Bagging prestigious awards such as The European Yacht of the Year Award and the Boat of the Year Award, the Outremer 51 catamaran is a prime example of a boat built for bluewater cruising. The strength and power lent through the refinement of its predecessor Outremer 49’s technical features and the sleek elegance provided by Franck Darnet’s interior design, led to the Outremer 51 being a best-selling pinnacle of offshore sailing. Perhaps what makes the Outremer 51 such a sight to see and an experience to liveaboard is the incorporation of feedback received from owners and sailors.

The Outremer 51 has been built specifically with performance and speed as the top priority and easily out. Despite being a 51-footer, it can easily outperform other catamarans and sailed short-handed even with its large sail plan (91 sq. meters mainsail, 31 sq. meters self-tacking jib).

DESIGN – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

The sharp new look of Outremer gives 51 an almost formidable air. The coachroof outlines are harder, and the angles more pronounced. For the interior, the selection of wooden finishes offered ensures that the catamaran correctly reflects the elegance and style of its owner.

DECK

As opposed to Outremer 49, the 51 has sharper angles, such as those seen in its sugar scoop transoms. These new angles are not only attractive but serve an enhanced function. For example, in the case of the sugar scoop transoms, boarding onto the catamaran is now easier.

The hull and the deck of Outremer 51 have PVC foam sandwich moldings and a solid laminate below the waterline and under deck fitting. The front deck itself has the characteristic Outremer tillers on each side and the infamous white space-pod chair. There is also a raised, padded bench at the outdoor helm station for those who do not feel completely safe on the space-pod chair for night watches. The padded bench also has a footrest to facilitate those of smaller statures but could have been made more secure with armrests. Despite the presence of tillers, the helm station is located at the starboard bulkhead is complete and ideally positioned, with clearly visible navigational instruments. All the lines lead aft, and both the forward and stern visibility offered by the helm station is excellent.

The cockpit of Outremer 51 catamaran is spacious and can easily host a party of people on its sizeable U-shaped settee and table. In addition to that, there is enough space for deck chairs to seat even more people. The cockpit area is protected by a hard-top, which can also serve the purpose of hosting solar panels for an energy-efficient watercraft. However, the cockpit top does not protect the helm and the helm station is entirely exposed to the environment.

The foredeck of the Outremer 51 has two large trampolines, and there is also a liferaft placed forward. The positioning of the liferaft is ideal, as it is away from potential sources of fire such as the engine bay or the galley.

SALOON

The saloon of Outremer 51 is accessed from the open cockpit via a large, “patio” style sliding door. The saloon offers a comfortable living space, housing an L-shaped settee wrapped around an expandable table with further two ottoman cushions stowed under the table.

The navigation station is to starboard and faces forward. Although the navigation desk is not large enough to place the charts, it is comfortable and cozy. The windows lining the saloon are now more vertical than slanting, offering not only a panoramic view of the world beyond but also reducing the heat transferred to the interiors while the hatches allow for better ventilation. One thing to note, however, is that the mainsail is not directly visible from the seat at the navigation station, but it can be viewed during night watch from a window two paces away.

The U-shaped galley is compact and has a two-drawer fridge. The position of the galley enables it to serve both the cockpit and the saloon.

ACCOMODATIONS

Outremer 51 comes in 3-cabin and 4-cabin versions. The owner’s version has a large master suite which boasts a queen bed and a separate head in the port hull. There are two cabins in the starboard hull with an option of a forward cabin with a double berth or upper and lower bunks. There is also a possibility of having an additional bunk room in the owner’s hull.

ENGINE BAY

The Outremer 51 is powered by two Volvo 40-hp diesel engines with saildrives are accessible from the back of the sugar scoop. The location of the engine bay is not ideal and slightly risky to access on rough seas, but the layout of the inside of the bay is easy to navigate. Everything in the watertight compartment is clearly labeled, which does help make maintenance checks easier.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Outremer 51 catamaran has an overall length of 51.3 ft and the maximum beam of 24.4 ft. Its total displacement is 8.2/11.1 tons. The air draft of Outremer 51 is 23.08 meters, while the draft itself is 0.95-2.95 meters.

PRICE RANGE

The price of Outremer 51 catamaran varies from $730,000 to $800,000.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Outremer did its reputation of optimum performance and stylish design justice with its model 51. Despite there being minor flaws that need resolution, the Outremer 51 is luxurious and spacious while also meeting high standards of sailing.