Nautitech 48 Open Review
Catamaran Review: What exhilaration feels like!
April 30, 2024
The last design of the late naval architect Marc Lombard, the Nautitech 48 is the current flagship of the French builder’s line. From the dock, she’s similar to her sister, the Nautitech 44, but once under way, she becomes her own phenomenon and a memorable one at that.
Above: 2024 Nautitech 48 Open catamaran underway sailing. Image by Nautitech.
We had a blustery test day outside Government Cut off Miami Beach. Winds were steady at 20-22 knots and a large lazy swell was pushing through from the north. Heading upwind on hull #1 of the design, we managed 12.3 knots at 60 AWA and bearing away, we made good 8 knots at 120 degrees AWA. A shout went up from the crew when we surfed down a roaring swell at 14.4 knots. The boat was in her element. There was no creaking or groaning other than the lines on the winches and she was untroubled by anything going on around her. It was an exhilarating sail and one not easily forgotten.
Design & Rigging
With the N48, Lombard tapped into the sleek lines of performance ubercats. The profile is low, the bows are reversed, and the hulls are narrow at the waterline. Everything about her suggests speed. But unlike performance cats, the N48 adds interior volume for comfort and carrying capacity. Her keels are fixed and elongated eliminating the complexity of daggerboards but they still allow her to point up to 40 degrees AWA when the wind is up.
Above: 2024 Nautitech 48 Open catamaran overhead view. Image by Nautitech.
At 13 tons, she’s on the lighter side of production cats but carries 1400 square feet of upwind sail area. The rig supports a huge square-top mainsail while the composite sprit holds on to the tack of the Code 0. She tacks cleanly regardless of sea state and is well mannered on all points of sail.
On Deck
The “Open” in the name refers to Nautitech’s philosophy on the use of space. Several years ago, they introduced this layout concept on the N40 which emphasized the size of the cockpit while minimizing the salon inside. It makes sense when you think about it. Most time on a cat is spent outside in the cockpit so why duplicated the lounging/dining space inside?
The cockpit commandeers the vast majority of the main deck space. With twin hi/lo tables, a wide synthetic teak sole, and lots of stowage room, this is the heart of the boat. Of course, there’s additional space on the foredeck with twin trampolines, a lounge and the windlass area. The bows are cavernous and beg to be filled with gear but be mindful of how much weight you tuck up there. Cats aren’t fans of being overweighted, especially forward. Two steps lead from the hard foredeck section up to the coachroof where the boom is low enough for crew to manage the sail in the bag. Up here, you can also spec up to 1800 watts of solar panels for improved energy autonomy at anchor.
Above: 2024 Nautitech 48 Open catamaran bow area. Image by Nautitech.
Helm Controls
A signature detail on Nautitech designs is the helms which are aft and outboard on the hulls rather than mounted on a bulkhead or flybridge. The visibility from each is excellent aft where it counts when you’re backing into a slip, good up to the sails, and decent forward with only the opposite bow being difficult to see. For all but the tightest of maneuvering, you’ll get good sightlines through the salon windows to the opposite corner or you can rely on a mast-mounted camera. On passage, the autopilot will be steering but when you want a real sailing experience, you’ll delight in the direct feel of the helm and being close to the water rushing by.
B&G MFDs are on both sides and engine throttles are to starboard although you can add them to port as well. The helm seats have been upgraded and widened to accommodate two adults comfortably. The traveler and mainsheet run across the transom where they’re easy to see from the helm rather being tucked up on the bimini. The sailing is simple and without any tricky new concepts which makes the N48 immediately familiar and approachable.
Functional Layout
Again, the overall approach inside follows the fleet, specifically the N44, but now there’s more elbow room. The table with the L-shaped banquette to port has become full-sized, and the forward-facing nav desk feels like the real nerve center of the boat. The galley with twin fridge drawers and oodles of countertops is to starboard with easy serving both inside and out in the cockpit. The stand-up center bar introduced on the previous design is also here and a little larger. It’s a gathering spot, a bar, and a food prep station all in one. It also makes a great handhold under way.
Above: 2024 Nautitech 48 Open catamaran cabin design and layout. Image by Nautitech.
Down in the port hull, you’ll find the sprawling master suite with a double bed aft, a desk and generous closet space in the middle, and a head with twin sinks in the bow. Indirect lighting and improved finishes have really upped the game for the owners.
The starboard hull is open to interpretation. The standard includes two cabins and two heads but one cabin can be made into an office or Nautitech’s “SmartRoom” which can be used for stowage space or as a workshop complete with a washer/dryer. Anyone distance cruising or living aboard will find this room indispensable.
Nautitech bundles options into the Sport and Explorer versions, but you can also spec individual features like lithium batteries, 3-blade folding propellers, and a 3,000 watt inverter. As tested with many of these options, our boat came in around $1.4 million which is still less than performance multihulls but it’s certainly nipping at their heels.
A Joy to Sail
We motored back through the cut and the upgraded twin 75-hp Volvo Penta diesels with Saildrives and folding props delivered a good cruising speed of 9 knots at 2600 rpm. When we turned into the wind to drop the main, it flew down instantly without hang-ups or coaxing from the crew. Mainsails on cats are persnickety and I’ve had to hang on some to get them down, but this was downright miraculous. A fast drop is not only efficient, it’s also safer when you must reduce sail in a hurry.
Above: 2024 Nautitech 48 Open catamaran underway sailing. Image by Nautitech.
It's been a while since I enjoyed a test sail as much as I did the one on the Nautitech 48. Granted, we had ideal conditions with good wind and an eager crew but what was most satisfying about the whole day was the confidence this boat brings. She’s solid not squirrely and forgiving rather than uppity. I would not hesitate to take her offshore where I expect easy crossings and 200-mile days would be the norm.
Nautitech 48 Specifications:
LOA: 47’ 9”
Beam: 26’ 2”
Draft: 5’ 1”
Displacement: 29,768 lbs
Sail Area: 1,370 sq ft upwind
Power: Volvo Penta 2x 75-hp
Fuel/water: 2x 79 gallons for each
Designer: Marc Lombard
Builder website: nautitech.com
As-tested: $1.4 million (Explorer Version)
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