FULL TEST: New Seawind 1160XL featuring 50hp Outboards
December 18, 2025
Testing the Seawind 1160 XL: Can Outboards Power a 40ft Cruising Cat?
The latest Seawind 1160 XL represents a bold evolution in cruising catamaran design, breaking new ground by pairing a 40-foot platform with twin 50 horsepower Yamaha high-thrust outboard engines challenging conventional thinking about propulsion systems for cruising catamarans.
Brent Vaughn from Multihull Central recently put the new XL through comprehensive testing on Sydney Harbour, evaluating both power and sailing performance with real-world data. The results suggest that outboards may be a more viable option for cruisers than many sailors realize.
Design Improvements
The new generation XL builds upon the innovative foundation of the classic Seawind 1160, retaining the signature tri-folding door system that revolutionized open-plan living on cruising cats. However, the XL introduces substantial improvements throughout. The hull features 60 millimeters of extra beam through the keel, creating more spacious companionways and living areas. More upright saloon windows increase headroom, while flat decks provide greater volume in all cabins, from the forward berths to the wider, higher aft cabin.
Safety enhancements include flat, wider side decks with 800-millimeter-high safety rails, making forward access significantly safer. The carbon-reinforced forward beam adds stiffness, while raked bows push buoyancy forward, lifting the front beam 250 millimeters higher off the water for improved clearance and windward performance.
The Outboard Advantage
Outboard motors offer compelling benefits for cruising sailors. Each 50 horsepower outboard weighs 40 kilograms less than equivalent 30 horsepower diesel saildrives, contributing to better overall performance. They’re also substantially cheaper to purchase and install, with lower replacement costs down the line. Maintenance is simplified without seals or antifouling concerns, and propellers remain pristine. Perhaps most significantly, outboards can be raised while sailing, eliminating drag entirely.
Real-world validation comes from experienced cruisers who sailed from Australia to Greece with outboards. They report flawless performance and describe the sailing experience as “blissful” once the motors are lifted, with the freedom of drag-free sailing outweighing any concerns about the propulsion system.
Performance Results
Under power, the twin 50-horsepower Yamahas delivered impressive results, accelerating the XL to 9.1 knots at full throttle—remarkable performance that one tester compared to a speedboat. At cruising revs around 3,100 RPM, the boat maintained a comfortable 7.3 knots.
Sailing performance proved equally impressive. With a sail area to displacement ratio of 22.6, the XL demonstrated strong upwind capabilities, pointing at 40 degrees apparent wind angle while maintaining eight knots, touching nine knots regularly. Reaching speeds exceeded 10 knots on working sails alone, suggesting even greater potential with a screecher.
For cruisers seeking the right balance between capability and practicality, the Seawind 1160 XL with outboards offers a compelling solution that delivers both performance and simplicity.
Note: The Seawind 1160XL is also available with twin 29hp Yanmar Diesel Sail Drives as a factory optional extra.
Other News
We recently had the pleasure of handing over a new Seawind 1260 in Sydney after it was shipped to Australia. After a 4 year wait, overcoming various challenges along the way, the owners finally took delivery and sailed her back to their home port in Victoria. Below is a delightful message just received of their experience…
Cruising Thailand’s Islands: First Look at the Seawind 1160 XL
David Cox, owner of a Seawind 1160 Light and Vice Commodore of the Multihull Cruising Yacht Club in Sydney, recently returned from a week-long adventure sailing Thailand’s Koh Chang Islands aboard the brand-new Seawind 1160 XL—serial number one, no less. His experience offers valuable insights for anyone considering Thailand as a cruising destination or evaluating the XL model’s capabilities.
Seawind Catamarans has a proud history of supporting its owners in many ways, one of the more notable being the conduct of rallies and regattas all over the world. In Australia these have occurred in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Whitsundays and Brisbane.
The Brisbane event has a long history. Indeed it was an an event in 2008 that I was invited to crew on a boat, Next Phase, and as a result ordered my first Seawind. So in 2025, after a false start earlier in the year due to adverse weather and a number of other issues we held a very successful regatta on 15, 15 and 16 November. The event was the product of an enthusiastic group of owners.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 3 October 2025
The much-anticipated Seawind 1270 has officially launched, and it’s poised to revolutionize the 40-foot catamaran market. This isn’t just an incremental update—it’s a complete redesign that builds on the legendary success of the Seawind 1260 while introducing features never before seen on a Seawind of this size.
From America’s Cup to Catamaran Cruising: The Epic Journey of Glenn Ashby
Brent Vaughan interviews Catamaran racing legend and America’s Cup hero, Glenn Ashby about his wild achievements that led him to become the fastest sailor alive and now cruising on the cruising lifestyle on a catamaran.
Glenn Ashby’s path to becoming sailing’s fastest catamaran legend began with a childhood moment that would define his career. At just three years old, sitting on the side of his father’s Arrow catamaran, he experienced the magic of a hull lifting clear of the water—everything going quiet as the boat accelerated smoothly through the breeze. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is unbelievable,'” Ashby recalls. “I really like going fast and I love flying a hull.”
Selling a catamaran is a major decision, and getting it right can make all the difference. Success comes down to the 4 P’s — Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Present your boat like an open home with repairs, cleaning, and styling done upfront to avoid objections. Set the right price based on actual sold-boat data, not just online listings, to capture serious buyers during the crucial first weeks. Location matters too — marinas with easy access, services, and strong buyer demand (like Sydney, Gold Coast, or Opua) can speed up sales. Finally, a strong marketing mix is essential: professional photos, online listings, social media, YouTube, eDMs, and boat shows ensure your catamaran reaches the right global audience.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 26 August 2025
Seawind Catamarans Unveils All-New 1160 XL: The Evolution of a Legend
Complete redesign of proven offshore performer features over 30 major improvements.
Seawind Catamarans and Australian distributors Multihull Central today announced the launch of the highly anticipated next generation Seawind 1160 XL at the upcoming Sydney International Boat Show in November.
From New Zealand to France: A Professional Sailor’s Journey Home in an Outremer 51
When veteran ocean racer Mike Golding decided to transition from competitive sailing to family cruising, he knew exactly what he was looking for. The former Vendée Globe competitor, who had completed six around-the-world races in his illustrious career, needed a vessel capable of serious ocean passages while providing the comfort and space his family deserved. His choice? A late-model Outremer 51 purchased through Multihull Central’s New Zealand operation.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 14 August 2025
A new sailing podcast has been launched called ‘2 Hulls 1 Life’ hosted by Brent Vaughan, Managing Director of Multihull Central, who interviews inspirational sailors about their adventures cruising the world onboard their catamarans.
The show is designed to help educate, inform and inspire anyone who has considered the cruising lifestyle and explores subjects such as the Pacific rally, Sail Malaysia Rally, professional delivery crews, charter boat ownership, Seakeepers research and major passages crossing the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It will also delve into the design attributes of various cruising catamarans.
Fourteen knots of boat speed closehauled, 17 on a power reach and 20+ under kite – numbers normally associated with a supermaxi like Comanche, but here we’re referring to a pocket multihull that’s 24.2m shorter and a metre narrower, even with its amas outstretched like albatross wings.
The Corsair 880 is way easier to sail and considerably cheaper, and you can forget expensive ocean deliveries, marina fees,
slipping costs and the like. Drop the rig, raise the centreboard, fold the floats to reduce beam to 2.5m, then haul the little tri onto a dual-axle alloy trailer.
From Charter Investment to Pacific Paradise: How One Couple Made Their Cruising Dreams Reality
When Colonel David Burke first bought a Seawind 1160 and put it into charter, he had no idea it would become the foundation for an extraordinary Pacific cruising adventure. Now, sitting in the pristine Lau Group of Fiji aboard his upgraded Seawind 1260, David’s story demonstrates how charter boat ownership can be the perfect stepping stone to achieving blue water cruising dreams.
Paul Hooge and his wife transitioned from life in Colorado to full-time cruising after retiring. With little sailing experience, they purchased a Seawind 1370 and decided to commission it in Thailand instead of shipping it home. With support from local expert Phil Harper, they prepared the boat and joined the Sail Malaysia Rally—a multi-month cruising event from Langkawi through Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo.
The rally offered a mix of structured events and independent sailing, giving them access to stunning, less-traveled places like the Anambas and Natuna Islands. Along the way, they connected with local communities, joined parades, and received warm welcomes from various ports.
Despite initial inexperience, they successfully navigated the rally with help from fellow cruisers and the Seawind 1370’s performance. Paul praised the boat’s comfort, handling, and visibility, calling the journey both challenging and unforgettable.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 16 October 2024
Multihull Central are excited to announce an all-new Regatta on Sydney Harbour dedicated to Multihulls, with an offer extended to all cruising and racing catamarans and trimarans with accommodation, including owners of Seawind, Corsair and all other brands who would like to enjoy racing on the world’s greatest harbour.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 25 September 2024
Seawind Catamarans returns to the Melbourne Boat Show with Australian distributor Multihull Central, showing a brand new Seawind 1160 Lite catamaran now available to bareboat charter with Riviera Nautic on the Gippsland Lakes.
Maritime shepherd the fleet away from a visiting whale.
It’s certainly been a different winter on Sydney Harbour than usual, while there’s been plenty of sunshine, the breeze has not been so forthcoming. Normally winter consists of light sou-easters and the occasional fresh westerly, this time we’ve had gloriously sunny days with westerlies around five knots or lower, week after week, with a number of races abandoned as a result.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 5th September 2024
The world’s most popular sailing trimaran is making a resurgence in Australia with two brand new pre-sold Corsair 880s arriving in Sydney this week for assembly by distributor Multihull Central, alongside a third also on display.
The Bay to Bay Regatta had been on my bucket list for a few years now and seeing this year it landed on my birthday, I decided it was an opportunity not to be missed. So I phoned up my mate Steve Medwell who I used to sail Tornadoes and F18s with and invited him along for a ride. The ride was our new award winning Corsair 760 trimaran.
Whether you are a first time sailor, or an experienced around the world circumnavigator, the iconic Australian-owned and founded Seawind brand has a boat and design for you for all levels of experience and planned adventures. But with four boats that are only a few feet apart in length, it can get tricky to decide which is the right boat to choose and the best fit for you. So, we have put together these special buyers guide to help unpack the design concept behind each and its characteristics, its pros and cons, and who we recommend them for to help you select not necessarily the most expensive boat, but the best boat for you.
Cruz Club is a 12 month program designed to help equip would-be cruisers who are inspired to set off exploring the world by sea but don’t yet have the skills, experience or a boat to do it on and want to get prepared and do it right and avoid making costly mistakes along the way.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
The HH44 was met with enthusiasm and rave reviews at the Cannes Yachting Festival, when it made its international debut last month. Throngs of visitors came out to see the HH44, declaring it “spectacular”, “stunning”, “the future” and “the best boat in the show”.
HH Catamarans has named Multihull Central as the exclusive distributor for Australia and New Zealand as the up and coming brand of high performance catamarans releasing some innovative new designs and ramps up production for their new44 and 50foot models.
One of the world’s most popular and prolific YouTube sailing channels, Gone with the Wynns, have just announced their purchase of a new ecofriendly hybrid-electric HH44 sailing catamaran. The HH44 ‘Ocean Cruiser’ version is a high-performance cruising catamaran designed to sail around the world sustainably and efficiently while also providing a luxurious living platform for couples and families travelling the world.
Multihull Central announced the new Corsair 880 is on its way to Australia to be showcased at the upcoming Sydney International Boat Show.
A big day at Longreach as the first LR44 deck is turned following a successful resin infusion. Starting to take shape!
Tips for Delivery by Sea – Asia to Australia / New Zealand
The Summer of 2022 / 2023 has been and interesting journey for many of our customers taking delivery of boats over this period. With country borders being opened up in earnest, this saw new boat owners taking delivery of their cruising catamarans on mass, as we helped coordinate deliveries of 4 x Seawinds and 1 x HH50 from Asia back to Australia and New Zealand. We have gained some new and valuable insights for those considering taking delivery in Asia.
So here are some key points to consider…
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brent Vaughan from HH Catamarans distributor Multihull Central, takes the HH50-SC ‘Synergy’ out sailing off the Gold Coast to test how it sails in lumpy conditions and light winds. Here is the full account and transcript that accompanies the sailing video.
We plan to take our little Seawind 1000 catamaran ‘Seabbatical’ from Sydney Harbour, to Lady Musgrave Island. As I still have the demands of running a business and kids at school, this will be a mini seabbatical and so finding time is important but demanding.
‘Pirate Pete’ is the proud new owner of the brand new Seawind 1260, that Cumberland Charter Yachts will be welcoming in to the fleet in August this year. We asked him what his background story was in buying the Seawind 1260 and why he chose to have it chartered in the Whitsundays.
Here is his story:
The club has been formed with the objective of providing a means for multihull boat owners to build networks, learn about how others fix issues and engage in both cruising and racing/rallys whilst enjoying the social aspects that belonging to a club provides.
If you have ever considered swapping the suit & tie and air-conditioning, for deck shoes and salt air and running your own business, then a charter boat business might be just the thing you need to feed both your entrepreneurial and outdoor desires.
Charter boat ownership is a great way to accelerate buying your dream boat, profit from strong demand in the tourism industry and provides a fully managed solution to boat ownership while you are still busy working and with family commitments.
MCYC is not just about Thursday night Twilight racing. We hold rallies to other ports and we support each other cruising around Australia
