What size Nauticat should I choose for my intended use?
I'm looking at Nauticats for cruising as a couple, with occasional guests and the possibility of spending several months aboard. How much boat do we actually need, and should we prioritise size or the difference between the traditional motorsailers and sailing-focused models?
Answer
For a couple, start with a 33 to 35ft Nauticat for coastal holidays and consider 36 to 40ft for longer stays aboard; choose 42ft or more if you need permanent guest accommodation, extra storage or separate living spaces. Choose the Nauticat type before its length, because traditional motorsailers and the more sailing-focused pilothouse yachts suit different priorities.
Set your cruising requirements
Write down your normal crew, longest stay aboard, intended cruising area and available berth dimensions before viewing boats. These determine whether extra length earns its keep. An occasional guest rarely justifies several more feet, while two people living aboard for six months may use separate sleeping and sitting areas every day.
- Coastal weekends and summer holidays: prioritise easy berthing, access ashore and a comfortable permanent double berth.
- Several months aboard: prioritise usable lockers, ventilation, heating, refrigeration and access to machinery.
- Regular guests or family: look for cabins with proper doors and berths that do not require dismantling the saloon.
- Long passages: assess sea berths, tankage, loaded displacement and deck arrangements alongside length.
Check actual overall length, including the bowsprit, anchor and davits, against your marina's charging bands. Confirm draught and air draught for your intended harbours, canals and bridges. Neither can safely be inferred from the model number.
Choose your Nauticat type
Start with the traditional Nauticat 33, 331, 36 and 38 if sheltered steering, substantial accommodation and frequent motoring matter most. Their appeal is comfortable passage-making with protection from the weather, though sailing behaviour varies with hull, rig and production year.
Shortlist models such as the Nauticat 321, 35, 37 and 385 if sailing performance carries more weight. They combine pilothouse accommodation with a more sailing-oriented design. Comparing a 35 with a traditional 36 purely by length misses that distinction.
Do not assume every Nauticat has the same keel, rig, steering arrangement or interior. Specifications and owner modifications vary considerably across the long production history. Obtain the particular boat's specification, sail plan and accommodation drawing before travelling to view it.
Match size to life aboard
About 33 to 35ft: usually the best starting point for a couple cruising locally or taking summer trips. A Nauticat 33 or 331 offers the traditional motorsailer experience; consider a 35 if sailing matters more. Check berth length, heads access and whether everyone still has somewhere comfortable to sit when guests are aboard.