A Morelli & Melvin-designed, Robertson & Caine-built cruising catamaran reborn through a comprehensive 2021 refit.
Few production catamarans have earned the bluewater credentials of the Leopard 46. Designed by Morelli & Melvin and built by Robertson & Caine, the platform has crossed oceans in the hands of both private owners and charter fleets for nearly two decades. In his walkthrough, Captain Will Miller of The Multihull Company introduces S/V Kostenfalle, a 2007 example that has been thoroughly reworked to meet the demands of modern, off-grid cruising.
A Refit That Touches Nearly Everything
Beginning in 2021, Kostenfalle underwent an extensive refit that reaches into the boat’s core systems. Propulsion is handled by twin Volvo Penta D2-75 engines paired with new saildrives. Aloft, she carries new standing and running rigging, an Evolution square-top mainsail, and a Calvert genoa. Structural and steering updates include new Ruddercraft rudders, a new forward crossbeam, and fresh salon windows — all meaningful items on a catamaran of this vintage.
Built for Off-Grid Cruising
The energy systems are where Kostenfalle really distances herself from a stock Leopard 46. A 1,200 amp-hour lithium bank is fed by more than 1,600 watts of solar, with dual Victron inverter-chargers delivering 6,000 watts of inverter power. A Fischer Panda generator and a Seawater Pro watermaker round out the self-sufficiency package — the kind of setup that makes anchorages, not marinas, the default.
Accommodations and Electronics
Belowdecks, the four-cabin layout gives each stateroom its own private head, with air conditioning throughout. The galley has been modernized and includes an ice maker and washer, making her equally viable for family cruising, full-time liveaboard use, or a return to charter service. At the helm, Garmin chartplotters, Fantom radar, AIS, and a Raymarine autopilot handle navigation, while high-performance Starlink keeps the crew connected on passage.
Where She Sits in the Market
The Leopard 46 remains an active segment of the used catamaran market, which gives useful context for a refit boat like this one.
| Leopard 46 Market | Figure |
|---|---|
| Sold in last 24 months | 12 |
| Median sold price | $307,000 |
| Median days to sell | ~143 |
| Active listings | 7 |
| Asking range | $325,000–$440,000 |
| Median asking | $385,000 |
| Median Sold | $307,000 | |||
| Median Asking | $385,000 | |||
| Low Asking | $325,000 | |||
| High Asking | $440,000 |
For buyers weighing an older Leopard 46 against a newer, unrefit example, Kostenfalle makes an interesting case: proven hull and rig, with the electrical, sail, and steering systems already brought up to current cruising standards.