• Consider joining our crew on Patreon by CLICKING HERE: www.patreon.com/NavalGazingatCampDavid for ad free videos and downloads of the specification and layout comparison files. We appreciate your support! • To receive my FREE GIFT to you, CLICK HERE: www.navalgazingatcampdavid.net/ . The e-book "19 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Your Dream Catamaran". Save yourself charter holiday heart ache and tens of thousands of dollars when making your yacht purchase. CLICK HERE: www.navalgazingatcampdavid.net/ to receive your copy and learn more about the latest online sailing skills training available today.
In full transparency, please note that the links in this video description may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. You don't pay more when using these links, and any earnings help to support this channel. I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my audience. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." Thank you for your trust and support!
You will have to go bigger in the Leopard line Dave. This looks to be a bit of a bobber out in the sea. Lot's of good design and lay out and boat here but...Sylvia on a bobber? Of the comparables the Seawind, although shorter, is the winner of this group for me, that athwardship birth is a much in a cat this size. Billy and SIerra have a nice couples boat. Looks like you gave the L 45 a 71/100 on the Dave Score. Not bad. You knocked in on interior elegance, geek and performance. I'm sure Leopard can get some geek stuff on a 45 for you:)
Hey Greg. You are absolutely right that the 42 is too small for us. The 50 was nice, but the master is only half a hull. They should switch it around and give the athwartship to the master. The 50s cockpit feels almost too large, if you can imagine that. The 45 really holds a lot of promise for me.
Wondering if you've run into the channel, travel sketch, and seen their troubles with leaking hatches on their Leopard 45. After putting Lagoon in the do not buy list list because of their bulkhead issues, I'm tempted to add Leopards to it.
Hi Constantine. I actually spoke to John from Barefoot Doctors about that. They have owned a 50 & a 45 and have toured the factory extensively. He indicated that Leopard discovered that the original position for window installation for the 45 on the assembly line had too much dust in the air and it was reducing the adhesion on the windows. They have since moved the position and the issue is resolved. I also spoke to the folks from Sailing Sisu who have been sailing the world on a Leopard 45 for several years. He said that they have never had a single regret and love their Leopard. Anyway...food for thought.
Thanks for the updates David I must say that aside from the technical issue, I was also put off by the company's response to this couple. Of course, that's based on their side of the story. But it was enough to give me cold feet. Anyway, thanks again!
I put down a sizeable deposit on a Leopard 42. Saw travel sketch`s videos, got scared the crap out. Pulled out without a shadow of a doubt. Shopped around, compared around after calming down. Put the deposit back again, picked up the vessel and haven`t stopped smiling. @@constantinealexandrakis
Not the only channel with Leopard issues. From leaky hulls, dodgy windows, snapping lines due to incorrectly located pulleys fraying lines and serious navigation issues thanks to appalling issues with the mast. But that's not what puts Leopard on the don't buy list. It's the number of customers who have to suffer for years with these problems because they (agent and manufacturer) are so slow in dealing with the issue, approving warranty work, supplying replacement parts etc. Many customers with the same problem are told "we've never had that problem before, you are the the first". How can six owners all be the first? At least five of them are being lied to. New boats are all going to have problems. We know this. But a manufacturer that leaves it's customers hanging, lies to them and declines obvious warranty repairs should be avoided. Too many people experiencing world class crappy customer service from this brand and it's main agent. Leopard seem focused on selling and building boats. Customer services is an inconvenience. Once it's your's? They couldn't care less. After two years, owners shouldn't still be fighting to get issues identified at handover fixed under warranty.
There is a boat missing in the comparables : the Bali 4.2 which is the closest with its front deck and the front door. I would certainly whose the Bali for its live aboard capacity.
Hi JHK. I do also like the Bali, but there is something very sturdy about the Leopard that appeals to me. I also prefer her lines. Thanks for watching.
Hey Nooneanybodyknows! Thanks for watching. Stories like that are tragic, but there are also several other great channels featuring very positive Leopard experiences such as Sailing Sisu and Sailing SV Happy Together both of whom have thousands of happy miles under their keels. I spoke to Sailing Sisu and they said they have never had a moment of regret about their purchase.
@navalgazingatcampdavid Agreed, it's a roll of the dice. This isn't an isolated case, though. There are several Leopards in the same marina on the hard receiving extensive warranty repairs. My warning stands, buyer beware. I don't want another sailor spending their nest egg on a Leopard only to spend 2 years on the hard hassling with warranty repairs. And if you were honest, you wouldn't either... especially if it were you.
• Consider joining our crew on Patreon by CLICKING HERE: www.patreon.com/NavalGazingatCampDavid for ad free videos and downloads of the specification and layout comparison files. We appreciate your support!
• To receive my FREE GIFT to you, CLICK HERE: www.navalgazingatcampdavid.net/ . The e-book "19 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Your Dream Catamaran". Save yourself charter holiday heart ache and tens of thousands of dollars when making your yacht purchase. CLICK HERE: www.navalgazingatcampdavid.net/ to receive your copy and learn more about the latest online sailing skills training available today.
In full transparency, please note that the links in this video description may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. You don't pay more when using these links, and any earnings help to support this channel. I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my audience. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." Thank you for your trust and support!
You will have to go bigger in the Leopard line Dave. This looks to be a bit of a bobber out in the sea. Lot's of good design and lay out and boat here but...Sylvia on a bobber? Of the comparables the Seawind, although shorter, is the winner of this group for me, that athwardship birth is a much in a cat this size. Billy and SIerra have a nice couples boat. Looks like you gave the L 45 a 71/100 on the Dave Score. Not bad. You knocked in on interior elegance, geek and performance. I'm sure Leopard can get some geek stuff on a 45 for you:)
Hey Greg. You are absolutely right that the 42 is too small for us. The 50 was nice, but the master is only half a hull. They should switch it around and give the athwartship to the master. The 50s cockpit feels almost too large, if you can imagine that. The 45 really holds a lot of promise for me.
Wondering if you've run into the channel, travel sketch, and seen their troubles with leaking hatches on their Leopard 45. After putting Lagoon in the do not buy list list because of their bulkhead issues, I'm tempted to add Leopards to it.
Hi Constantine. I actually spoke to John from Barefoot Doctors about that. They have owned a 50 & a 45 and have toured the factory extensively. He indicated that Leopard discovered that the original position for window installation for the 45 on the assembly line had too much dust in the air and it was reducing the adhesion on the windows. They have since moved the position and the issue is resolved. I also spoke to the folks from Sailing Sisu who have been sailing the world on a Leopard 45 for several years. He said that they have never had a single regret and love their Leopard. Anyway...food for thought.
Thanks for the updates David I must say that aside from the technical issue, I was also put off by the company's response to this couple. Of course, that's based on their side of the story. But it was enough to give me cold feet. Anyway, thanks again!
I put down a sizeable deposit on a Leopard 42. Saw travel sketch`s videos, got scared the crap out. Pulled out without a shadow of a doubt. Shopped around, compared around after calming down. Put the deposit back again, picked up the vessel and haven`t stopped smiling. @@constantinealexandrakis
Not the only channel with Leopard issues. From leaky hulls, dodgy windows, snapping lines due to incorrectly located pulleys fraying lines and serious navigation issues thanks to appalling issues with the mast.
But that's not what puts Leopard on the don't buy list. It's the number of customers who have to suffer for years with these problems because they (agent and manufacturer) are so slow in dealing with the issue, approving warranty work, supplying replacement parts etc. Many customers with the same problem are told "we've never had that problem before, you are the the first". How can six owners all be the first? At least five of them are being lied to.
New boats are all going to have problems. We know this. But a manufacturer that leaves it's customers hanging, lies to them and declines obvious warranty repairs should be avoided. Too many people experiencing world class crappy customer service from this brand and it's main agent.
Leopard seem focused on selling and building boats. Customer services is an inconvenience. Once it's your's? They couldn't care less. After two years, owners shouldn't still be fighting to get issues identified at handover fixed under warranty.
There is a boat missing in the comparables : the Bali 4.2 which is the closest with its front deck and the front door.
I would certainly whose the Bali for its live aboard capacity.
Hi JHK. I do also like the Bali, but there is something very sturdy about the Leopard that appeals to me. I also prefer her lines. Thanks for watching.
Watch Travel Sketch's TH-cam channel to learn firsthand what it's like to own a Leopard.
Hey Nooneanybodyknows! Thanks for watching. Stories like that are tragic, but there are also several other great channels featuring very positive Leopard experiences such as Sailing Sisu and Sailing SV Happy Together both of whom have thousands of happy miles under their keels. I spoke to Sailing Sisu and they said they have never had a moment of regret about their purchase.
@navalgazingatcampdavid Agreed, it's a roll of the dice. This isn't an isolated case, though. There are several Leopards in the same marina on the hard receiving extensive warranty repairs. My warning stands, buyer beware. I don't want another sailor spending their nest egg on a Leopard only to spend 2 years on the hard hassling with warranty repairs. And if you were honest, you wouldn't either... especially if it were you.
Thanks Nooneanybodyknows! It’s good to be aware of these issues. D