Catamaran Experience | ABT///Sailing

The Advantage of a Cat

What Matters to You

If you've never been aboard a blue water sailing catamaran, you are in for a special treat. If you are an experienced monohull sailor, we will forever change the way you think about sailing. It is no wonder that catamarans have gained in popularity over the past few years.

Room to spread out. One thing for sure is that on the Bel Gato, you will not be cramped. Click here for the floorplan.

As the centerpiece of your Sea of Cortez Adventure, the Bel Gato is a proven world-class sailing catamaran outfitted with all the best features and conveniences. To cruise in comfort, you will find fully air conditioned interiors fresh water electric toilets, modern navigation and electronics. For more technical information on the boat click here. .

No heeling - well almost no heeling. The single biggest complaint by non-sailors has been resolved. Without the characteristic "lean", it is much easier and safer to move around inside and out.

Different living levels - With a mono hull, your entire living space is one long hallway, all on the same level. With Bel Gato, you have your private rooms down below in each hull, the social spaces and galley on the main level, and the covered raised helm station for a superior view while sailing. And the forward tramps, we can't forget about them, they are the built in lounge hammocks and front row dolphin watching seats.

Privacy when you want it. Your own queen-size double berth, each complete with its own bathroom and separate shower. When you just want your privacy, you have it.

More room to socialize - The Bel Gato was designed for socializing. In the main cabin, with its spacious salon that can easily seat 6, you can dine or party in air conditioned comfort. The rear cockpit with a covered dining area and spacious seating, is often the hub of activity. Up front, the seats on front deck are the best sunset viewing locations, and the rear flip down stern bench to give ready access to the water or dinghy.

More useful features - A fully functional galley complete with gas stove, oven with broiler, and expansive counter space that will make preparing meals or serving up drinks and appetizers a breeze. This is a capable no-excuses kitchen that is up to the task.

Double reach-in refrigerators (important if you have been on a boat with top load refrigerators) and separate freezer, there is room to bring everything you need to serve full course meals.

Propane Grill outside in the cockpit, your rear cockpit is like a big covered back porch with an ocean view, the gas grill is a popular focal point which makes dining al fresco a natural option. This is indoor-outdoor living at its best!

Sailing when we can, using the engines when we can't. We like it best when under wind power, but sometimes nature just doesn't cooperate, so we have a back up plan to keep us going.

tech details

The Technical Details

For the boating geek in us

Including this section was hotly debated as being either interesting or very boring. Depending on the person, both are probably accurate descriptions. For those of you who are bored with the details, just click here to plan your adventure.

For those of you who are interested in what makes this vessel what it is, and can appreciate the technical aspects, read on -

A quick preface to this section. For those of you who are interested in sailing and even more interested in sailing catamarans, boats that can take you anywhere in the world. Or , the thought of buying one and sailing off into the sunset may have crossed your mind and you want to know more. Or, you are just interested in how everything goes together, this is your spot.

When you join us on the boat for an adventure, you are welcome to ask questions, look at the systems, even try your hand at sailing. We are sure that we have chosen one of the best platforms and will be glad to share our point of view.

About the Boat

The Bel Gato is a 2007 Leopard 46, originally sailed over from South Africa to the Caribbean (as all Leopards used to be delivered "on their own bottom" as they say.)

Over the years she has been updated and improved. Starting in 2013 the major improvements began. She got new engines and sail drives - changed from to Volvo to Yanmar. New sails in 2015. Many other replacements such as A/C units, conversion to fresh water toilets, hot water tanks, upgraded electronics, improved solar and electrical system, a watermaker was added, and more.

In 2018, the Bel Gato received a new offshore life raft, AIS was added, upgraded VHF radio, navigation display, autopilot components, standing and running rigging, LED deck lighting and other not so glamorous components such as valves and fuel take upgrades.

Recent voyages

In 2018 the Bel Gato was sailed from Key Largo Florida to Loreto Mexico through the Panama Canal. Due to numerous hurricanes throughout the year, it became a game of "dodge the bad weather" and a number of planned and unplanned ports were visited. They included Key West, Isla Mujeres and Cancun (Mexico), Roatan (Honduras), San Andres (Colombia), Colon and Balboa (Panama), Golfito and Papagayos (Costa Rica), Bahia del Sol (El Salvador), Chiapas (Mexico), and finally Loreto. Thanks mostly to the weather, what should have taken about 4-6 weeks ended up taking 6 months.

From the Designer

The Moorings 4600 (vacation charter) and Leopard 46 (private ownership) are comfortable cruising catamarans that are designed to mosey around the islands of the Caribbean, lounge in an anchorage or come close to matching the speed of the wind during a casual race. It offers exceptional performance and speed thanks to a powerful rig, stepped hull design and light displacement.

We've designed the charter and owner model of this handsome catamaran with high freeboard and streamlined, fine entry hulls. The hulls flare above the waterline providing great interior volume, spacious living accommodations and reserve buoyancy for sailing in a seaway.

Inspired by the Leopard 62, the raised helm station is located in the hard top roof with open access to the cockpit and all controls lead aft, for excellent visibility and ease of maneuvers. The saloon is bright and airy and has operable ports forward to let the fresh air circulate. The large dinette with wraparound seating and a galley with a fold-out countertop that extends into the spacious, covered cockpit are among the ways that we have taken advantage of the 25-foot beam.

Leopard 46, designed for private yacht ownership allows owners to seek solitude in the starboard hull's large private cabin, study area, separate head and shower. The port hull accommodates two spacious guest cabins each with en suite head and separate shower. The signature 'walk-through' access to the roomy cockpit and aft bathing platform connecting the two transoms are features of the Leopard 46. The Moorings 4600 charter version comes with four cabins.

Moorings 4600 / Leopard 46 Specifications:

Length Overall
46 ft 4 in / 14.12 m

Length at Waterline
44 ft 7 in / 13.59 m

Beam Overall24 ft 10 in /7.57 m

Draft
4 ft 5 in / 1.35 m

Displacement33,069 lbs / 15,000 kg

Fuel185 US gal / 712 ltr

Water206 US gal / 780 ltr

Engines(2) VOLVO 55 HP

BuildersRobertson and Caine

Yacht ChartersThe Moorings

Accommodations