristics and equipment, and according to the renown of the builder. You should count on a price from roughly 300,000€ to several million euros for a comfortable, family-friendly model just leaving the factory – with the guarantee of purchasing an impeccable catamaran, and with the assurance of dedicated after-sales service.
- The price of a pre-owned catamaran may appear lower: according to the models, entry-level catamarans are available starting at several tens of thousands of euros. However, we still recommend evaluating the purchase price with an eye on additional fees: often, there are hidden costs, such as repairs or reconditioning. In this case, the buyer does not always benefit from a builder’s warranty, and you must ensure the appropriate services, should need be, in the months following your purchase.
Additional Fees for Boat Delivery
Within the framework of the purchase of a new or pre-owned catamaran, there are “required” fees, related to the acquisition and title change of the boat.
For example:
- Transport fees – from the shipyard or previous location of anchorage, for example, to the new home port
- Commissioning fees or launching fees
- Fees related to preparing for her first cruise – haul-out fees, cleaning, installing additional equipment
- Eventual import taxes or entry taxes in a foreign country – sometimes, calculated based upon the value of the catamaran.
Big Expenses for a Sailing or Power Catamaran
As owner of the boat, there are several significant expenses to foresee. Certain expenses are recurring, fixed costs, while others are more punctual… Together, they make up the annual budget for the catamaran.
Equipment Service and Maintenance Fees
It is a fact often discussed by boaters at the dock: boat maintenance, and notably, the cost of maintaining a catamaran. Did you know that the actual cost of maintenance is generally estimated at between 5% and 10% of the value of the purchase price of the boat? So, for a new or pre-owned catamaran purchased at 750,000 €, you must invest, each year, between 37,500€ and 75,000€.
These costs include haul-out and dry dock storage fees, as well as servicing and maintenance, including overhaul fees for inboard and outboard engines, electronic and navigation equipment maintenance fees, tender maintenance fees… along with any equipment brought on board – the battery bank, solar panels, the genset, or, for example, the watermaker.
Aboard a catamaran, maintenance fees are unavoidable: saving on boat maintenance will not enable you to preserve its value over the long term! Putting off maintenance could lead to parts failures and the need to replace parts, which, if well maintained, could have been used longer…
Aboard a Sailing Catamaran, Costs Related to Rigging
Among the additional fees for a sailing catamaran, there is also the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the rigging. Regular checks of the sails, mast, shrouds, and stays are indispensable. After a certain period of time, you must also inevitably make some repairs and replacements: these are occasional costs, certainly, but which also merit anticipation.
Periodic checks to conduct on the mast and rigging are always specified by the manufacturers: notably, you must anticipate an annual tune-up and adjustment, an overall maintenance check every five years, and full replacement of the rigging – according to the catamaran – every seven to ten years, in function with use and maintenance conducted.
Slips and Mooring Fees
Mooring fees and drydock storage fees are also part of the true cost of a catamaran. In the French Mediterranean, for example, a mooring adapted for a 40- to 45-foot catamaran can cost up to 20,000€ a year. Fees vary significantly from one cruising area to another: abroad, in certain parts of the Caribbean or in Southeast Asia, for example, prices are sometimes more competitive.
It is always advised to verify additional fees: certain ports and marinas bill for additional costs for accessing water, electricity, different structures, security services… and certain local taxes may also be applied.
Boating Insurance Budget
Another source of recurring costs, insurance for the catamaran, on average, represents a cost of between 0.7% and 1.2% of the insured value, each year. For a catamaran valued at 750,000€, you should anticipate an annual budget of between 5,250€ and 9,000€. Once again, the amount requested by insurance agencies varies according to multiple criteria, such as the underwritten contract, the value of the catamaran, the location, and cruising plans.
The Cost of Life Aboard a Catamaran
To establish your budget for the purchase of a catamaran, you must also take into account the cost of living aboard the boat. Recurring expenses vary in function with your use of the catamaran, time spent on board, and your cruising destinations. Whether you plan to cruise for several weeks each year or to live aboard a catamaran, these are costs which can also be calculated and anticipated.
Provisions, Fuel, and Usage Fees
A significant expense for a catamaran, provisions depend on the number of people on board and the level of comfort desired. Aboard a Lagoon 38 with 12 passengers, the cost of provisions will naturally be less, for example, than those aboard a Lagoon 55 with 16 people on board.
Water, gas, food, hygiene products, and drinks… generally, the spending level on board is similar to that on land.
Fuel costs are also to be anticipated: they can vary, depending on single or twin engines, usage, and cruising areas. Lastly, among other recurring expenses, there may be internet connection and satellite communication fees, and particularly if you plan to live on board or to make long passages.
Consider this: chartering a Lagoon catamaran can be a useful first step, before making a purchase, to explore all the aspects of life on board our boats!
Determine an Annual Budget for Your Catamaran
To ensure that you have the financial resources necessary to make the most of your catamaran, we recommend that you anticipate all costs: the purchase price of the catamaran, as well as those fees you will encounter in the months that follow.
You will be working with a precise budget, including all annual expenditures for a catamaran: recurring fees – fixed costs, and punctual or exceptional costs.
Calculate Various Expenses of a Catamaran
Recurring Fees and Punctual Costs for a Catamaran
|
Expense Item |
Details |
The Cost of Purchasing a Boat |
- New Catamaran: Between 300,000€ and several million euros |
Additional Delivery Fees |
According to cruising plans and/or the value of the boat |
Mooring and/or storage space |
Up to 20,000€ per year – according to the cruising area and infrastructure offered. Take into account any eventual service fees. |
Ongoing services and maintenance |
Around 5% to 10% of the value of the boat per year |
Maintenance of the rigging (sailing catamarans) |
- Replacement of the sails every 3 to 6 years, according to use |
Insurance for the Catamaran |
Between 0.7% and 1.2% of the ensured value per year |
Provisions |
According to cruising plans and the number of people on board |
Fuel |
According to the type of engine, use of the boat, and cruising zones |
Communications Fees |
According to cruising plans and the number of people on boardp |
Local or entry taxes in certain countries |
According to cruising plans and/or the value of the boat |
Punctual Fees (repair and replacement of equipment) |
10% to 15% of the annual budget |
