USed Catamaran Buying Guide
Buying a Used Catamaran with Leopard Brokerage
Expertise You Can Trust: Nobody Knows Used Leopard Catamarans Like We Do.
Navigating the pre-owned catamaran market can be complex. At Leopard Catamarans Brokerage, our experienced team is here to simplify the process for you. As the world’s leading experts in used Leopard catamarans, we’ve outlined every step of your journey to becoming a proud owner.
After exploring various options, you’ll find the perfect catamaran. When you’re ready to make an offer, we guide you through the formal process using our standardized Purchase and Sale Agreement.
Key Elements of Your Offer:
Deposit
10% deposit due when your offer is presented, held securely in our escrow account. Your money is 100% safe. We accept checks or wire transfers.
Acceptance
Typically, offers are accepted within a day or two, though international owners or holidays may extend this.
Contingencies
Sales commonly include a marine survey, sea trial, and personal inspection. While financing can be a contingency, we recommend securing loan pre-approval before making an offer.
Acceptance/Rejection Date
This is the final date for you to formally accept or reject the vessel in writing.
Closing Date
The date by which payment is due and title is transferred to you.
The Offer Process:
1. We present your signed Purchase and Sale Agreement to the seller.
2. The seller often counters. This negotiation typically happens verbally over a few days.
3. Once a price is agreed upon, a written agreement confirms the terms and final price.
4. Congratulations! Your boat is now officially “Under Offer.”
These crucial steps usually happen on the same day. As the buyer, you cover the cost of the survey and haul-out, while the seller provides the captain for the sea trial.
Marine Survey
This is vital! Choose your surveyor carefully. We can provide a list of qualified professionals, but recommend selecting a member of the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) or the Society of Marine Surveyors (SAMS). You’ll need a survey report for insurance and, if applicable, financing.
Sea Trial
Lasting a couple of hours, the sea trial demonstrates the boat’s performance under stress and allows you to inspect the sails. Some surveyors charge an additional fee to attend.
After reviewing the survey and sea trial results, you must formally accept or reject the vessel. Once both buyer and seller agree to terms, your boat is officially “Under Contract.”
Important Note: Failure to formally “Reject” the vessel by the Acceptance/Rejection Date is considered an Acceptance. Failing to close on an accepted vessel can result in forfeiture of your deposit.
Now it’s time to finalize the transaction. We recommend hiring a trusted documentation agent (we can suggest experienced professionals).
Documentation
Your documentation agent will:
Perform a clear title search on the boat.
Prepare all necessary ownership transfer documents.
Handle the vessel’s registration or federal documentation.
Key Information Needed:
- Buyer’s Exact Name: Will a spouse or partner be included?
- Ownership Structure: Will you incorporate?
- Address: Your preferred mailing address.
- New Boat Name: If you plan to rename it.
Sales Tax (Florida Specific)
Sales tax regulations vary by location. Here’s what to know if the boat is located in Florida:
Boats in Florida: A 6% Florida sales tax (capped at $18,000) is collected at closing, unless a valid Affidavit for Exemption is executed, and the boat is removed from Florida waters within 90 days. We advise reviewing Florida sales tax statutes if you plan an exemption.
Boats Outside Florida: Not subject to Florida sales tax. However, a notarized Tax Affidavit from the Dealer (Leopard Catamarans Brokerage) and Purchaser, stating the boat’s non-Florida location, plus copies of the purchaser’s valid photo ID or Passport, will be required at closing.
Closing
Modern closings are typically streamlined.
- Fund Transfer: You’ll wire the payment to our secure escrow account. Please note, funds must be “cleared” into our account before closing. For international wires, this can take 2+ days, so we recommend initiating the transfer a week before closing.
- Final Steps: Once funds are cleared, phase-out work is complete, and all documentation, registration, and insurance are in order, you will sign the “Acceptance of Vessel” and “Acceptance and Release” forms.
- Transfer: Only when all these elements are finalized will funds be transferred to the seller, and the official “Running Papers” sent to you.
Loans: Inform us immediately if you’re financing, as lenders often have specific documentation requirements.
US Duty Fees: Be aware that foreign-built boats may be subject to a 1.5% US duty fee when entering US waters. Discuss this with your documentation service or consult your country’s laws.
More questions? Send us a note or give us a call.
Frequently Asked questions
Budget, Finance & Timing
Budget depends on model, age, condition, and whether the boat is ex-charter or privately owned. Your broker can share recent comparable sales so you have a realistic picture of the current market for the type of boat you are considering.
Yes. Common additional costs include survey and haul-out fees, documentation and closing costs, insurance, immediate repairs or upgrades, and ongoing marina or mooring expenses. The total can add up meaningfully depending on the boat’s condition and where it is located.
Leopard Brokerage does not provide in-house financing, but we can connect you with marine lenders who understand catamarans and the Leopard range. You are also welcome to use your own lender, and we will work with them to coordinate documentation and closing.
From accepted offer to closing, most transactions take a few weeks. The timeline is driven by survey scheduling, sea trial, any post-survey negotiations, and paperwork, and having financing arranged in advance helps avoid delays.
Working with Leopard Brokerage
You can do either. Some buyers prefer to bring their own independent broker, while others work directly with us because of our familiarity with the boats and access to technical and warranty resources. Both approaches work, and it comes down to your preference.
You will have one main contact throughout the process. They will help you identify and compare listings, arrange viewings or video walkthroughs, manage offers and contracts, and coordinate survey and sea trial logistics, with the level of involvement adjusted to what is most helpful to you.
The main difference is direct access to Leopard’s technical and warranty teams. For questions about a boat’s history, design-related survey findings, or post-purchase support, that connection to the manufacturer is valuable in ways third-party brokerages cannot easily match.
That depends on your style. Some buyers want to be closely involved at each step, while others prefer to delegate much of the logistics. Our brokers can handle coordination of surveys, sea trials, documentation, and closing details, while keeping you informed so you can make the key decisions.
We do not underwrite insurance or act as a documentation agent, but we regularly work with trusted providers in both areas and can make introductions. Your broker can also help you think through how flag state, registration choice, and timing interact with financing and taxes.
Because we are part of the same group as Leopard Catamarans, you have a line to technical support and service networks after you take ownership. We also tend to stay in touch with owners over time, since Leopard boats and their community are our sole focus.
Seach Criteria and Selection
Start with how many people will regularly be aboard, what cabin layout you need, and whether you are planning coastal cruising or extended passages. Size affects not just space but also handling, docking, and ongoing operating costs.
Engine hours, maintenance records, sail and rig condition, electronics age, and key upgrades such as solar, watermakers, and batteries are all important. How the boat has been stored and presented can also reveal how carefully it has been maintained.
Ex-charter boats are professionally maintained on a schedule and usually have consistent, documented histories, with layouts optimized for guests. Private boats vary more, from very basic to extensively upgraded, so your budget and planned use will guide which type makes more sense.
Yes. Your broker can review photos, maintenance records, and any prior survey reports, and can often arrange a video walkthrough. This helps you filter boats before you commit to travel.
Offer, Contract & Deposit
Your broker will help you structure an offer using our standard Purchase and Sale Agreement. A typical offer includes price, deposit amount, survey and sea trial contingencies, and a timeline for each step.
A standard deposit is 10% of the agreed purchase price, due when the offer is submitted. It is held in Leopard Brokerage’s escrow account and governed by the purchase agreement.
Refundability depends on the contingencies in your contract. Most offers include survey and sea trial contingencies, which can allow for a refund if those do not go as expected, and your broker will talk you through the exact terms before you sign.
Yes. Your broker will manage price negotiations and discussions around included equipment or timelines, using current market data and recent Leopard sales as context, with the goal of a fair outcome for both buyer and seller.
Survey, Sea Trial & Technical
We always recommend a professional survey, regardless of a boat’s age or condition claims. A proper survey identifies structural, mechanical, and systems issues that may not be visible during a casual viewing, and most lenders and insurers require one.
Your broker will help you identify qualified surveyors and coordinate scheduling with the seller, marina, and haul-out yard. You should attend if possible, but if you cannot, we will keep you fully briefed on the findings.
Hull and deck integrity, structural bonding at bulkheads, rig and sails, engines and drives, steering, through-hulls, and electrical and plumbing are all standard survey items. On catamarans specifically, bridge-deck clearance, rudder stocks, and bulkhead tabbing deserve particular attention.
Yes. Your broker will review the report with you, explain what is significant versus routine, and help you decide whether to proceed as-is, request repairs, or adjust the purchase price, since post-survey negotiation is a normal part of the process.
Logistics, Delivery & Ownership
International transactions are routine for us. We can help coordinate remote survey and sea trial logistics, closing, and post-purchase delivery, and your broker will flag any import duties, tax issues, or registration implications tied to where you plan to keep the boat.
Yes. We can recommend experienced delivery captains for boats that need to be moved after purchase, and if you wish to be aboard for the passage, that can often be arranged as well.
We do not run training programs directly, but we can connect you with captains and sailing schools that specialize in catamarans and know the Leopard range. Many first-time owners find a few days of coached sailing right after handover very valuable.
Leopard catamarans tend to hold their value well thanks to brand recognition and an active owner community. A well-documented history and a boat that has stayed within the Leopard ecosystem can make resale smoother, regardless of which brokerage you eventually use.
Yes. When you are ready to sell, we can provide a market appraisal, list the boat, and manage the full sales process. Many clients return to us when they are moving on or moving up because we already know their boat and have a ready pool of Leopard-focused buyers.